Okonjo-Iweala: FG to Restore Livelihood to Adamawa, Borno and Yobe

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Read Time:2 Minute, 6 Second

 The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday said the federal government had put plans in place to restore the destroyed means of livelihood of the people of the troubled states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe worse hit by Boko Haram insurgency in the last five years

Okonjo-Iweala, who was in Maiduguri with a team of experts sent by the former British Prime Minister and United Nations Special Envoy on Special Education, Mr. Gordon Brown, said the Save School Initiative programme would upgrade school facilities and restore the means of livelihood of the people.

The finance minister, who undertook a tour round some schools within Maiduguri metropolis destroyed by the insurgents, said the federal government was targeting $100 million to spend on the initiative.

She told journalists that: "I was asked by the president to deliver the Save School Initiative plan to the people and to see the situation as it affects the people. I am happy I saw the situation and glad I visited schools, even seeing some students writing exams. I feel happy I was able to interact with the students.

"The federal government will collaborate with the states affected by the insurgency to upgrade infrastructure. Most schools in Borno are closed now because of this insecurity and that is not good for us."

Okonjo-Iweala while commending Borno State Government for its efforts in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of classrooms despite incessant destruction by Boko Haram insurgents, explained that the initiative would be a holistic programme to include community participation and schools.

The minister on arriving in Maiduguri with the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Sani Sidi, distributed relief materials to over 4,000 people displaced through Boko Haram attacks at an Internaly Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Yerwa Practice Primary School in the metropolis where she urged the people not to be dismayed.
The representatives of Gordon Brown, Mr. Robert Quick and Dala Masson, said the former UK Prime Minister was determined to make contributions towards ensuring the people in the area return to normal life.

Governor Kashim Shettima thanked the minister and the Brown team for the visit, saying the visit had further proved the unity and togetherness in Nigeria to address the common enemies of people including poverty, unemployment and insecurity.

He said he was impressed by the minister's disposition for accepting the invitation to join the Brown team having invited her on Tuesday.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Chime Begins Annual Vacation, Jets off to US

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Read Time:36 Second

 Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State yesterday commenced his annual vacation.

The vacation, according to a statement from Commissioner for Information, Chuks Ugwoke, commenced from June 18.
The statement, which was issued after the weekly state executive council meeting chaired by the governor however did not state how long the vacation will last.

Ugwoke noted that the governor had announced the commencement of his vacation to the people of the state and members of the council during the councils meeting.

The commissioner stated that the vacation would take the governor and members of his family to Miami in the United States of America.
The statement did not indicate who takes charge in the governor's absence.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Badeh: Military Not Contemplating Coup

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Read Time:2 Minute, 32 Second

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, has dismissed as untenable, the rumours in some quarters of a possible coup d’etat in the country.

He therefore affirmed the commitment of the Nigerian military to the defence of the nation’s democracy, saying the military is an integral arm of democracy.

Badeh further said the military, as a professional group, had no other option than to love Nigeria and do the things that would ensure security and protection of lives in the nation.

The CDS, who stated this when he received in audience, the Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mike Omeri, in his office for the formal presentation of the Nigerian Centenary Flag to the Nigerian military, expressed surprise at the rumours of a coup d’etat, adding  that democracy has come to stay in the country and stressed that the military had no intention of truncating it.

Badeh further said: “Why should anyone be thinking in negative fashion? Tell them we will not do it. Those rumouring coups must be living elsewhere and not in Nigeria. The armed forces are defenders of democracy. We are an arm of democracy, so how can an arm of democracy work against the democracy that we are part of?”

The defence chief, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),  commended the NOA for “living up to expectation” in its activities as typified by the centenary flag produced by the agency, which he described as unique and of high standard, as well as the coordination of the National Information Centre (NIC).

He expressed support for the agency’s programmes and policies, including the renaming of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) Brigade of the agency to Community Support Brigade (CSB) and the Word Waste Bin initiative and urged the NOA boss to up the ante in mobilising Nigerians.

