Coalition of youth organisations in Nasarawa State are in support of Federal Government’s proposed conversion of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Keffi to a teaching hospital for Federal University Lafia.
Malam Muhammad Lawal, Convener of the coalition and Leader of North Central, Arewa Youth Assembly for Good Leadership (AYAGL), made the declaration in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Minister of Health, Dr Osage Ehanire, recently disclosed Federal Government’s plan of upgrading FMC Keffi to a teaching hospital.
He stated that FMC Keffi have all the major equipment, personnel, medical experts and facilities that would facilitate a smooth take-off of the proposed teaching hospital.
Lawal added that FMC Keffi has facilities which would facilitate the clinical training of medical students in line with international standard to compete with their contemporaries worldwide.
He noted that the proposed teaching hospital in Keffi would cover for not only medical students but the dense population of Mararaba, Masaka and other communities in Karu Local Government as well as the country in general.
He said the decision of the Federal Government was well thought because the centre was strategically located in Keffi which serve as a gateway to the North East, a substantial part of the South East and the North Central.
“Most of Federal Government’s civil servants, who come from various states of the federation and reside in Masaka, Mararaba, Ado, and New Nyanya communities under Karu Local Government in Nasarawa, access medical services at FMC Keffi.
“We also observed that many of them who enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) use FMC Keffi as their health service provider.
“Therefore, the proposed upgrading of FMC Keffi to a teaching hospital for Federal University Lafia is a good decision that will benefit all Nigerians,” Lawal said.
He disclosed that already there was a call for the establishment of a National Trauma Centre at FMC Keffi to provide effective psychosocial support to the growing number of accident victims admitted at the centre.
“People traveling to Abuja from all the six states in the North East, South East and North Central passed through Keffi Highway and whenever they have an accident officials of Federal Road Safety Corps rush them to FMC Keffi.
“That’s why stakeholders are calling for the establishment of National Trauma Centre in Keffi to provide effective care for accident victims. Therefore, upgrading the FMC, Keffi to a teaching hospital will address that demand.”
Lawal, however, thanked the National Assembly, particularly Sen. Tanko Al-Makura, representing Nasarawa South Senatorial District, for sponsoring the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University Teaching Hospital Lafia.
The youth leader also thanked Nasarawa stakeholders who contributed either in joint capacity or individual capacity to actualise the establishment of Federal University Lafia teaching hospital.
The other members of the coalition are: African Visionary Leaders Association (AVILA), Partners for Nasarawa Youth Development (PANAYD) and Nasarawa Youth and Students Leaders Forum.
Group supports conversion of FMC Keffi to teaching
Nigerian Government Refutes Threatening Doctors on Strike
Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire says contrary to insinuations, government is not in any way threatening members of the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, who are currently on strike.
The Minister gave the clarification on Thursday at the State House, during the weekly Ministerial briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team.
He therefore, appealed to the Doctors to call-off the strike in the interest of humanity.
Commenting on the implementation of the ‘No work no pay,’ law by government, he said; “Yes, but that’s the standard thing. That’s the International Labour Organization, ILO recommendation that if you didn’t work, then why will you take your salary? Salary comes from taxpayers’ money. So if you did not work, why should you be paid? Because if that is so you can’t be encouraged to stay home for six months and your salary is running from public funds, from taxpayers’ money, or you have not given the community any service.
“So that no work, no pay is not just the government regulation. It is recommended specifically in International Labour Organisation provisions, that if you do not work, if you have not given any service, you can’t expect remuneration, because you can’t go to the market and buy something for nothing. You must put down something, you must put down work.
“The strike is not what we want now, we would like to again, use this platform to ask doctors to return to work, let us negotiate. We can do that among us.”
The Minister said; most of the issues in contention rest with State governments. He therefore, advised the striking Doctors to reach amicable resolutions with the various State governments concerned.
He emphasized that government would continue to appeal to the Doctors not to use strike as a tool, especially at a time of national need like now.
Algeria mob lynches man accused of arson
Algeria’s state prosecutor has ordered an investigation after a mob lynched a man accused of deliberately starting fires.
The murder happened in the Tizi Ouzou area, which has been hardest hit as dozens of fires have raged across the country for days – killing 69 people.
Video footage showed the suspected arsonist being beaten and then set alight.
Rights activists said the man had actually come to help fight the fires.
Senior Algerian officials have repeatedly said that arsonists are to blame for much of the devastation that the country’s endured in the series of blazes.
Malawi leader sacks minister over corruption allegation
Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has sacked the energy minister and his advisor who are facing corruption charges.
The two and one other official – Enock Chihana, a partner in the governing Tonse Alliance – were arrested on Monday for their alleged involvement in a state oil contract.
They were reportedly trying to influence the way that contracts for the supply of oil were awarded.
Minister Newton Kambala was not replaced upon his dismissal.
The functions of the energy ministry have been transferred to the president’s office.
