Nation
THE STATES
Benue
The Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), last Tuesday, expressed surprise that workers were owed 12 months salaries, and urged the people to “ask questions and demand answers”.
The party, at a stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi, said that the state government had no reason to owe workers because it had received monies from “various fronts”.
“Benue has taken loans. It has collected the Paris Club Refunds and received bailout funds from the Federal Government. The regular federal allocations and Internally Generated Revenue have also been coming in.
“In the past two years, much monies have entered the state account; Benue has no reason to owe workers. We must ask questions and demand answers,” former interior minister, Abba Moro, who chaired the meeting, said.
He challenged the people to insist on prudent management of resources to enable government meet its obligations.
Borno
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) last Thursday urged residents of Maiduguri not to panic over spate of aircraft hovering the sky at night in the metropolis.
Spokesman of NAF 105 Composite Group, Maiduguri, Squadron Leader Obi Obassi, said that the flying was part of routine exercise.
Obassi said that the service had intensified training at night time, adding that it was imperative to inform members of the public about the exercise so as to avoid exposing them to fear.
“It has come to the notice of 105 Composite Group, Nigerian Air Force, that residents of Maiduguri are expressing fear over our aircraft that flies at night”, he said.
Ekiti
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ekiti State Command, last Tuesday, said it had destroyed 246 tonnes of cannabis sativa (weeds) in the state.
The Commander of the agency, Alhaji Bage Bamaiyi, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti.
According to scientists, cannabis sativa, otherwise known as Indian hemp, is a drug obtained from the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant which is smoked or chewed for its psychoactive properties.
It produces euphoria and relaxation whose repeated use may lead to psychological dependence.
He said the command took necessary steps to uncover 17 cannabis sativa farms at Ode-Ekiti, in Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State but that the peddlers were not found in their hide-outs.
FCT
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kuje Unit Command, last Thursday, urged school bus drivers in the area to drive carefully and avoid the use of expired tyres to prevent road crashes.
The Kuje Unit Commander Mr Igbogbo Solomon, made the call in an interview with newsmen while speaking on the activities of the unit.
Solomon stressed the need for school bus drivers to adhere strictly to traffic rules to ensure the safety of the children.
He reminded them of the dangers of using expired tyres and the benefits of constant vehicle maintenance.
“There is the need to ensure safety on our roads and ensure that school bus drivers adhere strictly to road traffic rules to prevent road accidents.
Jigawa
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Jigawa State chapter, has demanded justice over the alleged killing of a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Dutse by security operatives.
The NBA Chairman in the state, Baffa Alhassan, spoke last Wednesday while reacting to the alleged killing of one Hussaini Andaza by personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Alhassan said the use of excessive force by security personnel was totally unacceptable to the association.
He urged the Police and the NSCDC to investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.
Kogi
Director-General, Kogi State Bureau of Information Services, Mr Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, has offered scholarships to 35 orphans from various communities in Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Abdulmalik announced the gesture recently in Ihima, at the grand finale of Ihima Students Union 2017 Spelling Bee, Quiz and Debate Competition.
He said that the scholarship would cover the primary and secondary education of the beneficiaries.
Abdulmalik also announced that he would pay next term’s school fees for all students that participated in the spelling, quiz and debate competitions which he sponsored as a pet project to boost educational growth.
Kwara
The police in Kwara State are on the trail of an Ilorin-based Islamic cleric, who allegedly exhumed the corpse of his late friend for ritual purpose.
The cleric, a resident of Eleran compound in Oloje area of Ilorin and said to be in his 30s, allegedly exhumed the remains of his childhood friend last Tuesday, seven days after his death.
A source, who confided in newsmen said that the community became aware of the development when the odour of the decomposing body permeated the area.
He told newsmen last Wednesday in Ilorin that members of the community had to embark on a search when the odour became unbearable.
Lagos
A 26- year-old man, Okechukwu Mgbemgasa, who allegedly defiled his neighbour’s daughter, was last Thursday charged before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.
He is facing a one-count charge of defiling a nine-year-old girl.
The accused is an unemployed man and a resident of Ishashi town, a suburb of Lagos.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Raphael Donny, told the court that the offence was committed on July 21, at the residence of the accused.
Donny said that the accused saw the girl in the toilet and took advantage of the situation and defiled her.
“It was the cry of the girl that alerted some neighbours who raced to the scene, and the accused was apprehended.
Nasarawa
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),Nasarawa State Command, says it has trained over 400 personnel on arms bearing this year to curb activities of vandals in the state.
The Commandant of the corps, Mr Lawan Bashir-Kano, disclosed this to newsmen in Lafia, last Thursday.
Bashir-Kano said that the corps was determined to rid the state of vandals and other criminal elements.
He said the first batch of the arms-bearing personnel were trained earlier in the year in collaboration with the 177 Guards Battalion of the Nigerian Army.
Niger
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Saddique Abubakar, last Wednesday, inaugurated a storey-building containing 18 units of two bedroom flats for non-commissioned officers of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Minna, Niger State.
Abubakar inaugurated the building at the Air Force base, Minna.
He said that the Air Force had dedicated the facility to late Lance Corporal Tanko DJ who died during operation Zaman Lafiya on April 28, 2016 in the North-East.
“This is aimed at enhancing the morale of Nigerian Air Force officers and men in service.
“This is to assure you that your supreme sacrifice to our fatherland will never go in vain,” he said.
He said that NAF was committed to the well being of its personnel, hence creating enabling environment for their effective service delivery to the country.
Abubakar, who was represented by the Chief of Administration, AVM Lawal Alooma, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work.
Osun
An Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun State last Wednesday, remanded in prison a businesswoman, Uche Portia, with her five-month-old baby, pending the perfection of her bail condition.
Portia, 29, is facing a charge of fraud and stealing.
The Magistrate, Mrs Dorcas Ajiboye, had granted the accused N200, 000 bail with one surety in like sum.
She said the surety must swear to an affidavit of means and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
In addition, the surety must produce three years tax clearance and provide two recent passport photographs.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Sunday Osanyintuyi, told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 16 at Igboye House, Ile-Ife.
Yobe
Senator Mohammed Hassan (APC-Yobe South), recently promised to give N20,000 as scholarship to 880 undergraduates from 44 wards in his constitutency.
Hassan made this known at an interaction with newsmen in Potiskum after the commissioning of various projects.
Hassan, who is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said the beneficiaries would be selected from students studying in different institutions of higher learning.
The lawmaker added that he would also pay the salaries of staff of Mohammed Hassan Arabic and Islamic School in Arikime apart from the provision of uniforms to the students.
Hassan pledged to donate N2.5 million for the rehabilitation of Fatahul Rahaman Islamic School in his constituency, in line with his conviction that education is one of the greatest legacies to bequeath the future generation.
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).