The Federal Government has assured the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) that it will address issues raises by the medical practitioners.
over the planned industrial action of the
This assurance was made during a conciliation meeting which held on Monday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The meeting ended with high expectations that the planned strike would be shelved.
At the discussion, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who convened the meeting gave an assurance that the government would address the issues raised by the doctors.
This comes two days after the resident doctors issued a three-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to address the issues raised by the union or risk a nationwide strike.
The demands include the doctors’ welfare, the residency training programme, and the poor state of infrastructure in government hospitals.
Government officials also at the meeting include the Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo.
The Federal Government of Nigeria Monday lifted the ban placed on the Executive Jets Air Services for violating the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)-induced lockdown order.
The private airline was suspended indefinitely on June 16 by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, for operating a controversial flight, conveying Nigerian popular musician, Azeez Fashola, otherwise called Naira Marley, and ex-BB Naija housemate, Kim Oprah, from Lagos to Abuja and back to Lagos for a concert.
The flight was said to have been approved for a different purpose at that time to convey a serving judge on official assignment from Lagos to Abuja and back to Lagos.
Disclosing the lifting of the suspension order during the bi-weekly Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing, Sirika explained that the Muhammadu Buhari administration decided to lift the ban following the compliance of the airline with sanctions imposed on it.
“Today, we lifted the ban on Executive Jets Air Services Limited. The firm has complied substantially with all of our imposed sanctions.
“The airline has paid parts of the fine and brought forward a payment plan for the balance. So, we have lifted the ban and the airline will continue to do its business. These kind of things are not punitive, they are things to make our industry work better and keep all of you safe,” the minister said.
Sirika added that he has not received the report of the investigation into alleged violations of the COVID-19 protocols by dignitaries who have been alleged to violate COVID-19 safety protocols at airports.
Some Nigerians including serving and former governors among others have been accused of violating COVID-19 safety protocols and the ban on air travels using private and official planes.
“As to the VIP offenders which are undergoing investigation, the report will be on my desk this week hopefully and we will keep Nigerians posted,” Sirika assured.
File Photo of African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina.
The special Committee set up by governors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has cleared Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the bank’s president of any wrong doing.
The committee chaired by former Irish President Mary Robinson sent in its findings yesterday saying “It has considered the President’s submissions”.
Coasting to a 5yr second term
With the conclusions of the Independent Review Panel exonerating the African Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina, of 16 allegations of ethical misconduct leveled against him by a group of whistleblowers, the road is now clear for the bank’s governors to re-elect him to a second five-year term during the forthcoming annual meetings of the bank scheduled for August 25-27.
The much awaited report by an Independent Review Panel completely exonerated Adesina of any ethical wrongdoings.
The Independent Review Panel was set up by the Bureau of Governors of the Bank, following a complaint by the United States, to review the process by which two previous organs of the bank – the Ethics Committee of the Board, and the Bureau of the Board of Governors – had previously exonerated Adesina.
The distinguished three-member Independent Review Panel include Mary Robinson, who is a former President of Republic of Ireland, a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Chairperson of the Elders, a global body of wise persons concerned with the world’s well-being; the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Gambia, Hassan Jallow; and Leonard McCarthy, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, a former Director for the Office of Serious Economic Offenses, and a former Head of the Directorate of Special Operations of South Africa.
The findings and rulings of the Ethics Committee were subsequently upheld by the apex Bureau of the Board of Governors in May, which cleared Adesina of any wrongdoing.
In its latest report, the Independent Review Panel stated that it “concurs with the (Ethics) Committee in its findings in respect of all the allegations against the President (Adesina) and finds that they were properly considered and dismissed by the committee.”
The panel once again vindicated Adesina and stated thus: “It has considered the President’s submissions on their face and finds them consistent with his innocence and to be persuasive.”
In January 2020, 16 allegations of ethical misconduct were leveled against Adesina by a group of whistleblowers. The allegations which were reviewed by the bank’s Ethics Committee of the Board of Directors in March, were described as “frivolous and without merit.”
Scorecard in last five years
Adesina is a highly decorated and distinguished technocrat and globally-respected development economist. He was awarded the prestigious World Food Prize in 2017 and the Sunhak Peace Prize in 2019 for global leadership in agriculture and for good governance.
Since taking over the reigns of the bank in 2015, he has introduced several innovative reforms including a High5 development strategy; a restructuring of the bank including setting up offices in several African nations to get closer to its clients; an Africa Investment Forum that has attracted $79 billion in investment interests into projects in Africa between 2018 and 2019.
