Beneficiaries of the 500,000 direct teacher jobs scheme under the
N-Power programme will have a take home monthly salary of 23,000 naira.
Applications into the scheme is billed to start on june 12 through the
online portal npower.gov.ng.
“Beside their monthly take home pay
estimated at about N23,000, the selected 500,000 graduates will also get
computer devices that will contain information necessary for their
specific engagement, as well as information for their continuous
training and development. They get to keep the devices, even after
exiting from the programme.
“According to the plan of the Buhari
administration, the N-Power Teacher Corps programme is an invaluable
opportunity for young Nigerians to make immense economic and social
contributions to the nation, while developing their skills. It will also
help to address the problems of inadequate teachers in public schools.
“Also,
persons enlisted under the scheme will gain work experience and acquire
key competencies through academic and non-academic capacity building
programmes intended to improve their competitiveness in the workplace.
Their devices will come loaded with knowledge-oriented applications and
software that will enable them acquire the skills and capacity.
“Under
the N-Power Knowledge scheme, there are three aspects: Creative,
Technology Software and Hardware. These three sub-divisions will train
25,000 young Nigerians in all. “5,000 of them would be trained in
Animation, Graphic Design, Post-Production, Script-Writing, all under
the sub-division of N-Power Knowledge-creative category.
“The
N-Power Knowledge scheme also has a technology category in two aspects:
hardware and software. 10,000 Nigerians would be trained, and equipped
in the area of software development, including web designer, and another
10,000 in hardware expertise, including repair, maintenance and
assemblage of mobile phones, tablets, computers and other devices.
“Also,
the N-Power Build category was designed, realizing that the presence of
a well-trained and highly skilled youth population in any economy has
direct impact on entrepreneurship/wealth creation, which in turn leads
to a decline in unemployment.
“N-Power Build is, therefore, an
accelerated training and certification (skills to job/enterprise)
programme that will engage and train 75,000 young, unemployed Nigerians
to build a new crop of skilled and highly competent workforce of
technicians, artisans and service professionals.”
http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2016/06/09/500000-employed-school-teachers-will-be-paid-n23000-as-monthly-salary/
Thursday, 9 June 2016
Resident Doctors Suspend Proposed Strike
The proposed indefinite strike by the National Association of Resident
Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) scheduled to commence Thursday, has been
suspended for one week to allow the House of Representatives intervene
between them and the executive.
This reprieve was sequel to a meeting between the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara and the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, NARD,
The meeting was convened at Dogara’s instance and presided over by him according to a statement issued by his spokesman Turaki Hassan in Abuja.
The suspension was sequel to the meeting between the association’s executive members, the Speaker and chairmen of relevant House Committees in his office.
Dogara while speaking asked for a week for the House to meet with the Minister of Health and fashion out ways to meet the demands of the resident doctors and address lingering grievances.
According to him, democracy is about the well-being of the citizens, and he further appealed to the association to understand that the country is presently going through financial challenges.
Dogara said, “It doesn’t matter what faith you profess, for instance, it is clearly stated in the Holy Bible that a labourer should be paid his wages even before his sweat dries.
“I believe that as a responsible government we know this. It is not like we don’t know. But as to challenges facing you, these are not things that we had discussed before, I only heard through the briefings I was given.
“If it is possible for you to open this window for us in the immediate to call on relevant persons who are in charge of this, in conjuction, of course, with active participation of your good selves, the relevant committees of the House, so we can sit at a table like this.
“I can sit down with the chairmen of committees, some members of the relevant committees, with your good selves and members of the ministry and they can bring these issues so we’ll understand why someone will work for four to eight months and not be paid. What is the problem? And then, we will attempt to address these issues together and if it doesn’t work, we can’t stop you from venting your anger and expressing your grievances.
I appeal to you to give us till next week when I hope we will be able to invite them and we will sit down together and iron out the issues.”
“Imagine a situation where all the resident doctors in Nigeria are on strike, what will happen to the people we represent? Democracy’s first promise is life, thereafter liberty, the third promise is the pursuit of happiness. And all of them rest on each other, if you don’t have life, then you cannot begin to talk of liberty, if you don’t have liberty then you cannot begin to talk about happiness.
