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  • Ondo Govt. Executed 800 Projects In Akoko, Says Commissioner

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) The Ondo State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Emmanuel Igbasan, on Wednesday said the state government had executed over 800 projects in Akoko area of the state.

    Igbasan said this at a consultative meeting with representatives of the four local governments at Ikare-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko North- East Local Government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akokoland comprises of four of the six local government areas in the North Senatorial District of the state.

    They are Akoko North -East, Akoko North -West, Akoko South -East and Akoko South -West

    The commissioner said projects executed included those on road construction and rehabilitation, rehabilitation and construction of non -functional boreholes and rehabilitation and construction of public primary schools and health facilities.

    He said the meeting was in preparation for the year 2020 budget and the 2020-2022 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

    Igbasan said the interaction session would enable government to always include people’s priority projects that would foster better relationship and improve awareness of government’s policies, programmes and achievements.

    The commissioner, while highlighting the number of projects executed in each of the four local government areas, said 224 projects were completed in Akoko North -East, 160 in Akoko North -West, 195 in Akoko South- East and 222 projects in Akoko South -West.

    Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Bunmi Alade, had said the forum was meant to enhance transparency and accountability in the budget preparation process of the state.

    Alade stated that the rationale behind the adoption of MTEF was to achieve accurate estimation of resources available to the state within the medium term planning horizon.

    The meeting was attended by caretaker chairmen in the senatorial district, market women, non- governmental organisations, youth leaders, farmers and other stakeholders. (NAN)

  • Gov. Bello Inaugurates Technical Support Team To Prepare State Urban Policy

    (FLOWERBUDSNEWS) Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger State, on Wednesday inaugurated a 30-man technical support team for the preparation of the state urban policy.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that the terms of reference of the team include to review and validate the urban diagnostic report, draft state urban policy and state’s smart city strategy and support the policy preparation process.

    He said that the committee was saddled with the responsibility of monitoring effectively the process of preparation and validation of the State Urban Development Policy (SUP).

    Bello was represented by Alhaji Ahmed Matane, the Secretary to the State Government, who is also the Chairman of the team.

    The team was also to ensure that the resources of the state, especially land for urban development was efficiently and effectively utilised.

    Bello reiterated that his administration was committed to ensuring the development of human settlements in the state in a holistic, comprehensive and integrated manner.

    He said that the committee was saddled with the responsibility of supporting the policy preparation process through the sensitisation of stakeholders and groups.

    “It will also review the progress and provide guidance with regards to the next steps for the SUP process,” he said.

    The governor, however, said that the policy, which was initiated with the aim of ensuring the development of the human settlement sector of the state, would warrant the full participation of the people.

    He charged members of the team to be diligent in the discharge of their responsibility, adding that government was committed to ensuring the success of the policy.

    Alhaji Mustapha Zubairu, the Secretary of the team said that the SUP would help develop the state, adding that there was need for a dichotomy between the government and the people for the policy to come to reality.

    Zubairu said that the city of Minna was expanding, hence the need for the adoption of the development of urban policy in the state.

    He commended the state government for funding the implementation of the policy and called on the people of the state to work with government for the success of the policy.

    Mr Emmanuel Adeleke, an expert in Urban Development from the UN Habitat said that Africa was the fastest growing continent, hence the need to have a well planned environment.

    He said that Niger State was the only state that has taken the step to adopt urban policy. (NAN)

  • FG to adopt summit recommendations on Insurgency, insecurity

    FG to adopt summit recommendations on Insurgency, insecurity

     

    Abuja, Sept.10, 2019 (NAN) The Federal Government says its ready to adopt recommendations of the summit organised to stem terrorism, Insurgency and incidence of electoral violence in the country.

    This was disclosed by Mr. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation in his keynote address at the summit.

    This is contained in a statement signed on Tuesday by Abolade Ogundimu, Media Assistant, to the National Coordinator, Chief Executive Officer, AUDA-NEPAD/APRM,Nigeria.

    The summit which has the theme ”Terrorism, Insurgency and Incidence of electoral violence in Nigeria:Role of security ‘was jointly organised by African Union Development Agency- New Partnership for Africa’s Development/African Peer Review Mechanism (AUDA-NEPAD/APRM) and the Nigerian Army through the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja.

