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NLC condemns sack of 5000 workers in Kaduna

The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) has condemned the sack of 5,000 local government workers by the Kaduna State Government.

In a statement on Thursday in Abuja, President of NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba, said the action of the state government was illegal.

According to him, the Nigeria Labour Congress strongly condemns the mass sacking of 5,000 local government workers by the Kaduna State Government.

“The purported sack violates the provisions of all labour laws, industrial relations practice as well as processes.

“The reasons adduced by the government are spurious and unfounded. Aside from this, the process is patently faulty and unlawful, and redundancy cannot be carried out without following the provisions of the Labour Act.

“When Kaduna Government announced the plan to lay off about 25,000 teachers for failing a competency test for Primary Four Class, we expressed our misgivings.

“We said that the so-called competency test was a subterfuge and part of a premeditated plan to drastically cut down the workforce.

“This is in furtherance to dangerous neo-liberal policies. The latest illegal mass sack of workers lends credence to our assertions or fears.

“We would want to warn of the consequences of the reckless actions of the government of Kaduna State and will call for caution and restraint on the part of the government,’’ he said.

The labour leader said it was evident that the state government did not give sufficient consideration to the social consequences of dropping off 5,000 workers.

He deplored reports that the governor boasted that no one or nothing could stop him from carrying out his agenda of mass retrenchment of workers.

“This is most unfortunate and a direct fulfilment of the exact opposite of his campaign promise and APC’s manifesto to create jobs.

“He often says as Governor, he has the right, power, means and will to do as he likes, but this is undemocratic and anti-workers.

“We are worried by these emotional outbursts, and their infectious effects on his peers and the polity as a whole.

“We at the Nigeria Labour Congress expected more maturity and flexibility.

Read also: Rescuing Kaduna’s troubled education sector

“We accordingly advise the government to rescind its decision on the mass sack. We call on President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the APC, to call the governor to order,’’ he said.

Wabba also noted that the President’s support for a reform in the education sector was not synonymous with “mindless and conscienceless retrenchment’’.

He said that some states in the federation had carried out far-reaching reforms in the education sector with impressive results without causing social violence.

He, therefore, called on the state government to heed to wise counsel given in good faith, adding that the statement should be considered as a served notice.

The congress president said that workers would use all lawful means available to contest the wave of the mass sack.

He said that NLC would mobilize workers and pensioners across the nation and its civil society allies in solidarity with workers in Kaduna

NAN

November 30, 2017
I almost lost sanity after retirement – Totti

Former Italy striker Francesco Totti on Thursday said accepting the end of a legendary footballing career was tough.

He told newsmen that “at the beginning, I was talking to myself like a madman, I’m injured, I’m suspended, I’ll be back in a kit soon, though I’ve got used to it now.”

Totti said he struggled with switching off from a routine of “waking up early, having breakfast and then going to training, like a machine.

“Now I have to plan my days. The impact has not been easy, though I still train every day to let off a bit of steam and to stay fit.

“If I let myself go, I’ll go up to 300 kilogrammes, for now, I’ve put on at most a couple.”

The 41-year-old hung up his boots in May, breaking down in tears after a 3-2 home win against Genoa that sealed his 25-year playing career with Roma, his boyhood club.

Read also: Pallotta – Totti to be technical director

He has no regrets at turning down offers from Real Madrid, the Emirates and the United States.

“I would have made lots of money, but I would have ruined a 25-year-old love affair with Roma,’’ he said.

Totti said that out of current stars he prefers Lionel Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo, and singled out tennis champion Roger Federer as his sporting hero, who “does not even sweat when he plays.”

If Roma, currently in fourth position, do not win the league this season, Totti said he fancied Serie A leaders Napoli, because he liked the idea of the Scudetto going to a southern Italian club.

He also said that starting out a new career as a coach was not a “priority now,” aside from following the football career of his 12-year-old son, Cristian.

“I let him do his thing and I don’t say anything to him. In about three or four years, I’ll see what he’s truly made of,’’ Totti said.

NAN

November 30, 2017
FG slashes import, export documentation requirements

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun says the Federal Government has reduced documentation requirements for import and export, to facilitate trade.

Adeosun made this known on Thursday in Lagos at a Sensitisation Workshop with the theme: “Understanding Nigeria’s Revised Import and Export Guidelines, Procedures and Documentation Requirements for Ease of Doing Business’’.

According to the minister, the measures include the reduction of documentation requirements from 10 to seven, for exports and from 14 to eight, for imports.

