The Nation Newspaper

Tag: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

  • Removal of fuel subsidy in peoples’ interest- LCCI

    Removal of fuel subsidy in peoples’ interest- LCCI

    Mr Muda Yusuf, the Director-General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( LCCI), on Thursday said that deregulation of the petroleum sector was in the peoples’ interest.

    Yusuf told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the subsidy regime was no longer sustainable because it exerted pressure on government’s finances and foreign reserves.

    According to him, for several decades, the subsidy regime had serious transparency issues which inadvertently caused the economy to suffer.

    “With subsidy payments in the excess of one trillion naira threshold, the existence of such regime in a country with huge economic and social infrastructure deficit is simply scandalous.

    “It is in the overall interest of the economy and citizens for it to be discontinued.

    “The deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector will have multiplier effects because it will release resources for investment in critical infrastructures.

    “Fixing infrastructure will greatly improve productivity and efficiency in the economy and impact positively on the welfare of the people,” he said.

    Yusuf said that the deregulation would also boost private investment in the sector, reduce importation of petroleum products and ease the pressure on the foreign exchange market as well as the foreign reserves.

    Yusuf said the negative impact of the deregulation might be inconsequential if the current foreign exchange policy was maintained.

    “Only limited success will be achieved if the current rigidity in the management of the foreign exchange market persists.”

  • Plateau recruits 4,850 adhoc teachers

    Plateau recruits 4,850 adhoc teachers

    The Plateau Government has approved the recruitment of 4, 850 ad hoc teachers as part of efforts to address the acute shortage of teachers in the state.

    Prof. Mathew Sule, the Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Jos.

    He said that the move was to address staffing deficit that had affected the quality of education in the state.

    “Staffing deficit in public primary schools in Plateau has been a major concern and priority to the administration of Governor Lalong.

    “The governor has approved the recruitment of 4, 850 ad hoc teachers for primary schools and we expect them in the classes very soon,” he said.

    The official said that government would hold an orientation programme for the ad hoc teachers before posting them to their various stations.

    He said that 403 teachers, who have completed the Federal Teachers Training Scheme, have also been engaged to bridge the shortage of manpower in public schools.

    “The 403 teachers from the programme of 2013-2014 have been engaged under the auspices of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

    “The programme has been running for more than a decade with the objective of recruiting these teachers at the end of their two years training, and this is the first time teachers will be absorbed in the state under the scheme.

    “We have notified those teachers that they would soon be called upon to commence work,’’ he added.

    Sule said that the government had accorded top priority to payment of teachers, “despite the financial difficulties in paying other civil servants”.

    He said that the biometric exercise for teachers was 95 per cent completed, and expressed confidence that the entire exercise would be completed by the end of May.

  • ‘Incessant strikes in health sector very embarrassing’ – JUTH CMD

    Prof. Edmund Banwat, Chief Medical Director (CMD), Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), has flayed incessant strikes in the health sector, describing the situation as “very embarrassing”.

    “The incessant strikes in a key sector like health is disheartening and has become a source of embarrassment to us,” Banwat told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Monday.

    Banwat, who was reacting to the two-months-old strike of JUTH workers, said that government was taking stiff measures to check the trend.

    “The health workers have formed a habit of abandoning their duty posts at the slightest excuse; this raises questions as to our professional vow to save lives.

    “The incessant strikes make nonsense of such professional vows to place human lives over any other vain pursuit bordering on money,” he said.

    To check the strikes, he said that the Federal Government has issued a circular reminding heads of medical facilities of the No-work-no-pay policy.

    A copy of the circular, signed By Mr Danjuma Kurau, Director, Human Resources Management Department in the Federal Ministry of Health, directed all institutional heads to immediately implement the policy as contained in the Trade Disputes Act, Cap T8.

    “The total disregard to this law has contributed in no small measure to the incessant labour disputes ravaging the health sector leading to the loss of several months of service.

    “The health sector is one of the essential services prohibited by law from embarking on strikes, but government has been subjected to much ridicule and embarrassment owing to frequent strikes.”

    The circular quoted the minister as directing that salaries and allowances should not be paid to any staff “who chooses the path of strike”.

    On the strike by the JUTH workers since March 7, Banwat said that the action was “very unnecessary”.

    “We met with the JUTH chapter of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOEHSU) before the strike and have met several times after it began where all the local issues were resolved, but I keep wondering why they are still at home,’’ said the CMD.

    NAN recalls that JOHESU’s spokesman, Mr Mustafa Kabir, attributed the strike to issues bordering on promotion, lack of beds and basic consumables in the hospital, as well as the refusal to regulate the appointment of casual staff.

    Kabir also alleged that Banwat had been very insensitive to the plight of the workers, among other issues.

    But the CMD said that his administration had promoted staff stagnated for more than 14 years, pointing out that other issues of promotion were beyond JUTH and being handled by the national body of the union in Abuja.

    He dismissed claims that the hospital had shortage of beds and other consumables, and challenged anyone with doubt to visit the hospital stores.

