The Nation Newspaper

Tag: The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

  •  Oyo govt., labour hold reconciliatory talks

     Oyo govt., labour hold reconciliatory talks

    The face-off between the Oyo State Government and labour may soon be over as the two parties commenced reconciliatory talks on Wednesday in Ibadan.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that workers led by the national leadership of the NLC had on June 6 declared an indefinite strike over their unpaid six months salaries.

    The workers also rejected government’s controversial education initiative to involve private participation in the management of public secondary schools while also demanding the withdrawal of all charges against the labour leaders in a court of law.

    A five-hour reconciliatory meeting facilitated by the State House of Assembly, however, held at the Executive Chambers of the Governors Office.

    Speaking after the meeting, which ended at exactly 8.15p.m., the parties told newsmen that the reconciliatory process was on course.

    Mr Peters Adeyemi, Deputy President of NLC, said that the meeting was a tough one that required extensive deliberation.

    He said that the labours leaders would go back to brief members on the issues discussed and take a collective decision.

    “We cannot take a decision on the ongoing strike action here unless we brief our people and collectively a decision is taken.

    “Whatever is our decision would be communicated to the government and the media on Thursday,” he said.

    Adeyemi commended the governor for his tolerance and the Assembly for its timely intervention.

    Also speaking, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi commended the commitment and maturity displayed by the national leadership of both NLC and NUT.

    Ajimobi said that he saw honesty of purpose in the discussion between the parties, expressing optimism that the outcome would be for the progress of the state.

    “I have no doubt that we will all succeed at the end,” he said.

    NAN also reports that the leadership of the NUT led by its President, Mr Olukoya Alogba, presented the union’s proposals on promoting educational development in the state to the governor.

  • Julius Berger to complete Apapa-Oshodi Expressway next week

    Julius Berger to complete Apapa-Oshodi Expressway next week

    Construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc., says the ongoing rehabilitation of the Barliet to Ilasa section of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway will be completed next week.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State had mobilised the firm to site in May following public outcry over their hardship on the dilapidated portion.

    When NAN correspondents visited the site on Tuesday, construction activities, including grading, asphalt lay, earth works and reconstruction of drainage channels were going on simultaneously.

    The development made the construction zone a beehive of activities with different earth moving equipment, rollers, pavers and trucks working on various stretches of the road on the Oshodi bound carriageway.

    A Julius Berger engineer at the site, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the firm was carrying out emergency repairs on the highway.

    “This is not a contract but an emergency repair being undertaken by the Lagos State Government.

    “We have worked on 1.5 kilometres of road so far and we are also reconstructing this drainage channels that have collapsed.

    “We have been on site for about three weeks and should complete the work in a week’s time from now.

    “We have no challenges because we have been able to deploy adequate manpower and equipment to site,” he said.

    Also, an authoritative source in the Federal Ministry of Works told NAN that the ministry was working with the firm on the project.

    “It is the governor that directed Julius Berger to carry out the work and we are supportive.

    “It is our road and Lagos State Government needs our permission for access,” the source said.

  • Gunmen kill acting Registrar of Medical Council

    The acting Registrar, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Mrs Olufunke Omotuyi, has been murdered by suspected gunmen on Wednesday morning in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the incident took place at about 4 a.m. at her Apo residence in Abuja.

    The late Omotuyi was reported to be in her office till 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

    She is due for retirement from public service next month.

    Details of how the assassins got her were sketchy.

    When contacted, the Police spokesman of the FCT Command, ASP Anjuguri Manzah, told NAN that he was yet be briefed on the incident

  • NYSC orientation exercise resumes in Gombe after two years

    NYSC orientation exercise resumes in Gombe after two years

    National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation exercise has resumed in Gombe state after two years of suspension as a result of security challenges occasioned by the threat of insurgents.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) however reports that the 1,706 batch ‘A’ Corps members deployed to the state are to undergo the exercise in a temporary orientation camp in Amada, Akko Local Government Area, pending the clearing of the permanent camp in Malamsidi town of Kwami Local Government Area.

    Speaking at the inaugural ceremony on Friday, Gombe State Coordinator of NYSC, Malam Ahmed Ikada commended Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo for his timely intervention that saw the resumption of orientation camp in the state.

    He then appealed to the governor to assist the corps members with stipends to add to their monthly allowance.

