The National Population Commission, NPC, said it has begun training for almost 1,500 ad hoc staff in Ogun State ahead of the commencement of digital birth registration, otherwise called e-registration.
The NPC Federal Commissioner in the state, Fasuwa Johnson, stated this on Tuesday in an interview with TVN.
Johnson revealed that the commission had last week trained personnel from 11 local government areas of the state and will on Wednesday take the training to Sagamu, Ijebu Ode and Ijebu Imushin training centres.
The commissioner, while lauding UNICEF for its e-birth registration initiative, maintained that it will aid in proper planning and policy formation.
He lamented that the country’s policies are based on outdated data, noting that having accurate data would help in effective planning and development.
He said: “We need to make sure that the birth registration drive is built on, especially the e-registration. If we can get this right, which UNICEF is trying to help with, it will be a very good one.
“We have ad hoc participants who are close to 1500 in Ogun State, and they are across the 20 local government areas. Last week, we trained 11 local government areas scattered across three training centres, and we just did a review meeting now; it was perfect.
“The meeting was to review those three and plan for the next three centres. So tomorrow we will be going to Sagamu, Ijebu Ode and Ijebu Mushin training centres.
“And what they would be doing is training them on how to capture the registration of births of kids between 0 and 5. So that anybody below five years old, we would be sure they have their digital birth certificate with them.
The commissioner maintained that the registration would be done from house to house to ensure that every child is captured and urged parents and guardians to secure the future of their children by registering them.
E-birth registration: NPC begins training of ad hoc staff in Ogun
E-birth registration: NPC begins training of ad hoc staff in Ogun
Katsina seeks FG’s support to combat illicit drugs, others
The Katsina State Acting Governor, Faruk Jobe, has described drug-related issues as major factors contributing to insecurity bedevilling the state and called on the Federal government to intensify efforts in combating the menace.
He made the call during a town hall meeting with the Personal Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Constituency Affairs, Khadija Omotayo, and key stakeholders including traditional, and religious leaders, civil society organisations, and political representatives in attendance on Tuesday, in Katsina.
Organised by the Office of the Personal Assistant to the President on Constituency Affairs, aimed to gather feedback on pressing issues affecting the states of the federation.
According to the acting governor, the influx of illicit drugs has exacerbated the state security situation.
“We urgently require a comprehensive strategy from the Federal Government to address this menace,” Jobe pleaded.
The acting governor also drew attention to the need for accelerated development in the state, stressing the importance of completing ongoing federal projects such as the Kano-Katsina Federal Highway and the Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail line.
He also called for the dredging of earth dams and the revitalisation of social intervention programmes to boost the state’s economy.
The state government, according to Jobe, has already taken steps to address security challenges through both proactive and reactive measures.
Earlier in his speech, the state Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Dr Faisal Kaita, identified 74 abandoned and ongoing Federal Government projects in the state.
Kaita specifically drew the attention of the Federal Government to the Katsina-Kano Road, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail line, and the expansion of Umaru Yar’adua International Airport as priority concerns due to payment of compensation to land owners.
He attributed the delay in the Katsina-Kano Road project to the Federal Government’s failure to disburse compensation to affected landowners.
Kaita noted that the state government has already fulfilled its obligation by compensating land owners for the expansion of Umaru Yar’adua International Airport after acquiring the necessary land.
Responding, the Personal Assistant to the President on Constituency Affairs, Khadija Kareem, assured the stakeholders and Katsina State Government that the issues raised would be presented to the president for prompt action.
She emphasised the Tinubu-led administration’s commitment to addressing the challenges facing the nation and pleaded for patience.
“Our President needs your patience and time to fix Nigeria you all desire and in no small time, you will see the results,” Kareem said.
Soludo’s wife unveils baby formula to tackle malnutrition
The wife of the Anambra State governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, has unveiled a natural baby formula known as ‘Nonye Healthy Living Pap’ for children in the state to grow healthy and beat the threats of malnutrition.
During the unveiling at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre in Awka, the state capital, on Tuesday, Soludo said the idea behind the initiative is to rescue children with special nutritional needs as well as a mitigation programme to address challenges of malnutrition.
She explained that the project done under the ‘Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative’ took up the challenge of tackling malnutrition among children, as a complementary step that supports existing strategic government policies.
