Tuesday, 7 March 2017
Moulding Nigeria into a nation (5)
By Afe Babalola
“We must strive to produce a true Peoples Constitution so that one day we will have a Constitution which will truly promote national unity by firstly identifying our diversity and making it a source of strength rather than weakness”.
LAST week I stated why the future of the Nigerian nation lies in a system in which emphasis must be on the zones and not the states as dictated by the American Presidential system that we currently operate. The reason for this is simple. The application of the American presidential system in Nigeria has been nothing but a huge failure. We simply cannot afford 36 Houses of Assembly, 36 Cabinets of Commissioners, large number of State Legislators, National Assembly of more than 400 Legislators, thousands of staff for all these offices, over 40 Federal Ministers and numberless staff and assistants. On the 10th of September 2010, THISDAY Newspaper reported as follows:
“The amount expended annually to sustain members of the legislature in the states and National Assembly, many believe, is mind-boggling. Sources close to THISDAY revealed that the country spends N27 billion per annum on the salaries and emoluments of 109 senators while 360 members of the House of Representatives gulp down N73 billion, bringing the total to N100 billion ($667 million) expended on just 469 elected public officials.
When the emoluments, “constituency allowances” and other visible and invisible benefits paid to state legislators in each of the 36 states as well as the 7,888 Councillors who make bye-laws in the 774 local government areas, the annual cost of sustaining the entire army of 17,500 individuals holding political offices in the executive and legislative arms of government in Nigeria would amount to N1.3 trillion”.
It is clear from the above that the fragmentation of Nigeria into 36 states is unhelpful. Most of the so-called states were formally local governments or provinces. Such local governments were manned by District Offices and or Assistant District Officers. The provinces were manned by Residents, supported by Chief Clerk and Clerks. The substitution thereof of these District Offices and Residents with Governors, Deputy Governors, Legislative Houses is most unreasonable and uneconomical. The sight of these governors driving round in convoys of as many as 30 to 40 cars and motorcycle outriders worries the ordinary citizens who cannot afford three square meals, whose taps are dry and whose children are either unable to attend school due to non-payment of school fees or who are unemployed after laboring to get an education.
In the United States of America, the Federating States still possess a huge measure of independence. Thus each state is within clearly defined but expansive limits responsible for a remarkable number of aspects of its existence. The Federal Government is limited only to such matters as defense, foreign policy etc.
Finally it is worthy of note that the entire revenue of the Federal Government of Nigeria is lower than that of Texas which is the second most populous and second largest state in the United States of America. If Nigeria’s revenue is therefore lower than that of one of over 50 states in the United States how can we hope to continue to copy and fund the Presidential system of government as practiced by the Americans? There is need for urgent reappraisal of our operation of the Presidential system. This can be achieved by the involvement of the people in the Constitution making process. I earlier referred to the Constitution of countries such as Canada and Australia which recognise and make provisions for factors unique to those countries. The difference between these Constitutions and ours is that the people were involved in their Constitution making process. To dive home this point the Australian Government Solicitor stated as follows in 2010;
The Constitution was drafted at a series of conventions held during the 1890s and attended by representatives of the colonies. Before the Constitution came into effect, its terms were approved, with one small exception, by the people of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania.
Series of conventions
The Australian Constitution was then passed as part of a British Act of Parliament in 1900, and took effect on 1 January 1901. A British Act was necessary because before 1901 Australia was a collection of six self-governing British colonies and ultimate power over those colonies rested with the British Parliament. In reality, however, the Constitution is a document which was conceived by Australians, drafted by Australians and approved by Australians. Since that time, Australia has become an independent nation, and the character of the Constitution as the fundamental law of Australia is now seen as resting predominantly, not on its status as an Act of the British Parliament, which no longer has any power over Australia, but on the Australian people‘s decision to approve and be bound by the terms of the Constitution.
What has been judicially described as the sovereignty of the Australian people‘ is also recognized by section 128 which provides that any change to the Constitution must be approved by the people of Australia.
