The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has issued identification cards to benefitting members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to restore stakeholders’ confidence.
With the cards, beneficiaries can now access health care without making payments at the point of accessing service.
The Id cards were issued to members of the association who have been enrolled to access health care under the Scheme.
In a brief ceremony at its Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of NHIS, Prof Mohammed Sambo stated that with the issuance of Id cards Nigerians will firm up the confidence that the Scheme was committed to efficient service delivery, noting that the document was a kind of evidence of contract that will strengthen the faith of lawyers and indeed other beneficiaries in the system.
Sambo in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the DGM, Press, Mr Emmanuel Ononokpono noted that the Scheme had not issued Id cards for years due to systemic challenges, adding that the cards presented to members of the association have the unique feature of encryption of vital data amongst others and that it was an offshoot of the automation of its operation.
Speaking at the occasion, the president of the NBA, Mr Olumide Apata stated that health insurance was critical for development in any society, adding that the association was considering the prospect of facilitating the enrollment of its over 100,000 of its members nationwide.
Apata who led a delegation of senior members of the bar and beneficiaries to the occasion, expressed the optimism that health insurance would ensure that lawyers discharge their routine professional duties in good health, noting that this was in addition to the association’s procuring life insurance for its members.
The Nigerian Bar Association had last year enrolled one thousand of its members for health insurance with a pledge to scale up the number.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said that the nation’s capital city can generate more Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) than Lagos if properly heaness it potentials.
He added that the Federal Capital Territory has the capacity to fund its budget solely, through the IGR.
Speaking through the Mandate Secretary on Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and PPP, Mr. Agboola Lukman Dabiri over the weekend there are many untapped resources in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that are yet to be tapped, if tapped, Abuja will be at per with Lagos in terms of revenue generation or even do better.
He made this known while briefing newsmen on the potentials Abuja has to generate more revenue and top the ladder of revenue generation States.
According to him, “There are many untapped resources here, we don’t collect money of Park any more,we don’t collect money from Estates, not all people paid, Uber is here, dispatch rider, we are not collecting revenue from all these people. By the time we are able to harness all those area, it will further shot up the revenue profile of the FCT.
“I am telling you confidently, by the grace of God and the support of my minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello by the time we are able to harness those areas, I assured you, we can general revenue three times of what we are getting at the moment.
“Even the Lagos we are talking about if you put Advert on the street light,you have to paid for them, but here in Abuja, do you paid? Election is coming, campaign posters will soon being flooding all over, are they paying for such posters, go and find out anywhere you pay for posting a bill”, he explained.
Dabiri also said that, E-revenue is also paramount, with e-revenue you will be able to account for whatever you get for proper planning.
While adding that Lagos is doing well in terms of revenue generation because they have sacrifice in the past and they are doing well now, Abuja too has same potential like Lagos and it will do even better than Lagos if the potentials are properly harness.
He explained that the Secretariat has been championing the course of harmonizing revenue from all revenue generating agencies in the FCT with a view to block leakages, and grow the revenue base in the FCT.
The Secretary reassured the Secretariat the new department has been working tirelessly to raise and enhance the revenue base the FCT.
He said in view of this, he would continue to extend hand of friendship across all revenue generating agencies in the territory to work tirelessly towards achieving the set goals.
He, therefore,called on the media to work with the Secretariat towards sensitizing the public on the importance of paying revenue and benefits that could be derived from such act.
Highlighting some of the benefits that could be gotten from paying revenue, he revealed that it will bring about massive infrastructural developments in the areas such as Road, water, electricity, schools, hospital among others.
He also appealed to the media to serve as their watch dog by holding them accountable on what they are able to collect as revenue for the FCT.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has engaged Community leaders and other stakeholders to hint them on the rationale behind the aggressive cleanup exercise and removal of illegal structures around the road corridors along Airport road.
While noting that the Administration has perfected plans to plant trees along the road corridors, calling on residents of the community to help protect and nurture them.
Speaking on behalf of the administration, the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to FCT Minister, Comrade Ikharo Attah who addressed the stakeholders from the community warned that the cleanup may be extended beyond the road corridors, should the residents resort to further illegal structures development.
