Monday, November 18, 2024
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ExxonMobil Expends 15 Billion Naira to Combat Malaria in the last 20 Years In Nigeria

By
Toyin Adebayo
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Mr Ogechukwu Udeagha, the Manager, Media and Communications of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (an ExxonMobil subsidiary), has hinted that the company’s foundation had invested 15 billion naira to combatting malaria in Nigeria over the last 20 years.

He clarified that this is solely for Nigeria, adding that they spend much more globally.

He made this known, on Thursday at the Launch Basketball clinic mentoring sessions of Boys and girls team scrimmages ,tagged: Power Forward 2022 Season held at Government Secondary School, Tundun Wada, in collaboration with NBA Africa and PanAfricare.

He did say, however, that they are utilizing basketball as a rallying point to reach out to the students who will inturn take the message to their parents at home.

According to him:” Nigeria recorded more than 2000 deaths from malaria in 2020, even COVID-19 has not killed up to that number since it inception and nobody seems to be interested in the fight against malaria.

” It is a lot of work to get people to understand that malaria is a killer disease, you hear people say, I just have malaria, you don’t just have malaria, you have a major disease and we will take all precautionary measures to stop the dreaded disease and ensure that people are aware of the dangers of malaria. This is the message we are hoping that the young ones will take home , telling their parents on the need to have mosquito nets, clean our environments.

” The foundation has been working in the area of advocacy and research. We have about 15 local scholars who are attending several universities across the world. Malaria vaccine, I will not announce it here but there is a lot of input that our scholars who are on scholarship made into the research. We are not just talking advocacy, we are talking research, how do we end this, how do we get vaccination to stop malaria. We are also talking about treatment, we have distributed a lot of nets, diagnostic kits and a lot of treatments. It’s a whole value change for us from prevention to treatment, advocacy to research all of that is what we are focused on.”

NBA Africa Vice President and Country Head, Gbemisola Abudu, also spoke at the occasion, stating that the goal of the program is to provide young boys and girls with the opportunity to learn about the fundamentals of basketball while also equipping them with life skills that can improve their lives.

She stated, “We want to make sure that the programme cuts across Nigeria.” They have reached over 150 thousand pupils in Abuja during the last nine years, she added.Also speaking at the event, NBA Africa Vice President & Country Head, Gbemisola Abudu said the objective of the programme is keep young boys and girls the opportunity to learn about the foundamental of basketball while also equiping them with life skills that can transform their lives.

She said, they have reached about 150 thousand students in the last nine years in Abuja, we want to make sure that the project cut across Nigeria.

She added that,” we use this programme for talent hunts and youth empowerment”.

Meanwhile, the Director/Secretary, FCT Secondary Education Board , Mrs Nanre Emeje said Power Forward started this project in five secondary schools and now they are in 21 schools . If there was no positive impact, we wouldn’t have given them approval for more schools.

According to her:” The students that are prefects today were part of this programme, I am glad to let you know that the boys team of basketball in one of our schools are champion. Right now, they won the league in Lagos under the Maltina championship and they will be representing FCT in Lagos at the end of the month. They are students that have been groomed through power forward project.

“We are not afraid to grant them more approval if they want to go into all our schools we are ready”, she said.

10,000 Traditional Medicinal Species: Potentials for Nigeria’s Developmental Goals, – Sen. Mamora

By
Rachael Abujah
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Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnibe Mamora
Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnibe Mamora

The Minister of State for Health Sen. Adeleke Mamora, says Nigeria is endowed with over 10,000 species of Medicinal Plants, good arable land, good climatic conditions for harnessing the potentials of these plants for health, social, economic and national developmental goals.

Mamora said this on Saturday at the Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) conference organised by his office in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja.

According to World Health Organization, Medicinal Plant refers to a whole or any part of the plant that contains bioactive substances that can be used for therapeutic purposes or serve as precursors for the synthesis of drugs.

Nigeria has also established a full-fledged TCAM Department in the Ministry to formulate review and implement policies and guidelines for research, development and regulation of herbal medicines in Nigeria.

The country Launched the Traditional Medicine Policy in 2007, one of the key objectives is to harness the potential and economic benefits of TCAM in Nigeria.

