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Niger State Arrests 120 Persons For Rejecting Polio Vaccine

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The Niger State Government has arrested 120 persons for refusing to immunise their children against polio, as part of efforts to enforce the law that forbids rejection of the polio vaccine.

The Director of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Shehu Yabagi, told newsmen in Minna that the arrested persons were those who had consistently opposed the polio vaccine immunisation exercise in the state.

Yabagi said some of the suspects had already been arraigned before various courts in the state, while some of them had been convicted and compelled to pay a fine for their actions.

He said the state government had also sent another bill to the state assembly to make any cleric who preaches against the acceptance of the polio vaccines in the state to be jailed or pay huge fine.

The director said that the agency had embarked on the cross-border immunisation exercise in a bid to halt any further transmission of the disease.

Niger State is one of the only nine States struggling to stamp out the virus from the country so as to meet the World Health Organsation, WHO, target of a polio-free globe by 2014.

The other states are: Borno, Adamawa, Kano, Gombe, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Yobe and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Yabagi said his agency would continue to work hard to ensure that polio was eradicated in the state and, by extension, the whole country through advocacy and enforcement of the various laws enacted by the state government.

 

No Power Plant Will Be Handed Over Uncompleted – NDPHC

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No Power Plant Will Be Handed Over Uncompleted – NDPHC

The Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, NDPHC, has assured the nation that no power plant will be handed over to the private investors uncompleted.

James Olotu, the managing director of the company, gave the assurance on Wednesday at a transaction review conference with relevant stakeholders and private investors.

“Before handing over, every power plant will be completed and fit for the purpose intended in line with how the contracts were designed. The completion of the power plant will not hinder the privatisation process in any way,” he said.

Olotu added that government was fully committed to ensuring that it met with the dates stipulated for the handing over.

“We have a timeline that by June next year, all the power plants will be handed over,” he said.

Reacting to requests by some of the investors for an extension of date for the submission of bid, Olotu said that the extension was subject to the decision of the government.

He stressed that no matter the level of extension of date some contractors would still not be ready, adding that government would only deal with the serious ones.

“Examination time is examination time, there is no time that you set for an examination that all the students will be ready,” he said.

The director promised that full capacity and availability of power will come with the privatisation as the issue of unavailability of gas would have been resolved.

He explained that by the time the whole system was private sector-driven, issues of non-availability of gas would not arise, adding that gas suppliers would ensure adequate supply of the product and make profit.

Olotu expressed optimism that at the end of the process, Nigerians would be able to reap the real benefit of competition and best business practice just like the telecommunication industry.

Anambra Commissioner Declared Wanted Over N10.6 million Fraud

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Anambra Commissioner Declared Wanted Over N10.6 million Fraud

The Anambra State commissioner for special duties, Vincent Ejikeme Ezewajiaku, has been declared wanted by the Special Fraud Unit, SFU, of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, for allegedly obtaining the sum of N10.6 million by false pretence and forgery.

According to the Unit’s spokesperson, Ngozi Insitume-Agu, the commissioner has been invited twice by to answer questions bothering on the allegation, but he failed to show up each time.

Insitume-Agu said the unit had received a petition from an undisclosed businessman, who alleged that sometime between 1996 and 2002, the commissioner who was then managing director of BIO Plastic limited, invited him to invest in his company as a co-director with an agreement that he (complainant) would acquire 34% of the equity at the end of investment.

She said the complainant in the petition claimed that he paid the sum of N10,582,540.00 in instalments, alleging that he was “induced by the commissioner to part with his hard earned money by writing several letters promising and indicating huge potentials of the company’s expected turnover and profitability”.

However, after making the payments and with promises unfulfilled, he discovered that he had invested in a non-existent company as the company was not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC.

During the investigation, Insitume-Agu said some detectives from the unit travelled to Anambra State with an invitation letter which was duly served on the suspect.

“The suspect was expected to report to the office on April 16, 2013 but he failed to honour Police invitation.  Again on August 4, 2013, detectives went to Awka with a warrant of arrest and he resisted arrest and maintained that he must see the governor of the state or commissioner of Police,” she said.

