Flowerbud News

Category: General News

  • I am back: Buhari writes Saraki, Dogara

    By Ismaila Chafe

    President Muhammadu Buhari has written a letter to Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, informing them of his resumption of duties as President and Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity confirmed this development in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.

    According to the presidential aide, the transmission of the letter to the two arms of the legislature, the Senate and the House of Representatives, followed the completion of his 10-day working leave.

    In the letter titled “RESUMPTION OF OFFICE” personally signed by him, on Saturday, President Buhari said: “In compliance with Section 145 of the 1999 constitution (as amended), I write to intimate the Senate (House of Representatives) that I have resumed my functions as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with effect from today, Saturday 18th August, 2018,after my vacation.

    “Please accept, Distinguished Senate President, (Hon.Speaker, House of Representatives) the assurances of my highest consideration.”

    Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he would not spare anyone found guilty of any corrupt practice or sabotaging the nation’s economy.

    The President gave the assurance when he spoke to a correspondent of the NTA on arrival from London on Saturday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after his 10 working day vacation.

    Buhari, who was reacting to happenings during his absence, including the cases of defections by politicians, said the incidents were part of the beauty of democracy.

    He, however, advised all eligible Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to enable them elect public officers of their choose.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the President was received by a large crowd of well-wishers, party supporters, and other Nigerians.

    The Air Force jet carrying the President landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe international Airport Abuja at about 6.38p.m.

    Those at the airport to welcome him included Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi; Service Chiefs; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Musa Bello and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha.

    Others at the airport were the Chief of Staff, Malam Abba Kyari,   the acting chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu and members of the presidential media team.

    The return of the president has put to rest the social media report that he had extended his vacation in London.

    Buhari on Aug. 3 commenced a 10 working day holiday and transmitted a letter to the President of the Senate and the Speaker, House of Representatives to that effect in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.

    While the president was in London, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo acted on his behalf in line with the constitution.

  • Buhari sends message to treasury looters

    Fresh from his return home on Saturday from a 10 working day vacation in London, President Muhammadu Buhari dropped a message to treasury looters and corrupt Nigerians.

    In an interview with NTA, he gave an assurance that he would not spare anyone found guilty of any corrupt practice or sabotaging the nation’s economy.

    Buhari, who was reacting to happenings during his absence, including the cases of defections by politicians, said the incidents were part of the beauty of democracy.

    He, however, advised all eligible Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to enable them elect public officers of their choose.

  • I will not leave APC, says House of Reps Deputy Speaker

    I will not leave APC, says House of Reps Deputy Speaker

    Mr Yusuf Lasun, the Deputy Speaker of the  House of Representatives, says he will not leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) inspite of losing the party’s governorship primary in Osun.

    Addressing a news conference on Sunday in Osogbo, Lasun alleged that though there was a conspiracy against him in the primary,  he would not leave the party.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)) reports that the Deputy Speaker was among the 17 aspirants that contested the APC governorship primary in the state on July 20.

    Lasun came second with 21,000 votes, while Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the Chief of Staff to Gov. Aregbesola won the primary with 127,017 votes.

    He said: “Although I was conspired against during the governorship primary,  but I will not leave the party.

    “I am still attending all the party’s functions to that effect.

    “My supporters and I are still members of the APC and we are not intending to leave the party in the nearest future.

    “We will do our best to support the party during the Sept. 22 (governorship) election.

    “I know in every contest, there will be a winner, whether it is free or not.”

    Lasun, who also  alleged that the party did not reach out to him after the primary, said “maybe the party felt I  don’t have anything to contribute.’’

    The deputy speaker also claimed that many politicians in the state had been alienated from the party due to the agitation over the primary.

    “We hope the party members will be able to put behind them all that happened during the primary,’’ he said.

    Asked whether he had reached out to the winner of the governorship primary by congratulating him, Lasun said he had not.

    “I did not congratulate the winner of the primary because when I became the deputy speaker in 2015,  the party did not congratulate me.

    “And till today, nobody told me what my offence was except that some people were saying that I went against the party’s  position.

    “But for me, what they were referring to as party position  was actually the position of few leaders of the party,’’ Lasun said.

  • NECO releases June/July 2018 SSCE result

    NECO releases June/July 2018 SSCE result

    The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the June/July 2018 Senior Secondary Schools result, a statement issued on Monday in Minna said.

    The Acting Registrar, Alhaji Abubakar Gana, said in the statement that 1,041,536 candidates registered, while 1,032,729 candidates actually sat for the examination.

    Gana said that 939,733 candidates representing 90.47 per cent scored five credits and above without English and Mathematics.

    He also said that 875, 464 candidates, representing 84.77 per cent scored credits in English Language while 850,331 candidates representing 82.34 per cent, scored credits in mathematics.