He stated that FCT Minister , Malam Muhammad Musa Bello had earlier visited the community and saw the growing illegalities and other developmental infractions , has vowed not to relent until that axis of the Airport road corridor was fully cleaned up.
Attah further stated that, Sauka community, located few kilometres away from the popular Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, is strategically located along the major gateway to the City center, hence the efforts to rid the place of all nuisances.
According to him, ” Our coming to Sauka was due to the Minister’s visit, during which he complained that the illegal activities at the fringes of the community was constituting nuisance.
” The cleanup around the area may last for a long time, because from our investigation the illegal activities are still going on there, especially around the Mosque.
” Unfortunately, the Chief’s house falls within the area where the Minister asked us to cleanup. We are hoping that the residents do the needful and stop illegalities”, Attah added.
The Community leaders, led by the Counsellor representing Guiyi Ward in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Sunday Bikko and some of the Chiefs pledged to stop all illegalities going on in the community.
They also agreed to dismantle the illegal markets and motor park located by the road corridors which was agreed were the causes of the nuisances in the community.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has hinted that Africa needs to engage community networks to scale up vaccination in the continent.
The WHO Regional Director Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, gave the hint at the launching of “S.C.A.L.E.S 2.0” Strategy by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency in Abuja.
While adding that, the issue of vaccines has been very challenging in Africa and commended the lunch.
According to him, “It’s a great pleasure for me to be able to join you here today and I commend the action the government and partners are taking to re-launch the S.C.A.L.E.S version two. First I’d like to commend the government for all the efforts it has made in taking on the COVID-19 pandemic in its various facets including providing vaccination to the people of Nigeria. And to thank you for taking this step to reflect, learn from the first phase of this response“.
Moeti also stated that African, especially Nigeria has learnt great lessons on how to leverage decentralizing the delivery of vaccines to the citizens.
She added that it was important for the government to build trust through working with community leaders.
Her words, “We have seen in many countries in Africa, not only in Nigeria people hesitating. There are many concerns being expressed on the international media at the local level about this. So, engaging communities, working through community leader, religious leaders, trusted sources of information, community networks, is going to be extremely important.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire while speaking at the Launch of S.C.A.L.E.S 2.0 Strategy with the of Use Single Dose Johnson & Johnson Vaccine and Vaccination Site Finder, said the SCALES strategy has proven to be quite effective in ramping up COVID-19 vaccination coverage but the proportion of fully vaccinated Nigerians is still very low, partly because Nigeria has been using two-dose vaccines.
but the proportion of fully vaccinated Nigerians is still very low, partly because we have been using two-dose vaccines.
Unfortunately, most people are reluctant to take their second dose for various reasons including fear of a repeat of the mild side effects they may have experienced with the first dose.
The federal government, through NPHCDA, continues to strive to make COVID-19 Vaccination more accessible to the people, saying, “I am glad that every Nigerian can now be guided to the nearest COVID-19 vaccination site, from the comfort of their homes and from their phones”.
Ehanire gave this hint on Monday at the launch of S.C.A.L.E 2.0 Strategy with the use of Johnson and Johnson single dose vaccine and vaccination site finder for COVID-19 mass vaccination in Nigeria.
According to him, “There is a unique opportunity to leverage the SCALES strategy using COVID-19 vaccination structures and resources to improve Routine Immunization (RI) coverage, with improved efficiency and reduced duplication of efforts by health care workers. This is to ensure that while controlling the transmission of COVID-19, Nigeria does not become a fertile ground for outbreak of childhood vaccine preventable diseases by rapidly increasing RI uptake alongside COVID-19 uptake.
“It has become imperative that we launch the SCALES 2.0 Strategy, which entails the integration of COVID-19 vaccination with childhood routine immunization for eligible adults 18 years and above and children zero to two years respectively, leveraging Mass Vaccination Campaigns, Routine Immunization Fixed sessions, Outreach services and Mobile services. We are also formally rolling out the Johnson and Johnson single dose vaccine while introducing the COVID-19 vaccination site finder.