She noted that with critical investments in the health sector and greater attention to primary health care delivery – including nutritional securities led by an intense campaign on exclusive breastfeeding, Anambra State has improved on the national nutritional index compared to other states in the country.
According to her, Anambra’s nutrition profile over the past few years has maintained a steady growth and demonstrated notable trends in nutritional needs compared to other states in the Southeast Zone.
She said, “Months ago before this idea was conceptualised, I had finished receiving a delegation from UNICEF. The central focus of that meeting was about tackling malnutrition among children in Anambra State.
“The revelations from UNICEF, alongside a valid will to make a difference, spurred us into action. Anambra State is known for her strong leadership presence in almost every national rating. Today, we are here to continue in that line of history, this time for a course that matters so much to humanity and that is nutrition.
“As an NGO that is basically self-funded, ‘Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative’ took up this challenge, knowing at the back of our minds that we can actually make a long-term difference with the little effort.
“Over the few years, statistics suggest that Anambra State has made substantial progress in addressing nutritional challenges and now performs better than the other states in the Southeast zone in these key areas. The state has also made significant progress in that regard over the past two years.”
She further explained that at the core of the crusade is the revered philosophy that healthy living is a primary option for human existence, adding that “healthy living is not just a choice”, but an inevitable option for a society that aims to move.
She said, “An unhealthy society is most likely to be unproductive and non-existent. The first on the ladder is Nutrition. Ladies and gentlemen, we are here today to launch ‘Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap’ and introduce this natural formula into the state’s mitigation programme for malnutrition.
“Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap is a pure natural meal that contains basic dietary nutrients to help children who are dealing with acute or minor malnutrition. The meal is made up of three special ingredients, namely: groundnut, corn, and soya beans, which are rich in carbohydrates, healthy fats, fibre, protein and zinc. The Pap also boasts nutritional benefits like vitamins B1, B2, B3, and iron.
“The idea behind this journey is to rescue our children with special nutritional needs. Ours is only a complementary step that supports existing strategic government policies. In the medium term, we want to move from our present second spot as the state with the lowest number of ‘Under-five mortality’ to the first position and maintain the spot for as long as it takes.
“We are very close. In driving a commitment that thinks inclusiveness, we want to ensure that our children are saved from the threats of diseases aggravated by poor nutrition. Aware of the prevalent protein deficiency among children in Nigeria caused by accessibility, availability and affordability of food items, including protein sources, we want to close the gap by providing all-round, effective intervention for homes and communities.”
Present at the event were women and community members from the 21 local government areas of the state as well as the Yoruba and Hausa community leaders.
The Women Leader of the Yoruba community and Muslim Women in Anambra, Hajia Khadijat Olahan, commended Nonye Soludo for the initiative, saying that it would help bridge the nutritional needs and maintain the healthy well-being of children.
Nigerian sprinter, Samuel Ogazi, qualifies for men’s 400m final
Nigeria sprint sensation, Samuel Ogazi, will compete at the final of the men’s 400m at the ongoing Olympic Games in Paris, France.
Ogazi, 19, running in the third semi-final, clinched third place with an impressive time of 44.41 seconds, earning him a spot in the final and setting a new personal best.
The semi-final race was dominated by Matthew Hudson-Smith of Great Britain, who won with a time of 44.07 seconds, while Michael Norman of the USA secured second place with a time of 44.26 seconds.
The University of Alabama undergraduate already the 200m and 400m titles at the 2023 African U18 and U20 Championships in Athletics in Ndola, Zambia to his name
He also bagged gold in both the 200m and 400m at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago, and set a new games record with his Nigerian team in the mixed 4x100m relay.
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We offset 21 years of pensions, gratuities for state, LG workers – Niger Gov, Bago
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago has disclosed that his administration disbursed N25 billion to offset 21 years of outstanding pensions and gratuities owed to retirees of both local and state government civil servants in the state.
Bago made this disclosure in an interview saying this substantial settlement of arrears owed the pensioners underscores his administration’s dedication to the welfare of the state’s retired civil servants after their meritorious service years.
According to him, ” This move is a significant step towards alleviating the financial burden on retirees, some of whom have not received their pensions for over 20 years, leading to a considerable backlog”,
“The current administration under my leadership is committed to ensuring that pension payments are made on time moving forward, to prevent similar situations in the future”.
He said the state has also paid N20,000 wage award to civil servants across the board for the second time in two months.
