CCT: 50 public officers in Akwa Ibom to be tried

NAN-H-14

Trial

Abuja, Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) would between Dec. 6 and Dec. 9 relocate to Akwa Ibom for the trial of 50 public officers in the state who allegedly breached the code of conduct ethics.

Mr Danladi Umar, Chairman of the tribunal, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to him, the defendants comprise of ex-Special Advisers and Local Government Councillors that served between 2008 and 2009.

According to him, two Clerks from Esit and Etim Local Governments will also be tried.

“The tribunal’s itinerant session helps to clear up backlogs of cases in the zone within the period of the session.

“It also makes legal services at the door step of the defaulters, particularly the low-ranking public officers and as well serves as a means of publicising the activities of the tribunal within the zone.

“The essence is to further strengthen relationship between CCT and the hosting state, whose infrastructure and other logistics would be used for the session,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tribunal is the enforcement and disciplinary arm of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

All public officers in the Federal, State and Local Government levels are compelled by the Act of the bureau to declare their assets within the period of engagement.

NAN further reports that the tribunal recently convicted the former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, for breaching CCB Act, while the trial of the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, at the tribunal is ongoing.

OMO/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-54
Chinyere Bassey
Steel
Lagos, Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) The National Union of Iron and Steel Workers on Wednesday said 3,000 of its members lost their jobs in the last quarter of 2015 following closure of steel companies.

Mr Kasimu Kadiri, General Secretary of the union told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the current economic recession had increased the number of unemployed people.

Kadiri was reacting to plans to shut the biggest pipe factory, SCC Nigeria Limited, due to the economic recession.

The pipe factory inaugurated a 280,000- ton ultra modern steel pipe manufacturing in Oct, 2015 in Ushafa, Abuja.

However, after several months of staying idle, the government announced plan to close it due to low patronage.

The union leader said continuous closure of steel companies had negatively affected the steel sector, especially its workers.

He appealed to the government to stop importation of finished steel products to allow local production thrive.

“Government should also create an enabling environment for local producers to grow to reduce the number of unemployed people.

“We are equally appealing to the government to revisit the Ajaokuta agreement and restructure it to absorb people in the labour market”, he said.

Kadiri explained that the 7th Senate cancelled the agreement with Global Infrastructure on Ajaokuta Steel which later opted for litigation.

He said the federal government should take advantage of the recent directive of the court that parties used alternative means to settle the matter. (NAN)
CHIN/OMO/IEA

Edited by Martins Odeh/Idahosa Asowata

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NAN-HE-17

Recession

By Mohammed Baba Busu

Lafia, Nov.30, 2016(NAN) Some lawmakers in Nasarawa on Wednesday  urged members of their constituencies to  pray for President Muhammadu Buhari and support him as he struggled to resuscitate the ailing economy.

The lawmakers, Mr.Murtala Sodangi and Mohammed Okpoku, members of Nasarawa state House of Assembly, made the call when Forum of Interim Management Committee (IMC) members of Nasarawa Local Government Area visited them in Lafia.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both Sodangi and Okpoku hail from Nasarawa Local Government area of the state.

They urged the IMCs members to work as a team and continue educating their constituents on governments’ policies and programmes in the interest of peace and national development.

In his remarks, Sodangi commended the IMCs members for the visit and assured them of his readiness to key into positive programmes and policies that had direct bearing on the lives of the state.

“Sustained prayers by the adherents of the two major religions in the country will definitely assist the president and other elected and appointed leaders to overcome both the economic and security challenges hindering the speedy development of the country,” he added.

Also speaking, Okpoku appealed to the people to be patient and prayerful as President Buhari strived to fix the economy.

“I believe that no condition is permanent; the recession is temporary; the economy will improve and the hardship will be history,” he said.

Earlier, Mr.Umar Namama, the chairman, Forum of IMCs, who spoke on behalf of others, said that the visit was to show solidarity and to appreciate the members for serving the people of their constituencies and the state in general. (NAN)

BAB/ASH/ASH

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UN experts warn against ethnic cleansing in S/Sudan

NAN-F-17

NAN-H-62
Inauguration
Kano, Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has inaugurated the state’s Contributory Health Care Management Agency in ‎his efforts to improve health service delivery system.‎

Ganduje‎ inaugurated the agency during the State Executive Council Meeting on Wednesday in Kano, with Dr Bashir Muhammad as Chairman and Dr Mansur Kabir as Executive Secretary.‎

The governor, who said that the Agency was mainly targeted at public servants, added that
it was aimed at making life easier and better for civil servants.‎

He said “what we have done here today is just one of the many policies of our administration to ‎improve health service delivery system in Kano State.

