Flowerbud News

Month: November 2023

  • Women’s participation in peacebuilding crucial for national security, says NSA

    Women’s participation in peacebuilding crucial for national security, says NSA

     

     

    By Emmanuel Oloniruha

    Abuja   The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, says women’s partcipation in peacebuilding at the community level is critical to strengthening national security.

    Ribadu stated this in Abuja on Tuesday at the 2023 Women’s Peace Forum (WPF)  with the theme “Strengthening Women’s Strategic Engagement in Climate-Focused Peace Making in Nigeria”.

    Ribadu was represented by Head of Strategic Communications, Office of the NSA, Zakari Mijinyawa  at the event organised by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) in partnership the Government of Canada.

    For this, he said, the Federal Government was putting in place special measure to mainstream woman into peac building activities.

    “As you are aware, the renewed hope agenda has one of its key pillars as strengthening national security. The plans for police reform and also moving millions of Nigerians out of poverty cannot be done without empowering woman.

    “Woman are victims, and also contributors to peace at community levels. So it is a key pillar of national security that at every level, women are involved.

    “Indeed, the federal government is taking special measures to mainstream women into peace building activities.

    “So that is why we thought it is very important to come in and participate and also to contribute in shaping the resolutions of this programme,” Rbadu said.

    On rehabilitation efforts in the North-East, Ribadu said both the federal and state governments have been supportive to persons impacted by the impact of violent extremism and terrorism.

    He said that the federal government under President Bola Tinubu has expanded the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs to include poverty alleviation and to meet the needs of those affected by conflicts and insecurity.

    ”In Maiduguri and in most of the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, women are involved in both peace building and in addressing their needs in the areas of health, psychosocial support, and also in rebuilding communities.

    “ So this is at the heart of recovery going forward,” Ribadu said

    Speaking, the UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong said that the current peace and security challenges in Nigeria, have devastating effects, particularly on women and girls  and other vulnerable groups.

    This according to Eyong includes climate change vis-a-vis the farmer-herder crisis, cybercrime, kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery and incessant attacks by the insurgents, among others.

    She said there was need for the patricians to deliberate further on those challenges during this conference to identify sustainable solution

    “It is evident that while climate change continues to put pressure on the wellbeing and  livelihoods of many communities and individuals in Nigeria and beyond, as its impact is not gender neutral.

    “Women and girls continue  to be disproportionally affected by environmental degradation and climate change.

    “ Women tend to be more reliant on natural resources for their livelihoods compared to men, and often have limited rights to information and participation in decision-making, including conflict prevention and peacemaking, at all levels,’’ eyong said.

    The Country manager of  HD, Dr Chris Agoha, observed that as communities migrate from climate-related crises, women were more vulnerable to security threats and violence.

    Agoha decried that woman who play a significant role in small-scale farming and food supply in Nigeria, they were not usually part Nigerians making policies about food security.

    He said that the conference was to see how climate change was adversely impacting on women in terms of carrying out their daily activity, especially women with farming as their source of livelihood.

    “There is a big climatic conditions, all about global warming and all that. So this climate change is affecting every aspect of our life, particularly women in terms of what they do.

    “It’s bringing conflict, depletion of natural resources. If you look at the crisis in the middle belt, there is this problem of farmer herders clash.

    “ It’s been exacerbated by climate change. There’s shrinking grazing space and land is being contested,’’ Agoha said.

    During the panel session, the Director-General of the Benue Peace and Resolution Commission, Mrs Josephine Abba said:”until Nigeria begins to accept that women are critical participants in the society, nothing can be achieved in the area of peace and food security.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

  • Those with Better Looks Are More Likely to Be Single – JD Survey

    Those with Better Looks Are More Likely to Be Single – JD Survey

    Survey by JD – JustDating: Those with Better Looks Are More Likely to Be Single

    Hong Kong People Meet in Person After Only 3.2 Hours of Online Chat: Technology and Aviation Industry Professionals Show Higher Willingness to Date
    HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 7 November 2023 – With the annual Singles’ Day approaching on November 11th (11/11), some singles are eager to escape singledom on this day, while others, humorously self-proclaimed as having a “perpetually single” disposition, continue to embrace solitude. In light of this, the popular dating app “JD – Just Dating” conducted a survey specifically targeting single users in Hong Kong. The findings were astonishing, with a staggering 77% of single men and women expressing the belief that simply shopping on the streets during Singles’ Day is not enough to fulfil their psychological needs. Instead, they actively seek companionship and the opportunity to “date” on this special day.

    The age group of these singles eager for dates ranges from 27 to 33 years old. They enjoy initiating conversations and invite online friends for in-person dates after chatting online for 3.2 hours on average. Those working in the technology and aviation industries are most willing to go on dates, and surprisingly, good looks have become a significant contributing factor to their single status.

    Hong Kong Singles Meet for Dates to Soothe Loneliness After Just 3.2 Hours of Chat

    The popular dating app, “JD,” conducted a statistical survey on the topic of “2023 Singles’ Day.” The survey took place from October 5th to 25th, 2023, and involved 1,300 users aged between 22 and 45 in Hong Kong. The analysis of the data from this user group found that a substantial 77% of single men and women believe that on Singles’ Day, they must engage in “pseudo-singleness,” actively inviting online friends for face-to-face dates to break free from the single life. This group of singles, eager for dates ranges from 27 to 33 years old, sending up to 20 dating invitations to friends on the app every day.

    To successfully date on Singles’ Day, they have minimal expectations for suitable dates, valuing compatibility in personality and shared interests as the most important factors instead. On average, they would arrange in-person dates after chatting online for 3.2 hours. However, males aged 28 to 32 are the least content with solitude, initiating date invitations after chatting for an average of 2.5 hours and are willing to cover all date expenses for romantic dining experiences.

    Better Looks May Increase the Likelihood of Being Single – Technology and Aviation Industry Professionals Are the Most Willing to Meet in Person to Escape Singledom

    Could better looks be a reason for remaining single? According to a survey conducted by “JD,” individuals with good looks, both male and female, tend to stay single. An analysis of data from the app’s top 100 most popular users found that 71% of these users have been mistaken for being “in a relationship,” only to reveal the opposite, leading to a surprising result where individuals with better looks are single. Furthermore, nearly half of these users stated that they had been told by others that their “good looks make people feel insecure in a relationship,” which led to breakups. These individuals have long been troubled by the stereotype that good-looking people are always in relationships. Therefore, as the upcoming Singles’ Day approaches, these attractive single men and women are actively seeking to break free from singledom, eager to meet more online friends and arrange dates.

    When it comes to professions, those in the technology and aviation industries in Hong Kong show the highest willingness to date. On average, they accept dates from four out of six online friends, which exceeds 60%. Public servants and healthcare professionals also actively seek to expand their social circles. It’s worth noting that 38% of the “JD” users prefer to have dates on Mondays over enjoying a full-day date on the weekend, believing that Monday evening dates are the best way to alleviate “Monday Blues.”

    “JD – JustDating” offers hassle-free dating services that allow users to date and meet online friends anywhere, anytime. With unique location and dating features, young men and women can find their matches quickly and accurately. “JD” has members across the USA, Mexico, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and various parts of Asia.
  • Have Tinubu’s appointments been equitable and fair?

    Have Tinubu’s appointments been equitable and fair?

     

     

    By Bolanle Bolawole

    turnpot@gmail.com 0705 263 1058

    Have the President’s appointments been fair? Have they been equitable? Some say he has not been fair, equitable and just; especially those who say that he has unduly favoured his Yoruba ethnic group.

    To buttress their point, they have listed some important and critical appointments which they say have gone the way of Tinubu’s Yoruba ethnic group.

    Let us take the appointments one after the other, beginning with the office of Chief of Staff, created in 1999 by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo. We have since then had the following as Chief of Staff. 1. Abdullahi Mohammed (Northerner), 29 May, 1999 – 2 June, 2008; 9 years. 2. Relatively-unknown Gbolade Osinowo (South-west), 2 June 2008 – 18 September, 2008; three-and-half months, after which the then President Umaru Yar’Ádua abolished the position. 3. Mike Oghiadomhe (South-South), 17 May, 2010 – 10 February 2014; about 4 years (after President Goodluck Jonathan reinstated the position). 4. Jones Arogbofa (Yoruba), 18 February 2014 – 29 May, 2015; one year, three months. 5. Abba Kyari (Northerner), 27 August 2015 – 17 April, 2022, almost seven years. 6. Ibrahim Gambari (Kwara state/North Central), 13 May, 2020 – 29 May, 2023, three years).

