The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Permanent Secretary

  • Buhari swears in Special Advisers, permanent secretary

    Buhari swears in Special Advisers, permanent secretary

    President Muhammadu Buhari has administered oaths on four Special Advisers and one permanent secretary at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    They include the Special Adviser on Social Investment, Mrs. Maryam Uwais; Special Adviser on Political Matter, Senator Babafemi Ojudu; Special Adviser on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu; Special Adviser on Planning, Tijani Abdullahi; and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Rafiu Enikanolaye.

    While Abdullahi was assigned to the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Uwais, Ojudu and Dipeolu were deployed to the Office of the Vice President.

    The brief ceremony, which took place before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, was presided by President Buhari.

  • Army/Shiites Clash : El-Rufai raises white paper committee

    Army/Shiites Clash : El-Rufai raises white paper committee

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State has set up a nine -man committee to produce a white paper on the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Army/Shiites.

    The Army/Shiites clash in Zaria last December.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Samuel Aruwan, Media aide to the governor, in Kaduna on Wednesday

    El-Rufai said that the committee would commence work immediately and submit the draft white paper within two weeks.

    The committee is headed by Adamu Mansur, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education.

    The governor also mandated the committee to make any other recommendation that would assist government in addressing issues raised in the report.

    The committee members were the permanent secretaries of the Ministries of Environment and Natural Resources, Works, Housing and Transport, Local Government, Cabinet Affairs and Special Services.

    The other members were the permanent secretaries Ministry of Justice, Civil Service Commission, and Mr M. Aliyu of the Ministry of Justice, as well as Mr Alexander Sule of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

  • Lagos to use waste from abattoirs to create electricity

    Lagos to use waste from abattoirs to create electricity

    The Lagos State government is planning an innovative project to convert waste from the abattoirs.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Shakirudeen Olayiwole Onasanya announced this at a one day workshop on food safety in the Nigerian meat industry in Lagos. The workshop was organised by the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) in collaboration with the Animal Science Association of Nigeria.

    He spoke through the Director, Veterinary Service, Dr Shamisudeen Olalekan.

    Consequently, new abattoirs may have biogas producing facilities to disseminate cheap and relatively clean energy throughout the facilities.

    This is expected to improve waste management at the abattoir.

    He highlighted the challenge of managing waste, stressed that the government is taking steps to improve sanitary control in slaughtering, processing and commercialisation of meat at Oko-Oba Abattoir in Agege to prevent food safety risks.

    He said Lagos has one approved abattoir, eight approved slaughter slabs and more than 15 illegal slaughtering slabs including slaughtering facilities located within the military barracks.

    He said over 6000 cattle, 10,000 sheep and goat are slaughtered daily.

    The chaotic situation has caused serious problems related to food hygiene and safety.

    Despite having investing modern slaughterhouses, he said the state is still struggling to compete with illegal abattoirs.

    Onasanya said the government will suspend the operation of slaughterhouses that do not meet food safety and hygiene requirements, tighten control over veterinary and environmental hygiene and food safety in small slaughterhouses, and to strictly deal with violations as per the law.

  • FG okays N2,500 post-UTME screening fee

    FG okays N2,500 post-UTME screening fee

    The Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders in the tertiary education sub-sector have agreed on N2,500 as the fee for post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) screening.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Prof. Michael Faborode, the Secretary-General, Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Faborode said the agreement was reached after a deliberation of officials of the ministry, federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

    The secretary-general said while it was agreed that the post-UTME screening should be sustained following the scrapping of the Computer Based Test (CBT).

    “From the statement made by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan at the meeting, there is no objection to screening by universities as long as it is not another CBT.

    She agreed that universities should advertise and the maximum fee that should be charged for the screening should be N2,500 – bank charges inclusive.’’

    According to the statement, the association will formally convey its stance to the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu.

    NAN reports that Adamu’s recent announcement of the ban on post-UTME had raised a lot anxiety among stakeholders.

  • Shooting of Policeman: Army, Police condemned action

    Shooting of Policeman: Army, Police condemned action

    The Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force in Maiduguri  has jointly condemned the unfortunate incident  that led to the shooting of a police officer in the Borno State Deputy Governors’ Office on Thursday in Maiduguri.

    In a statement jointly signed by Col SB Kumapayi Commander, 7 Division Garrison Operation Lafiya Dole and Aminchi Samaila Baraya, Commissioner for  Police  Borno State Command, they said that the situation was quickly brought under full control within minutes and promised that they would jointly investigate the cause of the fracas with a view to ensuring that anyone found culpable amongst the security men are made to face disciplinary measures in line with laid down rules of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

    “Findings and measures taken will be brought to public knowledge as soon as possible” they said.