The country also has its first Publication Edition of Nigerian Herbal Pharmacopeia, NHP (2008), currently in review for 2nd Edition. The NHP is a compendium of medicinal plants used for the safe treatment and management of various diseases.

Its cooperation with the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), Raw Materials Research and Development Agency, (NAFDAC), and NIPRD to develop, produce, regulate and commercialize herbal medicines, as well as documentation of Medicinal Plants in the six geo-political zones in Nigeria.

Its Collaboration with the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) in the cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants with over 300 species in each State of the Country.

It has also strengthened collaboration with National and regional bodies such as the West African Health Organization (WAHO), WHO and other relevant Stakeholders, in areas of cultivation, preservation and conservation of Medicinal Plants.

TCAM organised training workshops for Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) on Good Agricultural Practices, with a focus on medicinal plant cultivation and conservation in Nigeria.

Its developed a curriculum for training Herbal Medical Practitioners in Medical Schools through the establishment of a Ministerial Committee on Herbal, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM).

TCAM has also established a standing Committee for screening of herbal medicines, developed by Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) in the management of COVID-19 in Nigeria

The Minister of State said that the key objective of the Conference was to promote the cultivation and utilization of Medicinal Plants as a potential source of raw materials for the Pharmaceutical, Food and Cosmetic industries.

He said this was to create a short, medium and long-term value chain and attract agricultural business loans and Bank of Industry (BOI) Manufacturing loans to boost economic development in the country.

Mamora said it was also important to note that Nigeria and other African Countries currently benefit minimally from the global herbal medicine market, projected at 7 trillion USD by 2050; and is currently dominated by China, India, US, Germany and Thailand.

“Significantly, the cultivation of medicinal plants and commercialization of herbal medicines will attract huge economic benefits to Nigeria, especially in the following areas: increase foreign exchange earnings and wealth creation, alleviate poverty through the creation of job opportunities in areas of cultivation and conservation of Medicinal Plants in Nigeria.

“ Assuredly, the FMoH is committed to developing and promoting Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Nigeria and is currently taking these pragmatic steps as follows;

“Initiated sensitization programmes and activities to promote cultivation, commercialization and use of indigenous Medicinal Plants in Nigeria;
Facilitated the passage of the TCAM Council Bill into Law, to effectively coordinate and regulate TCAM practice in the Country.

“Proposed a State-of-Art TCAM Hospital in Nigeria. Inaugurated an Expert Committee that is currently working out modalities for the take-off of TCAM Institute for the training of TCAM Practitioners in Nigeria,” he explained.

Prof. MacDonald Idu, a professor of Phytomedicine from the University of Benin, who gave the Keynote address at the conference, said if properly harnessed, the value of traditional medicinal plants in Nigeria would hit N1 trillion by 2025.
He put the current value at a conservative estimate of N200 billion, regretting that not much attention has been paid to harnessing the sector.

“We talked about $200 billion. It is conservative. I’m serious. Other forms of literature, that I have also read are going to hit about 1 trillion by 2025. I know what that means. That’s a lot of money,” he said.

“Nigeria I’m sorry, we don’t walk the talk. We talk a lot, but we don’t walk the talk. So my point of interest is to drag the hearts of our people to realise that we should diversify our economy.

“We don’t have any reason to be poor. That’s the real truth. We don’t have any reason to report everything that we need to survive. It’s already here. Why do you have them here?

“So, I believe that if we’re able to set up that platform again, and then we’re able to organize ourselves and organize the traditional medicine practitioners and producers, we should be able to raise enough money for this country to move forward. That’s my worry actually,” Prof. Idu added.

Earlier the First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, regretted the low level of utilisation of the over 10,000 species of medicinal plants in the country despite its huge need for the production of drugs, cosmetics and other essential products.

Buhari expressed the present administration’s commitment to boosting the commercial cultivation of such plants for health, economic and social benefits as well as for wealth and job creation for the teeming youths of the country.

It would be recalled that the Conference is expected to bring Experts and all Stakeholders in various fields of TCAM to discuss, sensitize and advocate the importance of indigenous Nigerian Medicinal Plants and the role of TCAM as a system of healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

The outcome of this Conference would boast commercial cultivation of Medicinal Plants as a source of raw materials and finished products for the Pharmaceutical, Food and Cosmetic industries.