“So, ultimately, all the three hang on life. When there is no life, there is nothing, democracy is useless because a dead man doesn’t have liberty.
“So for us, democracy itself is life and when you ignore sectors that provide these very essential services that support the health of our people, then we are even scouring democracy itself and its promises and so I agree with you entirely.
“It should be the responsibility of government, actually, to ensure that those who are rendering services, those who are working, providing the vents by which the nation moves, should be able to enjoy not just their salaries, but every other benefit surrounding their scheme of service.”
Dogara lamented that the wealth of Nigeria has shrunk due to decreased crude oil income and that it’s affecting the ability for government to deliver on its responsibilities.
The National President, Dr. Muhammad Askira, has earlier informed the Speaker that members of the association have not been paid salaries and other entitlements for several months
http://thenationonlineng.net/resident-doctors-suspend-proposed-strike/
This reprieve was sequel to a meeting between the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara and the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, NARD,
The meeting was convened at Dogara’s instance and presided over by him according to a statement issued by his spokesman Turaki Hassan in Abuja.
The suspension was sequel to the meeting between the association’s executive members, the Speaker and chairmen of relevant House Committees in his office.
Dogara while speaking asked for a week for the House to meet with the Minister of Health and fashion out ways to meet the demands of the resident doctors and address lingering grievances.
According to him, democracy is about the well-being of the citizens, and he further appealed to the association to understand that the country is presently going through financial challenges.
Dogara said, “It doesn’t matter what faith you profess, for instance, it is clearly stated in the Holy Bible that a labourer should be paid his wages even before his sweat dries.
“I believe that as a responsible government we know this. It is not like we don’t know. But as to challenges facing you, these are not things that we had discussed before, I only heard through the briefings I was given.
“If it is possible for you to open this window for us in the immediate to call on relevant persons who are in charge of this, in conjuction, of course, with active participation of your good selves, the relevant committees of the House, so we can sit at a table like this.
“I can sit down with the chairmen of committees, some members of the relevant committees, with your good selves and members of the ministry and they can bring these issues so we’ll understand why someone will work for four to eight months and not be paid. What is the problem? And then, we will attempt to address these issues together and if it doesn’t work, we can’t stop you from venting your anger and expressing your grievances.
I appeal to you to give us till next week when I hope we will be able to invite them and we will sit down together and iron out the issues.”
“Imagine a situation where all the resident doctors in Nigeria are on strike, what will happen to the people we represent? Democracy’s first promise is life, thereafter liberty, the third promise is the pursuit of happiness. And all of them rest on each other, if you don’t have life, then you cannot begin to talk of liberty, if you don’t have liberty then you cannot begin to talk about happiness.
“So, ultimately, all the three hang on life. When there is no life, there is nothing, democracy is useless because a dead man doesn’t have liberty.
“So for us, democracy itself is life and when you ignore sectors that provide these very essential services that support the health of our people, then we are even scouring democracy itself and its promises and so I agree with you entirely.
“It should be the responsibility of government, actually, to ensure that those who are rendering services, those who are working, providing the vents by which the nation moves, should be able to enjoy not just their salaries, but every other benefit surrounding their scheme of service.”
Dogara lamented that the wealth of Nigeria has shrunk due to decreased crude oil income and that it’s affecting the ability for government to deliver on its responsibilities.
The National President, Dr. Muhammad Askira, has earlier informed the Speaker that members of the association have not been paid salaries and other entitlements for several months
http://thenationonlineng.net/resident-doctors-suspend-proposed-strike/
Military To Observe Ceasefire Despite Militants’ Continued Attacks
The Nigerian Army says it will continue to observe a two-week ceasefire declared by Federal Government, even as militants continue their attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta region.
Ibrahim Attahiru, a major genera and General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, said this on Wednesday, while briefing journalists on the outcome of a meeting held at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
He said the decision was part of the resolutions reached at the meeting of field commanders and principal staff officers, convened by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, in Abuja.
