FEDERAL MINISTRIES TO SACK 3500 WORKERS

Despite the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria, the federal government has penned down about 3500 civil servants for dismissal over what it calls “irregular appointments/unauthorised appointment issue.”

Investigation by our reporter revealed that almost all the ministries are affected. But according to the Federal Character Commission, the most affected ministries are Education, Health, Science and Technology, Information, Finance, and Transportation.

LAUNCH OF THE ABUJA DIGITAL SWITCH OVER (DSO), Buhari's Remarks

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE ABUJA DIGITAL SWITCH OVER (DSO) ON THURSDAY, 22 DECEMBER 2016

PROTOCOL


I am very pleased to be here with you on this historic day, the launch of the Abuja Digital Switch Over in television broadcasting.

The significance of this event cannot be lost on the world as the digital switchover becomes a reality in the capital city of Africa's largest economy and most populous nation.

Even if only for the the huge local and international opportunities for Broadcast, media, ICT, entertainment and education , we are right to say that we stand at the threshold of exciting times for job creation, entertainment and in general local and international commerce.

The successful launch of the pilot scheme in Jos in April has clearly demonstrated the gains of Digital Switchover. I am told that Viewers in the pilot are able to enjoy 15 free channels covering news, sports, music and business.
Local industry is already experiencing a boost from the new vista in digital economy, with several indigenous companies now manufacturing Set-Top-Boxes. Indeed I am told that many of the set-top-boxes we are using for this Abuja switchover are produced in Nigeria.

CHILDREN'S DAY CELEBRATION: WE ARE COMMITTED TO FULFILLING OUR PROMISE OF BETTER NIGERIA - BUHARI'S MESSAGE TO THE NATION

I heartily greet and felicitate with all Nigerian children on the occasion of this year’s Children’s Day celebration.

I seize the opportunity of this year's celebration which comes just two days before the first anniversary of the present Administration, to reassure our children and youth that we remain fully committed to fulfilling our promise of a better Nigeria for all of our people.

On this happy occasion for our children, I reaffirm my belief that it is the right of every Nigerian child to have access to quality and affordable education, as well as healthcare and other basic necessities for a good life, in a peaceful and secure environment.

Nigeria’s Most Important Assets Are its People says Minister of State for Health Pate

Former Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Pate, a public policy expert and a strategic member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) agenda committee, has a passion about improving lives and Nigeria’s public health system. He spoke with Paul Obi about his vision for a better Nigeria, education and how government intervention can be effective. Excerpts:

Since you left office a couple of years ago, there is a foundation which has been linked to you…can you take us through it and your other engagements so far?

Difficult to sit on the Fence: FUEL SUBSIDY: YES OR NO?

It's difficult to sit on the fence but even non economics must recognise this.

- Does the price of a barrel of crude oil vary with a nation's minimum wage?
- Does it vary by which region of the world you live.
- Does the refining cost of petrol vary according to a nation's minimum wage. 

OCDS: PRESIDENT BUHARI ANNOUNCES FRESH MEASURES TO ADVANCE WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION

President Buhari being welcomed
by UK Foreign Affairs Minister,
Hugo Swire as he arrives for
Anti Corruption Summit and Participates
at the Leader's Breakfast at the
Lancaster House London,
United Kingdom 12th May 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari pledged Thursday in London that in furtherance of his administration's ongoing war against corruption, Nigeria will soon begin the full implementation of the principles of the Open Contracting Data Standard.

According to Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina , in Nigeria's country statement to the Anti-Corruption Summit hosted by Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, President Buhari said that the Federal Government will apply the Open Contracting Data Standard to major projects in the oil, transportation, power, health, education and other sectors.

Ministry of Petroleum Resources prepares ‪#‎FACTSHEET‬ that tries to answer all your questions on new petrol price in Nigeria

The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources has prepared a ‪#‎FACTSHEET‬ that tries to answer all your questions on the new price of petrol in Nigeria:

Top 13 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1.What is the benefit of the new price regime to Nigerians?

This government is elected to serve the people and provide benefits to all. The new pricing regime brings the following benefits:
Solves the recurrent fuel scarcity crisis by ensuring availability of products at all locations of the country
Reduce hoarding, smuggling and diversion substantially and stabilise price at the actual product price
Ensures market stability and Improves fuel supply situation through private sector participation
Creates Labour market stability (will potentially create additional 200,000 jobs through new investments in Refineries and Retails and prevent potential loss of nearly 400,000 jobs in existing investments)

2. Why the new price regime?

NEDC Bill: Senate Organises 2-Day Public Hearing with Stakeholders

The joint Public Hearing of the Senate Committee on Special Duties and the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service on a Bill for an Act to Establish the North East Development Commission (SB. 163) concluded its hearing yesterday 10th May, 2016 after sitting for 2 days with stakeholders in attendance from not just theNorth East Zone but from other parts of Nigeria.

