Flowerbud News

Month: November 2023

  • Re-appointment: Stop issuing goodwill messages, Kyari urges stakeholders, Nigerians

    Re-appointment: Stop issuing goodwill messages, Kyari urges stakeholders, Nigerians

    By Emmanuella Anokam

    Malam Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has urged stakeholders and Nigerians to refrain from issuing congratulatory messages on his re-appointment.

    Kyari, in a statement issued on Wednesday by Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, expressed gratitude to stakeholders and Nigerians for their enthusiasm regarding his reappointment by President Bola Tinubu.

    He, however, expressed the need for commitment by all the stakeholders to driving revenue growth and fortifying resilience for the naira and the nation’s economy.

    Kyari, who said that he viewed his reappointment as a renewed challenge, expressed his commitment to stabilising the oil industry and enhancing service delivery for increased revenue.

    “I humbly appeal to stakeholders in the oil sector and fellow Nigerians to support the company under his leadership to ensure the success of its mandate.

    “Consequently, I request all parties concerned to refrain from issuing congratulatory messages on his reappointment,” the statement said.

    NAN

  • Israel, Hamas seek new deal to extend Gaza truce on final day

    Israel, Hamas seek new deal to extend Gaza truce on final day

    By Flowerbud News

    Nov. 29, 2023

    Israel and Hamas were negotiating through mediators on Wednesday over another potential extension of the Gaza truce, with hours left to reach a deal before fighting was due to restart after a six-day pause.

    Families of Israeli hostages were informed on Wednesday of the names of those due to be released later in the day, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported, the final group to be freed under the truce unless negotiators succeed in extending it.

    Gaza’s Hamas rulers published a list of 15 women and 15 teenagers to be released from Israeli jails in return.

    For the first time since the truce began it included Palestinian citizens of Israel, as well as residents of occupied territory.

    A Palestinian official told Reuters that despite a willingness on both sides to prolong the truce, no agreement had yet been reached.

    Discussions were still underway with mediators Egypt and Qatar, the official said.

    Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy said Israel would consider any serious proposal, though he declined to provide further details.

    “We are doing everything we can in order to get those hostages out. Nothing is confirmed until it is confirmed,” Levy told reporters in Tel Aviv.

    “We’re talking about very sensitive negotiations in which human lives hang in the balance,” he added.

    Once the release of hostages ends, the fighting will resume, he said: “This war will end with the end of Hamas.”

    So far Gaza militants have freed 60 Israeli women and children from among the 240 hostages they seized in a deadly rampage on Oct. 7 under the deal that secured the war’s first truce.

    No fewer than 21 foreigners, mainly Thai farmworkers, were also freed under separate parallel deals.

    In return, Israel has released 180 Palestinian security detainees, all women and teenagers.

    The initial four-day truce was extended by 48 hours from Tuesday, and Israel said it would be willing to prolong it further for as long as Hamas frees 10 hostages a day.

    However, with fewer women and children still in captivity, that could mean agreeing to terms governing the release of at least some Israeli men for the first time.

    Tuesday’s release also included for the first time hostages held by Islamic Jihad, a separate militant group, as well as by Hamas itself.

    The ability of Hamas to secure the release of hostages held by other factions had been an issue in earlier talks.

    Reuters/NAN

  • Abia civil service to be fully digitalised by March 2024 – Commissioner

    Abia civil service to be fully digitalised by March 2024 – Commissioner

     

    Commissioner for Science and Technology in Abia, Mr Chima Oriaku, has expressed the Gov. Alex Otti-led administration’s commitment to fully digitalising the state civil service system by March 2024.

    Oriaku stated this in Umuahia during the sensitisation and training organised by Xerox Nigeria Limited for civil/public servants in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in Abia on Wednesday.

    The programme, according to him, is about automating all the workflow of the state government into a digitalised format for easy management for the workers.

    He said past governments in the state had kept files in the paper and analogue formats, thus making them prone to losses and destruction by weather and other forces of nature.

    Oriaku said that digitalising and digitising the system would ease access to government work environment and files and project plans that should make work easier for the staff members.

    “We should have a centralised data management system so that at any time, at the punch of a button, by a government official, you will access data that you can work with.

    “That is why we are in this partnership with Xerox Nigeria Limited to give us their support in that plan,” he said.

    The General Manager, Marketing, Xerox Nigeria Limited, Mr Femi Abidoye, said that the partnership with the state government was the idea of the governor, owing to his desire for quality service delivery for the people of the state.

    He said that the purpose of the partnership was to make the workforce more efficient and increase outputs.