The chief of staff Chris Chaima Banda’s replacement was also not named in the announcement about his dismissal.
Mr Kambala and Mr Banda have not commented on the matter.
Mr Chihana commented about the probe saying going to the anti-corruption bureau was a normal process and an opportunity to clear is name.
Rubble litters Mozambique city held by militants
The first broadcast pictures to come out of the recently retaken Mozambican port of Mocímboa da Praia show scenes of total destruction.At the weekend, Mozambican troops, with the support of a force from Rwanda, captured the city in the north of the country from Islamist militants.
Officials say that it will take a long time before normal life can return to the city as the militants destroyed the infrastructure.
This was once a very busy place with a dynamic economy driven by the port as well as fishing and agriculture. But now parts of Mocímboa da Praia have been reduced to rubble.
The images broadcast on state and independent TV channels show burnt-out transport lorries and demolished public buildings.
Banks, bus terminals and the buses were destroyed by fire. Shops, stalls and even people’s homes were not spared. The military is now in full control but says it is too early for people to return.
Indonesia regrets assault on Nigerian diplomat
The Indonesian gouvernement has expressed regret over the incident in which some of its immigration officials were filmed assaulting a Nigerian diplomat in Jakarta.
Footage circulating on médias sociaux showed Abdulrahman Ibrahim, a consular officer based in the Indonesian capital, being held down in a vehicle by several men.
Nigeria called it “an egregious act of international délinquance by the Indonesian state”.
A statement by the Indonesian foreign ministry – made available to journalists in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja – said what happened on 7 August was an incident isolé and that it did not affect Jakarta’s commitment to carry out its obligations as a host pays to diplomats.
The assault sparked outrage in Nigeria, with the government demanding punishment for l’immigration officials.
Nigeria has subsequently threatened to review its bilateral ties with the south-east Asian nation
Ethiopia rebels form alliance against government
Ethiopia’s rebel Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) says it has agreed a military alliance with Tigrayan forces from the north of the country to fight the government. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has not made a statement on the pact but a spokesperson for the group confirmed the agreement to the Bloomberg news agency.
The government designated both groups as terror organisations in May. An alliance between the OLA and Tigrayan forces could put further pressure on Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The government has not only had to battle Tigrayan forces – it’s also facing a series of conflicts in different parts of the country.
The OLA, which is pushing for the self-determination of the Oromo people, has had limited military successes, but it’s made parts of the region very unstable. Most of the internal conflicts in Ethiopia have been isolated and based on local grievances – by forming an alliance the OLA and Tigrayan forces appear to be attempting to change that.
Recently, the federal government has suffered a series of defeats in northern Ethiopia losing territory to Tigrayan fighters. It suspended a unilateral ceasefire and called on the federal army and its allies to end the destruction caused by the TPLF once and for all.
Experts weigh costs as FG plans to unban Twitter
The Federal Government has hinted at a possible resolution to the suspension of micro-blogging platform, Twitter in Nigeria.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja, rcently.
While the ban has entered its 69th day in the country, the FG disclosed that the plan to lift the suspension was based on some of the agreements reached in most areas of contention with the platform.
Despite the ban, many Nigerians still have access to the site using virtual private networks (VPN). “We have made tremendous progress. The end for an amicable solution is in sight,” the government said.
Reactions have trailed the move by FG to lift the ban on Twitter. Some stakeholders in the technology space, who spoke with The Guardian, said the ban ought not to have been in the first place.
The Chairman, Mobile Software Solution, Nigeria, Chris Uwaje, said the new development goes a long way to validate the position that the initial decision of the FG was a very hasty one, with limited or zero impact analysis by professionals.
NASS approves extra-budgetary funding for military equipment
President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan says the National Assembly has approved extra-budgetary funding for modern equipment to enhance fire power and operational needs of the armed forces.
Lawan, represented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Sen. Aliyu Wamako, disclosed this at the graduation dinner for the National Defence College (NDC) Course 29 Participants on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that the additional funding would help the military to acquire Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (CIEDs), intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, reconnaissance and communication equipment.
According to him, the Federal Government will continue to reform not only our armed forces but also the institutions and departments that serve them by encouraging a culture of creativity and intelligence risk taking.
About 1.3 million candidates write 2021 NECO exam — Registrar
No fewer than 1.3 million candidates are currently writing the National Examination Council (NECO) internal examination nationwide.
Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, the Registrar of NECO, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) on Thursday in Yola.
Wushishi said that he was in Adamawa to monitor the conduct of the ongoing NECO Senior Secondary School Examination nationwide.
He recalled that in 2020, about 1.1 million candidates sat for the examination, adding that the increment of students was a testimony to the recognition and acceptability growth of NECO.
According to the registrar, the body has put in place many mechanisms to protect the integrity and standard of the examination, as well as to checkmate the activities of saboteurs and other criminals.
He said very soon, the body would introduce computer-based examination.