    According to them, the incident started in morning hours of  Thursday, June 23, 2016, when an unfortunate fracas occured between a soldier and a policeman around the office of the Deputy Governor over a disagreement which led to the unfortunate shooting of a policeman on his foot.

    “By way of background from the Permanent Secretary, Government House and Security, Mr Ahmed Sanda, the Borno State Government had on Sunday, June 19, 2019 began the distribution of rice to internally displaced persons living in the host communities of Maiduguri and Jere metropolis. The distribution was meant to take place at 28 wards of the two local government areas unfortunately, when the exercise was launched in old Maiduguri ward for Jere local government area and at Shehuri north ward for Maiduguri on Sunday, hoodlums overpowered the committee in both instances and made away with many bags of the rice meant for the displaced persons. As a result, officials tasked with the distribution shifted the exercise to two premises around the office of the Deputy Governor outside the Government House in order to ensure security of the food items while beneficiaries were identified and issued with allocation notes to give them access to the distribution centers. The exercise had gone smoothly since Sunday with some wards covered, until the unfortunate development today, Thursday”. They said policeman is responding to treatment and has been visited by the theatre commander, operation Lafiya Dole, Major General LEO Irabor and the Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command, Aminchi Baraya, both of whom went together to sympathize with the policeman

    The Army and the police operating in Borno however assured the general public that they will continue to collaborate and work together towards their ongoing counter insurgency and civil security efforts that have led to the emerging peace in Borno State.

    They however called on all personnel to exercise restraint in the cause of their duties and should strive to respect one another and work together to secure innocent citizens and maintain peace.

  • FG shuts down NERFUND

    FG shuts down NERFUND

    The federal government has shut down the Nigerian Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND).

    This is contained in a letter to all staff and management of NERFUND signed by the Permanent Secretary, Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, Federal Ministry of Finance.

    The letter noted that “following the recent developments in your organization and the failure to reconcile the differences, but the Executive Management, Senior Management and staff and in spite of interventions by the Federal Ministry of Finance, the ministry has decided to close down the organization with immediate effect.

    The letter advised “all staff and management to proceed on compulsory leave.” When contacted, Festus Akanbi the Special Adviser to the minister of finance confirmed the development.

  • Ajumobi tasks Nigerians on mutual respect

    Ajumobi tasks Nigerians on mutual respect

    The Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajumobi has appealed to Nigerians to continue to exhibit the virtue of love, mutual respect and understanding among the various ethnic and religious divide.

    Ajumobi made this known in an interview with The Nation at the 53rd birthday ceremony of the Presiding Bishop of Victory International Church, Pastor  Taiwo Adelakun held recently at the Rehoboth Cathedral, Ibadan, Oyo State.

    The programme brought together hundreds of Christian faithful from parts of Africa, public service officials, civil society groups, clerics,  students, widows which feature song rendition, scholarship fund of #25,000 to 20 indigent students, and #5, 000 donation to 100  widows in the state.

    According to him, the way out of the socio-economic problems facing Nigeria is when Nigerians exhibit genuine love, peace, trust, ingenuity and mutual respect among the various divide.

    He said that we cannot continue to  beat the drums of war and ethnic cleansing and still expect to make significant progress at the same time. It is not possible.

    He said “as a governor, I believe and support mutual respect and togetherness of all religions which has made Oyo state peaceful and progress achieved in the last five years of my tenure”.

    Ajimobi. who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Public Corporation Commission, Mr. Bunmi Babalola stressed that Nigeria has the capacity and resources to be great again but we must work together as one big family, pursing the same goal of making Nigeria  better than we met it.

    The governor who also commended the celebrant for his commitment toward touching lives for God and the benefit of the society, said “Pastor Adelakun has no scandal in his life. He is indeed a pride  to the nation and a pride to our generation. He has contributed so much to humanity  and his position I the Christian community is assured.

    He promised that the state government will continue to support the church at every given point in time said the state will support you as we have seen that you have imparted positively on the lives of the downtrodden in the state and part of the world..

    In his words, the celebrant, Pastor Adelakun, who was full of praise and gratitude to God, said “I am happy to be alive today as God has been faithful to me and my household. He took me from the village to sit with the kings of this world. I am very grateful”.

    He urged Nigerian to keep their hope alive in God as there would be light at the end of the tunnel no matter how hard the times may be.

    Earlier, one of the beneficiary of the #25, 000 scholarship to indigent students,  Martins Favour from St Annes Girls High School, Ibadan said that the scholarship brings a lot of hope and comfort to the family and am indeed grateful to God and the church.

  • Ministers begin scrutiny of 2016 Budget

    Ministers begin scrutiny of 2016 Budget

    In order to look critically at the 2016 Appropriation bill recently passed by the National Assembly, Ministers and Permanent Secretaries on Friday began ministry by ministry scrutiny of the budget.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had last week insisted that the 2016 budget details will be scrutinized before he assents to it.

