Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Torrential rainfall which resulted to flooding have submerged several houses and bridges in some parts of Yola, the capital of Adamawa.
The rainfall, which lasted for seven hours, damaged houses and destroyed property worth millions of naira.
Our correspondent reports that the worst hit areas of the town includes Yolde-Pate, timber market, Damare, Shagari quarters, Wuro Hausa, Jambutu and Unguwan Tana.
At Yolde-Pate, some big culverts that linked the area with other parts of Yola town were submerged.
As a result of this, residents in flooded areas were stranded as they were unable to relocate to safer areas.
Bauchi
The Conditional Cash Transfer Programme of the Bauchi State Government for girl-child education has gulped N50 million within the last five years.
The Chief Coordinator of the Programme, Alhaji Karijo Buba made this known on Tuesday in Giade.
The programme is being undertaken in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) .
Buba made the disclosure while distributing letters of invitation to participate in the programme to some selected girls in Darazo, Dambam, Giade, Kirfi, Zaki and Dass local government areas of the state.
Buba said that the programme commenced in 2007 with 260 schools in the six local government areas as a pilot programme.
According to him, 9,880 girls between the ages of eight and 15 years in 245 schools have so far benefited from the programme.
The coordinator said that each of the beneficiaries was being paid N5,000 per term to enable them finance their education within the five year period stipulated by the programme.
Borno
The Borno State Government will soon embark on the spraying of farmlands with chemicals to prevent their invasion by Quela birds and grasshoppers.
Alhaji Usman Zannah, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, made this known on Thursday when he visited the state’s chemical store in Dalori, Maiduguri.
He said that the government had already mobilised the technical staff and other workers of the ministry for the programme.
“We have already begun the mobilisation of the technical staff and others needed for the smooth take-off of the programme.
“The essence is to protect farmlands from the yearly attacks by the invading birds and grasshoppers,’’ he said.
Zannah said that the government was according priority attention to the development of the agriculture sector because of its enormous potential.
“Government believes the sector has great potential of ensuring food security and providing employment for the teeming unemployed youths in the state,” he said.
FCT
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said in Abuja on Monday that it was set to carry out a major restructuring of political boundaries for the 2015 general elections.
Mr Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega, made this known in an interview with newsmen.
Idowu said that consensus building and legislative work were crucial considering the intricacies surrounding the delineation exercise.
He noted that the exercise was expected to come with some major proposals and alignments that might shape the politics of the country.
Our correspondent recalls that INEC’s inability to carry out the delineation before April’s general elections was due to limited time available to the new leadership of the commission to prepare for the elections.
“If you understand the intricacies of delineation, it takes a lot of consensus building and legislative actions.
Kaduna
Mr Musa Tete, the Coordinator of World Bank’s N1.4 billion contract, awarded for the construction of 132 bridges in Kaduna State, says that the project is 80 per cent completed.
Tete, who oversees the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) in Kaduna State, made this known on Thursday, while speaking with newsmen in Kaduna.
He said that 112 river crossing bridges across the 23 local government areas of the state had been completed.
Tete said that 30 projects, including the construction of culverts and bridges, were still ongoing.
Lagos
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has urged estate management companies to immediately transfer all electricity distribution services to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) distribution companies.
Mr Chijioke Obi, Manager, Legal Licencing and Enforcement of NERC, made the plea on Monday at an enlightenment campaign held for estate developers and Lagos residents.
Obi also urged the distribution companies to seek the commission’s approval for the regularisation of the power supply arrangement in the estates.
Ibrahim said that the commission would embark on enlightenment campaign for Nigerians and estate developers in the six geo-political zones to ensure prompt payment of their electricity bills.
The commission, he said, would also address all the issues and complaints from both the estate developers and residents on the newly introduced Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO).
Nasarawa
No fewer than 845 ‘ghost’ workers have been discovered in the Nasarawa Civil Service, with 325 other staff found to have overstayed.