Earlier, Omeri had disclosed the agency’s plan to launch a security awareness campaign tagged 'Do the Right Thing: Know Your Neighbour,' soon adding that the campaign was, among other things, to complement efforts of the armed forces and also ensure return to that age old and celebrated value of being our brother’s keepers.

Presenting the nation’s centenary flag to the defence chief, Omeri said the flag was symbolic of the nation’s history and heritage which it seeks to pass on to future generations of Nigerians.

He expressed the gratitude of the NOA for the support and commitment of the Defence Headquarters towards the NIC, noting that such was a clear statement of the armed forces’ dedication to the speedy resolution of the security issues confronting the nation at the moment.

Omeri called for a day to be set aside by Nigerians to celebrate the Nigerian armed forces for their courage, professionalism and patriotism, saying Nigerians owed the military a debt of gratitude for its selfless sacrifice for the nation.      

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Gaidam Describes Attack on Viewing Centre as Heinous, Barbaric

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Read Time:1 Minute, 33 Second

 The Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, has described the Tuesday attack on a television viewing centre in Damaturu, the state capital, where 14 persons were killed and several others injured, as heinous, barbaric and totally unjustifiable.

The governor in a statement by his Special Adviser on Press Affairs and Information, Mallam Abdullahi Bego, tasked security agents currently engaged in the fight against insurgency to continue to do more to ensure the protection of life and property.

The statement read in part: "The governor is deeply saddened by the loss of innocent lives at a time that the good people of the state have stepped up prayers, support and cooperation with security agencies against criminal activities.

"The governor’s thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their lives in the attack and those who sustained injuries."

The statement further read that the governor, who was currently away in Abuja on official engagement, had asked his deputy, Mr. Abubakar Ali, to extend his condolences to the families of the victims and instructed him to visit the hospital for the injured.

Gaidam, while describing the attack as "heinous, barbaric and totally unjustifiable," directed the state Ministry of Health and the Hospitals Management Board to provide free medical services and care for those who sustained injuries in the attack.

He also called on the people of the state not to relent in their support for the ongoing efforts to restore peace and security, adding that "with their prayers, vigilance and continous support for security agents, the people of the state will surely triumph against the forces of evil that are unleashing mayhem on the innocent."

It was gathered from hospital sources that 13 persons were killed and 20 others injured in the attack on the viewing centre in Damaturu.
 

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Defend Yourselves, Group Urges Southern Taraba People

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Read Time:3 Minute, 21 Second

 A socio-cultural group, the Jukun Development Association (JDA), has called on the people of southern Taraba in Taraba State to defend themselves by any means possible against external aggression aimed at exterminating them in the country.

JDA also demanded the immediate evacuation of all Fulani herdsmen from southern Taraba, claiming that the presence of “these violent herdsmen, driven from Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue States, was responsible for the rising cases of violence in their homeland and that the herdsmen must leave for peace to reign in the area.”

The group threatened that if the herdsmen refused to leave their homeland, they would take up arms against them.
In a statement signed by JDA National President, Mr. Benjamin  Danborno, the group said the call to take up arms became necessary due to federal government alleged failure “to check the violence and protect the Jukun people from the clutches of the blood-thirsty Fulani herdsmen, who have been killing, maiming and burning our houses.”

It said the latest attack, carried out last Sunday on innocent Christians by armed Fulani herdsmen in three Jukun villages, led to the death of 115 people.
According to the group, unarmed worshippers came under a volley of gun fire and by the time the smoke ebbed, at least 115 people have died.

The group equally expressed its disappointment on all elected and appointed Jukun people both in Abuja and Jalingo, for “their conspiracy of silence while their people are being killed in their hundreds.”

Danborno said the spontaneous eruption of violence at Wukari, Ibi and Rafinkada, all in southern Taraba, during worship service last Sunday have further confirmed the group’s fear of a grand plan to exterminate the Jukun people.

