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  • Association to FG: intervene in UCTH crisis

    The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has called on the Minister of Health, Osagie Emmanuel Ehanire, to intervene in the current crisis in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) between its members and staff of the department of medicine.

    The Association urged the minister to call to order the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the UCTH, Prof lkpeme Asanye Ikpeme, on account of continuous victimization of Medical Laboratory Scientists serving in all federal and state tertiary hospitals in Nigeria.

    The association’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Casmir Ifeanyi Cajetan, made this call on Monday in Abuja when he alleged that a gang of pathologists of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) were plotting to disrupt the peace of the hospital.

    According to him, “We state, unequivocally, that the Chief Medical Director of the UCTH, Prof. lkpeme Asanye Ikpeme, and the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of UCTH, Prof. Ogbu Ewezu Ngim, were the masterminds of the plot.

    “The management of the UCTH is not only victimizing Medical Laboratory Scientists in the UCTH but has now resorted to molesting them as well.”

    On the account of how it started, Casmir said, “On Thursday, 5th September, 2019, pathologists-staff of the UCTH laid siege on medical laboratory facilities in the UCTH and ordered all the workers, including medical laboratory scientists, to vacate the medical laboratories; they went ahead and locked up every section of the medical Laboratory and deployed armed to man the entrances.

    “Later on, a group of management staff accompanied by security agents approached and addressed the stranded medical laboratory scientists, and issued the order that access to the medical laboratory, from that time forward, was open only to medical laboratory scientists (staff) and interns with Staff Identity Cards.

    “Thus, only staff and interns who had ID cards on them returned to the medical laboratory and resumed work.

    “Those without ID cards (particularly the Medical Laboratory Science students of the University of Calabar (UniCal) who are on Mandatory Medical Laboratory training in the Medical laboratory) were ushered out of the hospital.

    “Fracas ensued when the Medical Laboratory Science students on training, who were restricted entry into the medical laboratory, noticed that their counterparts (Students of Medicine, from same UniCal, also on training in the hospital) who also did not possess the identification cards were granted access into the Medical Laboratory.”

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    On the association’s position, Casmir said, “We have over 16 court judgments across teaching hospitals and federal medical centres in Nigeria in our favour. The situation whereby Nigerian physicians who by sheer advantage of their appointment as CMDs, MDs or CMACs, blatantly refuse to respect the status quo and, or, the rule of law is anarchical and unacceptable.”

    The association alleged that the intervention by the CMD of the UCTH in the current crisis in the hospital was make-believe only to subject our members to torture of all sorts. It alleges that all the steps the management of the UCTH is taking to frustrate the Medical and Laboratory Scientists is done without the due approval or due recourse to the UCTH Governing Board.

    So far, one member of the AMLSN is said to have died as a result of the imbroglio.

    “Also, the death of our member, Mr. Patrick Bassey O’neil, in UCTH, on 7th of September 2019 when the crisis in question was in full swing prompts the question: Patrick Bassey O’neil, was murdered via euthanasia (painlessly putting to death), wasn’t he?” Casmir alleged.

    In a phone interview, the CMD of the UCTH, Prof. lkpeme Asanye Ikpeme, said he is reluctant to respond because the case is under investigation by a panel and he wouldn’t want to be seen as interfering with the process.

    He however said, “I have had meetings with these people; if they are honest with you, they will tell you that I have met them more than I have met any professional group in the hospital in trying to address their issues.

    “In order not to be seen as influencing anything, it is only fair that I should not say anything until that panel releases its report.

    “I will not join issues with them because the problem is actually not a Calabar problem but a national problem. Why the ones in Calabar chose to take the law into their hands, it is only they who can explain.”

  • APC loses Chief Security Officer

    The Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), DSP Adamu Aso (Rtd.), is dead.

    The late Adamu, who hailed from Yobe state, died on Tuesday, October 1, 2019, in an auto accident, which occurred in Abuja. He was buried on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Announcing the death of the late chief security officer of the party in a statement circulated in Abuja on Wednesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said his experience and temperament would be missed.

