The Nation Newspaper

Tag: hails

  • Agency hails Lagos judiciary on small claims court

    The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has praised the Lagos State Judiciary for setting up small claims courts.

    It lauded the Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke, for also issuing practice directions.

    CPC Director-General Babatunde Irukera, a lawyer, said: “The Consumer Protection Council commends Lagos State Government on the designation of Small Claims Courts within the state jurisdiction and issuing of Practice Directions by the Chief Judge.

    “The directions limit the threshold of cases to N5million and a maximum period of 60 days to resolve disputes. This initiative provides a better mechanism and expanded access for disputes arising from consumer grievances.

    “The Council commends Lagos State and the leadership of its judiciary for this bold and practical initiative to improve attention to, and speed in securing remedies for consumers.

    “This effort reinforces a key statutory mandate of the Council to ensure speedy redress to consumer complaints.

    “The Council encourages consumers to exercise their rights to the fullest possible extent, and invites other states to emulate this initiative.”

  • Lawyer hails NBA section’s revival

    Former Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) president Mrs. F. Boma Ayomide Alabi has described the revival of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Legal Practice (SLP) as timely. The section was inactive for sometime.

    Following its revival under Mrs. Miannaya Essien’s (SAN) chairmanship, it plans to hold a conference in Port Harcourt on April 13. The theme is: Re-thinking and re-tooling legal practice for the challenges of our time.

    According to Mrs Alabi, the conference, which is designed for all lawyers irrespective of area of practice, could not have come at a better time.

    “I am particularly pleased that it is taking place in Port Harcourt as it brings the training closer home for our colleagues in the Southsouth and Southeast.

    “Lawyers from Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Anambra, Abia and even Delta are all within a fairly short driving distance of Port Harcourt and so, hopefully will take advantage of the SLP conference being effectively in their neck of the woods to attend,”she said.

    On her expectations, she said: “The theme of the conference says it all. We have to continuously examine our processes and how we serve our clients to ensure that we deliver best practice in all areas, and benchmark against our colleagues and competitors in other jurisdictions.”

    On the international content of the conference, Mrs Alabi said: “The Chairperson of the NBA-SLP  is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association.

    “So, an invitation was extended to the President, Santhan  Krishan, who has graciously accepted to come all the way from New Delhi, India.

    “He will be accompanied by the Council Member for West Africa, Nene Amegatcher, who incidentally is the former President of the Ghana Bar Association.

    “Some excellent speakers on topics that will enhance every lawyer’s practice, especially those in private practice, have been lined up.

    “But then, the taste of the pudding as they say, is in the eating. So, I would encourage everyone to attend. Places are going so fast and early bird is almost over.”

  • Adams hails Ambode for promoting Yoruba language

    Adams hails Ambode for promoting Yoruba language

    The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Gani Adams, has said Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is a foremost patriot “who will continue to receive the blessings of Yoruba leaders for his promotion of our language and culture”.

    Adams, who was referring to last Thursday’s signing by Ambode of the Yoruba Promotion Bill into ‘Yoruba Language Preservation and Promotion Law’.

    He said: “Any country or state that forgets its language will eventually forget its culture and such a political entity will soon become extinct. I thank Governor Ambode for proving that he is, indeed, a true son of Yoruba land.

    “For what Governor Ambode has just done, the gods of our land will continue to bless him and I am sure all our traditional rulers will also pray for him for promoting our language and culture.”

    In a statement by his Special Adviser, Events and Strategy, Gbobaniyi Femi Davies, the Aare Ona Kakanfo described the action of the governor as “historic”.

    Last Thursday, Ambode, at the signing ceremony, declared that the law would make it mandatory for pupils in Lagos State to be admitted “into any of our tertiary institutions with a credit in Yoruba language and Yoruba will now become a major requirement for you to engage in normal business communication in Lagos State”.

  • Afe Babalola hails ‘Spartan discipline’ in NDA

    Afe Babalola hails ‘Spartan discipline’ in NDA

    EMINENT lawyer and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN has hailed the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna for its Spartan discipline.

    According to Babalola, the discipline has become the hallmark of the military university as was the case in Ancient Greece.

    The ABUAD founder spoke at the academy’s 28th Convocation Ceremonies, where he was honoured with Doctor of Letters (D. Litt), over the weekend.

    He said he was eminently proud of the achievements of the NDA, which has produced over 4,000 graduates since it became a degree awarding institution in 1985.

    ABUAD Head, Corporate Affairs Tunde Olofintila quoted Babalola as saying: “The issue of discipline, which is the hallmark of NDA, makes this university unique. As a stakeholder in education, I was the Pro-Chancellor of University of Lagos from 2001 to 2007. I can say that the decay and decadence of strike actions, cultism, drug, dilapidated infrastructure, sale of handouts among other vices prevalent in public institutions is in large measure responsible for poor quality of graduates from our public universities.”