He therefore called on all Jukun indigenes around the world to rise up in defence of their people in their time of travail.

“At the last count, 51 villages belonging to the Jukun and Tiv people have been completely destroyed and burnt down while farm produce worth several millions of naira destroyed.

“Everywhere you go around southern Taraba villages, Fulani herdsmen have taken over our people’s farmland commandeering Jukun and Tiv’s homes and their live stocks,” the JDA president said.

He noted that the Jukuns were aggrieved and disappointed that both the federal and the state governments have not been able to resolve the matter leading to the avoidable bloodshed. Danborno said it is perplexing that in a country where firearms licences are not freely issued to individuals, “these herdsmen openly carry
firearms with which they harm and kill innocent people, giving the impression that some people are above the law.”

He said documented evidence showed that the violence which began on November 18, 2012; and another on February 23, 2013, April 5, 2013 and April 15, 2014 before the present one on June 15, 2014, are indications that all the peace agreements between the Jukun people and the Fulani herdsmen and the Muslim community of southern Taraba have been thrown to the dustbin as powerful forces are hell bent on throwing the area into political turmoil.

He therefore warned all politicians to steer clear of fueling crisis in southern Taraba especially now that it is the turn of the zone to produce the next governor of the state come 2015.

“We see in all these a grand design by some disgruntled politicians to deliberately heat up the polity of the area and render the zone incapable of being able to produce a formidable candidate for the forthcoming governorship election. Let us assure them that such gimmicks will fail like others before it. “Let us also sound a note of caution that we are all peace loving in southern Taraba and we want justice. Let politicians who are looking towards fomenting trouble for us look elsewhere as we are better engaged in thinking of solutions to the problems besetting our state,” Danborno further stated.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Customs Arrests Man with Vehicle Loaded with Military Uniforms, Boots

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Read Time:2 Minute, 56 Second

 The increased security checks at the nation’s seaports in the wake of the insurgency in the North-eastern part of the country has yielded fruits as a young man, Emmanuel Eko, has been arrested for importing  of army camouflage boots, belts and other military accessories.

The 38-year-old man who has Nigerian and British international passports was apprehended yesterday officials of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Ports and Terminal Multi-Services Limited (PTML) Command, Apapa, Lagos.

The suspect, who claimed to be a soldier with the British army was arrested becaused the items are listed.

Army camouflage, military uniforms, boots, belts and other military accessories are items listed in the Import Prohibition List (IPL) maintained by the NCS.

Eko who looked undisturbed as he answered questions from reporters, said the items were reportedly approved for clearance by the NCS and he was on his way out of the terminal when he was stopped at the exit gate of the port.

While parading the suspect before reporters, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), NCS, PTML Command, Comptroller Adegoke Folorunsho, said the suspect was arrested yesterday during an inward screening of a white bus imported from Hamburg, Germany.

Folrunsho who is barely two weeks in office, said the men and officers of NCS on duty who were shocked beyond words when they sighted the large quantity of the military camouflage and boots carefully concealed in a fairly used LT Volkswagen bus.

His words: "Immediately, the clearing agent who presented the bus for clearance was interrogated after which he was asked to invite the importer. We all know the state of insecurity in the country. If these items had slipped into the hands of terrorist groups, only God knows how many lives would have been lost.”

The CAC revealed that all efforts at ensuring that the suspect volunteered useful information to assist investigations into the matter proved abortive as he was said to have refused to provide any assistance to this effect.

Folorunsho also revealed that the suspect was unable to produce documents given to him by either the Ministry of Defence or the Nigerian Army for the importation of military equipment during interrogation.

His words: “We are all aware of reports alleging that members of terrorist groups who have been wreaking havoc in the North-eastern part of the country do so wearing military uniforms. If a non-military personnel is seen in these attires, unsuspecting members of the public might not be able to differentiate them from genuine soldiers. So it is criminal of those behind the importation of these items".

