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4Nov By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Anti-graft: ICPC advocates living wages for workers

By Isaac Aregbesola Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has stressed the need for better living wages as an antidote to corrupt practices in the Civil Service. Owasanoye said this on Thursday in Abuja at a National Policy Dialogue on Living Wages and Corruption in Nigeria. The dialogue is organised by ICPC in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria and Michael Imodu National Institute for Labour Studies. The ICPC boss, who described 'poor living wage' as an enabler of corruption in Public Service, said one of the ways to address corruption in the sector was to enhance the living wage. According to him, there exists a direct relationship between poor living wages and corruption, wh...

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4Nov By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Tinubu directs reform, reactivation of Presidential Project Delivery Tracker

President Bola Tinubu has directed the reactivation of the Presidential Delivery Tracker to empower Nigerians to track the implementation of projects across the country in real time. The President gave the directive on Friday during the closing session of the three-day Cabinet Retreat in Abuja. He said that his determination to ensure the active and direct participation of citizens in governance was unwavering, noting that all Nigerians must be given the opportunity to track and report on the implementation of projects across the country. He also said that he had asked his Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, to immediately reactivate the tracking system in a way that maximally leverages on cutting-edge digital innovation to provide real time oversight ca...

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4Nov By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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UNESCO advocates increased access to education, health services for girl-child

By Justina Auta The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has advocated for improved access to education and health services for the wellbeing of the girl-child and vulnerable groups. Mr Phillipe Delanghe, Officer in Charge in the Abuja Regional Head of Office UNESCO, made the call on Friday during the 2023 International Day of the Girl-Child celebration. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of this year's celebration is "Invest in Girls' Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being". Delanghe noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had reversed gains made in the education of girls, increased inequalities, deepened the national learning crisis and exposed them to exploitation and abuse. He explained that girls in Nigeria had fewer ed...

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4Nov By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Rotary Club, Abuja Hospital takes free polio vaccination to FCT Community

The Rotary Club of Abuja Asokoro Diamond, in collaboration with Silver Cross Hospital, Abuja has organised a free polio awareness and vaccination exercise to children in Jiwa community in the Federal Capital Territory. Mrs Shola Adeleke, President, Rotary Club of Abuja Asokoro Diamond, said there has been significant progress in the eradication of polio in Africa and as such it was important to completely kick it out of the continent. "Timely and effective interventions will halt polio virus circulation and enable us reach the global goal of polio eradication. "It is important for Nigeria and other countries of the African region to prioritize delivering vaccination campaigns and carrying out routine immunization. "This is a critical step towards our region's path to polio erad...

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3Nov By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

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Nigerian Soldiers, SSS Foil Boko Haram Attack, Arrest Two In Kano

Joint troops of the Nigerian Army and the State Security Service (SSS) have successfully foiled an imminent attack on Kano by suspected Boko Haram insurgents. In a statement on Friday, army spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu said the troops of the 3 Brigade Nigerian Army, in close cooperation with the SSS, raided the terrorists’ hideout in the early hours of Friday in the Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State. He said the operation was to uncover and apprehend suspected Boko Haram terrorists believed to be planning a major operation in the state. The army spokesperson said the troops apprehended two suspects, who are now in custody. “During the operation, the joint troops recovered five AK 47 Rifles, five AK 47 Rifle Magazines, one Rocket Propelled Gun (RPG and five ...

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3Nov By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

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FAO: Over 26 Million Nigerians At Risk Of Food Insecurity In 2024 Over Inflation, Banditry

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says at least 26.5 million Nigerians in Borno, Sokoto and Zamfara States, including the FCT, may face a food crisis between June and August 2024. FAO country representative Dominique Kouacou disclosed this at the presentation of the October to November round of the Cadre Harmonise (CH) food security and early warning analysis on Friday in Abuja. Mr Kouacou was represented by Abubakar Suleiman, assistant FAO representative, programme. The CH conducted the analysis in 26 states and the FCT to ascertain the food security situation and make projections for the future. According to him, the current cycle is happening after an unusually lean season which witnessed several shocks, ranging from persistent insecurity situations like insurgency...

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3Nov By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Road Rehabilitation: AMAC Chairman reiterates commitment to infrastructural development

Mr Christopher Maikalangu, Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has reiterated his commitment to providing infrastructural development in the area council. He gave the assurance at the ground breaking ceremony to mark the commencement of the Mabushi Township Road Project, on Thursday in Abuja. He said that as a responsible government, his administration remained committed to delivering the yearnings and needs of the people. Maikalangu said that the road rehabilitation project was necessary to enable AMAC residents feel the impact of good governance in their various communities. "Providing basic infrastructures such as this cannot be rated luxurious but they should be rated as necessary facilities to make life easy. "It will also motivate residents to carry out their...

