A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
The Kano State Government has signed contracts valued at 1.8 billion dollars with China Railway Construction Group C18 for the construction of light rail line in the state.
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje signed the contract in a brief ceremony on Wednesday in Kano.
Ganduje said the first phase of the construction was billed to take two years, while the second phase of the four-line rail was expected to take another two years.
He added that the project would improve the transport system within the state, as well as drive economic activities in the state.
Ganduje
The governor explained that "the project is part of grand design to upgrade Kano to the status of a truly great city, as it will significantly ease movement of goods and services.
"Upon completion, the light rail is expected to cover Janguza-Bata, Jogana-Bata, Dawanau-Bata and Kwanar Dawaki-Bata routes in Kano city."
He added that a Chinese Bank would provide 85 per cent of the total sum, while the Kano State Government would pay the remaining 15 per cent.
He said that the first phase of the project from Dawanau to Bata would cost 555 million Dollars.
The Chairman of the company, Mr Ben Shinxo, assured the state government of the company's readiness to complete the projects in two years as this would benefit the public.
The Federal Ministry of Health has developed a National Operational plan for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child transmission of HIV (2017-2018), aimed at halting the spread of the scourge by 2030.
Dr Deborah Odoh, the Assistant Director, HIV/AIDS Division of the ministry made this known at the National Conference on HIV Prevention in Abuja on Wednesday.
She said the operational plan had incorporated the roles of the private sector and the community in the bid to end the Prevention of Mother-to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV.
She added that the plan had also addressed the provision of Anti-Retro Viral (ARV) drugs for HIV positive pregnant women and ensured that unintended/unplanned pregnancies were prevented among positive women.
She explained that since 2002 when the PMTCT programme begun, Nigeria had been one of the first to adopt each revision of guidelines recommended by World Health Organisation (WHO).
She said government had strengthened the health system, provided essential commodities like test kits and ARVs, capacity building for health providers and improved the health-seeking behaviour of Nigerians.
According to Odoh, only about 30 per cent of HIV positive women are accessing ARVs for PMTCT despite efforts of government and partners.
She, however, added that "we wanted to use available resources to reach more pregnant women with the WHO recommended "Option B" alternative."
She noted that providing life-long ARVs was a responsibility that must not be taken lightly, as work on uninterrupted drug supply, strengthening of health systems and capacity building for health providers were areas that must be sustained.
The assistant director said the ministry was committed to full implementation of the Task Shifting/Task Sharing policy for Maternal and Newborn Health Care.
"We are intensifying efforts to source funds to bridge the gap created by the dwindling resources and support for PMTCT services in Nigeria.
"Advocacy to governors, lawmakers, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Budget and Planning is being carried out by the ministers of health to ensure that key activities are captured in the 2017 budget,'' she said.
From right- Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Lagos State Governor, Mr, Akinwumi Ambode, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Chiarman Tristate Heart Foundation, Chief Bisi Akande, at the 1st Annual Black Tie Gala organised by Tristate Heart Foundation in support of Cardiovascular Care in Nigeria, at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos state, Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) in a warm handshake with Board Member of Tristate Heart Foundation, Prof. Kamar Adeleke, Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (2nd right), Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode (2nd left) and Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (left), at the 1st Annual Black Tie Gala organised by Tristate Heart Foundation in support of Cardiovascular Care in Nigeria, at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos state, on 29/11/2016. Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), Lagos StateGovernor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode (middle),and Chiarman Tristate Heart Foundation, Chief Bisi Akande (left),at the 1st Annual Black Tie Gala organised by Tristate Heart Foundation in support of Cardiovascular Care in Nigeria, at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos state, on 29/11/2016.Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th left), Chiarman Tristate Heart Foundation, Chief Bisi Akande (4th right), Minister for health Osun, Prof Isaac Adewole (3rd left), Board Member of Tristate Heart Foundation, Prof. Kamar Adeleke (right), Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (2nd left), Lagos State Governor, Mr, Akinwumi Ambode (5th left), Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (3rd right), Vice Chiarman Tristate Heart Foundation, Mr. John Momoh (2nd right), and others at the 1st Annual Black Tie Gala organised by Tristate Heart Foundation in support of Cardiovascular Care in Nigeria, at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos state, on 29/11/2016.
Osun State House of Assembly has said the attempt of the Nigeria Senate to probe the application of N28.1 billion bailout fund given to the state government was an usurpation of power of the state parliament.
In a statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, on Wednesday the Assembly made the declaration at the plenary on Wednesday following a matter of urgent public importance raise by Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Kamil Oyedele on propriety of the senate to probe the bailout fund.
The senate has written a letter to the state government on its decision to visit the state to probe the fund and the its disbursement.
But while raising the matter, according to the statement, Oyedele said by Section 128 of the Constitution, the state Assembly is the arm of government empowered to carry out such probe, saying, the senate was only attempting to usurp the power of the state parliament.