He successfully led a historic General Capital Increase campaign that culminated in the bank’s shareholders raising the institution’s capital from $93 billion to $208 billion in October 2019.
In June and July respectively, global credit ratings agencies Standard and Poors and Fitch Ratings both affirmed the ‘AAA’ rating of the bank, with stable outlook.
Under Adesina’s leadership, the African Development Bank launched a $10 billion crisis response facility to boost African nations’ ability to tackle the health and economic effects of COVID-19.
Several governors of the bank speaking off the record, said It’s now time to put recent events in the past; provide the bank’s President with full support; and bolster the bank’s efforts on Africa’s critical development issues.
Edo State Peoples Democratic Party Governorship Campaign Council has told a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, to stop deceiving himself as the elders and leaders in the state could not be swayed by his pretenses and deceptive genuflections.
The council, which is part of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s re-election bid, allegedly described “Oshiomhole as a self-confessed liar and political swindler, who can no longer enjoy the trust and confidence of the people, including members of his party, APC, who not only suspended him but kicked him out as a national chairman on account of his penchant for deception.”
“It is sad that Oshiomhole thinks that he can use his antics, orchestrations and stage-managed kneeling to suddenly grip the elders and leaders of Edo State in his voodoo of deception, to accept the same individual he exposed as a fake pastor and treasury looter, who is only fit for ‘night meetings’ and should not be trusted with the position of the governor of Edo State.
“Oshiomhole ought to have also brought the already discredited APC candidate, Ize-Iyamu, along with him to kneel and plead for forgiveness over his alleged atrocities.
“Furthermore, the sacked APC national chairman ought to have also used the occasion to offer explanation to the elders of Edo State how he allegedly siphoned billions of naira Edo State funds, for which he is being dragged to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“It is unfortunate that Oshiomhole has turned himself into a wretched clown of a derelict circus, particularly as the people of Edo State can see through his selfish shenanigans and are not ready to dance to his deceptive tune.
“By trying to go back to his vomit, the former APC national chairman has confirmed that his intention is only to deceive. The people of Edo State know that Oshiomhole’s pain is that Governor Godwin Obaseki, upon assumption of office, refused to allow him to have unfettered access to the resources of Edo State which Governor Obaseki has continued to apply towards the development of the state.
“The Edo people are already aware that Oshiomhole is desperate to foist Ize-Iyamu, who, giving his antecedents as exposed by Oshiomhole, will be ready to grant him unrestricted access to continue looting the state’s treasury.
“We counsel Oshiomhole to stop deceiving himself and perish the dream of pillaging the treasury as the people of Edo State will never trade the focused, accountable, transparent and development-driven government under Governor Godwin Obaseki for deception, corruption, incompetence and disregard for value, which Oshiomhole, Ize-Iyamu and the APC have come to represent,” the council alleged, in a statement by Chris Osa Nehikhare.
African Development Bank has approved a sum of $27.4 million in grants to boost the African Union (AU)’s efforts to mobilise continental response to curb the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Speaking after the bank’s approval by its Board of Governors, President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, said: “With this financing package, we are reaffirming our strong commitment to a coordinated African response in the face of COVID-19.
“Most importantly, we are sending a strong signal that collectively, the continent can address the pandemic in Africa, which is straining health systems and causing unprecedented socio-economic impacts on the continent.”
The bulk of the bank’s grant financing for this operation, about $26.03 million, would help to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to respond to public health emergencies across the continent, while the balance of $1.37 million, would be a contribution to the AU COVID-19 Response Fund.
The two grants, from the bank’s concessional window, the African Development Fund, and the Transition Support Facility, would support the implementation of Africa CDC’s COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan through strengthening surveillance at various points of entry (air, sea, and land) in African countries; building sub-regional and national capacity for epidemiological surveillance; and ensuring the availability of personal protective equipment for frontline workers deployed in hotspots and testing materials.
The operation would also facilitate collection of gender-disaggregated data and adequate staffing for Africa CDC’s emergency operations center.
The approval came on the heels of a meeting of the extended Bureau of the AU Conference of Heads of State and Government with Africa’s private sector on April 22, chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, who is the current chairperson of AU.
Adesina, who attended the meeting, pledged strong support for the AU COVID-19 initiative.
AU Bureau meeting called for contributions to the African Union’s COVID-19 Response Fund established by the AU Commission chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, in March 2020.
At the beginning of February 2020, only two reference laboratories in Senegal and South Africa could run tests for COVID-19 on the continent.