Adeosun, who was represented by the Director, Home Finance, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Olubunmi Siyanbola, said that additional responsibilities had been given to the Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the shipping lines/other carriers.

Reports say that government’s attention is principally focused on measures to ensure reduction in time spent on processing of export and also to ensure 24-hour clearance of cargo imported into the country.

The minister announced that the NCS shall coordinate the mandatory joint examination and Sign-Off Form, within the official working hours, including Saturdays.

“NCS shall make available the shipping manifests to other examination agencies as soon as they are received, to enable enough time for Risk Assessment.

“Nigeria Integrated Customs Information Systems (NICIS) should be strengthened to accommodate more agencies.

“Shipping lines shall transmit to the NCS and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the cargo manifest, before leaving the last Ports of Call to Nigeria.

“Shipping lines shall ensure that Nigeria-bound containerised cargo are palletised,’’ Adeosun said.

The minister said that a new section had been introduced, which stated that the NPA shall receive cargo manifests from shipping lines before the ship leaves the last Port of Call and circulate to other regulatory agencies for Risk Assessment and Profiling.

Adeosun said that NPA shall be responsible for traffic management of vessels and shall ensure pilotage of vessels.
The minister commended the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari toward ensuring the Ease of Doing business, which had started yielding dividends in some areas.

According to her, in the recent World Bank report, Nigeria had moved up 24 points from 169th position on the 2017 ranking and also 170th position on the 2016 ranking to 145th position in the World Bank’s 2018 report.

“That is, Nigeria is now in 145th position out of 190 countries in the Ease of Doing Business Index for 2018,’’ she said.
Adeosun said that government was working relentlessly to quickly put in order the scanning system, so as to eliminate manual examination of goods and other associated delays.

She said that the Export and Import Guidelines would be fully implemented with effect from January 1, 2018.

“The Guidelines may not be perfect to address all concerns but government will monitor its implementation closely, to address emerging and unforeseen situations,’’ the minister said.

In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Dr Mamoud Isa-Dutse, urged business entities involved in both import and export trading to abide by the provisions of the guidelines.

The permanent secretary was represented by the Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr Salisu Nainna.

“Let our efforts in striving to create a lucrative business environment in Nigeria be mutually-reinforcing, to enable us as a country make significant progress.

“We are duty-bound to foster formal trade not only to block loopholes for leakages of government revenue but also to promote the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, so as to enhance the competitiveness of the economy for our business to continue to prosper.

“The present government is taking steps toward ensuring 24-hour clearance of cargo using cutting-edge technology.

“In this direction, efforts are ongoing to revive and upgrade the scanning system as a short-term measure, pending the acquisition of modern High Definition Scanners,’’ Isa-Dutse said.

He said that the Ease of Doing Business had improved Nigeria’s performance in terms of trading across borders, with the introduction of Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

The permanent secretary said that the guidelines had taken into account the directives of the Vice President and there was that inherent potency to facilitate trade without compromising the interest of the national economy.

Isa-Dutse said that the objective of the workshop could be achieved if stakeholders were properly informed about procedures, rules and regulations, as well as modalities for their implementation and enforcement.

Dr Jumoke Oduwole, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industry, Trade & Investment, urged the private sector to cooperate with the Federal Government in the reform initiatives.

“We ask that stakeholders should refrain from circumventing policies, as we strive to implement initiatives and reforms needed to scale up the efficiency and transparency of the public sector, ’’ Oduwole said.

“We invite you all to give us your candid feedback on how our reforms are working in practice, as we collectively strive to make Nigeria an easier place in which to do business,’’ she said.

Oduwole was represented by Mr Jude Oboh, Reform Leader at the Enabling Business Environment secretariat.

Mr Tony Ayalogu, a Deputy Controller of Customs, stressed the importance of palletisation of cargo, saying that it protected goods from any form of damage.

Ayalogu said that a standard palletised cargo could carry a maximum cargo of 100 kg.

He urged Nigerians to ensure compliance with policy on palletisation of containerised cargo coming into the country, to make the Customs work seamlessly and to reduce the time of doing business.

NAN

November 30, 2017
Atiku ‘s defection from APC, UNILORIN fake admission list dominate Google search

The defection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) and the University of Ilorin fake admission list dominated searches on the internet search engine, Google, this week.

Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Anglophone West Africa, disclosed this in a dispatch on Thursday in Lagos.