The customs chief noted that because the suspect cannot be detained indefinitely, the Controller General of Customs, Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi, directed that the suspect along with the items be handed over to the Department of State Security (DSS) for further investigations and subsequent prosecution.

In his defence, Eko alleged that the items were detected by NCS on Tuesday and he was invited for questioning.

He explained that he went to the port on Wednesday with a view of resolving the matter, pointing out that in fact, the issue had been settled and the vehicle was on its way out when it was returned at the gate.

Eko also claimed that the Nigerian Army authority was contacted before it was allowed to go. He also alleged that two military officers who were assigned to get the uniforms were also at the Lagos port to take delivery of the items.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Liechtenstein to Return Abacha’s Loot

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Read Time:2 Minute, 33 Second

 Liechtenstein yesterday revealed that it would return 167 million euros ($227 million) to Nigeria, ending a long-drawn battle by Nigerian government to recover the money looted by the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

The revelation is coming on the heels of the withdrawal of the charges filed against Abacha’s son, Mohammed, by the federal government.

Abacha, who died in 1998, was suspected to have looted Nigeria to the tune of about $2.2 billion during his dictatorial ruled from November 1993 to June 1998.
Nigeria first requested help from Liechtenstein in 2000 to recover the cash stashed there.

The tiny principality of 37,000 people returned 7.5 million euros to Nigeria in late 2013, but the restitution of the bulk of the cash had long been blocked by lawsuits brought by companies linked to Abacha's family.

Several of the companies were sentenced in 2008 to repay money proven to have been stolen from Nigeria's national budget, but four of the firms filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Following negotiations between the governments of Liechtenstein and Nigeria, the four ended up withdrawing their complaints in May, "clearing the path for repatriation of the assets once and for all," Vaduz said in a statement yesterday. The World Bank had agreed "to monitor the use of the repatriated assets," the statement added.

Meanwhile, the federal government’s decision to withdraw the charges it filed against Mohammed was announced at yesterday's proceedings before Justice Mamman Kolo of an Abuja High Court.

The federal government had through a private lawyer, Daniel Enwelum, filed a nine-count charge against Mohammed, accusing him of “dishonestly receiving stolen property” and “voluntarily assisted in concealing money," belonging to the state which was estimated at N446.3billion.

Efforts by the government to arraign Mohammed on the charge was unsuccessful as he failed to attend court on two occasions when the case was earlier mentioned.
Yesterday, Mohammed was in court. He mounted the dock when the case was called, shortly after which Enwelum informed the court about the directive he got from the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to the effect that he should discontinue the case.

"I have been instructed by the AGF and Minister of Justice to withdraw the charges as presently filed before this court, because there are fresh facts and documents available to him.

"In this circumstance, he instructed me to file a notice of withdrawal without prejudice to future cause of action to be taken by his (AGF's) office.
"In the light of that, I have filed a notice of withdrawal dated June 17. I humbly apply to withdraw the charges accordingly," Enwelum said.

Defence lawyer, Abdullahi Haruna, did not object to the decision by the state to withdraw the charge.

Ruling, Justice Kolo granted the application to withdraw the charges.
He consequently struck out the charges and discharge the accused person.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Delegates Advocate Life Imprisonment for Fake Drug Peddlers

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Read Time:3 Minute, 21 Second

 Delegates to the ongoing National Conference yesterday recommended stiffer penalty of life imprisonment for peddlers of fake or adulterated drugs.

They also called for a restriction of medical tourism as Nigeria spends huge amount of money on those seeking medical treatment overseas.
The delegates also called for a reduction in the age limit for all elective offices, including the offices of the president, governors and national assembly, which were rejected.

According to the report of the Social Sector Committee headed by Mrs. Josephine Anenih, “A major threat to the provision of quality healthcare for Nigerians is the prevalence of fake, adulterated or sub-standard drugs.  This is despite the gallant and commendable efforts of NAFDAC over the years to combat this heinous phenomenon.