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Ezewajiaku was later taken to state CID where he made cautionary statement and was subsequently released on bail to one Obi Damian Okwudili who promised in writing to produce the suspect on August 15, 2013 but this did not happen.

The statement said the surety has been arrested and will soon be charged to court.

“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit has declared Vincent Ejikeme Ezewajiaku wanted. Anybody with useful information on how to arrest him or his whereabout, should contact the Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, 13 Milverton Road, Ikoyi, Lagos,” the unit’s spokesperson said.

Nasarawa Gets More Military Troops To Beef Up Security

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Nasarawa Gets More Military Troops To Beef Up Security

President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the immediate deployment of troops to maintain law and order in Nasarawa state.

There had been clashes over the weekend between the Eggon and Alago ethnic groups which claimed several lives and left others injured just as many houses were set on fire.

Military spokesman, Ibrahim Attahiru, told journalists in Abuja that the deployment of the troop is to further beef up security in the state.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday said it would partner with the Nasarawa state government to tackle security challenges in the state.

The director of Conflict, Ethics and Good Governance of the commission, Tina Nwodu, said this while exchanging views with Sani Yakubu-Awa, the state commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, in Lafia.

She said that the commission was concerned about the loss of lives and destruction of properties taking place in the state.

“Crises do not just erupt, it has traces, and early warning responses will assist to get firsthand information for it to be nipped in the bud. We are prepared to partner with the state government to ensure enduring peace and stability,” Nwodu said.

She said that crisis caused all kinds of abuses on law-abiding citizens, with children and women being the most affected victims.

The director explained that the agency would meet with the community and women leaders, market associations and youth groups to discuss on peace and unity of the people of the state

 

Navy Yard Gunman Exhibited Abnormal Behaviour – Police

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Navy Yard Gunman Exhibited Abnormal Behaviour – Police

Rhode Island police warned the U.S. Navy last month that Washington Navy Yard gunman, Aaron Alexis, had reported “hearing voices,” raising further questions about how he gained security clearance at the complex where he went on a shooting rampage.

Alexis, a Navy contractor and former Navy reservist, opened fire at the Naval Sea Systems Command on Monday, killing 12 people before police shot him dead.

Police in Newport, Rhode Island, say they were so concerned about Alexis’ behaviour on a business trip to the Navy Yard in August that they alerted the Navy police.

Alexis had told the police he believed people were following him and “sending vibrations into his body,” according to a Newport police report.

He said he had changed hotels twice to avoid the noise he heard coming through the floor and the ceiling of his rooms, and that the people following him were using “some sort of microwave machine” to prevent him from sleeping.

“Based on the naval base implications and the claim that the involved subject, one (Aaron Alexis) was ‘hearing voices,’ I made contact with the on-duty Naval Station police,” a Newport police officer wrote.

The Newport police report said Navy police had promised to check if Alexis was in fact a naval base contractor.

Asked for comment, a spokesman said the Navy was looking into the matter, without confirming any details.

In addition, CNN reported that Alexis had contacted two Veterans Administration hospitals recently and was believed to be seeking psychological help.

“Initial reports indicate that this is an individual who may have had some mental health problems,” U.S. President Barack Obama told the media.

“The fact that we do not have a firm enough background check system is something that makes us more vulnerable to these kinds of mass shootings,” he added.

The Navy gave Alexis an honourable discharge despite a series of eight to 10 misconduct charges, ranging from traffic offenses to disorderly conduct.

Using a valid pass as an information technology contractor with a private company, Alexis entered the Naval Sea Systems Command headquarters with a shotgun – bought legally in Virginia – and gained access to a handgun after he started firing, officials said.

He started picking off victims in a cafeteria from a fourth-floor atrium, witnesses said. Eight people were hurt, three with gunshot wounds, before Alexis was killed in a gun battle with police.

A Defense Department Inspector General’s report published on Tuesday revealed security lapses that allowed 52 convicted felons to gain access to Navy facilities because budget cuts had undermined vetting.

The Pentagon said it would review security at military installations around the world and the White House promised to review standards for federal government contractors.

 

Labour Protests Decentralisation Of Minimum Wage

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Labour Protests Decentralisation Of Minimum Wage
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, led workers on Wednesday to the National Assembly to protest the decision of the Senate to remove the minimum wage law from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list of the proposed amendment to the 199 constitution.

