TheNewsGuru

Tag: Stakeholders

  • Stakeholders applaud Oyo Govt on Improved WASSCE results

    Stakeholders applaud Oyo Govt on Improved WASSCE results

    Stakeholders in education Sector in Oyo State have celebrated the state’s performance in the recently released WASSCE results, urging the state government to continue to enforce its education reformation policies.

    The Stakeholders, who were represented by the State Chairman, National Parents, Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Comrade Moshood Abayomi, the State General Secretary, All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Pastor Babajide Emmanuel and First Vice-President (ANCOPSS), Comrade Fadare Mojirade, led their members to the State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology recently to show their appreciation to the government for its efforts towards the development of education in the state and deliberate on issues relating to schools’ resumption.

    NAPTAN Chairman, Comrade Abayomi thanked the State government on behalf of the parents for enforcing good education policies, saying that the implementation of the policies looked difficult at the beginning but the end has justified the efforts of the government.

    He said, “We, parents, in Oyo State owe our amiable governor and the State government extreme gratitude for seeing all the policies to fruition. It was initially difficult but we all knew it was like weaning a baby who has been attached to his mother’s breast-milk. Today we are better for it.

    “We are using this opportunity to call on other parents to please inform their wards that it is no more business as usual. Security agents will be on the lookout for students that roam the street when schools resume. We also urge the government to continue with these policies as they are bringing about the needed result in improving our schools and students.

    “The SGB is the driver of new faces of schools in major communities in Oyo State today. Old students and community leaders are building classrooms, fences and providing furniture because we have all realized that the government cannot do it alone,” Comrade Abayomi said.

    Comrade Abayomi warned parents to inform their wards of government’s zero tolerance for street roaming by students as they would soon resume for a new academic season, appealing to the state government not to rest on its oars and consequently pledged that NAPTAN would continue to give the government the necessary support to sustain and improve on the good results being recorded in recent times.

    The ANCOPSS Vice-Principal, Comrade Fadare said that it was worthy of celebration as the State broke the jinx of eighteen years of poor performance in WASSCE with an outstanding 54.18% performance in 2017 in a year in which the national average was 59%

    She noted that the much-touted ‘Change’ mantra would be nothing if achievements like improved academic excellence were not witnessed, adding that the shift from the poor performance of students of past years to the recent one was remarkable.

    According to her, “Today is a day of joy to us as teachers and Principals in the State on this remarkable improvement in the performance of our students. The various efforts of the present administration to bring sanity into education and academic performance in the State have been yielding fruitful results with this 54.18 percentage performance.

    “Moral ethos is now back in our schools and values lost over time are being entrenched through government’s introduction of policies like the School Governing Board (SGB), which gives some responsibilities to the community and stakeholders to develop the school. Look at the OyoMesi intervention project, the ban on automatic promotion, launch of Education Trust Fund and the government’s pledge of about N5bn for renovation of schools throughout the State. They are good policies that are already bearing results. We are all happy for this change in the academic performance of our students,” Comrade Fadare added.

    The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela in his response, thanked the stakeholders for their belief in the present administration’s policies which he said were formulated with their input.

    Olowofela said it was clear with the result of the intervention programmes that politics should not be mixed with important social services like education, promising the stakeholders that the administration would not relent in putting more efforts into improving the current standard.

  • NPA, other stakeholders, meet to sustain Executive Order on port operations

    NPA, other stakeholders, meet to sustain Executive Order on port operations

    The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Usman, on Friday urged stakeholders in the maritime sector to work together to sustain the Presidential Order on Port Operations.

    According to a statement on Friday by the Principal Manager, Public Affairs of NPA, Mr Ibrahim Nasiru, the NPA chief executive made the plea at an inter-agency interactive session on the Presidential Order on Port Operations held at the NPA headquarters in Lagos.

    The statement said Usman called on all stakeholders in the sector to make information-sharing a pivotal part of their activities.

    According to her, we need to work hand-in-hand to improve efficiency in our ports.

    “We need to work as a team toward achieving success across the industry. It is about the greatness of our dear country Nigeria.

    “Let us work together to make our ports competitive in the entire ECOWAS sub-region,’’ Usman said.

    She, therefore, urged all organisations to adhere to the tenets of the Executive Order, in order not to be hampered by any encumbrances.

    Usman said that the NPA Management had evolved an effective machinery to comprehensively review the progress and challenges associated with the efforts to actualise the executive order.

    The managing director also presented the Joint Stakeholders Committee’s report on the implementation of the Executive Order on Port Operations at the session.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, had on Thursday, May 18 signed three far-reaching executive orders expected to ease business, fast-track budget submission and promote made in Nigeria products.

