Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

December 23, 2015

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Mr Tunde Durosinimi-Etti (left), presenting gifts to Elder Tayo Soyode, a recipient of Elderly Citizens Assistance Scheme, at the 16th edition of Lagos Central Senatorial District Town Hall meeting and 4th edition of Elderly Citizens’ Assistance Scheme in Lagos, yesterday. With them is convener, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Borno
The North-East Entrepreneurship Development
Centre (EDC), of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has distributed 50 knitting machines to 50 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), trained under its Economic Empowerment Initiative Alhaji Idris Bawa.
The EDC Director of Programme, distributed the machines in Maiduguri.
He said the objective of the programme was to provide means of livelihood to the IDPs who had lost some of their worldly possessions.
He said the 50 women were part of the 2, 127 Borno IDPs so far trained in different skills by the centre under the programme.
“The programme started in March with 747 IDPs in Yola out of which 434 IDPs were Borno indigenes.

FCT
A strong political will and adequate funding are
critical elements required to develop Nigeria’s defence industry, says Prof. David Alabi of the Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna.
Alabi, a Professor of Political Science and Defence Studies, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
The don expressed regret that the 51-year-old Defence Industries Corporation (DICON), established in 1964, was producing only bullets, dicon salt and furniture.
According to him, its counterparts in Brazil and India are producing aircraft and Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC).
Alabi described the condition of DICON as “unfortunate’’ and “pitiable’’.

Kano
Chairman, Task Force on Distribution of Petro
leum Products in Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Bako, has warned fuel marketers against diversion of the commodity.
Bako, who is also the Commissioner for Commerce gave the warning while briefing newsmen in Kano.
He said that any marketer found diverting petroleum products in the state would be sanctioned and risked forfeiting the products.
He said that the warning was necessary in order to ensure that all products reached their designated filling stations across the state.
The commissioner said that the state government deemed it necessary to set up the committee so as to ensure that the lingering fuel scarcity in the state was halted.

Katsina
Katsina State has fewer than 150 medical doc
tors to man its facilities, Governor Aminu Masari has said.
Masari made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
He decried the deplorable state of health facilities in the state, saying that more than 90 per cent of them were in bad condition when he assumed office.
“Over 90 per cent of health facilities that we met, if you go there, you cannot know that they are hospitals.’’
He said that the government would embark on a four-year development plan of the health sector, starting with the rehabilitation of the three premier hospitals in the state.
He said the rehabilitation programme would be extended to seven other hospitals in Malumfashi and Dutsinma, among others.
“I think health is number three item on our priority list.

Kwara
National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA),
says Kwara State is one of the states with lowest rate of HIV infection in the country.
NACA Chief Program Officer, Mr Tajudeen Arowolo stated this at the opening of a four-day free medical outreach organised by the agency at Oja Tuntun, Boboko in Ilorin recently.
Arowolo said that North Central geo political zone of the country was reputed to be the most endemic with the highest number of recorded cases of HIV.
“This is because of the high cases recorded in Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa states as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“Out of the states in North Central, Kwara has the lowest rate of HIV cases and one of the lowest in the entire country”, Arowolo said.

Jigawa

No fewer than 370,000 members of the Peoples Demo
cratic Party (PDP) in Jigawa State have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The National Chairman of APC and eight governors on the party’s platform, received the defectors in Dutse recently, amid jubilation
Our correspondent reports that the governors present at the occasion were Alhaji Bindo Jibrila, Adamawa, Alhaji Abubakar Bello of Niger, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, and Alhaji Bello Masari of Katsina.
Others were Alhaji Muhammed Abubakar, Bauchi, Alhaji Kasim Shetima, Borno, Alhaji Abdulazeez Yari, Zamfara, and Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, Deputy Governor of Kano State.
Receiving the defectors, the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Oyegun, said the calibre of the defectors was an indication that APC was on the right track.
Oyegun said that anyone who truly loved Nigeria and believed in the leadership of President Muhammad Buhari to lead the country to path of greatness was always welcome to the party.

Lagos
The Vice-Chairman, Kastina State Indigenes’ Associa
tion (South-West), Alhaji Musa Mua’zu, has commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State for his dedication to confront security challenges in the state.
Mua’zu spoke against the backdrop of the state recent procurement of security equipment worth N4.8 billion which it donated to the Nigeria Police and the allocation earmarked for security in the state’s 2016 budget.
He told newsmen in Lagos that security was the most important need of the residents of the state.
“We must join others to commend Gov. Ambode for his efforts at improving security in the state because security of life and property of citizen is the primary responsibility of the government.

Nasarawa
Alhaji Murtala Sodangi (APC), representing Nasarawa
Central in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has distributed items worth N5.7 million to some unemployed youths and women in his constituency.
Sodangi, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Urban Development, said his effort was geared toward empowering those concerned for them to be self-reliant.
He also expressed optimism that the gesture would enable the beneficiaries contribute their quotas to the development of the state.
Our correspondent reports that the items distributed include: 200 grinding engines, 150 sewing machines, 50 Knapsack sprayers, 40 gasoline engines, building materials and others.
The legislator also donated a KIA car to vigilante group in the area to its service there.

Ogun
The Grassroots Initiative for Poverty Eradication and
Liberation of the Poor (GIPELP), an NGO, has donated a utility-van worth N3.8 million to the Abeokuta Prisons, Oba, Ogun State.
The President of the NGO, Mr Aliu Kayode, expressed the hope that more inmates awaiting trial would have access to justice with the collaboration of all stakeholders.
Kayode advocated public-private partnership toward improving the welfare of inmates and vulnerable members of the society.
He said that the era of pointing accusing fingers at the government for the deplorable state of the nation was gone.
Individuals and groups should begin the process of contributing to the society as a way of complementing government’s efforts, he said.
“If we love our neighbours as ourselves, nobody will suffer in this country because we are blessed with so many wealthy citizens.
“We have realised that poverty is the root of crime in this country and our organisation is looking at how to contribute its quota toward reducing it,” he said.

Ondo
A total of 4,310 students of the Ondo State-owned
Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) graduated from the institution during its sixth convocation ceremony.
The convocation was held at the university’s campus at Akungba-Akoko in Ikare Local Government Area of the state.
Presenting the students for awards, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, Vice-Chancellor of the university, said 4,053 earned First Degrees, 107 obtained Diplomas, 130 took Master’s Degrees while 20 earned PhD degrees.
According to Ajibefun, 18 of the 4,053 in the First Degree category graduated with First Class; 787 earned Second Class Upper Division, 2,500 obtained Second Class lower Division; 702 made Third Class and 46 had pass.

Nation

PTAD Reiterates Commitment To Pensioners’ Service Delivery

Published

2 months ago

October 9, 2024

The Tide

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.

Nation

CAS Honours Officer For Placing NAF On International Spotlight

Published

2 months ago

October 9, 2024

The Tide

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.

Nation

Healthcare Reforms: NHIA Advocates Private Sector Involvement

Published

2 months ago

October 9, 2024

The Tide

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).