He, however, warned that the military would resume its operations in the region if the militants continued to disregard the ceasefire.
Mr. Attahiru said the meeting of the Army’s field commanders was also held to appraise the current security situation in the country.
He said the army would apply its rules of engagement in its operations in the Niger Delta, especially where it is deemed necessary.
“The Chief of Army Staff called a meeting of all Principal Staff Officers and General Officers Commanding, as well as Directors in the Army Headquarters.
“The meeting is essentially to brief us on the aftermath of the meeting in the presidency and give further operational directives on the happenings in the Niger Delta.
“The two-week ceasefire was such that all military operations in the region were supposed to stop to enable government to apply the non-kinetic means of reaching out to the militants.
“Now, the militants have resorted to continue with the attacks on pipelines, we will tarry for a while and if this does not stop, we will decisively act wherever it is necessary,’’ he said.
Mr. Attahiru said applying the rules of engagement in the military’s internal security operations was not an aberration but a means of preserving the unity and dignity of the nation.
“The issue of applying the rules of engagement is to emphasise our adherence to the necessary procedures in internal security operations,’’ he said.
Mr. Attahiru warned that the military would no longer tolerate further attacks on its units and formations in the Niger Delta or elsewhere in the country.
“Recently there was an attack on Nigerian Army troops in the Niger Delta; that will no longer be tolerated.
“Anywhere troops are attacked, formation commanders will apply the rules of engagement to the fullest, they will follow the attackers to wherever they came from,’’ he warned.
Mr. Attahiru said the meeting also deliberated on other operational issues, particularly those relating to training in the Nigerian Army.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting had in attendance all the GOCs, unit commanders from all parts of the country as well as senior officers at the Army Headquarters.
(NAN)
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/204976-nigerian-military-observe-ceasefire-despite-militants-continued-attacks-pipelines.html
Buhari: Much Ado About Ear Infection(photo)-Prof. Ibekwe
The statement released by the presidency on Sunday,
announcing that President Muhammadu Buhari would see an Ear, Nose and
Throat (ENT) specialist for a persistent ear infection during his 10-day
vacation in the United Kingdom , was not only greeted with debates on
the necessity of the trip, but also speculations on what could be wrong
with Mr President’s ear, and the severity of the ailment.
Mr President embarked on the trip on the recommendation of his personal physician and an E.N.T specialist in Abuja, to enable him access further evaluation after he had been treated here, according to the statement.
The ear is an organ for hearing and also takes care of balance in a normal human being, said Professor Titus S. Ibekwe, a Professor of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Abuja, and Head, Department of Ear, Nose and Throat(ENT), Head & Neck, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.
He said the ear is divided into three different parts, the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear, and it is the inner ear that contains two important organs called the cochlea system and the vestibular system. The vestibular system is for balance while the cochlear system is for hearing.
According to him any of these organs can get diseased at any point in time ,one of which is infection. The infection could occur in the outer, middle and inner ear.
When the outer ear is infected it is called "Otitis externa", if the middle is infected it is called "Otitis media", and if the inner ear is infected it is called "Otitis interna" or the name of the specific organ affected in the inner ,that is vestibulitis- the organ that takes care of balance, or cochlitis if it is the organ for hearing .
The ENT specialist said the types of ear infections people have, is dependent on the type of organism that is involved, which can be bacteria infection , fungi infection or viral in nature.
“Any of these three parts of the ear could be infected at any point in time, and the magnitude of this infection also depends on certain factors,” he said.
Factors that determine the type of infection
He said the first one, is how virulent the organism causing the infection is. The second factor is the immune status of the patient. The expert said ear infection in people who are immune-suppressed is more severe than ordinary people, and this include people who have diabetes, cancer, HIV, and kidney infection, among others.
Any age range for ear infection?
Prof. Ibekwe said “No age group is immune to ear infection, it can affect anybody and everybody. Although the extreme of ages, that is the very young and very old tend to be more predisposed because of the immune status ; in a child the immune system is still developing while in an adult, the immune system is no longer as strong as it used to be like middle age and young age .”