According to him, this week’s top trending search terms on Google Nigeria were dominated by both foreign and national new items.

“Abubakar, on Tuesday resigned from the ruling APC and plans to seek the opposition Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) presidential ticket to run for President in 2019.

“In his statement of resignation, he cited maltreatment by the party and the failure of the party to live up to the expectation of Nigerian youth as one of the major reasons for his resignation.

“Interested Nigerians raced to Google search to read his full statement of resignation,’’ Kola-Ogunlade said.

The Google manager said that the University of Ilorin came on the search light when a fake admission list was circulated on the social media.

“The management of UniIlorin has urged candidates seeking admission into the institution for the 2017/2018 academic session to patiently wait for the release of the authentic admission list by the Institution.

“The university in a statement on Tuesday said that its attention had been drawn to a fake admissions list currently circulating on social media, and urged students not to fall prey to admission fraudsters.

“The institution has directed students to check their Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board ( JAMB ) portal for admissions’ updates.

“Concerned students raced to Google to search for more information about the anticipated admissions list,’’ he said.

Kola-Ogunlade said that the rhythm and blues singer, Bankole Wellington and wife, Nollywood actress, Adesua Etomi trended when Banky W mistakenly posted picture of his naked wife on social media.

“On Nov. 25, R&B singer, Banky W and Nollywood actress, Etomi tied the knot in a ceremony held in Cape Town, South Africa.

“A day after, Banky W wanted to give a shout-out to his fans, by showing them their honeymoon lodge and Zebra right outside his bedroom window but, unknown to him he posted an image on social media which had his naked wife in the background.

“The image went viral before the mistake was noticed. Banky W deleting the image has not stopped fans from searching for more details, making ‘Banky W’ a top trending search term on Google,’’ he said.

On the international scene, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle engagement got people’s attention online.

“The Prince of Wales, Charles announced the engagement of his second son, Prince Harry to his American girlfriend, actress Meghan Markle on Monday at Kensington Palace.

“The happy couple who will tie the knot by spring next year granted their first interview as an engaged couple to the BBC, where Prince Harry described how he proposed to Meghan.

“Since the announcement, controversy has arisen about Meghan’s background, which made her name a top trending search term on Google this week,’’ he said.

Kola-Ogunlade said that the Brazilian professional footballer, Robson de Souza, commonly known as Robinho, was sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of gang rape.

He said that the Brazilian striker was sentenced by a court in Milan for being one of a six-people involved in the assault of a 22-year-old woman at a Milanese nightclub in 2013.

Kola-Ogunlade said that Robinho’s current club, Atletico Mineiro, had declined to comment on the sentence, stating they would only speak through the team’s lawyers, if necessary.

The news of Robinho’s sentence has made his name a top trending search term on Google, he said.

Google Trends launched in May 2006, allows one to see how popular, search terms and its demography have been over time on Google.

NAN

November 30, 2017
54 babies born HIV positive in Nasarawa – Official

Dr Zakari Umar, the Executive Director of Nasarawa State Aids Control Agency ( NASACA ), said 54 babies delivered between January and September in the state tested positive to HIV.

Umar made this known on Thursday in Lafia in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Umar said out of the 1,194 pregnant women who keyed into the Prevention of Mother- to- Child Transmission (PMTCT) HIV programme in 2017, 54 of them transmitted the virus to their babies.

He explained that cases of transmission recorded were due to lack of adherence to medical advice and refusal to take prescribed drugs.

“Science has proven that it is possible to totally eradicate mother to child transmission of HIV if pregnant women adhere to medical advice and take their drugs regularly.

“Those women whose babies tested positive must have refused to comply with their drug regimen during pregnancy,” Umar added.
According to him, the case of mother to child transmission of HIV in the state has reduced over the years due to sensitisation and other preventive measures taken by stakeholders.

He said available records from 2016 indicated that 66 babies were born with HIV.

Umar attributed reduction in transmission of the disease to babies in 2017 to sensitisation and adoption of the PMTCT programme.

He also advised members of the public to avoid acts that would make them vulnerable to the virus, adding “the virus is not yet over hence the need for people to take preventive measures.”

The executive director urged people to get tested to enable them know their status in order to curtail spread of the disease.

He said the state had domesticated the anti stigmatisation law aimed at protecting those living with the virus.

Umar, therefore, advised those being stigmatised on the account of the disease to always seek redress at the appropriate quarter.