    Furthermore, he said that a total of 742,455 candidates representing 71.48 per cent scored five credits and above including English language and Mathematics.

    Gana said that in 2017, 70.85 per cent of the candidates had five credits and above including in English and Mathematics as against 71.48 per cent in 2018, showing 0.63 per cent improved performance in the current result.

    According to him, a total of 20,181 candidates were involved in examination malpractice — 3,269 candidates in mathematics and 2,177 candidates in English Language.

    • He decried the fact that 838 candidates were absent from the examinations, yet had answer scripts. (NAN)
  • FCTA Resident doctors threaten to embark on strike Aug. 25

    FCTA Resident doctors threaten to embark on strike Aug. 25

    The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Administration Chapter, says it will commence an indefinite strike on Aug. 25.

    The union made this known in a statement jointly signed by its President, Michael Olarewaju and Secretary Roland Aigbovo, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    It said that the impending strike follows failure of FCT Administration to repay obnoxious tax deduction from July salaries of staff among other demands.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the association had earlier condemned the tax deduction of N78, 000 from each of its members’ July salaries.

    It said that the current deduction was against the initial N36,000 deductions imposed on the doctors.

    The union noted that it had on Aug. 1, 2018 issued a-21day ultimatum effective from Aug. 3 to FCT administration, calling on the Minister, Alhaji Muhammad Bello to address the issue.

    They listed other demands to include payment of first 28 days allowance of members effective from 2011, as calculated without further delay.

    Other demands, according to them, included appropriate placement and payment of arrears to members who were successful in the 2016 promotion exercise.

    “We totally reject the obnoxious and double taxation imposed on our members by FCTA management, which negates all scientific reasoning and Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “The appropriate tax should be done using the Joint Tax Board/Personal Income Tax Act template (PITA) and all excess deduction paid back.

    “We will be compelled to proceed on an indefinite strike for failure of the FCT administration to meet our demands on or before the expiration of the ultimatum which is Aug. 24,’’ they said.

    Olarewaju said, “Based on our investigations at the Health and Human Resources Service Secretariat, Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) and FCT Inland Revenue Services (FCTIRS).

    “It was revealed that the obnoxious tax didn’t follow the PITA template or other conventional means of taxation.

    “We have earlier written the FCT Minister on the myriad of problems faced daily by our members regarding conditions of work and services delivery in FCTA.

    “This is largely due to poor remuneration in comparison with our contemporaries in other health institutions and Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) both in the territory and other parts of the federation.

    “It is pertinent to say that a motivated workforce always give rise to an on improved work done and with regard to job satisfaction our members are in pathetic state,’’ he decried. (NAN)

  • Vocational skills training: ITF targets 13,000 Nigerians in 2018

    By Franca Ofili

    Mr Joseph Ari, the Director-General, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), says the fund will train 13,000 Nigerians on 11 vocational skills in order to achieve the Federal Government’s policy on job and wealth creation.

    Ari made this known in Abuja on Tuesday during a news conference.

    According to him, numerous vacancies still exist in several sectors of the economy that cannot be filled by Nigerians due to the absence of requisite skills.

    “In order to address the issue of unemployment and drive President Muhammadu Buhari’s job creation drive, ITF management came up with a list of implementable programmes for 2018.

    “The programmes are the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), Women Skills Empowerment Programme (WOSEP), Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration (Training on Wheels), Designing and Garment Making, and Skill Training and Empowement Programme for the Physical Challenged (STEP-C).

    “Others are Post-Harvest Techniques and Project Development, Aqua-culture/Fish Farming, Manure Production, Crop Production/Greenhouse Technology, Poultry Farming and Training Programme Development on international Marketing,’’ he said.

    Ari said the training programmes would last for a period of five months, adding that the 13,000 Nigerians that would be trained was like a drop of water in the ocean and called on state governments and other stakeholders to sponsor additional trainees.

    He said such stakeholders would be required to cover the monthly stipends of the trainees, as well as provide start-up packs for such additional trainees.

    According to him, they will also offset any allowances for the master-craftsmen that will be retained as a result of the additional trainees.

    Ari said that tackling unemployment through skills acquisition cannot and should not be the responsibility of the ITF and other Federal Government agencies alone.

    He said the gesture to train Nigerians was informed by the growing realisation that accelerated skills acquisition was the only way to stem unemployment, especially among youths.

    According to him, governments all over the world have turned to skills acquisition, which is the universal currency of the 21st century to arm their citizenry with skills for employment and growth.

    He called on the media to educate members of the public in order to disabuse their minds that skills acquisition were not for never-do wells, the poor and the wretched in the society.

    Ari said as part of ITF mandate, the fund had trained 92 personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on various vocational skills.

    According to him, the training will enable the personnel to improve on their job, which will in turn lead to a multiplier effect as other people learn from them.