How does ear infection affect a person’s activity, and what are the symptoms?
Professor Ibekwe who is also Immediate past First Vice President, Nigerian Medical Association answered that the symptoms depend on the type of ear infection that the person has, the part of the ear that is involved, as well as the immune system of the individual.
“Otitis externa” which is infection of the outer ear is usually associated with severe pain, he said. “If you touch the ear lobe of the person, the person will feel very severe pain. Sometimes it could be associated with some discharge coming out of the ear, something like pus maybe coming out . Most times when it is diagnosed appropriately and the correct drugs are given, the ailment is taken care of,” he said.
However, if the person is diabetic , the “Otitis externa” or outer ear infection may progress to the one called "Otitis extena maligna" a severe outer ear infection usually seen in immune-compromised patients and those with metabolic diseases like diabetes mellitus.
According to him , the "Otitis extena maligna" behaves like a malignant disease, so it eats into the tissues very fast. It is very severe and needs a more aggressive management. That is apart from treating the ear, you also need to control the persons diabetes level and boost immune status of the patient.
He said when the ailment is caused by fungus growing in the ear, it is also very painful and the discharge that comes is most times dark in colour .
“Fungus ear infection needs very long treatment because it is very resistant and the drugs have to be taken up to three weeks ,sometimes up to four weeks and consistently I norder to get results .You also advise the patient to keep water from entering the ear and keep it dry”, he said.
Candida can also grow in the ear and results in discharge that is close milky in colour, he said.
The expert said middle ear infection is associated severe discharge that draws like Okro soup. In children, it causes serious fever when it starts, and most times, the ear drum ruptures and drains outward from the middle ear.
For the inner ear, if you have vestibulitis, that is the organ for balance, it presents with the eye of the person spinning and turning, dizziness that is almost non-stop, fever and hearing loss.
If you have cochlitis, it usually results in hearing loss for the patient. It needs to be taken care of early, and the earlier one gets to the doctor, the better to get good results.
How to stop persistent infections?
He said avoiding pouring water in the ear, proper treatment, taking complete dose of drugs and long enough especially for fungi infection, and abiding by the instructions given to you by your doctor, can help with persistent or recurrent infections.
What should you do when you notice any problem with your ear, nose and throat?
The doctor said these organs are very sensitive places, and once you notice any problem affecting any of them, don’t start self medication but just go straight to the hospital and see your ear, nose and throat doctor, or meet the available doctor there who will attend to you, and refer you to an ENT specialist.
Moving our health system forward?
Prof. Ibekwe opined that Nigeria has the best manpower, and most state-of -the art hospitals abroad are manned by Nigerian doctors because they have brains and are well trained.
He said both government individuals and organizations have roles to play in the provision of modern equipment, capacity building, and facilities.
He also called for the earmarking of a pool of fund, called medical development fund ,saying it will encourage medical personnel within and outside the country to come and assist the country’s health system.
The ENT specialist called for public private partnership as government cannot do it alone. He said there is need to revitalize and add value to our health insurance so that most of the populace including the grassroots will be covered as no country thrives with out -of-pocket expenses.
http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/health/much-ado-about-ear-infection/150318.html#v1kEUAWD21lrqsAe.99
Mr President embarked on the trip on the recommendation of his personal physician and an E.N.T specialist in Abuja, to enable him access further evaluation after he had been treated here, according to the statement.
The ear is an organ for hearing and also takes care of balance in a normal human being, said Professor Titus S. Ibekwe, a Professor of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Abuja, and Head, Department of Ear, Nose and Throat(ENT), Head & Neck, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.
He said the ear is divided into three different parts, the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear, and it is the inner ear that contains two important organs called the cochlea system and the vestibular system. The vestibular system is for balance while the cochlear system is for hearing.
According to him any of these organs can get diseased at any point in time ,one of which is infection. The infection could occur in the outer, middle and inner ear.