Infertility, an Existential Problem of Human Race – Expert

By
Rachael Abujah
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A fertility herbal expert, Dr Ekinyi Ochete, says infertility is a global public health problem that deserves utmost attention to solve.

She made this known on Saturday in Abuja, on the sidelines of 2022, World Infertility Awareness Month.

The World Infertility Awareness Month is celebrated every June, to increase awareness regarding numerous infertility issues faced by couples across the globe. This includes problems related to females as well as male fertility.

During awareness, myths about infertility are debunked and a lot of options are brought forward to those who may want to conceive.

Ochete advised Nigerians to embrace alternative medicines and treatments to solve problems of infertility.

According to her: “Yes, some causes of infertility can be overcome. All you need is a good doctor, a supportive family, and an open mind.

“There is some evidence of benefit from acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and naturopathy in improving fertility outcomes for women with specific clinical infertility diagnoses.

“Acupuncture, yoga and art therapy may reduce infertility-related distress,” she said.

She said that Infertility was a term used for couples who cannot conceive, as well as women who were unable to stay pregnant and often suffer miscarriage.

“While infertility can be tough on those experiencing it in Nigeria, a solution cannot be provided until awareness regarding the cause is created.

“Infertility is so common that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised it as a public health issue for couples across the world,” she said.

Speaking on some of the common problems that cause infertility in women, the expert cited “polycystic ovary syndrome”, which, according to her, is found in a high percentage of women.

“The syndrome has several stages and is often curable through medication and treatment.

“Other issues faced by women include a diminished ovarian reserve, where the eggs in a woman reduce with each menstrual cycle.

“There is also endometriosis, a condition where the growth of the tissue inside the uterus is moved outside.

“It is due to these problems that you have a lot of women undergoing IVF treatments every year.

“Since fertility issues are not a rarity, it is recommended for women in Nigeria to embrace indigenous and original approaches in treatment,” she said.

She said infertility was now largely due to lifestyle and choices, especially unhealthy food, excessive consumption of alcohol, and lack of rest, among others.

She enjoined the government to set up a regulatory body to standardise herbal products and ensure adherence to quality for Nigerian men and women to benefit.

She said that the treatment of infertility in males and females were varying in their associated risks, intensity, and invasiveness which depend on the duration, cause, age, and personal preferences.

“The physical, financial, and time commitment are the required factors for infertility treatment.

“The treatments can range from medication therapy to induce ovulation, to invasive manipulation of eggs and sperm outside of the body,” she said.

She, however, added that infertility awareness was a critical part of normalising conversation about fertility problems, adding that it was the first step in erasing stigma.

FCTA Raids, Arrests 16 Suspected Criminals

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

…Issues Final Quit Notice to Apo-Dutse Traders

…. Demolishes Shanties at Kado

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Tasksteam on City Sanitation on Wednesday raided and arrested 16 suspected criminals in Limito axis of Kado fish market, Abuja.

They also raided shanties at Dape area of Gwarinpa District and others in Limito axis of Kado fish market and seized illicit drugs from dealers.

The Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the minister of FCT, Comrade Ikharo Attah made this known when they issued a final quit notice to Apo -Dutse traders to vacate the area before the bulldozer moves in.

Attah said, those arrested have been since handed over to the police for further investigation.

According to him:” the traders activities in the area was illegal and a security threat to the territory.

“The administration has been issuing demolition notices to the traders for a long time and would not give them another grace after the next 24 hours.

“The administration through the Taskforce squard had exhausted all the avenues for the demolition and would not accept further engagement with the traders.

“Another faction sent a letter to the Taskforce for quick action but another one said it should be extended to 3 weeks, since they were asked to leave the place.

” The FCT Authority is given them 24 hours to quit before the machine will roll in, this market is the biggest pantaker market in Abuja, we have given them a long period notice, prior to the last Ramadan and after the the holy month”, he said.

It would be recalled that the FCT Ministerial Taskforce on City Sanitation had prior to the last Ramadan issued a seven days notice but was extended due to the fasting in the holy month.

