Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board (ADSUBEB) has trained 750 teachers in Michika Local Government Area of the state.
The Local Government Council’s Education Secretary, Mr Isaac Sanda, told newsmen in Michika last Thursday that the teachers were trained in the last three years.
Sanda said that the beneficiaries were exposed to modern teaching techniques on core subjects like English, Mathematics, Physical Education and Science.
He said that the training was conducted in collaboration with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) office.
“The measure is to enhance teachers’ capacity in delivering quality education,’’ Sanda said.
Borno
The Borno State Government has attributed the slow take-off of its municipal tricycle scheme to “due process.”
Gov. Kashim Shettima had on August 5, launched the first phase of the scheme involving 1,500 tricycles to be distributed to unemployed youths.
He said the scheme was to tackle transportation problems in the state capital.
But Alhaji Babakaka Garbai, the Chairman of the distribution committee told newsmen in Maiduguri, that government was not in a haste to release the tricycles.
“It is true that the governor launched the scheme several days ago, but we do not want to release them without proper documentation.
FCT
President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerian women to rise up to the task of achieving their dreams, saying his administration will be a catalyst for their progress.
In a post on his Facebook page last Thursday, the president said it was his desire to ensure a level playing field for all stakeholders in the nation, irrespective of sex, religion or ethnic background.
Jonathan said, “I promised women a 35 per cent slot in my cabinet.
“And I fulfilled that vow because it is my desire to ensure a level playing field in Nigeria by heading an administration where ethnicity, gender and religion do not hinder qualified persons from fulfilling their potentials.’’
He said it was for the same reason that he ordered the admission of women into the Nigerian Defence Academy, the first from a sitting president in the country.
Kano
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Kano State has warned commercial drivers against violation violating traffic rules and regulations in the area.
He said the sector found it necessary to issue the warning in view of the increase in number of vehicles, especially commercial ones coming into the state due to the approaching Sallah.
He said the FRSC would soon embark on special patrol along the highways in the state to check the excesses of commercial drivers.
According to him, plans are underway to embark on massive public enlightenment on the proposed new number plate and driver’s licence.
He said the exercise would take place at motor parks and major points in the state aimed at sensitising the public on the importance of the new items .
Katsina
Wife of Katsina State Governor, Hajiya Fatima Shema, has urged mothers to watch out for contaminated food items likely to be consumed by children during the Ramadam fasting.
Shema, who was represented by wife of the Deputy Governor, Hajiya Lubabatu Garba, made the call at the annual Tafsir organised by a coalition of Muslim women associations in Kafur Local Government Area .She said that fruits especially could be contaminated, while mothers should also watch out for expired food items during this period.
The governor’s wife also called on women to keep a clean environment which is a prerequisite to good health, as well as to respect their husbands.
Kogi
Over 7,000 applicants turned up for enlistment into the Police as Cadet Assistant uperintendent of Police (ASPs) and Inspectors.
The Kogi Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Ajayi Okasanmi told journalists in Lokoja that the applicants came from the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
He said that of the number, 4,000 applied for enlistment as ASPs while 3,000 applied for Inspectors’ cadre.
Okasanmi said the screening of the applicants began last Monday with the State Police Commissioner, Mr John Abakasanga as Chairman of the team.
He said the police would strictly adhere to all the guidelines for the exercise.
Kwara
The Kwara State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission last hursday embarked on road walk, as part of efforts to reduce road crashes in the state.
The walk, which started from the FRSC office along Fate Road, Ilorin at about 8.30 a.m. passed through Tanke Road to Maraba Garage, where the Sector Commander, Mr Yusuf Salami, addressed motorists and commuters.
Salami said that the command embarked on the road show awareness along some major street and roads in Ilorin to sensitise the general public on the dangers of overloading.
He told newmen later that the road show awareness embarked upon by the command involving the regular, special marshal and NYSC Road Safety Club.
The sector commander said that it was aimed at drawing the attention of road users on the need to inculcate road safety measures during the ember months.
Nasarawa
The National President of the NUJ, Mohammed Garba has said that the union would picket media organisations which do not pay the salaries of their staff.
Garba said at an interactive session with newsmen in Lafia, as part of the nationwide tour by the National Executive of the union, that the picketing would start with defaulting media organisations in Lagos State.
He expressed concern over non payment of staff salaries by media organisations.
Garba also said that the union would closely monitor media organisations to ensure that their staff were paid regularly.
The president called for improved funding for media organisations across the country to be able to meet the 2012 deadline for migrating from the analogue to digital transmission.
Ogun
A don, Prof. Babatunde Salako, says chronic kidney disease accounts for the death of six per cent of the country’s population every year.
Salako, a professor of nephrology at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan said in a lecture on “Nephrology Practice In Nigeria: The Journey So Far,” at the Federal Medical Centre,
The lecture was part of the send forth programme in honour of Dr Julius Osinfade, the Head of Dialysis Centre of the hospital.
Osun
Three members of the Osun State House of Assembly, have appealed to the leadership of the Osun Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to call off their ongoing strike.
The Leader of the House, Timothy Owoeye, the House Whip, Ipoola Binuyo and Babatunde Komolafe, made the appeal while speaking with newsmen, on the ongoing industrial action in the state.
Owoeye, representing Ilesa East State Constituency, said the workers should put the interest of the masses at heart, adding that the present administration was committed to the welfare of workers.
He noted that the strike had paralysed government’s activities, saying that it would pose a challenge to the rapid development of the state which the current administration was tackling.
Sokoto
Gov. Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State said the Sokoto State Government has spent N280 million on the rehabilitation of two water tanks and the construction of a new one at Arkilla in the state.
Gov. Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, who gave the figure in Sokoto, said that the tank under construction would have the capacity to store one million gallons of water.
Wamakko, said after inspecting the projects, that his administration had also commenced the construction of a new water treatment plant in Asara village in Wamakko Local Government Area of the state.
He said that when completed, the projects would improve water supply to Sokoto City and its environs.
“I must commend the state task force on water supply as well as the contracting firm for a job well done,’’ the governor said.
Taraba
The Taraba State Muslim Pilgrims Board has registered 1693 people as intending pilgrims for the 2011 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Abba Tukur, told journalists in Jalingo that the pilgrims were registered in all the three categories based on fare differentials.
He said the maximum fare was N626,000, the medium N555,000 and minimum fare N525,000.
Tukur said the maximum fare would attract Basic Travelers Allowance (BTA) of N201,600; the medium fare would receive N135,000 while N108,000 would be given to those on the minimum fare.
He revealed that the board had secured accommodation for the pilgrims very close to the Kaaba, with arrangements concluded on feeding them free in Mina, Arafat and Mustalifat.
Nation
PTAD Reiterates Commitment To Pensioners’ Service Delivery
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
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
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).
-
Opinion2 days ago
Hurray! Another Feather For Fubara
-
Business3 days ago
MoneyPoint Empowers Pharmacists With Payment Solutions
-
Politics2 days ago
New Council Chairman Promises Development Of LGA
-
Niger Delta2 days ago
‘No More Filling Forms For Political Appointments In Rivers’
-
Featured2 days ago
Arson: Those Behind It’ll Account For Atrocities -Fubara …Swears In Bipi, Three Others As Commissioners
-
News3 days ago
99% Ikwerres Supporting Gov Fubara-Don
-
Sports2 days ago
Volleyball:Fixtures For Div 1&2 Leagues Released
-
Rivers2 days ago
Fubara’s Aide, Others Laud Electorate, RSIEC Over Peaceful Elections