“This means that all childhood vaccination, including administration of vitamin A, will now be done alongside COVID-19 vaccination at COVID-19 vaccination sites. Eligible children will now be able to receive their BCG, Penta 3, OPV 3, OPV 1&2, Measles, Yellow Fever vaccines, as well as Vitamin A supplement, at the sites where the adults receive COVID-19 vaccines. This is the good news we are bringing to Nigerians today.
Similarly, the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said the agency will continue to strengthen vaccine security and accountability through the NPHCDA Joint Task Force on Vaccine Monitoring and Accountability.
He added that partners, communities and stakeholders will continue to be engaged to ensure inclusiveness and transparency in decision making and other processes involved in COVID-19 vaccination and overall health care delivery in Nigeria
Also, the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Peter Hawkins reiterated the fact that “no one is safe until everyone is safe”.
He, however, urged everyone to continue protecting themselves for the good of all.
The S.C.A.L.E.S. 2.0 Strategy which stands for Service Delivery Communication Accountability Logistics (Electronic Management Information System) Supportive Supervision, aimed at improving routine immunization in Nigeria.
Recall that it was introduced in November 2021 by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency(NPHCDA) to rapidly ramp up COVID-19 vaccine coverage by expanding access to COVID-19 Vaccines.
The Federal Government through the funding support of the Norwegian government, has commissioned a team of researchers saddled with the responsibility of developing training manual for agricultural extension agents and farmers as well as planting cocoa in the already existing cocoa plantations across the country to boost cocoa production.
Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development while speaking during the presentation on cocoa production update and manual by the researchers, CocoaSoil Group, on Tuesday in Abuja expressed optimism that the initiative would boost cocoa production in Nigeria.
Abubakar, explained that the five year project would increase cocoa yield as well as reduce post harvest loss of the farm produce.
The minister noted that the project has been done through careful planning, research and implementation.
He pointed out that without research, “there will be no innovation and development.We will just be stagnant.”
He said Nigeria has not been doing well in cocoa production over the years, while expressing his belief that with the training manual produced for agricultural extension agents and farmers, Nigeria would scale up its cocoa production.
Abubakar said findings from the research have revealed the reasons for low productivity in cocoa, noting that Nigeria is currently, not at its best in cocoa production.
The minister further stressed the need for value addition in cocoa export.
Also speaking, Dr. Moses Ogunlade, a cocoa scientist with National Cocoa Research Institute, explained that the project has two pillars namely research for development and partnership for delivery.
Ogunlade, who is also a Focal Person in Nigeria for CocoaSoil Project, said the major goal of the Project “is for development and dissemination of integrated soil facility management option with the aim of increasing cocoa productivity in the existing plantations as well as discouraging deforestation.”
“This is in addition to the development of specific fertiliser for cocoa production and establishment of cocoa plantations from the existing plantations.”
As part of measures to increase cocoa production in Nigeria, Ogunlade disclosed that 66 satellite trial sites have been established in various existing cocoa plantations across the country, adding that 52 sites are located in the South West and 14 in the South South.
The essence of the satellite trial site, according to him, “is to ensure that we increase productivity of the existing cocoa farms.”
He revealed that CocoaSoil is funded by Norwegian Agency for Development Corporation, as the project started in 2018.
Ogunlade said the project would ensure 30 percent increase in cocoa yield and 30 per cent increase in farmers’ income as well as reach 90,000 farmers in the four participating countries of Ghana, Cote’de voire, Cameroon and Nigeria.
In Nigeria, about 20,000 farmers have been reached already under the project.
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the nominations of five Executive Director-nominees of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
They include: Francis Alabo Ogaree, Executive Director, Hydrocarbon Processing Plants, Installations and Transportation Infrastructure; and Dr. Mustapha Lamorde, Executive Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community.
Others were Mansur Kuliya, Executive Director, Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure; Bashir Sadiq, Executive Director, Corporate Services and Administration; and Dr. Zainab Gobir, Executive Director, Economic Regulations and Strategic Planning.
Their confirmation followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Downstream Petroleum Sector.
The Chairman of the Committee on Downstream Petroleum Sector Committee, Senator Sabo Mohammed (Jigawa South-West) earlier stated that, the Upper Chamber of the Assembly explained that the President’s request was in accordance with the provisions of Section 34(3) of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in February, 8th 2022, requested for the confirmation of the nominees.
