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Tag: ministers

  • BREAKING: Amaechi, Onu, Akpabio’s names missing in new ministers list sent to Senate

    BREAKING: Amaechi, Onu, Akpabio’s names missing in new ministers list sent to Senate

    The Nigerian Senate has received the executive communication with the nomination of six names as replacements for ministers that resigned to contest the presidential election.

    In a letter that was read by the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari said the nominees would replace the former ministers that resigned from his cabinet.

    The letter read: “In accordance with Section 8 Subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I hereby forward the underlisted ministerial nominees for your confirmation.”

    The nominees are:

    Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh – Abia State
    Umana Okon Umana – Akwa Ibom State
    Egwumakama Joseph Nkama – Ebonyi State
    Goodluck Nnana Opiah – Imo State
    Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub – Kano State
    Ademola Adewole Adegoroye – Ondo State
    Odum Odih – Rivers State

  • Ministers and their report cards – By Dakuku Peterside

    Ministers and their report cards – By Dakuku Peterside

    By Dakuku Peterside

    Last week this column focused on the legacy of elected political office holders as we wind up a political era and transit to a new one. This week, we will focus on political appointees. After nearly three and seven years respectively of service to the nation, it is time to reflect on the performance and value addition of our ministers and heads of parastatals . To hold our ministers and heads of Departments and Agencies, appointees of the President, accountable is a fundamental element of participatory democracy.

    In our clime, the power these officeholders exercise, and the impact of their actions and inactions are too significant to be ignored in the power equation. This situation is more noticeable when you have a charismatic and efficient leader as a minister or head of parastatal. They galvanise their ministries or Agencies to achieve their mandates and improve the quality of lives of people and the country’s development.

    Three critical assumptions, though misleading, are common in our country. One, ministers are only accountable to the President and not the people. Second, only the President sets the minister’s target, and he alone can assess their performance.. The third is that whether ministers perform or not, the credit, blame or condemnation goes to Mr President, who appointed them to act on his behalf.

    Under proper scrutiny and contextualization, these assumptions are not the absolute truth in American-style democracy, which we copied without effort to adapt to our cultural context. Ministers are mentioned in the constitution, and they derive their powers from it, and the people approve them through the legislature to serve them. The third is that the fund they spend for all activities flows from a national purse or our commonwealth.

    The import is that they owe their primary loyalty to the country and the constitution from where they derive their powers before whoever appointed them. Ministers cannot hide under these fallacious and illogical assumptions to dodge the accountability responsibility distinct from accounting. Every Ministry exists for the public good; it is thus consequential that ministers and heads of parastatals explain and justify what they did with public funds to advance the public interest. Anything short of that is democratically unacceptable.Ministers and heads of departments and agencies are the instrumentalities through which government functions and performs its duties. The government implements all its policies through the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs)with their civil service structure that is supposed to be apolitical and designed to serve the government of the day.The minister’s role is crucial in shaping an efficient and effective ministry that is fit for purpose and delivers good dividends of democracy to the people. We can safely conclude that the sum of the output of government ministries, departments and agencies (headed by ministers and heads of parastatals as political appointees) roughly corresponds with the total productivity of government in terms of structures and infrastructures, policy creation and execution, and procedural and operational efficiencies of the socio-economic and political ecosystem. Based on the above, the principal function of the minister or head of parastatal is to organise, manage and direct all material and human resources available to the Ministry or agency to achieve their set mandate in line with the dominant ideology, goals and aspirations of the government in power. They must see themselves as the voices of the government they represent and, in a democratic society, the voice of the people and the voiceless.

    This present government appointed 36 and 42 ministers during the first and second term respectively . It also appointed heads of parastatals or agencies under each of these ministries. How have they performed in the past three or seven years, depending on when they were appointed? What indices of development have they credited? How have their works impacted the quality of lives of the people they serve? What are their scorecards? Answers to these questions will highlight the efficacies or lack thereof of the ministers and heads of parastatals and the ministries and agencies they supervised. Typically, the presidency that appointed the ministers ought to have a template for assessing the ministers at periodic intervals and at the end of their tenure. In spite of their political character, it might be better to assess ministers more like departmental CEOs with clear targets and performance indicators.