This is contained in a report of a screening, verification and computerisation of payroll and personnel records of ministries, departments and agencies conducted in the month of August.
Presenting the report to Gov. Umaru Al-makura on Thursday in Lafia, the Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji. Shuaibu Ahmed, said that 21,405 staff were on the payroll of the state government with a wage bill of N1.93 billion before the exercise was conducted.
He said the 845 perceived ‘ghost’ workers were those who did not turn up for the screening or had no files and were collecting N62.9 million as salaries monthly.
Niger
The Niger State Government needs about N50 billion to boost its water supply in the next five years, the “Committee on Lasting Solution to Water Supply Problem’’ has declared.
The committee made this known in a statement issued in Minna by its spokesman, Mr Ilya Garba.
It said that the amount would be used for the development of the infrastructure, as well as for the operation and maintenance of water facilities.
It, however, said that due attention ought to be paid to the management of the water facilities across the state so as to achieve regular water supply to the citizens.
The committee said that the adoption of short, medium and long term measures to tackle the people’s water supply problems would reduce the hardship which the people faced in having access to potable water.
It also stressed the need to grant the water board greater autonomy to enable it discharge its responsibilities to the people without any hitches.
Sokoto
Alhaji Muktari Mapia, the Deputy Treasurer of PDP in Sokoto State, has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Plateau to stop the cycle of killings going on there.
He made the call on Thursday, while speaking with newsmen in Sokoto.
He stressed that the declaration of a state of emergency was considered imperative because the state government had failed to find a lasting solution to the protracted ethno-religious crises in the state.
Mapia said that intensified security activity was needed to tackle the chaotic situation in Plateau, adding that it had the tendency of threatening the peace of the entire country.
He called on the government to make concerted efforts to restore order in Plateau, while bringing the perpetrators of the killings in the state to justice.
Zamfara
The new Chairman of the Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Murtala Jangebe, has ordered the suspension of all bank loans negotiated for teachers by the board.
Jangebe gave the directive in Gusau during a meeting with the education secretaries of the 14 local government councils in the state shortly after assuming duty.
He directed the board’s director of finance to write all commercials banks to stop any further action on the release of loans to the teachers.
The chairman warned that any bank which granted any loan in the name of the board as a guarantor would be doing so at its own risk.
The Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr Chioma Ejikeme, has reiterated the commitment to service delivery for pensioners.
Ejikeme said this during the Customer Service Week in Abuja, yesterday.
He said that commission had a mandate to deliver good service delivery to the pensioners.
Ejikeme, who was represented by the Director Civil Service Pension Department, Mr Kabir Yusuf, said that the customer service week was important to operations of PTAD.
“Customer service is the support that you give to a customer, whether it is an existing customer or potential customer in the process of delivering or making enquires about a service.
“To be a good customer service representative you need to be knowledgeable, have good attitude and attribute especially to the senior citizens and have empathy,” he said.
Ejikeme said that all PTAD staff had most of the attributes of a good customer representative.
“We provide excellent customer service by going to verify our aged pensioners who cannot do it by themselves anywhere across the country.
“There is a dedicated team that was mandated to go round to confirm the aliveness of those who can not confirm their aliveness either because the are too old or have health issues,” the executive secretary said.
The National Coordinator, SERVICOM, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli, said that the official theme of the 2024 customer service week was “ We Go Above and Beyond For Our Customers.”
She commended PTAD and the SERVICOM team for organising the 2024 customer service week.
“This is in line with the best practice of celebrating frontline workers and service takers.
“Customer service week is celebrated annually during the first full week in October.
It calls attention to the importance of people to boost morale team work and departmental collaboration in supporting pensioners.
“ It is a platform to reward employees for the significant work they do,” Akajemeli said.
She said that the objective of the customer service week was to celebrate the hard work and dedication of employee who strived to create positive customer experiences.
She said that it was time to show customers that the organisation valued their experience and feedback, through comment cards, dedicated hotline, among others.
