Flowerbud News

Month: November 2023

  • DTAC DG Moves to Deepen Relations with Diaspora Commission to Advance National Interest

    DTAC DG Moves to Deepen Relations with Diaspora Commission to Advance National Interest

     

    By Biola Lawal
    Abuja (Flowerbudnews) The Director General, Directorate of Technical Aid Corps, Nigeria, (DTAC), Dr. Yusuf Buba Yakub has initiated efforts to deepen collaboration with Nigerians in Diaspora Commission( NiDCOM )to Advance National Interest.

    Dr Buba Yakub began the collaboration efforts with a visit to NIDCOM Boss, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in Abuja on Wednesday, a statement by Nkem Anyata-Lafia, Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the DG, DTAC stated.

    Following the visit, DTAC and NiDCOM agreed to strengthen collaboration as a way of advancing and working together for the achievement of the good intentions of the Tinubu Administration in the areas of the common interests.of DTAC and NIDCOM.

    Speaking during the visit,the DTAC boss,Rt.Hon. Buba said the occasion was for him a sort of home-coming and provided him the opportunity to share his vision for synergy and collaboration with the sister-Agency in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since his appointment in late August.

    Dr Buba explained that DTAC was in the business of promoting the nation’s bilateral and multilateral ties across the globe through the deployment of technical aid to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries

    The DTAC Boss also stated that he planned to widen its scope of coverage, noting that the use of soft-power diplomacy remained the best way to go in a world where instruments of coercion were no longer needed to wield influence over the globe.

    He said the co-operation of NiDCOM and DTAC was necessary to drive some of the major needs aimed at strengthening the mandates of the both Agencies in deepening relations with the global community through people-to-people collaboration, especially when it meant that every deployed Volunteer from DTAC automatically becomes a member of the nation’s Diaspora .

    Buba advocated a change of mindset among Nigerian Diasporans through a strategic collaboration with Nigerian Missions across the world where

     

    He expressed the hope that the Diasporans could be made the greatest marketers of the Nigerian dream as against the present situation where the Diasporans hardly see the Missions as home abroad.

    Dr. Buba proposed the establishment of a Desk Office manned by NiDCOM officers who will ensure a smooth and seamless liaison between the Missions and the Diasporans in the bid to fully involve them in driving foreign direct investments for Nigeria.

    Responding, the NiDCOM Chair, Dabiri-Erewa, said she was optimistic that a collaboration with DTAC would be in the best interest of the nation.

    She added that , given the experience of the new DG of DTAC as a former Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs,House of Representatives, much would be expected “as your experience will be completely put to bear,” she concluded.

    Among those who were part of the visit from the side of DTAC was the Director of Programmes in the Agency, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed. While on the side of NiDCOM were Engr. Sule Yakubu Baci, the Secretary of the Commission, as well as Hon. A. Terab, Head of Department, Technical Transfer and Innovations at NiDCOM and Mr. Gabriel Odu, Assistant Director (Media) (Flowerbudnews

    Nkem Anyata-Lafia, Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the DG, DTAC

  • Abductors Of Trust TV Journalist Make Contact, Demand N10m Ransom.

    Abductors Of Trust TV Journalist Make Contact, Demand N10m Ransom.

    Abductors of Broadcast Journalist/Editor, Nten Ekpang, with Trust TV have made contact with his family, demanding One hundred million naira ransome.

     

    Our correspondent recalls that Ekpang was Kidnapped on October 1,2023 at a village near Lokoja in Kogi State,north central Nigeria while on his way back to Abuja, after taking his family for a holiday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    A xlose family contact, Kevin Chianan, who confirmed this to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday night, said the kidnappers called the wife and demanded ten million naira Ransome for his release.

    “My name is kelvin and a friend to Nten Ekpang, who happens to travel on Sunday to Akwa-Ibom State to drop his family with the mother inlaw.

    “I called him yesterday, (Wednesday), in the morning and he told me he was in the park to which he was about to leave Uyo to Abuja”

    I called him back at about 6p.m to find out wether he has got to Abuja but I couldn’t get in touch with him, his number was switched off. At about 9p.m, I was called that he had been kidnapped”, he added.

     

    Journalists in Abuja have appealed to the captors to set him free unhurt, while calling on the Security Agencies in Kogi State to ensure a safe rescue of the Broadcast Journalist.