It is my hope that one day the same will be said of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We must therefore return to an examination of the circumstances surrounding the promulgation of our Constitution. We must strive to produce a true Peoples Constitution so that one day we will have a Constitution which will truly promote national unity by firstly identifying our diversity and making it a source of strength rather than weakness. It cannot be any other way.
In the next edition, I will examine some other constitutions which were approved by the people and which have moulded each country into a nation despite differences, culture, religion, language and origin.
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RECESSION: FG targets N21trn from agric, releases Economic Recovery Plan
By Babajide Komolafe, Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief; Chris Ochayi & Grace Udofia
•N2.5 mbpd oil production
•125 new Almajiri, Nomadic schools •Silent on electricity target
•Domestic debt: FG to borrow N2.85trn by mid 2017
ABUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, released its Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERGP, with a view to restore macro-economic stability and driving various sectors towards achieving the nation’s full economic potentials.
The core vision of the plan is sustained inclusive growth through structural economic transformation, with emphasis on improving both public and private sectors’ efficiency in order to increase national productivity and achieve sustainable diversification of production.
The document, released yesterday by the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, read: “The Plan envisages that by 2020, Nigeria would have made significant progress towards achieving structural economic change with a more diversified and inclusive economy.
“Overall, the Plan is expected to deliver on five key broad outcomes, namely: A stable macro-economic environment, agricultural transformation and food security, sufficiency in energy (power and petroleum products), improved transportation infrastructure and industrialization, focusing on small and medium scale enterprise.”
Agriculture
In the agriculture sector, the federal government’s policy objectives are to: Increase agriculture GDP from N16.0 trillion in 2015 to N21.0 trillion in 2020 at an average annual growth rate of 6.92 per cent (2017-2020).
The Federal Government also plans to “significantly reduce food imports and become a net exporter of key agricultural products, e.g., rice, tomatoes, vegetable oil, cashew nuts, groundnut, cassava, poultry, fish, livestock” and become self-sufficient in tomato paste (by 2017), rice (by 2018), and wheat (by 2019/2020).
Manufacturing
Manufacturing accounted for 9.5 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP in 2015. In the 2010-2015 period, the sector grew at an average annual growth rate of 13.3 per cent, almost three times the 4.8 per cent growth experienced by 2016.
The ERGP seeks to improve this performance and double manufacturing’s share of GDP, largely by developing Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to attract manufacturing away from economies where the labour cost advantage is declining and re-energize local industries that have suffered as a result of the influx and dumping of goods in Nigeria.
The ERGP will build on the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), a key pillar of the country’s industrial policy, focusing on agro-business, solid minerals and metals, oil and gas; as well as, construction, light manufacturing services.
Solid minerals
Solid minerals is one of Nigeria’s most promising growth sectors. Although its overall contribution to GDP growth is small, its contribution to GDP doubled from N52 billion in 2010 to N103 billion in 2015.
Nigeria has 44 known types of minerals of varying mixes and proven quantities, some of which are concentrated in certain regions.
Consequently, the administration has planned to grow solid minerals GDP from N103 billion (2015) to N141 billion (2020) at an average annual growth rate of 8.54 per cent (2017-2020).
It also wants to facilitate the production of coal to fire power plants and integrate artisanal miners into the formal sector.
It also plans to produce geological maps of the entire country by 2020 (on a scale of 1:100,000) and encourage and promote mineral processing and value addition industries that strengthen backward and forward linkages.
Oil
Restore oil production to 2.2 mbpd in 2017, increase it to 2.5 mbpd by 2020 and make the nation self sufficient in refining petroleum products not only to fully meet domestic consumption needs, but also become a net exporter by 2020.
The government also plans to expand domestic gas production to meet power generation and manufacturing demand, while promoting Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for domestic use.
In order to achieve these, the Federal Government said it would conclude the total liberalization of the downstream sub-sector of the petroleum industry.
It said it would implement a new business model for the inefficient refineries which have gulped several millions of dollars in Turn-Around-Maintenance and have failed to achieve desired goals over several decades.
The administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo had privatised some of the refineries when all efforts at turn-around maintenance failed.
However, the Late President Umaru Yar’Adua reversed the sale, as part of his first policy decision in government.
We need $3 trillion investments in infrastructure in 30 years- FG
Unveiling the ERGP, the Federal Government also said the nation’s infrastructure needed over $3 trillion investment in the next 30 years.
The Federal Government is also considering plans to borrow up to $30 billion to meet its share of funds to build the Mambilla hydro-power plant and other critical projects within the period under review.
The document stated: “To optimize the contribution of all these sectors, Nigeria needs to invest $3 trillion in infrastructure over the next 30 years.
“The Federal Government cannot provide these resources all by itself. It will be leveraging private sector capital in a variety of ways such as public-private partnerships, special purpose vehicles, investment funds, and various guaranty arrangements.
“In these arrangements, government does have a key role to play; accordingly, the Federal Government plans to borrow up to $30bn over the Plan period to meet its share of funds to build the Mambilla hydropower plant, and priority segments of the Coastal Railway, the Lagos-Kano Railway and the Abuja Mass Transit Rail line.
“In addition, it will also be making strategic use of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, which is home to the national sovereign wealth fund.”
Power
The Federal Government was silent on the target of power it plans to deliver to the Nigerian public, under the ERGP.
It said: “Today, Nigeria has 12.5 GW of installed capacity, but less than one-third is operational (average 3.9 GW in 2015; 3.2 GW in November 2016). Overall, only about 15 per cent of installed capacity is eventually distributed to end users, resulting in a huge shortage of electricity supply across the country.
“The ERGP will address problems in the power value chain by overcoming governance, funding, legal, regulatory, and pricing constraints across the four main segments in the power value chain (gas supply, generation, transmission and distribution). The Federal Government will also invest in transmission infrastructure.”
The government itemised policy objectives of the plans to include: “Improve energy efficiency and diversify the energy mix, including through greater use of renewable energy, to facilitate private sector investment in generation, transmission, and distribution and to improve access to electricity to all Nigerians.
“Increase rural electrification through the use of off-grid renewable solutions, restore financial viability in the electricity market, implement a data-driven approach in power sector development planning and eliminate sabotage of gas and power infrastructure.”
On the strategy to be deployed to achieve this goal, the document explained that the Federal Government was determined to increase power generation by optimizing operational capacity, encouraging small-scale projects, and pursuing long-term capacity.
The key activities are to optimize the existing installed capacity available for generation under the guide of the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.
To restore lost gas supply through the Gas Flare Commercialization Programme and to produce strategy towards elimination of gas infrastructure vandalism and to be guided by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
It also plans to complete major gas infrastructure lines to plants and main trunk lines to facilitate gas supply for power generation, improve NBET’s financial capability to support the electricity market and strengthen governance and capacity of sector agencies.
Introduce strategy for capital market and banking programmes that ensure all upstream industry operators get paid for each contract as well as review the gas pricing structure to recover all prudent costs as services improve and give willing developers access to under-developed gas resources amongst others.
FG to build 125 schools for Almajirai, nomads
The Federal government also declared its intention to build 125 day and boarding Almajirai and nomadic education-based schools as part of its social investment under the ERGP
In its ERGP the federal government also said it would prioritize education for girls, Almajirai and infrastructure development.
According to the plan, special schools for girls would be constructed in 13 pilot states and 501 classrooms blocks across the states. This will be in addition to 125 day and boarding Almajirai and nomadic education-based schools.
Part of the strategies aimed at revamping the education system as indicated in the report is by strengthening the quality assurance of education. This includes: To review and restructure the education curriculum in line with international best practices; improve the capacity of Federal, State and local quality assurance inspectorates; fully implement the Secondary School Quality Assurance Programme, ensure regular statutory visits and monitoring of Federal tertiary institutions and help schools develop strategies to eradicate examination malpractices.
