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Tag: Nigeria News

  • Ambode, Udom, Fayose seek more support for women

    Ambode, Udom, Fayose seek more support for women

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Tuesday called for deliberate and articulate policies to support female entrepreneurs in the country.

    Ambode made the call at the 17th National Women’s Conference organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials ( COWLSO ) with theme “She creates, She Transforms: Creativity and Skill Acquisition.”

    He spoke as the first female mechanic in Nigeria, Mrs Sandra Aguebor, was presented with the inspirational woman of the year award at the conference.

    “With the female population in our country today, it is clear that our women have the capacity to positively affect the Nigerian economy and are already doing so.

    “Supporting women businesses should no longer be seen as a social support or empowerment, but as a necessary step to revive and improve the economy,” Ambode said.

    He said that so far, N2.1 billion had been disbursed to 6,613 women under the state’s Employment Trust Fund (ETF), which represented 42 per cent of the total loans disbursed.

    According to him, the target is to ensure that at least 60 per cent of the loans are given to women.

    He restated the commitment of his government to the course of women, encouraging more women to approach the ETF and take advantage of other initiatives to support their businesses.

    Also, Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom commended the committee for keeping the vision envisioned for over 17 years.

    Emmanuel condemned racial, tribal and gender inequality, saying that the country needed to open more doors for women.

    He encouraged women not to look at the limiting lines drawn by history or politics, but rather live their lives creating and transforming.

    In a goodwill message, Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State said that efforts must be made to constantly develop women.

    “A life without women will be full of crisis, it will be hopeless,” Fayose said.

    He advised men to stop seeing women as second fiddle.

    The Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo were also present at the event.

    NAN

  • Alleged N11bn fraud: Shema ‘s trial to begin Feb.13

    Alleged N11bn fraud: Shema ‘s trial to begin Feb.13

    A Katsina State High Court has fixed Feb 13, 2018, for mention of the case filed by Economic and Financial Crime Commission ( EFCC ) against ex-governor Ibrahim Shema, alleged to have misappropriated N11 billion state fund.

    Shema had challenged the jurisdiction of the High Court to hear the case but lost at the Court of Appeal in Kaduna.

    The ex-governor is now at the Supreme Court, which has fixed Nov. 8, to hear his appeal on the verdict by the appellate court.

    During the proceedings at the state High Court on Tuesday in Katsina, the defence counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), prayed the court to adjourn the case, pending the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling on jurisdiction.

    However, the prosecution counsel, Mr Earnest Obunadike objected to the request by  the defence, urging the court to proceed with the trial.

    The judge, Justice Ibrahim Maikaita-Bako, who adjourned the case to Feb. 13, 2018, for mention, however, said the court might fix an earlier date, if the Supreme Court delivers its verdict before the adjourned date.

    NAN reports that the Katsina State Government had petitioned the EFCC accusing Shema of misappropriating about N11 billion during his tenure.

    NAN

  • Katsina invests N200m in rice, cotton production

    Katsina invests N200m in rice, cotton production

    The Katsina State Government says it has invested N200 million in rice and cotton production under the Anchor Borrowers Programme in the state.

    Dr Abba Abdullahi, the Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Masari on Agriculture, disclosed this in Katsina on Tuesday, at the opening of a town hall meeting on the programme.

    The town hall meeting was organised by the state government in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ), the co-sponsor of anchor borrowers programme.

    “We have rice and cotton farmers that collected the CBN loan under the anchor borrowers programme to boost rice and cotton production and the programme needed supervision.

    “We used the funds to supervise and inspect all the rice and cotton farms in the 34 local government areas of the state.

    “The Katsina state government also purchased over 35 motorcycles for extension workers to visit rice and cotton farmers with the aim of offering pieces of advice to them,” he said.

    Abdullahi said that part of the fund was used for the repair of 15 vehicles for officers involved in supervising the extension workers.

    Earlier, Alhaji Shehu Musawa, the Managing Director, State Agricultural and Rural Development Project (KATARDA), said the stakeholders’ meeting was to review how the programme fared during the rainy season.

    “Anchor borrowers programme has achieved the desired goal in the state as it has boosted rice and cotton production.

    “We are expecting bumper harvest of cotton and rice in the state,” Abdullahi said.

    In his contribution, Keystone Bank’s representative, Malam Ahmed Musa, said that the bank would continue to support agricultural programmes in the state.

    NAN

  • Shehu Idris college of health science and technology to award degree soon – Bello

    Shehu Idris college of health science and technology to award degree soon – Bello

    Shehu Idris College of Health Science and Technology, Makarfi, will soon become a degree-awarding institution, a lawmaker said on Tuesday.

    Alhaji Bello Sani-Gimi, a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria.

    According to him, the state government is collaborating with some Egyptian firms to upgrade facilities and standard of the college to a degree awarding institution.

    He said the Egyptians had wanted to establish a university of technology but were asked by Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i to use facilities in the college for the project.