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3Nov By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Imo guber: IGP pledges zero tolerance for criminals

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun has warned criminals to stay away  from the Nov. 11 Imo governorship election or face the wrath of the law. Egbetokun gave the warning on Thursday in Owerri at a meeting of stakeholders ahead of the governorship poll in the state. The police boss said anyone seen with arms on the day of election would  be treated as a criminal. “We are aware that criminals who may want to come out with their arms on the day of election are around. “They have used those arms on security agents before and we are still looking for them, we may be lucky to catch them on the day of election,” Egbetokun said. He also advised parents to warn their children and wards not to be used to disrupt the election. ...

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3Nov By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Postponed 2023 Census: Items procured available for scrutiny — Chairman

The Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Alhaji Nasir Kwarra, has assured that the N200 billion spent on the postponed 2023 census was judiciously utilised and items procured available for scrutiny. Kwarra said this on Thursday in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, while fielding questions from journalists on the sideline of the opening ceremony of the Training Interviewers for the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). The House of Representatives had on Wednesday sought to investigate the N200 billion spent on preparations for the postponed 2023 census by NPC. The NPC boss said the procurement preparatory processes for the census were enduring and items procured durable as they would be used for the next census because they are readily available. “We don’t have t...

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3Nov By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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INEC defends N18bn supplementary budget

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has defended a supplementary budget of N18 billion at the National Assembly, largely aimed at addressing the issue of staff welfare and allowances. The commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, according to the INEC daily bulletin on Thursday in Abuja, led a team from the commission to defend the supplementary budget before the House of Reps Committee on Electoral Matters and the Senate Committee on INEC on Wednesday. It recalled that the commission had earlier sent a proposal of N18 billion to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and defended it before the Executive, who referred it to the National Assembly for approval. It quoted Yakubu during the budget defense, stating that N10.6 billion out of the sum will enable the comm...

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3Nov By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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NiMet predicts 3-day dust haze from Friday

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted dust haze from Friday to Sunday across the country. NiMet’s weather outlook released on Thursday in Abuja anticipated Dust haze with localiz\sed visibility of less than or equal to 1000m over the northern states throughout. “The forecast period with chances of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba  in the afternoon/evening hours. Sunny skies with few cloud patches are expected over the North Central in the morning. “Localized thunderstorms are expected over parts of Benue, Kogi and Kwara  during the afternoon/evening hours. “Cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are expected over the Inland states of the South and the Coastal areas in the morning with chances of thunderstorms over parts of Cross River and Akwa Ibom states...

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2Nov By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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I don’t interfere with labour matters in Imo – Uzodinma

Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo State says he does not interfere in the affairs of labour unions in the State. Uzodinma said this on Thursday while fielding questions from Correspondents in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to him, his administration accords priority attention to workers welfare and their wellbeing and never delays payment of their salaries for each month. "I don't interfere with labour matters but I have convinced my workers in Imo state to believe in me and that trust is what opposition parties are trying to fight. "But I can assure you that Imo people already have taken that decision. "Nov. 11 is by (around) the corner; Come and observe the election. "I came in January 2020 and, by March, I started paying Minimum Wage of N30,000 that has been laying t...

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2Nov By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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#ENDSARS :NHRC says 16 out of 29 states submitted panel reports

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) says it has received reports from 16 of the 29 states #ENDSARS panels set up to investigate human rights violations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other police units. The Executive Secretary of NHRC Mr Anthony Ojukwu, SAN said this in Abuja at an event to mark three years of #ENDSARS and submission of report on the protest by Enough is Enough (EIE), a non governmental organisation. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the panel was set up by the Federal Government in Nov. 2020 under former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo following the “ENDSARS Protest” which was triggered by nationwide allegations of Police brutality. NAN reports that 29 states set up panels at the state level and FCT which was an Independent...