     

    Our Correspondent reports that the driver of the bus was set free by the kidnappers and now with the Security to help in the rescue effort.

     

    The Nigeria Police, Kogi state command is yet to make a statement concerning the kidnap incident.

  • Labour unions criticise Akpabio over announcement of FERMA board as executive board members

    Labour unions criticise Akpabio over announcement of FERMA board as executive board members

    By Flowerbud News

    Nov. 3, 2023

    Joint unions in Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), have kicked against the announcement by Sen. Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate, referring to some members of the agency’s board as executive board members.

    The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) made their position known in a letter addressed to Akpabio on Thursday and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

    It will be recalled that Akpabio had on Wednesday announced the constitution of a new board for FERMA, but referred to some of the members as executive board members, as against the usual members of the board.

    The letter, jointly signed by Mr Paul Onimisi, ASCSN Chairman and Mr Abdulmumin Idris, AUPCTRE Chairman, described the announcement by the senate president as discouraging and demoralising to the staff of the agency.

    “The appointment of some members as executive board members to eventually take over the running of the departments is contrary to FERMA Act and detrimental to the career progression of the employees of the agency.

    “It will not serve the agency any good in achieving its mandate.

    “The appointment of some persons as executive board members is contrary to the provisions of Section 2(2) of the FERMA Act as amended and career progression within government agencies.

    “It is counter productive and demoralising for career officers as the intention is for the executive board members to take over from career officers who are running departments.

    “We urge you respectfully, distinguished Senate President, to confirm the appointment of members of the board in accordance with the Act that created the board.

    “To do otherwise is to usher in a chain of events that will disrupt the structure of the Agency, derail its mandate and demoralise the workers,” the unions maintained.

    The unions’ executives said the direct consequence of making some members of the board executive members to head departments was to derail the agency because workers would not support it.

    The union leaders emphasised that particular adverse result of the contraption of making some board members executive board members was the creation of a board within a board.

    They added that such would drive the agency in contra-direction in terms or its mandate.

    “The agency and its members of staff are peacefully working towards the achievement of its mandate in their service to the nation.

    “An urgent clarion call is hereby made for the immediate reversal of this illegality to forestall looming anarchy this contraption may cause,” the unions stated in the letter aimed at drawing President Bola Tinubu’s attention to the anomaly.

    “In line with Mr President’s renewed hope agenda, it is our lawful demand that the appointees be confirmed as board members not executive board members.

    ”Any contrary action to the provisions of the FERMA (Establishment Act 2002) as amended will be resisted,” the joint unions threatened.

  • Industrial action throws entire Imo into darkness – EEDC

    Industrial action throws entire Imo into darkness – EEDC

     

     

    By Flowerbudnews

    Enugu: The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) says the loss of electricity supply in the entire Imo is as a result of the industrial action by the organised labour union in the state.

     

    This is contained in a statement issued by the EEDC’s Head, Corporate Communications, Mr Emeka Ezeh, on Thursday in Enugu.

     

    “EEDC wishes to inform her esteemed customers in Imo State that the loss of supply currently being experienced is as a result of the industrial action by the organised labour union in Imo State.

     

    “This led to the union shutting down our source of supply at Egbu Transmission Station, leaving us with no energy to distribute to our customers.

     

    “As a result of this development, the whole of Imo State is without electricity supply,” he said.

     

    According to him, we appreciate the inconveniences this situation must have caused our customers, and we hope that the issue will be resolved soon.

     

    The EEDC spokesman, however, assured the good people of Imo that “the company is on standby to restore supply once the industrial action is called off.”

     

    “EEDC is committed to improving on its processes and delivering improved services to her esteemed customers,” he added. (Flowerbudnews)

  • Appeal Court affirms Ndume, Lawan as validly elected senators

    Appeal Court affirms Ndume, Lawan as validly elected senators

     

     

    The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Thursday, affirmed the election of Sen. Mohammed Ndume and Sen. Kaka Lawan of Borno South and Central Senatorial Districts respectively.
    The three-member panel, presided by Justice Biobele Georgewill, held that the two appeals against the lawmakers lacked merit.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC had, on Feb. 25, declared the duo of Ndume and Lawan as the winners of the National Assembly election into the two senatorial districts.

    Dissatisfied with the declaration, Muhammed Kumalia and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenged the election of Lawan while Kudla Satumari and PDP filed petition against Mohammed Ndume at the state’s election tribunal.