    Bello Sani-Gimi, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, said the firms had inspected facilities at the college and expressed satisfaction with what they saw.

    “They are coming back so that we can sign a Memorandum of Understanding and continue from there; as I am talking to you they are not yet back, but we are still waiting for them.

    “However, as member representing the area, I will bring the issue to the floor of the house, so that we can legislate on it and give the governor the legislative backing for him to go ahead with the upgrading of the school, so that even if those investors from Egypt fail to come back, he can search for others.

    “Hopefully ‘Insha-Allah’, we will see to the actualisation of converting that college to a university,” Bello said.

    The lawmaker urged his constituents to support the present administration to enable it effectively deliver the dividends of democracy.

    NAN

  • UCH doctors solicit stakeholders to avert another strike

    UCH doctors solicit stakeholders to avert another strike

    Resident doctors in University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, on Tuesday urged stakeholders to compel the tertiary hospital management to pay their salary shortfalls as directed by the Federal Government.

    Dr Segun Olaopa, the President, Association of Resident Doctors (NARD),said that the association would continue further dialogue with the management on non-payment of the salary shortfalls.

    “We are weary of going on strike after the 10 days notice of strike issued to management lapsed on the Monday, Oct. 23.

    “We implore management to do the needful in order to avert another strike.

    “At the Congress held on the evening the notice lapsed. It was agreed that we should engage management in further dialogue till October salaries are paid to avoid loss of patients’ lives and to prove to the public that we are willing to show more restraint.

    “It has become imperative to draw the attention of the press and the public to the brewing issues in UCH. These issues if not addressed, may impact negatively on the existing industrial harmony at the hospital.

    “These issues include: non-payment of our September salary, 28 per cent shortfall in August salary, 2016 shortfalls of 11 months till date and work overload due to management’s refusal to employ new residents.

    “Presently, the number of residents stands at 525; this has reduced to 454, as some of them have completed their residency. By this October, 40 among us will also finish the residency.

    “The implication of this is that the remaining few residents are given work overload and this should not be; management should employ more residents to make the workload easy and to achieve maximum productivity.

    “Resident doctors’ accommodations need to be rehabilitated. The conditions of those flats are nothing to write home about.

    “The hospital has witnessed major burglary attacks recently and we are more concerned about the security of resident doctors’ quarters.

    “Further investigation by our association to press home our demand on security of our members and families, revealed that management still owes them salaries,” he said.

    The association on Friday, Oct. 13 gave the hospital management another 10-days strike notice to protest unpaid salaries.

    The 10-days strike notice expired on Monday Oct. 23.

    Part of the outcome of the dialogue, which led to the suspension of the strike, was that government would release money to pay the doctors’ backlog of salaries.

    The NARD claimed that the Federal Government had released the funds to clear the backlog salary arrears but UCH management was yet to pay these arrears.

    NAN

  • NEMA seeks approval of hazard allowances for workers

    NEMA seeks approval of hazard allowances for workers

    The National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ) has reached some agreements with its workers including the introduction of a life assurance policy for its employees.

    The agency is also expected to seek approval from the Federal Government for the payment of hazard allowances.

    The acceptance of the agreements  led  to the suspension of a nationwide strike  by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria( ACSN ).

    The Federal Ministry of Labour had on Friday brokered peace between NEMA management led by its Director-General, Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria( ACSN).

    The agreements are as follows: “An Implementation Committee comprising the ASCN, NEMA Management to be chaired by the Director, Finance and Account ( DFA),  Federal Ministry of  Labour was constituted to facilitate the verification and commence payment of staff claims by  October 24. 

    “It was agreed that the management should work with the ASCN to conclude the process of acquiring life assurance policy for the staff within one week.

    “It was also agreed that the management should come up with a compensation package for the families of the deceased staff in line with the provisions of the Public Service Rules ( PSR).

    “That a training Schedule using existing template should be drawn to accommodate all the staff and the training needs of all the departments within two weeks. An implementation committee comprising Director, Human Resources, Director, Special Duties and a representative of the union is to be constituted to monitor and report the level of compliance.

    On the fate of some redeployed staff, the two parties agreed that “the management should issue the letters recalling the two unit executives by 20th October, 2017.”

    Regarding hazard allowances for NEMA workers, the management explained that it was seeking approval from the Federal Government for the payment.

    The agreement added: “The meeting noted that the management has already initiated the process and the DG was advised to fast-track the process with the relevant government agencies.”

    Both parties also resolved not yo victimize workers who participated in the strike action.

    Other issues to be addressed are proper placement if staff, voluntary redeployment and promotion.

    The agreement said: “The meeting agreed that the affected individuals should apply for redeployment in line with the Public Service Rules ( PSR ).”

    The meeting was informed that the list had been submitted to the Committee set up to look into the issue. Management was therefore advised to speed up the implementation process holistically across board.