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2Nov By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

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Police Deny Shooting At Fubara, Say Gov’s Presence At Assembly Complex Surprising

The Nigeria Police Command in Rivers State has denied claims that its personnel deliberately attacked the state governor Siminalayi Fubara during his visit to the state House of Assembly complex in Port Harcourt. Fubara alleged that some policemen shot, tear-gassed and used water cannons on him and his aides while on his way to assess the damaged state parliament building on Monday. A video trending on social media also confirmed that the governor’s claims drew wide condemnation from Nigerians across the country. Reacting, the spokeswoman for the police command in Rivers, Grace Iringe-Koko, denied the claim in a statement issued on Wednesday. She said the anti-protest policemen deployed to secure the assembly complex from further attacks were unaware the governor was among the ...

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2Nov By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

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EFCC Bans Overnight Raids

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has banned “sting operations at night time” for officers in all its commands across the country, it said in a statement late Wednesday. The development came after the night raid on students of Obafemi Awolowo University and amid backlash from Nigerians. The anti-graft agency had also labelled the undergraduates as internet fraudsters (Yahoo Boys) after seizing their mobile phones and laptops. Dele Oyewale, a spokesman for the EFCC, in a statement on Wednesday night, said the executive chairman of the commission, Ola Olukayode, gave the directive to stop the night operations. Mr Oyewale confirmed that the directive was in reaction to the arrest of 69 “suspected internet fraudsters” by operatives of the Ibadan Zonal of the commi...

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1Nov By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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We will revamp health services in Benue -CMD BSUTH

We will revamp health services in Benue -CMD BSUT By Bridget Ikyado Chief Medical Director, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, Dr. Stephen Hwande has promised Benue citizens the best and affordable medical services they deserved under the Governor Alias' Administration. He made this known to newsmen on Tuesday after taking a facility tour of the Muhammadu Buhari Mother and Child Hospital, Makurdi in preparatory to commencement of services. Dr. Hwande expressed appreciation to Governor Hyacinth Alia for his interest in the healthy wellbeing of Benue people, pointing out that his proactiveness was the reason why the Federal Government did not take back the hospital from the State Government due to under utilization. The Chief Medical Director said with full com...

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31Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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NMA tasks FG to improve the health sector

  The Nigeria Medical Association, Federal Capital Territory (NMA-FCT) has called on the Federal Government to appropriate the health sector financing and increase the the annual budget for the development of the sector. Dr Ishola Ibrahim, member of the association, made the appeal while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after the 2023 Physician Week, celebrated annually in October, with the Theme titled "This is Our Chance: To get it Right in the Health Sector." Dr Ibrahim told NAN that the physician week is an event to introspect and reflect on the essence of being a physician and the ethical implications of organ donation, which he described to have historic antecedents in the sector. According to him, the period was also a time for the association ...

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31Oct By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

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Appeal Court Affirms Natasha Akpoti As Winner Of Kogi Central Senatorial Seat

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has affirmed the election victory of Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Kogi Central senatorial election held in February. The three-member panel, in a judgment, upheld the decision of the state’s election tribunal and dismissed the appeal filed by Senator Abubakar Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The court agreed with the submission of counsel for Ms Akpoti-Uduagan, Joshua Usman, SAN, as meritorious. The appellate court also awarded N500,000 against Mr Ohere. The Kogi State National and State Assemblies Tribunal had, on September 6, declared Ms Akpoti-Uduagan the validly elected candidate for the poll. The tribunal also invalidated the victory of Mr Ohere. The tribunal c...

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31Oct By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments

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We Have No Plans To Redenominate Naira- CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says there are no plans to redenominate the country’s legal tender, the naira. The development is coming amid speculation that the CBN plans to change the naira notes to support the local currency against international currencies in the foreign exchange market. CBN had previously told Nigerians to ignore the rumours after a WhatsApp message was circulated in September, informing users of the messaging app that the apex bank plans to redenominate the naira. In a statement on Tuesday, signed by Isa AbdulMumin, CBN’s director of corporate communications, the apex bank reiterated that the financial regulator does not intend to redenominate the naira. Redenomination is the recalibration of a country’s currency, typically due to hyperinflation and cu...

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31Oct By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments

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Gov. Alia seeks increased military presence in Benue

By Bridget Ikyado Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue, has called for the deployment of more troops and more army Forward Operating Bases in some parts of Benue to address the security challenges bedeviling the state. Alia made the call when he paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on Tuesday in Abuja. He requested that the forward operating bases (FOBs) be established in Guma, Logo, Ukum and Kwande local government areas to help stem insecurity in the areas. He said that the people of Benue were agrarian people with farming as their main stay, adding that most fertile parts of the Benue Valley had become inaccessible to farmers due to threats by bandits and violence from armed herders. According to him, two to five or more people are kill...

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