    According to Mustapha, represented by Dr. Amina Mohamed Bello-Shamaki, Permanent Secretary, Special Services Office, the trio of terrorism, Insurgency and electoral violence have been major setbacks to economic development and governance in the country.

    The two day summit which started on Tuesday, had participants and paper presenters drawn from the security, academia, civil society organisations and various sections of the population to brainstorm on the problems and come up with workable solutions.

    “These three ill acts have turned many people to internally displaced persons, orphans and various pathetic status.

    “The Federal Government looks forward to recommendations with nationalistic view that will be proffered by this summit,” he said.

    Similarly, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Chairman of the Summit and Chairperson, Council of Eminent Persons, APRM Continental reminded participants that other nations in Africa looked up to Nigeria.

    “Remember Nigeria always lead in restoring peace to other African nations and others always strive to emulate them.

    “If Nigeria fully shun electoral violence and all forms of insecurity, other sister nations are going to follow suit.

    “Africa targets to silence the gun by the year 2020, Nigeria should once again assume its leadership role towards achieving that agenda,” he said.

    In her welcome address, Hon. Princess Gloria Akobundu, National Coordinator, Chief Executive Officer, AUDA-NEPAD/APRM,Nigeria called for synergy among stakeholders on security.

    “The need to eliminate violence and insecurity had become more prominent in the country’s national life.

    “AUDA-NEPAD cannot succeed in its advocacy campaign without the collaboration of the various government security agencies including the Nigerian Army.

    “It is one of the reasons why we have convened this session and assembled the well-respected resource persons.

    ” No single person has all the answers,our hope is that, by these our efforts, we will create a community of practice that can provide evidence-based and rigorously-debated ideas on how to win this war,” she said.

    Also, Sen. Abba Ali, Chairman, National Governing Council (NGC) APRM-Nigeria said ” this Summit seeks to define the roles of Security agencies in the fight against insurgency, terrorism, militancy and electoral violence.

    “Let us always be reminded of the significance and priority of peace and security in nation building, and the responsibility which is binding on both the security agencies and the civilians”.

    Delivering his Goodwill message, Lt. -Gen Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff commended the idea of convening the summit.

    “Security and development are like siamese twins, they move in the same direction.

    “We will continue to give our best by ensuring territorial integrity, as well as safety of citizens lives and properties are well secured.

    ” I commend AUDA-NEPAD/APRM Nigeria and NARC for organising this summit at this point in time”.

    The first paper of the summit was presented by Prof. Jim Unah, a Philosopher from University of Lagos, with the paper titled ‘Terrorism, Insurgency, electoral violence and extremism as security threats in Nigeria ‘.

    The second paper of the day was presented by the Director-General, Electoral Institute, represented by Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agoha, with the paper titled ‘Addressing Challenges of Electoral Violence ‘.

    The summit continues on Wednesday and a communique will be issued at the end of the day.

  • Atiku’s Evidence Shows Buhari Academically Qualified To Be President – Tribunal Rules

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) has dismissed the application of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Mr Buhari who, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), defeated Mr Abubakar in the February 23 election is being dragged before the tribunal where it is being alleged that the president was not academically qualified to vie for the office.

    Delivering judgement on the application Wednesday, the presiding judge of the tribunal, Justice Mohammed Garba, said the evidence of the opposition candidate and his party presented before the tribunal shows Mr Buhari is eminently qualified to seek election into the office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    More details later…

  • SDGs Progress In Danger Of Reversal — UN Report

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS)  A new United Nations report has advocated for  a change of approach to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), saying that the current global development model is not sustainable.

    The report titled, “The Future is Now: Science for Achieving Sustainable Development”, warns that the progress made in the last two decades is facing the threat of being reversed.

    It identified the risk factors to include “worsening social inequalities and potentially irreversible declines in the natural environment that sustains us”.

    To achieve human wellbeing and poverty eradication for all, the report  advocates a “fundamental and urgent change in the relationship between people and nature”.

    It also called for a “significant reduction in social and gender inequalities between and inside countries”.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a summary of the document, to be launched at the forthcoming 2019 SDG Summit, was presented to UN correspondents in New York on Wednesday.

    Prepared by an independent group of scientists, the report was commissioned by UN member states to evaluate progress on the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

    According to the report, the current economic growth model that focuses on increasing consumption of material goods is no longer a viable option at the global stage.