According to him, there was a budgetary provision for the application of the fund and the state legislature was carrying out its oversight function by monitoring the fund.
The statement said, he then urged the Assembly to invite the state government officials and other bodies in charge of disbursement of the fund, with a view to investigating the fund, instead of waiting for the Nigerian Senate to usurp its power.
The Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam, the statement noted, said, the state parliament was not at loggerhead with the senate, but it must work within the limit of its power in accordance with the constitution.
According to him, in a federation like Nigeria, each of the federating unit has it limit and responsibility, saying, the state Assembly has been carrying out this responsibility, especially on the bailout fund and other state finances.
The speaker was quoted by the statement to have said, “We are in a federation and the federating units are co-partner, none of the unit is subservient and each of these unit has its limit, hence, the decision of the senate to look into the accounts of this state is out of it.
“The state government has the authority of this parliament to get the fund and if there is any issue, we are the ones empower to probe and make a recourse to the National Assembly if there is need for such.
“As I am talking, we have not received any letter from the senate relating to the issue of bailout fund as colleagues. Probably the senate has forgotten that we are colleague, only areas of jurisdiction are differ.
“It must be noted that this fund is a loan that would be paid back, not grant and there are budgetary provisions for it. As as result, the state parliament is monitoring it, but with the action of the senate, it seem we need to make the monitoring open.
While advising the senate to focus more on issues affecting the National to assist President Muhammadu Buhari in his change agenda, he directed that the Senate should be communicated to step back while the state Assembly investigates the matter.
He also directed the state Accountant-General, Permanent Secretary of Finance, Permanent Secretary of Budget, Permanent Secretary on Local Government, the Debt Management Office, as well as the Wema Bank, First Bank and Zenith bank to forward the details and the account statements on the fund to the house and appear for its consideration on Wednesday, December 7.
Earlier, according to the statement, other members of the house, including the Leader, Timothy Owoeye, Rasheed Afolabi (Ife North), Ajibola Akinloye (Ola-Oluwa), Nurein Adebisi (Ede South), Wasiu Adebayo (Olorunda) and Samson Eluwole (Ife central) among others, said, the state parliament is the body empowered to carry out such responsibility, adding that the Assembly should expedite action to probe the matter for all to see.
While noting that the Assembly was already carrying out the monitoring of the fund underground before the decision of the senate, they contended that the senate was only attempting to usurp the power of the state parliament.
President of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE, Comrade Isaac Balami has explained why their association has shut down the operations of Bristow Helicopters, saying the group can no longer overlook the continued preferential treatment to expatriates while maltreating qualified Nigerians.
As activities remained crippled following the shutdown, Balami declared that Bristow will not fly until they do the needful and stop seeing expatriates as more superior than Nigerians "in our own country".
According to him, "Well, we have been forced to shut down Bristow Helicopters today, about 40 helicopters and fix wing aircrafts across the country – Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri, and all the Oil and Gas contracts.
"We were forced to do this because Bristow Helicopters have refused to do the needful.
"What they do now is bring in and train young engineers and pilots, once they become captains and they become experienced aircraft engineers, instead of promoting them or ensuring they take over from the expatriates, they sack them and bring in fresh cadets, so that they can keep expatriates in this country.
"Bristow is about 60 years old in this country, why are we still having expatriates running everything?
"When Aero was operating about 35 helicopters in the Oil and Gas, 100% of the checks, maintenance and operations were done by Nigerians. These are things that Nigerians can do.
"The last incident that took place at Bristow Helicopters where we were able to save all the passengers on board, the captain was a female Nigerian pilot, so we are even more competent and qualified but our people don't respect us. We are slaves in our own country.
"Nigeria has become a slave camp; they don't treat us with respect. Imagine an aircraft engineer working in Bristow for 12 hours six days a week; no over time, no precession, nothing! This is a slave camp and we can't take it.
"That is why we want the management to do the needful. They don't honour and respect the contract of services that have been signed and 'agreed' upon.
"There are so many challenges. They just sacked 21 Nigerian engineers and pilots. They didn't sack them because they were incompetent, or because of safety issues. They sacked them and employed four Ghanaians.
"They claim there is recession and they are paying foreigners and we can't take care of our own. We cannot allow this to happen in our country. This is our country and we must create jobs. Any company that is not ready to create jobs for Nigerians will have to go and that is the truth."
Asked if the management were ready to sit with the pilots' association to address the issues, Balami said, "We don't care; we have shut down all the gates nationwide.
"There will be no engine start up permit from the direct engine controllers. If this will take us one month or two months, Bristow will not fly until they do the needful, they must create Nigerian jobs for Nigerian citizens.
"If they are willing to repent and change from their deeds and call back our Nigerian engineers and pilots that were sacked.
"Imagine sacking someone who has gotten to the level of a chief pilot or a director of operations because you don't want him to compete with the expatriates, why?