NAN

November 30, 2017
Boko Haram: VSF launches peace building project for Borno, Yobe

As part of the healing process after the devastating effect of the Boko Haram crisis in the northeast region of Nigeria ( in this case Borno and Yobe ), the Victims Support Fund (VSF) has launched a peace building project the will promote peace, security and social cohesion through inter/intra religious peace building among communities ravaged by the crisis.

The Executive Director of VSF, Prof. Sunday Ochoche who lunched the project both in Borno and Yobe called on the people to begin to learn how to forgive one another in order to regain peace within the region.

According to Prof. Ochoche who while addressing stakeholders at the Musa Usman Secretariat complex in Maiduguri said; “Today’s peace building project; was designed to enhance peace, reconciliation and social cohesion in the society, particularly the ones affected by the eight-year Boko Haram insurgency that claimed many lives and property in Borno state.

“While the campaigns of traditional and religious leaders; also sought to streamline the full implementation of various humanitarian interventions for rapid resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) in affected communities in the war ravaged region of northeast.

“This project was to reconcile and forgive among members of the communities that were seriously hurt, destroyed and traumatized during eight-year insurgency period”.

He explained further that implementation of the project; has already began in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno state, as a pilot peace building project, adding that, the project will be extended to insurgency affected states of Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba.

He disclosed that the peace building process embarked upon by VSF is a coordinated strategy of putting together the different interventions to fast track reconciliation, rehabilitation and cohesion among the various communities affected by insurgency.

“We want people to return to their normal ways of living and smile again, live in confidence and sleep with their two eyes closed,” Prof Ochoche said.

He mentioned some of the workable strategies to include “pulling and tapping from available local and international resources in the state that could mitigate conflicts and promote peace through; “Construction of networks of peace and conflict resolutions to achieve sustainable peace and development of communities affected by insurgency.”

Prof. Ochoche noted that the project will facilitate and sustain a strong multi-levels forum for inter and intra religious and cultural dialogue and reconciliation, adding that, “this could enhance sustainable research and documentation on trends and dynamics of conflicts in the northeast”.

At Damaturu, Yobe State, Professor Sunday Ochoche again took his message of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace to the people of the state who gathered at the Cultural Centre in Damaturu in the view of spreading the message to the rural communities.

He stressed that VSF will not relent in connecting the gaps that the insurgency has brough to the region through its comprehensive activities with the peace building project on the radar.

He added that VSF over the years has rebuilt, reconstructed and reconciled the affected persons in the north east and will not relent in restoring hope among the returning communities.

“VSF has been actively involved in the peace building process in the north east over the years and we will continue to do that to achieve lasting peace.

“We have been doing with economic, educational, health, and security components and everybody is doing his own to ensure that peace is been built in the returning communities because people have been divided around religious, political and other divides so this peace initiative will bring back the loss confidence in the minds of the people and that is actually what we are working on”, Prof. Ochoche said.

Speaking on the level of the participation of stakeholders, Prof. Ochoche said, “so far has been excellent and assure that the objectives of the initiatives will be realized” as the stakeholders will work towards achieving the desired goals”.

Both the representative of the Muslim community, Ustaz Hudu Mohammed and that of the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN ), Pastor Martin Ikem promised to take the message to their followers on the need to forgive one another and embrace peace at all times.

The Nation recalled that VSF was established early 2014 by the Federal Government under its Presidential Initiative for the North-East (PINE) to assist and treat Boko Haram victims injured in the eight year insurgency.

Since inception, it assisted six hospitals in the northeast and other parts of the country with funds to treat victims of terror attacks.

In Borno State for instance, VSF has provided education support to 80,000 primary schools pupils displaced by Boko Haram insurgency and rebuild destroyed schools, health centres and public structures at in Bama and Dikwa as well as supported farmers in dry season farming in Borno and Yobe State.

November 30, 2017
127 Ghanaian illegal migrants evacuated from Libya – UN agency

The International Organisation for Migration ( IOM ), a related organization of the United Nations ( UN ) on Thursday said it evacuated 127 Ghanaian illegal migrants from the volatile situation in Libya.

Kojo Wilmot, a national officer of IOM said the aircraft carrying these migrants arrived Ghana around 10:15 p.m. on Wednesday local time.

Wilmot said that there was one female and two minors among the rescued migrants.

“We promote orderly migration, but these people were caught up in a volatile situation and were being held under various forms of inhumane treatment.

“We, therefore, intervened to protect their human rights and return them home in a dignified and safe manner,” Wilmot explained.