Insecurity: FCTA Demolishes over 1,800 Shanties in Apo Dutse Pantaker Market

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

….Over 4,000 to go

Over 1,800 shops and shanties in Apo-Dutse, Abuja, were demolished by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Thursday.

Comrade Ikharo Attah, the Minister of FCT’s Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement, has intimated that over 4,000 stores and shanties will be demolished in the coming days.

While dismantling shanties and the pantaker market in Apo-Dutse, Abuja, he dropped this suggestion.

According to Attah: “We have gotten intensive complaints of security challenges in the district here occasion by the very ever busy Apo-Dutse pantaker market and that has been very worrisome here.

“The Minister of FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, FCT Police Commander Sunday Babaji, and several others have raised concern over what is going on here. There are good people here and there are very bad and wrong people here. Because it is an illegal market infact the largest not only in Abuja but the whole of the central region.

“The FCT Minister gave the directive that we should clear the entire market so that those who are plot owners here will be able to take over their land and start development of mass housing, the market is illegal and very dangerous, the FCTA has marked it’s words with action.

“Everyone who lives around here is scared before now, we have gotten complaint through the Ministers, Royal father’s and other persons that what is happening here is very dangerous and it is eminical to the wellbeing of FCT, what is happening here is a dispersal of persons who have fertile breeding ground for crime. Many of them are going to do well in life in any other trade and many of them are going to move whatever they are moving out of here to new site where they can sell scrap there”.

He continued: “Pantaker is not a bad thing and has never been a bad thing but what some bad people do around pantaker market is what is painting the he pantaker in a very bad light here .
Having dislodge them here many will seek a better ground to do their business”.

“We cannot estimate how many shanties have been removed but in final analysis , we are expecting to see over 4,000 shops, shanties others removed. As at today alone we can estimate that about 1,800 barchers and in the next few days, we are sure we will be cleaning all together”.

The Chairman Association of Scrap Dealer, Apo-Dutse pantaker market, Anas Ismail, while fielding questions from newsmen said most of the youths that operate in the area depend on the scrap business for survival.

He, however, appealed to the FCT Administration to provide a place for the genuine scrap dealers to continue with their business.

Ismail explained that with the high level of insecurity in the country, the traders who are mostly youth should be given serious attention.

“We can’t fight government, but now that the market is demolished there should be another place for us to relocate else some may turn to criminals”

Meanwhile, the Coordinator Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Shuaibu Umar, who came for inspection, told journalists, that, the size of the pantaker market is almost equivalent to a district of over 50 hectres of land.

“We have started the demolition process in Apo -Dutse Pantaker market almost three months ago, the size of this area is very big, people are living here illegally, they have no permission, the administration gave them adequate time.

“Getting rid of this type of development is for the good of the entire city, if you leave them to take over the place there won’t be sanity”.

He lamented that many developers have plots there but can’t access it because of the illegal acts but with the removal of the shanties they will take over their plots.

“The level of criminal activities here is higher than those doing their legitimate businesses.

“This place could be about 50 hectres of land or more than, it is the actual survey that will determines but is almost a district”, he said.

NCDC Confirms One Dead 21 Cases Of Minkeypox Virus in Nigeria

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

… Activates  National Multisectoral Emergency Operations Centre

Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, Director General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has confirmed that 21 confirmed cases of monkeypox virus have been recorded from nine states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with one death.

The states are: Adamawa (5), Lagos (4), Bayelsa (2), Delta (2), Cross River (2), FCT (2), Kano (2), Imo (1), Rivers (1) are among the states (1). The fatality was recorded in a 40-year-old patient who was on immunosuppressive drugs and had underlying co-morbidity.

The NCDC’s National Reference Laboratory in Abuja is doing genomic surveillance, and all of the cases have been verified to be caused by the West African clade Monkeypox virus so far.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has launched a national multisectoral Monkeypox Emergency Operations Centre (MPX-EOC) at level 2 to strengthen and coordinate ongoing response activities in-country while contributing to the global response.

This was based on the report of a preliminary risk assessment done by a group of Subject Matter Experts from the NCDC, relevant government Ministries Departments and Agencies and partner agencies.

This year, as at 29th May 2022,
Among the 21 cases reported in 2022 so far, there has been no evidence of any new or unusual transmission of the virus, nor changes in its clinical manifestation documented (including symptoms, profile and virulence).