    In his remarks, Alhaji Mahmud Baba, acting Head of Service and chairman, NYSC Governing Board, urged the corps members to put in to practice, the skills acquired during their training.

    Declaring the orientation camp open, Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo assured the corps members that the government was committed to ensuring their security.

    He commended the host community for providing vigilantes that would collaborate with security personnel to ensure security within and outside the camp.

     

  • Enugu: Police dismisses rumours of herdsmen invasion

    Enugu: Police dismisses rumours of herdsmen invasion

    The Enugu State Police Command on Thursday dismissed as false and unfounded rumours of alleged invasion of Umuchigbo Abakpa Nike community by herdsmen.

     

    This is contained in a press statement signed by the commands spokesman, Mr Ebere Amarizu and made available to newsmen in Enugu.

     

    It said that the rumours were engineered by those wishing to cause disaffection in the state.

     

    “The attention of the Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to the rumours making the round that some violent herdsmen have invaded Umuchigbo Abakpa Nike.

     

    “The rumour has it that the community and others closed to it have been deserted, but the command wishes to make it clear that this is not only false but baseless and unfounded.”

     

    It advised “members of the public particularly residents and people of the state to go about their normal pursuits without fear while rumour peddlers are warned to desist forthwith.”

     

    The statement stressed that the command in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies had fortified security along Umuchigbo axis to prevent any breach of the peace.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that rumours had it that Umuchigbo Abakpa Nike community had allegedly received threats of invasion from suspected herdsmen two days after the invasion of Nimbo community.

     

    The residents were said to be agitated, after similar threat by suspected herdsmen manifested in an attack on Nimbo community on April 23 which left scores dead and several people injured.

  • Lawmaker empowers 300 youths in Edo

    No fewer than 300 unemployed youths from Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo were on Monday empowered with different business items for self sustenance.

     

    Mr Peter Akpatason, the lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, distributed the items to the beneficiaries at Igarra, headquarters of the council area.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items include: motorcycles, tricycles, hair-driers, sewing machines, grinding and block molding machines.

     

    Akpatason said that the gesture was to reduce the level of unemployment in his constituency.

     

    He said the beneficiaries had before now, undergone between three months and six months of intensive skills’ acquisition training in various trades.

     

    The lawmaker said the beneficiaries were carefully selected from across the wards in the constituency, saying that the selection process was free from discrimination.

     

    “It is my covenant with my constituency to represent them well at the national assembly and do well for my constituents through implementation of my constituency projects.

     

    “I will seize every opportunity at my disposal as a Federal lawmaker to bring the dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of my people,” he said.

     

    He also assured members of his constituency of adequate representation and initiating economic-driven bills at the national assembly that would enhance their living standards.

     

    Akpatason promised that, “In the next couple of months, youth unemployment, empowerment and qualitative education of our pupils will be given priority in order to secure their future.”

     

    The beneficiaries commended the lawmaker, saying that the items would go a long way in ameliorating the poverty situation in the community.

  • V.C commends University of Ghana

    V.C commends University of Ghana

    Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, the Vice-Chancellor (V.C), University of Ilorin (Unilorin), has commended the University of Ghana, Legon Boundary in Accra, for partnering Unilorin in its UG-Pan African Doctoral Academy (UG-PADA) programme.

     

    Ambali gave the commendation on Monday in Ilorin when he received a two-man delegation from the university led by Prof. Kweku Osam.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that UG-PADA focuses its programmes on doctoral candidates at the University of Ghana, other universities in Ghana and in other West-African countries.

     

    It is established to address specific skill gaps and provides opportunities for improving the knowledge of doctoral candidates.

     

    It is also geared toward equipping scholars with methodological skills; scholarship, counseling, mentoring and career development guidance.

     

    The programme is also to avail Doctors of Philosophy (PhD) scholars’ supervisory skills and introduce them to methods of teaching and learning that will enhance their capability to train other future academics.

     

    The V-C said that there had been a long-standing relationship between the two universities which the visit would by the team would further cement.

     

    Ambali said, “It is a welcome development to have our students interacts with students from across the world.’’

     

    He told the team that the university had “a robust postgraduate programme”.

     

    Earlier, the leader of the team, Prof. Kweku Osam, said that it was in Unilorin to encourage doctoral students from there to apply for the UG-PADA programme.

     

    According to him, the accelerated PhD training is funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

     

    He said that the courses were opened to PhD candidates from the University of Ghana (UG) as well as other Ghanaian and African Universities.