    He also rejected insinuation that the mortuary was in bad shape, explaining that the one at the temporary site had been handed over to the Plateau Government, while the mortuary at the permanent site was in excellent condition.

    The CMD also accused JOHESU officials of subjecting members to “unncessary pain”, noting that the JOHESU headquarters had confirmed that issues within the capacity of JUTH had been effectively sorted out.

    On the casual staff, he said that he inherited 200 casual staff and was working with the Federal Character Commission toward regularising their employment.

  • Police takes over Edo Assembly

    Police takes over Edo Assembly

    The Police on Monday cordoned off the premises of Edo House of Assembly to avert possible breakdown of law and order.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that more than 10 Hilux patrol vans and an Armoured Personnel Carrier were strategically positioned within and around the state assembly complex.

    There were also regular and mobile police operatives positioned at the three entrances to the assembly to prevent access into the complex.

    Already, workers of the house of assembly have been prevented by the police from getting to their offices.

    The state’s Police Public Relation Officer, Mr. Abiodun Osifo, told NAN that the action was taken to “avoid a repeat of what happened at the complex last Wednesday.”

    NAN recalls that crisis erupted on Wednesday after 16 members of the assembly removed the erstwhile Speaker of the House, Mr. Victor Edoroh.

    Edoro was replaced with Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie as speaker of the House.

    Suspected thugs, loyal to both sides, had after the speaker’s removal, took over the assembly complex and engaged in a shooting match.

     

  • Buhari condemns increased global risk to journalists

    Buhari condemns increased global risk to journalists

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja condemned the increased global risk to journalists in the performance of their professional duties.

    The President spoke at the opening of the Congress of the Federation of

    African Journalists hosted by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president delivered a keynote address on the theme: ”The Political Change and the Safety of Working Journalists in Africa”.

    Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the risk came in the form of “harassment, arrests, detention and murder”.

    “According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 72 journalists were killed globally in the year 2015, the most recent information available in that respect. Eleven of the 72 who died in that year were killed in Africa.

    “The same year, out of 20 listed deadliest countries for journalists, five were from Africa – South

    Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo and Libya.

    “Also, 90 journalists are currently being detained in many countries.

    “It is, therefore, fitting that the safety of working journalists in Africa will be of concern to your organisation, the Federation of African Journalists, ” he said.

    The President said that journalists were targeted not only to restrict the free flow of information, but increasingly as leverage to secure huge ransoms and political concessions through sheer violence.

    He charged the Federation to work with the governments of their countries to remove the existential threats to media practitioners.

    He said the Federation could also work with other organisations committed to the protection of journalists.

    Such organisations according to him, include the Committee to Protect Journalists, the International Federation of Journalists and the International Press Institute, to eliminate or reduce the risks to journalists

    “It is also important for media institutions to ensure the adoption of best safety protocols for their journalists.

    “They must develop and implement procedures and tools aimed at ensuring the physical and

    psychological safety as well as the digital security of journalists, ” he said.

    The President said his administration saw the media as a partner in progress, and “has never contemplated harassing, not to mention killing, any journalist” .

    “The media represents the eyes and ears of the world and attempt to

    silence it through the harassment, arrests, detention and murder of

    journalists, is akin to making the world go blind and deaf.

    “I can report to this Congress that not a single journalist is being detained or harassed in our country today.

    “The government of the day is not a threat to the media, and it is not about to stifle press freedom or deny anyone his or her constitutionally guaranteed rights, “he said.

    The president also noted that his Administration placed preference to security and welfare of its citizens.

    He declared the summit open and wished participants fruitful deliberations.

  • PMAN to establish music institute in Lagos

    PMAN to establish music institute in Lagos

    The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), on Thursday said plans were underway to establish music institute in Lagos to boost the entertainment industry in the country.

    Mr Omatshola Iseli, former President of PMAN, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Lagos that the institute would afford upcoming artists the opportunity to have in-depth training in the field.

    “Music is all about education and it has been noticed that every musician play the same kind of music.

    “The fact that everybody wants to be a superstar has caused all musicians to play all manner of music that makes no sense to the audience.

    “It is, therefore, important for institution to be set up to train artists on the right way of doing the business’’, Iseli said.

    According to him, sanctions will be meted out to artists who play music not in accordance with the guidelines of the association.

    Iseli advocated the checking of the content of music before being aired.

    The musician added that the poor content of most music was borne out of laziness of a musician “who just wants to get the job done within a week.

    “In the 70’s, most musicians spent three months in the studio trying to get a job done perfectly. Musicians of nowadays want to spend a week to get the job done’’, he said.

    According to Iseli, PMAN is making efforts to ensure that the entertainment industry is profitable as it is in other countries.

  • ‘Tradition hinders girl-child education in North’

    Dr Balkisu Sa’idu, a lecturer in the Faculty of Law, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, says tradition is the major problem with girl-child education in the North.

    Sa’idu made the observation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Thursday.

    ”Traditionally girls are considered to be mere visitors in the family who would pass to another man’s house.

    ”The girl-child has very limited time to spend with her family in the northern part of the country before she is being betrothed to a man.