In the report, the government disclosed that the plan will also review and restructure the management and funding arrangements for unity schools.
As to how they will achieve this, the report states that the government will partner with State governments and the private sector to establish best-in-class vocational and technical institutes, develop incentive programmes to encourage private sector and State investment in model technical and vocational education institutes, facilitate access to funding and land with a view to enrolling approximately 500,000 students at the end of the Plan period in technical schools, revive and support new Post-Secondary School Trade Centres and technical schools, as well s, introduce Post-University Skills Development Institutions ,PUSDIs.
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S’East states hold counter-terrorism talks
By Dennis Agbo
ENUGU—States in the South East geopolitical zone, yesterday, gathered in Enugu where they articulated on modalities for implementation of National Counter Terrorism Strategy, NACTEST.
Guided by the Office of the National Security Adviser, the participating states of Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra and Abia are meant to key into the Federal Government’s 2016 NACTEST revised document.
The National Security Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by Alhaji Alhassan Hussain, said he was impressed with the level of participation.
He said that Nigerians must continue to prepare and always be at alert on issues of terrorism, adding that the country must now understand the importance of information sharing and the essence of timeliness in doing so.
The NSA called for collaborative action by all to achieve a greater victory for the entire nation and the world at large.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State in his goodwill message reiterated the state’s commitment to collaborate with the Federal Government in its effort to strengthen security personnel’s capacity and determination to eliminate terrorism threats in the country.
The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Gabriel Ajah, noted that the knowledge and skill acquired by the participants will enhance their ability to tackle security challenges.
The governor explained that it’s virtually impossible to engage in any meaningful social, political and economic activities without security.
“I therefore commend the Federal Government for this initiative aimed at sensitizing the populace and, more importantly, the security agencies on necessary counter terrorism strategy and proactive measures, as well as the need for building capacity to enable us contain emerging security issues and challenges in the country,” he said.
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Semi-illiteracy and a half-baked generation
By Tabia Princewill
Virtually no sector in Nigeria isn’t undergoing some form of crisis or another. In fact, crisis or chaos has become the norm rather than the exception. For more than half of Nigeria’s population, the current state of affairs is the rule and dysfunctionality is customary rather than transient. For many young Nigerians, dishonesty, disloyalty, theft, mannerlessness and greed are virtues and assets rather than vices because all they have seen in the past 30 or so years, all they have ever known, has been the opposite of what is permissible in saner climes.
One doesn’t get ahead by being honest or hard working in Nigeria, no matter what many celebrities or political entrepreneurs will tell you as they thank “God” for enabling their “victory” over haters and devils who tried to hold them back. These would-be devils or haters are simply all those who would dare challenge their supposed right to act with impunity; the devil in this scenario is in fact code for the rule of law and social justice which they believe they are entitled to thwart, therefore ensuring that their social media ready success—I wish more young people realised just how much of the flashy displays on social media are derived from the proceeds of fraud and corruption—deprives others from any opportunity of achieving their dreams.
Interestingly, many young Nigerians do know that the many cars, jewellery and foreign trips advertised by some of our infamous leaders and their progeny result from corruption. Many know and simply cannot wait till it is their turn to defraud the state and their fellow poor, struggling youth.
Defence of corruption and backwardness
There are two categories of young Nigerians, the hopeless and the I-must-join-them-by-force. The latter is enticed by the lavish lifestyles of the politically connected and would sell its soul as well as sell out an entire misery stricken generation to belong to the exclusive class of those who can take advantage of others, lie, cheat and be applauded for doing so. The former category believes in nothing beyond its immediate needs and survival. While its counterparts abroad dream big and start businesses using technology and other freely available tools, the Nigerian youth has accepted that he has been betrayed (by too many generations to count) and has given up the fight. Both groups have the wrong sort of role models: adventurers, idealess wheelers and dealers who belong only to the highest bidder.