     

    The team also includes: Mrs Christy Badu, Senior Assistant Registrar, University of Ghana who doubles as the coordinator of the programme.

  • Tribunal stands-down Saraki’s trial

    Tribunal stands-down Saraki’s trial

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday stood-down the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki till afternoon owing to the absence of the prosecution lawyer, Mr Rotimi Jacob (SAN).

    The chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Umar Danladi, said the decision was to allow Jacob, the lead counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) attend to the case.

    The tribunal order was sequel to an announcement by a junior counsel in the EFCC legal team, Mr Gaabriel Ezegine that his principal was attending to another case at the Court of Appeal.

    Danladi questioned the absence of the EFCC lead counsel, saying that the prosecution should be aware of the provisions of the law on speedy dispensation of criminal trial.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Saraki is standing trial on a 13-count-charge bordering on false asset declaration and money laundering.

     

    He had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

  • Akwanga council sets up committee on demolition of illegal structures

    The Akwanga Local Government in Nasarawa State on Thursday inaugurated a 17-man taskforce to remove illegal structures along major roads in Akwanga and its environs within two weeks.

    Mr Kwanta Yakubu, the Sole Administrator of the council, said in Akwanga while inaugurating the committee that the aim was to ease traffic and ensure healthy environment in the affected areas.

    According to Yakubu, the decongestion is to discourage hawking, trading and other illegalities on major roads.

    “The aim is to make Akwanga clean, healthy, and peaceful for everybody.

    “The high rate of congestion along major roads has become a source of concern and as responsible government, we cannot fold our hands and watch the situation,” he said.

    He urged the committee to be fair and just as well as ensure that residents adhere strictly to the rule of law in the interest of peace and development.

    The sole administrator also directed the committee to ensure that traders along the roads got lock up shops in the Akwanga Main Market.

    He said a new motor park had been opened on Andaha road for interested commercial motorists.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, the Chairman of the committee, thanked the sole administrator for finding them worthy and promised not to disappoint him.

    Shekarau, who is a Judge of an Upper Area Court, solicited for the support and understanding of the people of the area to enable the committee succeed.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other members of the committee are the market associations, Nigeria Police Force and the Civil Defence Corps.

     

  • Nigeria national league to kick off on May 7

    Nigeria national league to kick off on May 7

     

     

    The ad hoc committee overseeing the Nigeria National League (NNL) on Wednesday in Abuja said the league’s 2015/2016 season would kick off on May 7.

    The league body’s ad hoc committee also informed club officials and other stakeholders at the league’s congress that the season would be in an abridged format.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the abridged format will have eight clubs each in four groups.

    In the draws held to group the clubs, Kaduna United, Sokoto United and Kogi United and five others are in Group A1 in the new format.

    Group A2 has Kwara United, FC Taraba and Gombe United, which are all former NPFL club sides which were relegated at the end of the last season.

    Group B1 has, among others, Rivers State FA Cup champions Go Round FC, Remo Stars and Delta Force FC.

    ABS FC, Gateway FC, Bayelsa United FC and Prime FC of Oshogbo are part of Group B2 setting.

    Speaking at the event, Chairman of the NNL Ad-hoc Committee, Seyi Akinwunmi, said the committee had to settle for the abridged league format because of time constraints.

    “Time has already been wasted and we aim to have a league that will be successful and productive,’’ the First Vice-President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said.

    He said he was sure the league would be concluded in good time, barring any last-minute change to the proposed kick-off date.

    NAN reports that winners in all four groups will automatically pick the qualification tickets to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    GROUP A1

    Sokoto United
    Kaduna United
    Kogi United
    Shekarau Babes
    Katsina United
    FC Yarmalight
    Mighty Jets
    Jigawa Stars

    GROUP A2

    Adamawa United
    Kwara United
    FC Taraba
    Wikki Feeders
    Supreme Court
    FC Zamfara
    Dreams FC
    Gombe United

    GROUP B1

    Remo Stars
    COD United
    Delta Force
    Go Round
    Unicem Rovers
    Sharks FC
    Akwa Starlets
    Abia Comets

    GROUP B2

    ABS FC
    Crown FC
    Prime FC
    J. Atete FC
    Bayelsa United
    First Bank
    Gateway United
    Bendel Insurance