    The ministerial mandate challenges the individual appointee’s creativity, energy, and managerial capacity. In acknowledgement of this, at the mid-term ministerial performance review retreat held in October 2021, nine priorities and presidential legacies were identified and commitments made by the ministers. We are yet to see these commitments impact significantly on the macro economy, poverty reduction, food sufficiency, power, education and health outcomes. As leaders, ministers should start reflecting on the legacy they are leaving for posterity. This last year before the general election allows them time to complete whatever they consider legacy projects or programmes, concentrate on a few projects that will create significant impact, or change course and at least accomplish a good for the people. Failure to make good use of the time left may be tantamount to a lost opportunity, and history does not forgive mediocrity.

    Today, a cursory survey of our serving ministers indicates that a tiny percentage made a significant impact. Others are anonymous, and a few interested contractors remember them as ministers who are always sleeping on duty. The staff may remember a few others of their various ministries as passers-by who added no value but colluded with contractors to pillage our commonwealth.

    We still reminisce about ministers that did great work in Nigeria in the recent past. We have had ministers remembered for innovative policies and who made a difference; we remember Ngozi Okonji Iwela for securing debt cancellation for Nigeria and creative management of the economy, Akinwumi Adesina for innovative agriculture policies that served the poor, amongst others. So, if a minister wants to be in this league of much-loved ministers in Nigeria, now is the time to create the legacy, and history will be kind to them.

    The Heads of parastatals are not left out. That parastatals spend trillions of Naira yearly to provide services – regulatory, advocacy, projects and therefore deserve public scrutiny. These services are the backbone of the entire ecosystem and, if not correctly performed, will result in inefficiencies and non competitiveness across all the sectors of the economy and poor quality of life for all. The major sectors of the economy, from maritime, telecommunication to banking, are regulated by these agencies to ensure they function well and do not crash the system. Unfortunately, only a few of these parastatals and agencies are functioning optimally and fulfilling their mandates.

    Some of the Heads are performing exceptionally, and the impact of these parastatals are felt across board. We owe much gratitude to such heads, and history will favourably judge them. Some of these heads of parastatals are showing outstanding leadership in transforming an almost moribund administrative system they met when they were appointed into a modern organisational system that is technology- driven and vision-oriented. However, most of the heads of parastatals had performed below expectation and had not made any positive changes to the system they inherited; instead, they had left it worse than before they took office. To these heads of parastatals, I sincerely hope they will use this year to reflect on the tasks at hand and map out ways to improve.

    Based on my experience, the challenges of managing an MDA or parastatal in Nigeria is enormous. You are up against landmines and deeply entrenched interests. Any head of parastatal must be focused, determined ,proactive and have a knack for efficiency and achieving goals to make any meaningful improvement to the system. In some parastatals, the combination of unskilled and unmotivated human resources, an almost religious reliance on path dependency ,and nearly non-existent modern technology to drive the processes and increase productivity make it nearly impossible to achieve meaningful results. Transforming a parastatal is a science and an art. I have documented my own experience of changing NIMASA in the four years

    I was saddled with the responsibility of steering its ship in my seminal book with the title “Strategic Turnaround: Story of A Government Agency published in 2021. Waziri Adio , who served as Executive Secretary of NEITI, also did in his memoir,”The Arc of the possible” . If you need some new insight into strategically repositioning a parastatal in Nigeria, read these books and you may find useful lessons from them.

    Ultimately, the quality and effectiveness of Ministers and Heads of parastatals are critical to the government’s overall performance as all policies are executed through the instrumentality of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. Ministers and heads of parastatals should admit as a reality that they face three assessments: the assessment of Mr President who appointed them and at whose pleasure they serve, the public who they are assigned to serve and history, which keeps records. Of all three verdicts, that of history is most striking and sticky. If the verdict is to be believed, Nigerians do not reckon with most of our ministers. But it is not too late to improve. This year will make a turning point in creating legacies for the ministers and heads of parastatals. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.

  • ‘I thought I will escape this’, Buhari reacts as ministers, aides surprise him with birthday cake in Turkey [Photos]

    ‘I thought I will escape this’, Buhari reacts as ministers, aides surprise him with birthday cake in Turkey [Photos]

    President Muhammadu Buhari cut a birthday cake moulded in national colours to start the day on his 79th birthday, Garba Shehu said.

    After cutting the cake, the President’s spokesman said his principal went straight to chair a planning meeting with officials in his delegation and, thereafter, drove to the Dolmabahce Palace for a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Tayyip Recep Erdogan.

