TheNewsGuru

Tag: Nationwide

  • 2019: CAN declares nationwide three-day prayer programme

    The leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Tuesday declared a three-day prayer to be observed in all churches.

    This followed the political drama unfolding in the country.

    The development, CAN said, was becoming embarrassing and constituting threat to democracy.

    A statement by the Special Assistant (Media & Communications) to the CAN President, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji: said: “The prayer is for divine protection for our nation and democracy.

    “We request all bloc chairmen, zonal chairmen, state chairmen, local and all church leaders to mobilise our members nationwide for a three-day prayer from August 27 to 29 to seek the face of God concerning the social and political state of our nation and for peaceful conduct of 2019 elections.

    “We are to pray that God should frustrate the efforts of evil men among our politicians and to prevent them from being elected into any office in 2019.

    “We should pray for peaceful co-existence and an end to bloodshed and violence caused by suspected herdsmen, bandits, ritual killers, robbers and other hoodlums.

    “We should pray that God should guide our leaders aright. We should pray for the release of Leah Sharibu and the remaining Chibok girls, together with those in the captivity of insurgents throughout the nation. We should pray for economic prosperity of the nation.

    “We should pray for unity and mutual respect for one another.”

  • Yuletide: Police beef up security nationwide

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris has ordered a comprehensive operational strategy to beef-up security nationwide during the Christmas and New Year.

    A statement by the Force spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood in Abuja on Friday, said Idris
    directed all Commissioners of Police and Assistant Inspectors General of Police to ensure adequate security of lives and property of Nigerians.

    He said the police boss also directed all Commanders of Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) and Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) to comply with the safety order.

    Moshood added that Special Forces and specialized units of the Force, including Special Tactical Squad, Special Protection Unit, Border Patrol and Explosive Ordinance Department have been mobilised across the country.

    “Police Federal Highway Patrol Teams, Safer Highway and Divisional Patrol Teams have been mandated and are under strict instruction to be polite, civil but strict in ensuring security and safety of travelers and other road users,” he said.

    The spokesman said that Idris has equally directed the Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of Police to ensure that no roadblock was mounted in the country.

    “The personnel of the force will be on 24 hours round-the-clock surveillance and robust vehicular patrols throughout the Yuletide and the New Year,” he said

    He said adequate deployment would be carried out in places of worship and venues of celebration including strategic public places, recreation centres, shopping malls, business plazas and motor parks.

    The police boss called on Nigerians to provide useful information to the personnel of the Force deployed in their localities.

     

    NAN

     

  • Senate approves removal of indiscriminate speed bumps on federal roads nationwide

    The Senate on Tuesday asked the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to remove all speed bumps illegally erected on Federal Government highways and ensure strict compliance using speed limits.

    The decision was based on the adoption of a motion jointly moved by Senator Barnabas Gemade (Benue North-East) and Senator Stella Oduah (Anambra-North) at the plenary on Tuesday, entitled, ‘Urgent Need to Control the Indiscriminate Erection of Speed Bumps on Federal Roads Nationwide.’

    The Senate unanimously granted the prayers of the motion, including to “direct the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to remove all the speed bumps indiscriminately erected on the federal highways nationwide and regulate and standardise erection of all speed bumps.”

    The lawmakers also urged the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to cause owners of petrol filling stations to build a service lane of not less than 50 metres on both sides of the stations to avoid customers turning directly to and from the highways.

    They also urged the ministry to enforce setback regulations for fixed structures along the highways and urged the planning authority to enforce regulations for motor parks, markets and places of worship.

    Moving the motion, Gemade said the Senate noted “with dismay” the thousands of speed bumps recently erected on almost all federal highways nationwide, ostensibly to control the speed of vehicles plying the roads.

    According to Gemade, some of the hazards posed by the bumps to vehicle owners are “accelerated wear and tear of the vehicles, loss of many hours in billions (of money) when quantified nationwide, and damage to vehicle suspension systems as most of these bumps are not professionally designed.”

    Seconding the motion, Senator Joshua Lidani said while Bauchi State had removed speed bumps from its roads, Nasarawa State still has many of them.

    “I think there is the need for these speed bumps to be removed. If they have to be installed, let it be done professionally,” he stated.

    However, some senators did not hide their displeasure at the decision. They noted that the erection of the speed bumps has helped reduced accidents and avoidable deaths while insisting that it’s removal would pose a great danger as there were communities, schools and businesses along the highways the bumps were erected.

     

  • Resident doctors dare FG, commence nationwide indefinite strike despite talks

    The Federal Government on Monday expressed “deep shock and utter disappointment” over the commencement of a nation wide indefinite strike action on Monday by resident doctors under the aegis of National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD despite the commencement of a peace talk with the leadership of the association.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the strike is coming three days after their leadership signed a memorandum of terms of settlement with the government.