The Governor also revealed that the state government has commenced the settlement of all outstanding leave grants that have been pending since 2018 to date for workers in the state.
Bago then sternly warned officials against any attempts to alter the serial numbers and files of beneficiaries, saying, ” anyone found guilty of such actions will face severe consequences in the state”.
We offset 21 years of pensions, gratuities for state, LG workers – Niger Gov, Bago
9,000 pass Oyo teacher recruitment test
The Oyo State Post Primary School Teaching Service Commission has released the results of the computer-based tests for the recruitment of teachers into secondary schools in the state, saying about 9,000 candidates passed.
This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Commission, Akinade Alamu, in a statement made available to the journalists on Tuesday, August 6, in Ibadan, the state capital.
Alamu said in the statement that the commission had set 50 percent as the minimum cut-off mark for qualification to the next stage in the recruitment exercise.
The chairman said the 9,000 candidates would go through interview sessions within one week, starting from August 14, 2024, adding that the interview panels, headed by both serving and retired Permanent Secretaries, would be split into 10, with five members each.
He further advised all candidates to log into the commission’s portal to access their results already posted there.
Reiterating the commission’s commitment to enhancing educational services in the state, Alamu said the interview for candidates in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Geography would be held on August 14, 2024.
The commission said English, Physics, Health Education, Technical Drawing, Music, and French candidates would be interviewed on August 15, 2024
Also, it stated that Basic Science, Home Economics, Computer Science candidates would be interviewed on August 16, 2024.
It said interviews for Commerce, Christian Religious Studies, Islamic Religious Studies, Literature in English, and Guidance and Counseling candidates would be held on August 19, 2024
Additionally, the commission said Social Studies, Business Studies, and Food and Nutrition candidates would be interviewed on August 20, 2024.
It said Economics, Government, Finance and Account, Fine Arts, and History candidates would be interviewed on August 21, 2024.
The commission also fixed August 22, 2024, to interview candidates of Agricultural Science, Yoruba, and Arabic.
The chairman urged all candidates to come with their credentials, local government of origin, date of birth certificate, and other relevant documents and wished them the best in the interview.
CBN approves Unity, Providus banks merger
The Central Bank of Nigeria has approved the merger of Providus Bank and Unity Bank.
The apex bank, in a statement signed by the acting Director, Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi, on Tuesday, said the action is in accordance with the provisions of Section 42 (2) of the CBN Act, 2007.
The development signals the first merger to be approved following a mandate by the apex bank to increase its minimum capital base
The apex bank also announced approval of a pivotal financial accommodation to support the proposed merger between Unity Bank Plc and Providus Bank Limited.
This strategic move is designed to bolster the stability of Nigeria’s financial system and avert potential systemic risks.
The statement read, “The Central Bank of Nigeria has granted approval for a pivotal financial accommodation to support the proposed merger between Unity Bank Plc and Providus Bank Limited. This strategic move is designed to bolster the stability of Nigeria’s financial system and avert potential systemic risks.
“The merger is contingent upon the financial support from the CBN. The fund will be instrumental in addressing Unity Bank’s total obligations to the Central Bank and other
stakeholders. It is unequivocal to state that the CBN’s action is in accordance with the provisions of Section 42 (2) of the CBN Act, 2007.
“This arrangement is crucial for the financial health and operational stability of the post-merger organisation.”
The According reports that there have been strong indications for over a year on plans by Providus Bank Limited to acquire a majority stake in Unity Bank Plc.
The development was part of ProvidusBank’s expansion plan and, importantly, a bold initiative to shore up its capital base further amid the current recapitalisation challenge.
In 2018, Milost Global Inc., a New York-based private equity firm, botched a move to invest $1bn in the bank. Since then, the bank has been seeking a preferred suitor.
Unity Bank commenced operations in January 2006, following the merger of nine banks with competencies in investment, corporate, and retail banking.
Details later…
Police arrests foreigner, 76 Nigerians with Russian flag during #EndBadGovernance protest in Kano
Police operatives in Kano have arrested 76 persons found with 25 Russian flags during the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest in the state.
Also arrested was a Nigerien who allegedly made the flags.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Salma Dogo, disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Kano.
He said: “The suspects were found with 25 Russian flags and their arrest has been linked to a case of sedition.
“The suspects were apprehended at different locations across the metropolis and have been transferred to Abuja for further investigation.”
The CP urged the people of the state to support the efforts of security personnel by providing information that would lead to the arrest of those involved in the recent mass looting of public assets.