     

    NAN

  • Apapa Wharf Road: FG, stakeholders reach agreement as reconstruction begins July 7

    Stakeholders on Thursday reached an agreement to take necessary measures in Apapa to ensure commencement of reconstruction of Wharf Road leading to the nation’s major port on July 7.

    The stakeholders agreed on several issues at a meeting held at the office complex of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing headquarters in Lagos.

    Those in attendance include representatives of traffic regulatory and traffic management agencies, law enforcement agencies, transport unions, petroleum products unions, port terminal operators and the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA).

    Others are telecommunication service providers, the Apapa Local Government, representatives of Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, contractors on the project, among others.

    The stakeholders, rising from the meeting, presented a communique read by Mr Godwin Eke, Federal Controller Works, Lagos and a consultant of AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, Mr Kayode Opeifa.

    They agreed that the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and NPA should collaborate to repair all bad roads and diversion routes, including Tin Can Island Road, Creek Road and Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, which will receive heavy traffic.

    The stakeholders resolved that a meeting be held between traffic regulatory agencies, law enforcement agencies and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on July 3 to fashion out a traffic management plan.

    “After the meeting and the discussions and approval, it will be communicated to all stakeholders. Then, we can ask the contractors to mobilise and begin the reconstruction of Apapa Wharf Road.

    “We all resolve to ensure that parked trucks be removed from Apapa Wharf Road for construction works to commence in phases on 7th July; it will never be a total closure of all the roads, but only on sections of the road where work will be done,” the communique stated.

    They agreed that stakeholders will corporate with any changes in time line of traffic management which will be communicated to all parties by both the NPA and the contractor through LASTMA, for effective traffic diversions during the period.

    The stakeholders also resolved that traffic management agencies would come up with a periodic traffic management plan backed by security provided by the security agencies.

    They agreed that the Sole Administrator of Apapa Local Government, Mr Luqman Alao, would work with all traffic management agencies, security agencies and the NPA, and coordinate activities between them and the military.

    The stakeholders commended the NPA, AG Dangote, Flour Mills of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Power, Work and Housing for coming together to execute the project.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on June 17, handed over the Apapa Wharf Road to AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd. for reconstruction.

    The site was handed over after the minister signed a N4.34 billion Memorandum of Understanding with stakeholders who were to fund the project.

    The project is to be funded by AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, an arm of the Dangote Group, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Flour Mills of Nigeria.

    The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, on July 22, held the first stakeholders meeting with some concerned parties on how to achieve success and speed on the project.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the ministry held another meeting with telecommunication service providers and others on Wednesday on how to relocate service cables and pipes in the Right of Way of the project.

    The two kilometre road has a completion period of one year.

     

     

    NAN

     

  • Ethnic tension: Nigeria can’t achieve peace with selective stakeholders, June 12 democratic Movement tells Osinbajo

    …Says Federal Government should;

    Recognize MKO Abiola as a national icon

    Recognize and declare June 12 as National Democracy Day

    Compensate his (Abiola’s) family

    Name Abuja National Stadium and Eagles Square after him

    The June 12 Democratic Movement, an NGO set up to immortalize the life and times of the late philanthropist and acclaimed winner of the June 12 Presidential elections in 1993, Chief MKO Abiola has advised the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to set up a more inclusive peace and reconciliatory committee to bring about a permanent solution to the current secession agitation and crisis rocking the country.

    The Movement stated this in a communiqué issued at the commemoration of the 24th edition of June 12 Democracy Movement held on June 12 2017 at the residence and tomb side of the late businessman cum politician.

    The forum reiterated its commitment to a unified and indivisible Nigeria.

    The movement recommended thus:

    1. The Presidency invoking its powers in section 5 of the current defacto Constitution of Nigeria, should as a matter of urgency, formally, properly establish, an independent intervention Panel to be known as Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Panel, to reconcile Nigerians and douse the growing ethnic acrimony and tension in the country. This initiative should however go beyond the present selective approach of the Acting President to engage only stakeholders from the North and South East on the current ethnic logjam in the country.
    2. The proposed interventionist Panel should however be designed to recognise the popular desire of the diverse peoples in Nigeria for a new peoples’ democratic constitution to drive a fair and just democratic political system and culture in Nigeria.
    3. The proposed Panel, working with Civil Society Groups such as PRONACO, Project Nigeria Movement, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC Nigeria Democracy Platform, Change Agents of Nigeria, KIND including Indigenous and Citizens platforms and organized self determination movements should take profound cognizance of the longstanding popular advocacy and agitations of the various sections of the country towards the Restructuring of the Nigerian State into viable geopolitical regions to contain the lingering acrimony and deep seated animosity among the diverse constituents and citizens of Nigeria.
    4. The proposed Truth, Justice and reconciliation panel should be empowered to invoke the required capacity to mobilise and orientate the generality of Nigerian Citizens to appreciate and imbibe the need for tolerance of one another in a sustainable, just and equitable Union
    5. History and Civic Studies, for the purpose of appropriate trans generational political enlightenment for the citizens of Nigeria should be made compulsory in our primary and Secondary School Curricula.
    6. The Federal Government must as a matter of necessity make Youth and Women Empowerment an irrevocable priority henceforth in the political governance of Nigeria.
    7. The assembly further demanded that the FGN should immortalise Bashorun MKO Abiola as a National icon of Democracy and family be compensated, while the National Stadium in Abuja should be named after him in accordance with the resolution of the 5th National Assembly. Same with Eagle square to be known as MKO Abiola Democracy Centre.
    8. The forum also recommended to the FGN to henceforth recognise and declare June 12 as National Democracy Day in Nigeria.