When the outer ear is infected it is called "Otitis externa", if the middle is infected it is called "Otitis media", and if the inner ear is infected it is called "Otitis interna" or the name of the specific organ affected in the inner ,that is vestibulitis- the organ that takes care of balance, or cochlitis if it is the organ for hearing .
The ENT specialist said the types of ear infections people have, is dependent on the type of organism that is involved, which can be bacteria infection , fungi infection or viral in nature.
“Any of these three parts of the ear could be infected at any point in time, and the magnitude of this infection also depends on certain factors,” he said.
Factors that determine the type of infection
He said the first one, is how virulent the organism causing the infection is. The second factor is the immune status of the patient. The expert said ear infection in people who are immune-suppressed is more severe than ordinary people, and this include people who have diabetes, cancer, HIV, and kidney infection, among others.
Any age range for ear infection?
Prof. Ibekwe said “No age group is immune to ear infection, it can affect anybody and everybody. Although the extreme of ages, that is the very young and very old tend to be more predisposed because of the immune status ; in a child the immune system is still developing while in an adult, the immune system is no longer as strong as it used to be like middle age and young age .”
How does ear infection affect a person’s activity, and what are the symptoms?
Professor Ibekwe who is also Immediate past First Vice President, Nigerian Medical Association answered that the symptoms depend on the type of ear infection that the person has, the part of the ear that is involved, as well as the immune system of the individual.
“Otitis externa” which is infection of the outer ear is usually associated with severe pain, he said. “If you touch the ear lobe of the person, the person will feel very severe pain. Sometimes it could be associated with some discharge coming out of the ear, something like pus maybe coming out . Most times when it is diagnosed appropriately and the correct drugs are given, the ailment is taken care of,” he said.
However, if the person is diabetic , the “Otitis externa” or outer ear infection may progress to the one called "Otitis extena maligna" a severe outer ear infection usually seen in immune-compromised patients and those with metabolic diseases like diabetes mellitus.
According to him , the "Otitis extena maligna" behaves like a malignant disease, so it eats into the tissues very fast. It is very severe and needs a more aggressive management. That is apart from treating the ear, you also need to control the persons diabetes level and boost immune status of the patient.
He said when the ailment is caused by fungus growing in the ear, it is also very painful and the discharge that comes is most times dark in colour .
“Fungus ear infection needs very long treatment because it is very resistant and the drugs have to be taken up to three weeks ,sometimes up to four weeks and consistently I norder to get results .You also advise the patient to keep water from entering the ear and keep it dry”, he said.
Candida can also grow in the ear and results in discharge that is close milky in colour, he said.
The expert said middle ear infection is associated severe discharge that draws like Okro soup. In children, it causes serious fever when it starts, and most times, the ear drum ruptures and drains outward from the middle ear.
For the inner ear, if you have vestibulitis, that is the organ for balance, it presents with the eye of the person spinning and turning, dizziness that is almost non-stop, fever and hearing loss.
If you have cochlitis, it usually results in hearing loss for the patient. It needs to be taken care of early, and the earlier one gets to the doctor, the better to get good results.
How to stop persistent infections?
He said avoiding pouring water in the ear, proper treatment, taking complete dose of drugs and long enough especially for fungi infection, and abiding by the instructions given to you by your doctor, can help with persistent or recurrent infections.
What should you do when you notice any problem with your ear, nose and throat?
The doctor said these organs are very sensitive places, and once you notice any problem affecting any of them, don’t start self medication but just go straight to the hospital and see your ear, nose and throat doctor, or meet the available doctor there who will attend to you, and refer you to an ENT specialist.
Moving our health system forward?
Prof. Ibekwe opined that Nigeria has the best manpower, and most state-of -the art hospitals abroad are manned by Nigerian doctors because they have brains and are well trained.
He said both government individuals and organizations have roles to play in the provision of modern equipment, capacity building, and facilities.
He also called for the earmarking of a pool of fund, called medical development fund ,saying it will encourage medical personnel within and outside the country to come and assist the country’s health system.