The joint Committee, which was Chaired by Senator Abdul-Aziz Murtala Nyako (Adamawa Central) and Co-chaired by Senator Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central) organized the 2-day Public Hearing to entertain suggestions and contributions from stakeholders who represent those that will directly benefit from the Commission when created.

Kaduna Governor El-Rufai Reshuffles Executive Council

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has announced sweeping changes to the State Executive Council today. Official notification of these changes came from a press statement by Mr. El-Rufai’s Special Assistance on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan.

These changes effect four State ministries including the Health and Human Services, Commerce and Industry, Environment and Natural Resources; and Education, Science and Technology.

Jonathan Andrew Nok will depart his role as the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to take the portfolio of Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology.

SECTORAL DEBATES ON NIGERIA’S ECONOMY: DOGARA'S WELCOME REMARKS

REMARKS BY RT. HON. DOGARA YAKUBU, SPEAKER HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE OCCASION OF COMMENCEMENT OF SECTORAL DEBATES ON NIGERIA’S ECONOMY BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON TUESDAY, 3RD MAY, 2016.

Protocols:

May I warmly welcome you all to the commencement of Sectoral Debates by the House of Representatives on very important aspects of the Nigerian economy. I particularly welcome all Honourable Ministers and Heads of Agencies under their purview to the House.

2. This event is a fulfillment of one of the cardinal commitments we made in our Legislative Agenda at the beginning of the 8th House of Representatives. We had committed ourselves in our Legislative Agenda in Paragraph 7(ii) as follows:
“(ii.) Sectoral Debates
The 8th House will introduce sectoral debates on various aspects of Nigerian economy as part of its legislative initiative to address national problems. These sectoral debates will lead to the crafting of new laws or amendment to existing ones or generate recommendations on how to address the specific problem in question.
The House will designate specific legislative sitting days or weeks in its calendar specifically for discussion on various problems facing the nation. Such identified themes, sectors, areas or problems include employment and job creation, Health, Education and Social Services; Women, Youths and Children concerns; Power/Energy Sector, Oil and Gas, Science and Technology; Commerce and Industry; Transportation; Telecommunications; Agriculture; Mining; Manufacturing; Diversification of the Economy, Finance, Corruption, Security Matters, Infrastructure and other initiatives of urgent national importance”. 

Kaduna Govt presents Q1 budget performance to legislature, explains Budget Adjustment Mechanism

For the first time in the history of the state, the Kaduna State Government has presented the first quarter budget performance report to the House of Assembly. 

Finance Commissioner Suleiman Abdu Kwari told the legislators that the presentation of the budget performance report “is in furtherance of the quest of the El-Rufai government to ensure accountability and transparency in governance”.

Reviewing the budget performance, Kwari recalled that the 2016 Budget is based on 60:40 expenditure profile for Capital and Recurrent. Key priorities for the budget are: Infrastructure, Healthcare, Security, Jobs and Agriculture with Education Sector being given the utmost priority. 

While the revenue dip has been a bit of a dampener, procurement processes for capital projects have dominated the first quarter as the government remains determined to fulfill its manifesto commitments. Capital spending in the first quarter amounts to an unprecedented N7bn, with N4.9bn going to the Education sector for school renovation, furniture, and uniforms, and almost a billion naira as payments for the Zaria Water Project.

UN's new global development goals: a 'to-do list' for the world

The World Leaders adopted at ongoing UN summit in United State an ambitious set of new global goals to end extreme poverty by 2030, promote health and education, and combat climate change.

Here are the 17 goals described as a "to-do list" for the world by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:


1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Buhari Will Shake Hands With Devils

That the Nigerian president-elect Muhammadu Buhari shakes hands with Lara Oshiomhole has sparked a heated debate on social media. Some say that the handshake was inappropriate from the viewpoint of some Islamic tenets. While others see nothing wrong with the handshake.

For me, Let Buhari give handshake to the Devil as long as it doesn't affect the delivery of good governance, anti corruption stance, stable power supply dream, employment and job creations, productive education for self sustainablity, security, etc.

YOUR DESTINY IS IN YOUR HANDS - Fakanlu Sunday Oluwanifemi

Your destiny is in your hands, you can actually turn it around for your good. Disappointment can be turned to appointment. Are you defeated? Did a door suddenly close against you? Did you get knocked down? This is not the end of the world. You can't change yesterday, but you can do something today that can change your tomorrow, it doesn't matter how you were born, that was yesterday. It doesn't matter what happens in the last 5yrs, last 10yrs you may not be able to change that but you can reposition your self today, you can make new decision today that will change what your tomorrow will be and that is your future. Refuse to be a mental odor, refuse to end your life inside work. Anytime I says something I always said I believe in future, their is a reason that I'm so much believed in future, I strongly believe that if you read these text you will act on them and they will change your future. Non of us was born to be poor. We may have been born poor, but we are not born to be poor, we may have been brought up poor, but we are not brought up to be poor.