"We can do this job better than them. We understand the terrain more than any expatriate; we have been able to demonstrate that.
"We were trained in the same school. We have the same European, American and NCA certification like them. We even beat them in class whenever we are overseas and we come back to our own country only to be treated as slaves.
Liverpool starlet Ben Woodburn made history as the teenage striker became the club’s youngest ever goalscorer in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Leeds in the League Cup quarter-finals.
Aged 17 years and 45 days, Woodburn enjoyed a moment to remember forever in the 81st minute at Anfield when he fired home in front of the famous Kop End to eclipse the previous record set by Michael Owen, who was 17 years and 143 days old when he scored against Wimbledon in May 1997.
“Another record taken from me!!! Congratulations BenWoodburn on becoming the youngest ever scorer for LFC at 17yrs and 45 days. #KopEnd,” Owen tweeted.
Woodburn only made his senior debut for Liverpool on Saturday as a late substitute in a Premier League win over Sunderland — an appearance that made him the club’s third youngest ever first-team player.
Cheshire-born Woodburn, who recently signed a long-term contract with Liverpool, is a Wales Under-19 international, but he still remains eligible to play for England at senior level.
While it’s far too early to say a star was born on Tuesday, Woodburn’s impressive pedigree at youth level and his fairytale first goal for the Reds suggest he is one to watch.
“Ben, we know how young he is. It’s a nice story and all the boys are really happy for him,” Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said.
Ben Woodburn
“Everyone is smiling in the dressing room. It’s a good moment for him and a good moment for us.”
Klopp’s side are through to the League Cup semi-finals for the third successive year thanks to Woodburn and Divock Origi
Klopp has now won seven of his nine League Cup games with Liverpool, who hope to lift the trophy for the ninth time after losing to Manchester City in the final last term.
– Dream –
Before kick-off, Liverpool’s Brazilian captain Lucas and his team-mates, all wearing black armbands, stood for a minutes’ silence following the plane crash that killed 71 people, including members of the Brazilian Chapecoense team.
With Philippe Coutinho sidelined for five weeks with ankle ligament damage, Klopp gave starts to teenagers Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ovie Ejaria as the Reds boss selected a team featuring eight changes.
Second tier Leeds, whose last League Cup semi-final appearance was in 1996, should have been ahead early on when Hadi Sacko broke the offside trap and saw his shot saved by Simon Mignolet.
Liverpool gradually took charge and Sadio Mane’s pass slipped Georginio Wijnaldum into the penalty area, but the Dutchman’s shot struck the far post.
Then, in the 76th minute, Alexander-Arnold whipped in a cross from the right and Belgian striker Origi stretched to guide the ball home at the near post for his fourth goal of the season and third in the League Cup.
Woodburn came on in the 67th minute and his dream came to true when he smashed into the net following a flowing move involving Origi, Mane and Wijnaldum.
“He is a brilliant young player. He did very well. A goal will give him confidence to keep learning,” Lucas added of Woodburn.
In the day’s other quarter-final, Premier League strugglers Hull beat second tier Newcastle 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to reach the last four for the first time.
Both sides made a host of changes and a drab game didn’t come to life until the 89th minute when Hull’s Dieumerci Mbokani was sent off after lunging forward with his head at Jamaal Lascelles.
Newcastle took the lead eight minutes into extra-time when former Hull midfielder Mohamed Diame stabbed in, but Robert Snodgrass equalised 60 seconds later.
In the shoot-out, Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic saved from Jonjo Shelvey and Dwight Gayle hit the crossbar before Jakupovic turned away Yoan Gouffran’s kick to clinch the win.
On Wednesday, Manchester United host West Ham and Arsenal face Southampton in the remaining last eight ties.
New York – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has urged Ghana's President John Mahama and the opposition leader, Nana Akufo-Addo, to defuse tensions ahead of the country's Dec. 7 general elections.President John Dramani Mahama
According to readout by Ban's Deputy-Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, the UN chief had separate phone calls with Mahama and Akufo-Addo, head of Ghana's opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He said Ban urged the duo to continue their role in defusing tensions towards the holding of peaceful and credible elections in the country.
"The Secretary-General underscored the importance of an environment conducive to peaceful and credible elections, and urged the two leaders to continue their role in defusing tensions and preserving peace.
"Bearing in mind Ghana's history of political stability and peaceful elections, the Secretary-General underscored the need for all political parties to sign a Code of Conduct," Ban said.
According to the secretary-general, the signing of a code of conduct will greatly assist in lowering tensions and preventing electoral violence," the readout added.
By Soni Daniel Abuja – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, arraigned Justin Itemoagbo, Dayo Aliyu, Ojeifo Sylvanus and Dayang Jacob, before Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja over N22.9 salary million fraud.
They are standing trial on a 14-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, abuse of office, forgery, advance fee fraud and impersonation.
The suspects, who works in the Pension section in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Works, allegedly connived, prepared and collected salaries of ghost workers they fraudulently inserted into the government payroll.
