Kwara Govt Approves Recruitment Of 197 Medical Personnel

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July 6, 2022

The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the recruitment of at least 197 different medical professionals to boost the human resources and efficient service delivery in the health sector.

The Director General of the Kwara State Hospital Management Board Mr. Sa’ad Aluko said in a statement on Sunday, that the approval includes employment of eight consultants, 23 medical doctors, and 72 nurses with varying specialties.

The approval also covers three senior registrar, 13 pharmacy technicians, six pharmacists, four medical laboratory scientists, five scientific officers, 20 Community Health Extension Workers (CHEW), 20 Junior CHEW, and 23 hospital attendants.

“We indeed commend the Governor for this timely approval as it will help to replace some of the hands that we have lost to attrition or retirement. This also complements the unprecedented infrastructural development we have seen in the health sector. We have several modern equipments recently procured by the state government,” he said.

“Hiring new hands to deploy these machines for the good of the masses completes a great effort of His Excellency to significantly turn around the fortune of this important sector in line with his campaign mantra. We are so grateful.

“The doctors include dentists to strengthen the new dental centre, while the eight consultants include two anaesthetists to man the new Intensive Care Unit even as government trains more perioperative/theatre nurses for the facility,” he added.

Aluko said the process has since begun, adding however that most of the new officers and health workers would be taken from the large pool of Kwarans who had earlier applied and had been interviewed for the jobs last year.

FCT Minister alleged Ban on Alcohol, Closure Order By 7pm an attempt at Islamization – Nnamdi Abana

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Henry Williams

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July 6, 2022

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Nigeria seems to be undergoing a metamorphosis. The Islamization of Nigeria and the compelling drive for Nigerians of different religious leaning to conform to the dictates of Islamic tenets is now being impudently entrenched.

The world will not easily forget the gruesome execution of Deborah who was killed for committing blasphemy, nothing happened to the culprits and that inspired the incident that happened in Abuja where another Nigerian was executed for the same offence and nothing happened.

We only hear commentaries about how such offenders would be arrested but eventually, nothing happens and everyone moves on.

So, executions for blasphemy have been normalised in Nigeria which is a secular state; worse still most presidential aspirants are mute on this subject. One of them withdrew his tweet while blaming his “overzealous staff” for sending out the tweet on his behalf.

We all need to wake up and exercise our rights as Nigerians. Docility will only mortgage our future and freedoms.

We are also not unaware of the recent Supreme Court judgement which legalised and institutionalised the wearing of a Hijab by students in public institutions in spite of the convergence of students from different religious persuasion or backgrounds. The judgement was not just obnoxious but a judgement from unjust judges.

Then again, we need to know the religious background of the Supreme Court justices. The judgement elicited protestations from a Christian lawyer and a traditionalist lawyer who decided to jettison the conventional wig and gown to appear in court in their religious regalia.

Such open protests are good for a nation as ours to compel sensitive institutions to abstain from abusing the constitutional powers that they exercise.

Worse still, the Islamization project is now being rubbed in with impudence. Today, we’ve just been informed that Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory Ministry just banned the sale and consumption of alcohol in gardens, parks and other public places and they have also set the closing time for such public places to be 7:00 pm.

It is sad to note, that the mischief inherent in the announcement is that they failed to appropriately use the right term by stating that “THE MINISTER of the FCT has banned the sale of alcohol…”, they chose the expression “FCT Ministry. The Ministry takes instruction from the FCT Minister and such instructions could emanate from the President, who knows?

In all these, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) seems to be fast asleep, and the Conference of Nigerian Bishops, PFN and other religious groups seem to be oblivious of a religious agenda that is incrementally being executed.

This is the time for Christians, CAN, Christian organisations and other religious groups to assert the neutrality that the nation has maintained over the years on religion due to the plurality of the Nigerian religious background.