    Ministry of Labour and Employment spokesman Samuel Olowookere, in a statement, said the Federal Government was disappointed over the sudden u-turn by the leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD ) after it had reached a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Federal Ministry of Health on its six-point demand.

    He added: “Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, “in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Trade Dispute Act 2004, has apprehended the ongoing strike by NARD. Consequently, the meeting between NARD and the government earlier scheduled for November 2 is now slated for Wednesday, September 6, 2017 (tomorrow) by noon at the Conference Room of the Minister of Labour and Employment. ”

    “All stakeholders are implored to attend this crucial meeting. The health and well-being of Nigerians are cardinal to President Buhari’s administration. Hence, every measure necessary shall be taken to restore normalcy”.

    Rising from their National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, the doctors said they were rejecting the terms of settlement, which would have seen the strike being suspended.

    But the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) warned doctors on internship not to join the strike.

    They risk repeating their programme, if they do, it said.

    In a notice of strike sent to chief medical directors and medical directors of hospitals and signed by the President and Secretary General, Dr. Onyebueze John and Dr. Aneke Emmanuel, the resident doctors said they rejected the terms, but did not give any reason for doing so.

    The letter reads: “The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, rising from her extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting which held on Sunday, 3rd September 2017 at Parkview Hotels, Abuja, rejected the Memorandum of terms of settlement from government on the items of her demand for strike and resolved to proceed on the proposed national, total and indefinite strike with effect from 8am Monday, 4th September 2017.”

    A message from the President of the Resident Doctors also reads: “Rising from our NEC meeting which started by 7pm yesterday (Sunday) and ended 3am today (Monday), NARD resolved to reject the promissory offer from government and proceed on total and indefinite strike until all items in her demand list are resolved by government.”

    The doctors are contesting what they described as the government’s failure to:

    • pay our salary shortfall of 2016 and January to May 2017;
    • rectify the salary shortfall from August 2017;
    • circularize House Officers’ entry point;
    • correct the stagnation of promotion of our members and properly place them on their appropriate grade level;
    • enroll and capture our members on the Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS) and
    • budget, deduct and remit both the employer’s and employees’ pension contributions to our retirement savings account since 2013.

    After a meeting between the government’s representatives and officials of the doctors’ association and the Nigeria Medical Association on Thursday, both parties signed a memorandum of terms of agreement, pointing out that some of the issues being complained about by the association were already being addressed by the government.

    The memorandum was signed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole. Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Prof. Stephen Ocheni, National President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Prof. Mike O. Ogirima, National Association of Resident Doctors President Onyebueze John and of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission Chairman Richard Egbule.

    Other signatories are representatives of Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Budget Office of the Federation.

    The memorandum reads: “The meeting noted that some Federal Tertiary Health Institutions (FHTI) have paid a percentage of salaries to Resident Doctors and are consequently in arrears of salary payments to members of NARD and Honorary Consultants.

    “It was also noted that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) had started the process of paying the shortfall of salaries owed in batches. It was therefore concluded that the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) should forward the list of the recipient FHTI to the Honourable Minister of Health to ensure that the released fund was used for its intended purpose. The payment for other FHTI not captured to be implemented before the end of October 2017.”

    On shortfall in salaries, it was agreed that “the Director Hospital Services is to address a circular/letter to the Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and state therein that the released funds should be used solely for salaries and shortfalls. The Federal Ministry of Finance should ensure that monthly salaries are paid in full.

    “Reference was made to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached at the 7th Senate in 2014, and House of Representatives with the Speaker presiding in 2016, where parties agreed to use the quantum of monies contained in CONHESS 9:4 for CONMESS 1:1.

    “It was concluded that effect should be given to previous Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) reached on this issue so that CONHESS 9:4 would be in parity with CONMESS 1:1. The Chairman NSIWC to get this circularised, after getting the quantum from FMoH. All matters on this issue should be finalised before the preparation of 2018 Budget is concluded.

    “Issues of skipping and matters ancillary thereto were discussed. The meeting noted that the Federal Ministry of Health had appealed against the ruling of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) on skipping and that a date has been given by the Court of Appeal for hearing in March, 2018.

    “It was further noted that a major issue is the improper placements on appropriate Salary Grade Levels. It was concluded that a proper guideline should be provided by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and that Item 4 of the MoU of December 16, 2013 should be adopted.

    “The Item 4 states that ‘the FMoH, NSIWC, NMA should urgently review the NMA’s proposal on skipping of CONTISS 10/CONHESS10/COMESS 2 in the new Scheme of Service with a view to amending it to reflect the suspension of the circular on unauthorised skipping of equivalent of CONMESS 2 for medical doctors in the Public Service.

