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FCT
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), says it has commenced a nationwide training of police personnel on fundamental human rights.
This is contained in a statement by its Director, Public Affairs, Muhammad Ladan, in Abuja recently.
It stated that the training was being conducted in 14 centres across the country, noting that it embarked on the training following a request by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar.
The statement said the NHRC Executive Secretary, Prof. Bem Angwe, explained that the police officers were being trained on fundamental human rights as contained in Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Kano
Gunmen have attacked Hausawa-Danmaliki Primary School in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State.
Our correspondent said that three teachers, including the headmaster were injured during the incident.
A witness said the incident took place around 8.30 a.m, adding that the attackers arrived in the school shortly after some of the teachers reported for work.
“’Nobody can tell whether the gunmen were on tricycle or not but I just heard the gunshots,’’ he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Police Command, Mr Magaji Majiya, confirmed the incident.
Kaduna
Kaduna State Government has urged the National Boundary Commission to resolve its land ownership dispute with the Kano State Government.
Governor Mukhtar Yero made the call in Kaduna when the Directors-General of NEMA, NOA, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, and the National Boundary Commission, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House.
The visit was to intimate the governor on a three-day workshop on “Peace Building and Conflict Management for Sustainable Development in Nigeria’’ which took place in Kaduna recently.
Yero said the resolution of the land controversy in the border towns of Kubau Local Government Area of Kaduna State, and some parts of Kano State had become necessary to end the conflict once and for all.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State Ministry of Education has begun, the transfer of some students in boarding schools as part of measures to de-congest the institutions.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Muhammed Maiyama, told newsmen in Benin Kebbi that the exercise would create an enabling environment for easy learning.
He also said that more teachers would soon be recruited for the schools.
Also, the Principal of Dr Amina Abubakar Government Girls’ College, Birnin Kebbi, Hajiya Suwaiba Salihu, said already, the school received 500 students from Government Girls’ (Unity) College, Birnin Kebbi.
Kwara
The Acting Commandant, Nigerian Army Education Corps (NAEC) , Brig.-Gen. Sunday Adebayo, says the corps will continue to pay priority attention to the training of its officers.
Adebayo made this known in a lecture he delivered at the NAEC first quarter conference at the Nigerian Army Cantonment, Sobi, Ilorin.
He said his vision for the NAEC was to rejuvenate the corps for better performance of its roles in support of the Chief of Army Staff vision.
According to him, the mission of the Education Corps is to plan and execute the Nigerian Army programme of education in liberal, scientific and doctrinal studies.
He said further that NAEC was to manage service educational establishments and training support facilities as required for the professional excellence of the army.
Lagos
National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), says it is collaborating with Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria and Nigeria Institute of Public Relations to address the issue of quacks in marketing.
The Chairman of Ikeja Branch of NIMN, Mr Babatunde Akinsanya, told newsmen in Lagos that the council was poised to restore the old pride of the profession.
He said that the professional image of the institute had been shattered in recent times by the influx of unqualified professionals.
“The council is aware of companies and individuals parading themselves as marketing professionals.
“Very soon it will not be business as usual for the unqualified marketers in the country.
Ogun
The Ogun Stte Government has restated its commitment to transparency and accountability in its revenue generation drive.
The state Commissioner for Forestry, Mr Ayo Olubori, who made the remark at a news conference in Abeokuta, added that the state was determined to block all avenues of revenue leakages to enable its residents enjoy the dividends of democracy.
Olubori, who was reacting to the recent attack on the state’s toll point at Ogere-Remo, in Remo North Council Area, said that the ugly incident would not force the government to abandon the toll point.
He recalled that the state government recently introduced an automated system for payments of fees concerning forestry operations in its bid to block leakages.
Osun
Osun council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) said that it had set up a machinery to identify and flush out fake journalists from the media practice in the state.
The Chairman, Mr Abiodun Olalere, told newsmen in Osogbo that his office had been inundated with reports about fake journalists prowling in the state.
He promised to bring the culprits to book in no distant time.
He said the council had distributed membership forms to its chapels with a view to registering authentic members.
The NUJ chairman said that arrangements had been made to ensure that chapel leaders compiled only the names of practising journalists with recognised media employers.
Olalere said as part of the measures to nip quackery in the bud, the NUJ leadership had begun registration of members for a life insurance scheme.
Oyo
A 27-year old Amos Akinbosoye has been arraigned before an Ibadan Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly assaulting a police officer.
The prosecutor, Insp. Olookoba Bola, told the court that the defendant seriously assaulted a police officer, Adigun Olufemi, by tearing his uniform while performing his lawful duty at a traffic point.
Bola also said that the wrist watch valued at N1,500 belonging to another police officer, Onen Bassey, was also damaged during the process.
Bola added that the incident happened during an alleged reckless driving by the accused in a Mercedes Benz car with registration No AZ 88 FKJ.
Plateau
Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, has advocated for the extension of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) service to two years, to allow for military training.
“The youth corps members are supposed to receive military training for a year so that when they are through, they can be useful to the society, “ Jang said during a courtesy visit by the Minister of Youths Development, Mr. Inuwa Abdullahi.
Jang said that one year service was not enough, therefore, “we need to re-evaluate it and improve on it to include proper military training“.
He criticised the situation whereby after the service, youths had nothing, adding that it called for proper counselling.
Sokoto
Alhaji Yusuf Abdullahi, former Chairman of Isa Local Government in Sokoto State, has advised members of the National Working Committee of PDP to reconcile with aggrieved members of the party.