The Senate had during the recent constitution amendment exercise voted for the decentralization of negotiations on the national minimum wage, but the House of Representatives overwhelmingly shut down the proposal.

While the proposal awaits harmonization of both houses, the leadership of the NLC and TUC say they will resist moves by the Senate to remove minimum wage and other labour matters from the exclusive legislative list as such a move is not in the interest of workers and ordinary people.

labour protest

The Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomole, who joined in the protest, said the consequences of removing labour from the exclusive list goes beyond wages.

He explained that if the Senate removes labour from the exclusive list to the concurrent list, every state would withdraw basic protection for workers such as health and safety and social security.

Last month, NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar threatened that the union would embark on a nationwide strike and mobilise Nigerian workers to fight against the removal of the minimum wage clause.

In his reaction, the Senate President, David Mark, promised the Nigerian workers that the National Assembly will revisit the issue.

5 Killed In Train-Bus Collision In Canada

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5 Killed In Train-Bus Collision In Canada

A passenger train collided with a double-decker city bus in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city on Wednesday, killing at least five people.

The accident occurred mid-morning just outside a suburban train station in the city’s west end.

Television images showed a heavily damaged red double-decker bus, with firefighters and ambulances at the scene. The front of the bus appeared to be severed due to the collision.

Ottawa Fire Services spokesman, Marc Messier, told CTV News the initial estimate is that five people have been killed.

VIA Rail, which operates the national passenger service in Canada, confirmed the crash and said there were no major injuries reported on the train.

Canada’s two big railroads – Canadian National Railway Company  and Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd – are reviewing safety standards after a deadly train crash on July 6 that killed 50 people and destroyed the center of a small Quebec town.

 

Tukur Asks Court To Strike Out Baraje’s Suit

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Tukur Asks Court To Strike Out Baraje’s Suit

The national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Bamanga Tukur, on Wednesday asked an Ikeja High Court to strike out a suit filed by a faction of the party.

Tukur made the request in a preliminary notice of objection filed by his counsel, Joe Kyari-Gadzama.

In his argument, Kyari-Gadzama urged the court to strike out the suit filed by the Abubakar Baraje-led faction of the PDP for want of jurisdiction.

Baraje’s faction filed a suit on September 1, seeking to stop Tukur and other members of his executive council from parading themselves as national officers of the party.

Kyari-Gadzama on Wednesday said: “I am asking the court to strike out the case because it lacks the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the suit. The subject matter of this suit is the PDP which has its registered office in Abuja and none of the defendants is resident in Lagos State”.

He said the course of action which is the purported removal of the defendants and the election of the claimants arose in Abuja and not in Lagos, adding that the writs of summons did not comply with the mandatory requirements of Section 97 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act because they were not signed.

“It is quite elementary that every court is a creation of law and thus a court of law has its jurisdiction limited and circumscribed by the constitution. The general position of the law on territorial jurisdiction of a court is that a court’s jurisdiction is confined to matters that arose within it, or where the defendants reside or carry out business,” the lawyer said.

The presiding judge, Oludotun Adefowope-Okojie, adjourned the matter to September 25 for further hearing.

Gov. Aliyu Warns Education Minister To Steer Clear Of Niger State

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By Nma Shekwolo

The Niger State governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has warned the acting minister of education, Nyeson Wike not to interfere with the affairs of the state.

Aliyu, who said this while signing into law the state University of Education Bill at Government House, Minna, was reacting to some uncomplimentary remarks allegedly made by Wike on the state of the education sector in Niger state.

“I don’t know when he got into education. Education is not for riff raffs. Wike should be warned to stay clear of Niger state. If he (Wike) can fight the governor of his state (Rivers) he cannot fight other governors. He should take his time,” the governor warned.

While endorsing the bill to become law, Aliyu lamented that most states in the region could not boast of 50 per cent qualified teachers to man primary schools.

He said the University of Education in Minna will attempt to bridge that gap, as it will provide avenue for the training of teachers not only for primary and secondary schools in the state but for the entire northern Nigeria where there is presently no such institution.