“Civil servants stand to benefit and I solicit their understanding and support for the Agency.”

The governor lauded the state’s House of Assembly, the National Health Insurance Scheme
and stakeholders for the different roles they played in the successful take off of the Contributory Health Care Management Agency in the state.

He urged members of the Agency to justify the confidence reposed in them.‎

The chairman of the Agency, who is also the District Head of Tudun Wada Local Government, pledged members’ commitment to service.‎

He commended the Ganduje administration for the commitment to the wellbeing of the people.

He also commended ‎the governor for the confidence reposed in them and assured that they would work in accordance to the law establishing the Agency.‎ (NAN)
MNT/HA
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Yobe Govt. approves N2.38bn for road construction, rehabilitation

NAN-H-12

Roads

Damaturu, Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) The Yobe Executive Council on Wednesday approved N2.38 billion for construction and rehabilitation of roads within Damaturu metropolis.

The state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Aji Bularafa, announced this while briefing newsmen after the state executive council meeting in Damaturu.

Bularafa said the council approved the construction of 1.7km road with 3.4 kilometre drainage from Njiwaji to Pompomari link to Ibrahim Gaidam Crescent at the cost of about N234 million.

The commissioner said the council also approved the reconstruction of 4km dual carriage way from stadium to NNPC Mega station.

“There is also dualisation of another 4km road from Pilgrims Commission to Abattoir at the cost of N794.2 million,” he said.

Similarly, Bularafa said the council approved the reconstruction and overlay of 9.5km dual carriageway across the four major roads in Damaturu at the cost of N1.359 billion. (NAN)

MM/ORO/MST

Edited by Razak Owolabi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-H-60

Lunch

Bauchi, Nov.30,2016 (NAN)  The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) is providing free lunch to Pensioners in the ongoing verification in some states of the North East.

A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  covering the verification in Bauchi reports that retirees are being treated to varieties of meal from 1pm daily to enable them concentrate on the  exercise.

Mrs Theodora Amechi, Head of Corporate Communications of PTAD, told NAN that essence of the free lunch was to help the pensioners, most of who were very old and could not withstand hunger.

She said that the gesture would also minimize shuttling to and from the venue by retirees who might want to go out in search of food.

“We are doing our job with empathy because the pensioners are very senior citizens and most of them are very old to withstand the rigours of the exercise on empty stomach.

“On a daily basis, over 300 pensioners are being captured in the exercise and we provide them free lunch and bottled water.

“We do not serve drinks because of their age as we may not know those with health problems that forbid them from sipping drinks.

“We also provide wheel chairs at every venue to assist those that may need them,” she said.

According to her, the pensioners have shown appreciation for the gesture and are orderly and patient in their conduct.

Some of the pensioners, Musa Abubakar, Mohammed Hassan and Monica Garba, who spoke to NAN on the free lunch, said the gesture was unexpected considering the shoddy manner retirees were treated in the past.(NAN)

AE/ASH/ASH

NAN-DS-12
Navy
By Yahaya Isah
Abuja, Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) The NNigerian Navy (NN) on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to protect the nation’s maritime domain against piracy and other criminal activities.

The Chief of Naval Staff, (CNS) Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas, made the statement while briefing newsmen on the CNS Annual Sea Exercise, Tagged ‘Eagle Eye’ at its’ Headquarters, Abuja.

He was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Adm. Jacob Ajani, at the Naval Headquarters.

Ibas said that the exercise would afford the service the opportunity to assess the state of combat readiness of NN in responding to emerging maritime security challenges.

He said it would also enable the NN to showcase itself to the Nigerian public and the larger Gulf of Guinea.

According to the CNS, the exercise include assessing the readiness and operational state of the most NN fleet, as well as testing the capability of the operational commands in the conduct of riverine and choke point regimes.

Ibas explained further that they would also practice the fleet in tactical manoeuvres and anti-piracy patrols while assessing the engagement capability of NN Special Boat Service (SBS).

” The Ex Eagle Eye will be used to practice the command’s intelligence sharing with other maritime security agencies, especially with respect to surveillance, threat assessment and operational engagement.