Majority of the returnees, the official said, were not from Accra, Ghana’s capital, but from Takoradi, 218 km west of the capital and Kumasi, 280 km north of the capital.

Others are from Sunyani, 400 km north of the capital and other areas across the country.

The IOM, therefore, provided them with a means of transportation back to their final destinations and would be supporting their re-integration into their communities.

“Due to the inhumane conditions they were being kept, most of them would need psychosocial counselling.

“We would also work together with government of Ghana and the EU mission in Ghana to support them with basic livelihood to help enhance their integration process,” he added.

Wilmot explained that since these immigrants were mostly undocumented, who used illegal means to enter Libya and they were forced to do menial jobs, mostly “Malaga” (plastering buildings) but were usually handed over to the police when they pursue those, who hired them for payment.

“One Ghanaian, who had painted a complete house went to the owner to receive payment, but instead the owner called the police, who came to arrest him.

“While trying to escape from the police, the Ghanaian was knocked down by a vehicle,” the official said.

He added that there was also sexual violence against the female migrants being held in Libyan detention camps, where they were captured and being kept.

IOM has identified three more detention camps across Libya with at least 266 Ghanaians among the detainees.

“We will work with all stakeholders to ensure safe and humane return of these Ghanaians and other sub-Saharan African migrants in these conditions.

“Considering the conditions in Libya, most of them come to us voluntarily seeking help to return home.

“The situation is dire and we invite all stakeholders to get their hands on deck to help in bringing back these migrants to their final destinations,” he indicated.

Xinhua/NAN

November 30, 2017
FG, UNICEF partner to reduce number of out-of-school children

The Federal Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund ( UNICEF ) have called for collaboration to reduce the number of out-of-school children.

Nigeria currently has the highest number of out-of-school children with 10.5 million.

UNICEF’s Education Specialist, Swadchet Sankey, at a media dialogue in Kano, on early childhood development (ECD) said the figure was alarming.

The dialogue was organized by UNICEF in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Information.

She said Nigeria needs to get its early preprimary education right in other to begin to reduce the huge figures.

According to her, building Amajiri schools would not reduce the figure, adding that the federal government must get its early learning and preprimary education right.

Sankey, who commended the rate of enrollment in schools, called for more efforts to keep children in school.

She said: “We are contributing to the number of out-of-school children.

“One of the strategies of reducing out of school children is not just building amajiri schools, it is not just doing school feeding programmes but we need to get our early learning approach and preprimary education right and ensure that children are enrolled in school.

“We need to be able to create opportunities that allows everybody to have access to quality learning.

“We need a national parenting education program. We need parents to understand what ECC means. We need government to understand what ECC is.

“Preprimary education is very important. We need to create an opportunity that gives room for early child learning. Early learning matters because it helps the children to lay the foundation for school.

“Development cannot occur without adequate attention to early childcare. Parents no longer have time to engage with their children. We need to create an enabling environment for parents to support their children.

“Right now in Nigeria our enrollment shows 20 per cent even though the survey is a little bit higher.”

Also, Assistant Director, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Mayowa Aleshi, said the federal government has allocated funds to early childhood development program.

He called for adequate planning and utilization of resources to expand ECD in the country.

He disclosed that there are about 62,406 primary schools as at 2014, adding that only 28,026 of them had Early Childhood Care and Development Education centres.

According to him, the centres have 56,588 teachers and caregivers with 74% of these population qualified.

He also disclosed that the federal government has set aside “2% of consolidated revenue fund for implementation of UBEC Programme Funding; segregated to a matching grant of 50%, instructional materials at 15%, teachers’ development at 10% and 5% each of the three components on pre-primary schools.”

November 30, 2017
FG approves N1.7bn for Gurara dam pipeline project

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the payment of N1.712 billion for the contractor handling the 75-kilometre Gurara Dam water pipeline project in Niger State.

The FEC meeting, which lasted for about four hours, was presided over by Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo.

While briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting, the Minister of Water Resources Mr Suleiman Adamu, said, the memo was complimentary to the earlier one he presented at the last FEC meeting on Nov.22.

Adamu said, the pipeline contract from Gurara Dam to lower Usuma dam was for the laying of a three diameter pipeline.

“Last week, we got approval to engage a contractor for one year and to have a training contract with the contractor so that we can prepare to handover the project to the FCT Administration.

“So, this memo that was considered today has to do with the backlog of payment for the contractor because the contractor, as you are aware, has been maintaining the pipeline since the project was completed in 2008.”