But the fraud was discovered and the culprits charged to court by the EFCC, which is prosecuting the case.
One of the counts reads: "That you Justin Itemoagbo, being the Principal Executive Officer, attached as a pension officer in the Human Resources Department of the Federal Ministry of Works, Dayo Usman Aliyu, being the Help-Desk Officer in charge of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Ojeifo Robert Sylvanus, being a staff in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Dayang Jacob, being a staff of Federal Ministry of Works attached as the Nominal Roll and Manpower Budget Officer and others now at large, sometime between January 3, 2014 and October 31, 2014 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N6,473,293.83 from the Federal Government of Nigeria as salaries in the names of: Pius Dunta, Mama Odoja, Igunnu Jonathan, Chinedum John Obinna, Iroso Aminu Bisi, Musa Engineer Daddy, Ini Akpan Effiong and Wey Vincent Olajide under the false pretence that they are staff of Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and which pretence you knew to be false."
They are alleged to have committed the offence between 2012 and 2014.
They pleaded "not guilty" to the charges.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, T.N. Ndifon, urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of their trial, and asked that they be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of the case.
However, defence counsel, Tope Fasanmi, prayed the court to grant the defendants bail.
"The defendants have been on administrative bail since March and have always been present whenever the EFCC wanted them," he argued.
The trial judge, thereafter, adjourned to December 2, 2016 for further hearing, and ordered that they be remanded in Kuje Prisons.
Victor Ahiuma-Young & Johnson Agbakwuru Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has condemned reported plans by the Federal Government to scrap some regulatory agencies in the oil and gas industry including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, without involving stakeholders in the industry.
A statement by PENGASSAN National Public Relations Officers, Emmanuel Ojugbana, said: "While it is important to note that a wholesome reform in the oil and gas industry is desirable and proper, it is equally unadvisable to contemplate any sort of restructuring without the buy-in of the very persons such action will directly or indirectly impact. It is curious to note that a critical aspect of organisational reforms like the work force would be over-looked in the current contemplation."
According to PENGASSAN, the union was not aware of any known channel other than the National Assembly with powers to either repeal or enact laws on existing corporations and agencies duly set up by law, such as NNPC.
The senior staff trade union said that its attention was drawn to a well-publicized proposal by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to 'restructure' the Oil and Gas industry particularly the scrapping of selected regulatory agencies and NNPC, adding that several stakeholders' forum had been called with regards to such action plan by the Ministry.
It noted that the Association had been at the fore front of eventual passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, by the National Assembly, noting:"We had severally made input known on some burning issues which include job security, job creation, transparency in fiscal regime, infrastructural development, promotion of local content, local refining capacity, community development and wealth creation for Nigerians. While exercising tremendous restraint at joining issues, we owe it a duty to the general public and our stakeholders to state that we are completely in the dark with regards to the proposed industry road map.
"We have continued to serve as the voice of reason within the Nigerian set up insisting on genuine reforms that will sanitize the system and regain the confidence of Nigerians and Stakeholders in the industry. The Association expressed readiness to support any initiative aimed at revamping the oil and gas industry just as it will challenge under-development and impoverishment of Nigerians under the guise of restructuring.
"From the foregoing, we wish to advise a second look at our initial observations and clarifications with regards to the passage of the PIB.
"On our part, we assure Nigerians of our total commitment to service delivery, job security, job creations, diligence and hard work that will grow and expand the frontiers of the Oil and Gas sector of the economy."
Victor Ahiuma-Young & Johnson Agbakwuru NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, faction led by Jeo Ajaero, has challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to explain its role in the crisis rocking the central labour body.
Specifically, the faction wants the commission to explain why out of about 70 industrial unions in the country, only its affiliates and leaders have allegedly been singled out for persecution, harassment, intimidation and even probe of their finances.
In a petition to EFCC's Chairman, Ibrahim Maku, the faction through its Acting General Secretary, Onyeka Chris, equally wants EFCC to explain when the labour laws have been amended to empower the commission to look into the finances of trade unions instead of the Registrar of Trade Unions, RTU, that unions submit their financial reports to every year.
According to the petition: "All unions in the country (about 70) collect Union Dues including levies as the case may be and are accountable to the Registrar of Trade Unions.
The rules are clear and the records are straight. If the EFCC wants to investigate the unions for any reason, it is welcome but allowing itself to be used to settle scores based on any primordial sentiments does great dis-service to the agency and repudiates all the good works it has thus far done in the course of the battle against corruption in Nigeria. Sir, we are not asking you to stop what you are doing but to inform you that EFCC as a body has jumped into the arena on the side of Ayuba in the NLC crisis. We ask again, is the EFCC a party to the NLC crisis?”
The petition which accused some operatives of the commission of being willing tools in the hands of the other faction, to persecute, harass and intimidate opposing unions and their leaders, claimed the latest of EFCC's attacks was the National Union of Electricity, NUEE.
