Indications emerged Friday that the Federal Government has released the sum of N4.5 billion to 31 Federal Teaching Hospitals and Medical Centres across the country to cover hazard and inducement allowances for the month of April and May.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, made this disclosure while briefing State House Correspondents, in the company of the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, after they briefed President Muhammadu Buhari, on the strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

Ngige expressed optimism that the strike action embarked upon by the Resident Doctors will end soon.

The strike which commenced on Monday this week followed instructions by the NARD to its members to down tools over shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and poor remuneration for members as they battle the raging Coronavirus pandemic.

“Just this morning, before we went to see Mr President, the Ministry of Finance reported that as at this morning, 3 am, they have paid the allowances for hazard and inducement to 31 teaching and Federal Medical Centres and specialist hospitals of the federal government service and they have expended close to N4.5 billion in the payment because we are paying them the arrears of April and May.

“The payment for June will also be done immediately these ones are sorted out.

“Again, it’s important to report to you that in consonance with what he’s saying, we have arranged a meeting for them to speak to the Nigerian Governors’ Forum because you don’t mix apples and oranges.

“The issue of health is on the concurrent list, so the federal government will do its own and the state governments will be expected to do their own. Some of their grievances border on what they feel the state governments have not done.”

Ehanire on his part said: “We hope that there is a solution in sight; what we have done is to brief the President of the country, who as we all know has the final responsibility for everything that goes on in government. Those of us who are Ministers administer our ministries and have to report to him periodically.

“In this particular case, it has been important to report to him how things have been because of the strike action of resident doctors. We have to report to him the implications and the possible consequences of such a strike action.

“He listened to us carefully. Of course he is not happy that it has come this way and we all hope that it would be resolved after all the demands that were made have been resolved.

“The Minister of Labour has listed those demands and how all of them have been fulfilled except those of them which are not within our ambit; if the Association of Resident Doctors has a quarrel with a State government the Ministry can put in a word for them but we cannot order any State to do anything.

“All those things that have to do with disciplinary action within the Ministry of health will be attended to and what we have also urged the resident doctors to do is to have some trust in the system, this is a government, a regime that has always lived up to its expectations and always met its promise and not lump all regimes together in one box,” he said.

Ehanire appealed to the striking doctors to return to work so as to save lives, especially in the fight against COVID-19 and other diseases.

The minister of labour, while reacting to a question on the strike by the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), urged the striking lecturers to embrace Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information (IPPIS) pending the resolutions of all issues on the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

He said the lecturers could migrate to UTAS just as they were moving into the Nigerian University Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO) after it was granted a licence to operate by the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

The federal government and ASUU had in March agreed to find ways of reconciling the two salary payment platforms – Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and the University Transparency and Accountability System (UTAS).

Both sides said they had reached a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to settle the issues, which led to the commencement of a two-week warning strike by the university lecturers.

Ngige had said the March meeting resolved that modalities would be set out on how to merge IPPIS and UT.

The founder of Gregory University Uturu based Gender Advocacy Project, Barr. Peace Ibe has decried the growing rate of rape across the country and other gender-based offences against women.

Barr. Ibe, daughter of the Chancellor of Gregory University Uturu, Prof Gregory Ibe wondered why the security agencies have not done much in protecting women from abuse and violation.

In a release on Saturday, signed by Sleek Ogbonnaya Ogwo, PAR, Media & Public Relations, the US based legal practitioner therefore charged relevant authorities to ensure all convicted rapists are served justice to serve as deterrent to intending offenders.

“Sequel to the recent revelation by the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu on the high rate of rape in Nigeria, a US based female and daughter of the Chancellor of Gregory University Uturu, Peace Ibe,JD, has frowned at the high rate of violence against vulnerable females in the country.

“According to Barr.Ibe, who is the founder of Gregory University Uturu based Gender Advocacy Project, “The GUU community in particular is overtly outraged by the recent series of cases involving violence against women in Nigeria.

“Recently the media was awash with news of the unfortunate murder of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a 22-year old microbiology student,who was raped while studying in an empty church. In April, an 18-year old girl known only as Jennifer, was reportedly raped by five men in Kaduna.

“Tina Ezekwe, a 17-year old girl, was also shot dead by police officers near her home in Lagos state”. Lamenting this unfortunate trend, Barr.Ibe insisted that it is now time to speak out about these heinous crimes against females.

“Barr.Ibe further querried the apparent inability of security agencies to secure the lives of innocent citizens whom they are paid to protect and the failure of the legal system to bring to book perpetuators of such unwarranted violent attacks on females, insisting that all hands must come on deck to halt the inhumane trend” the release said.