Africa CDC, working with governments, World Health Organisation (WHO), and several development partners and public health institutes, have increased this capacity to 44 countries.
Despite this progress, Africa’s testing capacity remains at less than 600 per one million people compared to 50,000 in Europe.
“Our response today and support to the African Union, is timely and will play a crucial role in helping Africa look inward for solutions to build resilience to this pandemic and future outbreaks,” said bank’s Acting Vice President, Agriculture and Human Development, Wambui Gichuri.
This support would complement various national and sub-regional operations financed by the African Development Bank under its COVID-19 Rapid Response Facility to support African countries contain and mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.
File Photo of Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari.
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has named railway stations across the country after some prominent Nigerians citizens including late former Premier of Western Region, Obafemi Awolowo, Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate, Vice Yemi Osinbajo.
According to a statement by the Director of Press of the Transportation Ministry, Eric Ojiekwe, on Monday, also listed is the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola.
The selected prominent Nigerians described as ‘deserving’ by President Buhari’s definition contributed to the progress and development of their respective communities and the nation at large.
The Minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, stated that the president approved the naming of stations along the Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe/Ajaokuta/ Aladja/Warri corridors after the deserving Nigerians.
In the statement, Kajola Station is named after Vice President Osinbajo, Apapa station was named after Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while Agege Station is named after Minister of Works and Housing, Fashola.
Other notable Nigerians named after train station include Lateef Jakande (Agbado station), Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (Papalanto station), Wole Soyinka (Abeokuta station), Aremo Segun Osoba (Olodo station) Ladoka Akintola (Omio-Adio station) Obafemi Awolowo (Ibadan station) and Alex Ekwueme (Operation Control Centre).
ECOWAS delegate of Heads of State in Mali, July 24, 2020.
Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has adopted a declaration of formation of a Government of National Unity towards resolving the lingering crisis in Mali.
ECOWAS Heads of State and Government unanimously agreed to the formation of a Government of National Unity in which 50 per cent nominees would come from the government of the day headed by President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita; 30 per cent would come from the opposition; while 20 per cent nominees would be made by the civil society organisations (CSOs).
These were some of the highlights reached at a virtual Extraordinary Session of the leaders of the sub-regional body on Monday.
The meeting adopted positions to resolve crisis sparked off by disputed parliamentary elections held in Mali, which had led to widespread riots, arson and killings in the West African country.
It was agreed that given the numerous challenges facing the country, some members of government would be nominated before the National Unity Government is formed. These include: the Ministers in charge of Defense, Justice, Foreign Affairs, National Security and Finance.
The Malian President was equally mandated to ensure the stepping down of the 31 parliamentarians who emerged from the disputed polls, while a by-election would be held as speedily as possible.
Also agreed was that steps should be taken to reconstitute the Constitutional Court in the country as soon as possible, while a commission of enquiry would determine and identify those responsible for the violence that led to deaths and casualties as well as public properties destroyed between July 10 and 12.
Equally resolved was that the government would step up efforts to secure the release of opposition figure, Soumaila Cisse, kidnapped since March, among others.
ECOWAS Commission is to put in place a monitoring committee for the implementation of all the above measures.
This declaration, which is expected to be communicated to relevant organs of African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN), also agreed to support Keita in restoring peace and order to Mali, noting that no anti-constitutional change of government would be accepted anywhere in West Africa.
The virtual Extraordinary Session of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government was attended by Presidents of Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Mali, Senegal, Liberia, Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry, Cape Verde, The Gambia, and Niger Republic, who is the ECOWAS Chairman.
Equally present was President of ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou.
President Muhammadu Buhari at the virtual meeting of ECOWAS leaders. July 27, 2020. Photo: Femi Adesina
In his remarks, President Muhammadu Buhari appealed to government and people of Mali to consider recommendations of ECOWAS Special Envoy, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and his team, in resolving the political crisis, saying a government of national unity would provide inclusivity and ensure peaceful co-existence.
Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, urged Malian political leaders to consider the fragile peace in the country and the likely spiraling effect on the sub-region.
“I wish to place on record, my commendations for the various layers of efforts, and especially, of former President Goodluck Jonathan, whose painstaking engagements as Special Envoy and Mediator, provided clear road-map to contain the crisis in Mali.
“I appeal therefore, to all the Malian stakeholders to consider the proposals for the reform of the Constitutional Court and the established modalities for resolving the continuous 31 seats issue at the National Assembly.