The ENT specialist called for public private partnership as government cannot do it alone. He said there is need to revitalize and add value to our health insurance so that most of the populace including the grassroots will be covered as no country thrives with out -of-pocket expenses.
http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/health/much-ado-about-ear-infection/150318.html#v1kEUAWD21lrqsAe.99
Buhari's Poor Performance: When The Bell Rings Twice - Sam Omatseye
Not many thought the first year of Muhammadu Buhari would look like this. The price of pump price at 145, the naira at 350 to a dollar, not a single road tarred, the 2016 Budget in baby steps, no minister has received a tranche for work, salary backlogs now a routine, herdsmen as killer squads, Biafra on the rampage, Niger Delta brigands reborn, a labour strike, the President has only visited one state on official trip, his plane has landed on four continents, the change mantra muted.
Yet, if you go to the streets, there is no rage or less rage or impotent rage, but a sense of paralysis. The average Nigerian, including those who did not vote for Buhari, are not willing to pelt indignation. They feel poor, even poorer. Power that spewed out radiance in the first few months of his administration has returned to its habitual epilepsy. Jobs? Where are they? The welfare scheme and food for students? Not on the cards today. Many cannot pay rents, many squeeze out meals, wards cannot face their principals for lack of fees. Patience is tested everywhere. Those who are asking for it are also being asked for it. Yet, Buhari is Teflon, rising somewhat above popular anger.
Much of it, ironically, can be attributed to Buhari himself. The people at the hem are not yet angry with the man at the helm. For two reasons, mainly. One, his biography has proved compelling, even in office. No one thinks him a thief. No one thinks him contemplating thieving. Added to that, he turned the EFCC into a vault of revelations. This man stole that, that smaller man stole that bigger sum. The newspapers became headlines of statistical horror of billions of naira and dollar. All the peacock men in the Jonathan era, who suffused us with righteous rhetoric, of brokered ethnicity and marketed shoelessness, have become the fingers of impunity or retreated into priestly or pastoral silences.
Perhaps for the first time since independence, we have an elected president whose finger is not suspected of pecuniary mischief. He might have flown to Asia, Europe and the United States, and slept in the luxury of jet and high-flown hotels. He is not in any suggestion of a narrative of stealing.
We also know that integrity is good, but no matter how good, it will not put food on the table. There lies the moral dilemma of the Buhari era so far. We pine for holiness; we want the sort of character that John Milton painted of the Christ in Paradise Lost. But Christ can be boring if he does not change water to wine or give us fishes that defeat the appetite. The alternative is to call for Satan, and the sins multiply. Hence, Satan was a more colorful and majestic character in Milton’s epic than the beautiful blandness of his Christ. We had a lot of Satan of greed in the last dispensation. That accounts for the Buhari appeal.
This is perhaps the first time that the war on corruption is fought with palpable sincerity. Paradoxically, it is also the first time it is pursued with epic naivety. The battle seems more about the optics so far, about the stunning figures, about the pruned dignity of the culprit in court, of the stories of vomiting and chewed statements, of court orders ignored and obeyed, of a puffing Eleyinmi as Senate President and a bragging Fani-Kayode clutching the air of the moral superior. Of course, a stooping former soldier is almost numbed over charges that he played charity with government money. Money to save lives in battle was diverted to save the office of the shoeless maestro.
But then, Buhari wanted to roll back Boko Haram, and he has. Once the pious upstarts planted righteous flags and choked cities and towns and its shadow threatened Kashim Shettima’s position as Borno State governor. Shettima told us more than anyone was ready to say about the ragtag army of bigots, that they were better armed and motivated. Now, Boko Haram is a puny blood fest, harassing only intermittently with suicides. It is a mark it cannot hold out for too long.
So, Buhari governed gravely, and he changed the moral tone of government. He also nipped the greatest existential threat to our nationhood in the past three decades. For one year, we can say he did well and, some may say, even very well.
But very well does not put food on the table. It does not seem now that many know well what the blueprint is for the economy. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo articulated this at The Nation newspaper’s First National Conference on the Economy. Since then though, he has made references to it in snippets. But, it will not resonate until we start seeing steps.