She described rape as a dehumanising act against females and a serious infraction against societal laws that should be treated with severe measures to deter subsequent practice”.

She further revealed that her Gender Advocacy Project will henceforth champion massive campaigns against all forms of gender related crimes to ensure the protection of females from sexual assault and police brutality while bringing to book perpetuators of violent affront against women.

The legal practitioner appealed to public spirited individuals to join the campaign to stop further violent defilement of vulnerable females by teaming up with her Gender Advocacy Project in the job of increasing awareness about rape and police brutality, insisting that the time to speak up about these infringements is now.

By Dr. Johnson Greg

While the return of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu continues to trend in the media, little is known about some of the benevolent activities of the Senator during the time he was in prison. But ask any inmate or staff of the Kuje correctional custodial center and you will receive the same mixed feelings of sadness and satisfaction.

They are sad because they are losing the various benefits the entire prison community received from the Senator while he was there, and at the same time they are satisfied that the man of the people is now free. And as if a parting gesture, Senator Kalu paid 6 hours of daily electricity supply to the prisons for one month after he left the prison. He also left money for food and drinks for the entire 1000 inmate population, and extra for the staff.

A former inmate of Kuje prison, Mr. Musa Bakura Abdulahi, who was released from the prison two weeks ago courtesy of Senator Kalu’s intervention, explained how he became one of the 29 inmates released after Senator Orji Uzor Kalu intervened in their cases.

Mr. Abdulahi is a 30-yearly old man who hailed from Kastina State. According to him, he was 2nd year student of political science at Bayero University when he was arrested 6 years ago. He has been remanded in Kuje prison while undergoing trial. In June of 2019, the court granted him bail but he was not able to meet the terms of his bail. He stayed in prison for a year longer despite that he had been admitted to bail, a common experience of many inmates.

A few days after Senator Kalu arrived in Kuje Prison he embarked on a wide range of charitable acts of compassion to assist inmates, especially those not from wealthy families. The Senator dramatically improved power supply to the inmates. Instead of 5-hours daily power supply to the prison community, he made it 11 hours. By this alone, he eased the lives of the inmates, as well as staff. It meant more power to pump water for the inmates, more electricity for the library, church and mosque and the prison clinic. Also, he bought several water tanks for the inmates. By all these, the Senator significantly reduced the hardship endured by inmates as they haul water over long distances across the prison compound.

The most remarkable of Senator Kalu’s assistance was to help indigent inmates meet their terms of bail or to pay the fines that kept them in prison. In the last one week of his time in prison, 29 inmates regained their freedom through his generosity. Apart from this number, he had previously intervened to assist many other inmates by paying their lawyers fees or helping those without lawyers to get legal representation. Also, countless number of inmates were able to get medicine and medical supplies through the Senator’s interventions. These are without listing several occasions he caused food to be supplied to the inmates in addition to their prison rations.

Of the 29 inmates, 13 were Muslims while 16 were Christians. As another beneficiary, Mr. Ikechukwu Ogbonna, who spoke to us explained it, though Senator Kalu is a devout Catholic, who says the Grace even to drink water, he did not discriminate against any religion. He treated all equally regardless of whether you’re a Christian or Muslim and regardless of your Christian denomination. As Mr. Ogbonna put it, “The man doesn’t really care where you came from or your religion. He only wants to hear your personal story and the challenges you face. And he helps you”.

Beyond his acts of generosity while in Kuje prison, Senator Kalu will looking for ways to help as many Nigerians as possible who face various challenges in the justice sector. In his position as a serving Senator, he could become the much needed big voice for the reform of Nigeria’s backward justice system. It is clear that’s where his heart is – to help the suffering people of his country.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq has said the Batch A and B N-Power beneficiaries will exit the scheme June 30 and July 31 respectively.

The programme has enrolled 500,000 beneficiaries thus far – 200,000 from Batch A which started in September 2016 and 300,000 from Batch B which kicked off in August 2018.

The beneficiaries were supposed to spend 24 months on the programme but Batch A beneficiaries have spent over 40 months.

In a statement, she said the federal government has commenced the transitioning of the Batch A and B into government entrepreneurship schemes.

“We have commenced the transitioning of beneficiaries from Batches A & B into government entrepreneurship schemes and engaging private sector bodies to absorb some of the beneficiaries after the completion of psychometric assessment to determine competency and placement into various opportunities.

Read Also: How Orji Kalu Secured The Freedom Of 29 Inmates Of Kuje Custodial Centre

“The Federal government is committed to the continuation and expansion and as such will now begin enrolment and onboarding of a new Batch of beneficiaries.