    According to the statement, Aso served as Acting Chief Security Officer at National Secretariat of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

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    “The late DSP Adamu Aso (Rtd.) who was was born 12th April, 1950 (69yrs) was married with children. He hailed from Yobe State.

    “The late CSO served in the Nigerian Police Force for 35 years after joining the Force in 1971 and retiring in 2006 as a Deputy Superintendent of Police.

    “The Party will miss the experience, temperament and maturity the late DSP Adamu Aso (Rtd.) displayed in the discharge of his duties.

    “We express our deep condolences to his immediate family, the Nigerian Police Force and staff of the APC over this painful loss. We pray Almighty Allah gives us all the strength to bear the loss”, the statement said.

  • Recruitment: Kaduna shortlists 13,700 applicants

    Kaduna state government has shortlisted 13,700 persons out of 41,971 applicants that applied for recruitment, for the next stage of the exercise.

    In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Communication to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, Wednesday, the shortlisted applicants emerged after an initial assessment.

    According to him, the 41,971 applicants had earlier submitted essays online and they were assessed for plagiarism and Use of English.

    The Special Adviser disclosed that, ‘’applications with a high plagiarism score and essay quality falling below the threshold set by the government will not receive further consideration. Email notices are being sent out to inform all applicants of the status of their applications.’’

    He further said that “candidates on the shortlist will receive email notifications of the dates for their computer-based test which is the next stage in the recruitment process.”

    It will be recalled that on 1st August 2019, Kaduna state government had issued a recruitment notice, inviting online applications for jobs in the core civil service and 26 parastatals.

    Read Also: El-Rufai’s wife canvasses support for elected leaders to meet people’s aspirations

    At the close of submissions on 26th August 2019, 41,971 applications were received all over the country, ‘’for entry level, middle level and management jobs,’’ the statement maintained.

    Giving a breakdown of the distribution of the applicants, Adekeye disclosed that “applications were received from all the 36 states and the FCT. Kaduna State provided 32,143 of the 41,971 applicants, followed by Kogi with 1,265, Benue 733 and FCT 730. There were 516 applications from Lagos State, 147 from Anambra and 18 from Bayelsa.’’

    “At the end of the first stage assessments, persons aged 35 or below constitute 78.48% of the shortlisted applicants, while entry level applicants are in the majority, with, 7,724 candidates. Kaduna State has 10,696 of the 13,700 persons on the shortlist,’’ he added.

  • Stop visiting MDAs for favour, Na’abba tells lawmakers

    Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’abba on Wednesday warned against the conduct of lawmakers who go cap in hand to Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government in search of favours, saying such action demean their status.

    Na’abba spoke just as Speaker of the House of Representatives; Femi Gbajabiamila said the House will henceforth exercise the full authority of the legislature in exercising its oversight functions in furtherance of its objective of ensuring national development, peace, progress and prosperity of the country.

    The former Speaker of the House, Ghali Umar Na’abba who insisted that the legislature is an important arm of government said lawmakers who go in search of favour from the executive were demeaning their status as an important arm of government.

    The former Speaker described committees work as the engine room of the legislature as they provide members avenue for robust debate on issues before they are brought to the whole house for final deliberation.

    Speaker Gbajabiamila who spoke while inaugurating the 105 House standing Committees also told his colleagues to use the opportunity provided by their membership of the committees to prove to Nigerians that they deserve the mandate given to them by the electorates.

    The Speaker challenged the committees not to be guided by personal interest, but ensure that their services are motivated only by considerations that are in the best interest of the country.

    He said “the legislative committee system is as old as the legislature itself, and it is through these committees that most of the work of the legislature is done, and accomplishments are achieved.

    “Whatever the judgment of history will be for this 9th House of Representatives, whether for good or not, will depend largely on the conduct and the activities of the committees we are inaugurating today.

    “In constituting these committees, the leadership of the House of Representatives, have taken our time to ensure that members are assigned to committees that fit perfectly with their legislative interests and priorities, their prior experience and skills as well as the identified needs of the constituencies they represent.