Akajemeli said that it raised awareness internally and externally about the importance of good customer service in building customer loyalty and satisfaction.
She said that the benefit was to increase motivation, show appreciation, encourage friendly competition, boost employee retention, create a positive workplace and increase productivity.
The Head, Surveillance Department at the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mr Abdulrahman Saleem, said that good service delivery was the key success of every establishment.
Salem said that PTAD operated with standard, considering the success it had achieved so far.
Saleem said that pensioners required the best service attitude and behavior.
“ I give kudos to PTAD for its efforts and encourage it to do more.
“Therefore I urge PTAD staff to keep up the standard and continue to give good service to the pensioners,” he said.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has honoured Flying Officer David Sangokoya for winning the 2023/2024 Royal Air Force College Cranwell International Cadet Sword of Honour.
Abubakar honoured the officer during the presentation of cheques to 13 beneficiaries of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Group Personal Accident Insurance Policy (GPAIP) in Abuja, yesterday.
He described the achievement as ground-breaking as it was the first time an African cadet had won the prestigious award since the Academy’s creation over 100 years ago.
According to him, the feat underscores the excellence that exists within NAF, and proof that NAF officers and cadets can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world.
“To our awardee, you have set a new standard, not just for your peers, but for every cadet and officer that will come after you.
“This accomplishment is a powerful reminder that no goal is out of reach when one is armed with dedication, discipline and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
“Your journey as an officer has begun with this prestigious accolade, but the true measure of your success will be seen in how you serve, lead and contribute to the mission of NAF and the defence of our great nation.
“As we celebrate this historic occasion, we extend our deepest gratitude to the United Kingdom Government for its unwavering support in providing world-class training opportunities to our personnel.
“This has enabled our officers and men to gain invaluable skills and knowledge, strengthening not only our bilateral ties but also our collective ability to address global security challenges,” he said.
The CAS said that the NAF looked forward to continuing the fruitful partnership for the mutual benefit of Nigeria and UK countries.
He expressed gratitude and unflinching loyalty to President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to the welfare and training of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and NAF in particular.
“I must also take a moment to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the leadership of the Nigerian Defence Academy and the instructors who helped to mould and prepare this cadet for the global stage.
“Their dedication and commitment to developing top-notch officers is evident in this ground-breaking achievement.
“You have not only trained a leader but have given the Nigerian Air Force a legacy we will all cherish,” he said.
National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has advocated private sector involvement to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The Director-General of the authority, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, made the call at a high-level policy dialogue on sustainable health system reforms in Nigeria in Abuja, yesterday.
The Tide’s source reports that the dialogue was organised by the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), a coalition of private sector stakeholders, to address the multifaceted challenges plaguing the country’s healthcare system.
The dialogue has “Private Sector Support for SWAP (Sector Wide Approach) in Healthcare” as its theme.
Represented by Dr Yakubu Agada-Amade, the NHIA Director of Standards and Quality Assurance, Ohiri explained the crucial role of private sector collaboration in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system
He highlighted the “One Plan” under the SWAp framework, which seeks to unify health sector efforts, ensuring efficient resource use, effective governance and expanded healthcare access.
He also stressed the importance of overcoming barriers that historically hindered the implementation of healthcare interventions in Nigeria, such as inadequate financing, weak governance systems, and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
He added that “the dialogue explored innovative approaches, including digital health innovations and financing mechanisms to accelerate the implementation of the National Health Act and mandatory health insurance coverage.
“With enrollment in health insurance growing by 14 per cent over the past year, NHIA can push for greater inclusivity, particularly targeting the informal sector through flexible payment systems and partnerships with telecommunications companies.”
He called for stronger synergy between public and private health actors to ensure universal access to quality healthcare and sustainable reforms in line with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
Panelists from the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN) and Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN) echoed the sentiments, underscoring the private sector’s role in expanding insurance coverage and improving healthcare delivery.
They commended NHIA’s efforts toward driving reforms to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp).