Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has greeted World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, GCON, on her 69th birthday on June 13.
The Governor described Okonjo-Iweala, an illustrious Deltan from Ogwashi-Uku and the first female Director-General and African to lead the global trade body, as an epitome of integrity, professionalism, and a huge role model to the girl-child in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Festus Ahon, in Asaba.
He praised the WTO chief for her illustrious and exceptional achievements in the service of Nigeria and the global finance industry.
The statement reads: “As a two-term finance minister, Okonjo-Iweala made significant contributions to the development of Nigeria’s economy, according to Oborevwori.
” Okonjo-Iweala made remarkable contributions to the development of Nigeria’s economy, as a two-time finance minister.
Oborevwori celebrated Okonjo-Iweala for her brilliance and competence as a world-class economist and international development expert whose impeccable work over the years had given her global acclaim.
“As a State and nation, we remain very proud of your antecedents which had earned you numerous awards and recognition over the years.
“You brought several innovations when you served as Finance Minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan.
“On behalf of my family, the Government and people of Delta, I congratulate you, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, CFR on the occasion of your 69th birth anniversary.
“I join your family, global colleagues and associates, friends and well-wishers to thank Almighty God for your life which has been evidently blessed with sterling accomplishments and amazing fulfillment.
“As you celebrate, it is my prayer that Almighty God blesses you with good health and many more years of happiness and contributions to the global economy,” Oborevwori added.
Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, the immediate former chairman of the 9th House of Representatives and member representing Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State, has been elected Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives.
Kalu was nominated by the immediate previous chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson of Lagos, and seconded by Hon. Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim of Yobe state, and emerged unopposed immediately after the inauguration of the new Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas.
He then took the pledge of loyalty and the oath of office administered by Sani Magaji Tambuwal, Clerk of the National Assembly.
Taking the Oath of Office Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, the favoured candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the position of Speaker of the Tenth House of Representatives, has won the election.
Hon. Abbas, who represents Kaduna’s Zaria Federal Constituency, received 353 votes to defeat his two opponents, Ahmed Idris Wase of Plateau State’s Wase Federal Constituency and Aminu Sani Jaji of Zamfara State.
Sani Magajin Tambuwal, Clerk of the National Assembly, then swore in the new Speaker.
Hilda Baci has been confirmed as the new cookathon record holder by Guinness World Records. Hilda Baci, a Nigerian chef, has been named the new record holder for the longest cooking marathon by an individual by Guinness World Records.
GWR stated on Tuesday through its Twitter handle that Hilda’s approval came after an examination of the film presented by the Nigerian chef.
“Following a thorough review of all evidence, Guinness World Records can now confirm that Hilda Effiong Bassey, better known as Hilda Baci, has officially broken the record for the longest cooking marathon (individual), with a time of 93 hours 11 minutes,” according to the statement.
Senator Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom State and former Minister of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has emerged as the winner of head counts in a vote to elect the President of the National Assembly’s 10th Senate.He won following a difficult campaign in which he was pitted against Senator Abdulaziz Yari, former Zamfara State governor.Senators David Umahi (APC Ebonyi South) and Salihu Mustapha (APC Kwara Central) nominated Senator Jibril Barau (APC, Kano State) uncontested as Deputy Senate President.
As Nigerians commemorate Democracy Day, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has humiliated the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).The party claimed that the APC and INEC violated democratic principles and dishonored the memory of Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola.In remembrance of the late Chief Abiola, who won the June 12, 1993, presidential election, Democracy Day is observed every year on June 12.In a statement issued by Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP’s spokesman, the people of Nigeria were urged to emphasize the need for the establishment of democratic principles throughout the nation on June 12.The party described as distasteful, offensive and unacceptable for the nation to observe the Democracy Day under a system that violated, desecrated and despoiled all the tenets of democracy as witnessed in brazen rigging that characterized the 2023 general elections.The statement reads: “The barefaced manipulations of the 2023 general elections by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), amounts to an unpardonable assault and rape of democracy and disregard for the Will of the people; the very ills which Chief MKO Abiola fought and died for.”June 12 epitomizes the struggle by Nigerians against corrupt, manipulative and anti-democratic system; against injustice, impunity and electoral fraud which INEC, under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu now represents.”It is indeed heartrending that all the steady progress and gains made by successive PDP administrations in reforming our electoral system have been completely wiped off by INEC in the conduct of the 2023 general elections,” PDP said.The party however urged Nigerians not to despair but remain optimistic and law-abiding in their hope for a better nation which they earnestly yearn for.The PDP, however, charged all the leaders at all level across the country to be guided by the essence of June 12 by always adhering to the principles of democracy in the overall interest of the Nigerians people.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stated that its priority for the time being is to maximize its numerical strength with other opposition parties in order to determine the emergence of the Presiding Officers of the two chambers of the National Assembly on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
The party, which stated that it will not allow any distractions at this time, asked its members and other stakeholders to dismiss the report on National Assembly Minority leadership.
According to a statement issued by PDP spokesman Hon. Debo Ologunagba, “the attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been called to speculations and allegations making the rounds and stating that certain individuals have been designated for Minority leadership positions ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly slated for Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
The statement reads: “Such rumours and reports do not represent the true position of affairs in our Party and among our National Assembly members-elect.
“For clarity, the PDP is on the same page with our lawmakers-elect in focusing, for now, on maximizing our numerical strength with other opposition Parties to determine the emergence of the Presiding Officers of the two chambers of the National Assembly on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 and will not allow any distractions at this moment.