    So, the North has held the position for 16 years; South-South, 4 years; North-Central, 3 years; South-west, one-and-half years before the current holder of the post, Femi Gbajabiamila, who came into office on 14 June, 2023, less than 5 months ago. My verdict: This appointment by President Tinubu is justified.

    Next is the position of the National Security Adviser; WIKIPEDIA described this position as “a senior official in the cabinet of the President of Nigeria who manages national security on behalf of the President and serves as his chief advisor on all matters that are vital to the very survival of the State.

    The position is a statutory member of the Presidency, National Security Council and the Federal Executive Council”.

    The occupants since 1993 are: 1. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, 2 January 1993 – 30 August, 1993, eight months. 2. Ismaila Gwarzo, 30 August 1993 – 9 June, 1998, about 5 years. 3. Abdullahi Mohammed, 9 June 1998 – 29 May, 1999, 1 year. 4. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, 29 May, 1999 – 1 June, 2006, seven years. 5. Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar 1 June, 2006 – 8 March, 2010, five years. 6. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, 8 March, 2010 – 18 September, 2010, about six months. 7. Kayode Are (in acting capacity for only two weeks), 18 September, 2010 – 4 October, 2010. 8. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan broke the North’s monopoly of the position when he appointed Owoye Andrew Azazi (4 October, 2010 – 22 June, 2012), less than two years. 9.

    The North seized the position again with the appointment of Sambo Dasuki, 22 June, 2012 -13 July, 2015, three years. 10. Babagana Monguno, 13 July, 2015 – 26 June 2023, eight years. The current holder of the position, Nuhu Ribadu, appointed on 26 June, 2023, is also a Northerner.

    No person of South-west origin has held the position in a substantive position. If President Tinubu appoints a Yoruba man into the office tomorrow, there will be an outcry of “Yorubanization” but he will be justified.

    Next is the Chief of Army Staff, the undisputed flagship of the Nigerian Armed Forces: The last time a Yoruba (South-west) was Chief of Army Staff (Lt. Gen. Ipoola Alani Akinrinade) was in 1979 – and for only six months! It has been Northerners all the way: Lt. Gen. Gibson Jalo; Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi; Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; Lt. Gen. Sani Abacha; Lt. Gen. Salihu Ibrahim; Lt. Gen. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau; Maj. Gen. Chris Alli; Major-Gen. Alwali Kazir; Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi; Lt. Gen. Victor Malu; Lt. Gen. Alexander Ogomudia (South-South); Lt. Gen. Martin Luther Agwai; Lt. Gen. Owoye Andrew Azazi (South-South); Lt. Gen. Luka Yusuf; Addulrahman Bello Dambazzau; Lt. Gen.Azubuike Ihejirika (South-East); Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah (South-South); Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai; Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru; Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya and the incumbent, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who was appointed on 23 June, 2023. Is his appointment justified? 100% justified!

    The incumbent Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, is the first Yoruba (South-west) to head the organization in a substantive capacity since its inception despite that the chunk of its revenue comes from the region!

    The list of the Comptroller-Generals is dominated by Northerners: Shehu Ahmadu Musa; Gen. S. O. G. Ango (Sole Administrator); Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Mustapha; Jacob Gyang Buba; Hamman Bello Ahmed; Bernard-Shaw Nwadialo; Dikko Inde Abdullahi and retired Army Colonel Hammed Ali. Is Adeniyi’s appointment justified? It is!

    What of the Nigeria Immigration Service? The current acting Comptroller-General, Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju, is the first Yoruba (South-west) to occupy the post, though still in an acting capacity. Is her appointment justified? Very, very!

    What of the EFCC, founded in 1999 by President Olusegun Obasanjo? The list of appointees into the position of Executive Chairman as well as acting Chairman of the EFCC has been an exclusive preserve of the North: Ibrahim Lamorde (Adamawa), acting Chairman, 2008; Ibrahim Magu (Borno state), Acting Chairman, 2015 – 2020; Mohammed Umar Abba (Kano state), acting Chairman, 2020 – 2021; Abdulkarim Chukkol (from Borno state), acting Chairman (June 2023 – October, 2023).