    “The objective is to make Abia state workers work smarter and to deliver on state objectives.

    “To simplify work processes, procedures and work environment, and to move from the analogue system to the digital system era where there is accountability, reliability, productivity and efficiency at the end of the day.

    “We are partnering with Abia Ministry of Science and Technology to ensure there is cost control and to correct the record of everybody so that no data is lost at the end of day. That is of uttermost importance,” he said.

    NAN

  • Lockdown: Court orders minister to provide details of N535.8m school feeding spending

    Lockdown: Court orders minister to provide details of N535.8m school feeding spending

    By Taiye Agbaje

     A Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered Dr Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, to release details of how the sum of N535.8 million was expended on feeding of school children during COVID-19 lockdown.
    Justice Nkeonye Maha, in a judgment, directed the minister and the ministry to furnish a civil society group with parts of the information sought in line with Section 25(1) of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011.
    Justice Maha held that the minister’s failure to respond to the group’s letter dated Aug. 6, 2020 or even give reason for the refusal to respond to the request as prescribed under the FOI Act contravened the provisions of Section 4(a) and (b) of the act.
    “In view of all the matters before me and flowing from the objectives of the FOI Act 2011, the court hereby orders the 1st and 2nd defendants, in line with Section 25(1) of the FOI Act, to furnish the plaintiff with the information sought in Reliefs 3(a), (b), (c), (d),” she declared.
    The judge also ordered the minister to comply with the orders of the court within 21 days upon receipt of the orders.
    She, however, refused to grant “Reliefs 3(e), (f) and (g) of the plaintiff.”
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Incorporated Trustees of Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International had filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1162/2020 following alleged refusal of the then Minister, Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouq, and her ministry to respond to the information sought.
    Umar-Farouq was the minister under the Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
    The group alleged that independent investigation and information available to it “revealed that the so-called modified and implemented school feeding programme during lockdown against coronavirus pandemic was a scam, cover-up and well-articulated fiction to embezzle public funds.”
    It said that the development was contrary to the statement made by Umar-Farouq during the taskforce briefing on COVID-19 on Aug. 3, 2020.
    Therefore, in the originating summons, the group sued the minister, the ministry and the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.
    Also joined in the suit were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Independent Corrupt Practice and other related offences Commission (ICPC) as 4th and 5th defendants.
    The group sought an order of mandamus compelling the 1st defendant (minister) to immediately release and make available to it all the information and documents requested in its application letter to wit:
    “a. Details, accompanied with documentary evidence of how the N523,273,800 million was spent on school feeding programme during the COVID-19 LOCKDOWN in three states following presidential directive as disclosed to Nigerians by the 1st defendant during the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 briefing of Monday, 3rd August, 2020 in Abuja.
    “b. Details with the aid of documentary evidence disclosing how the said N523,273,800 million was dispatched/distributed to the 124,589 households whom the 1st defendant claimed received take-home rations valued at N4,200. 00 to wit:”In the FCT, 29,609 households were impacted; 37,589 households in Lagos and 60,391 in Ogun, making a total of 124,589 households impacted between May 14, and July 6. ‘if 124,589 households received take-home rations valued at N4,200, the amount will be N523,273,800.’
    “¢. Facts with the aid of documentary evidence, disclosing whether the 124,589 households whom the 1st defendant claimed received take-home rations valued at N4,200 received it in cash or if they received food items.
    “d. If the 124,589 households whom the 1st defendant claimed received take-home rations valued at N4,200 received it by cash, facts with the aid of documentary evidence, including state by state photographs of those distributing and those receiving, disclosing whether they were given cash of N4,200 or food items valued N4,200.
    “e. Should the 1st defendant claim that the 124,589 households received N4,200 by bank transfer, facts disclosing that the N4,200 was paid into their various bank accounts, including disclosing the bank account numbers of the 124,589 households whom the 1st defendant claimed received take-home rations valued at 4,200 each.
    “f. Phone numbers of the 124,589 households whom the 1st defendant claimed received take-home rations valued at N4,200 or the phone numbers of their heads of family.
    “g. State by state addresses of the 124,589 households whom the 1st defendant claimed received take-home rations valued at N4,200 to enable the plaintiff immediately confirm if they received the items.”
    The group said it instituted the suit in the overall public interest and promotion of rule of law, accountability, probity  transparency and strengthening constitutional democracy and good governance.
    Responding the minister and the ministry, in their counter affidavit, argued that they did not refuse to provide the information sought as the information had been disclosed in their counter affidavit.
    They also argued that information sought by the plaintiff which bordered on addresses and phone numbers of beneficiaries were personal information and that such disclosure was exempted under Section 14 of FOI Act.
    They corrected that the total sum was N535, 873, 800 for 127, 789 households and not 523, 273, 800 for 124, 589 as alleged by the group.
    They, however, said that they did not disburse cash but food items.
    Delivering the judgment, Justice Maha struck out the names of 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants’ from the suit, the plaintiff, having failed to disclose a cause of action against them.
    The judge, in the decision delivered on Oct. 30 but the certified true copy (CTC) sighted on Wednesday, said the suit succeeded in part.
    She agreed with the argument of the minister and the ministry that the 127, 789 households had not consented to the disclosure of their personal details as required by law.
    She also refused to grant the request for the release of bank account numbers of the beneficiaries, having stated that no cash was disbursed.
    But Justice Maha held that there was nothing before the court to show how the said food items were disbursed and the defendants had not proved nor shown how the said N535, 873, 800 was distributed to the beneficiaries.
    “The 1st and 2nd defendants merely stated facts without proof of how the said sum was allegedly spent.
    “All these lapses give room for conjecture and speculation, and the court does not act on speculation; rather on material evidence placed before it,” she said, citing Section 167 of the Evidence Act.
    She, therefore, granted Reliefs (a), (b), (c), and (d) above but declined to grant Reliefs (e), (f) and (g).
    NAN
  • Governor Adeleke Approves N15,000 wage award for civil servants, N10,000 for pensioners