    He added: “These are vices which are not only unknown but alien to your university. During my tenure as the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, I tried to fight these vices and succeeded to great extent so much so that I was awarded the Best Pro-Chancellor in Nigeria twice by NUC. That was the main reason why I decided to establish a university, which would be a benchmark and reference point to others and a leader in quality and functional education.

    “The moment I stepped into your Academy this morning, I saw timeliness and cleanliness. I saw punctuality. I was told that there are no strike actions in the Academy. I saw that your students, Cadets, greet people. I saw that campus is clean and tidy. I saw warmth and above all, during for the four hours duration of the convocation ceremony, everybody remained on his/her seat with no one moving round anyhow. I saw that only the speaker is standing at any particular time. This is highly commendable.”

    Impressed about these virtues, the former Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos said he would champion the crusade that these virtues be replicated in all universities in Nigeria with a view to recovering its lost glory in education, stressing that “good enough, the opportunity to sell what I have seen at the Academy today has presented itself as I will be delivering the Keynote Address at the Conference of the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) taking place in Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State, on Monday, October 9, 2017”.

    Babalola, who announced a prize of N500,000 to the Best Graduating Student and another N500,000 to the Most well behaved Graduating Student in perpetuity, said there would henceforth be collaboration between NDA and ABUAD to tackle the menace of indiscipline.

    He congratulated the 1,732 graduating students made up of 571 first degree holders and 1,161 postgraduate students and appealed to them to apply what they have been taught and learnt in NDA to whatever they do in private and publicly.

    He reminded them that their duty under Section 217 of the Constitution is to protect the Constitution of Nigeria in addition to protecting its territorial integrity and secure its border from violation on land, sea or air.

    He added that they may be called upon to suppress insurrection, to aid civil authorities in order to restore order, but stressed that the power to invite them to do so is vested in the President only and not in any other person.

  • NEPC hails Fed Govt for N20b non-oil export settlement claims

    The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has said the reintroduction of the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) into the agric product export business will encourage exportation and boost the economy.

    The commission’s Executive Director, Olusegun Awolowo,  spoke in a one-day stakeholders workshop in Port Harcourt Rivers State capital, for non-oil- product exporters to sensitive them on guidelines for the EEG scheme.

    The Federal Government appropriated N20 billion for EEG to settle 2017 export claims.

    Awolowo, represented by the Director, Export Development and Incentives, George Enyekpo, said the EEG, which suspended for more than four years, would encourage competitiveness in export.

    He said the suspension affected earnings from non-oil export, noting that bringing back the EEG will sustain the growth and development of non-oil export.

    Awolowo hailed the Federal Government for the re-introduction, saying the money would offset export claims and reduce loss of revenue.

    NEPC’s Regional Coordinator in Southsouth Mrs Ikejiofor Azuka said in line with the diversification agenda, the commission introduced a Zero-Oil Plan to ensure that the economy would survive at zero export of crude oil.

    Azuka noted that the EEG is a post-shipment export incentive scheme among incentives given to exporters to help them in their export trade.

    She said: “The scheme is aimed at assisting exporters to expand their volume and value of non-oil exports, diversify of the export market and make them more competitive in international market.”

  • Council chief hails Ambode for ‘Cleaner Lagos’

    Council chief hails Ambode for ‘Cleaner Lagos’

    The chairperson of Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Jumoke Jimbo-Ademehin has hailed Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for including Ikorodu in the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI).

    Jimbo-Ademehin said Ambode’s foresight in addressing environmental issues would lead to the actualisation of a clean and green environment.

    The scheme, which was commissioned by the governor in June is designed to achieve a clean, hygienic and flood-free state.

    Speaking at the flag-off of the “Cleaner Ikorodu’’ programme in Ikorodu yesterday, Jimbo-Ademehin described the initiative of the governor “as a good decision to ensure a cleaner Lagos.”

    Such a framework, she noted, was needed “to address environmental issues.”

    Jimbo-Ademehin said Cleaner Ikorodu’ would address the peculiar blockage of drainage channels in the LCDA and support the state government’s efforts at entrenching a culture of cleanliness.

    She visited all seven wards that make up the council and she and the residents embarked on a cleaning exercise.

    The chairperson disclosed that a team will be set up with the sole responsibility of monitoring drainage channels in the council.

    She, however, appealed to residents to stop dumping refuse in drainages.

  • Ishaku hails people for supporting Taraba during Suntai’s funeral

    Taraba State Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku yesterday thanked everyone who stood by him and the indigenes during the funeral of his predecessor, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai.

    Suntai, a pharmacist, was governor from 2007 to 2015. He died on June 28, two days to his 56th birthday in Orlando, Florida, USA; four years and seven months after surviving an air crash in which he was the pilot.

    He was buried in his village, Suntai, in Bali Local Government last Saturday after a funeral service in Jalingo.