NUEE is the union that the President of the faction, Joe Ajaero, is from and incidentally, Ajaero is the General Secretary of NUEE.
The petition claimed that since Ajaero returned the Three Million Naira paid into his account by the Treasurer of NLC in 2012, when he was then a Deputy President of NLC, which other members of the National Administrative Council, NAC, collected, there had been a calculated and deliberate attempt to smear and destroy his image.
According to the petition, the plot to destroy Ajaero and others, thickened after the factionalisation of NLC in 2015, and after the failed strike by the other faction against the federal government deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry earlier in the year.
The petition alleged among others, that in NUEE, the other faction found ready allies in a growing militant body from Kaduna.
comprising some former staff of PHCN who had been fully paid their entitlement but were now in alliance with the faction to attack the industry and the leadership of the Union.
According to the petition, the rival faction believed this was a way of paying back the Union for its stand on the current crisis in the Congress and for not joining in the infamous strike.
The petition read in part: "First, the Wabba faction asked them to do a letter to him on their disengagement as a way of slighting the industrial unions in charge of the sector. He later met with them and urged them to raise a petition on the levy they paid to the union while they were in service in 2013. In the petition which was submitted at the Kano office of the EFCC on August 5th 2016, the petitioners asked that the account of the Union be frozen that the Union no longer exist. This is a lie and can be verified from the Federal Ministry of Labour.
"These two pleas leave no one in doubt of the major motive of the petitioners and their sponsoring patron. It is purely designed to cripple the union and reduce its capacity to continue working with other like-minds in the Congress to creatively resist the attempt to use the Congress as a platform for unpatriotic and selfish purposes. Note sir that before then, the illegal body parading as ex-PHCN staff had already played guest to the DSS in Kaduna, the Police and are facing trial in Kaduna presently in suit CCTW/CR/91/2016. This is the group the EFCC is now working with.
Abuja – The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the 2017 budget proposal for onward submission to the National Assembly for final approval.
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Mr Udoma Udo Udoma, made this known when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the FEC meeting. From left, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Emmanuel Kachiukwu; Defence Minister, Alhqji Dan Ali; Attotnery General of the Federation. Abubakar Malami; Minister for Interior, Abdulrajman Danbazzau; Budget and National Planning Minister, Senator Udo Udoma; Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi; Minister for Niger Delta Development, Pastor Usain Uguru; National Security Adviser, Gen. Babagana Mongunu and the Chief of Staff to the President. Alhaji Abba Kyari during the meeting between the Presidency and Pan Niger Delta Stakeholders on lasting peace in the region at the Aso Chambers, State House, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi ADESHIDA The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He stated that the approved document would soon be presented to the National Assembly by President Buhari after consultations with the leadership of the Assembly.
"The budget has been approved by the Federal Executive Council, the details off course, will be revealed when the President presents the budget to the National Assembly.
"With regard to the date, the President will be communicating with the National Assembly and off course, it will be at the National Assembly's discretion ultimately.
"So, the president will write to them and it is after they confirm, then the president can come to address them,'' he said.
On the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), the minister stated that the document was prepared after extensive consultation with stakeholders.
He stated that his ministry would continue to ensure regular briefing on the state of the 2016 budget implementation, saying that 80 per cent of the capital allocation of the budget had been released.
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, who also addressed correspondents, disclosed that the council had approved the construction of Federal Secretariat Complex in Ekiti State.
According to him, the council has also approved the furnishing of the Federal Secretariat in Gombe State.
He said the Council also approved the Business case for the concession of some Small Hydro dams to achieve Incremental Power supply across the country, adding that the small hydro dams would be adequately utilized.
"The other matter we considered, off course, was in furtherance of our Incremental Power Initiative and our Rural Electrification Initiative and this was in respect to small hydro dams.
"This can help us get more energy, especially to rural areas to support farming; to support irrigation; to support water supply and off course rural electrification.
"So, Council approved the Business Case for concessioning and development of Ikere Goji dam (Oyo) for 6 megawatts of electricity, Bakolori dam (Zamfara) for 3.2megawatts of electricity; and Jibiya dam (Katsina State) for 4megawatt.
"Zobe dam 0.2 megawatts and Kpape Omi in Kogi dam for 2 megawatts of electricity and Doma dam (Nasarawa) for 1 megawatt of hydroelectricity,'' he said.
Fashole said that the small hydro dams would be utilised to further the nation's quest for incremental energy in the area of renewable energy as "hydroelectricity is also clean energy''.
By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Johnson Agbakwuru AS part of efforts to deepen the implementation of Employee's Compensation Act, ECA, and raise greater awareness on its benefits, Nigeria Social Insurance Fund, NSITF, and Nigeria Employers' Consultative Association, NECA, have stressed the need for employers to adhere strictly to mutually agreed definition of payroll in remitting the one percent ECA deduction.