    Governor Adeleke Approves N15,000 wage award for civil servants, N10,000 for pensioners

     

    The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has approved the payment of wage award to civil servants and pensioners in the state as a measure to mitigate the impact of subsidy removal.

     

    The Governor stated that the action was in a continuation of his avowed commitment to workers’ welfare and a fulfillment of his pledge for the gradual rollout of palliative measures to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.

     

    “On the first day of my second year in office, I unveil this wage award and reaffirm our five point agenda which has workers’ welfare as number one item”, Governor Adeleke noted.

     

    Governor Adeleke’s approval was conveyed in a circular issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Capacity Building, disclosing that workers in the service of the state will get a N15,000 wage award while pensioners will receive N10,000.

     

    The circular which was signed by Sunday Olugbenga Fadele, a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, noted that the wage award will run for six months, beginning from the month of December.

     

    “Sequel to the negotiation meetings and interactions with labour movement in Osun state, including the representatives of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, has approved the monthly payment of N15,000 to each active worker and N10,000 to each pensioners in Osun state as palliatives to assuage the pains being experienced as a result of removal of petroleum subsidy by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The payment, as approved, is to commence from the month of December, 2023 for a period of six (6) months,” the circular reads in part.

     

    “While acknowledging and appreciating the understanding of Osun state workers and pensioners for their show of understanding regarding the efforts of the State Government in the last one year to improve tremendously on their welfare, being the first on the 5-point Action Plan, the present administration will continue to ensure its commitment to the welfare of workers are met at all times.

     

    “It is expected that this gesture of government will spur workers in the State to be more diligent and committed to their duties.”

     

    Signed:

    Mallam Olawale Rasheed,

    Spokesperson to the Osun State Governor

  • Day of African Child: CBAAC projects beauty of African culture

    Day of African Child: CBAAC projects beauty of African culture

    By Taiye Olayemi

    The Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) on Tuesday celebrated and projected the African culture in commemoration of the 2023 Day of African Child.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Day of the African Child is celebrated annually on June 16.

    Its aim is to commemorate the SOWETO children’s uprising of 1976, during which thousands of South African students protested the apartheid government’s use of Afrikaans as their language of instruction in Bantu schools.

    The event with the theme, “African Culture: African Pride”, held at the University of Ibadan.

    Children from various schools engaged in indigenous dances, news casting in local languages and quiz competitions, while they learnt vital aspects of African culture.

    Chief Oluwabunmi Amao, Director-General, CBAAC,  said that the centre had deliberately brought children from diverse backgrounds together to celebrate their unique cultures as well as foster understanding and appreciation.

    Amao was represented by Mr David Uzuegbu, CBAAC’s Head of Ibadan Operations.

    She said the event served as an avenue for young minds from secondary schools within Ibadan to showcase their understanding of their rich culture and heritage, through traditional dances and indigenous news casting.

    She said that the theme of the programme was inspired by the urgent need to refocus attention on African’s  eroding culture, norms and values.

    She said this was by way of reorientation and socialisation of the values, attitudes of adolescents and the need to make them take pride in their rich cultures.