“The Ex Eagle Eye will also identify inadequacies in skills, training and doctrinal practices in NN operations and assess the effectiveness of NN logistics support practices,” he said.

Ibas said the other objective of the exercise was to raise awareness and develop procedures for for implementation of the National Counter Terrorist Strategy (NACTEST).

He said that the exercise would also involve the Harmonised Standard Operating
Procedure (HSOP) on arrest, detention and prosecution of vessels as well as owners involved in maritime crimes.

“The Ex Eagle Eye is set against the background of a myriads of threats and insecurity within and around the nation’s maritime which have challenged the operational capability and capacity of NN.

” The exercise will go a long way in making the nation’s maritime domain free of crimes,” he said.

The CNS noted that the undesirable security trend had compelled NN to take actions in response to the situation by activating a number of operational initiatives, such as ” Operation Tsare Teku”.

He said all these efforts were geared toward making the nation’s maritime domain free from piracy and other related crimes. (NAN)
YI/AMY/AMY
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Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

,

NAN-HG-16
Health
By Maureen Ojinaka-Nwanosike
Enugu, Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) A consultant ophthalmologist, Dr Nkiru Akaliwe, has urged Nigerians to always go for regular check-up for early glaucoma detection and management.

Akaliwe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Wednesday that glaucoma was a group of eye diseases that caused progressive damage of the optic nerve.

The Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Teaching Hospital consultant said that most types of glaucoma progressed without warning or obvious symptoms to the patient, making it expedient for the patient to engage in regular check-up.

“The increased pressure called intraocular pressure can damage the optic nerve which transmits images to the brain and if the damage continues, glaucoma will set in and can lead to permanent vision loss,’’ she said.

Akaliwe warned the people to desist from buying eye glasses from road sides as this could lead to more problems in the eye.

The ophthalmologist encouraged everyone, both young and old, to always have a balanced diet rich in vegetables and fruits for sound vision.

“Blindness is prevalent because members of the public lack adequate sensitisation to what the care for the eyes ought to be,’’ she said.

She said that due to silent progression of glaucoma, most of those affected in the developing countries were not aware of the disease, thereby allowing themselves to gradually go blind. (NAN)
OJI/MVO
(Edited by Mbadiwe Okwor)

NAN-H-59
Insurance
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Abakaliki, Nov. 30, 2016 (NAN) An insurance expert, Chief Abel Ndu, has called for sustained insurance cover for sportsmen and women to ensure the welfare of their defendants in cases of fatalities.

Reacting to the plane crash in Medelin, Colombia on Tuesday which killed players and officials of Chapecoense FC of Brazil, Ndu said air travel was risky, adding that comprehensive insurance for athletes and their officials remained expedient.

Ndu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abakaliki that the itinerary of sports men and women required regular air travels.

“Sportsmen and women should be appreciated for their patriotism because they risk their lives every time, traveling on air to represent clubs and countries.

“Developed countries have realised this fact for long which makes them pay adequate attention to players’ insurance cover during contracts signing and national team engagements.

“Nigeria and all other African countries must ensure that professional sportsmen and women have their lives insured to ward-off abandonment after fatalities.

“In Africa for instance, football clubs only travel by air when they engage in continental competitions but regular road travels for domestic engagements also come with high risks,’’ he said.

He called on the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to ensure that insurance cover for players was entrenched and implemented in the contracts between players and clubs.

“It is disheartening that clubs whose players sustained injuries in road crashes during the just concluded league season had no insurance covers for them.

“The clubs handled the players’ treatments at various hospitals unprofessionally and this erodes players’ commitment and negates adequate welfare for them.

“Abroad-based players should also be offered adequate insurance covers to take care of eventualities when they honour international calls,’’ Ndu said.

On his part, Mr Desmond Ome, the Secretary of Ebonyi Football Association, urged the governments of Colombia and Brazil to immortalise the players and sports journalists killed in the crash.

“This should also teach Nigerian sports administrators the lesson of ensuring players’ welfare due to inherent risks in the venture.

“Players are owed a backlog of salaries and allowances, among other entitlements while they are not adequately equipped to cater for their dependants when befallen by disaster,’’ he said.

The ill-fated plane killed 71 of the passengers that included journalists, sparing only six survivors. (NAN)
RCO/OMO/MVO
(Edited by Martins Odeh/Mbadiwe Okwor)