“This might partly be because the main focus of the agency in its task of regulating and controlling drugs has been on dealing with peddlers of fake drugs.  They may be overlooking the fact that apart from greed, the illicit trade is encouraged by the belief of some Nigerians that drugs from overseas are more efficacious than drugs produced in Nigeria.

“Unscrupulous merchants in drugs capitalise on this erroneous belief and ignorance of the people to procure fake and sub-standard drugs from overseas to make higher profits.  There is every need towards securing the integrity of our country’s health system and safeguard the good health of our citizens by putting an end to this ignoble phenomenon,” the committee stated.

It was in view of this that the delegates recommended that stiffer penalties should be instituted for persons and corporate bodies that produce, sell or knowingly use fake, adulterated or sub-standard drugs, including life imprisonment in a case where fake drug is proven to be directly linked to the death of a patient.

The committee further said that there was need for improvement in the quality of healthcare services in Nigeria and there should be deliberate efforts to re-orientate the attitude of healthcare workers to patients in Nigeria and as well as the need for improved political commitment to health care by political office holders.

On the discrimination against youths, Mike Ozoekhome and Charles Ibiam called for the reduction of the age limits of those seeking election into different offices.  Ibiam said that it amounts to discrimination if youths at 18 years should vote but should not be voted for. He urged the conference to recommend that the age limits be removed.

Ozoekhome (SAN) who supported him, cited the cases of former Nigerian leaders holding offices at a younger age, asked what the age limitation tends to solve when in other countries the youths assume elective offices at a younger age.

On education, the delegates urged the federal government to focus on tertiary education because it is capital intensive and very critical to manpower development for all facets of human endeavour.

They also called for increased workshops/laboratories for practical courses due to the dearth/paucity of these facilities and increase in enrolment, stating that the 30:70 polytechnic and 40:60 universities ratio in favour of science based courses during admission should be strictly enforced.

The committee called for regular meetings with the various unions for the review of existing, and the implementation of agreements in other to forestall frequent strikes by unions, while pro- chancellors should be persons who can attract funds for the institutions.

The committee said that considering the carrying capacity of institutions, that Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) results should last two years to enable the students have another trial to secure admission.

Other aspect of the recommendation include that the quality of programmes offered at the National Open University should be strengthened to improve standards, while government should facilitate the removal of  the dichotomy on polytechnic/university graduates.

It was also recommended that government should establish a financial institution that would give loans to students from less privilege homes to attend both public and private institutions.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Participants Want Action to Check Invasion by Cameroun

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Read Time:2 Minute, 24 Second

 Delegates to the ongoing National Conference yesterday approved a restriction of medical tourism describing it as unnecessary capital flight, while also approving free health services for all Nigerians from 65 years and above.

It further recommended free health services for all children within the age bracket of five years and those with disabilities as well as prisoners.
The conference further voted in favour of a recommendation asking the various state governments to return all schools which were taken over from religious bodies by the government forty-two years ago.
The decision came amidst a controversy over the circumstances that led to the take over of these schools.

A former Minister of Education, Prof. Jubril who justified the policy said the missionaries were paid compensation by the Gen. Yakubu Gowon regime at that time and that there was no reason for their return.
According to him, since the schools were taken over about four decades ago, the institutions have stayed longer in the hands of government than it ever stayed in the hands of their original owners.

Aminu explained that there were several reasons why government chose to take over the schools. According to him, besides the political reasons, the schools were taken over because there were discriminations in their admission policies.

Former Governor of the defunct North Western State, Mr. Usman Farouk said the schools were taken over because they were abandoned during the civil war as their owners had deserted the northern region.  Farouk said that compensations were paid to the owners of the schools in the then Northern region.

However, Bishop Joseph Bagobiri from Kafanchan, Southern Kaduna said the earlier speakers were being economical with the truth. The schools, the cleric said were not abandoned but forcefully taken over by the government without compensations paid to their owners.