    “So, the time she will spend with her family is very limited.

    ”For that reason, any system of education that requires six years in primary school, six years in secondary school and four to five years in higher institution means a lady cannot get married until she is 23 years or there about.

    “This is not acceptable to a community that marries out their daughters at the age of 13,” she said.

    Saidu said there were also misconceptions that the Western education exposed girls to some modern behaviours that were not acceptable to the communities.

    ”All these are part of the challenges militating against the development of girl-child education in the North.”

    Saidu, who is an expert on international law, however, urged the government to focus on mass enlightenment on the importance of girl-child education.

    She said this could be done through the use of traditional and religious leaders within the communities, among other strategies.

    She said that searching for knowledge was compulsory to every male and female Muslim.

    Saidu said: “according to UNESCO report, about 90 million children are not in school and majority of them are children.

    ” Most girls do not have access to education despite the fact that it is their rights.

    ”The girl-child is often saddled with responsibilities which may make her not to have access to quality education.

    ”A 2007 UNESCO and UNICEF report addressed the issue of education from a rights-based approach.

    ”Three inter-related rights are specified and must be addressed in concert in order to provide education for all,” Sa’idu said.

    According to her, these rights include access to education and the right for respect within the learning environment, among others.

    ”Beyond the basic needs for education to support one’s self and family in later years, every girl-child in the society should stand tall and be a role model for the growing up girls.

    ”This is in order to build a great nation in later years, many social ills occur in the vacuum of free and accessible education,” she said.

  • Senate working to address B.Sc., HND dichotomy- Garba

    Senate working to address B.Sc., HND dichotomy- Garba

    The Senate Committee on Tertiary Education says it is working to balance the differences in the degrees acquired at universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the country.

    The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Binta Garba, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that the committee would ensure a balance in qualifications acquired at tertiary institutions.

    In her words, “again what we are doing as a committee on tertiary institution; we are trying to come out with a conference on legislative agenda on education.

    “We are trying to look at all other summits on education, trying to look at policies of government on education and trying to see how we can have a balance.

    “Not every one of us can go to the university because this syndrome or dichotomy between the university, polytechnic and colleges of education, I think we want to streamline it and allow every person that has gone to any tertiary institution to believe that he is not a second class citizen, but a first class citizen.’’

    The senator said education was important as it ensured that men and women played their distinct roles in the society.

    According to her, fighting for gender equality sends a very strong signal to the male folk.

    She stated that the struggle should be focused on achieving gender parity through education.

    “First and foremost I am a firm believer in gender parity, not gender equality because when we talk about gender equality, it sends a very wrong signal even to the men folk.

    “They now look at the spiritual aspect and what have you.

    “But educationally, it is the right of every Nigerian child to be educated by the government.

    “Once that child is denied the right, obviously you are creating a community that tomorrow, every one of us will be sorry for,” she said.

    Garba stated that although different parts of the country experience challenges that limit their access to education, much is being done to initiate a policy “that will be friendly to all and sundry’’.

    “In the northern part of the country, the problem of education is on the girl child, while in the southern part, the problem is the boy.

    “When you blend the two and come up with a policy that will be friendly to all and sundry, definitely every child will have his education.”

    She, however, urged Nigerians not to relent in acquiring education, which she said, had the capacity to reduce poverty in the society.

     

  • Recruitment: NDLEA warns public against fraudsters

    Recruitment: NDLEA warns public against fraudsters

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Wednesday warned the public against fraudsters claiming to be recruiting on behalf of the agency.

    Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, Head of Public Affairs, NDLEA, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Ofoyeju said that the agency does not recruit its officers secretly, noting, however, that many innocent people had been victims of such fraudsters.

    “We are not recruiting yet. If we want to do so, we do it openly. The public should beware of fraudsters claiming to be NDLEA recruiting agents.

    “Unfortunately, many people have been duped by these fraudsters. Some victims claimed they paid between N30,000 and N70,000 to them.

    “People should always ask questions from those in authority before applying for anything,” Ofoyeju warned.

     

  • Fire razes Kurmi market in Kano

    A mid-night fire on Tuesday gutted the famous Kurmi market in Kano metropolis, destroying property worth millions of Naira.

    An eye witness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Wednesday that the incident occurred around 11:45 p.m.

    According to the witness who pleaded anonymity, the fire destroyed no fewer than 30 shops in the market before men of the State Fire Service put it out.

    The witness said the quick arrival of the fire service personnel prevented the inferno from spreading to other parts of the market.

    The Director of the Fire Service, Alhaji Mustapha Rulwan, confirmed the incident.

    Rulwan said his office got distress calls around 10 p.m. but that men of the Service were able to quench the fire around 1 a.m.

    We were lucky to have quenched the inferno within a short time of our arrival at the scene of the incident.

    “We are still trying to know the actual number of shops affected as the incident happened in the night,” Rulwan said.

    He said the cause of the inferno was still unknown but advised people to take precautionary measures while using fire.

    NAN reports that Kurmi, the oldest market in the city, had experienced similar fire outbreaks in the past.