Nation
THE STATES
Benue
The General Manager, Benue State Environmental Sanitation Agency (BENSESA), Mr. Ediga Akpa, has warned displaced people by flood not to return to their homes until they are fumigated.
Akpa told newsmen in Makurdi that the areas affected by flood needed proper sanitary attention, as they were no longer habitable.
He warned those, who were returning to their homes to desist from doing so, pointing out that the flood had brought many dangerous reptiles to the areas.
The general manager also said that the areas affected must be fumigated to meet the required standard of human sanitation before people would be allowed to move back.
He, however, said that individuals, who insisted on going back should seek professional advice to avoid contacting dangerous diseases.
Kano
The Kano State Council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), has stressed the need for parents, teachers and governments to close ranks and instil reading culture in children.
Mr. Lawan Abdu, the NUT Chairman gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Kano.
He lamented that, “many parents do not show interest in inculcating reading culture in their children, only few bother to encourage or assist their children to do homework or assignment”.
He also said it was necessary for all tiers of government to create conducive environment for learning, noting that the congestion of pupils in classrooms was making it difficult for effective learning.
Abdu, who wondered how reading culture could thrive in a congested classroom setting, said, “I teach up to 160 pupils in one classroom.”
Katsina
The police in Katsina State have confirmed the arrest of four officials of the state’s Board of Internal Revenue for allegedly defrauding the state government of an unspecified amount of money.
The police command’s acting Police Public Relation Officers, Malam Lawal Joka, told newsmen that investigation into the case was continuing.
The suspects, including three revenue officers and a Vehicle Inspection Officer, allegedly connived in an illegal sale of vehicle licences and other particulars.
The officials were alleged to have been issuing fake vehicle licences and particulars to unsuspecting vehicle owners, thereby making the board to lose huge sums of money.
Their arrest, it was also learnt, followed the board’s investigation during which they were allegedly found involved in the scam.
Kogi
Kogi State Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, has urged flood displaced persons in the state to cooperate with government to ensure that its intention of mitigating their sufferings was not jeopardised.
Awoniyi, in a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Mr Michael Abu, in Lokoja, made the appeal in Ajaokuta during a fact finding and assessment tour of displaced persons’ camps.
He said that the visit was to determine claims by such persons and ascertain some complaints over their welfare.
Awoniyi said that government was doing a lot to make them comfortable and expressed concern that some of the victims connived with some elements to sabotage the efforts.
He said that government could only succeed if those displaced worked with officials to fish out the saboteurs and urged the victims to also show gratitude by making genuine claims over the efforts put in place by government.
Nasarawa
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nasarawa State, has urged mobilisation and orientation officers of the agency in the state to take the Federal Government’s transformation programme to the grassroots.
Mr Richard Abimiku, the Director of NOA in the state, who was addressing the Mobilisation and Orientation Officers of the agency in Lafia, said doing that would pave room for speedy development in the state and the country at large.
He said that the task became necessary because people at the grassroots should be aware and understand the transformation programme of the Federal Government in the country for speedy development.
Abimiku urged the officers of the 13 local government areas to take the transformation programme to the grassroots to make the people contribute their quota to the growth and development of the state and country at large.
Niger
Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has called on donors who made pledges to the Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation to redeem the pledges in the interest of the foundation.
Aliyu made the call at Government House, Minna when he received relief materials donated to flood victims in the state by the foundation.
Reacting to a remark made by the leader of the delegation, retired Lt.Gen. Salihu Ibrahim that only a few of those who made pledges had redeemed their promises, the governor said it was necessary for his colleagues, the Northern states’ governors to remain committed to the foundation.
He said the foundation ought to justify the cause for which it was established.
Ogun
Bandits have killed five policemen in two separate attacks in Abeokuta and Ibafo, Ogun State.
ASP Muyiwa Adejobi, the Police Public Relations Officer of Ogun State Police Command, told newsmen in Abeokuta that the robbers perpetrated the callous acts in the early hours of last Monday.
Adejobi, however, said the command had arrested a member of one of the gangs, adding that the suspect had made a confessional statement.
He said that three policemen died in the Abeokuta shootout, while two were killed in Ibafo, both incidents happening during rescue operations.
He said that the policemen, attached to the Gateway Response Squad (GRS), received calls on robbery attack and rushed to the scene only to be shot at by the suspected robbers.
Osun
The Osun State Government says the late Mrs Sheila Solarin, wife of the late social critic, Dr Tai Solarin, had left a legacy of service to humanity.
In a statement issued by Mr Semiu Okanlawon, Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Governor Rauf Aregbesola said the late Sheila was an educationist of note.
According to the statement, through the efforts of the Solarins, the Mayflower School, Ikenne, has become a reference point in school management.
“One can confidently say that the school, through the hard work, dedication and honesty of the founders, has set the pace for other educational institutions,” it stated.
Oyo
The Oyo State Government says it has awarded contract to convert five major roads to dual carriageways across the state, at a cost of N29.3 billion.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr Bosun Oladele and his Works and Transport counterpart, Alhaji Yunus Akintunde made the pronouncement after the weekly executive council meeting in Ibadan .
According to the state government, the roads include the four-kilometre Ibadan-Oyo Expressway, Iseyin-Oyo Junction to Owode, as well as the expansion of the 2.5 kilometre Owode-Akesan-Palace Road .
The exercise involves repair of a 3.8-km portion of the old Ibadan-Oyo Road and the 6.32-km Ilorin Expressway Junction-Ikoyi-Takie-Palace-Ogbomoso Grammar School in Ogbomoso.
Plateau
The Minister of State for Works, Mr Bashir Yuguda, on Tuesday said the Federal Government spent N4 billion to construct Vom-Manchok Road linking Kaduna and Plateau.
Yuguda made this known in Vom on Tuesday when the National Good Governance team led by the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, inspected the road.
He said that the 43.2 km road contract was awarded to PW Nigeria Limited. in 1999 and explained that the project was completed and handed over to the government on January 26, 2012.
The minister said the road was given priority because it was an inter-state and inter-region route.
He described the 43.2 Km road as a “master piece of engineering in Nigeria’’ in view of the way engineers tore through high hills to build it.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State government has provided N7 million for the purchase of Sallah cows for the needy and orphans.
The cows will be distributed in the 63 districts of the 23 local government areas of the state.
Each district is expected to receive N100,000 for purchase of cows and N10,000 for the slaughtering and preparation.
In all, 9,450 people are expected to benefit from the gesture.
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Aliyu Wamakko said the gesture was aimed at enabling the beneficiaries to celebrate Sallah with ease.
Wamakko, who was represented by the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Prof. Garba Maitafsir, charged the district heads to be diligent in the implementation of the pilot scheme.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, who was represented by the Magajin Rafin Sokoto , Alhaji Rilwanu Bello, commended the state government for the gesture.
Taraba
The Provost, College of Education, Zing, Taraba State, Mr Joseph Isa has vowed to penalise any student flouting the college’s rules and regulations.
Isa, who gave the warning at Zing while briefing newsmen, was reacting to calls by some people for the recall of the five students the college suspended recently for inciting riot.
“To my surprise, one of the suspended students confronted me, bragging that he was the ring leader of the rioters,’’ he said
The provost wondered how “a student who is proud of organising disorder’’ could be recalled.
“The suspension of those five students is indefinite. That should serve as a lesson to any student who violates the school’s rules and regulations.’’
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).