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Tag: implement

  • APC govt will implement welfare law, says Ake

    APC govt will implement welfare law, says Ake

    The member representing Rivers West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Wilson Ake has said the All Progressives Congress(APC) will implement the Social Security Bill just passed into law.

    Ake spoke in Erema, his home town in Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State when groups from  the area paid  him solidarity/thank you visit for  his efforts in ensuring the  passage of the bill.

    Senator Ake,  who chairs the Senate Committee on Labour, said the bill was meant to cater for the less privileged, the aged and unemployed youths, and as such would reduce insurgency, insecurity and other social vices.

    He  said the APC Presidential candidate, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari and Rivers State APC governorship candidate,  Dakuku Adol Peterside , have the political will to implement the law.

    He urged the people to vote massively for APC candidates at all levels.

    “I thank you for your solidarity and concern for the bill that was passed by the National Assembly by my committee. The bill as you know is intended to chatter for the less privileged members of our country, and I assure you that the country has everybody in mind and we believe that the in-coming government of the APC will have the mind and all it will take to implement every aspect of that law fully.

    “I believe that it will reduce interest in insurgency, restiveness, and draw our children away from all manner of vices that is todaycharacterising parts of our country and the aged ones who have nobody to chatter for them will have something to depend upon.

    “I want to also encourage you to do everything within your powers to ensure that APC from the national to the state, especially Gen. Mohammadu Buhari and Dakuku  Peterside win the next month’s elections, because they have all it takes to change things positively in the country and state.” He appealed.

    Earlier, spokesman of each of the five groups that visited had extoled Ake’s Representative qualities in the National Assembly especially his thoughtfulness in initiating a bill that will have direct bearing on the indigent members of the society and the jobless youths, with the aim of fighting insecurity in the country.

    The groups are Rivers West Progressive Forum, Rivers West students union, Rivers West Youth Assembly, Rivers West Platform and Orashi Youth Movement.

    They said posterity would remember him for the act and called on President Good Luck Jonathan to facilitate its signing into law so it would have full legal backing for implementation.

    The Chairman Rivers West Progressive Forum, Kingsman Alex said: “We are happy for your kind feelings for the poor masses of the society which has translated into your sponsoring the Social Security Bill which was passed into law last week.

    “We are here to express how proud we are because of your people oriented representation you are giving to this senatorial district.

    “The Social Security Act when signed and fully implemented will help in giving hope to the less privileged of the society and unemployed youths, as the monthly  stipends that will be given them by the government will go a long way in alleviating their sufferings until they find their feet in a better and sustainable source of living.

    “We have no doubt that when this law comes on course, the growing trend of insecurity and criminality in the country will reduce to barest minimum. We, therefore, call on the government to ensure the signing of the Act into law does not linger.”

  • I’ll implement my blueprint, says Ortom

    I’ll implement my blueprint, says Ortom

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, has said he will implement the blueprint designed by his Policy and Strategy Committee if elected.

    He spoke at a meeting with members of the committee at Smile View Hotel in Makurdi, the state capital.

    Ortom urged the people to elect a governor with creative ideas who would think outside the box in tackling challenges.

    The former Minister of State, Industry, Trade, and Investment, said God had adequately prepared him with experience at all tiers of government to confront the state’s challenges.

    Committee chairman, Prof Dennis Ityavyar, said the blueprint was done in line with the APC manifesto.

    Ityavyar said the document covers areas, such as good governance and revenue security, agriculture-driven industrialisation, health care, provision of critical infrastructure and women, youths, gender as well as people with disabilities as priorities.

    The governorship running mate, Benson Abounu, hailed the spirit of sacrifice exhibited by the committee’s members, adding that the task of salvaging the state required the inputs of all major stakeholders.

  • ‘Nigeria’ll implement UN Arms Trade Treaty’

    ‘Nigeria’ll implement UN Arms Trade Treaty’

    President Goodluck Jonathan has promised Nigeria’s commitment to the implementation of the United Nations (UN) Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) of April 2013.

    The President spoke yesterday at a three-day National Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on Illicit Arms and Light Weapons, which opened on Monday in Abuja.

    Represented by the Minister of Interior Abba Moro, the President said the ATT was in the best interest of Africa.

    He urged countries that had not implemented the ATT in Africa to do so to fast-track its implementation.

    Mr Kadre Ouedraogo, the President of ECOWAS Commission, said the adoption of the ATT was one of the greatest achievements since the creation of the UN.

    Represented by Mrs Khadi Saccoh, ECOWAS Commissioner for Finance, Ouedraogo congratulated Nigeria on being the second member to ratify the treaty, after Mali.

    Amb. Emmanuel Imohe, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), said the committee was focused on mopping up excess weapons in Nigeria.