    “It is now left to you; Chairmen and members, to go forward and show yourself capable of meeting the responsibilities to which you have been assigned and deserving of the mandate which you hold in trust for the Nigerian people.

    “I charge you to be dutiful in the discharge of your constitutional responsibilities of oversight and law-making, taking every care to ensure that at all times your conduct is without reproach, and your service is motivated only by considerations of the best interests of our country.

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    “You know as well as I do, that our country is at this time contending with serious challenges on multiple fronts. From the economy to national security, social justice to healthcare, infrastructure to the environment and climate change, this is a time that calls for determined efforts to achieve substantive reform and ensure that our country can overcome its challenges and take advantage of the opportunities that abound for economic advancement and social development. I trust that as you recognise these realities, your efforts will reflect this recognition, and be motivated therefrom.

    “Let me use this opportunity to appeal to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government for their cooperation and collaboration. It is only through our joint efforts that we can meet the objectives of the administration and keep the promises we have made to the Nigerian people.

    “We in the House of Representatives intend without reservation to exercise the full authority of the legislature as it relates to the oversight of the MDAs. However, our purposes are not punitive, neither are our intentions adversarial, but in furtherance of our shared objectives of national development, peace, progress and prosperity for all.”

    Speaker Gbajabimila directed the ad – hoc committees on the Niger Delta Development Commission and that on the Ports and Harbours are to conclude their investigations and submit their reports by Friday the 4th of October 2019.

    He also asked all other ad – hoc committees are to conclude their activities and submit their reports before the 14th of October 2019, adding that already, the House has begun to act on some of the issues they have unearthed and the recommendations they have made, assuring that “these efforts will continue through the respective standing committees.”

    He maintained that “the job of nation-building is a joint task and the ambitions we have for our country can only be achieved through the dedicated efforts of every citizen, especially those of us elected officials in whom our fellow citizens have invested their hopes, their dreams and their expectations of a better life for themselves and a better future for their children.

    “We must never lose sight of this reality as to do so will be a betrayal of our commitments to God and country.”

    Former leaders of the House including Ghali Na’abba, Patricia Ette, former House Leader Mullikat Akande, Abdul Ningi, former Clerks of the house among others attended the inauguration.

  • Recruitment: Kaduna shortlists 13,700 applicants

    Kaduna state government has shortlisted 13,700 persons out of 41,971 applicants that applied for recruitment, for the next stage of the exercise.

    In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Communication to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, Wednesday, the shortlist emerged after an initial assessment.

    According to him, the 41,971 applicants had earlier submitted essays online and they were assessed for plagiarism and Use of English.

    The Special Adviser disclosed that ‘’applications with a high plagiarism score and essay quality falling below the threshold set by the government will not receive further consideration. Email notices are being sent out to inform all applicants of the status of their applications.’’

    He further said that “candidates on the shortlist will receive email notifications of the dates for their computer-based test which is the next stage in the recruitment process.”

    It will be recalled that on 1st August 2019, Kaduna state government had issued a recruitment notice, inviting online applications for jobs in the core civil service and 26 parastatals.

    Read Also; El-Rufai: Beyond the show

    At the close of submissions on 26th August 2019, 41,971 applications were received all over the country, ‘’for entry level, middle level and management jobs,’’ the statement maintained.

    Giving a breakdown of the distribution of the applicants, Adekeye disclosed that “applications were received from all the 36 states and the FCT. Kaduna State provided 32,143 of the 41,971 applicants, followed by Kogi with 1,265, Benue 733 and FCT 730. There were 516 applications from Lagos State, 147 from Anambra and 18 from Bayelsa.’’

    “At the end of the first stage assessments, persons aged 35 or below constitute 78.48% of the shortlisted applicants, while entry level applicants are in the majority, with, 7,724 candidates. Kaduna State has 10,696 of the 13,700 persons on the shortlist.’’ He added.