Abdullahi told newsmen in Sokoto that reconciliation with the members nationwide would ensure the party’s victory in 2015 elections.
He said “ the task ahead of the leadership is to set in motion political machinery that will bring back those who have left the party for one reason or the other”.
Abdullahi explained that the move would enable the party to ‘’practically and politically confront the opposition in future elections’’.
Taraba
The Taraba State House of Assembly has set up a five-man committee to investigate the Chief Medical Director of the state’s Specialist Hospital, Prof. Aliyu Zakari, for revealing the health condition of Gov. Danbaba Suntai.
Zakari had in an interview with one of the national dailies said that Suntai had developed a brain injury that impaired his ability to speak and “makes it extremely difficult for him to return to duty anytime soon”.
Speaking on the floor of the House, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Abel Diah, said that Zakari, as a civil servant, had no right to grant interview without permission from appropriate authorities.
The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has assured depositors of banks in-liquidation of speedy and prompt payment of their insured sums in the event of banks’ failure.
Deputy Director, Bank Examination Department of the Corporation, Mr Daniel Udechukwu, gave the assurance at the NDIC-Financial Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) workshop in Owerri on Wednesday.
Udechukwu said the corporation had exhibited this speed in the payment of depositors of some micro-finance banks currently in-liquidation.
According to him, recent development have demanded for more tactical approaches for distress resolution and the corporation is working to meet international standards.
“When some of these micro-finance banks went into liquidation, NDIC swung into action.
“For some of the areas, I monitored, I told the depositors that NDIC will pay them their insured sums soon but they did not believe.
“Within one to two weeks after our visit, they started receiving credit alert of their money. They inturn started calling us to thank the NDIC.
“The media have a role to play in telling these depositors that NDIC has changed. Our word is our bond. NDIC is no longer the old one, things have really changed”, he said.
Udechukwu listed some bank resolution options used by regulatory authorities to include purchase and assumption, liquidation, deposit transfer, bridge bank, merger and acquisition, among others.
Prof. Alfred Makanjuola of Department of Behavioural Sciences, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), has advocated multidisciplinary approach in management of bullying and burnout among medical practitioners.
Makanjuola made the recommendation in Ilorin during his paper presentation at the 40th Annual General Meeting/Sir Aderibigbe Scientific Conference of the the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD-UITH).
His presentation was entitled: “Multidimensional Implications of Bullying and Burnout among Medical Practitioners in Nigeria”.
He stated that workplace bullying and burnout are two conditions commonly faced, most especially by medical students and medical practitioners undergoing their residency.
The expert described bullying as the ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationship through repeated verbal, physical and social behaviour that can cause social and psychological harm.
“It is repeatedly done overtime to humiliate or undermine a group of workers”, he said.
According to him, those who face bullying are systematically exposed to humiliation, hostile and aggressive behaviour for at least once a week or six months.
Noting that doctors who are bullied perceive to see themselves at the receiving end, Makanjuola said bullying include belittling, insults, threat, physical abuse, gossips and spreading rumours.
He observed that bullying is so negative that it can precipitate burnout and stress among medical practitioners.
He also said it can lead to feeling of energy depletion, low personal accomplishment and increased mental distancing.
The Consultant Psychiatrist stated that consequences of bullying and burnout can pose psychological stress, low performance and low confidence, among others.
He, therefore, advised government and relevant stakeholders to evolve comprehensive mental healthcare system.
“There is need for training support and welfare for staff and need for institutionalisation of mentoring system”, he said.
Makanjuola, therefore, called for conflict de-escalation/resolution skills ajd mechanism and early identification of work bullying and burnout.
Similarly in her presentation, Prof. Aishat Bolakale, a Consultant Paediatrician of the Department of Paediatrics, University of Ilorin, decried the increase in the rate of assault on healthcare workers in Nigeria.
Bolakale spoke on the sub-theme: “The Looming Increase in the Rate of Assault on the Health Workers; The Role of Government”.
Wife of the Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs MaryMaudline Nwifuru, says she will provide justice to survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and other harmful practices against women.
She gave the assurance on Wednesday during an event to commemorate the 2023 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, held in Abakaliki.
The programme, with the theme, “Unite! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls”, was organised by USAID Momentum Country and Global Leadership (MCGL) in collaboration with the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
The governor’s wife, who led a sensitisation road work to various areas in the state capital, said the current administration, led by her husband, Francis, had declared war and zero tolerance on GBV.
She added that the development called for collective action to address the root cause of the menace and proffer a sustainable solution to the menace.
She explained that her pet project, “Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons Foundation (BERWO)”, would address challenging harmful gender norms, promote healthy relationship, constant education, strengthen laws and policies that would protect Women’s rights.
“As we unite to end violence against the vulnerable groups, the theme shows the urgent need to invest, prevent and combat the deeply rooted issues of the trend”, Nwifuru said.
In her advocacy visit to the State House of Assembly, she explained the need to review the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPP) to effect positive change in the society.
Mr Moses Odunwa, Speaker of the House, expressed readiness to amend and implement the law to ensure proper eradication of the practice in the state.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Dr Robinson Onoh, assured support in providing personnel at GBV and administrative centres in the fight to stop the trend.
Onoh commended Nwifuru for commissioning the centres, which would empower the facilities to join her and other partners in the fight against the menace.
The State Public Relations Officer, GBV Taskforce, Mrs Goodness Mbaja, stated that the commemoration of the 2023 edition of 16 days, was a global awareness to end violence against vulnerable persons and promised not to relent in the continuous sensitisation and eradication of GBV in the state.