He assured the public that the police and other security agencies would maintain a visible presence in and around the metropolis to ensure law and order.
Dogo appealed to parents to monitor their children’s conduct and warned that anyone found fomenting trouble would be prosecuted.
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APC, PDP disagree over hunger situation in Ekiti
The Peoples Democratic Party and the ruling All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State on Tuesday bickered over the situation of hunger in the state and why Ekiti residents shunned the nationwide organized by some groups.
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, had in a statewide broadcast on July 31, appealed to Ekiti residents to embrace peace by shunning the hunger protest which he said had obvious potential to degenerate into violence and reverse the state’s steady progress to shared prosperity.
However, the State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Alaba Agboola, lamented the effect of alleged bad governance on the people of the state.
He adduced the reason for the Ekiti people’s actions, saying, “Ekiti people are too hungry to participate in the ongoing nationwide ‘End bad governance’ protest.”
Agboola in an interview with According Online on Tuesday said, “Before you can go out to protest, you and your family must have something at home that you will eat. Ekiti people are hungry, angry and helpless.
“The fact that they did not go out to protest did not mean they were in agreement with what is going on in the country or with what the state government was doing.
“When somebody is accusing you and you are not talking, it does not mean you are in agreement with what the person is saying, it means you are just watching, you are helpless. The people of Ekiti State are in a helpless situation,” Agboola said.
The PDP state chairman, who said sitting at home was also a form of protest, said, “I disagree with the people that say because we are not protesting in Ekiti, it is a sign of endorsing the activities of the state government.
“No. they are not in agreement, but they just decided that they should just sit down and see whether the APC government will listen to the cries of our people, to see whether APC has solution to the problems confronting us as a nation and as a state.”
But the APC State Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, dismissed the PDP assertion, saying it was against logic.
The APC spokesperson in an interview with According Online on Tuesday said “It is when people are hungry that they will want to fight. We may not say Ekiti people are filled to the brim, but they are not hungry, they are not starving.”
Dipe said that Ekiti people did not join the protest in view of their trust in Oyebanji and the good governance in the state, saying, “The protesters are saying ‘end hunger or end bad governance’ whatever and Ekiti people have decided not to join. That means the Ekiti people have no reason to protest.
“They have the trust in their governor. You don’t fight somebody that you like. The people love the governor, so why should they fight? Will they fight a governor that they have admitted is doing well – a considerate governor, a people-centred governor, somebody who is doing what they want?
“Ekiti people are getting the best of governance. If there is trust, they know that their hope is alive. The people are seeing the governor’s good works. We can’t say they are filled more than any other person, but they are not hungry and they are not starved.”
Ogun doctors embark on indefinite strike over pay disparity
The State Chairman of the Medical Association, Dr. Azeem Kunle Ashimi, disclosed this at a press briefing held on Tuesday at the association’s secretariat, Abeokuta.
He explained that the decision to proceed on an indefinite strike came after a failed 3-day warning strike.
Ashimi said that the strike, which began on Saturday, August 3, 2024, is primarily aimed at addressing the pay disparity between federal and state medical workers.
“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to reach a compromise with the government.
“The government continues to plea that the issues of minimum wage and other related matters are common, but my people believe that we need to address the issues on the ground,” Ashimi stated.
He added, “The core of the doctors’ grievances lies in the reviewed CONMESS (Consolidated Medical Salary Structure), which they believe should be implemented to stem the exodus of medical professionals from Ogun State.
“Ogun State is losing a lot of doctors daily, because of the pay disparity. If the reviewed CONMESS is paid, it will encourage the doctors to stay,” Ashimi stressed.
In efforts to retain medical personnel, the NMA said it has undertaken various initiatives over the past two years.
He explained, “We have recorded achievements aimed at helping doctors feel a sense of belonging in the community.
“We’ve facilitated access to land for housing, started a cooperative society for savings, and other measures.
“However, aligning the state workers’ pay with federal workers’ pay would go a long way in encouraging doctors to remain,” Ashimi noted.
“I attended a meeting on human resources for health and I’m not happy with the way doctors are leaving Nigeria, especially from the state where I practice and where I’m the Chairman of NMA. People are leaving in droves,” Ashimi lamented.
Dr Ashimi stressed that Ogun State, known as the gateway state, can address this issue and ensure the strike is short-lived.