Even at home they have been betrayed by parents who tell their children to get smart and do what their neighbours do, scam the system, cheat during exams, commit all manner of fraud in order to live a false life sanctified by some charlatans in prosperity chasing churches. Nigeria is a failed state. We don’t have to wait to become Somalia or a restructured Sudan (proof that “breaking up” or “restructuring” doesn’t solve the fundamental problems of nationhood or magically transform the economy) to admit it. We have failed because these days there is virtually no difference between the hopeless and the I-must-join-them-by-force. Both have merged into a deadly, soulless underclass.
With N200 worth of data, young Nigerians wage war against each other online, in defence of corruption and backwardness because our social contract today predicates that support for the illogical ensures that one day, when one decides to steal there will be other legions of desperate individuals ready to defend or make excuses for crass, sordid behaviour. The greatest tragedy isn’t the many uneducated who don’t have access to social media, to cheap, easy communication or any means to express themselves (for lack of interest or finances) but in fact the many half-baked graduates who speak and act as if they had never been to any school in the first place. Nigerian youths are child soldiers, many with the developmental age and analytical mind of people half their age in other parts of the world because they have been robbed of a good education. We should all be ashamed.
As for those in the diaspora who come back to this country and find they cannot cope because nothing here seems to make sense or follow the established rules of thought, it is nothing short of an existential crisis. Every Nigerian suffers in some way or another from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD. We are all veterans at calculating outcomes and managing the worst situations, walking on a tight rope, lightly, steadily to our doom. This generation needs to do some serious soul-searching. For many aged, tired, defeated war veterans who succumbed, back when they were young to the temptations of life, or rather, the would-be necessities of survival in Nigeria, it might be too late. But for those who are just starting out in life and who have neither the clout nor the influence to secure jobs, contracts or a future for themselves, it is time to think of something different.
Somewhere out there, I want to believe there is someone, perhaps one of the old guard, or perhaps someone new, who wants to write his or her name in history, someone who wants to have an honest conversation with Nigerians of all creeds, classes and ethnicities. That person would then do more than just win an election. That person, if they could articulate the issues to our hungry and desperate youth and then delivered on their promises, would become a legend. There is nothing like a legacy and a good name, not money, not private jets or mansions in Abuja. What people say about you when you aren’t there matters. Somewhere out there, someone is ready to run and the half-baked will happily watch him cook and perfect the disjointed, impoverished mind of a generation that knows it is flawed but can’t imagine any other alternative.
Osinbajo
THE Acting VP is (pardon the pun) acting so Presidential. Unfortunately, the ease with which he conducts himself and takes prompt decisions lends credence to the well circulated idea that a cabal, rather than the President himself, has been in charge. He visited Kaduna recently and spoke about the spate of attacks in the southern part of the state.
However, unlike many for whom rhetoric is itself a solution to a grave problem, he said: “I don’t believe that a crisis where there is so much blood letting and hatred over the years can be resolved by a couple of meetings. What I would like to achieve is not a quick fix but I want us to begin a process (…) listen to each group separately and then get everyone together”.
This is conflict management 101, something so simple which strangely seems to have eluded many governors and officials in the middle-belt over the years. There have been many commissions of enquiry into the issues which provoke the ire of settlers, indigenes, herdsmen, farmers, Northern Muslims and Christians, etc., yet few solutions have ever been implemented.
The Acting President can do something ground-breaking, if of course, the pettiness and jealousy of the cabal and all those it has empowered, allows. Peace building and reconciliation should be a national policy objective with clearly outlined developmental goals: to end violence in Nigeria we must end extreme poverty. So, who is ready to run?
Fayose
THE Governor of Ekiti is at loggerheads with the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo. He demanded a refund, a few days ago, of the N10 million he alleged he and 30 other governors were forced to donate to the former president’s presidential library.
Not only are contributions to such endeavours meant to be voluntary, they are supposed to emanate from private individuals and not the public purse which is meant for projects of national character and not individualistic, perhaps unjustified, self-aggrandising pursuits.
The governor also asked to be refunded the “interest” which should have accrued on his donation. Nigeria is a wonderfully illogical place where even the truth, as perverse as it is, is only ever known during or because of fights and disagreements between former allies.