Nigeria is and remains a secular state and attempts to convert the country into a religious state should be vehemently opposed. Faith is by conviction and not by compulsion

NYSC DG Shares Security Tips With Corps Members

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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July 5, 2022

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The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), on Tuesday, cautioned corps members posted to Gombe State against accepting rides from strangers as a way of ensuring their safety.

The Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen Mohammed Fadah, gave the advice at the temporary orientation camp in Amada, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State, during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Batch ‘B’ Stream I Orientation Course.

Fadah said it was important for corps members to be security conscious at all times and avoid acts that could endanger their lives.

He listed some of the acts to include acceptance of rides from strangers, staying out late, attending night parties, visit dangerous places among others.

Fadah, who was represented by the NYSC State Coordinator, Ada Imoni, however, said the scheme was committed to ensuring the safety of all corps members.

He noted that the corps members have the responsibility of complementing the scheme’s efforts by not exposing themselves to danger.

“The management remains committed to your security and general welfare. Accordingly, we are in constant liaison with security agencies and other stakeholders.

“This is with the view to ensuring your safety as well as addressing other essential needs for a fulfilling service year,” he said.

Fadah also warned against unauthorized journeys and night trips, adding that traveling at night would not only increase the risk of an accident but also make rescue difficult.

“You are, therefore, advised to always cut short your trips from six o’clock in the evening and pass the night at NYSC lodges, military barracks, and other locations officially designated as safe.

“Furthermore, you should board vehicles only at approved motor parks so as to avoid falling prey to criminals,” he said.

About 1,240 corps members, comprising 903 males and 337 females have been posted to various communities across the state for their primary assignments.

Central African Republic launches Country’s official crypto, Sango Coin

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webmaster

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July 5, 2022

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Faustin-Archange Touadéra, the President of the Central African Republic (CAR) has launched Sango Coin, the country’s national cryptocurrency. He made the announcement at an online event yesterday.

At the event, the president outlined plans for bitcoin and the national crypto utilization. Although the specific details about the national token have not been disclosed, the significant focus will be on tokenizing the country’s resources, in order to bolster investment opportunities

This project is spearheaded by Toudera, and also backed by the Central African Republic’s National Assembly, hence, the country becomes the second, after El Salvador, to adopt bitcoin as a legal tender.

According to President Touadéra in his address:

“Sango Coin will be the next-generation currency for the Central African Republic…The alternative to cash is cryptocurrency. For us, a formal economy is no longer an option”
President Touadera

Federal Govt. Yet to Respond To Our Demands — ASUU

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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July 5, 2022

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said the Federal Government’s promise of immediate reply to its submission to the committee set up to negotiate with it has not been fulfilled nearly a month after.

The union has also called on well-meaning citizens of the country to take the government to task on how it is handling the running of universities and education generally in the country.

The National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said this in a chat with the Vanguard on Tuesday.

This is just as Prof. Nimi Briggs who led the committee set up by the FG to renegotiate the 2009 agreement with ASUU said he would not know what is causing the delay in the government making its stance known on the report submitted to it.

“When we met with the Briggs Committee about a month ago and our submission made, it promised to report back to the government and revert to the union immediately. Up until now, we have not heard anything from their side. It shows the levity with which they take the issue.

“They have stopped our salaries since March, we didn’t die because of that. We only want Nigerians to see this as a battle we must all fight.

That our education system should be adequately funded, facilities improved on and that education as a right should not be taken away from the average citizen.

The ball is in their court and when the right thing is done we will all benefit and our society better for it,” he said.

When contacted on what is causing the delay in the government’s response to ASUU’s demands and government’s stance on the report of his committee, Brigss said, “I don’t know.”

According to him, the committee had concluded its assignment and handed over its report to the appropriate authorities.

“Acting on the report or not is not within our purview. We cannot also force anybody to do anything.

“We have done our assignment.”

The Director, Public Affairs, Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong when asked what the Federal government is doing about the report, said he was not authorized to speak on anything relating to ASUU.