At NSITF-NECA Safe Workplace Intervention Project, SWIP, 2016 and problem Solving Clinic on the ECA 2010, NSITF and NECA pledged to strengthen the existing trust, cooperation and relationship between both organisations.
Speaking, Acting Managing Director of NSITF, Mr. Ismail Agaka, called on employers to prioritize the occupational health and safety of the employees, and embrace ECA .
According to Agaka while over 51, 000 employers had registered with the ECA scheme, about 6.5million employees had been covered.
The Acting Managing Director said if those registered were matched with the number of employers and employers in the country, it was obvious that there were still a lot of work to be done to get more participation.
He assured the management of NSITF was intensifying the drive for more participation.
Mr. Agaka disclosed that scheme had paid over N700million as compensation to over 6,000 workers that sustained various degrees of injuries in the course of work.
While stressing the importance of the ECA, the Acting Managing Director added "We have a family whose breadwinner died and after the computation of the entitlements, we are now paying up to N1.3million monthly to the beneficiaries. That represents 90 per cent of the last income of the deceased breadwinner"
Earlier, Director General of NECA Mr. Segun Oshinowo, warned employers against flouting the agreed definition of payroll in the payment of the one percent required by the ECA, saying any employer that failed to respect the rule would have itself to blame.
Mr. Oshinowo, recalled the controversy surrounding the definition of payroll deduction into the scheme, and said to resolve it, a joint committee between employers and NSITF was set up to arrive at agreed definition of the payroll and mode of deduction among others.
According to the committee had finished its work and a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, would be signed.
He said: "We are going to sign the MOU that gives acceptable definition of pay roll, any employers who refuses to comply and play by the rules as agreed will be on its own.”
In his key not address, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, represented by Lagos State Controller of Labour, Olawole Shado, said SWIP was the outcome of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, between NSITF and NECA in November, 2011.
According him, “It is noteworthy that SWIP aims to promote safe workplace, minimize the rate of industrial accidents, encourages up to date capacity building and a preventive culture of Occupational Safety and Health, OSH, in Nigerian workplaces. Through constant collaboration, NECA and NSITF strive to ensure efficient and effective implementation of the Employees' Compensation Scheme, ECS, and its full compliance."
When you entertain the thought, you will embrace the behavior or actions that flow from it. Purity is the foundation on which every noble life is built upon. In the purity domain, honour is king. Impurity breeds decay; impurity breeds death. When the imagination is immersed in purity you become like a diamond sparkling and shining in the midst of a grossly dark and perverse world. Purity is a fountain of life wherein truth flows.
The habit of pure thoughts births purity of heart, purity of character, purity of mind and purity of body which is the hallmark of an ideal life that sums up to greatness. The habit of pure thoughts is the foundation stone in which soundness of character is built upon. Purity of thoughts is the master key that opens up life's greatest blessings; peace of mind; sound health; true happiness; true riches and true greatness.
The opposite of pure thoughts is impure and immoral thoughts. The degeneration of a life begins with the entertainment of impure or immoral thoughts. Dwell upon; focus upon and fill your mind with positive and moral thoughts on a consistent basis until it becomes a habit "You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who cannot pay you back"
JOHN BUNYAN When John D Rockefeller was earning a meager income of $3.75 per week as a clerk, he began saving 20 percent of his pay check. He gave 50 percent of his salary to his church for charity and lived on the remaining 30 percent. In time, he established Standard Oil, the largest oil company in America as at the time, while he continued to exhibit a giving spirit.
Moreover, when the markets inflated the price of oil in order to make an exorbitant profit, Rockefeller would pump increased fuel into the market in order to force the fuel prices to lower once again. At age 50, he became the richest man in the world.
But eventually, and unfortunately he did not continue to heed to the principle that had once put him on top. He stopped giving and when he did so, he fell sick and the hairs on his head began to fall out. Worry, greed, and fear wrecked his health. And soon, the doctors gave him just a few months to live.
However, on his sick bed, he started to change the pattern of his thoughts and began to think of the various ways he could use his money to elevate humanity rather than of how much money he could accumulate for himself. He began signing those checks again in order to help the poor, and miraculously, his health was restored.
He then established the Rockefeller Foundation, which was targeted to fight disease and ignorance all around the world. At age 53, he had been a "walking corpse"; but he lived to age 98. His life story proves that the habit of generosity affects your spiritual, mental, emotional and physical well-being. A giving spirit brought Rockefeller to the top, and this giving spirit also sustained him at the top.
Selfishness is the most dangerous trap that has enslaved the human race. Selfishness bears many destructive fruits such as greed. The best way to effectively conquer greed is to develop the habit of being generous. The habit of generosity implies living to give and you cannot live to give unless you have made the decision to live to love.