    10.The June 12 Democracy Movement in conjunction with Organized Civil Society and the Nigerian Government should, as a matter of honour and international advocacy for popular democracy world over, establish a National Institute for Democracy to be named as MKO Abiola Institute for Democratic Studies

     

     

     

  • Kidnapped Perm Sec: Akeredolu meets security chiefs, other stakeholders

    Kidnapped Perm Sec: Akeredolu meets security chiefs, other stakeholders

    Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has met with security chiefs in the state over the kidnap of the Permanent Secretary of the state Hospital Management Board (HMB) Dr. Niran Ikuomola.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Dr. Ikuomola and his driver were abducted by unknown gunmen along the Lokoja/Abuja expressway on Sunday evening.

    The Secretary of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Dr. Roland Arohunmolase, who broke the news to Journalists in Akure, the state capital disclosed that the abductors have contacted the doctor’s family, demanding N70million ransome.

    Addressing reporters after the state security council meeting, Akeredolu said the meeting was to deliberate on steps being taken to get the kidnapped Permanent Secretary released from his abductors.

    The governor said the government was deeply concerned about the development and assured that efforts were being coordinated at ensuring early reunion of Dr Ikuomola with his family members.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mrs Hilda Harrison-Ibifuro reiterated efforts of all securities agencies in the state at ensuring early release of the two kidnapped victims.

    The meeting which had Heads of Army, Navy, Customs, Prisons, Prisons ,Immigration,Road Safety Corps and Police in attendance also agreed that the Permanent Secretary kidnap was a security threat and that Ondo State would never be made comfortable for criminals.

    While promising adequate security for lives and property in the state, Mrs Harrison-Ibifuro said that the Ondo State Government has directed regular clearance of bushes across the three major roads linking the state with other neighbouring states.

    Mrs Hilda Harrison-Ibifuro listed the affected roads to include Ilesha-Akure; Isę-Isua to Kogi and Ore to Ogun States.

    The Commissioner called on traditional rulers, caretaker chairmen and other citizens to heed the directive, insisting that clearing of the bushes would prevent criminals and hoodlums who usually use the road verges for their nefarious activities.

  • Just In: Tinubu, Akande, others in Ibadan for APC southwest stakeholders meeting

    Reports reaching TheNewsGuru.com states that stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in the South West geo-political zone are currently meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

    Among those who beat the time to arrive early at the meeting billed to take place at 1pm include former interim National Chairman of the party and former governor of Osun state, Chief Bisi Akande; Minister for Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Muhammed and his Finance counterpart, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun.

    Others include the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Governor of Ogun state Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Osun state, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode who arrived about 12.50 pm.

    Also attending the meeting include Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye; Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

    The Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu. Governor Ibikunle Amosun, and Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state have all arrived the venue of the meeting.

    The purpose of the meeting is yet to be revealed.

  • NIMASA assures stakeholders of execution of core mandates in 2017

    NIMASA assures stakeholders of execution of core mandates in 2017

    The Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has assured Nigerians that the agency would treat as a matter of urgency execution of the Agency’s core mandates, and entrench conditions needed by the private operators, to provide and multiply wealth.

    Dakuku said this in a New Year message to stakeholders

    Identifying the year 2016 as “a challenging year”, as a result of the economic recession, the NIMASA boss said he would adopt specific measures this year, towards ensuring “the economic recovery not just for the maritime sector but the nation at large”.

    “Our commitment is to make sure that indigenous operators maximise their potentials in our maritime industry whilst creating wealth and job opportunities for our teeming youths.

    “We are focused on the full implementation of our mandate in the new year. We have concluded the restructuring, repositioning and reformation of NIMASA which would take effect in the first quarter of 2017 with the

    aim of making Nigeria a hub of maritime activities in West and Central Africa”, Dakuku Peterside stated further, noting the Federal Government’s total commitment towards reflating the economy in order to engender an early recovery from the current recession.