Prior to the activation of the MPX-EOC, a multi-agency Technical Working Group (TWG) coordinated at the NCDC led Nigeria’s efforts to improve the detection, prevention and control of Monkeypox. Nigeria’s national surveillance system, the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS) was first deployed in response to the 2017 Monkeypox outbreak to improve the timeliness and completeness of case reporting, as well as facilitate the overall response (access relevant publication here – http://hdl.handle.net/10033/622144). In addition, this pilot project informed the nationwide scale-up of SORMAS to enable real-time reporting of surveillance data for prompt public health response to infectious disease outbreaks including COVID-19.

Following the detection of the index case on September 22, 2017 and the effective containment of the 2017 outbreak in Nigeria, the NCDC through the Monkeypox TWG worked on various interventions to gain a better understanding of the epidemiology of the virus to inform preparedness and response in-country (access NCDC-affiliated Monkeypox publications via https://ncdc.gov.ng/research).

The TWG coordinated the development of national Monkeypox guidelines, capacity building of healthcare workers and surveillance officers on case detection, sample collection, laboratory testing for confirmation and sequencing of the virus at NCDC’s National Reference Laboratory and intensified public awareness through risk communication. The national Monkeypox response guidelines can be accessed via – https://ncdc.gov.ng/themes/common/docs/protocols/96_1577798337.pdf.

Furthermore, a national One-health risk surveillance and information sharing (NOHRSIS) group has been inaugurated to facilitate timely information exchange on all prioritised zoonotic diseases. NOHRSIS will also strengthen the collaborative efforts of the One health/IHR Unit at the Point of Entry to intensify surveillance for the disease in animals as well as ensure minimal contact with suspected animals.

In addition, the One Health Animal Surveillance team including Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Environment, National Veterinary Research Institute and partners commenced operational research on Monkeypox virus prevalence in small mammals at the human-animal interface since October 2018. This research has been completed in 7 states with a planned roll out in all other states to commence soon.

Although Nigeria’s risk of exposure to the Monkeypox virus is high based on the recent risk assessment conducted at NCDC, the current situation in-country and globally has shown no significant threat to life or the community that can result in severe disease or high case fatality rate. The EOC will continue to monitor the evolving situation to inform public health action accordingly.

Symptoms of monkeypox include sudden fever, headache, body pain, weakness, sore throat, enlargement of glands (lymph nodes) in the neck and under the jaw, followed by the appearance of a rash (often solid or fluid-filled at the onset) on the face, palms, soles of the feet, genitals and other parts of the body. The Monkeypox public health advisory can be accessed via – https://ncdc.gov.ng/news/367/public-health-advisory-on-monkeypox.

The NCDC emphasises that members of the public should remain aware of the risk of Monkeypox and adhere to public health safety measures – specifically, report to the nearest health facility if you notice the known signs and symptoms of the disease. Healthcare workers are to maintain a high index of suspicion for Monkeypox and report any suspected case to the relevant state Epidemiology Team for prompt public health intervention including sampling for confirmatory testing.


About the NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is the country’s national public health institute, with the mandate to lead the preparedness, detection and response to infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies. The Bill for an Act to establish NCDC was signed into law in November 2018, by President Muhammadu Buhari. The mission for the NCDC (2017-2021) is ‘To protect the health of Nigerians through evidence-based prevention, integrated disease surveillance and response activities, using a One Health approach, guided by research and led by a skilled workforce’.


Scavengers’ Camp, Illegal Markets Demolished in Lugbe by FCT Taskforce

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

Concerned about alleged criminal activities in Abuja’s suburbs, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ministerial Taskforce on City Sanitation on Monday demolished a scavengers camp and illegal markets at Lugbe on the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Road.

The exercise was led by Comrade Ikharo Attah, the Minister of the FCT’s Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement.

Attah hinted that the ‘babanbola’ activities involving illegal marketplaces were generating problems.

He explained that the Lugbe Federal Housing Authority Estate junction phases 1&2 and the Lugbe by Berger yard are particularly sensitive areas that must comply to the highest standards, and that illegal activities would not be tolerated.