    “The Association was requested to submit all promotion-relayed issues to the management within two weeks.

    “The meeting agreed that no member of the association shall be victimized or involved in any vindictive/punitive posting as a result of this industrial action.”

  • Court remands four ritual suspects

    Court remands four ritual suspects

    An Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun, on Tuesday ordered the remand of four men accused of ritual killing, in prison.

    The accused, Jeremiah Ademola, 32; Samuel Babatunde,77; Obaniyi Michael, 32 and Haruna Afolabi, 44, whose addresses are unknown are facing a three-count charge of unlawful possession of human parts, conspiracy and murder.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs B.B. Adebowale, ordered that the accused should be remanded in prison pending legal advice from the state’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on the matter.

    Adebowale adjourned the case until Oct. 25.

    Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Abdulkareem Mustapha, had told the court that the accused, with others still at large, conspired among themselves to kill two children for ritual.

    He said that the accused, after killing the children, buried parts of their bodies in a church in Ota.

    Mustapha told the court that the offences were committed on Aug. 13, 2017 at about 9.30 p.m. at Egan Road, Iyana-Iyesi, Ota.

    He said that the offences contravened Sections 210(f), 324 and 516(1) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

    NAN

  • Mugabe would have rejected WHO role, says spokesman

    Mugabe would have rejected WHO role, says spokesman

    Robert Mugabe would have rejected the role of WHO goodwill envoy had he been formally asked, his spokesman said on Tuesday, days after state media cheered the Zimbabwean president’s appointment.

    WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus named Mugabe as a goodwill ambassador on Wednesday at a conference in Uruguay that both men were attending.

    The appointment was rescinded on Sunday following a backlash from Western donors, rights groups and opposition parties.

    On Friday, the state-owned Herald celebrated the largely ceremonial appointment as a ‘New feather in President’s cap’, adding that Mugabe, 93, had accepted the role.

    His spokesman told the same newspaper on Tuesday that Zimbabwe’s sole leader since independence from Britain in 1980 had only heard about the appointment via the media.

    “Had anything been put to the President … (he) would have found such a request to be an awkward one,” Charamba was quoted as saying.

    “The WHO cannot take back what it never gave in the first place, and as far as he is concerned, all this hullabaloo over a non-appointment is in fact a non-event.”

    Charamba did not respond to calls seeking further comment.

    Mugabe’s critics were outraged by Tedros’ announcement, saying he was rewarding a man whose government had presided over the collapse of Zimbabwe’s health system.

    Charamba said the fact that Zimbabwe was a producer and exporter of tobacco, mostly to China, would have meant Mugabe campaigning against a crop that underpins the economy.

    Tobacco is Zimbabwe’s single largest foreign currency earner, bringing in an average $800 million annually in the last four years, according to official data.

    “To be seen to be playing goodwill ambassador in respect of an agency which has a well-defined stance on tobacco growing and tobacco selling, that would have been a contradiction,” Charamba said

    NAN

  • Police sanction 20 personnel for corruption

    Police sanction 20 personnel for corruption

    The Nigeria Police Force, says it has sanctioned 20 personnel involved in corruption between Jan. 2016 and Jun. 2017 in four states.

    A report obtained from the Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit indicated that those sanctioned served in Enugu, Abuja, Ogun and Lagos commands.

    It indicated that 10 policemen were dismissed during the period, one given severe reprimand, one demoted, and eight given other forms of punishment.

    The report showed that 4, 342 complaints were received by the unit during the period under review, out of which 3,602 were amicably resolved and 318 pending.

    It added that 422 complaints received by the unit were discovered to be false.

    Read also: Police to conduct autopsy on Kogi’s Soje

    According to the report, the 106 distress calls received by the unit during the period under review were not part of the complaints captured in the report.

    The unit was established in November 2015 to receive and resolve cases of professional misconduct brought against police personnel.

    NAN

     

     

  • Court remands three men over murder

    Court remands three men over murder

    An Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Tuesday ordered the remand of three men in an Ilesa Prison over alleged murder.

    The defendants: Jimoh Sheriff, 20, Saidu Aliu, 25, and Yusuf Taofiq, 21, were docked on a five-count charge, bordering on murder, conspiracy, false pretense and unlawful possession.

    The Magistrate, Mr Ashiru Ayeni, ordered the remand of the defendants due to the magnitude of the alleged offence committed.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Elisha Olusegun, had  told the court that the accused persons committed the offences between May and Sept. 20 at about 7:45p.m. within Osogbo and Ifon area in Osun.

    Olusegun said the defendants conspired and killed and behead one Sanusi Isiaka .

    He said that the defendants were also in possession of charms, and obtained money under false pretence from innocent citizens.

    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 324, 319(1), 516, and 213, punishable under Section 509 of the Criminal Code cap 34 Vol.11 Laws of Osun, 2003.

    The pleas of the defendants were not taken, while the case was adjourned until Dec.21 for mention.

    NAN