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Monday, 6 March 2017
Student chased out of school over fees killed by truck
By Vincent Ujumadu
Awka—A female student of Community Secondary School, Adazi-Ani in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State was at about 10am yesterday, killed by a truck belonging to a bottling company as she was going home after being chased out of school by the principal of the school.
The vehicle’s plate number was reportedly removed by the police shortly after the incident. An eye witness said the driver apparently lost the brakes, leading to loss of control before the incident.
The eyewitnesses said the JSS2 student, whose name was given as Chinyere was reportedly sent out of the school over non-payment of school fees alongside three others before she was knocked down.
The eyewitness, a commercial motorcycle operator said: “They were sent out of school because they did not pay school fees. It was while they were heading home to get money which they were instructed to pay in the bank, that she was killed while others escaped by the whiskers.”
The principal of the school, Mrs Edith Mojeke and officials of the Anambra State ministry of education were yet to react on the incident.
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Developer boosts housing with Pracht Gardens Estate
By Kingsley Adegboye
Buildcon Global Services Limited, a Lagos-based construction and real estate development firm has assured its clients that Pracht Gardens Estate, located in Ikota before Victoria Garden City in Lekki area of Lagos, will offer unparalleled luxury, comfort, security as well as a dream environment for aspirational lifestyle.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company,Mrs. Bukunola Gadzama, who disclosed this in Lagos at the weekend, said the estate which will be ready in April, is designed to meet the basic requirements of subscribers who have taste for luxury.
According to Mrs. Gadzama, the estate is being constructed by highly skilled architects and engineers who also have vast knowledge of interior designs that are expected in a dream home, pointing out that the estate has up to date security facilities that are measurable with what is obtainable in other parts of the globe.
Adding that the estate is designed with affordability in mind and zero compromise on quality and finesse to meet the needs of subscribers, she said the estate boasts of a water treatment plant; fully paved road; suitable shopping centre, 24 hours security and power supply, closed-circuit television (CCTV) security technology, ample parking space, street lights; recreational centre for children, crèche, and electrical fence.
She affirmed that the estate consists of 40 units of four and five bedrooms fully detached duplexes as well as four-bedroom terraces, and each unit sits on 21,000 metres square parcel of land.
To strengthen the security of residents, Gadzama said the CCTV also known as video surveillance technology will transmit signals from one monitor to another within the estate, stressing that there is also electrical fence that is powered by 24 hours electrical transformer, and patrol officers that will engage in routine check to curtail misconducts, protection of residents as well as maintaining peace within the estate.
“In this period of insecurity, we have thought it wise to install up to date technology that can track any movement made within the environment and to ensure that subscribers get the right value for money,” Gadzama stated. ““These potentials have excited subscribers and stakeholders who have lauded the architectural skills and designs deployed in the construction of the estate”, she noted.
A subscriber, Mrs. Juliet Onioma, an accountant based in Lagos, confessed that she was very delighted to see her dream of living in a very modern apartment come true.
She stated that Pracht Gardens Estate is a place that has all it takes to keep a family, as there are facilities that addresses the needs of children, like a park and school that ease the burden of moving out of the environment.
Onioma was also pleased with the concept where clients are allowed to do bespoke finishing, as they can re-modify the interior of their homes. According to her, this shows that the interest of subscribers is paramount to Buildcon, an act that is rare among other real estate developers Another subscriber, Mr. Joe Aforieh, expressed delight about the professional skills displayed by Buildcon has put it ahead its competitors in the real estate industry. “I was quite fascinated with the structural design of the estate and the layout shows a touch of class. What interests me most is that l have the opportunity to come up with any additional plan to complement what is already being provided,” Aforieh stated.
Mrs. Sandra Okonkwo, a banker stated that she was quite fascinated with the CCTV and security patrol officers as well as the electrical fence that would be powered regularly for protection of lives, especially in this era of kidnapping and other social ills.