“Equally significant, is the need to address governance challenges, whose manifestations are at the core of restiveness across the country. In order to address these matters holistically, it is important that all Malians embrace the call for a Government of National Unity where inclusivity of participation in the affairs of governing their country will be a responsibility of each and every Malian actor.
“I wish to reiterate the imperative of compromise and concessions for a peaceful resolution of the current crisis which would be acceptable to all parties,” Buhari said.
The President commended the Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, for convening the Extraordinary Session to discuss the socio-economic, political and security developments in Mali, especially, following the outcome of the Parliamentary elections in the country, last March 2020.
He said: “Excellencies, dear colleagues and brothers, may I recall that last March, Parliamentary elections took place in Mali. Regrettably, results of 31 seats arising from those elections, provoked the spate of unrest and protests that became violent with tragic consequences in July 2020.
“We are still living and contending with the negative fallout from those incidents. Our organisation, the ECOWAS, using its instrumentality of peaceful resolutions of crisis and in the context of our Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, embarked upon a series of efforts to address this crisis, at the levels of Ministerial Committee, Special Envoy and Mediator and to a select-group of Heads of State and Government and now, the Authority of Heads of State and Government, at this Extraordinary Session, today.”
Buhari thanked Development Partners, the European Union, France, AU and the UN, urging them to continue to support efforts for national-regional security and stability of West Africa.
All ECOWAS leaders at the summit appreciated Goodluck Jonathan, who had been appointed Special Envoy and Mediator in the crisis.
Baring any unforseen circumstance, secondary schools in the country would reopen as from August 4 for exit classes only (students in Senior Secondary 3).
Students would have two weeks within which to prepare for the forthcoming West African Examinations (WAEC) due to start on August 17.
These were some of the decisions unanimously agreed on Monday during a virtual consultative meeting between the Federal Ministry of Education, commissioners of education of the 36 states, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT), the proprietors of private schools, and chief executive officers of examination bodies.
The meeting agreed that “the exit classes should resume immediately after the Sallah break, from the 4th of August, 2020 to enable them prepare for the WAEC examinations scheduled to commence from the 17th of August, 2020,” said a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Bem Goong.
The meeting also resolved that a passionate appeal be made to the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and public spirited Nigerians for assistance to schools across the country to enable them fast track preparations for a safe reopening, as agreed.
The statement added that another meeting would be convened tomorrow, Tuesday, between the Federal Ministry of Education and chief executive officers of examination bodies namely, NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS to harmonise their examination dates, noting that decisions reached at the meeting would be expeditiously conveyed to stakeholders by the Federal Ministry of Education.
Nigeria's Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu
As part of efforts at restoring law and order in parts of Southern Kaduna affected by recent violence and other security challenges, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, Monday directed Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Umar Muri, to ensure full enforcement of a 24-hour curfew imposed by the Governor Nasir El-Rufai-led state government.
The police chief equally tasked Kaduna State Police Command “to ensure optimal deployment of both human and material assets of the Intervention Squad currently on ground in the state to safeguard lives and property of people in the communities.”
Adamu directed that Muri must “personally coordinate the operations of the Intervention Squad in carrying out collective and holistic tasks of ensuring peace and safety in the communities.”
The Squad comprises: the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Special Forces, Detectives/Intelligence Operatives as well as personnel of Kaduna State Police Command, the military and other security agencies.
IGP commiserated with the people of Kaduna State, particularly those who have lost their loved ones and property as a result of the crises. He assured that the Force would do everything within its powers and means to ensure that peace is restored in the affected areas.
Adamu, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, also enjoined the people of Kaduna State to cooperate with the police, the military and other law enforcement agencies as they carry out the full enforcement of the curfew amongst other measures directed at ensuring their safety.
He, however, warned troublemakers in the state to desist forthwith from acts of violence and lawlessness.
A collage of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and the Incumbent Governor of Edo State, also Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 19, 2020 Edo Guber Poll. Godwin Obaseki.
Three Commissioners of Edo State Oil Gas Producing Area Development Commission (EDOSOGPADEC) have resigned their position on Monday, and declared support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
The commissioners are: Emmanuel Odigie, Rilwanu Oshiomhole and Osamwonyi Atu, representing Edo Central, Edo North Senatorial districts and Orhionmwon constituency respectively.
Atu, in his resignation letter, said his decision to leave the Obaseki administration was to attend to family issues which has become necessary.
Few hours after their resignations, the trio declared support for Ize-iyamu, promising to campaign and work for the victory of APC in the September 19 governorship election.
Below are the resignation letters by the three Commissioners.
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