    “Projections indicate that the global use of materials is set to almost double between 2017 and 2060, from 89 Gigatons to 167 Gigatons, with correspondingly increased levels of greenhouse gas emissions, and other toxic effects such as those from mining and other pollution sources.

    “The present model of development has delivered prosperity to hundreds of millions.

    “But it also has led to continuing poverty and other deprivations; unprecedented levels of inequality that undermine innovation, social cohesion and sustainable economic growth.

    “It has brought the world close to tipping points with the global climate system and biodiversity loss.

    “To change course, the world must transform a number of key areas of human activities, including food, energy, consumption and production, and cities,” it added.

    On food production, the report observed that stronger social protection mechanisms are needed to ensure food security and nutrition in developing countries.

    It noted that countries must reduce the environmental impact of their food production systems, considering the entire value chain.

    “They must reduce food waste and reduce reliance animal-based protein sources.

    “Developing and developed countries both need to increase attention to malnutrition in all its forms—including the increasingly high numbers of persons who are overweight,” it suggested.

    Turning to the energy sector, the report noted that close to one billion people are without access to electricity particularly predominantly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    According to the report, no fewer than three billion people rely on polluting solid fuels for cooking, causing an estimated 3.8 million premature deaths each year.

    “These gaps must be addressed, while at the same time increasing energy efficiency and phasing out fossil-based power generation without carbon capture and storage.

    “This way, the world economy is decarbonised, in line with the aspirations of the Paris agreement,” it added.(NAN)

  • Kano Elders Laud Presidential Election Petition Tribunal For Fairness, Affirming Buhari’s Reelection

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) Some  elders in Kano State, on Wednesday commended the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal for upholding the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    A cross section of the elders who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the tribunal was  fairness in its verdict.

    Alhaji Usman Adamu, a resident of Dorayi quarters in Gwale area of the state, told NAN that going by the tribunal’s proceedings, it was clear that the reforms carried out in the judiciary was yielding results.

    He said  that the  petition of the PDP was a mere unsubstantiated allegations of the opposition, meant to divert  attention.

    Malam Mustapha Balarabe, a trader in the state, also said that the petitioners were only following the trend of Nigerian politicians who would never  accept election results until compelled by legal verdicts.

    Balarabe commended the five-man tribunal for delivering its verdict without fear or favour.

    NAN reports that the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday upheld the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari during the Feb. 23, general elections.

    The tribunal also dismissed the petition brought by the PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar challenging the president’s eligibility to contest the election. (NAN)

  • New Minimum Wage| President Gives Direction

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) President Muhammadu Buhari Worried by the delay in the commencement of the implementation of the new National Minimum wage for the country, has directed the immediate conclusion of negotiation on the consequential adjustment between the government and the Joint National Public Service Negating Council to pay way for the implementation of the national new wage regime.

    The President has also directed the setting up of a Presidential Committee on Salaries and Wages which will be saddled with the responsibility of receiving complains and reviewing salaries and work schedule as well as assigning appropriate salaries to different categories of workers.

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige who disclosed hen he received the leadership and members of the Labour Correspondents Association of Nigeria (LACAN) in his office said the President has directed that a time limit be set for the conclusion of negotiation between government and workers.

    The Minister disclosed the intention of government to reinvigorate factory inspectorate in the country to ensure that workers work in decent work environment saying “my department of inspectorate, as well as Employment and Wage, are going to do more. We are going to fund them so that we can star full factory inspection and make sure that nobody is under employed and that those in employment get what they deserved in the world of work so that they can have decent work.

    “Part of it is the new minimum wage which the President signed in April. It is a pity that after signing it, May came and a lot of us were sent on compulsory leave. We are now coming back from leave. If you remember, a committee was set u and I was a member.

    “When we left, the Permanent Secretary took our place and were negotiating with the Joint negotiating Council on the consequential adjustment. The states are waiting for that and it is not proper for us not to fast track that negotiation so that even the states will not have too much backlog to pay when the consequential adjustment is concluded.

    “We have our own budgeted for in the 2019 budget and we are going to also budget for it in the 2020 budget. We are concerned about the states because some of the states are not proactive like us.

    “So, the sooner we conclude at the federal level and the Joint Negotiating Councils in the states takes it from there and negotiate with the states, the better for everybody. If we spill this into next year, I am not sure how many states will be able to pay the backlog which will lead us to another round of negotiation.