Recall that ASUU has been on strike since February 14 this year.

Alleged Sexual Assault: Rivers State University Suspends Prof. Ogbonna

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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July 5, 2022

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The Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has suspended former Head of Department of Microbiology, Prof. David N. Ogbonna, who is standing trial for alleged sexual assault on a female student.

The suspension followed a preliminary report from the Academic, Ethics Enforcement Committee of the institution.

The report was forwarded to the Governing Council and the matter has been referred to the Joint Council and Senate Disciplinary Committee on Staff Matters for detailed investigation and recommendation to Council.

Ogbonna, who was head of Microbiology Department of University was last week arraigned before a Port Harcourt Magistrate Court by the Rivers State Police on Tuesday on charges of unlawful sexual assault on a 20- year-old female student of his department.

The court had granted him bail to the tune of N2,000,000 and other stringent bail conditions and case adjourned.

The Senior Lecturer was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Menenen F. Poromon of Chief Magistrate Court 13, for assaulting a 20 year- old female student, on the 16th day of May, 2022 at Rivers State University campus, an offence punishable under section 360 of the criminal code CAP 37 Vol.11 of laws of Rivers State, Nigeria 1999.”

The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His lead Defence lawyer, O.C. Higher King, urged the court to grant the his client bail on self-recognition considering his status in the society.

However, the lead lawyer holding brief for International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rivers State branch, Emi Jim George, urged the court not to grant the accused bail in view of alleged threat to the life of the ‘ victim’.

The Chief Magistrate Poromon subsequently adjourned the case to July 20, 2022.

NYSC DG Urges Employers To On Corpers’ Welfare, Security

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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July 5, 2022

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The Director-General of the National Youths Service Corps, Mohammed Fadah, has urged employers of labor to accept corps members posted to their organisations.

He noted that they should take seriously the welfare, security of life, and property of corps members, stressing that it would encourage them to be committed.

Fadah made this appeal during the closing ceremony of the Batch B Stream I corps members at the temporary orientation camp, Amada Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.

No fewer than 1,240 corps members, which include 903 males and 337 females, completed their mandatory three-week camp training and have since been deployed to their Places of Primary Assignments.

According to Fadah, employers should provide an enabling environment for the corps members to thrive, reminding the 1,240 corpers of the need to exhibit the best behaviour.

He said, “I consider it appropriate to, once again, appeal to corps employers to always accept corps members posted to them, and make the necessary provisions for their welfare.

“In addition, I urge you to mentor them properly to enable them to develop their potential. I also call on other stakeholders, including State and Local Government authorities as well as traditional rulers, to give the necessary encouragement to the corps members.”

While commenting on the next phase of life for the 1,240 Batch B Stream I corps members, the DG emphasised the need to show patriotism to the country and their immediate environment, harping that defaulters would be meted appropriate punishments.

“My dear compatriots, as you begin the next phase of the service year, I urge you to sustain the spirit of patriotism, hard work, and resilience which you imbibed during the Orientation Course. It is my ardent hope that you will strive to meet the expectations of Nigerians by contributing to the progress and development of our fatherland.

“Your letters of posting to PPAs will be handed to you soon after this ceremony. In this regard, I would like to remind you of your oath of allegiance in which you pledged to accept posting in good faith. I enjoin you to perform your duties with diligence and be guided by the provisions of the NYSC Act and Bye-Laws as well as workplace rules and regulations. In keeping with the objectives of the scheme, you are expected to integrate into your host communities while also appreciating and respecting their cultures.

“I must, however, emphasise that engagement in their local politics is a no-go-area for you. Furthermore, I enjoin you to undertake personal and group Community Development Service projects that will help to uplift the living standard of the people of your host communities,” Fadah added.

“I have never said that people should invest in crypto” – Elon Musk

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webmaster

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July 5, 2022

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In a recent interview, Tesla and SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk Musk denied prompting people to invest in crypto but confirmed having some investment in Bitcon.