    Other areas of focus are preventing entry of SALW, improving stockpile management, regulating brokers, monitoring local manufacturers and reviewing existing legislations, among others.

    Illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons had been blamed on the 12 major conflicts in Africa between 2000 and 2009.

    The arms were not mopped up during subsequent demobilisation, disarmament and rehabilitation.

  • Implement policies for cooperative sector, govt urged

    The National Association of Cooperative Consultants (NACC) has appealed to the  government to formulate policies that will contribute to the development of the cooperative sector.

    This, NACC said, would generate employment for the  unemployed youths.

    The Coordinator of NACC, Mr Akintola Ademola spoke while addressing reporters ahead of the ‘Ibadan 2014 Southwest Cooperative Sector Assessment Summit/Exhibition scheduled for May 12 and 18 at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan (UI).

    According to him, no country can develop without cooperative societies, adding that Nigeria needs to implement policies that will ensure a friendly and accommodating environment for cooperative sector to thrive.

    “Nigeria is facing serious socio-economic challenges that is causing a major setback to our nation’s economic development. Over the years, cooperative have played a prominent and pivotal role in reducing this socio-economic challenges in the advanced countries.

    He said: “Empirical studies of the economy of the nations of the world shows that micro, small and medium scale enterprises create over 70 per cent of jobs. Invariably cooperatives are the power that fuel small and medium scale enterprises.”

    Ademola called on manufacturing companies to partner with NACC to ensure the socio-economic development of the country.

  • Health workers’ strike: Fed Govt to implement Industrial Court verdict

    Health workers’ strike: Fed Govt to implement Industrial Court verdict

    The Federal Government has agreed to implement the decisions of the Industrial Court on the dispute between it and health workers.

    The workers, under the umbrella body of the Joint Health Sector Union (JUHESU) embarked on a strike following the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum issued to the government to implement the court verdict.

    The strike was called off after an agreement with the government on Tuesday night.

    Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, told reporters in Abuja yesterday that government conceded to the health workers’demands to implementing the agreement.

    He, however, said government would still pursue its appeal against the court’s judgment.

    Chukwu said the unethical behaviour of health workers at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Teaching Hospital would be investigated.

    The health workers, according to him, tampered with the power supply to the emergency unit of the hospital, describing the action as unacceptable.

    The minister, who briefed reporters shortly before going for the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, said at the Tuesday meeting, the parties used “the opportunity to look at the implementation of some of the things we have earlier agreed on. One of the things that government had earlier granted them was that boards would be reconstituted for some teaching hospitals and other specialist hospitals.

    “Many of these have been done, only very few parastatals, particularly the regulatory bodies, have not been reconstituted. But virtually all the teaching hospitals, their boards are being reconstituted, all the federal medical centres and all the psychiatric hospitals. “So even before the strike, government was already addressing it and I assure you that in the next two weeks, this will be properly addressed. “This is part of the agreement that needs to be quickly addressed.

    “The other issue has to do with the recently-announced chairmanship of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. The allegation is that the person who was appointed as chairman is not a nurse.

    “Although the law does not specify that a nurse be appointed, I think as a Minister of Health and going by precedent, by tradition and going by fairness and equity, since we have eligible nurses who can be chairman of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. These are some of the errors that can sometimes happen along the line. I believe that government will amend where necessary.”

    On retirement age, the minister said: “This can be treated administratively and the Head of Civil Service will handle it. They have given commitment to go into the process and working towards this. Of course, these things have to go through due process, but the anchor for that is correctly with the civil service of the federation.”

    He added: “Already, the National Income Salaries and Wages Commission has become a process for job evaluation for the whole public service.”

    He appealed “to the workers generally to allow the National Income Salaries and Wages Commission to do their job.”

  • Implement UNEP report, says Kukah

    Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Rev Matthew Kukah has reassured Ogoni indigenes of his commitment to push for full implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report.

    The clergy said although he had completed the task given to him by President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that peace was restored to the land, he would again present the people’s demands to the President.

    Kukah spoke when a group, Ogoni Generation Next Project, visited him at the weekend in Abuja.

    The group includes Organisation of Ogoni Young Professionals, Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), representatives of National Union of Ogoni Students (NUOS) and representatives of youth bodies from four local governments of Ogoniland.

    The group demanded the immortalisation of Ken Saro-Wiwa, compilation comprehensive database of unemployed youths in the region as well as full implementation of the UNEP report.

    Today marks two years of the submission of the UNEP assessment report to the Federal Government.

    The cleric said: “Not that I am not aware that what we are dealing with is larger than us. Like I said, when we handled the report, I chose every word I said and I knew why I did that. Mr. President, you gave me a sick child, I have taken the child to the hospital to run some tests, the results are here.