    “It is the determination of the President and this administration to fast track the negotiation on consequential adjustment. I have just received a correspondence from the Chief of Staff to the President and we are putting a deadline to that negotiation.

    “We are fast-tracking it because the government will also want to put in place a Presidential Committee on Salaries and Allowances that will be able to take request after this consequential adjustment.

    “That same committee will appraise the level of workload and evaluate all cadre of work and come out with salaries and allowances commensurate with each. It is one of the things that the government has decided and I have just seen the correspondence.

    “When the details are out, we will let you know. That is to show workers both in the public and private sector that this government is labour-friendly and we want them to be in the decent work world.”
    The Minister traced the recent security challenges in the country to increasing level of unemployment, saying “we have seen the symptom called unemployment which are very visible.

    “When you hear about Boko Haram, that is one of the symptoms, when you hear about banditry and IPOB, it is one of the symptom of jobless people. So, for me, the President has decided that we must fight unemployment. We have to fight because the indices are terrible and that does not call for cheers. We have to decide and wear our thinking cap and take our country away from the doldrums.

    “The President is committed to recreating the middle class in Nigeria. He is committed to lifting at least 100 million people out of poverty and the only way if for our economy to improve. When our economy improves, we would deal a big blow to poverty, social insecurity and also insecurity of lives and property. We have to make our country a better place because we cannot run away from that. We all have a collective responsibility.

    “This Ministry will come out with many programmes that will help the government to recreate the middle class that has vanished from the country. We have a situation now where you have the top most rich who are very rich and those at the bottom. Even down there at the bottom, you still have people who cannot be compartmentalised into the middle class.

    “Those who are work in Nigeria, the government is trying its best. We have many programmes that has kept people at work. We have refused redundancy being declared, we are fighting casualisation and we are not happy with contract appointment. We don’t want contract appointment in the private sector. We want people given their jobs with full benefit.”

     

  • We Need Institution That Will Produce Cutting Edge AI Applications — Osinbajo

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS)  Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says Nigeria needs an institution that will produce cutting edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications for education, business, medicine, security among others.

    Osinbajo expressed this view in his keynote address at the First Board Meeting/Fund Raising dinner in aid of the establishment of the Nigerian University of Technology and Management (NUTM) on Wednesday in Lagos.

    He said that once in the life of a nation or community a vision emerged to do something truly extraordinary; something truly game-changing and  capable of decisively impacting the development of a nation.

    “I think we are at such a moment here today; we gather to give life to an elite school of Science and Technology.

    “Indeed, there must be an institution whose sole objective is to inspire innovation, inventions and research that address the most crucial problems of the nation and the world.

    “How do we solve peculiar African health challenges such as Sickle cell Anaemia, fibroids and cancers?

    “Clearly we need an institution able to provide the atmosphere to invent agricultural inputs that will guarantee the huge yields per acreage or volumes in dairy and livestock to meet the food security needs of a country headed for the third position in population size in a few short years.

    “An institution that will produce cutting edge AI applications for education, business medicine, and security.

    “ One that can design the educational innovation required to train millions of children in or out of classrooms all across the country and provide the techniques for delivering opportunities in technology on scale.’’

    Osinbajo said that Nigeria must  produce world class economists, managers of commerce in a world increasingly disrupted by technology and innovation.

    He said the nation must convert its best young minds to creative thinkers, innovators in science, technology, the economy, commerce and public finance.

    According to him, Nigeria already has several tertiary institutions of science and technology and management sciences all over the country but NUTM comes with a difference.

    “But what is proposed is an Institution intentionally created as a world class centre for the training of the best Nigerian minds and talents.

    “The institution must also engage the best academics and scholars, locally and internationally.

    “This is not an institution that we have seen the likes before locally; the comparators are the deliberate creation of thinkers in the public and private sectors like ourselves all around the world.

    “The vision is clear but the key of course is funding.

    “ As is the case with comparable institutions all over the world, the NUTM must have considerable resources to support high quality research.

    “The implications of this are vast; to excite research NUTM ought to be able to attract to residence Nobel laureates and international leaders of thought and innovation; that will cost money,’’ he said.