    The Presidency got the details of the budget on Thursday.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo chaired the meeting scrutinizing the details of the budget at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.

    Speaking with State House correspondents during short break of the meeting, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed said: “We have received the details of the 2016 budget from the National Assembly and an extra-ordinary Federal Executive Council meeting was called this morning to avail every minister to look at the details of the budget and see how it affects each of the ministries.

    “And also at this point, it is still work in progress we have broken up to resume later in the afternoon.

    “We will come out with a statement later,” he added.

  • Primlaks gets Agric ministry recognition

    The outgoing Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Sonny Echono, has lauded Primlaks Group, producers of the Sympli brand of convenience foods, for raising the bar of innovation and value addition in Nigeria’s indigenous foods.

    Echono gave the commendation during his visit to  Sympli exhibition stand at the just-concluded 2015 FOODBEXT WEST AFRICA Exhibition in Lagos where he tasted Sympli yam fries and plantain chips to the delight of visitors and other stakeholders.  “Sympli has shown that it is not enough to just grow crops, we must add some value, do some processing, improve packaging and then the products will be exportable and can earn more revenue for Nigeria,” he said, adding, “Value addition is the way to go, the opportunities are bountiful, it is profitable, it also ensures that we create additional jobs for our people and we can get additional value.”

    He urged the company to intensify efforts at creating awareness and getting markets for its products, leveraging on the quick preparation and affordability of local agricultural produce.

    “We have the right economic conditions, good soil and labour. So once you can improve on these, you can compete with anybody anywhere and that is what you should be doing,” he said.

    Earlier at the opening ceremony of the AgrikExpo, the founder of the Centre for Value and Leadership, Prof Pat Utomi, said: “It is my view that if we focus on the strategy of processing what we produce and there is a clear national strategy, corporate strategy will key into it and use it as a great advantage to help drive the economy of this nation.”

    Chairman of VPPL, Otunba Christopher Tugbobo said: “I am very happy to be a part of this venture because Sympli proves that Nigeria is capable of doing new things in agriculture that can help reduce our dependence on oil and gas.”

    “Sympli is produced 100% locally by Nigerians for Nigerians and this gives me hope as it creates much needed employment, helps reduce post-harvest losses and gives Nigerians a home grown brand in the frozen food segment that we can all be proud of,” he said.

    Sympli is the registered brand name of a range of IQF foods produced by Venus Processing and Packaging Limited (VPPL), which is a part of the PRIMLAKS Group. The locally farmed, processed and packed Sympli products, which include ‘Yam Fries’, ‘Yam Cubes,’ Plantain ‘Dodo’ and Plantain Chips, are delivered in ready-to-cook state for frying, steaming or baking.

  • Lagos Permanent Secretary assures farmers of govt’s support

    Lagos Permanent Secretary assures farmers of govt’s support

    Lagos State government has reiterated its commitment to support farmers to boost food production and create opportunities for small farmers.

    he Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Olajide Basorun, stated this while delivering his keynote address at the award of certificates to 55 women and youths who were trained by the Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP) in the three value chains – rice, poultry and aquaculture.

    He said the state is ready to work with small farmers to assist them in solving food problems.

    The trainees were exposed to modern techniques and commercialisation.

    The new partnership aims at optimising food production in various areas of the state. Basorun said the state would work with them to improve food production, food security and rural incomes.

    Basorun congratulated the participants, surging them to make good use the training.

    ”We have engaged you; we have taken you from whatever you are doing to come and do farming and you have agreed because you have passion for it. We have equipped you with necessary information about the latest technology you need to use to succeed in farming,” he said.

    Basorun said the obejective of empowering the women and youth is to diversify the economy from over reliance on crude oil.

    He continued: “Before, it used to be about crude oil, now agriculture is a business. In other climes, the richest people are farmers, and that is why we need to focus on the benefit we can derive from agriculture produce. CADP was from to commercialise agriculture and shift from the hole and cutlass farming.’’

    Earlier, the state Project Coordinator of the Commercial Agriculture Development Project, Mr Kehinde Ogunyinka, said the space for the first batch of the trainees was keenly contested among over 100 candidates.

    He said they were chosen on merit and were certified to have passion for agriculture.

    The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of certificates to the trainees by the permanent secretary.

    Speakinging on behalf of his colleagues, Jimoh Nurudeen thanked  Governor Akinwumi Ambode for his efforts to revitalise the agricultural sector of the state. He also thanked the state Ministry of Agriculture, the World Bank, CADP and other stakeholders for supporting  the scheme.

    He, however, promised that they would make good use of what they have learnt as well as any assistance they got from the scheme.