    In response to the tributes, President Buhari said he would put in his best for Nigeria until the last day when in 2023 he hands over to a successor and returns to his farm to tender crops and livestock.

    President Muhammadu Buhari cuts a birthday cake as he turns 79 on December 17, 2021.

     

    “I thought that being away from Abuja I will escape these things,” he was quoted as saying in a statement on Friday by his spokesman. “The Guards Brigade had written to tell me what they wanted to do on this day. Now here you are doing this far away from home.

    “I look forward to the year 2023 when I finish, to go home to take charge of my farm. Between now and that time, I will do the best that is possible to advance the interest of the nation and its people and carry out my duties as prescribed by the Constitution.”

    As he stepped out of his suite moving to the meeting room, Shehu said the President met a surprise line-up of the Nigerian delegation with a cake decorated in the country’s national colours.

    President Muhammadu Buhari with members of the Nigerian delegation to Turkey pose for a photograph on December 17, 2021.

     

    The group broke into a chorus, as they began chanting “Happy Birthday, Mr President.”

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and the Ambassador of Nigeria to Turkey, Ismail Abba, spoke on behalf of the delegation.

    They congratulated the President on the work he was doing for Nigeria and wished him a happy birthday, many healthy years ahead, and the energy to give his best to the nation.

    Onyeama noted, in particular, that President Buhari has continued to have a good run with his health, getting better and more active with time.

    President Muhammadu Buhari at a meeting with members of the Nigerian delegation to Turkey on December 17, 2021.
  • Buhari, Aisha, ministers depart Abuja for Turkey today

    Buhari, Aisha, ministers depart Abuja for Turkey today

    President Muhammadu Buhari is set to leave Abuja for Istanbul, Turkey on Thursday where he will attend the third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit.

    This is according to a statement signed by presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu.

    The summit, to be hosted by Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is themed ‘‘Enhanced Partnership for Common Development and Prosperity’’ and the agenda includes reviewing the cooperation between African countries and Turkey since the last summit in 2014.

    “The third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit is coming on the heels of President Erdogan’s recent State Visit to Nigeria during which several agreements in the fields of energy, defence industry, mining and hydrocarbons were signed to expand existing bilateral ties,” Shehu’s statement said.

    “The Turkish leader had, during the visit to Nigeria, affirmed his commitment to immediately expand the volume of trade between the two countries to 5 billion dollars and the Nigerian delegation will seize the opportunity of the gathering in Istanbul to enhance cooperation with other partners for more trade and investment opportunities in the country.

    “It is expected that the Summit would provide guidelines and direction for cooperation with African countries for the next five years.

    “President Buhari will be accompanied on the trip by his wife, Aisha Buhari; the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Defence, Maj-Gen. Bashir Magashi (Rtd); FCT, Mohammed Bello; Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Agriculture, Mohammed Abubakar; Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo; the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (Rtd); and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.”

    The President is expected back in Abuja on Sunday.

  • We won’t allow minister, govt officials scuttle 2021 agreement with FG, says ASUU

    We won’t allow minister, govt officials scuttle 2021 agreement with FG, says ASUU

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities has flayed what it described as an attempt by some government officials including the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono to discredit the 2021 draft agreement which the Federal Government reached with the union, saying that such antics would not work.

    The Union accused the minister and the permanent secretary of working to undermine the agreement which it said was the most important aspect of the MoA it signed with the government in 2020.

    Speaking at a press conference in Jos on Tuesday, the Coordinator of the Bauchi Zonal branch of ASUU, Prof. Lawal Abubakar said “ASUU members Nationwide are ready to do everything legitimately and lawfully possible including losing the last drop of their blood to safeguard it, get it signed and totally implemented.

    “ASUU will not allow anyone including Mr Echono to scuttle this draft agreement while at the same time eating fat on the product of the Union’s struggle. Being a Board member of TetFund, a product of ASUU struggle, he has cornered a Federal University that is solely funded by TetFund and NEEDS Assessment to his community.

    The ASUU leader also said that the union took exception to the statement credited to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige in the media that the Federal Government had made a lot of progress in the implementation of the MoA since it has paid the N30bn Revitalisation Fund and the N12.127bn Earned Allowance, describing it as false.

    “Which promise have they kept? Is the MoA just about Earned Academic Allowance or do you think by throwing money that is rightly ours, we would forget the other aspect of the MoA?” he queried.