    Ari said in line with the mandate, the fund unveiled one of its most ambitious six years plan since establishment tagged “ITF Reviewed Vision: Strategies for Mandate Actualisation’’

    He said that the plan commenced in 2016 and would terminate in 2022, adding that the key objectives were to accelerate the impartation of technical vocational skills to Nigerians.

    Ari said about two years into the implementation, ITF trained more than 150,000 Nigerians on various trades and crafts.

    He said that the beneficiaries were earning sustainable livelihoods either as paid workers or as entrepreneurs employing others. (NAN)

  • Nigeria’s inflation drops to 11.14% in July — NBS

    Nigeria’s inflation drops to 11.14% in July — NBS

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measured inflation for July dropped to 11.14 per cent (year-on-year) from 11. 23 per cent recorded in June.

    The NBS disclosed this in its “CPI and Inflation Report’’ for July released on Wednesday inAbuja.

    According to the bureau, the figure is 0.09 per cent points less than the rate recorded in June. The bureau said the figure showed 18 consecutive reductions in inflation rate since January 2017.

    The report showed that increases were recorded in all the Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP) divisions that yielded the headline index.

    On a month-on-month basis, NBS said the Headline Index increased by 1.13 per cent in July, down by 0.11per cent points from the rate recorded in June.

    According to the bureau, the drop was the first month-on-month headline inflation decline since Feb. 2018.

    It said the percentage changed in the average composite CPI for 12 months period ended July over the average of CPI for the previous 12 months period.

    It, however, measured the CPI at 13.95 per cent in the period under review, showing 0.42 per cent point lower from 14.37 per cent recorded in June. (NAN)

     

     

     

  • Presidency debunks report on extension of President Buhari’s vacation

    Presidency debunks report on extension of President Buhari’s vacation

    The Presidency has described the social media report that President Muhammadu Buhari, extended his ongoing 10 working days vacation in London as fake.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the purported fake news indicates that the President had already transmitted a letter to the National Assembly to this effect.

    The official twitter handle of the presidency @NGRPresident, late Tuesday night, dismissed the report, saying it is an old story which was first circulated during the president’s vacation in Feb. 2017.

    The presidency, therefore, enjoined all peace-loving citizens to ignore the fake news, saying that President Buhari had not extended his vacation.

    It stated: “This story from Feb. 2017 is currently being mischievously circulated on social media platforms, to create the impression that it’s related to the president’s current vacation.

    “Kindly take note of the date, 2017. The President has not extended his ongoing 10-working-day vacation.’’

    The fake news alert read: “Breaking: Buhari extends vacation, writes National Assembly’’

    President Buhari had on Aug. 3 commenced a 10 working days holiday.

    The president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, confirmed this development in a statement on Aug. 1, in Abuja.

    He said: “In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, a letter has been transmitted to the President of the Senate, and the Speaker, House of Representatives to that effect.

    “While the President is on vacation, the Vice President will be in acting capacity as President.”

    Adesina said the President would be in London for the holiday.(NAN)

  • 2019: JIBWIS urges Kano residents to obtain PVCs

    The Jama’tu Izalatul Bidi’a Waikamatus Sunna (JIBWIS), an Islamic group, in Kano has called on eligible voters, irrespective of religious background, to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    The state Chairman of JIBWIS, Sheikh Abdallah Pakistan, made the appeal on Saturday in Kano during a courtesy visit to Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje.

    Pakistan said that PVCs would enable them elect leaders of their choice in the 2019 general elections.

    He said possession of PVC was only the means through which the electorate could choose leaders of their choice.

    “As the national general election draws closer, I appeal to all Kano residents irrespective of their religious background who are eligible to vote to register and get their voter cards.

    “The objective of the PVC is that every registered voter gets his or her card on time so as to allow him or her exercise his or her franchise during the elections.

    “This will also enable you to vote God-fearing and credible leaders in the interest of national development,” he said.

    Pakistan also called for continuous prayers for peace, unity and development in the country.

    He said that the body had set up a committee to sensitise residents of the state on the importance of PVC and peaceful conduct of election.

    The cleric added that the committee would go round the 44 local government areas of the state to enlighten voters on peace and unity before and after election.

    The Islamic scholar also called on politicians to play the game according to rules, saying “politics is not a do or die affair”.

    Responding, Ganduje thanked JIBWIS for the visit and commended the group for embarking on the political sensitisation and mobilisation of the electorate in the state.

    Represented by his Special Adviser on Religious Affairs, Malam Ali Fagge, the governor stressed the role of religious leaders in nation building.

    He presented JIBWIS with a 14 -seater bus to scale up the campaign and advocacy towards promoting peace and unity in the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set Aug. 17 as deadline for the Continuous Voter Registration in the country. (NAN)