Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
A Yola High Court last Wednesday restrained Mr Jerry Judah from parading himself as the Adamawa State Chairman of the newly registered Advanced People Democratic Alliance (APDA).
Judah was dragged to the court by protem state chairman of the party, Alhaji Umar Jada who prayed the court to restrain the respondent from parading himself as APDA chairman pending the determination of the case.
Justice Helen Hammanjoda said having the gone through the application, the court was satisfied with plaintiff’s submission and granted the relief sought.
“I accordingly grant the following reliefs sought in their application.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the respondent from holding out and parading himself as the state chairman of the 1st applicant pending the determination of the motion on notice.
FCT
Britain’s Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson and Secretary for International Development, Ms. Priti Patel last Thursday met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in continuation of their official visit to Nigeria.
Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Johnson said United Kingdom was ready to assist Nigeria in humanitarian development and military fronts.
He described Nigeria as an “incredible country and power house of the African economy’’.
“This is an incredible place. It is the power house of the African economy. We are here with Nigeria every step of the way,’’ he stated.
The envoy said the delegation had fruitful meeting with Osinbajo and looked forward to better relationship with Nigeria
Gombe
The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has graduated 500 youths in Gombe State on various skills as part of effort to empower them.
Reports indicate that the Bauchi State Area Office of the fund organised the programme and trained the youths in tailoring, knitting, pomade, soap making, hair dressing and carpentry.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony last Thursday, the Director-General of ITF, Mr Joseph Ari said that the programme was one of the present administration’s policies of job creation and wealth generation.
“The policy is aimed at ensuring that as many youths are equipped with employability skills and entrepreneurship.
“I am pleased to inform you that according to our tracking and monitoring system, over 70 per cent of beneficiaries are now gainfully employed and successful entrepreneurs,’’ Ari said.
Kaduna
The National Museum, Kaduna State will host children to a cultural fiesta on Sallah day to mark the Eid-el-Kabir festival, its Curator Mr Gimba Ahmed, has said.
The Curator, in a statement made available to newsmen last Thursday in Kaduna indicated that the event would include lectures, cultural displays, dances and language competition among others.
Ahmed said that the main focus would be on culture, values, morals and beliefs “because modernisation is fast eroding our culture and our children cultural sense is beginning to fade.’’
He added that the children will act in plays, dress in their traditional attire, engage in dancing competition as well as listen to lectures on culture and security.
Kano
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Kano State chapter has called on banks operating ATM machines across the state to improve their services by providing adequate funds.
This is contained in a statement by the NLC Chairman in the state, Mr Kabiru Minjibir and made available to newsmen last Wednesday in Kano.
He said there was need for them to improve their services in view of the high demand for cash arising from the forthcoming Sallah celebration
He said, “Banks are hereby strongly advised to note that the Congress would not fold its arms and watch workers being helplessly frustrated unnecessarily due to the inability of the banks to discharge their responsibilities”.
Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has urged Muslims in the state to dedicate the Eid el-Kabir celebration to pray for unity and peace in the country.
He made the call in a Sallah message to the people of the state signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, last Thursday in Ilorin.
Muslims all over the world celebrated Eid el-Kabir last Friday, being the 10th day of Dhul Hijja in the Islamic calendar.
Eid el-Kabir is an Islamic festival to commemorate the willingness of prophet Ibrahim to obey Allah’s command to sacrifice his son Ishmael, where the Almighty provided him with a ram to slaughter instead of his son.
Lagos
The Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN) last Thursday urged Nigerians and Muslims to pray for the nation’s unity during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
The association advised them to also use the occasion when they remember the encounter between God and Abraham on the mountain to pray against hate campaigns and other divisive tendencies among Nigerians.
CAMPAN said that the period and beyond should be used to preach and spread love, peace, unity and togetherness among Nigerians for them to build a stronger nation.
“We must not allow anything to divide us; but learn to live together as one indivisible country no matter our diverse ethnic groups”, the association said in a statement signed by its National President, Mr Patrick Osu.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Government lastThursday said that local government workers in the state would receive between 60 and 80 per cent of their August salaries.
The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Haruna Osegba, disclosed this after the state’s Joint Account Committee (JAC) meeting in Lafia.
Osegba attributed the salary cut to the shortfall in the amount that accrued to the local government councils from the Federation Account.
According to him, the 13 local government councils in the state shared only N1.5 billion from the federation account for the month of April with a shortfall of 700 million.
Niger
Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State has called on Nigerians to use this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration to fix the country.
Bello said in a statement to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration last Thursday in Minna, that there was no better time to reposition the country for greatness than now.
He urged Nigerians not to allow the present administration’s zeal and commitment in tackling the country’s challenges go in vain.
The governor said the state and federal governments had exhibited high sense of commitment to move the country towards greatness.
Plateau
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Plateau State chapter last Wednesday in Jos organised a seminar to sensitise children aged between 10 and 15 on the dangers of rape.
The Chairperson of NAWOJ in the state, Mrs Jenifer Yarima said the seminar had become necessary due to the increase in number of rape cases involving minors in the country.
Yarima said at the seminar titled, “Rape: Endangering the Lives of Our Children,’’ that many girls had dropped out of school because of unwantedpregnancies resulting from rape.
She said that other victims of the crime were compelled to abort such pregnancies that threatened their lives.
“We want to educate children on the need to watch out for likely perpetrators of rape in schools and around their neighborhoods.
“We are worried that parents find it difficult to educate their children on sexuality to serve as a guide to healthy living. Eevery child deserves to live a quality life,’’ she said.
Sokoto
Senator Aliyu Wamakko, representing Sokoto North Senatorial District last Thursday secured the freedom of 21 inmates of Sokoto Central Prison after paying their N2.1 million fine.
Wamakko, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education was represented at the event by Mr Bashir Jodi, Secretary, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko Free Legal Services.
“The gesture is aimed at enabling the beneficiaries to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir with their various families; such kind of philanthropic acts are highly encouraged during the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah,” he said.
The senator admonished the freed inmates to steer clear of all nefarious acts that would bring them back to jail.
The beneficiaries, in separate comments, commended Wamakko for the gesture and promised to shun crimes and other wayward behaviours.
Zamfara
The Emir of Maru, Alhaji Abubakar Chika-Ibrahim has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide additional Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collection centres in Zamfara State .
The emir made the call in Maru last Thursday while receiving the State Government’s Committee on Voter Mobilisation members who visited the emirate.
Reports indicate that the committee was in the emirate to inaugurate a sub-committee on PVC collection for Maru Local Government Area.
The emir said that only one collection centre was inadequate for a whole local government area because some communities were far from the headquarters where the centres were located.
“You are aware of the economic hardship we have in this country now, some people are looking for just what to eat”, the emir said .
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).