    The substantive chairmen are: Nuhu Ribadu (from Adamawa, appointed in 2003 and re-appointed in 2007), Farida Waziri (Benue state), AbdulRasheed Bawa (Kebbi state). The incumbent, Olanipekun Olukoyede, is the first Southerner ever to occupy the position. Is the appointment justified? Super justified!

    What of the position of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, which some people think is their birthright and exclusive preserve? This is the list: Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun (1976 – 1979); John Jatau Kadiya (1979 – 1982); Iro Abubakar Dan Musa (1982 – 1983); Haliru Dantoro (1983); Mamman Jiya Vatsa (1984 – December 1985); Hamza Abdullahi (1986 – 1989), Gado Nasko (1989 – 1993); Jeremiah Timbut Useni (1993 – 1998); Mamman Kontagora (1998 – 1999); Ibrahim Bunu (1999 – 2001); Mohammed Abba Gana (8 February, 2001 – 17 July, 2003); Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai (17 July, 2003 – 27 July, 2007); Aliyu Modibbo Umar (27 July, 2007 – 29 October, 2008; Bala Mohammed (8 April, 2010 – 29 April, 2015); Mohammed Musa Bello (November 2015 – 29 May 2023) and the incumbent, Nyesom Wike, who was appointed on 21 August, 2023.

    Since the federal capital was moved from Lagos to Abuja on 12 December, 1991, no Southerner has been made its Minister. Is a Southerner’s appointment as the FCT Minister justified? It is!

    The incumbent governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, was appointed by President Tinubu on 15 September, 2023. His predecessors are: Roy Pentelow Fenton (24 July, 1958 – 24 July, 1963); Aliyu Mai-Bornu (25 July, 1963 -22 June, 1967); Clement Nyong Isong (15 August, 1967 – 22 September, 1975); Adamu Ciroma (24 September, 1975 -28 June, 1977); Ola Vincent (28 June, 1982 – 30 September, 1993); Paul Agbai Ogwuma (1 October, 1993 – 29 May, 1999); Joseph Oladele Sanusi (29 May, 1999 – 29 May, 2004); Charles Chukwuma Soludo (29 May, 2004 – 29 May, 2009); Sanusi Lamido Aminu Sanusi (3 June, 2009 – 20 February, 2014); Sarah Alade (in acting capacity: 20 February 2014 – 3 June, 2014); Godwin Emefiele (3 June, 2014 – 9 June, 2023); Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi (in acting capacity: 9 June, 2023 – 15 September, 2023).

    As usual, the North has held the post for 22 years, far more than the other regions of the country. South-South (eight years) but if Emefiele is counted as South-South and you add his nine years, then, South-South shoots up to 17 years! South-west 10 years plus seven months in acting capacity and the South-East, 11 years; but if Emefiele is treated as Igbo and you add his nine years, then the South-east moves up to 20 years, next to the North! In view of these statistics, is Tinubu’s appointment of Cardoso as CBN governor justified? It is!

    The Minister of Finance is another example of Yorubanization being pointed at. Let’s look at the statistics: Wale Edun is the incumbent, appointed by President Tinubu on 16 August, 2023. Since the Fourth Republic began in 1999, it has been Adamu Ciroma (Yobe State), 1999 -2003; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Delta State), 2003 – 2006; Nenadi Usman (Kaduna State), 2006 – 2007; Shamsuddeen Usman (Kano State), 2007 – 2009; Mansur Mukhtar (Borno State), 2009 – 2010; Olusegun Aganga (Ekiti State), 2010 – 2011; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Delta State) 2011 -2015; Kemi Adeosun (Ogun State), 2015 – 2018; and Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna State) 2018 – 2023.

    Recall that Adeosun’s tenure was truncated as a result of the controversy over her NYSC discharge certificate and as if Buhari and the cabals around him were waiting for that to happen, the position was quickly given to one of their own from the North! It remains to be seen whether the Yoruba, who led the bandwagon of those who roasted Adeosun, have learnt any lesson! The South-west has done only about five years, less than what Okonjo-Iweala alone chalked up for Delta and what Zainab Ahmed did for the North! Is the appointment of Edun as Finance Minister justified? It is!

    I can go on and on! For instance, no one from the South-west has been the INEC chairman since 1999. The list is: Ephraim Akpata (1998 – 2000); Abel Guobadia (2000 – 2005); Maurice Iwu (2005 – 2010); Atahiru Jega (2010 – 2015); and the incumbent, Mahmood Yakubu, in office since 2015. Is it not only just, fair and equitable for the next INEC chairman to come from Yoruba land?

    There are countless other important offices, agencies and parastatals of the Federal Government (Code of Conduct Bureau, Code of Conduct Tribunal, among others) where Southerners, and specifically the South-west/Yoruba, have been marginalized for ages.

    Not only can we not wish away Prof. Richard Joseph’s theory of prebendal politics in Nigeria, a federal state such as Nigeria must also ensure that no section is marginalized to the point that succession becomes an enticing option. That is what the agitation for Biafra and Yoruba Nation tells us.

    Nigeria’s minority groups, too, have their grievances; one of which is the erroneous assumption, always, that only the major ethnic groups matter. Some of President Tinubu’s appointments have been sensitive to the need to change that narrative. A few examples: The Chief of Defence Staff is General Christopher Gwabin Musa, from the minority Zangon Kataf of southern Kaduna State. We have not forgotten the controversy generated when Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla was named the Chief of Naval Staff, with some Igbo leaders saying he did not come from “mainstream” Igbo! George Akume, appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation by President Tinubu, is a minority from Benue State. There are so many other such appointments which, in my mind, were directed at correcting the injustices of the past.

    But all said and done, is the President infallible or can he please everyone? No mortal can! That is the wisdom in Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey’s evergreen song titled “Ketekete” (The Horse, The Man and The Son)! Tinubu appears to have moved away from Buhari’s 97% and 5% analogy that saw him give virtually all the important votes to his tribe, region, and religion because they voted massively for him while the Igbo that did not were only reluctantly given the dregs.

    This same attitude the Igbo have displayed towards the Yoruba through the ages: Awo, MKO Abiola, Olu Falae and now Tinubu. Although they have always maintained stoic silence, suffering in silence, the Yoruba have been more marginalised in the sharing of political largesse than the Igbo.

    And the silence of the Yoruba is not cowardice. It is evidence of political sophistication. Now that some people are crying Yorubanization, they may not be aware that even among the Yoruba, there is the understanding that some Southwest states that contributed less to the votes in the Southwest that brought Tinubu to office have ended up being more favoured than those of their counterparts who delivered more votes. Again, it is a measure of the political sophistication of the Yoruba that you will not hear them make an issue of this in public. The Yoruba are one!(Flowerbudnews)

  • NLC, TUC Declare Nationwide Strike From Nov 14

    NLC, TUC Declare Nationwide Strike From Nov 14

    The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has declared a total nationwide strike effective next Tuesday, November 14, 2023

    The leadership of the two union reached the resolution after an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

     

    The two major labour unions said nationwide mobilisation of members and allies have begun immediately.

    The action by the Organised Labour followed the brutalisation of NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, last week in Imo State.

     

    There had been widespread outrage by the Organised Labour accusing the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Mohammed Barde, of complicity in the recent attack on Ajaero, in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

     

    The Organised Labour last Friday handed the Federal Government a five-day ultimatum to replace the police commissioner, while also blaming Governor Hope Uzodimma who is seeking re-election of the attack on Ajaero though the governor had since said he had no hand in the attack on the labour leader.

     

    The Organised Labour also demanded the arrest and prosecution of some of the governor’s aide and threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action if their demands were not carried out.

    Already, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Sunday, redeployed Barde for “neutrality sake” ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State.

     

    See communique issued after the NEC meeting:

     

    COMMUNIQUE AT THE END OF THE JOINT NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) MEETING OF THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) & TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA (TUC) HELD ON TUESDAY, THE 7TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2023

     

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) joint National Executive Council (NEC) convened to conduct a comprehensive review of the progress made in executing its directive to initiate an industrial action in Imo state. This decision was prompted by a series of infractions and encroachments on the rights of workers within the state.

    in Imo state as guaranteed by our extant labour laws and the Constitution;

     

    3. the Police supported a group of Imo state Governor’s thugs led by its SA on Special Duties invaded the premises of the Imo NLC Secretariat and unleashed mayhem on the few workers who had gathered inflicting injuries and stealing and damaging personal effects including various sums;

     

    4. the President of the NLC was subsequently subjected to brutalization, blindfolded and abducted by the Police and taken to an unknown destination where he was further subjected to further violations and humiliation;