Similarly, Mr. Andrew Obioma, stated that protection should be the utmost priority when thinking of the right environment to live and that Pracht Gardens Estate has fully addressed that.
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NURHI gives Lagos FP clinics a new look
By Gabriel Olawale
To help reduce the high rate of maternal, infant and child mortality in Lagos through the up-take of family planning, Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative, NURHI in continuation of its renovation process of family planning clinics at the Primary Healthcare Centres across Lagos State has recently given Itire Ijesha PHC, Era PHC, Ishasi PHC and Mushin General hospital new looks.
Speaking during the commissioning of the clinics, Programme Officer (Service Delivery) at NURHI, Dr. Duduyemi Adeola said that family planning is not only beneficial to mother and children but also to the father and the family as a whole.
Adeola hinted that spacing a child through family planning methods help the mother to regain her health after delivery and also gives the women opportunity to love and provide attention to her husband and children.
“Healthy mothers produce healthy children and family planning also gives children opportunity to get all the attention, security, love and care they deserve. For the father. It enables the burden and responsibility in supporting family. Enable him to give his children their basic needs.”
She said that the NURHI 72-hours makeover initiative aimed at renovating family planning clinics in order to make it appealing and conducive for women, “The local governments and the PHC selected for the make-over were based on the population of women of reproductive age. NURHI is currently carrying out intervention in 10 LGA of which five facilities will be renovated in each LGA making a total of 50.”
She however tasked the State and Local governments to replicate such initiatives in other centres across the state, “the whole renovation did not take more than 72 hours, which started at the close of work on Friday and before the staffs resume work on Monday, the whole renovation has been carried out.”
Appreciating the gesture, the Sole Administrator of Mushin LGA, Mr. Yinka Kazeem pledged that they will compliment NURHI gesture by ensuring that special generator and other necessary things required for smooth running of the centre are made available.
“Through the CDA meeting we are going to create more awareness among our women on the benefits of such facilities.”
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Edo ex-commissioner appointed ULC General-Secretary
By Victor Ahiuma-Young
IMMEDIATE past Commissioner for Establishment and Special Duties in Edo State, Mr Didi Adodo, has been appointed General Secretary of United Labour Congress of Nigeria, ULC.
He was also a Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Housing and also Energy in the eight years of Mr Adams Oshiomhole’s government.
Before he was appointed commissioner by Oshiomhole, Adodo was the General Secretary of Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ISSSAN, for 20 years.
During this period, he was also at the same time, Acting General Secretary of Senior Staff Consultative Association of Nigeria, SESCAN, now Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, and General Secretary Congress of Free Trade Unions, CFTU.
ULC in a statement said Adodo’s appointment was ratified by leaders of ULC, during their Central Working Committee, CWC, meeting in Lagos.
ULC lauds confirmation of Onnoghen as CJN
In a related development, the new labour centre, at the CWC meeting, commended the Federal Government for allowing the looming crisis that was almost unfolding in the judiciary to be resolved amicably by sending the name of Justice Onnoghen to the Senate, where he was eventually confirmed as the Chief Justice of the Federation.
According to the communiqué at the end of the meeting, “ULC commends the Federal Government for allowing the conundrum that was almost unfolding in the judiciary to be resolved amicably.
“However, we call on the Federal Government to avoid a recurrence as it poses great danger to our democracy and puts the stability of the nation on a knife’s edge. Serious nations do not toy with such critical issues of constitutionality.”
“We, therefore, call on all the nation’s political actors to ensure the continued independence of the judiciary as a viable and stabilising arm of the tripod that makes our governance whole. It is self-destructive thus exposes our nation to grievous harm if any arm of the government is emasculated in anyway and denied the powers to contribute to an effective and efficient democracy.”
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Wednesday, 1 March 2017
Youths need more awareness on danger of obesity – Edmark
By Elizabeth Uwandu
Double Crown Manager and Member, Chairman’s Circle of Edmark International, Mr. Emeka Ononiwu, has said Nigerians, particularly youths, need to be more aware on dangers of excess fat in the body. As ignorance is the bane of obesity in Nigerians.