While adding that, the minister of FCT Malam Muhammad Musa Bello after inspecting the area with the Taskforce team over the weekend, had reminded the team on the need to maintaining sanity on the Airport road.

According to him: “We cleared shanties and scavengers on the Airport road some times ago but suddenly the illegal activities are gradually returning. The minister of FCT visited Lugbe area at the weekend, and directed that serious action must be taken.

“The FCT commissioner of Police, Sunday Babaji who plays key role in the operation, also insisted that all the illegal activities that pave way for criminal acts on the road must be checked”.

Attah hinted that many of the demolished illegal shanties were suspected criminal hideouts, where hoodlums smoke marijuana and other illicit drugs freely.

He said :“Innocent members of the public, who have been complaining bitterly about activities of these unbecoming activities around Lugbe on the Airport Road, can now sleep with their two eyes closed.

Meanwhile, a trader, whose illegal structure was affected by the demolition, Mrs. Rukiyat Abiodun decried the frequent dislodging of their shops by the FCT officials, saying the government should consider the traders plight.

“Demolishing of our shops is not good, there should be a way of checking activities of the babanbola”

Another residents, Emmanuel Aigbokhai said the exercise will stop criminal activities caused by the scavengers and illegal markets around the area.

2023: Group Enjoins FCT Minister not to consider Aides, Staff Request to Return to Office

By
Ola Akinola
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muhammad-musa-bello
FCT Minister, Nigeria

The Coalition for Good Governance and Advocacy (CGA) has urged Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello not to allow his aides or FCT staff who contested any elected post in the party primaries to return to the office.

Comrade Hassan Dangiwa, the group’s coordinator, and Samuel Joshua, the group’s secretary, made this known to journalists in Abuja.

Saying, it is an aberration of the law and a severe assault on the country’s Constitution for appointees who participated in primary elections to consider returning to their respective offices.

According to group: “We learnt from a reliable source that the FCTA Mandate Secretary Health and Human Services Secretariat who may have taken part in the primary elections under the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Jigawa state and others who may have discretely gone for primaries are planning to come back and they
didn’t make their intention know to the general public according to the civil service rules and return to retain their offices.

“It on record that Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, conveyed the list of affected public officials in a circular dated 11th May, 2022 with reference number, Ref. No.SGF/OP/l/S.3/Xll/173 and addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Ministers, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Heads of Parastatals and Agencies of the Government among others.

“The affected persons are all ministers, heads and members of extra-ministerial departments, agencies and parastatals of government, ambassadors, as well as other political appointees who desire to contest for elective offices.

“The affected ministers are to hand over to ministers of state where they exist or to the permanent secretary, where there is no minister of state, for smooth running of the machinery of government and foreign missions.

” The circular read: “Mr President has observed and noted the expression of interest and intention by some members of the Federal Executive Council, Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Agencies, Parastatals of Government, Ambassadors and other political officeholders to contest the upcoming Presidential, Gubernatorial, National and State Assemblies elections.

” We also want the public to peruse the circular by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoS) Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan who ordered all civil servants to steer clear of partisan politics and by extension from engaging in the 2023 general election.She cited provisions of the Public Service Rules (PSR), which she noted do not allow civil servants to engage in partisan politics.

“She made the clarification via a circular HCSF/479/11/19, dated May 5, 2022.The elucidation came about after her office was inundated with requests for clarification on the provision of the PSR vis-à-vis the Supreme Court Judgment as it relates to participation of civil servants in partisan politics.

“The provisions of Rules 030422 and 030423 of the Public Service Rules (2008 Edition) were not nullified by the Supreme Court, hence, they remain in force and binding on all civil servants seeking to participate in nomination exercises or party primaries”.Malami also asserted that the provisions of Rules 030402 (g), 030422 and 030423 of the PSR (2008 Edition) should be enforced, noting the attention of civil servants should be drawn to the fact that the Supreme Court judgment in INEC vs Musa did not set aside or nullify these provisions of the PSR, hence, they must be complied with by any civil servant who wishes to seek nomination or participation in party primary elections.

“The circular subsequently noted that in the overall best interest of neutrality, harmony, integrity and development of the civil service, all civil servants were strongly advised to be guided by the provisions of PSR and the legal opinion of the Attorney General of the Federation Minister of Justice on the subject.