    Abubakar who was represented by the Immediate past Bauchi Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Professor Nanmwa Voncir lamented that the Federal Government was conniving with the state governments to kill University education in the country through the proliferation of higher institutions without adequate funding.

    According to him, “The only reason why the Federal Government has failed to stop the state governments from establishing new universities when the existing ones are grossly underfunded is that it is guilty of the same offence in addition to the pecuniary gains which those responsible are making.”

     

     

     

  • BREAKING: Buhari sacks two ministers

    BREAKING: Buhari sacks two ministers

    President Muhammadu Buhari has relieved two ministers of their appointments.

    They are the Ministers of Agriculture, Mohammed Nanono, and his Power counterpart, Saleh Mamman.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, announced this on Wednesday in Abuja after the Federal Executive Council meeting.

    He disclosed that the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abubakar, has been redeployed to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, while the Minister of State for Works, Abubakar Aliyu, is to take over as Minister of Power.

    The exercise, according to Adesina, will continue in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

  • All the president’s men in 2021 – Dele Sobowale

    All the president’s men in 2021 – Dele Sobowale

    By Dele Sobowale

    “A company is known by the people it keeps.”That has been an axiom in Management Studies for more than a century. To some extent, the same can be said about governments.

    Chief Executives in the public and private sectors, if they are wise, know that their most important decisions concern those they appoint to the highest offices. As in the early days of computer programming, the principle remains the same – GIGO – Garbage In Garbage Out. Employ people with questionable character and all you get is rubbish and headache. There will be a lot of activities; but, few real accomplishments. Briefly, I present four of Buhari’s Ministers. Judge for yourself if you see quality there.

    THE JOURNALIST

    “The other day, I was holding a newspaper to an audience. The New Nigerian Newspaper reported the kidnapping of 20 on November 7, 1966 in the Mid-West. If something like that happens today, it will be reported as if there had never been an incident like that in the history of this country..and Buhari is responsible.”

    Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President.” April 23, 2021.

    “Journalists say a thing that they know isn’t true, in the hope that if they keep on saying it, long enough it will turn out to be true. Julian Benda, 1857-1952.

    Of all the entries in the VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, the one by Benda gave me the most problem regarding whether to include it or not. At the time I came across it, my best non-Nigerian friend was Jay Cohen, a journalist with the BOSTON GLOBE. It appeared to me like betrayal of my friend. So, I showed it to him. He laughed; then declared: “You must include it; journalism has its bad eggs too.” That statement was also an eye-opener. Up to that time, I was under the impression that journalists published only facts. I soon learnt my lessons – especially here in Nigeria. Even a President of the Guild of Editors cannot be trusted not to deliberately mislead the people – if it serves his purposes. I quoted Garba Shehu at length in order to briefly expose the shallowness of thought involved; as well as the hypocrisy of someone who joined others in repeatedly calling for President Jonathan to resign on account of Chibok alone up till Election Day 2015.

    More importantly, because Garba represents the highest level of intelligence in Aso Rock, his utterances need to be interrogated in order for Nigerians to know how little is the intellect going into the governance of their country.

    To start with, Garba was probably not alive on November 7, 1966; and he was probably still wetting his mat if he was. The paper he was holding was most certainly provided by a fellow over 80, living freely in Aso Rock; and who was with the New Nigerian at that time. I will spare the old man the pains of what will follow by not disclosing his name. However, if Garba had been more of a journalist than a propagandist, he would have learnt five things about that historical reference. I will educate him and his old mentor.

    One, by November 7, 1966, General Gowon was the Military Head of State – after Garba’s brothers have murdered General Aguyi Ironsi in Ibadan in July of the same year. Two, millions of Igbos have been murdered or rendered homeless by Northerners in the second to the worst genocide in Nigerian history. Three, Igbos were trouping back to the Sout East by the millions and drums of war were already beating nationwide. The situation in the Mid-West was particularly chaotic. Igbos of Mid-West origin were caught in between the Nigerian and what would later become Biafran side. Four, the one-off story which Garba was holding up to his ignorant audience was unique in many respects. Garba should look again at the entire day’s paper and tell us if there was any other story about abduction. In fact, I challenge him to grab all the copies for the whole moth of November 1966; and tell us how many stories of kidnapping he read. Five, I am writing this on April 26, 2021. No war has been declared yet; refugees are gathering all over Nigeria on account of kidnappers, Boko Haram, bandits, Fulani herdsmen and unknown gunmen. Right now, at least eight cases of mass abductions of children are trending; plus over two dozen of adults in various communities. Nothing less than forty different stories of villagers kidnapped have been published by newspapers. Boko Haram hoisted its flag in Niger State.