No matter the high moral tone of the economy, and a sense of tranquility, if the economy is not handled with deliberate urgency, the austere image of the president will get a beating from the hungry and disaffected. This may be the flipside of the election that brought George W. Bush to office. Bill Clinton was credited with the biggest economic expansion in U.S. history with many jobs available. But his party’s nominee Al Gore, who was his vice, lost out because of Clinton’s moral baggage. The people chose character over prosperity. Of course, when they lost prosperity under Bush, they gave a black man, Barack Obama, the task to carry both the moral and economic burdens. Just like Larry Mamutry’s novel, Lonesome Dove, where the black man serves as the moral restraint for the white man, Obama becomes what sociologists have called the “magical negro.” He takes the fall for the Caucasian predatory excesses. Buhari should learn not to be a fall guy of his own integrity.
As noted last week, he can take advantage of bellwether minister Babatunde Fashola (SAN), whose ministry can galvanise activity with works and housing and power projects. That was how FD Roosevelt jolted America with the New Deal, which some critics called the “raw deal” then. Other ministers, too, can follow suit at various levels.
His first year is noted for some notorious silences. The Agatu-Fulani herdsmen saga, Ese Oruru, labour strike, pump price hike. He has visited many places, but only Cross River State in Nigeria for business. His voice roared over Biafra agitation, Niger Delta Avengers and the Shiite group up north. No problem with that if the same decibel of rhetoric flogged the herdsmen. He has clutched endlessly for reasons. A leader is empty without empathy. He needs to connect on an emotional level, especially at a time when many are hurting. Life and death, says David, are in the power of the tongue.
The second year often is time to settle down to substantial work. As John Donne wrote, ask not for whom the bell tolls, Mr. President, it tolls for thee. A year from now, the bell would have rung twice, where will his tenure be?
Source:
http://thenationonlineng.net/bell-rings-twice/
World Bank Lowers Nigeria’s Growth Forecast
The World Bank has cut Nigeria’s economic growth forecast for this year,
citing weakness from oil-output disruptions and low prices.
The bank, in its semi-annual Global Economic Prospects report, expects Nigeria to grow by 0.8 per cent, down from an estimate of 4.6 per cent in January. Growth could pick up to 3.5 per cent in 2017, it said.
Foreign exchange restrictions, fuel shortages and a plunge in oil production and prices had hit the economy, the World Bank was quoted by Reuters to have stated in the report.
The country’s economy contracted for the first time since 2004 in the first quarter of this year and the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, warned in May that a recession was imminent after a four-month delay in the nation’s budget stalled economic stimulus programmes.
Faced with the oil price slump, the key source of government revenue, the central bank has restricted access to foreign exchange. The country has held its currency, the naira, at 197-199 per dollar since March 2015, unlike some other oil producers that have let their currencies weaken.
The CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee had two weeks ago, after its meeting, announced plans to adopt a flexible exchange rate. But the blueprint for the proposed policy has yet to be released, putting further pressure on the naira at the parallel market.
The country is currently plagued by oil supply woes, as a resurgence of attacks by militants on oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta has driven crude output to its lowest level in nearly three decades.
The Africa and Middle East Economist, Bloomberg, Mark Bohlund, in a new report, said the Nigerian economy was at risk of experiencing its first full-year recession since 1987, after output contracted by 0.4 per cent in the first quarter from a year earlier.
He said a drop in oil output to a 27-year low and paralysis in other sectors due to fuel and foreign exchange shortages meant that economic growth was likely to remain negative for the rest of this year.
The naira devaluation is unlikely to help much, with its beneficial impact expected beyond the end of this year, he said.
Bohlund said, “The first quarter contraction does not come as a surprise, but the drop in oil production was actually less damaging to activity than anticipated, dragging on real Gross Domestic Product growth by only 0.2 percentage point in the period compared with 0.7 percentage point in the fourth quarter and 0.6 percentage point in 2015.
