US Bill To Boost Semiconductor Industry Passes Key Senate Test

By

-

July 28, 2022

The US Senate on Tuesday advanced a $280 billion bill designed to boost the semiconductor industry in the United States and to accelerate high tech research that backers say will be critical to the economy in future decades.

The Senate needed 60 votes to advance the bill and the vote was 64-32. The legislation is now on a glidepath to final passage in the Senate, likely on Wednesday. The House is also expected to take up the package this week.

The White House has led support for the bill, along with industry leaders who say government subsidies are necessary to compete with other nations that are also spending billions of dollars to lure manufacturers. They say the pandemic has exposed the dangers to the economy and to national security of relying too heavily on foreign-made computer chips.

The bill provides about $52 billion in grants and other incentives for the semiconductor industry as well as a 25% tax credit for those companies that build chip plants, or fabs, in the U.S. The cost of the tax break is projected to be about about $24 billion over 10 years. The bill also authorizes about $200 billion to enhance scientific research over the same timeframe.

The bill attracted support from lawmakers in both parties who say the investment is critical to U.S. innovation and staying ahead of economic rivals in coming decades, namely China. The Congressional Budget Office has projected that the bill would increase deficits by about $79 billion over 10 years. Critics have objected to the spending called for in the bill either as misplaced or excessive

Governors Call For Review Of National Water Resources Bill

By

Angel Gimalo

-

July 28, 2022

1

Water flowing from pipe against blurred mountains — Water flowing from pipe against blurred mountain background. Shot in Hottentots-Holland Mountains nature reserve, near Somerset West, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has called for the review of the National Water Resources Bill to accommodate the concerns of all states.

The forum made the call in a communiqué on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in Abuja and signed by its Chairman, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.

Fayemi said that the reintroduced bill did not adequately address the interests of the states and was inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said that the forum received presentations from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, on the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (LPRES) – a six-year $500 million World Bank programme.

The programme was aimed at improving the productivity, commercialisation and resilience of targeted livestock production systems in Nigeria.

Fayemi said that the governors unanimously agreed to spearhead the programme in their states.

This, according to him, was particularly in areas such as institutional and innovation systems strengthening, livestock value-chain enhancement, crisis prevention and conflict mitigation and project coordination.

He added that the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, presented the draft 2023 – 2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).

Fayemi said that the presentation was part of the consultative process in the development of the Federal Government’s fiscal policy.

It was also to share relevant macroeconomic and fiscal assumptions to help States prepare their Economic and Fiscal Update (EFU), FSP and Budget Policy Statement (BPS).

“Following the presentation, governors had a robust discussion with priority given to the government’s response to the fallouts of the Russia-Ukraine war (including inflation and the rising food and nutrition crises).

“The continued impact of the petrol subsidy on the fiscal headroom of governments, implications of NNPC’s new transition on federation revenues.

“The widening divergence between the official and parallel market rate of the dollar on the currency,” he said.

Fayemi said that the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) programme was also presented by Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business.

SABER was a three-year performance-based intervention jointly designed by the World Bank Technical team and the PEBEC Secretariat with support from the Federal Ministry of Finance Budget and National Planning (FMFBNP), Home Finance Department (HFD) and the NGF Secretariat.

This was to incentivise and strengthen the implementation of business enabling reforms across Nigeria.

SABER was technically a successor to State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability And Sustainability (SFTAS).

“In line with the objectives of the programme, the forum endorsed the programme and committed to set up an Ad-hoc Committee to steer the implementation of the programme in all States of the Federation.

“In furtherance to meeting the goals of the Seattle Declaration, the forum committed to mobilising their state and local government teams for the PHC Leadership Challenge.

“Specific commitments include that Primary Healthcare (PHC) performance will be addressed at the state executive council level, governors will conduct visits to PHC facilities.

“Governors will hold meetings with traditional leaders to discuss PHC, deputy governors will chair PHC taskforces, while State committees will be set up on food and nutrition,” he said.