    The Borno National and State’s Election Petition Tribunal dismissed the two petitions.

    Not satisfied with the judgments of the tribunal, Kumalia and Satumari lodged appeals before the Court of Appeal in appeal number: CA/G/EP/SEN/BR/7/2023 between Mohammed Umara Kumalia & another Vs. Kaka Shehu Lawan and others, and appeal number: CA/G/EP/SEN/BR/04/2023 between Kula Satumari & another Vs. INEC and others.
    While Yusuf Ali, SAN, represented Kaka Shehu and APC, Johnson Usman, SAN, appeared for INEC and Marcel Oru, SAN, represented Ndume in the two appeals.

    The senior lawyers urged the court to dismiss the appeals for lacking in merit.

    Delivering the judgments, the Court of Appeal upheld the submissions of the learned senior counsel to the respondents that the two appeals lacked merit and dismissed same while affirming the election of Lawan and Ndume respectively.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

  • NOTICE OF PENDING LITIGATION IN RESPECT OF PLOTS 580 & 581, KUGBO DISTRICT, ABUJA BEING MARKETED AS PROMISELAND ASOKORO HILLTOP

    NOTICE OF PENDING LITIGATION IN RESPECT OF PLOTS 580 & 581, KUGBO DISTRICT, ABUJA BEING MARKETED AS PROMISELAND ASOKORO HILLTOP

    CAVEAT EMPTOR

    LAND NOT FOR SALE

     

    NOTICE OF PENDING LITIGATION IN RESPECT OF PLOTS 580 & 581, KUGBO DISTRICT, ABUJA BEING MARKETED AS PROMISELAND ASOKORO HILLTOP

     

    This is to notify the general public that Plots 580 & 581, Kugbo District, Abuja being marketed as Promiseland Asokoro Hilltop is not for sale to the public as the lands are subject of litigation in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/708MI/2023; SUNRISE ESTATE DEVELOPMENT LIMITED V. PRACO NIGERIA LIMITED, ENGR SUCCESS OBIOMA, MINISTER OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, DIRECTOR OF LAND ADMINISTRATION and others at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, SUIT NO. 6419/2023; SUNRISE ESTATE DEVELOPMENT LIMITED V. THE MINISTER FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, THE FEDERAL CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND UNKNOWN PERSONS and SUIT NO. FCT/HC/CV/7813/2023; SUNRISE ESTATE DEVELOPMENT LIMITED V. THE MINISTER, FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, FEDERAL CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND PRACO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    These cases instituted by Sunrise Estate Development Limited who is the legal allottee of the said Plots are still pending at the Court of Appeal, Abuja and High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja respectively.

     

    In view of the pending litigation, the principle of lis pendens applies to the Plots in question. The general public is hereby warned not to deal with Promiseland Asokoro Hilltop or any other person advertising to sell lands in Plots 580 & 581 as they risk losing their money, and may be committed to prison for contempt of court.

     

    Please be aware!

    Signed

    Sunrise Estate Development Limited Management

  • NAFDAC trains 45 health workers on pharmacovigilance in Kaduna

    NAFDAC trains 45 health workers on pharmacovigilance in Kaduna

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), said it has trained no fewer than 45 medical professionals on pharmacovigilance in Kaduna State.

    NAFDAC’s Coordinator in the state, Mr Nasiru Mato, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Kaduna.

    He listed the professionals to include

    medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses, consultant pediatricians and physicians from public hospitals, military – based health facilities and private health centres.

    Mato said the training was conducted to acquaint the participants on the use of Med Safety App and adverse drug reaction via E – Reporting, in line with the extant global best practices.

    “Among the core objectives of pharmacovigilance is ensuring the safety of medicines,” he said.

    He added that the training was also to make the medical practitioners

    understand the legal and regulatory framework for drug safety monitoring.

    This, Mato said, is in order to effectively implement pharmacovigilance by ensuring the overall safety in the use of medicine

    He added,”We trained them to know the benefits of pharmacovigilance, have adequate knowledge of the reporting tools and processes of adverse drug reaction(ADR) reporting and the roles and responsibilities of relevant stakeholders.”

    According to Mato, pharmacovigilance is the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of ADRs or any other drug -related problems such as drug abuse, misuse, medication errors, lack of efficacy and counterfeits.

    He said, ” It is aimed at getting the best outcome of treatment with medicines .

