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Rejig Security Architecture To Tame Insecurity, NAWOJ Tasks FG …Deplores State Of Roads, Rising Food Costs, Others … Sanctions Erring Officers
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has called on the Federal Government to strengthen the nation’s security architecture to address security challenges in different parts of the nation, while challenging all security agencies to be alive to their constitutional responsibilities to tame the ugly trend.
This is as the association also noted the deplorable condition of federal roads across the country, and appealed to the appropriate authorities to take urgent steps to fix the roads to avoid increasing road accidents and its attendant consequences.
It further called on the Federal Government to look into the rising cost of food items, cooking gas, building materials, among others, with a view to reducing the cost of living for citizens in the country, just as the association NEC frowned at the rising cases of gender-based violence, and stressed the need to ensure the workability of family courts to ensure justice for victims.
These positions were contained in a communiqué drafted by a committee Chaired by Dr. Dorathy Nnaji, with Rose Elishama as secretary and Nene Dung as member, at the end of NAWOJ NEC meeting held in Lafia, Nasarawa State on November 3 – 5, 2021, and made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt by its National Secretary, Helen Udofa, last Saturday.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), comprising members of the Central Working Committee (CWC), state chairpersons and secretaries of NAWOJ, met on Thursday, November 4, 2021 at Nasarawa Luxury Hotel, Lafia, Nasarawa State capital.
The NAWOJ NEC meeting was preceded by a National Security Summit on the theme: “National Interest Amidst Insecurity: The Role of the Media” organised by the National Secretariat of NAWOJ at the same venue.
The communique read: “At the meeting, which was presided over by the National President of NAWOJ, Comrade Ladi Bala, issues concerning our association and the state of the nation were discussed and the NEC in session resolved as follows:
“NEC in session commended Nasarawa State Governor, Engr Abdullahi Sule, for sponsoring, hosting and making the NEC Meeting in Lafia very comfortable for members.
“The NEC frowned at the indiscriminate issuance of awards to individuals by state chairpersons without recourse to the National Secretariat, warning that henceforth, all state chapters must liaise with the National Secretariat for approval before issuing any award.
“In view of accommodation challenges facing the National Secretariat of NAWOJ, NEC-in-session mandated the National President to apply to the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority (FCTDA) for allocation of a plot of land in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to NAWOJ for the construction of a National Secretariat Complex of NAWOJ.
“Following the stagnation of activities in Enugu State NAWOJ for one year now, due to the fact that the state chairperson is critically ill, among other issues raised against her, NEC directed the Chairperson of Enugu State NAWOJ, Chinyere Mgboh, to hand over the mantle of leadership to the vice chairperson within 14 days or face suspension.
“NEC-in-session ordered Rivers State NAWOJ Chairperson, Susan Serekara-Nwikhana, to tender unreserved apologies to the National President of NUJ, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, retracting all the derogatory and repugnant comments she posted on various social media platforms against the person of the NUJ President and the union during the period ahead of the NUJ Triennial National Delegates Conference in Umuahia, in October 2021. The apology, MUST also be published in all the social media platforms she posted her scandalous comments within seven days or face suspension.
“NEC-in-session suspended the immediate past chairperson of Imo State NAWOJ, Vivian Ottih, indefinitely, for still parading herself as chairperson of Imo State NAWOJ after she lost her re-election bid and despite a disclaimer issued against her by the National Secretariat on the matter. NEC resolved that, henceforth, if she continues to impersonate as Imo State chairperson of NAWOJ, she will be handed over to security operatives for necessary action.
“The NEC urged state chapters of NAWOJ to open bank accounts in the name of the association where none existed for proper financial accountability; create more visibility through laudable programmes, while all members must work hard for the progress of NAWOJ, and be mandatorily financially up-to-date.
“The NEC approved the inauguration of a three-man Ethics and Disciplinary Committee made up of the National Financial Secretary, Adeola Adekunle, as chairman and the Chairperson of Akwa Ibom NAWOJ, Uduak Utip Ekong as well as the Secretary of Kano State NAWOJ, Wasilah Ladan, as members, with a mandate to handle issues of indiscipline and gross misconduct.
“NEC resolved that state chapters must adopt all press releases issued by the National Secretariat on national issues, while press releases by state chapters must be limited to issues peculiar to the states. In addition, NEC barred state secretaries from calling for monthly congresses without the knowledge and approval of the state chairpersons.
“On the state of the nation: The issue of insecurity in the country caught the attention of NEC-in-session as it called on the Federal Government to strengthen the nation’s security architecture to address security challenges in different parts of the nation.
“NEC also called on all security agencies to be alive to their constitutional responsibilities, especially in view of the Anambra State governorship election and IPOB sit-at-home order.
“NEC noted the deplorable condition of federal roads across the country, and appealed to the appropriate authorities to take urgent steps to fix federal roads to avoid increasing road accidents and its attendant consequences.
“NEC called on the Federal Government to look into the rising cost of food items, cooking gas, building materials, etc, with a view to reducing the cost of living for citizens in the country.
“NEC frowned at the rising cases of gender-based violence, and stressed the need to ensure the workability of family courts to ensure justice for victims”, the communiqué added.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
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RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.