    “I am not the one to tell you which pharmacy to go to or where to go and buy drugs because beyond that, I will be going beyond what my brief was. In fairness to my brief, I have done what I believe needed to be done and God has seen us through successfully.”

    Kukah, who is also the presidential mediator on Ogoni, praised former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former River State Governor Peter Odili for their gesture.

    He said Jonathan and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-

    Madueke, had domesticated the initiative.

    “Deep down, I believe and I’m sure the President himself will know my position. We are a country that likes to make very simple thing complicated.

    “My position is that I hope we can get round the table to see the President because this conversation is not for me but the President himself and the petroleum minister,” he added.

    While he urged the group not to misunderstand the President’s silence, Kukah reiterated a commitment to dialogue with Jonathan.

    The Chairman, State Council of Traditional Rulers (RSCTR), Gbenemene Tai Kingdom, GNK Gininwa, described the group’s action as timely.

    He urged the bishop to prevail on the Federal Government to implement the report.

  • Lagos to implement 27.5 per cent teacher’s pay

    The Lagos State Government has agreed to implement the 27.5 per cent Teachers Salary Structure, according to Mr Momodu Braimah, the secretary, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

    Braimah told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview yesterday that there was hope for teachers in Lagos.

    “Lagos State Government has assured teachers that the new salary structure will be implemented in our January payment,” Braimah said, adding that there would be no need for the teachers to go on strike since the government is ready to comply with the agreement.

    The NUT nationwide had given states until January 31 to pay the 27.5 per cent salary increase, but 18 out of them are yet to implement the pay.

    On September 24, last year, teachers in Lagos went on one-day strike over the non-implementation of the agreement. The strike was suspended after acceptance by Governor Babatunde Fashola agreed to meet the teachers’ demand this January.

    The 27.5 per cent increase in teachers’ salary was approved in 2008 and implemented by 17 states.

    LASAA partners Capital Media to transform Obalende Bus Terminus.

    The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) has signed a Public Private Partnership agreement with Capital Media Limited, an Outdoor Advertisement outfit, for the redesign of Obalende Bus Terminus.

    The partnership, according to a statement signed by LASAA’s Corprate Affairs Manager, Temitope Akande, will bring world class advertising and outdoor infrastructure to Obalebde as part of government’s renewal agenda.

    Speaking on the new initiative, the Managing Director of LASAA, Mr. George Noah, noted that the project will see the entire bus terminus improved with the complement of various branding opportunities.

    Noah stated that “the project offers key advertising benefits for advertisers who will be willing to connect their brand to the new infrastructures”. He explained further that “the project will provide a parade of various outdoor advertising platforms which offers a totally new experience for advertisers and commuters.”

  • Falana urges govt to implement Reps’ report on Dana plane crash

    Lawyer and human rights activist Mr. Femi Falana has urged the Federal Government to implement the report of the House of Representatives on the Dana plane crash.

    Speaking yesterday, he said: “When the Dana plane crash occurred in Lagos on June 3, the Federal Government set up a panel of enquiry to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the disaster.

    “The panel carried out a shoddy inquiry and hurriedly turned in a report, which covered up the causes of the crash of the plane that killed 153 passengers and crew on board and 10 people.

    “Dissatisfied with the shameful cover up of the tragic incident, our law office initiated an inquest into the plane crash. The inquest, which was in progress, was suddenly suspended on the order of a Federal High Court via a suit filed by a former pilot but supported by the Dana Airlines management and the Ministry of Aviation. “Thereafter, the Aviation Minister Princess Stella Oduah, who had cried like a baby when the tragedy occurred, was too happy to lift the ban placed on Dana flights.

    “However, the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, which probed the incident, has exposed the official fraud that has characterised the insensitive handling of the Dana affair by the Ministry of Aviation. “In a detailed report on the unfortunate incident submitted by the Committee to the House last week, it was revealed that an NCAA Inspector, Suleiman Akwuh, who purportedly did the pre-arrival inspection of the ill-fated airline, was found to be without requisite professional qualifications. “The committee also found that for the period under review, Dana operated 14 air returns caused by system failure, which is a sufficient indication of imminent danger.

    “More revealing was the disclosure that up to the time of this report, NCAA is still without any licensed engineer type-rated on MD83, yet it is going ahead with the technical audit on Dana operations with a view to restoring its licence.

    “On the basis of such findings, Dr. Harold Demurin, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), was indicted for professional negligence and incompetence. Since his tenure has expired, he was recommended for immediate removal. The historic report was unanimously approved by the entire House last week.

    “From the report of the House of Representatives, it is indisputable that the Dana plane disaster would have been avoided if the Dana planes had been grounded when they operated 14 air returns caused by system failure, which is a sufficient indication of imminent danger.”