The Council also approved the sum of N1.5 billion on voluntary Assets Declaration to cover advertising campaign for nine months.

The Minister of Finance Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who presented the memo, also briefed the FEC on the progress under the tax amnesty.

She informed the council that there were individuals who are ready to declare and pay.

“We have sent out over 500 letters under the first batch, there are thousands of Nigerians being targeted but the first 500 letters have gone out.

“We have started getting responses back and many people are asking for time to pay. Most of the governors have agreed to give more time for people to make arrangements for payments.

“This is indeed, a very good news for Nigeria as it will help reduce over reliance on oil.

“So, whether oil prices are high or low, we will be able to provide basic services for our people. Very high net worth people are now being brought into the tax revenue profile and we hope to exceed the target that has been set.

The Minister said, it was too early to give exact figure of the number of responses since the ministry had just started dispatching the letters on Monday.

“But, we have a telephone line dedicated to the project and a lot of people have called in to express their readiness to cooperate.

“We meet the governors just two days ago and they all agreed because personal income taxes are also going to the state government coffers.

She said they also agreed to accommodate those who agreed they are owing but have not got the cash to pay.

“Some people might have the house but didn’t have the cash, we need to give them chances to bring this money and we asked that they should give them time to bring in this money and they have agreed to do so.”

She said that government was targeting 0ne billion dollars and had already realised 110 million dollars from two companies.

She said government used information from land registries of states governments and the FCT as well as Bank Verification Numbers and Corporate Affairs Commission to get those who are defaulting.

“We also looked at people whose names appeared in the Panama and Paradise papers, we also looked at people who have companies but are not paying the right taxes,” Adeosun said.

On the payment to Whistles blowers, the minister said, the Federal Government had earmark N421.3 million to pay the first batch of beneficiaries.

She said, the only condition necessary for payment was that the money would be paid to the Whistle-blower who signed the agreement with government not to any third party.

“If we get the court judgement, we have to wait first three months to ensure that there are encumbrances as regards to any further legal challenge.

“We get in touch with the state government where the person is domiciled, we pay the tax directly to the state and issue the tax receipt. So we built in these procedures to protect the whistle-blower.”

NAN

November 30, 2017
Nigerian Pastor, Imam win intercultural innovation award at UN

Two distinguished Nigerian clerics, Pastor James Wuye and Imam Muhammad Ashafa, have won the 2017 Intercultural Innovation Award, an international award held at the United Nations ( UN ) headquarters.

The two Nigerian clerics were among the 10 recipients of the award, out of which five awardees were from Africa, namely Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda.

The others were from Argentina, Ecuador, Israel, Northern Ireland and Pakistan.

Wuye and Ashafa are Co-Executive Directors of Interfaith Mediation Centre, Kaduna, an organisation that engages in interfaith dialogue and relations in Northern Nigeria.

The Intercultural Innovation Award is a partnership between the United Nations Alliance of Civilization ( UNAOC ) and BMW Group that selects and supports innovative intercultural grassroots projects.

It is ‘a celebration of the most innovative grassroots projects that encourage intercultural dialogue around the world’.

The Pastor’s and Imam’s project that was nominated for the award is ‘Transforming pastoralist-farmer conflict in Nigeria’.

According to the Award, “A combination of resource-based and ethno-religious conflict is causing many hundreds of fatalities each year in Nigeria and displacing tens of thousands of people from their homes and farms.

“Imam Ashafa and Pastor Wuye’s project builds on their successful mediation of some of these conflicts, and adds the dimension of livelihood collaboration in order to restore the land – thereby creating a ‘win-win-win’ for the conflicting parties and the environment.

“It puts into practical action some of the pioneering insights of the Caux Dialogue on Land and Security (CDLS) in Switzerland, which Pastor Wuye, Imam Ashafa and their team from the Interfaith Mediation Centre in Nigeria regularly attend.

“In preparing for the event, UNAOC/BMW asked Pastor Wuye and Imam Ashafa, ‘How can we, the audience, join you in making a difference?

“They replied: ‘Share with everyone that tackling farmer-pastoralist conflict will restore the social fabric of the Sahel region, while healing the land will restore the environmental fabric…

“Support inter-dependence, celebrate the gifts of diversity and collaborate to care for the planet wherever you are – and we will make a difference to our world’.”

The keynote statement at the award was delivered by the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Amina Mohammed.

The two Nigerian awardees had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande.

NAN

November 30, 2017