Ononiwu who said this during the unveiling of ‘P4 lose to win 90 days challenge’ in Lagos said, “A lot of people are suffering today because of ignoarance as regards excess fat in the body. If people are able to live within the normal range of their weight, they won’t have issues with their health.
“When we talk about weight, it means excess fat in the body than the body requires. If you consume more calories than you can burn, automatically it raises the level of acid in the system, there will be problem. Obesity will set in and open doors for many diseases which can shorten life,” he said.
He said as part of the commitment of Edmark to combating the growing epidemic of obesity penetrating every walk of life, it has kicked off a weight loss challenge by giving Nigerians a platform to regain their health by overcoming obesity.
“To help Nigerians regain their health by overcoming obesity, Edmark coined the ‘P4 Lose to Win 90 Days Challenge’ which guides an individual’s weight loss journey with the P4 Healthy Slimming range of products, we kicked off the first edition of the programme in 2014.
“Edmark Nigeria helped over 950 individuals lose a total of over 6,925 kilograms of excess weight collectively. The weight loss challenge rewards participants for their discipline in achieving their healthy body mass index within 90 days,” adding that this year’s programme is not different.
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We donate to boost govt supply of critical books, teaching aids to schools – Chevron
By Dayo Adesulu
We donate principally to assist the government improve the supply of critical books and teaching aids in Nigerian schools and increase teachers’ capacity in using modern techniques to impart the desired knowledge to students,’’ the Director, Star Ultra Deep Petroleum limited, Mr Richard Kennedy has said.
This was stated during the donation and handover of books and teaching aids to Ansar-UD-Deen Comprehensive College, Saint Michael Comprehensive Secondary School, Anglican Grammar School and Iganmode Grammar School, all at Ota, Ogun State.
Kennedy who was represented by Mr Sam Otuoyen quoted Vera Nazarian, an American writer who once said, ‘’whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow more light.’’
He said that access to good books and availability of teaching aids will enhance teaching and learning and learning in the schools and improve students’ grades in both internal and external examinations.
Apart from donation of books and teaching aids to schools in Nigeria, he added that Chevron with its affiliates and Co-venturers has also made significant contributions over the years to raising the standard of education.
On his part, the General Manager, NPIMS/NNPC, Mr Dafe Sejebor ably represented by Mr Helen Nkor explained that the choice of education as an area of intervention in Ogun State by the stakeholders in OML 140 is timely, adding: ‘’Education is like a lamp that provides light in a dark road.’’
According to him, quality education is almost imposible without good books and well-equipped teachers.
‘’Our pride will be to see students from this State go on to become internationally celebrated professionals in whatever field of endeavour they choose,’’ he said. For the Chairman, Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, Chief Reggie Uduhiri in his address said that the company is committed to ensuring Nigerians acquire the necessary education and skills for better life.
He said: ‘’Education and skills acquisition are pivotal to the sustainable development of a country.’’
Meanwhile, the Project Coordinator, Breezebell International Limited, Ms Jane Coker said she was delighted that her dream came through for the beneficiary schools. ‘’I am glad to have executed the project,’’ she stated.
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Mind Builders sch awards N3m scholarship
In its bid to promote excellence, the management of Mind Builders School has award N3 million worth of scholarship to four of its new students to cover part of their tuition fees for their secondary education, bringing the amount to N9m worth of scholarship being enjoyed by 14 of its students.
According to the Principal of the school, Mr. Francis Fasuyi, the beneficiaries, Akinselure Dawn, Adesola Annabel, OladunniTiwalade and AdegboyegaTamilore, were rewarded based on their exceptional performance at the entrance examinations, adding that the aim of the scheme is to promote and reward excellence while providing a solid foundation for brilliant students.
Mind Builders School commenced operations as a nursery and primary school in January 1998 and started the high school in September 2008. It has since opened annexes in Omole Phase 1, Ikeja CBD in Alausa and Omole Phase II and produced four sets of graduates.
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