Understand these, the definition of adulthood is RESPONSIBILITY, when u comes an adult you take responsibility for your future, become responsible what do you have in your self? Their are many who are crying for help but because their is no answer to their called for help they feel the pains in their heart of neglect, no, refuse to give up believe in what God made. God made you and he never made a failure, believe that God has purpose for your life, mind you, you may have been born as a parental accident but you are not define accident, God knows you are coming and he has made sufficient provisions for you. 

OSUN TERTIARY EDUCATION IN SHAMBLES?

The sovereignty of any state as a political units is a fundamental factor in the international system. It presupposes the power of a state to through a defined set of laws, control or govern both human & material resources in its territory without external intervention. 

The implication of this is that a nation-state should utilise all resources within its jurisdiction to make a life meaningful for its action which include ensuring security of lives & property, provision of basic infrastructure, education etc.

STATE OF EMERGENCY: THE THIRD RENEWAL BY GUMI

The prophet -peace be upon him- said: “a true believer is never stung from the same hole twice”. The Caliph Muawiya said: “there is no wisdom without experience”.

Today, we all know that any medical Doctor that will prescribe the same antibiotic while treating a bacterial infection that refuses to subside needs his certificate to be reexamined. These words of wisdoms have a lot to say about our government and legislators. It is unbelievable that we as a nation have sunk so low that even common sense is a rare gem to be found.

Was not the chief of army staff ordered by the same legislators to relocate to Maiduguri weeks before the abduction of the innocent school girls in Chibok? Virtually, the legislators here had to assume the position of the C-in-C from what they observed of the callousness of the government recognized even internationally. We are then in trouble. A knife in the hands of a madman on a market day!

Fresh Facts: Borno Governor caused kidnap of Chibok schoolgirls – WAEC

According to WAEC, the kidnap of over 250 schoolgirls in Chibok may not have occurred if the Borno State Government had heeded the advice of an examination body, fresh facts have emerged.

Aware of the poor security situation in Borno and worried about the safety of students, the West African Examination Council, WAEC, declined to conduct its Senior School Certificate Examination in unsafe parts of Borno, including Chibok.

But that was until the state governor, Kashim Shettima, assured of adequate security measures, an official has said.

The head of WAEC’s National Office in Nigeria, Charles Eguridu, stated this on Friday night in Abuja while answering questions from several women including First Lady Patience Jonathan, wives of state governors, female legislators at federal and state levels, and leaders of various women organizations.

President Jonathan And The Boko Haramists Foundation

The foundation for the crisis we have today in the North was laid over a long period of time by political office holders from the region who have been shirking their responsibilities: the Governors who never paid attention to education, including those who introduced political Sharia while helping themselves to public treasuries. In some of these states also, secondary schools have in recent past been closed for several months due to disagreement between the authorities and the teachers; in a few others, students are taught under the tree and then you hear about primary school teachers who fail some elementary examination that is meant for primary four pupils!

Situations like the foregoing can only provide fertile grounds for Boko Haram and allied forces and Borno which serves as the epicentre of the insurgency is a classic example. In 2006, while receiving a team of broadcasters to his state, then Governor Ali Modu Sheriff said he was not concerned about the criticism of his administration in the print media because 95 percent of the people in Borno State could not read and write. And perhaps to rub it in, Sheriff added that less than two percent of Borno residents had access to newspapers! Even while the “statistics” reeled out by the governor may be false, the mindset that informed such disclosure is very telling of the kind of leadership that has led us to the current crisis.........

We are at a rather challenging moment in our history and it is one that calls for a multi-partisan leadership which only Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), seems to appreciate. In describing the Nyanyan attack as “horrific, heartbreaking, and a cruel act of merciless slaughter”, Buhari on Tuesday called for a broad based, non-partisan coalition to fight the scourge before he added: “The security and stability of Nigeria is inviolable. Our security and stability cannot be conditioned on any ideology or partisan agenda. Every Nigerian reserves the right to his own security, to his own freedom and dignity, and no amount of terrorist blackmail can make us surrender these.”

Fears of Boko Haram Raids; Borno State Closes Schools

As the Boko Haram attacks continue despite the state of emergency rule in the three north-eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, imposed by the Nigerian president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the Borno state government has closed schools because of fears of attacks by the Islamist militant group, also known as Boko Haram, which Amnesty International said killed at least 170 students and teachers last year.

Wike not qualified to be a minister of education - COEASU

Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike is a Special Adviser to the President on Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s affairs

Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union [COEASU] of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Saturday trooped out to protest what they called the”maladministration”of the Supervising Minister of Education, Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike . They maintained that he is not qualified to be a minister.

Its former National President, Comrade Remi Makinde said it would have been logical if Wike holds the office of “Special Adviser to the President on Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s affairs rather than be in an office that decides the future of all Nigerian students.

Makinde said Wike is a lawyer, who is interested in helping the Presidency to fight Amaechi rather than looking for ways to tackle all the challenges in the education sector.