    “It must be noted that the negative behaviours observed among our youths in the recent times, due to decayed value system has assumed a very worrisome dimension.

    “Our children’s mindsets need to be transformed and guided to the right direction, from the current negative trends.

    “Our culture is strong enough to build and imbibe a good character in our children in order to become great in the future,” she said.

    Amao explaned that CBAAC had been saddled with the mandate of preserving, promoting and propagating the cultural heritage of Black and African people globally.

    She said this is usually done through arts exhibition, cultural festivals, performance, conferences, lectures,workshops among others.

    “Through our numerous activities, the centre has continued to contribute to the pool of universal knowledge on Black and African people,” she said

    Speaking on the need to uphold African culture of respect, Alhaja Odunola Lawal, who was the ‘Mother of the Day’, said,  “You all must behave like true African children, cultivate the habit of being respectful, and appreciating others”.

    Also, Dr Seyifunmi Olutayo, Director, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, urged children to learn and emulate the culture, norms and values of the land.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that for the dancing competition, Perfect Wisdom College bagged the first position, Jummah Comprehensive College & Everest Private school got the second position, Gift High School came third while Emmanuel College got the fourth position.

    Also, for indigenous news casting competition, Shining Stars College took first position, Emmanuel College emerged second, Abadina College came third while Isabatudeen Girls Grammar School got fourth position.

    The winning schools were compensated with prizes and all the students were given certificate of participation.

    There was also oral poetry presentation which educated the children on the beauty of African culture. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

  • Automation of passport application takes off in one week – Minister

    Automation of passport application takes off in one week – Minister

    Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday said the automation of Nigeria’s passport application is 99 per cent completed.

     

    Ojo, speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today said the automated application will become operational in a week’s time noting that after completion, Nigerians will only go to immigration centres to do fingerprint biometrics for their passports.

     

    He further revealed that with the new system, Nigerians can upload their passport photographs and other supporting documents from the comfort of their homes.

     

    The minister said, “We gave a date — December 2023. We are 99 per cent done. In fact, we have done the testing and we should be going live in the next week or thereabouts.

    Everything regarding pre-biometrics will be done in the comfort of your homes, including uploading passport photographs and supporting documents.

     

    “They will have gone live about two weeks ago but I saw some errors when they came to do the presentation and I said no. We were talking about balancing national security and convenience.

    In the interview, the minister also disclosed that e-gate systems would be installed at international airports in the country by February 2024.

     

    “By February, all our international airports will have e-gates

     

    “Once you are a Nigerian coming to Nigeria, you have no business seeing an immigration officer except if you are a person of interest,” he disclosed

  • Danjuma Lifts the Poor jn Enugu, Applauds Female Fund Managers 

    Danjuma Lifts the Poor jn Enugu, Applauds Female Fund Managers 

     

    By Paul Ejime

    Nigerian philanthropist General TY Danjuma (GCON) (Rtd) has commissioned a state-of-the-art high-efficiency Medical Centre in Enugu, Enugu State capital built and equipped by the TY Danjuma Foundation, in furtherance of his commitment to transforming the lives of the poor.

    At a ceremony on Tuesday 28th November, attended by dignitaries including government officials and members of the host Umuchimgbo Iji Nike, Abakpa Community in Enugu East Local Government Area, Gen. Danjuma, cut the ribbons to unveil the multimillion Naira Goodwill Medical Centre (GMC).

    He was accompanied by the Enugu State deputy Governor Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, who represented Governor Peter Ndubisi Mbah, Prof. Uche Amazigo, her husband, Prof John Amazigo and the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Dioceses Emmanuel Olisa Chukwuma (OON).

    “This magnificent edifice can only be built by women at the price they accounted to me,” the General said, in a tribute to Prof Amazigo, the brain behind the GMC project, and an acknowledgement of female fund managers, adding: “Men will take your money and you won’t see any building or money. So, join me to salute and congratulate Prof Uche and her team for a job well done.”

    Gen. Danjuma recalled how “Prof Uche, accompanied by two other female professors, had presented a request (to him) to provide financial support for building and equipping a low-cost high efficiency medical centre to provide excellent medical services by predominantly female medical doctors, nurses and midwives, who chose to dedicate their time to humanity.”

    Before then, he said, his first encounter with Prof Amazigo was in 2010, when she was Director of the Burkina Faso-based WHO African Programme for River Blindness Control, WHO/APOC.

    She had approached him for support to the Programme and in response to that request, Gen. Danjuma donated US$1 million during a meeting in Abuja, where he represented President Goodluck Jonathan. Prof Amazigo as the first female Director, steered the WHO/APOC programme from control to elimination stage freeing 140,000 communities of the debilitating blinding disease in 19-endemic African countries before her retirement from the UN System in 2011.