Fayemi said that the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, addressed the forum on available Global Fund support to state governments designed to revamp Primary Healthcare Centres, State Healthcare Centres, Ambulance Services and Drug Management Support in states.

He said that the governors thereafter resolved to work with the federal ministry of health to actualise the initiative.

Fayemi also said that the forum received a presentation from the leadership of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) on the Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge Fund.

The fund was a product of the Seattle Declaration – the Primary Health Care and Human Capital Development Roundtable hosted in November 2019 by Mr Bill Gates, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, co-chair of the roundtable and the NGF.

“The Seattle Declaration sets out a series of commitments for State governments including the implementation of Primary Health Care Under One Roof, a costed Minimum Service Package tailored to States.

“State Basic Health Care Provision Fund requirements, improved financing for PHC as per the Abuja Commitment.

“Review of State PHC performances in State Executive Councils, State Task Force on PHC chaired by the Deputy Governors, and the engagement of traditional and religious leaders on PHC,” he said.

Lagos Flags Off School Sports Intervention Plan July 29

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

July 27, 2022

0

The Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) has commenced the training of 600 school sports masters/PE teachers, as a first step in the deployment of the Lagos State School Sports Intervention Programme (LASSIP).

Speaking on the commencement of the programme, LSSC chairman, Sola Aiyepeku, said the programme would be deployed as a pilot scheme in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Education, as part of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s investments in young Lagosians to provide them with more options and opportunities for the future.

The flag-off/opening ceremony of the knowledge-based LASSIP scheme will hold on Friday at the Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

”We conceived LASSIP because of the lacuna in school sports in the state, as we wanted to fully reintegrate sports back into schools. Governor Sanwo-Olu is the biggest supporter of LASSIP.

“As you know, he is at the forefront of any platform that develops young Lagosians and he has fully bought into this and has provided all the resources necessary to make this intervention successful,” he said.

Speaking on the capacity development programme, Aiyepeku said the statewide training programme is the first of its kind in Nigeria and is fundamental to achieving the full potential of LASSIP.

“We have designed a training module, which will be field and classroom-based and games masters are the resources we need to deploy these training in schools.”

“Because the modules are based on the latest advances in school sports, it is imperative that we train game masters so that they can effectively deploy this training to students in schools.

“This is why our partnership with the Ministry of Education is very important. Our Directorate of School sports will work directly with the ministry and so far, we are extremely excited to have the ministry on board as partners. The ministry completely understands the potential impact of this programme and is doing all it can as a valuable partner,” he said.

Nigerian Govt. Plans to Reduce Out-of-school Children by 70%

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

July 27, 2022

0

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF, in its recent data, pegged Nigeria’s out-of-school children to 18.5 million.

But the federal government has said it plans to reduce out-of-school children by 70 percent. This means that the federal government plans to take 12 million children back to school. 70 percent of the 18.5 million accounts for 12.6 million children.

This was however disclosed by the Senior Special Adviser to the Vice President on Economic Matters, Yosola Akinbi, in a virtual interview with newsmen.

According to her, out-of-school children remain one of the focus points of the federal government, adding that they plan to cut it down by 70 percent.

She said, “The out-of-school children in Nigeria is one of the things we are focusing on and the vision that we have in terms of target, is for us to see how we are going to reduce the out-of-school children by at least 70 percent.”

Akinbi maintained that the federal government also plans to double primary school enrollment from 46 to 90 percent and secondary school enrollment from 40 to 80 percent.

In her words, “We have a vision page. That vision page exactly tells us what we are trying to achieve. In terms of primary school enrolment we want to double it from 46 percent to 90 percent by 2030. Specifically focusing on doubling female enrolment.

“We also said we need to double secondary school completion rate, because we found out that it is not just about getting into secondary school, especially the girls, they do not complete secondary school. And so we think that we need to double it from 40 to 80 percent.

“Of course it is not just about getting these children in school, it is also very important to actually improve the outcomes, that’s why we need to achieve the 80 percent pass rate for students. That’s why we are working also on the teachers and the teacher’s education as well.”