The "me" mentality is the "takers" mentality and it takes away happiness and the joy of living. The "You" mentality is the "givers" mentality and it gives happiness and rich harvest of blessings. When you get all caught up in you, you will get cut off from the joy of living. When you get caught up in others you will catch up with the joy of giving.
The generous habit entails choosing to become a channel of blessing in the lives of people. Selfishness asks; what is in it for me? Generosity asks; what can I do to help you? Selfishness ask; God when will you bless me? Generosity prays; God make me a blessing. When you are pre-occupied with giving good things are attracted into your life. When you are pre-occupied with getting good things repels from your life.
The start-up of the generous habit is to begin giving on-purpose. Give deliberately and keep at it until it becomes a habit. We must plan to lead generous lives every day. In whatever level of life you find yourself there are always ways you can give to others. You can buy somebody a lunch; You can give encouragement to someone;
You can give a listening ear; You can compliment someone; You can make someone feel valuable in your presence, the list are endless. You can be generous with your finances, time, resources, energy, talents and gifts. Our generosity should be towards everyone; both people close to us and even strangers. Generosity should spring out of a pure motive or unconditional love.
When we manifest generosity we should not call attention to ourselves to be noticed by others and we should not "broadcast" our acts of generosity to be praised by people or to win their approval. Generosity should flow out of the desire to put smiles on peoples' faces; lightening their burdens and also for the elevation of our character.
Whenever we give what we have multiplies; whenever we hoard what we keep diminishes. When you become focused on yourself and your problems you become immersed in negativity and your problems escalates. When you forget yourself long enough to think of ways you can help make a difference in someone's life you become a difference maker and what you make happen for others God will make happen for you.
The Delta Government has disowned over 700 academic and non-academic staff of some tertiary institutions whose names were not in the State's payroll over 'illegal' employment.
The state's Commissioner for Higher Education, Mr Jude Sinebe, announced this at a news conference in Asaba on Wednesday.
The commissioner said there was no provision for such employment before the staff were engaged.
"In tertiary institutions, we don't just employ workers for the sake of employment. We only employ when there is a need for such workers.
"This issue can be likened to a case of illegal employment and I can tell you that it is not only in the Delta Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku; we have similar cases at the State Colleges of Education in Agbor and Warri.
"The affected staff were employed out of the institutions' statutory provisions. The system that we operate does not recognize them as our staff, as such we cannot pay them", Sinebe said.
The commissioner further explained that many of the schools went out of their way to employ the affected staff without recourse to approval from the state government.
Many of those employed between 2013 and 2015, were lecturers, technicians, information officers, clerical officers and messengers.
By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa A female member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), posted to Bayelsa State, identified as Miss Elechi has reportedly died after a strange ailment.
The deceased, aged 27, a graduate of Ignatius Azuru University of Education, Port Harcourt in Rivers State died at about 9pm Tuesday night five days after arriving camp.
Though the cause of her death could not be immediately ascertained, sources said she was bleeding and vomiting few hours after arrival at the state orientation camp at Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state.
Some of her colleagues claimed the deceased on arrival, at the camp last Thursday, was looking “terribly” sick and could not participate in some opening activities at the camp.
An official of the NYSC who spoke anonymously said “this is a case of non-disclosure of state of health by a corps member.”
It was gathered that her condition deteriorated and she was rushed to the sick bay of the camp at about 8pm.
According to sources, the doctor at the NYSC camp clinic immediately referred her to the state owned Diette-Koki Memorial Hospital, Opolo in the state capital where she was confirmed dead.
The demise of the corps member, it was learned was the subject of discussion among her colleagues at the camp.
Attempt to reach the state coordinator of the NYSC, Mr. Ekeocha Anthony proved abortive but a senior official confirmed the development.
The plane that crashed in Colombia killing 71 people including Brazilian footballers had skipped a scheduled refueling stop, media quoted a representative of the Bolivian airline as saying Wednesday.
“The plane should have refueled in Bogota,” but instead bypassed the Colombian capital and headed straight for its destination Medellin, Gustavo Vargas, a representative of airline LAMIA, was quoted as saying in Bolivian newspaper Pagina Siete.
“The pilot was the one who took the decision not to enter (into Bogota for refueling), because he thought the fuel would last.”
Colombian authorities are investigating what made the plane crash in the mountains of northwest Colombia on Monday night.
The crash killed 71 people including most of the Chapecoense football team from Brazil. Six people including three players miraculously survived.
Announcing the disaster on Monday night, the aviation authority said the plane reported electrical problems just before the crash.
But a Colombian military source told AFP: “It is very suspicious that despite the impact there was no explosion. That reinforces the theory of the lack of fuel.”
Brazilian media said the plane’s fuel capacity may have been inferior to the amount required for the distance of its journey from Santa Cruz in Bolivia to Medellin.
Colombian media, citing investigators, said the plane may have had to wait for another flight to touch down in Medellin before it could land.