    Gen. Danjuma also disclosed that Prof Amazigo served on the Board of Trustees of TY Danjuma Foundation for eight years free of charge.

    Enugu State Governor Mbah, represented by his deputy, Barr Ossai, described Gen. Danjuma as a detribalised Nigerian and commended him for his philanthropic endeavours through the TY Danjuma Foundation.

    He said the Enugu Medical Centre would complement government’s efforts in providing accessible and affordable healthcare services to low-income families and the poor in the state.

    Speaking in the same vein, the Enugu East Local Government Chairman Livinus Anike praised Gen, Danjuma for his contributions to Nigeria’s development.

    In her address of welcome, Prof Amazigo said although she hailed from Anambra state, born and grew up in neighbouring Abia State: “The experiences of working across impoverished areas, the spirit of giving and the desire to honour the students I taught at UNN (University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus), led to the idea of GMC.”

    “Among the important lessons I learned from the rural people in many countries is that the high rate of deaths of our children is because mothers and fathers have no voice in any of the systems – particularly in education, health and they have no market power.

    “But the people (poor families) are eager and willing to be part of the solution to their problems if we agree to engage them,” she explained, adding that the 2,000 members of low-income families in Umuchimgbo and other Abakpa environs interviewed for the project, expressed their willingness to participate.

    “Our objective is to provide quality healthcare for all. This Centre with the assistance of seven Consultant specialists and Professors, will provide low-cost treatment for indigent patients and charge others (the rich) the standard medical fees. The Centre has a plan for the enrolment of 1,000 or more indigent people randomly selected from communities, into the National Health Insurance Authority/ Group, Individual, Family Social Health Insurance Programme (NHIA GIFSHIP),” Prof Amazigo affirmed.

    She thanked the Enugu State government, the Local Government Area, the community, and their traditional ruler HRH Chief Jude Agu, for buying into the GMC dream.

    She also expressed appreciation to her colleagues for their contributions and her siblings and family for their support.

    Prof Amazigo advocated that a philanthropist such as General Danjuma and not-for-profit organisation – the TY Danjuma Foundation, should be encouraged for their contributions and investments in the health of the population through state government financial and technical supports to health initiatives such as the GMC project.

    The TY Danjuma Foundation has funded more than 200 pro-poor projects of over 42.2 million dollars implemented by 150 grantees in Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

  • NYSC swears in 1,919 corps members for 2023 batch ‘C’ stream 2 in Enugu

    NYSC swears in 1,919 corps members for 2023 batch ‘C’ stream 2 in Enugu

     

    Enugu;  The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) has sworn in 1,919 corps members of the 2023 Batch ‘C’ Stream two set, deployed to Enugu State for the one-year mandatory national service.

    The state Coordinator, NYSC, Barr. Gladys Adama, disclosed this on Tuesday during the swearing-in ceremony at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Awgu Local Government Area, Enugu.

    Adama said that the corps members comprised 926 males and 993 females.

    She applauded Gov. Peter Mbah for the renovation of the orientation camp.

    “The government of Enugu State has commenced the renovation of the camp, all the toilets in the hostels have been changed.

    The coordinator called on governor Mbah’s attention to the road leading to the orientation camp as it needs urgent repair.

    Adama appealed to the state governor for the need to have a parade ground within the orientation camp premises, adding that having the parade ground within the camp would save the corps members and the officials the stress and time moving from the camp to the local government field to have their field event.

    She said that the skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development had been reviewed in order to equip corps members with the requisite skill to excel in the ever changing and competitive digital economic environment.

    In his welcome address, Mbah, represented by the state Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Lloyd Ekweremadu,
    said that the youths would be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the tomorrow that his administration envisage.

    ” We also owe the youths of this nation, who have been entrusted into our care a duty to the skills required to grasp the emerging future and create opportunities for the genius in them to flourish,” he said.

    He said that his administration was aware of many challenges in the camp and in response to the passionate plea of the state coordinator had commenced a complete and holistic renovation of the orientation camp.

    Administering the oath of allegiance to the corps members, the Enugu State Chief Judge, Justice Raymond Ozoemena, who was represented by Justice Anthony Onovo, urged the corps members to remain focused.

    Ozoemena advised the corps members to stay in Nigeria after their service year, as there were many good opportunities in the country.

    “I will advise you, there are many opportunities in this country, the country has invested a lot in you, after your service, stay here let us find solution of this country,” he advised. /Flowerbudnews