    How anybody in his right senses can compare the November 7, 1966 isolated incident with the daily routine of abductions is simply astonishing. But, when one considers many of the disasters appointed to high office by Buhari, it might not be so surprising after all. I doubt if Buhari reads some of the stuff being announced in his name. Garba’s latest pronouncement on Dr Pantami is rapidly cementing his position as the administration’s top garbage man. Pity.

    THE LAWYER

    “The first thing we do; let’s kill all the lawyers.” Shakespeare, 1564-1616.

    Most Nigerians don’t even know Lai Mohammed is a lawyer. He had been a Publicity officer for one political party after another – once his gifts for propaganda were discovered by a current presidential candidate. It took some time; but Nigerians eventually discovered the real Lai Mohammed. Go on social media any time Lai makes a statement. And, you will feel embarrassed for Buhari for having such a person as government spokesman. He has now taken on the media which built him up. He is welcome to the fight.

    Alhaji Lai Mohammed is a regular customer. Ask anybody who is familiar with the social media about Lai; and you might not be surprised to know that he is the run-away winner of the trophy for uttering falsehood among Ministers. Go to Kwara and gather at random 1000 APC members and ask about Mohammed. You might discover that the views are almost the same as the media group. Buhari, probably does not know that the messenger is half of the message. Send a known dissembler with an honest message and people might not believe it. “This is the problem of the liar; people don’t believe him when he tells the truth.” (Babylonian Talmud). Lai told a great truth ten days ago. Nobody believed it. He warned about the dangers of unregulated social media; especially the penchant for defamation and calumny. His reputation preceded him. Unfortunately, Lai cannot change. Buhari too.

    THE CLERIC

    “Religion is the opium of the people.” Karl Marx, 1818-1883.

    More lives have been lost; more throats have been eagerly cut by those fanatically religious. And when they teach, the result is similar to a pandemic. They infect others with their hatred of people and encourage genocide.

    Isa Pantami, an Islamic scholar, was appointed Minister of Communications and Digital Economy by Buhari. Thus, we were placed in a situation of “the blind leading the blind.” Why, of all the possible Northern candidates, it had to be an Islamic or even Christian scholar for the Ministry is a mystery for Buhari to unravel. Certainly, no university offering Religious studies includes Quantitative Analysis in it syllabus. Pantami soon showed us what he was capable of doing. He ordered 100 million GSM subscribers to register their National Identity Numbers, NIN, within ten days or get disconnected. I asked my niece in primary four to work out how many Nigerians would have to collect NIN per day, per hour, per minute. She did and then exclaimed. “But, grandpa, that is impossible”. Out of the mouth of a child came a simple truth which escaped a Minister. But, more came later. Panama is a jihads, religious fanatic trying to wriggle out of the net in which he now finds himself. He wants us to believe he has changed; but provides no date for his reformation. Furthermore, what of all the thousands of jihadists he created in the past? Have they changed with him? With such friends Buhari needs no more enemies. He has enough.

    However, it is a fact that members of violent religious groups are like cultists. They cannot walk away once they reach a certain level of seniority; because they know too much to be allowed to go. If Pantamin mounts the same podiums he once did, to announce he has changed his views, he will be a man marked for death. But, since lying is an integral part of conspiracy, he is allowed to deceive the public. Buhari, and Garba are free to believe what they like.

    NOT A CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK

    “Minister assures on creation of 100m jobs.” News Report.

    Why the SUNDAY editor of the national paper which published this garbage did not throw it in the dust bin is a puzzle. Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, son of highly-respected General Adebayo of Ekiti must have forgotten whose son he is when he made that bogus claim. Now, we know why he was thrown out after one term from 1999-2003.If a Minister of Trade and Investment does not know the quantum of investment needed to create 100 million jobs in two years, then Buhari has appointed a mis-fit as Minister. If he does not realise that Nigeria does not have that sort of money, then we have GIGO. Can anybody not intending to deceive the public imagine that Nigeria can create 4.1 million jobs a month; 139,000 jobs a day in the next two years?