“Instead, it was manufacturing that experienced the sharpest drop in activity, falling by seven per cent year over year. This is likely to have been partly connected to a decline in domestic demand but also to the difficulties of importing input materials due to foreign exchange controls.”
http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2016/06/09/world-bank-lowersnigerias-growth-forecast/
The bank, in its semi-annual Global Economic Prospects report, expects Nigeria to grow by 0.8 per cent, down from an estimate of 4.6 per cent in January. Growth could pick up to 3.5 per cent in 2017, it said.
Foreign exchange restrictions, fuel shortages and a plunge in oil production and prices had hit the economy, the World Bank was quoted by Reuters to have stated in the report.
The country’s economy contracted for the first time since 2004 in the first quarter of this year and the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, warned in May that a recession was imminent after a four-month delay in the nation’s budget stalled economic stimulus programmes.
Faced with the oil price slump, the key source of government revenue, the central bank has restricted access to foreign exchange. The country has held its currency, the naira, at 197-199 per dollar since March 2015, unlike some other oil producers that have let their currencies weaken.
The CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee had two weeks ago, after its meeting, announced plans to adopt a flexible exchange rate. But the blueprint for the proposed policy has yet to be released, putting further pressure on the naira at the parallel market.
The country is currently plagued by oil supply woes, as a resurgence of attacks by militants on oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta has driven crude output to its lowest level in nearly three decades.
The Africa and Middle East Economist, Bloomberg, Mark Bohlund, in a new report, said the Nigerian economy was at risk of experiencing its first full-year recession since 1987, after output contracted by 0.4 per cent in the first quarter from a year earlier.
He said a drop in oil output to a 27-year low and paralysis in other sectors due to fuel and foreign exchange shortages meant that economic growth was likely to remain negative for the rest of this year.
The naira devaluation is unlikely to help much, with its beneficial impact expected beyond the end of this year, he said.
Bohlund said, “The first quarter contraction does not come as a surprise, but the drop in oil production was actually less damaging to activity than anticipated, dragging on real Gross Domestic Product growth by only 0.2 percentage point in the period compared with 0.7 percentage point in the fourth quarter and 0.6 percentage point in 2015.
“Instead, it was manufacturing that experienced the sharpest drop in activity, falling by seven per cent year over year. This is likely to have been partly connected to a decline in domestic demand but also to the difficulties of importing input materials due to foreign exchange controls.”
http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2016/06/09/world-bank-lowersnigerias-growth-forecast/
Age Qualification Bill Passes 2nd Reading
As Age Qualification Bill passes 2nd reading
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
ABUJA—THE Bill seeking to reduce the age qualifications for interested candidates to contest for the positions of President, governor and senate in the country to 30 years yesterday passed second reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill, which also makes provision for independent candidacy into the country’s electoral process, further reduces the age qualifications to contest for the House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly to 25 years.
INEC boss, Mahmood Yakubu
The Bill is an alteration of section 65, 106, 131 and 177 of the 1999 constitution which had prescribed qualification into the office of President to 40 years and above, office of governors and senate, 35 years and above as well as House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly to 25 years and above.
In his lead debate, the sponsor of the bill, Tony Chinedu Nwulu representing Oshodi-Isolo 11 Federal Constituency of Lagos State, on platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, noted that electing candidates into public offices was an important aspect of democratic practices.
He stated: “Countries like the United Kingdom parliament decided in 2006 to lower their age of candidacy from 21 to 18, which had existed since the Parliamentary Elections Act 1695. An age candidacy of 25 would encourage greater youth participation in politics.”
Nwulu stated that many countries world wide had called for a reduction in age qualification into elected offices, adding that the bill was a demonstration of the growing desire and demand of youths to participate in the democratic process.
According to him, “this desire itself could be viewed as a sufficient warrant for young people to participate, demonstrate a willingness to engage and fulfill the burdens of office.”
On the Independent candidacy, he stressed the need to open up the space for lawmakers to come in as independent candidates.
He said: “It is pertinent now to amend the constitution to make room for independent candidates to widen the democratic processes in our elections, and above all to encourage our young ones to fully participate in all elective offices.”
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/reps-reduce-age-qualification-presidency-govs-senate-30yrs/
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