To this end, she expressed optimism that Nigeria’s productivity level should be at 55 percent by 2030, saying that the federal government wants 24 million healthy, educated and productive Nigerians entering the labour market.

“It’s very ambitious but I think we must come from that high level to see how we would participate, contribute and be part of the process to ensure Nigeria moves forward by 2030. Nigeria’s productivity level should be at least 50, 55 percent by 2030.

“We want to have 24 million additionally healthy, educated and productive Nigerians serving and not stunted. We want to have educated and productive Nigerians entering the labour market by 2030,” she stated.

LAWMA Academy Organises Free Summer School for Children

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

July 27, 2022

0

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Academy has announced that a four-week summer school for children, aged 8–13, will commence next month.

This is contained in a statement issued on behalf of the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Ibrahim Odumboni.

According to the statement, the summer school will begin from 1st August to 26th August, at its headquarters, Ijora-Olopa, on the tenets of effective waste management.

It is the second edition of the programme which debuted last year, aimed at educating pupils on effective waste management and environmental best practice.

Odumboni said the summer school was put together to groom the younger generation on the need to imbibe a positive mindset and outlook on environmental issues, during the holiday period.

“We have designed the Summer School program to educate children from a tender age on the concept of waste and environmental management, to raise ambassadors for a cleaner and healthier environment, with seasoned facilitators in a conducive learning environment.

“This will help to groom children as responsible environmental advocates while providing other fun-filled activities to aid the learning process”.

He urged parents and guardians to use the opportunity presented by the long vacation in school to enrol their children and wards for the summer school.

Team Lead of the Academy, Elizabeth Ademola said the summer school program was structured to simplify the concepts of waste and environmental management to children.

According to her, the program will ensure that every child gets sufficient and holistic knowledge of issues bordering on environmental sustainability.

“Being an educative/social forum, we have designed various activities such as classroom lessons, quiz competitions, essay competitions, debates, indoor and outdoor games, impromptu speeches, excursions, video games, Culinary classes, Field trips and Excursions, research and experiments on waste management, career talks and lots more,” she stressed.

She further informed that registration for the free summer school programme would end on Friday, 29th July, 2022.

Security Threat: FCTA Orders Abuja Private Schools’ Closure

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

July 27, 2022

0

The Federal Capital Territory has directed the closure of all private schools in Abuja.

The directive comes amidst threats of attacks in the capital city.

Security agencies reportedly got a security report that the Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram planned to attack Lagos, Kaduna, Kogi, Katsina and Zamfara states as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

Earlier, the Federal Ministry of Education had ordered the immediate closure of one of its Unity Colleges, the Federal Government College Kwali, located in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

The decision was taken after a reported terrorist attack on the neighbouring Sheda community in the Area Council, which is close to the college.

However, in a statement signed by the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools in Nigeria, Abuja. News correspondent gathered that the directive to shut down schools came from the FCT Education secretariat.

The message reads, “Dear school educators, instruction reaching me now from the Ag. Director DQA is that the FCT Education secretariat has directed that schools are to make sure all examinations going on should be ended by Wednesday, July 27, 2022, and all students including those in boarding should be allowed to go home for the holiday.

“Those writing external examinations and schools that have planned their end of the year speech and prize giving day beyond Wednesday, 27th could go ahead as planned but must put adequate security in place to safeguard both students and staff of their schools, you are addressed strictly to the above instructions”.

Confirming the authenticity of the statement, the publicity secretary, NAPPS, AMAC, Peter Edoh said, “Yes. It is very true”.

There have been reports of attacks in the capital city following the release of senior commanders of the Boko Haram during the invasion of the Kuje prison.

Nigeria’s Law Makers Vows To End ASUU Strike

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

July 27, 2022

0

The House of Representatives says it will intervene in the dispute between the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the federal government of Nigeria.

The Chairman house committee on labour, Muhammad Wudil, made the remark when he led other members of the house to receive the Nigerian labour Congress and it’s affiliate unions who were in the National Assembly to protest the prolonged ASUU strike.

