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Tag: group

Flamingoes can still top their group — NFF

The General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) Barrister Musa Amadu has assured that the Flamingoes are capable of topping Group A in the ongoing FIFA U- 17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan despite playing a pulsating 1-1 draw against Canada in their first group match on Saturday.

“It was an average result. I don’t have any fear whatsoever as regards the abilities of the team although we lost some scoring chances. We showed clearly in the match that we are a better team than the Canadians.

“We will correct the mistakes we observed in the first match against Canada in the second group match against the host team Azerbaijan. This is a match we must win convincingly knowing full well that the host team are just cutting their teeth in this level”, the NFF Scribe told SportingLife yesterday.

He also believed that with the support given to the team so far by the Federation the Flamingoes are capable of going far in the competition. “We have given and are giving all the necessary support to the team out there in Azerbaijan for the Flamingoes to top the group which I am very sure we could”, Amadu assured.

Flamingoes lost clear cut chances at goal against Canada especially in the first half of the first group match on Saturday and had to come back from a goal down to end the game in 1-1. Colombia defeated the host team 3-0 in the second match to top the group.

September 24, 2012
Group backs ACN candidate

group, Agbajowopo Omo Yoruba Movement Group (AOYMG), has said it is supporting Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), to win the October 20 election.

The group said it would work for the success of the party’s standard bearer because ACN is the only political party that projects the agenda of the Yoruba nation.
In a statement in Akure, the state capital, by its Chairman, Ayodele Falomo, and Secretary, Favour Ajulo, the group said it has constituted a mobilisation team for the success of the ACN candidate.

The statement reads: “We believe that your party with its candidate is the best to work with in achieving our goals for the Yoruba race. We have examined other candidates and gone through their profiles and manifestos. Your candidate remains the best among them.”

It noted that ACN is the only political party that has progressive ideas and is interested in developing the Southwest, like the late Obafemi Awolowo did during his reign in the defunct Western Region.

The group said it supported the Southwest Integration Agenda championed by ACN and other Yoruba progressive leaders.It noted that several development projects have been executed in Lagos, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, and Oyo states.

The group said: “We are tired of main stream politics. Our son was President for eight years, but the Yoruba race was only retrogressing. We are happy that a political party like ACN is championing how the Southwest can experience rapid development, like the late Awolowo, Adekunle Ajasin, Bola Ige did during their administrations.”

September 18, 2012
Group to partner INEC

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Centre for Human Rights and Ethics in Development (CHRED), has said it would partner the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free and fair governorship election in Ondo State on October 20.

The group hailed the electoral body for conducting a successful election on July 14 in Edo State.It noted that the outcome of the poll demonstrated that there could be transparent election in Nigeria, if stakeholders play their role according to the rules of the game.

CHRED said as part of efforts to ensure that votes count, it has constituted an institutional framework, to be called the Stakeholders’ Consultative Advisory committee (SAC). It comprises the representatives of INEC, the media, political parties, security agencies, lawmakers, among others.

It said SAC would be domiciled in the state capital with dedicated phones for information and complaints as well as maintain contacts with those it described as election rovers from the 18 local governments.

A statement by its Executive Director, Mr Mohood Erubami, said the Ondo State governorship poll would be another test for the INEC to prove that it is capable of conducting free and fair elections in 2015.

The statement reads: “The Centre for Human Rights and Ethics In Development (CHRED) as a vital component of democratic governance, in collaboration with stakeholders has therefore decided not to be indifferent to the possible dangers already raring their heads in the state such that caused political acrimonies in the past.

“We have decided to set an election observation platform to checkmate political office holders and their opponents from the contest for power with bitter divisions and rancour such that can make political violence a recurrent feature of Nigeria’s political life.

“CHRED will use its election observation platform-the voters to compliment the efforts of INEC to improve on the challenges and achievements recorded during Edo election so as to make the coming Ondo State Gubernatorial election acceptable to all stakeholders.

“The voters under the umbrella of the Centre for Human Rights and Ethics in Development (CHRED) will ensure that conditions for credible election set by INEC are met by observing the early distribution of sensitive and less sensitive materials arrival of materials, and officials at pulling centres,

“It will ensure conducive atmosphere for accreditation and monitor voting in all the voting centres, adherence to set voting time adequacy of voting materials, and good conduct of electoral officials, voters and security agencies.

“The group will in addition, initiate and establish a rapid response intervention program to halt the trends towards dreadful and violent disruption of an electoral process and create a peaceful atmosphere for credible and legitimate election instead, so as to allow democracy to flourish.

“In this way, the hegemonic violence trend will be crushed via the establishment of an institutional framework to be known as the Stakeholders Consultative Advisory committee (SAC), comprising of the Representatives from INEC, Media, Political Parties, Chief Security Officers, Legislators and Security Agencies.

“SAC will take complaints of malpractices against the electoral act and INEC guidelines from people and take immediate proactive actions to remedy the situation before it escalates into big conflicts.
The statement said’’ In the process, peaceful democratic transition is ensured and guaranteed.”

September 18, 2012
Over 300 brokers get Fed Govt’s group life account

Nigerian Stock Exchange

About 300 brokers were appointed by the Head of Service of the Federation (HSOF) for this year’s Federal Government’s group life insurance, The Nation has learnt.
A broker, who asked not to be named, said the premium was valued at about N7 billion, adding that over 300 brokers were appointed.
Observers, who expressed misgivings over the delay in the release of the premium, called on the government to ensure the premium is released early in the year to forestall issues arising from claims settlement.

A stakeholder urged the government to pay attention to insurance development by ensuring that premiums are paid as at when due, adding that insurance is a necessity which must be considered first among other priorities.

He said: “Delay in payment of premium is not good for the development of the industry. It is an irony that the government which is supposed to encourage insurance growth is the one contravening its law thereby constraining the market. If huge premium is paid as at when due, it would go a long way in growing the industry.

“The government is not doing well; it should see insurance as a necessary expenditure that must be paid as other expenditure heads. Insurance should not be treated as an after-thought, because we live in a world of risks. Government should note that by paying premium, it is not doing underwriters a favour, but it is a necessary obligation that must be met.”
There has been anxiety in the industry over the payment of claims to government employees that died in the Dana air clash as a result of the non payment of the group life premium.

Former Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi, who spoke on the position of insurers on the claims, said the No Premium No Cover’ clause would not deter insurers from settling the claims of the civil servants who died in the crash.

He said though the Federal Government is yet to pay the group life cover for its employees; insurers would settle the claims arising from the mishap and collect the premium later.

“On the issue of Head of Service, I know the laws says ‘No premium No cover’, but I am not aware that the law criminalises the issue of granting cover without premium. To the best of my understanding and belief, it is a gentle man’s agreement, when premiums have not been paid, that cover exists.

“It has been a serious problem because the federal government is the major insurance buyer in this country. Insurance companies have been in the habit of collecting their premium in arrears. I am sure no insurance company will raise the clause at this point in time for the civil servants that died in the air crash,” he said.

He assured that insurers and government would resolve the issue to ensure that the victims get their benefits.

September 12, 2012