When asked if people should still invest in decentralised assets after what the market experienced in the last month, his response was not so enthusiastic for the market.

“I have never said that people should invest in crypto. In the case of Tesla, SpaceX, myself, we all did buy some Bitcoin, but it’s a small percentage of our total cash assets, so not all that significant.”
Elon Musk

Elon Musk however has always been a proponent of cryptocurrency, tagging it the “currency of the future”. Moreso, his companies, SpaceX and Tesla accept crypto payments. He also has disclosed plans of incorporating crypto payments into Twitter when he takes over fully.

Aisha Buhari Restates Commitment To Tertiary Education Development

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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July 5, 2022

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The Aisha Buhari Foundation (ABF) on Monday restated its commitment to promote tertiary education development in the country.

Its Founder and Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, made the statement while presenting books and other research materials to the Federal Capital Territory College of Education, Zuba (FCT) Abuja.

Represented by the foundation’s Media Officer, Bisi Olumide-Ajayi, Buhari described tertiary education as crucial to Nigeria’s development.

She said the foundation would continue to partner relevant domestic and international stakeholders to support tertiary education development.

The ABF founder urged the management of the college to use the materials judiciously in the interest of learning.

”Our interest is that these materials should be used to benefit the students and the institution at large,” she said.

Responding, the college Provost, Dr Mohammed Hamza, described the gesture as a good omen.

Represented by the Deputy Provost, Dr Sule Mundo, Hamza thanked the foundation for identifying with the needs of the institution.

”We are determined to make the best use of every support given to us. Our job is to impart knowledge, we appreciate this gesture,” he said.

The ABF also made similar donations to some schools in the FCT.

The schools are, LEA Primary Schools Jahi, Kado, Kuchigoro, Kuruduma-1 and Junior Secondary School, Kpebi

Katsina: Lack of Funds Delays Education Development– Official

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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July 5, 2022

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Katsina State Government says that shortage of funds has contributed a lot to the delay in development of some parts of the education sector since the inception of Gov. Aminu Masari’s administration.

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Prof. Badamasi Lawal who disclosed this while speaking to newsmen on Monday in his office, said the challenge had affected every sector.

The Commissioner who was responding to newsmen on some dilapidated school structures, added that the government could not do everything at the same time.

According to him, with the shortage of funds, the state government had done a lot in terms of schools partial renovation, full rehabilitation and construction of new ones.

“Despite the shortage of funds this government found itself, almost every other structure was dilapidated when the government came on board in 2015.

“But I am happy to say, look at the enormous development this government brought in education, before you look at the other side where it’s still waiting.

know it is waiting, it is not a hidden thing. We can not go round at the same time because of the shortage of funds.

“But I assure you, if you go through our records, you will find this evidence.” He added

The commissioner further said, “If you go round to areas where this government did work from 2015 to date, you will witness a number of schools that have been either totally or partially renovated across the state.

“These are some of the developments or key indicators that would show that Katsina State under Gov. Masari, has done very well in its own resources.

” But let me start with the achievements we made so far within this period.

“Of course, there are so many areas where you will meet problems. But let me start with the achievements we made so far within this period.

“Let me say infrastructure, when you go across these three senatorial zones in the state, we have constructed seven new schools.

“We have also partially renovated many schools – fully renovated over 57 across the 34 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

“Look at this, we have 560 secondary schools in the state. So look at it, what comes to Katsina is the only thing we can do.

“We thank God, at the end of the day you can now see the impact of this. We know, even by budgeting, because you cannot spend money by budgeting.

“Whatever we budgeted for, not up to 40 per cent of that money comes to Katsina. Since from the budget you can see the deficit.

Prof. Lawal explained that, whatever the government of Gov. Masari intends to do can only be achieved when there is money.

The commissioner added that supposing the government had enough money, it would have done more.

You will recall that during a recent visit to some communities by a team of newsmen, some community leaders expressed concern over the poor condition of schools in their areas.