    In a statement, Ishaku said he was “personally deeply touched by the show of love, sympathy and solidarity with the government and people of the state as well as members of the immediate family of the late former governor by personalities from parts of the federation.”

    He went on: “I wish to thank those who commiserated with us on the untimely death of our former governor, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai and those who attended the funeral in Jalingo and Suntai on August 18 and 19.

    “I wish to acknowledge and thank, in particular, Governors Ayodele Peter Fayose (Ekiti), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Senator Jonah David Jang, former governor of Plateau State, Chief Gabriel Suswam, ex-governor of Benue State, Mr Boni Haruna, former governor of Adamawa State, Commodore Ambrose Adeyemi Afolahan (retd), first military administrator of Taraba State, serving deputy governors and former deputy governors, representatives of governors, members of federal and state executive councils, members of the National Assembly, Speaker and members of the Taraba State House of Assembly, the state Chief Judge and members of the Judiciary in the state, national and state leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, bishops, pastors, imams and other anointed men of God, traditional rulers, members of the Diplomatic Corps and other personalities and groups too numerous to be listed here.”

    The governor appreciated the massive turn-out of Taraba people to pay their last respect to the former governor he described as a political leader, friend and brother.

    He said he was thrilled as the people lined up the routes from Jalingo Airport to the home of the late former governor on the day he arrived with his body in Jalingo and for lining up in the towns and villages through which the convoy accompanying the body passed to get to Suntai’s country home and final resting place.

  • Ondo APC hails President’s commitment to unity

    Ondo APC hails President’s commitment to unity

    THE Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for his stance on united and indivisible Nigeria.

    Its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Abayomi Adesanya, spoke in an interview yesterday with reporters in Lagos after a nationwide broadcast by the President.

    Adesaya said: “The President’s commitment to the unity of this country is highly encouraging and must be commended and emulated by all Nigerians.”

    He said Nigerians’ commitment to the nation “must be evident in our attitude and behaviours, in our love for one and another and in the defence of the sovereignty of Nigeria and her citizens anywhere in the globe”.

    “The task of repositioning this country for greatness rested not only on the shoulders of President Buhari and his cabinet members, members of National Assembly, but on all Nigerians all over the world,’’ Adesanya said.

    He advised Nigerians to be more patriotic and constructive to “Project Nigeria’’ and the President.

  • Herbal practitioner hails Aregbesola

    The National President, United Herbal Practitioner, Prince Sakariyau Oyedeji, has hailed Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola for constituting the Board of Traditional Medical Practitioners.

    Oyedeji, in a statement, said the decision would ensure safety of lives and promote indigenous healing.

    The national president, who reiterated his members’ readiness to collaborate with the government in generating revenue, said the association needed a functional website to create awareness of its activities and products.

    He implored the governor to assist them in having a website, saying this would enable them to have an online consultation page and publicise the profiles of traditional medical practitioners.

    Oyedeji added: “Another advantage of having a website is that it will enable us to have a programme that covers medical consultation, training, exhibition, publications, seminars, conferences and symposium on indigenous healing and examination.

    “It is an avenue to have traditional herbal education and orientation, while we seek the government’s authorisation in promoting indigenous healing.

    “The website will create human capital development of members in quality and quantity control standardisation, in line with the regulatory provisions of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), export processing control, among others.”

  • Water corporation hails govt on retirement benefits

    Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Mr. Muminu Badmus has hailed the government for assisting the corporation to settle retirement benefits.

    Badmus, an engineer, who spoke yesterday at LWC’s head office in Ijora, Lagos at the 1st Retirement Benefit Bond Certificate Presentation, said the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration had demonstrated that it was interested in people’s welfare.

    He said: “I am delighted because this event is happening during my tenure as the managing director of the largest water producer in sub-Saharan Africa. This day sees the fulfilment of the promise I made when I came on board in October 2015 to remit deductions from employees’ salaries to their retirement savings account.

    “Our appreciation goes to the Lagos State government and to the Director-General of Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Mrs. Folashade Onanuga, for their assistance and intervention towards settlement of retirement benefits of our pensioners who retired from 2008 to 2014 under the Contributory Pension Scheme.

    “A bond payment of N323,483,374.97 was presented to 149 of LWC pensioners, who retired between 2008 and 2014 by the Lagos State government through LASPEC under the Contributory Pension Scheme.

    “We praise the government for its support and like Oliver Twist, we are appealing for assistance through LASPEC for the payment and settlement of outstanding pension contributions, retirement contributions and death benefits of LWC workers, which is over N500million.”

    Badmus said under the new scheme, the corporation had spent N68million on 36 retirees, “whose bond certificates will be presented today.”

    His words: “I’m happy to inform you that this scheme reduces the waiting period for contributors to access their Retirement Savings Account, because this Retirement Bond Redemption Fund Account is funded by the government/employer with a monthly contribution of 7.5 per cent and 7.5 per cent of monthly personal contribution of the employee, totalling 15 per cent.”