    The Minister had been quiet since he was appointed. He would be better advised to remember that for a public official with nothing to show for two years in office “Silence is golden.” When a Minister whose government has been responsible for the highest number of jobless people talk like this, then it is easy to see how much contempt they have for the people.

    For God’s sake from where did Buhari dig up these jokers and liars? They cannot possibly do his reputation any good.

    THE LEADER HIMSELF.

    “An institution is the lengthened shadow of one man.”

    Ralph W Emerson, 1803-1882, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, p 105.

    Each time you observe a team in action, look for the leader. You will then fully understand why the results are good or terrible. It is awful right now; and chaotic too.

    I wrote Next Level Is Pure Anarchy in May 2019. The warning was ignored by Nigerians. In July I wrote Read This Before War Becomes the Next Level. Anarchy and war are here. Buhari is here too. Those who voted for him in 2019 should share the responsibility for the rivers of blood being shed. Read more predictions next week and tremble for Nigeria.

  • Lawan, Gbajabiamila, Governors, Ministers for National Pilot’s book launch

    Lawan, Gbajabiamila, Governors, Ministers for National Pilot’s book launch

    A book, titled: Roundtable Discussion on Economy And Restructuring In Nigeria, will be presented to the public on April 14, 2021 in Lagos.

    Published by the National Pilot newspapers, the book treats the twin issues of economy and restructuring and offers a way forward.

    The event will hold at Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja, the Lagos State capital.

    It will be chaired by former Senate President David Mark, while current Senate President Ahmad Lawan, his predecessor, Dr. Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila are among dignitaries expected at the event.

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is the guest speaker.

    The Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, will lead other governors, including Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi ( ), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), while Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) is the chief host.

    Other invitees are: Ministers Babatunde Fashola (Works and Housing) and Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation).

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, are royal fathers of the day.

    Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Olabode George, former governors Gbenga Daniel, Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) are other top dignitaries expected at the event.

    The book answers questions on various aspects of the economy and treat issues on restructuring.

  • SGF, ministers, PTF members receive COVID-19 vaccines today

    SGF, ministers, PTF members receive COVID-19 vaccines today

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Chairman Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha and members of the PTF will on Monday in Abuja receive doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines.

    The Director Press, Office of the SGF (OSGF), Mr. Willie Bassey, said this in a notice on Sunday.

    The development was coming on the heels of the duo of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who received their doses of the vaccine, live, on Saturday at the Presidential Villa.

    The SGF and the PTF members would received theirs on Monday after it got a clearance from the Executive Director National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib.

    Bassey said that the vaccination would be held at the OSGF during the weekly live joint national briefing of the taskforce.

    This means that the PTF regular members, including the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed; Minister of Environment, Muhammad Mahmood; Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora; Director General, Nigeria Centre Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu; and the National Incident Manager (NIM) PTF, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammad among others were expected to join Mustapha to receive jabs of the vaccines that first arrived in the country last Tuesday.

    The Nigerian Government began the vaccine roll out at the National Hospital, Abuja last Friday with frontine health workers and support staff.

  • Zimbabwe loses two more ministers to COVID-19

    Zimbabwe loses two more ministers to COVID-19

    Two ministers serving in the Zimbabwean government died of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) within a matter of days, prompting the country to announce on Saturday plans to further tighten lockdown measures.

    Late on Friday, the government announced that Transport Minister Joel Matiza had died after falling ill with COVID-19, less than two days after the country lost Foreign minister Sibusiso Moyo to the same disease.

    Four government ministers have succumbed to the coronavirus in Zimbabwe so far.

    According to unconfirmed media reports, several other cabinet ministers are fighting for their lives in a private hospital.

    “We are in a dark cloud that we have to clear very soon,” deputy health minister John Mangwiro told dpa.

    Mangwiro revealed plans to intensify the current lockdown, which has been in place since early January and includes a strict nightly curfew.

    Restaurants, bars and gyms have also been forced to close.

    “We have seen people not adhering to the lockdown regulations announced early this month,” he added.

    Zimbabwe has registered 30,523 cases of infection since the start of the pandemic, including 962 deaths.

    The numbers may seem relatively low compared to other countries.

    However, the outbreak is putting the nation’s health system under considerable pressure.

    Zimbabweans have taken to the social media to blame President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his predecessor, the late Robert Mugabe, for the country’s dilapidated health infrastructure.

    Health workers recently went on strike over a lack of protective equipment and poor salaries.