“In view of these, the Ministry has announced that Batch A will exit June 30, 2020, and Batch B will exit the programme on July 31, 2020.”

The Ministry will begin the enrolment for a new batch of N-Power beneficiaries effective July 26, 2020.

The online portal would be open to receive applications from noon on June 26, 2020, and will provide a level playing field for all applicants.

The N-Power Programme was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) with the mandate of lifting citizens out of poverty through capacity building, investment, and direct support.

By Dr. Johnson Greg

While the return of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu continues to trend in the media, little is known about some of the benevolent activities of the Senator during the time he was in prison. But ask any inmate or staff of the Kuje correctional custodial center and you will receive the same mixed feelings of sadness and satisfaction.

They are sad because they are losing the various benefits the entire prison community received from the Senator while he was there, and at the same time they are satisfied that the man of the people is now free. And as if a parting gesture, Senator Kalu paid 6 hours of daily electricity supply to the prisons for one month after he left the prison. He also left money for food and drinks for the entire 1000 inmate population, and extra for the staff.

A former inmate of Kuje prison, Mr. Musa Bakura Abdulahi, who was released from the prison two weeks ago courtesy of Senator Kalu’s intervention, explained how he became one of the 29 inmates released after Senator Orji Uzor Kalu intervened in their cases.

Mr. Abdulahi is a 30-yearly old man who hailed from Kastina State. According to him, he was 2nd year student of political science at Bayero University when he was arrested 6 years ago. He has been remanded in Kuje prison while undergoing trial. In June of 2019, the court granted him bail but he was not able to meet the terms of his bail. He stayed in prison for a year longer despite that he had been admitted to bail, a common experience of many inmates.

A few days after Senator Kalu arrived in Kuje Prison he embarked on a wide range of charitable acts of compassion to assist inmates, especially those not from wealthy families. The Senator dramatically improved power supply to the inmates. Instead of 5-hours daily power supply to the prison community, he made it 11 hours. By this alone, he eased the lives of the inmates, as well as staff. It meant more power to pump water for the inmates, more electricity for the library, church and mosque and the prison clinic. Also, he bought several water tanks for the inmates. By all these, the Senator significantly reduced the hardship endured by inmates as they haul water over long distances across the prison compound.

The most remarkable of Senator Kalu’s assistance was to help indigent inmates meet their terms of bail or to pay the fines that kept them in prison. In the last one week of his time in prison, 29 inmates regained their freedom through his generosity. Apart from this number, he had previously intervened to assist many other inmates by paying their lawyers fees or helping those without lawyers to get legal representation. Also, countless number of inmates were able to get medicine and medical supplies through the Senator’s interventions. These are without listing several occasions he caused food to be supplied to the inmates in addition to their prison rations.

Of the 29 inmates, 13 were Muslims while 16 were Christians. As another beneficiary, Mr. Ikechukwu Ogbonna, who spoke to us explained it, though Senator Kalu is a devout Catholic, who says the Grace even to drink water, he did not discriminate against any religion. He treated all equally regardless of whether you’re a Christian or Muslim and regardless of your Christian denomination. As Mr. Ogbonna put it, “The man doesn’t really care where you came from or your religion. He only wants to hear your personal story and the challenges you face. And he helps you”.

Beyond his acts of generosity while in Kuje prison, Senator Kalu will looking for ways to help as many Nigerians as possible who face various challenges in the justice sector. In his position as a serving Senator, he could become the much needed big voice for the reform of Nigeria’s backward justice system. It is clear that’s where his heart is – to help the suffering people of his country.

Cynthia Obieshi, a female undergraduate of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, Imo State, who died after a sex romp with her boyfriend, Samuel Osuji, was on Thursday buried, The PUNCH has learnt.

The 25-year-old was buried amidst tears at her father’s compound in the Umuaro community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the two undergraduates were on Sunday morning found dead in a hotel room after they had indulged in a sex romp.

The police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Okeokwu, had told our correspondent that the remains of the deceased were deposited at the morgue.

“It was revealed that the said Cynthia visited her boyfriend late Samuel on June 13 and passed the night but unfortunately both of them couldn’t wake up the next morning.

“Preliminary investigations suggest that the above-diseased persons may have died as a result of drug consumption.

“Meanwhile, the corpses have been deposited in the morgue, while the investigation is in progress,” Okeokwu had said.

https://abntv.com.ng/2020/06/obaseki-renames-oshiomholes-street-after-bukola-saraki/