    “The amended proposal shall be forwarded to the HCSF through the FMoH for an onward presentation to the forthcoming National Council on Establishment (NCE) on 24th January, 2014 in Ilorin.” In view of this earlier position, it was concluded that the Honourable Minister of Health (HMoH) should drive this issue and that no circular should be issued on the matter until it is concluded by the HMoH.

    “In view of the expected meeting of the Council of Establishment, the end of October was given as the tentative time limit to conclude the assignment by the FMoH and Office of the HCSF. Hospitals that are yet to implement skipping for doctors are to commence and henceforth, promotions should be in accordance with the Public Service Rules.

    “Based on the information given by the members of NARD, it was noted that only 18 Federal Tertiary Health Institutions had so far submitted their Nominal Roll. The meeting concluded that NARD members should be on the IPPIS platform and that the CMDs as well as the MDs should be requested by the FMoH to submit their Nominal Roll to the Office of the Accountant General of The Federation (OAGF) and copy to the FMoH and FML&E on or before September 15, 2017. It was agreed that all Resident Doctors should be captured on IPPIS platform by the end of October 2017.

    “It was concluded that NARD members are on pensionable appointment and, as such, the FMoH in conjunction with OAGF and Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) should take necessary steps to ensure that adequate budgetary allocations are made to cover the Pension requirements of NARD members.

    “Furthermore, FMoH should issue a letter in that regard to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation who would correspond with the Budget Office of the Federation for necessary action, as the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) had in a letter of February 12, 2015, Ref.PENCOM/INSP/C&E/CCPA/66/15/1167 to the Honourable Minister of Health affirmed that members of NARD are “employees”.

    “In view of the foregoing terms of settlement, NARD agreed to meet in an Emergency Session before Monday, September 4, 2017, for the presentation of this Memorandum to her National Executive Council with a view to averting the scheduled strike.”

     

  • JUST IN: ASUU begins nationwide strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has commenced an indefinite nationwide industrial action.

    The National President of the union, Dr. Biodun Ogunyemi, announced this on Monday during a meeting of the National Executive Council of ASUU in Abuja.

    He said during the strike, there shall be no teaching, no examination and no attendance of statutory meetings of any kind in any of the union’s branches across the country.

    According to Channels TV, Dr. Ogunyemi declared a total, comprehensive and indefinite nationwide strike after a nationwide consultation with members at an emergency NEC meeting held on Saturday, August 12, 2017.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the union had on Friday held a meeting in Abuja where it was decided that a ‘total and indefinite strike’ action be embarked on over the controversial 2009 agreement they reached with the Federal Government among other issues.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that all chapters of the union nationwide have been directed by the national body to adhere strictly to the guidelines of the strike.

    Details later…

     

  • Kidnapping: We’ll withdraw mobile policemen attached to VIPs to tackle menace – IGP

    Kidnapping: We’ll withdraw mobile policemen attached to VIPs to tackle menace – IGP

    Sequel to the growing cases of insecurity in the country, the Police on Friday said it would withdraw personnel of its mobile formation attached to important personalities in the country back to the barracks.

    Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, announced this in an interactive session with a group of civil society organisations under the auspices of “The Situation Room’’ in Abuja.

    He said that the measure was intended to bring the police closer to Nigerians.

    Idris said that the force had created additional mobile police squadron in states to enhance police operations, adding that Nigerians would now have more Special Protection Units (SPUs) in the commands in the zones.

    “We will withdraw all mobile police back to barracks to concentrate on dealing with serious law and order situation.

    “It means that we are stopping deployment of mobile police from protecting VIPs in the country because that is not where they should serve.

    “This is to allow us to have enough men on the ground to deal especially with the issues of kidnapping.

    “We are creating new SPUs in each command; so, virtually all commands will have them, and with the support of the state governments, most of them would be deployed specially to states.’’

    Idris said that the decision was basically to stem the cases of incessant kidnapping, adding that it had become a challenge that the force received hundreds of cases daily.

    He called for the establishment of special courts to address the cases of kidnapping.

    According to him, the public feels that kidnappers are not being prosecuted enough so there is need to seek strict measure to punish them.

    The IGP said that with the creation of special task force squadron on terrorism, a lot of kidnappers had been arrested and that the force had 2, 000 suspected kidnappers across the country.

    He reiterated the force’s commitment to apprehending the notorious and wanted kidnapper from Benue commonly called “Ghana’’, saying that his days were numbered.

    He thanked Nigerians for their support and called for more collaboration to curb crime “because it will take a collaborative effort to win against crime in the country’’.

    On his part, Convener of the Situation Room, Mr Clement Nwankwo, called for the prosecution of kidnappers to serve as deterrent to others.

    Nwankwo stressed the need for protection of lives and property in the country, adding that ‘kidnapping is a serious national issue that needs to be tackled urgently.’’

     

     

     

    NAN