    “The new year will signify a turning point in the fortunes of operators of the Nigerian Maritime industry”, he pointed out, decrying the harsh operating environment in Nigeria’s maritime industry while reiterating that the Agency will be committed to the full enforcement of its mandate.

    Peterside further stated that the Agency will fully implement its five pillar programme of maritime safety, security, search and rescue transformation; marine environment preservation; digital transformation initiative; capacity building initiatives; and cultural and attitudinal transformation.

    He stated further that the Agency will fully implement its five pillar programme of maritime safety, security, search and rescue transformation; marine environment preservation; digital transformation initiative; capacity building initiatives; and cultural and attitudinal transformation.

    The Agency is poised to activate all these initiatives with a view to harnessing the vast opportunities inherent in the sector and generating revenue for the government for developmental programmes,” Dakuku further noted.

  • Sirika to meet stakeholders Thursday over Abuja Airport reconstruction

    Sirika to meet stakeholders Thursday over Abuja Airport reconstruction

    The Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, will on Thursday engage the Industry’s Stakeholders on issues arising from the proposed closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for repairs on its runway.

    Sirika disclosed this in a statement issued by Mr James Odaudu, Deputy Director, Press and Public Affairs, Ministry of Transportation on Monday in Abuja.

    He said the meeting was a follow-up to the decision of the Federal Government to temporarily shut down operations at the airport for six weeks in February and March.

    According to the minister, the Stakeholders’ Forum will afford him with the opportunity to officially inform the sector’s players of the decision.

    “It is also to brief them on efforts being made to ensure that the use of the Kaduna International Airport as an alternative during the six-Week closure of the Abuja Airport is seamless and hitch-free.

    “The Stakeholders will also be expected to make their contributions and key into the plans to make their operations during the period less problematic,” he said.

    Sirika, however, emphasised that the Forum was in line with government’s belief in ventilating people’s opinions in formulating and executing policies.

    He said that government was aware of the likely high level of discomfort and inconvenience the proposed closure of the airport would cause air transport passengers, airline operators and other service providers.

    He explained that the decision was informed by safety and security concerns, saying that government would rather lose billions of dollars in revenue than to risk lives.

    The minister also disclosed that the ministry would invite other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as security agencies and the Kaduna State Government who were expected to play roles during the six-week period.

    Recall that the minister had in December revealed government plans to shut down the airport while briefing newsmen on its efforts toward addressing the challenges of aviation fuel.

  • Failed Data Hike: NCC begins wide consultation with stakeholders

    The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) on Wednesday said it has commenced wide consultations with stakeholders on a sustainable data floor price.

    This was made known by Tony Ojobo, the Director of Public Affairs of the commission in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the recent increase and suspension of the price of data.

    Recall that some telecom service providers recently sent messages to their subscribers that NCC was planning to increase data tariff.

    The announcement elicited wide criticisms from subscribers including the National Assembly, which prompted the commission to issue a statement on the suspension of the data price increase.

    “In order for us not to have failure and to have good quality data services, there is need for intervention by the regulator.

    “And what we have said is that it has been suspended for now, the commission is going to undertake a study and consult widely with all stakeholders before a final decision is taken,’’ he said.

    Ojobo said that in terms of pricing, Nigeria was not doing badly, adding that “NCC is responsible and responsive to it duty’’.

    He said that the commission was also looking at the benchmark across other African countries on how they regulate theirs before fixing the floor price.

    Ojobo said that the world had gone internet, therefore there was need for huge investment to ensure that the country enjoyed these services.

    “The operator pays for the bandwidth it gets and it are going below the cost price, then something is wrong.

    “And it will bring a distraction and contribute to market failure, so it is important we understand all these,’’ he said.

    Mrs Josephine Amuwa, the Director of Policy and Economic Analysis said that the commission carried out a cost study to determine the situation on ground and what could be done as regards data floor.

    “We carried out a benchmarking in African countries to see what was happening and the cost of data services in these countries and in all these consultations, we involved operators.

    “We wrote to them to start a consultation for price floor and all those to be involved in it and they wrote to us for the need for a price floor.

    “And we had consultation with 28 operators on Oct. 19, later it was left for NCC to take the decision and we decided that 90 kobo was an appropriate interim figure.

    “Somebody who is paying N5 will pay 90k and somebody who is paying 45k will pay 90k, it then balance out and that is why we introduce a price floor.

    “We have gone back to our cost study to see how fast we can fast track it, we cannot do without it because we don’t want the industry to fail,’’ she said.