    He said a remarkable thing about the initiative was that the people behind it were all people who had been successful in creating high-quality institutions in other fields whether it be in the private or public sector.

    The vice president  pledged Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that  the initiative succeeded as it was not just a project  but a vital national resource.

    On his part, NUTM board member, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, said the aspiration was to build a world-class university in Nigeria that would provide such academic excellence and rigour that would be globally competitive.

    The immediate past Minister of Trade and Investment said that the proposed institution would play a central role in repositioning Nigeria and Africa for competitiveness in the 21st century.

    “It will provide top-tier education for our children and unlock the many benefits that the ecosystem of a world-class school will produce.

    “This university will specialise in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and is positioned to be a landmark centre of excellence that will serve not only Nigeria, but also Africa and beyond,” he said.

    In a presentation, NUTM board member, Dr Pramath Sinha, said that the institution would leverage learnings from young institutions in countries like India and would focus on research and innovation.

    He said that NUTM would target to be among top 50 young universities in the world.

  • Xenophobia: Nigeria Must Shift Foreign Policy From Afro-Centric To Citizen Centered – Don

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) The Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Kaduna State University (KASU) Prof. Abdullahi Ashafa, on Wednesday urged  the Federal Government to shift its foreign Policy from African centered to citizens centered.

    Ashafa, a Professor of Diplomatic and Military History, made the call during a Discourse on “Xenophobia in South Africa: Its Origins, Trends and Remedies”, organized by the History Department of KASU.

    He said Nigeria must abandon its “father Christmas“ foreign policy which leaves it with nothing to show for it, to a more rewarding foreign policy beneficial to Nigerians.

    He said that rather than cry over xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, the Federal Government should make the country attractive as a destination for greener pasture.

    According to him, the foreign policy of a country depends on the strength of its economy, military and leadership.

    He therefore called on Nigerian leaders to live up to their responsibilities to make Nigeria great and attractive.

    “We are living in past glories by telling South Africans our roles in their liberation struggle, which they have all forgotten and treated as event of the past.

    “Our country has retrogressed and became irrelevant because we have been surpassed by countries that once looked up to Nigeria as a destination for better living.

    “We have been sleeping for too long, governed by corrupt, gluttonous, predatory and irresponsible clique of elite.

    “We have allowed our corruption, terrorism, banditry, lawlessness and laziness, bad roads, non-functional institutions and infrastructure to define us, which allowed the world to treat us as bunch of criminals,“ he noted.

    The professor further said: “If anything, the South African events should wake us up as Nigerians once woke up Ghana in the 1980s, with the popular slogan ‘Ghana Must GO’.

    “Today, Ghana is the envy of not only Nigerians but the rest of African countries,“ Ashafa said.

    He however advised the South African Government to educate its citizens to embrace the African identity and run an inclusive government to attract more skilled Africans to create an ‘America in Africa’.

    The DVC explained that, as the most industrialized economy on the continent, South Africa is the only country that could provide economic opportunities to African professionals.

    The South African justice system, he said,  must also wake up to its responsibilities, stressing that over 400 foreigners were killed between 2008 to date and none of the  perpetrators was convicted.

    On his part, Prof. Jeremiah Methuselah, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Arts, KASU, said  the Xenophobia was not fear of foreigners but deep-seated hatred of South Africans against their fellow Africans.

    Methuselah blamed the unabated attacks on fellow blacks Africans, on economic competition, false nationalism, the feeling of superiority over fellow blacks and exclusive nature of the country’s governance.

    He explained that the many years of apartheid has robbed the South Africans of their self-esteem and isolated them from other Africans, stressing the need to help them out of their current psycho-phobia.

    Another discussant, Dr Suleiman Shehu, Director, Centre for Basic Studies, KASU, noted that apartheid was abolished in 1994, but the mental effect remained with the South Africans.

    According to him, Africans need fellow Africans to move forward as a continent, adding that embracing inclusive policies would help attract more ideas and skills needed for growth and development.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the event, Dr Terhemba Wuam, Dean Students Affairs, KASU, said that History Department had continued to set agenda in discussing issues of national and international interest.

    Wuam, the immediate past Head of the department, said that the 90 per cent of those controlling the South African economy were western foreigners.

    He said that the intense competition on the 10 per cent economic opportunities by the indigenous population and other Africans was among major factors fueling xenophobic attacks. (NAN)