He said the dearth of qualified teachers in all the states in the northern part of the country informed the setting up of the specialised university.

Aliyu said when the university becomes operational government will set deadline for unqualified teachers in her employment to be certified.

In his remarks the Speaker of the Niger state House of Assembly, Adamu Usman, said between 2007 and this 2013, the chamber had passed 30 bills, adding that the laws have impacted positively on the lives of people in the state.

Usman added that the Bill on the University of Education mandates the government to set aside at least 2 per cent of its budget for the funding of the university.

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He assured that the establishment of a new university will not affect the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University at Lapai which is also owned by the state government.

Two other bills – the Vision 3:2020 Law and the Pilgrims Welfare Commission Bill – were also signed into law.

The Vision 3:2020 law legalised the state Vision 3:2020 programme introduced by the administration in 2007 while the amendment to the Pilgrims Welfare Commission law would give executive powers to the chairman of the commission.

I Will Not Resign – Okonjo-Iweala

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I Will Not Resign – Okonjo-Iweala

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has dismissed resignation call suggested by some governors, saying Nigeria’s economy is doing reasonably well.

Speaking on the state of economy in a press briefing addressed in Abuja, Okonjo-Iweala said she is still the minister of finance for the country and works for President Goodluck Jonathan.

She rejected the governors’ call adding that she will not  be derailed by political issues in discharging her duties.

“I will not involve myself in political issues with the state governors, we are here to manage the economy for the good of the nation and what we are doing here is based on facts on the ground. I am minister for the economy, am working for President Goodluck Jonathan and  I am answerable to him. Do I look like someone who is preparing to resign? I am not resigning, I dey kampe. I have a very committed and dedicated team and so I am not going to respond to such issues,” Okonjo-Iweala said.

On Tuesday, members of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum called on the Minister of Finance, who is also the Coordinating Minister of the Economy,  Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to resign her appointment if she knew she would not be able to adhere strictly with the Appropriation Act 2013.

They stated that the non-compliance with the revenue projections of the Federal Government 2013 Budget was also a direct breach of the provisions of the Appropriation Act, 2013. These decisions were part of the resolutions of the Governor Rotimi Amaechi-led NGF, which met in Abuja on Tuesday evening.

The governors also called for the immediate dissolution of the Economic Management Team.

Reacting to the governors’ claims, Okonjo-Iweala gave instances of a sound economy as portrayed in the fact that nine state governments have expressed interest to float bond from the Nigerian capital market. She noted that the state governments would not have had the confidence to float the bonds if the economy was unhealthy.

Commending the nine state governors who have shown interest in floating the bonds for the confidence they have in the economy by floating the bonds, the minister urged the citizens and legislatures of the states to monitor the proceeds from the bonds together with the federal government and the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC.

On macro economy, Okonjo-Iweala said Nigeria’s macro-economic fundamentals are strong with $46 billion in the foreign reserve and of this amount, $5.1 billion is in the excess crude account. She cautioned that the $5.1 billion in the excess crude account will be drawn down today after payment has been made from it to oil marketers whose payments she said has been due.

According to her, the economy saved a lot of money with the measures put in place to pay oil marketers as a fall out of the subsidy row in 2012. These measures include avoiding conflicts of interest, and the introduction of checks and balances.

The minister said that N2.2 trillion was paid to oil marketers in 2011 but after the measures were instituted and a forensic audit carried out, N971 billion was paid in 2012 and there are wrong indications that about N950 billion will be paid to marketers in 2013. She noted that inflation and exchange rate fundamentals have remained stable with GDP growth more than six per cent, thus making Nigeria “one of the fastest growing economies worldwide.”

Convinced on the soundness of the economy, Okonjo-Iweala disclosed that the September salaries of civil servants were paid yesterday. She added that over $2 billion has so far been generated from the sale of the Generation Companies and Distribution Companies, Gencos and Discos, and part of these proceeds will be used to pay off staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.

Speaking on 2014 budget, the minister said that Nigeria has to prepare and plan to be prudent with its spending especially with the recent discoveries of shale oil and arctic oil. She, however, assured that the economy will further develop if the executive and legislature work together towards removing bottle necks.

 

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