Colombian broadcaster W Radio aired a recording of what it said was the captain of another aircraft who said he had heard the pilot of the doomed plane over the radio reporting fuel problems followed by an electrical failure.
British, Bolivian and Brazilian investigators headed to Colombia to help with the probe, authorities said.
The induction was coming three weeks after the veteran entertainer was honoured at the 2016 AFRIMA awards.
Ozioma Ibezim, the manager of Hidden Talent Agency, told NAN that she was happy for him because his songs had brought joy to many Nigerians.
"I love king Sunny Ade because he is a true African entertainer who is very creative.
"His album entitled; Seven Degrees North was amazing and I still have the CD in my living room.
"God bless him as his name lives on.''
Joseph Bawa, a civil servant said that he was happy for the singer, adding that the induction couldn't have come at a better time.
"I am happy that he is being greatly rewarded for his works.
"It is amazing that an inspiring entertainer like him is known by many generations.
"It couldn't have come at a better time because he just celebrated his 70th birthday making it the perfect year to celebrate his talent and wisdom,'' he said.
Toke Makinwa, an Abuja based singer, said that she was happy with the legend's achievements so far and hoped to be recognised like him someday.
"His life story is inspiring and his talent is admirable. I am glad and happy for him, especially for being recognised in such a manner.
After seven hours of deliberation, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has agreed to reduce oil production by around 1.2 million barrels per day from Jan. 1, 2017.
However, Nigeria and Libya were exempted from the cut, while Indonesia suspended its membership after refusing to agree to the deal.
Qatar's Minister of Energy and Industry, Dr Mohammed Al-Sada, said this at a news conference at the end of the 171 meeting of the Conference of the OPEC on Wednesday in Vienna.
The meeting started at about 9:30 a.m and lasted till about 5:30 p.m.
This is the first time since 2008 that an agreement of this nature was reached to reduce supply in spite of several attempts.
"This agreement was reached following extensive consultations and understanding reached with key non-OPEC countries, including the Russian Federation that they contribute by a reduction of 600,000 barrel per day.
"The duration of this agreement is six months, extended for another six months to take account of prevailing market conditions and prospects.
"We also agreed to establish a Ministerial Monitoring Committee composed of Algeria, Kuwait, Venezuela and two participating non-OPEC countries, chaired by Kuwait and assisted by the OPEC secretariat.
"They are expected to closely monitor the implementation of and compliance with this agreement and report to the conference," Al-Sada said.
He said the next Ordinary Meeting would convene in Vienna, Austria on May 25, 2017 to review the implementation of the agreement.
A breakdown of the agreed oil production adjustment made available to the media by the OPEC Secretariat after the conference shows that Saudi Arabia is expected to make the largest contribution by cutting production by 486,000 b/d.
Also, Algeria is expected to reduce its output per day by 50,000; Angola, 87,000; Ecuador, 26,000; Gabon, 9,000; Iran, 90,000; Iraq, 210,000; Kuwait, 131,000; Qatar, 30,000; UAE, 139,000 and Venezuela by 95,000.
Meanwhile Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Emmanuel Kachikwu said vandalism of crude oil pipelines and militancy activities in the Niger-Delta was the reason Nigeria was exempted.
"We are grateful that the OPEC was understanding of the case we made about why Nigeria needs to be exempted from this cut.
"This gives us time to get our house in order by resolving the Niger-Delta crises. Already production in Nigeria is up to 1.9 million barrels and we expect to get it up to 2.2 million but not flood the market.
"We all have the responsibility to contribute to the tightness of this market," he said.
Kachikwu said the cut would re-balance the price of crude oil globally and projected that oil prices would go up to 60 dollars per barrel from the 50 per cent it traded today.
Idris Sodiya and Sodiq Odebiyi of no given addresses were arraigned at Magistrates' Court in Isabo, Abeokuta on Wednesday charged with fondling breast.
The accused are facing a three-count charge of felony, breach of peace and assault.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Idowu Ogunleye, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Nov. 27 at about 7.30 a.m. at Leme area in Abeokuta.
According to Ogunleye, the accused assaulted and touched the breast of one Miss Rasheedat Adesina, student of Lisabi Grammar School.
She said the accused, on Nov. 28, conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by disturbing the peace of the school.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened sections 516, 360 and 248 of the Criminal Code Vol. 1, Law of Ogun, 2006.
The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Mrs Fatimat Ojelade, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.
She adjourned the case to Jan. 11, 2017 for trial.
ENUGU-HUNDREDS of Igbo youths took to the streets Wednesday, protesting the on-going probe of the former Nigeria First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.
The youths, led by the coordinator, Concerned Igbo Youths, Comrade Victor Ezenagu, said that the probe, which had culminated to the freezing of her (Mrs. Jonathan) account, is a calculated plot to humiliate ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.Pro-Jonathan protesters
They angry protesters marched straight to the Enugu office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, where they submitted a petition to the South-East zonal head of the commission, Mr. Johnson Babalola.