  • Tribunal affirms Gov. Simon Lalong’s election

    The Plateau Governorship Elections Petitions tribunal in Jos on Wednesday affirmed the election of Gov. Simon Lalong.
    Sen. Jeremiah Useni of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is challenging the election of Lalong in the March 9, governorship poll.
    Useni prayed the tribunal to declare him winer of the elections alleging the disparity in the names supplied by Gov. Lalong in form CF001.
    Delivering judgment, a panel three justices led by Justice Halima Salami, held that the petitioners could did not adequately prove their case.
    The tribunal held that the information made in form CF001 by Lalong bothering on the disparity of name, was not fundamental in nature.

    The tribunal also held that the petitioners, failed to prove their allegation of electoral irregularities bothering on falsifications of results and over voting against Lalong and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
    Speaking after judgment, Mr Pius Akuboh, SAN, Counsel to the APC and Gov Lalong, commended the tribunal for the verdict.
    Akuboh said that the tribunal commendably dealt with all the issues raised raised and canvassed by the parties from all angles.
    “This include the qualification of the second respondent to contest the election, allegation of over voting, corrupt practices and non compliance to electoral law.

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    “Painstakingly the tribunal considered interlocutory matters raised by the respective counsels to the parties.
    “We are satisfied that the judgment is in our favour specifically with respect to the qualification of the governor.
    “The tribunal unequivocally found as a fact that the governor did not give false information fundamental nature in aid of of his qualification,” he stated.
    Also speaking, Mr Edward Pwajok, SAN, Counsel to Useni and the PDP, said that they were not satisfied with the verdict of the tribunal.
    ”There are many bus stops in judiciary and that we will challenge the verdict in a higher court.
    “The tribunal has done its work but it is long journey, today’s verdict is just a first step.
    “However, we appreciate the people of Plateau and to state that the first petitioner, Sen. J.T. Useni remains confident in the Nigerian judiciary.
    “Thank God there are higher levels as the judgement itself has already formulate many grounds for appeal.
    “Because some of the findings were not in sink with the conclusion reached.
    “For instance, on the issue of the qualification of the governor, the tribunal found out that the lied on oath on the information he supplied in form CF00,” he stated. (NAN)

  • Skills training: 300 women appeal for support in Kaduna

    Over 300 women in Unguwan Kudu, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Wednesday decried continued neglect of the community, and called on Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai to provide a skills training centre for them to learn skills and be self reliant.

    The women, who are members of the community’s Womanhood Forum, said the intervention was necessary, to equip them and other members of the community to break away from the cycle of poverty they found themselves.

    Their leader, Mrs Sadiya Nasir, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the village on Wednesday that a skills acquisition centre will add tremendous value to the lives of members of the community, not just women.

    She stressed that by empowering the women a lot of issues such as access to education for children and health care will be easier to manage.

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    The woman leader also urged government to offer soft loan to members of the forum.

    “We have never benefited from any gesture or asistance from the state government or any organization.

    “We are also calling on NGOs to come to our aid and teach our women how to empower themselves so as to be self reliant and assist our children and husbands.

    “Assisting us will also create employment and reduce poverty in the community,“ Mrs Nasir said.

    According to her, in spite of the challenges facing them, women under the forum support each other and also assist widows, orphans and the less privileged, whenever the need arises.

    “We also buy books and other writing materials for children in school to support our kids to get education,“ she said.

    Mrs Nasir appealed to the state assembly to prevail on the state government to site any meaningful project in the community as they prepare the 2020 budget.

    “Our Councillor has been assisting us from time to time but there are enoumous challenges affecting the community he cannot handle,“she said.

    (NAN)

  • We have created employment opportunities for 150,000 in Edo – Obaseki

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has stated that his government has provided employment opportunities to not less than 150,000 persons in the state through various skills development and job creation programmes aimed at stimulating Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.

    He added that single-digit interest loan facilities were also extended to some of these persons, which became necessary to drive the state’s economy by leveraging the power of small businesses.

    Speaking at the Edo State Special Day at the on-going 2019 Abuja International Trade Fair (2019AITF) organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), the governor said his administration has attained 75 per cent (150,000) of his promise to create the 200,000 jobs in his first term in office.

    Represented at the trade fair by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, Obaseki said his administration is creating a business environment that is driven by the private sector to build the capacity of youths to become self-reliant.