     

    5. the NLC and TUC have made demands on the Government which have not been met as at the time of this session;

     

    6. the continued prevalence of the use of violence and impunity in negotiating rights and interests within the nation’s socioeconomic space against all known dictates of democracy and Social Dialogue;

     

    Consequently, the NLC/TUC NEC-in-Session resolved as follows:

     

    1. To order the immediate withdrawal of services and shutdown of Imo state beginning midnight today. All workers and affiliates are expected to ensure compliance from wherever they are. All flights into and out of Imo state, fuel supplies and Electricity be stopped immediately as applicable. All Public and Private Sector workers are to immediately down tools indefinitely.

     

    2. That if our demands are still unmet, workers all over the federation shall join in withdrawing their services by Midnight Tuesday, the 14th of November, 2023

     

    3. All State Councils of NLC & TUC and affiliates are by this resolution mandated to ensure full compliance with NEC’s decision

     

    Comrade Adewale Adeyanju (Deputy President NLC)

     

    Comrade Festus Osifo (President TUC

  • BREAKING: Labour orders indefinite shutdown of power supply, flights in Imo

    BREAKING: Labour orders indefinite shutdown of power supply, flights in Imo

    The Organised Labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress on Tuesday, ordered a shutdown of electricity and fuel supplies in Imo State following the brutalisation of the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, last week, by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.

     

    The Labour Centres also directed aviation workers to ensure that flights into and outside the state are suspended.

     

    This is according to one of the decisions taken at the extraordinary National Executive Council meeting summoned by the TUC and NUC on Tuesday afternoon.

     

    “The NEC-in-session orders the immediate withdrawal of services and shutdown of Imo State beginning midnight today. All workers and affiliates are expected to ensure compliance from wherever they are. All flights into and out of Imo state, fuel supplies and Electricity be stopped immediately as applicable. All Public and Private Sector workers are to immediately down tools indefinitely,” a communique released at the end of the meeting noted.

     

    The implementation commences at midnight, November 8, 2023.

     

    The PUNCH reports that the Organised Labour, comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, on Friday, issued a five-day ultimatum over the earlier arrest of the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, by the police in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday.

     

    The labour centres demanded the redeployment of the commissioner of police in the state and the arrest and prosecution of the aide of the government who was alleged to have perpetrated the attack.

    The unions also threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action if their demands were not met in five days from Friday.

     

    Ajaero was arrested by the police ahead of the state-wide protest in Imo on Wednesday. This was disclosed by the NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah.

     

    Although the police denied arresting Ajaero, stating that he was merely taken into protective custody to prevent a mob attack, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, accused the labour leader of meddling in the political affairs of the state.

     

    The attack on the labour leader has been condemned by many prominent Nigerians and civil society organisations, including the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, and human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN

     

  • Gov Adeleke Reinstates Mrs Fagbola As Secretary, State Judicial Service Commission

    Gov Adeleke Reinstates Mrs Fagbola As Secretary, State Judicial Service Commission

    The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has approved the reinstatement of Mrs Abosede Folasayo Fagbola as the Secretary of the Osun State Judicial Service Commission.

     

    According to a terse statement by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the State Governor, on Tuesday, the appointment takes immediate effect.

     

  • Osun: Adeleke sacks newly recruited health worker

    Osun: Adeleke sacks newly recruited health worker

    Newly recruited health workers for the University of Osun Teaching Hospital, UTH, have been relieved of their appointment days after their recruitment was ratified.

    The directive for the termination of the appointments was allegedly approved by the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke.

     

    The order was contained in a document obtained by DAILY POST which was duly signed by the Director of Administration, Dr. Owolade O. A.

    The Teaching Hospital notified the newly recruited staffs that their employment has been nullified by the state government.

     

    The message read this, “NOTIFICATION: SUSPENSION OF STAFF RECRUITMENT.

     

    “This is to inform the newly recruited staff to the outreach centers that the recruitment exercise earlier conducted had been nullified in accordance with the Osun State Government directives.

    This notification supercedes the earlier memorandum released.

    Thank you.”

     

    It was learnt that the newly appointed employees were to provide healthcare services at the Teaching Hospital’s outreach centers.

     

    DAILY POST gathered that the initial recruitment exercise had been carried out with much anticipation, as it was seen as a ray of hope for many job seekers in the state. However, the newly recruited staff got the shock of their lives when they were asked to go home few days after they were recruited.