“She urged that the contents of the circular that was copied the Chief of Staff to the President, all serving ministers and ministers of state, the National Security Adviser, permanent secretaries, Chairman EFCC, among others, should be given the widest circulation for the compliance of all concerned. We condemned such act of greed and unruly act of insensitivity. They must not be allowed to return back to their offices in FCT. It is unlawful.

” It is clear that the President assented to an electoral act that forbid anyone to remain in an appointed office while contesting for an elective office.

” It’s unfair for any aid, a civil servant or former aid of the minister to come back to the office after contested an election. why should someone in political office use the influence of political office to contest and still want to return to government office. The minister should know that somebody who’s sitting in public office; has access to power by influence; has access to funds of government. And that should not be allowed.

“If you have made up your mind to contest an election, for heaven’s sake, go out, resign properly and go and contest? Why would you stick in political office? Or want to come back to the office you left for an election, It’s even wrong for us to be debating it. It is so selfish.

“If you truly want to represent this country, why do you have to remain in political office? Or want to come back, Step out and contest completely. Or if you fail in your contest remian there and support your party you believe in completely” he said.

2023: Northern Youth Leaders Congratulate Atiku, Promises to Ensure His Victory

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

A coalition of over 40 groups, under the auspices of Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) has congratulated His Excellency, the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on his victory in the presidential primary of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and pledged to strive to ensure he wins the 2023 elections.

This was said in a statement signed by NYLF President Comrade Eliot Afiyo and released to the press on Sunday, May 29.

“While we are not shocked by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s victory in the PDP primaries, which finished early this morning, we are pleased that his victory provides hope to ordinary Nigerians who have been through a lot recently,” the statement added.

NYLF said it is also congratulating the PDP for producing a winning candidate, Nigerians for the hope of a brighter future and the North, which has not had its fair share of the presidency under the PDP.

“With the primaries done, NYLF will immediately swing into action to mobilize support from the grassroots for our adopted candidate for the 2023 Presidential election,” it informed.

The group expresses appreciation the Northern Elders for their intervention to ensure the victory of Atiku.

“We also thank Governor Aminu Tambuwal for putting the Northern interest above any other interest.

“We extend our appreciation to Teecom under the Chairmanship of High Chief Raymond Dokpesi,” they said.

2023: I’m Looking Forward To Going Up Against Atiku In The Presidential Election- Tinubu

By
Ola Akinola
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0

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress and a frontline presidential candidate, has congratulated former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on his election as the opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s flag bearer following the primary held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Saturday.

Tinubu also praised the other contenders for behaving in an orderly and peaceful manner and for promising to rally around the winner in the true spirit of democratic sportsmanship.

By the Grace of God and with the backing of APC delegates, he expected the former Vice-President, who was also the PDP’s presidential candidate for 2019, to be his worthy opponent in the upcoming 2023 presidential election.

The APC National Leader said Atiku’s victory didn’t come as a surprise to Nigerians because of his vast experience as a statesman and veteran of many presidential contests from 1993.
While welcoming the PDP candidate to the race, Tinubu added that the coming election should be about issues that will improve the quality of life of Nigerians; bring peace,
progress, political stability and solve myriad of sociopolitical challenges and insecurity currently facing the country.

According to him: “I welcome the victory of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the just concluded primary. I look forward to squaring up with him as a worthy opponent in the coming election. I have known the former Vice President as a formidable politician and a patriot who believes in the unity and progress of our dear country.

“ As we move further into the election season, I charge the PDP presidential candidate and all political actors across Party lines that we should make this election season one that is devoid of bitterness, rancour and strife.

“We should make our campaigns peaceful and issue based. Election season should be a festival of ideas that will uplift our country and improve the living condition of all our people.

“Unfortunately for the PDP, its candidate will be burdened to explain why Nigerians should give it another opportunity, after squandering 16 years at the central government, without much to show”.

“Nigerians are yet to forget the national ruin and mismanagement of our country for 16 years by successive PDP administration and this bad memory will dog the campaign of the PDP Candidate”

“ Nevertheless, I once again congratulate our former Vice President for his victory in his party’s primary

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