    The governor said, “One of our cardinal pillars is to develop our youths and we have policies and programmes to equip young people with skills, not just for the artisans but also graduates. They say some of our youths are not employable even when they have the certificates.

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    “So, we created a skills acquisition programme both for artisans and these graduates. We have created an artisan hub, what we call the industrial hub, where you can come and establish your small businesses. The facility has 24-hour power supply to enhance productivity.”

    He added, “In Edo State, you must earn a living and the best way to do that is to ensure you are skilled. Skilled labour is what we emphasise in Edo State and we are not only emphasising it, we are creating it.”

    Edo State Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Mr. Felix Akhabue said the state government was already making progress in agricultural development while also teaching the youth new techniques to make them successful in the sector.

    According to him, “We have the Edo State Skills Development Agency also called EdoJob, which is responsible for training our young ones on skills development. We are also taking our people back to the farms because, in the past, agriculture engaged the majority of the people.

    “As you know, the Edo State government is doing a lot in the area of job creation because if we don’t actively and consciously do things that will create jobs, we would be overwhelmed by youth unemployment.

    “Like in other developed countries, it is the private sector that should engage over 70 per cent of the population. Therefore, Nigeria must go that way and Edo State has started. We are looking at the private sector. We are already collaborating with the private sector; Edo state government is creating the enabling environment for businesses to thrive.”

  • AfriBritish NGO holds Lagos retreat

    The African-British Diaspora Returnees Organisation had a retreat in Lagos on Tuesday to chart a course for the organisation to fit into objectives of the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs).

    The retreat which was coordinated by the deputy country manager, comrade Hassan Bode, was also a period to reflect on Nigeria at 59 and align with the agenda of the NGO, with headquarters in UK, towards making Nigeria a better place as well as for Nigerians in diaspora.

    According to the country manager, Demola Sanyaolu, the retreat was necessary to revamp the organisation for better performance after 10 years of operations.

    In attendance were team leads of Ogun (Adeola Adegbenro), Lagos (Olajide-Ojora Oloruntoyin) and Edo (Godwin Aghedo) amongst others.

    African British Diaspora Returnees Organisation has a three-pronged objective for migration, rehabilitation and women/children empowerment.

    The northern version of the retreat is billed to hold later in the month.

  • Alleged Sexual assault: Israeli court orders arrest of Australian school principal

    An Israeli court on Wednesday ordered a former Australian school principal, suspected of sexual assault, and who Australia is seeking to extradite, released from prison to house arrest.

    Implementation of the Jerusalem District Court’s decision was delayed until Friday to give the prosecution time to appeal.

    Australia has been pressing Israel to extradite Malka Leifer, who fled from Australia in 2008, with what Australian authorities believe was the assistance of the insular Adass Jewish community, after accusations against her surfaced.

    “The (court’s) decision strengthens our argument that the evidence is not there,’’ one of Leifer’s attorneys, Tal Gabai, said.

    Leifer is the former principal of Adass Israel School, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish girls’ school in Melbourne.

    She is wanted by Australian Police on 74 sexual assault charges, including rape, involving girls at the institution.

    The Israeli court ruled in 2016 that Leifer, who has denied the charges, was mentally unfit to face extradition and trial.

    She was re-arrested in 2018 after a police investigation raised questions about the state of her health and has been in prison in Israel awaiting an extradition ruling.

    Read Also: Ondo varsity decries sexual assault on student

    Yehuda Fried, another lawyer for Leifer, said he hoped that house arrest would lead to his client “returning to her home (in Israel) and receiving the medical care she deserves’’.

    In September, the district court, in considering extradition said more psychiatric evidence was needed before it could decide the issue and ordered a new panel of experts to assess Leifer’s mental condition and deliver a report in December.

    In August, Israeli Police recommended indicting Israel’s Deputy Health Minister on suspicion he tried to pressure court-appointed psychiatrists to support Leifer’s mental illness claims.

    It will be up to state prosecutors to decide whether to accept the police findings and charge the politician, Yaakov Litzman, who has denied any wrongdoing.

    (NAN)