According to the lawmaker, the Act empowers the President to make appointments into the board of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) subject to the confirmation of the Senate for a period of five (5) years and may be reappointed for second term and no more.
Senator Mohammed said that the nominees while appearing before the Committee, responded to a wide range of questions regarding the Petroleum Industry and measures that should be taken to reposition the industry for the benefit of the Nigerian economy.
According to him, “The nominees responded to the questions asked In an intellectual; factual and convincing manner.
“They exhibited a high level understanding of the challenges, complexities and opportunities inherent in the Petroleum Industry.
“Their knowledge and experiences will be of great benefit to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the oil and gas sector in general”.
He disclosed that the Committee did not receive any petition against their nominations, adding that they were cleared by the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and posses the Code of Conduct Acknowledgment slips.
Over three hundred rural women of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday received improved skills in processing and preservation of Tomato using the very effective hot bottle technique, aimed at ensuring nutrition improvement and food security in the Territory and beyond.
The women, who are mostly farmers from selected FCT women groups participated in a capacity building workshop organized by the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) of the FCT Administration, in Gwagwalada in Abuja.
Our correspondent report for that the training programme, which is an outcome of the collaboration between the FCT Administration, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on nutrition improvement, have been in existence since 2017.
ARDS Secretary, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim, while delivering his keynote address at the event noted that the Hot bottle technique lays emphasis on the use of organic products in the processing and preservation processes, in line with the ongoing global campaign to promote the practice of organic Agriculture for its nutritional and health benefits.
He said it imperative to support the programme, so as to bequeath home makers (women) the skills that will help save cost, minimize loss and improve nutritional intake in their homes.
He urged them to take advantage of the capacity programme to improve their families food and nutrition security.
He acknowledged that the support FCTA have received from JICA in the sponsorship of ARDS staff for series of capacity building programmes in Japan have proven to be a success as the officers have stepped down their knowledge to improve the livelihood of rural women of the FCT.
According to him; “I want to assure you that the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat will ensure the sustenance of this programme. To this end, all the participants numbering 300 will be given free complementary training materials which includes special bottles, tomatoes, onions and pepper to enable them practice their new found knowledge at home.
“I express appreciation on behalf of the FCT Administration to the management of JICA for their support and also to our women, who have no doubt endured so much difficulties, in order to ensure the wellbeing of their families.
“The Honourable Minister of State, FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, who has been in the fore-front of campaign for gender equality and economic empowerment for women and youth, has equally lined up series of activities that will improve the livelihood of women in FCT.
“The Secretariat will continue to mobilise more and more women to benefit from the various Agricultural programmes of the FCTA.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director, Planning Research and Statistics of the ARDS, Yahaya Husseini, said the training is one of the activities of the FCTA to empower hardworking women to be self-reliance using local technology in the Territory.
He noted that the training was apt, as it is the obligation and collective responsibility of managers of public institutions and key stakeholders in the industry to change the business of agriculture, which has been left mostly to the peasant farmers.
He said, FCT has a deliberate policy to promote the development of a sustainable commercial agriculture that will not only guarantee increased farm income but also ensure availability of sufficient food for the ever growing population of the Territory.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed that the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector has contributed 15.21 per cent to the total real GDP.
This is disclosed in its quarterly Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report for Q4, 2021,
This, according to NBS is higher than in the same quarter of the previous year in which it represented 15.06 per cent and higher than the preceding quarter in which it represented 14.20 per cent.
While adding that, on nominal terms, the sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, dropped from 10.58 per cent in 2020 to 9.88 per cent at the end of 2021. This is despite the increased activities in the ICT space.
In spite of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, ICT contribution to the GDP skyrocketed. So, this decline would not be unconnected to the opening up of physical activities as against the lockdown period when every activity was basically online. The NBS GDP report also showed that the growth rate slowed to 5.70 percent, against 16.32 percent growth rate in the previous year. The figure represents 10.62 per cent lower growth rate.
The ICT sub-sectors captured in the report include publishing, motion picture, sound recording and music production as well as broadcasting.