    ” Pharmacovigilance ensures patient safety by providing a system for a continual monitoring of medicine use.

    “This is by putting in place measures to minimise risks and providing appropriate and timely information to relevant stakeholders to ensure the rational use of medicines in the healthcare system.”

    Mato added that pharmacovigilance was needed to prevent drug-induced human suffering and avoid financial risks associated with unexpected adverse effects.

    The NAFDAC boss said, “Pharmacovigilance is generally all about rational and safe use of medicine.”(NAN

  • Rivers Chief Judge pardons 53 inmates

    Rivers Chief Judge pardons 53 inmates

    Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, on Thursday, granted pardon to 53 inmates at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre who are standing trial for various offences.

     

     

     

    Amadi said that the pardon was part of the week-long programmes put in place by the state judiciary to herald the 2023/2024 Legal Year.

     

     

     

    He stated that the development was also a move toward discongesting the maximum correctional centre in Port-Harcourt.

     

     

     

    Amadi said that the release of the inmate was in line with the provisions of section 34(1) of the Criminal Justice Law of Rivers and the Special Provision Law of the federation that empowers the chief judge to grant such pardon.

     

     

     

    He said that the release of the inmates had become imperative to ensure that justice was rightly served as well as for decongestion of the correctional centres.

     

     

     

    He called for effective synergy among all stakeholders in the criminal administration system.

     

     

     

    According to him, the judiciary, correctional services, law enforcement agencies, legal organisations and community leaders must work hand-in-hand for justice to prevail in the society.

     

     

     

    Amadi said that a stakeholders’ meeting was held prior to the goal delivery exercise in order to scrutinise the list submitted by the correction centre and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

     

     

     

    This, he said, was to ascertain those who had no question to answer but were languishing in jail in the correctional centre.

     

     

     

    He also called on the police to do discreet and thorough investigation in order to have enough evidence before charging any suspect to court.

     

     

     

    The chief judge advised the released inmates to turn a new leaf and be of good behaviour, stressing that they might not be lucky next time if they were caught engaging in any crime and brought back to the correction centre.

     

     

     

    “I came here for an exercise just to make you better citizens. No one wants you to die; you must have learnt something here; I urge you all to leave evil.

     

     

     

    “As you go back to the village, let the change be seen in you; don’t go back to eat your vomit; go back and find something to do; you can engage in farming, fishing or learn hand work,” he stated.

     

     

     

    Earlier in his remarks, the Comptroller of Correctional Service in the state, Mr Felix Lawrence, commended the effectiveness of the Criminal Justice Administration System in the state in the decongestion of Port-Harcourt Maximum Correctional Services.

     

     

     

    Lawrence said that he met more than 4,000 inmates when he assumed duty in June 2022, adding, however, that the number had dropped due to the consistent goal delivery exercise by the chief judge.

     

     

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inmates granted pardon had been in the correction centre for between five and nine years awaiting trial. (NAN)

  • Ajaero Responding To Treatment After Imo ‘Attack’ – Labour Leader

    Ajaero Responding To Treatment After Imo ‘Attack’ – Labour Leader

    The General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nuhu Toro, has provided an update on the condition of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, following his arrest in Imo State on Wednesday.

    Channels Television reported that Ajaero was arrested in Owerri, the capital of Imo State on Wednesday during a protest by workers in Imo State over an alleged “serial and habitual abuse and violation” of their rights by the state government.

     

    According to the police, Ajeoro was taken into custody for his protection, but the NLC said he was brutalised after his arrest.

     

    A viral video later showed Ajaero with visible injuries on his face as he was being transported to a hospital in Owerri after his release from detention.

    Ajaero is now responding well to treatment,” Toro said while giving an update in a live appearance on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics on Thursday.

     

    Toro said the NLC leader and the other leaders with him are receiving and responding to adequate treatment.

     

    “They are still under treatment and I am happy to inform you that they are responding to treatment. The chairperson of RTEAN, an affiliate of the TUC, was also attacked,” he said.

     

    “His phones were taken away by the thugs, and his money was carted away. They are recovering; they are receiving treatment in the hospital.”

    He explained that the attack was a response to a memorandum signed by the NLC, TUC, and the Imo State government on May 7.

     

    “The reason why we went to Imo is that the state government under the leadership of Senator Hope Uzozinma refused to honour a memorandum we signed.

     

    “The Governor refused to honour gentleman understanding to set up a committee,” he said