He stated that since the beginning of the strike action, the house has been consulting relevant stakeholders with a view to ending the crises.

The lawmaker assured the protesting unions that the National Assembly would invite all the stakeholders to sit down and see how the crises could be resolved.

He noted that even the lawmakers who have undergraduate children also feel the pain of seeing their children at home.

Earlier, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, Comrade Ayuba Waba, stated that they were in the National Assembly to register their protest on the lingering ASUU strike and the urgent need to end it.

Comrade Wabba, who expressed the union’s support to ASUU, lamented that workers in Nigerian universities are the least paid in Africa.

The NLC President warned that if nothing is done after the protest, their next line of action would be a three day national protest and a strike action nationwide.

India: Toll From Toxic Liquor Rises To 38

By

Olasunbo Okoromi

-

July 27, 2022

0

State officials in India’s western state of Gujarat say the toll has risen to 38 after at least 10 more people were confirmed to have died following the consumption of toxic liquor.

“Some of the hospitalized persons who were in critical condition passed away overnight.

“They had consumed methyl alcohol which was almost undiluted, believing it to be liquor.” police official Ashok Kumar Yadav said.

Police launched an investigation and made six arrests after 51 people affected in Monday’s incident in the state’s adjoining districts of Ahmedabad and Botad were admitted to hospital, in addition to the deaths.

Sales and consumption of alcohol are prohibited in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, except by those holding a government permit.

Deaths from illegally produced alcohol, popularly called hooch or country liquor, are common in India, where few drinkers can afford branded spirits.

Methyl alcohol, also known as wood alcohol, is unsafe for human consumption and finds use in products from paint thinners to fuel, pesticides, and anti-freeze, among others.

Kwara Govt Flags Off 2022 Anti Rabies Vaccination Exercise

By

Olasunbo Okoromi

-

July 27, 2022

0

The Kwara State Government, North Central Nigeria, has flagged off this year’s State wide Anti Rabies Mass Vaccination Campaign Exercise in Ilorin, the State Capital.

The State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has equally approved the release of funds to kick start the exercise. The exercise is part of the present Administration’s efforts to eradicate incidence of Rabies through dogs and cats bites in the State.

Flagging off the exercise at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Headquarters, the State Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi, expressed government’s commitment to the well being of the people and animals in the State.

According to him, the State Government is investing heavily on both human and animal health in order to have a safe and healthy society.

Mr Alabi who was represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Raji Razaq noted that, if the society can tackle the issue of virus in dogs and cats, less will be done in taking care of humans with regards to rabies virus.

The Deputy Governor appealed for a strong collaborative effort from the stakeholders, with a view to ending transmission of rabies through regular vaccination, have a safe environment and a balance ecosystem in the State.

In their goodwill messages, the stakeholders at the event lauded the State Government’s strides in public health sector and called for more stronger ties to have a disease free society.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Director, Veterinary Services of the Ministry, Dr. Abdulateef Salman Olugbon, appreciated the State Government for the approval and release of funds for the exercise, noting that the gesture has shown that the Governor is committed to the peoples’ wellbeing at all costs.

Dr Olugbon called the general public especially both dogs and cats owners, to make their animals available for vaccination at the State’s Veterinary Offices across the 16 Local Government Areas of the State.

Balochistan Floods: Victims Appeal To Government For Rehabilitation

By

Angel Gimalo

-

July 27, 2022

0

More than 100 people have so far lost their lives due to recent heavy rains and floods in Balochistan, on Wednesday.

Balochistan is one of the four provinces of Pakistan.

It is learnt that the recent rains have wreaked havoc on different areas of Balochistan.

Thousands of houses have destroyed in the rains and floods; moreover, cattle heads worth millions of rupees have also been swept away in the more-than-heavier rains.

The destruction of houses has forced thousands of people to live under the open sky.

Balochistan’s land connection with the country has also severed due to the collapse of the Hub Link Bridge.

The victims have appealed to the government for immediate measures for their rehabilitation.