The report stated: “In nominal terms, in the fourth quarter of 2021 the sector growth was recorded at 5.70 per cent (year-on-year), 10.62 per cent points decrease from the rate of 16.32 per cent recorded in the same quarter of 2020, and 5.47 per cent points lower than the rate recorded in the preceding quarter.
“The Quarter-on- Quarter growth rate recorded in fourth-quarter 2021 was 17.10 per cent, while annual growth stood at 5.75 per cent in 2021.”
“The Information and Communications sector contributed 9.88 per cent to total Nominal GDP in the 2021 fourth quarter, lower than the rate of 10.58 per cent recorded in the same quarter of 2020 and higher than the 9.22 per cent it contributed in the preceding quarter.
“The sector in the fourth quarter of 2021 recorded a growth rate of 5.03 per cent in real terms, year on year.
However, from the rate recorded in the corresponding period of 2020, there was a decrease of 9.92 per cent points. Quarter on Quarter, the sector exhibited a growth of 17.43 per cent in real terms, while annual growth stood at 6.55 per cent in 2021.
The Federal Government ok. Tuesday suspended the salaries of 243 civil searvants who failed to participate in the verification exercises organised by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
The affected workers are suspected to be ghost workers, as they failed to update their records online on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
This was contained in a circular with the reference number: HCSF/CSO/HRM/1137/Vol.1/T6/31 signed by the Permanent Secretary,Career Management Office, in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation,Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, said the Federal Government had on December 26, 2021, threatened to suspend the salaries of 1,173 of its workers by January, 2022, if they fail to comply with the directives.
The circular partly reads: “It will be recalled that in an effort to roll out the human resource module of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation issued various circulars calling on public servants to update their records online on the IPPIS verification platform.
“The office carried out sensitisation and publicity in both the print and audio media to further draw the attention of public servants to this very important exercise.
“The exercise was meant to facilitate the identification of ‘ghost’ workers in order to curtail avoidable financial excesses in personnel costs, while also ensuring credible staff records.
“Consequently, the verification portal was opened for all public servants from April 2017 to May 2018 to enable them to carry out the online records’ updates. Another opportunity was given from November 2019 to March 2020.
“However, despite all the publicity and circulars to Ministries, Department and Agencies, some employees in the core MDAs did not comply with this directive and were suspected as ‘ghost’ workers.
“The salaries of 243 officers in the attached list have been suspended from the IPPIS platform immediately. Officers in the list are, therefore, advised to appear in person at the office of the Permanent Secretary, CMO of the OHCSF before April 15, 2022, with all relevant documents and credentials to prove that they were duly employed by the Federal Civil Service Commission.”
The affected workers are drawn from the Ministries of Information and Culture; Labour and Employment; Agriculture and Rural Development; Education; Works and Housing; and Youth and Sports Development.
Other departments and agencies where ghost workers were uncovered, according to the circular, include the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and some Federal Government Colleges across the country.
The scheduled arraignment of a former Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha was on Tuesday, stalled at the Federal High Court Abuja.
Okorocha was to be docked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 17-count criminal charge.
Recall that Okorocha was governor of Imo state from 2011 to 2019, and presently a Senator representing Imo west in the National Assembly.
The anti graft agency hinted that, Senator Okorocha, who is believed to be having a running battle with Governor Hope Uzodimma is being charged to court over allegation of conspiracy with his cronies, including a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and five companies, to fritter the sum of N2.9 billion public funds belonging to the Imo state government.
More so, to be docked alongside Okorocha, are Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.
When the matter came up on Tuesday, all the other defendants were present in court except the former governor.
Oba Maduabuchi SAN, announced representation for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th defendants, while Darlington Ozurumba appeared for the 5th defendant.
Similarly, the prosecution, Cosmas Ugwu informed the court that the 1st defendant, Rochas Okorocha was not in court because he had not been served with the charge.
“My Lord, the matter would have been for arraignment of the defendants but the 1st defendant is not in court. “Effecting service on him has been difficult, but we have served all other defendants.
“We need another date to enable us effect service on the 1st defendant” the EFCC lawyer pleaded with the court. Meanwhile, trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo has adjourned to March 28, by 12noon, for arraignment.