    Many of this affected workers have stated that the reasons behind the sudden turnaround by the governor remained a subject of speculations which has left many to wonder about their fate.

     

    “We resumed early October 2023 but before we received our salary for the month, we were asked to go home on October 19, 2023.

     

    “The excuse is that the appointment exceeded the number of employees required.

    We are still hoping they would call us back. The information we heard was that they recruited more than they needed,” one of the affected staff, who pleaded anonymity, said.

     

    Confirming the report, the UTH Chief Medical Director, Prof Olaitan Peter in a response to DAILY POST enquiry said, “Yes, it is true

     

  • FG picks Enugu for e-governance pilot training

    FG picks Enugu for e-governance pilot training

    The Federal Government has selected Enugu State as one of the states slated for the e-governance pilot training programme, which will commence in the first quarter of 2024.

    This was disclosed when a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy led by Engr. Ekworo MalcDonald, Chief Programme Analyst, and Mrs Oriloye Elizabeth, Principal Programme Analyst, paid a courtesy call on Dr. Malachy Agbo, the Enugu State Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Eradication in his office in Enugu on Tuesday.

     

    According to them, the pilot programme would train one hundred civil servants on e-governance and other information technology skills that would enhance their ability to deliver on their jobs.

    They commended the state government led by Dr. Peter Mbah, for iembarking on e-governance programme in state, adding that the training of civil servants in information technology was in tandem with the vision of the governor, Dr Peter Mbah.

     

    Earlier in his welcome remarks, Agbo expressed thanks to the ministry for choosing Enugu State as one of the pilot states for the training, assuring that it has facilities suitable for the training.

     

    He stressed that the state government had started the process of migrating from manual to digital processes in its various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to enhance work efficiency and effectiveness.

    They commended the state government led by Dr. Peter Mbah, for iembarking on e-governance programme in state, adding that the training of civil servants in information technology was in tandem with the vision of the governor, Dr Peter Mbah.

    Earlier in his welcome remarks, Agbo expressed thanks to the ministry for choosing Enugu State as one of the pilot states for the training, assuring that it has facilities suitable for the training.

    He stressed that the state government had started the process of migrating from manual to digital processes in its various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to enhance work efficiency and effectiveness

     

  • President Tinubu Makes Fresh Appointment

    President Tinubu Makes Fresh Appointment

    President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Abdu Mukhtar to serve as the National Coordinator of the Presidential ‘Unlocking Healthcare Value-Chain’ Initiative, which is domiciled under the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare.

     

    According to a statement by Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, this strategic approval seeks to unlock billions of dollars of new investment into the nation’s healthcare delivery system through a time-bound and cross-ministerial collaboration to restructure the ecosystem of Health Product manufacturing, Health Logistics services, Health Technology services, Health Retail services (e-Commerce), Health Provider facilitation, and Health Payor reform (Third Party Administrators & Insurers) in order to achieve the following.

     

    Measurable increase in the domestic manufacturing of generic pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biologics, and devices.

     

    Reduction of outbound medical tourism by enhancing service quality in Nigeria while catalyzing alternative health ecosystems in-country.

     

    Measurable increase in the quantity of quality jobs across the value chain through enhanced FDI and local capital mobilization.

    Ngelale said Dr. Mukhtar comes to the task as the immediate past Director of Industry & Trade Development at the African Development Bank (AfDB). Prior to joining the AfDB, Dr. Mukhtar served as the Group Chief Strategy Officer of the Dangote Group of Industries, where he played a key role in the conglomerate’s expansion of its cement production footprint into fourteen African countries, in addition to important joint ventures in the power, oil & gas, and agriculture sectors.

     

    “This followed a four-year tenure as the Chief Executive Officer of the FCTA’s Abuja Investment Company Limited from 2007 to 2011.

    Dr. Mukhtar holds a Doctorate in Biotechnology from Boston University (USA); a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School (USA); a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and a Medical Degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

     

    “The President expects that the National Coordinator of this new cross-ministerial initiative will bring to bear his vast experience and academic qualifications in the effective execution of this essential national assignment such that the massive economic boon represented by Nigeria’s healthcare-delivery system can move from potential and theory into reality and practice in accordance with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration,” he said