Pensioners to Buhari: You are the best
Retirees, under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Contributory Pension Scheme Sector (NUPCPS), have written to President Muhammadu Buhari, applauding his administration as the best they have seen in 14 years of the pension scheme.
In a letter dated December 10, 2018, signed by the Chairman of the union, Comrade Sylva C. Nwaiwu, the pensioners said they were registering their “unanimous acknowledgement and commendation of the good performance” of the administration in the Contributory Pension Scheme sector in particular, and Nigerian Pension Industry in general.
The union said the consensus was reached during the union’s 3rd Post-inaugural Congress/Interactive Session with the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) held last month in Maitama, Abuja.
Distancing itself from partisan politicking, NUPCPS said the union was made of “elder statesmen and women who must stand for the truth, no matter whose ox is gored,” adding: “We owe no one any apology for expressing the truth we know about the good works of your administration.”
The union said further: “Your administration inherited huge pension liabilities as a result of the excesses and recklessness of the previous administration which mismanaged pension funds meant for the payment of retirement benefits…Nevertheless, your contribution in just few years in office is one of the best we have seen in the 14 years of the existence of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in our nation.
“Your insight, determination, political will and commitment as demonstrated in the release of bailout funds to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerian workers/pensioners is unequalled and highly appreciated by the union and other stakeholders.”
The union also urged President Buhari to “complete the good work you have started” by authorizing additional bailout to clear the outstanding backlog from last year.
FG says hate speech, fake news greatest threats to 2019 Polls
The Federal Government has said fake news and hate speech constitute the biggest threats to the 2019 general election, and appealed to states to join in the ongoing campaign to sensitise Nigerians to the dangers posed by the twin evils.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this in Kaduna on Thursday, during the official opening of the 47th National Council on Information (NCI).
”With the 2019 general elections just a little over 60 days away, there is no issue that is more relevant to the election than the issue of fake news and hate speech,” he said.
”This issue transcends political party lines, religion, ethnicity, and even nationality. Left unchecked, fake news and hate speech constitute the biggest threat to the forthcoming elections.”
Alhaji Mohammed said fake news has the capacity to alter the course of elections and create legitimacy problem for the winner, citing as an example a report that said fake news helped to depress Hillary Clinton’s votes during the 2016 US election, in addition to tainting the victory for the winner.
He also said hate speech was a catalyst in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which left at least 800,000 people dead.
The Minister said while the Federal Government has been unrelenting in calling attention to the dangers posed to the nation’s peace, security and democracy, including through the launch of the National Campaign Against Fake News on July 11 2018, it cannot do it alone.
”The campaign against fake news and hate speech is not just a responsibility of the Federal Government. It is for all tiers of government. Therefore, I expect that the Honourable Commissioners who are here, and those who are not, will launch the campaign in their various states.
”The media will bear the brunt, if the people lose confidence in them because of fake news. This is why the media must lead this campaign,” he said
Alhaji Mohammed described as ‘very fitting and most timely’ the theme of the meeting, which is ‘Tackling Fake News and Hate Speech to Enhance Peace and National Unity’.
He urged the participants at the meeting to ‘brain storm and evolve policies’ that would comprehensively address the menace of fake news and hate speech.
Commissioners of Information from about 20 states are among the participants at the three-day meeting, which was declared open by Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, represented by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye.
Abducted Nasarawa APC candidate regains freedom
The Police Command in Nasarawa state has confirmed the release of Mr David Ayele, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Obi II state constituency in the 2019 election, abducted on Sunday in Lafia.
SP Kennedy Idirisu, the command`s spokesman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lafia that the politician was released on Wednesday night at the state border with Plateau state.
“The victim was found at a military check around Bakin-Kogi, the boundary between Nasarawa and Plateau state.
“He has been reunited with his family and currently undergoing medical checks at the hospital,” Idirisu said.
The PPRO could not ascertain whether ransom was paid by the victim’s family to secure his release.
NAN recalls that the politician was abducted by gunmen at his Lafia residence around Tudun Kauri around 8:00 p.m., on Sunday.
A detachment of policemen deployed to rescue him later discovered his car abandoned along Obi-Awe road on Monday.
China pledges support for Nigeria’s industrialisation
The Chinese Government says it is willing to give priority attention to Nigeria’s industrialisation and agricultural modernisation.
Mr Zhao Linxiang, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria said this at a reception for participants of various training courses in China on Thursday night.
Linxiang said China was ready to work with Nigeria to strengthen cooperation in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure and capacity building.
“China is willing to give priority to supporting Nigeria in breaking the bottlenecks that hinder Nigeria’s industrialisation and agricultural modernisation, including shortage of professionals and lack of funds,” said Linxiang.
He reiterated that trade and investment cooperation between both countries was steadily developing with bilateral trade reaching 12 billion dollars in the first 10 months of 2017.
The envoy added that Chinese companies had invested about 100 million dollars in the same period and was also impressed that more Nigerian companies invested in China in 2018.
He further announced that both governments had successfully trained more than 1,200 Nigerians both in China and Nigeria from 2016 to 2018.
“I am glad to inform you that with the effort of the two governments, we have achieved ‘Thousand People’ target of providing 1,000 Nigerians with training opportunities both in China and Nigeria,” Linxiang said.
He recalled eight major initiatives of the 2018 Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit announced by President Xi Jinping in September.
“Among these eight initiatives, I would like to introduce infrastructure connectivity initiative and capacity building activities,” he said.
Under the activities, Linxiang said China would share its development experience with Africa, train talents for Africa and strengthen cooperation in human resource development with the continent.
“In 2019 to 2021, China will provide 50 thousand training opportunities and scholarships to African countries.
“China will also invite 2,000 young Africans for discussions and exchanges to strengthen understanding between youth in China and Africa.
“We are also going to coordinate resources from governments, enterprises, social orgnisations and universities to upgrade 10 vocational centres or schools in Africa,” said the envoy.
Linxiang also said the initiatives focused on key areas in the development of Africa and further pledged China’s continued cooperation to promote mutual growth of both parties. (NAN)