Meanwhile, delegates have adopted a resolution asking the federal government to convert its Almajiri schools to conventional schools.
According to the resolution, the schools upon conversion should incorporate Koranic education into the curriculum to take care of the thousands of pupils of the Islamic faith who were hitherto in the Koranic schools.

A move to entrust the regulation and management of primary and secondary schools in the hands of the state government was rejected.
However, the plenary session turned rowdy when the presiding chairman, Bolaji Akinyemi ruled against the clamour by female delegates that the affirmative principle of 35 per cent be moved up to 50 per cent in the sharing and appointment of women into offices. It was later ruled as unnecessary as the Beijing Convention of 1995 had already ratified and Nigeria is a signatory to it.

Also, the conference adopted the recommendation that all employers of labour with more than five staff should register with National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The conference also said that telecoms mast should not be within residential areas.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Forum against Establishment of Surgeon General’s Office

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Read Time:3 Minute, 21 Second

 Delegates to the National Conference yesterday presented a motion seeking to reject the call for the establishment of the office of the Surgeon General of the Federation.

About 37 delegates in a 10-paragraphs motion, which was distributed to the delegates at the conference yesterday, called for the rejection of the suggestion by the Health Sub-committee of the Social Sector, which recommended the establishment of the office.

Some of the signatories to the motion included the President of the NLC, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar; TUC President, Boboi Kaigama; Deputy President of the NLC, Mr. Issa Aremu; and a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mr. Paul Enebeli, among others.
Observing that the office of the Surgeon-General is alien to most health systems apart from those of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, the motion movers further argued that the office was restricted to the armed forces.

They also added that the establishment of the office would amount to further bureaucratisation of the structures of the health system without adding any value since they said that the minister of health is already serving as the chief medical adviser of the Presidency and indeed the federation.

They added that the ongoing reform in the lubricant service, with a focus on streamlining functions and reducing cost of governance to achieve a maximum service delivery, the creation of the office would be a costly aberration.

The motion movers also told the delegates that a bill with the intent to establish the office was presented to the six National Assembly but was thrown out on grounds that it would deepen and exacerbate the acrimonious and chaotic situation that already exist in the health sector.
It was also said that heeding the demand of the interested parties for the creation of the office would further deepen inter-cadre acrimony and disrupt industrial peace and harmony in the health sector with serious consequences.

 As a result, the signatories to the motion asked the conference not to entertain the proposal for the establishment of the office of the Surgeon-General of the Federation.

      
Worried by what delegates described as an affront, the National Conference yesterday appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to wade into an alleged invasion of some villages in Cross River State by Camerounian officials attached to the Nigerian/Cameroon Mixed-commission and others suspected to be officials of the United Nations.
The delegates also faulted the action of the officials and lamented that several years after the judgment of the International Court of Justice, which ceded some Nigerian territories on the Bakassi peninsular to Cameroun, the Nigerian government has not taken any step to claim the villages ceded to nation.

The concern was expressed following a motion of urgent public importance introduced by a delegate, Orok Otu Duke, who raised the alarm to draw the attention of the conference to the alleged illegal confiscation of Nigerian villages located on the country's border with Cameroun in violation of the Green Tree Agreement (GTA), which prescribed the mode of demarcation.

Duke, had during his submission on the floor, expressed worry that if something was not done to urgently address the matter, the country could loose more villages to Cameroun against the consent of the people. Or worse still, the communities would be compelled to stop the invasion.

"As I speak, some demarcation exercise is going on and beacons are being planted on Nigerian villages by officials of the Mixed-commission, in company of some officials suspected to be from the United Nations, but without the presence of any Nigerian official," he said.

Specifically, Nigeria and Cameroun have disputed the possession of Bakassi for some years, leading to considerable tension between the two countries. In 1981 both countries went to the brink of war over Bakassi and another area around Lake Chad, at the other end of the two countries' common border.

Members Approve Free Health Service for Nigerians Above 65 Years

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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