“The interest of the PDP is to ensure that whoever emerges as the Speaker of the House of Representatives must be a person with long standing relevant managerial and legislative experience, leadership capacity and past legislative achievements as a member of the House of Representatives.
“At the right time, the PDP together with our members in the National Assembly will speak with one voice on any issues with regard to other leadership positions in the federal legislature.”
The PDP therefore urged Nigerians to disregard the said rumour and reports as its party and members-elect at the moment have eyes on the ball on the election of the Presiding Officers of the two chambers of the National Assembly in the general interest of the people of Nigeria.
Once the circumstances that prompted their protest have been settled, medical staff at Ogwashi-Uku General Hospital in Delta State are anticipated to promptly resume work.
Remember how medical professionals took a leave of absence when one of the hospital’s female doctors was attacked by a mobile police officer?
Since Thursday, June 1, 2023, when a female NYSC doctor was assaulted, the irate doctors have put down their instruments.
A patient with gunshot wounds received while attending a neighborhood party was reportedly transported to the Ogwashi-Uku General hospital by some police officers.
A female doctor, who is said to be an NYSC doctor, attended to the patient, but a mobile policeman became dissatisfied when the doctor tried to explain the need for X Rays and other scans prior to any surgery. The security operative angered by the slow pace of treatment repeatedly assaulted the doctor who had to be whisked away and hidden by her colleagues to ensure her safety.
Bothered by the development, His Majesty, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom working with the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Wale Abass and the Delta State Police Command have been able to uncover the identity of the police officer who assaulted the doctor.
This was after the CP invited representatives of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku and the Permanent Secretary, Chief Medical Director, and all the medical staff to identify the said police officer.
“The officer was identified, and CP DELTA has instructed that steps be taken immediately so he can face justice,” a reliable source said.
The Permanent Secretary is said to have thanked the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku and the police boss for their intervention in helping to resolve the issue.
Meanwhile, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku has appealed to the CP to post policemen immediately on a permanent basis at the hospital, a request that was immediately granted.
A source close to the king said that the palace will install CCTV cameras and also provide vigilante support to the police officers, adding that this is to prevent a repeat of a similar incident in the area.
The Interim Administrator, Maj-Gen. Barry Ndiomu (rtd), is providing the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) with newfound pragmatism and dynamism.
Ndiomu, who was appointed in September 2022, has progressively made considerable strides at reorienting the amnesty program. He has demonstrated not only ability but also a rare fervor and dedication.
The majority of people who have followed him for years are not surprised by his modest success. He has always demonstrated his abilities as a performer in whatever role he has held. He had a distinguished career as a military officer, eventually achieving the prestigious rank of five-star General.
Upon his appointment, he declared that he was going to do everything to reposition the programme. In a recent interview he said “When I took over in September 2022, I discovered that the programme had been drifting away from the core objectives of why it was established. I have to redirect the vision towards the initial concept, which is essentially to build the capacity of the teeming restive youths in the region”.
Reacall that the Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP) was established in 2009, after youths of the Niger Delta involved in armed struggle and militancy voluntarily surrendered their arms. The deal was to ensure that all those who genuinely took the amnesty oath and repented were fully reintegrated back into the society.
The overall objective/vision of the Programme was to transform the ex-agitators into entrepreneurs and to employable citizens who would become net-contributors to the economy of the Niger Delta in particular and the country in general through effective collaboration with relevant public and private institutions and state governments in the region.
Sadly, and for some reasons there was a turn around. The programme began to head in the wrong direction. It was for this reason perhaps that former President Muhammadu Buhari decided to bring in someone with the right vision, competence and operational experience to supervise the PAP and navigate it out of turbulence.
Ndiomu, has made consultation and constant engagement with stakeholders as a cardinal point of his administration. His periodic interface with traditional rulers, leadership of the ex-agitators community, heads of pan-ijaw bodies and other leaders of thought has been a game changer.
When he realized that payroll fraud was one of the things inhibiting the growth of the PAP, Ndiomu launched a timely and comprehensive probe not to witch-hunt anyone but to sanitize the system. As it was expected, the preliminary result of the ongoing verification showed how some people have been defrauding the system.
His bravery to confront the multiple fraud in the PAP and block leakages has earned him more accolades. But his traducers and by extension, enemies of the Niger Delta are seriously fighting back. It was expected, their “cocoa farm” has been closed.
But the ex-General is too focused to be distracted. He is moving with the speed of light, doing what he knows how to do best, putting his adversaries to shame with performance. The more low they go, the higher he goes.
The recently launched Cooperative Scheme for ex-agitators is a good example. Expectedly, mischief and ignorance has made them to criticize it. Soon, they will be put to shame when the scheme begin to produce new set of millionaires in the Niger Delta.
Generally, Ndiomu’s administration has been responsive to the hopes and aspirations of ex-agitators. He has made prompt payment of their monthly stipends, as another hallmark.
His accessibility, accountability, prudence, efficiency and effectiveness, just to mention a few also constitute major features of his administration.
Sampling opinions of hundreds of youths of the Niger Delta Region by Tracknews Media Ltd revealed that Major-General Barry Tariye Ndiomu has done relatively well in office as the Interim Administrator of the PAP.
From across the states in the Niger Delta Region, interviewing both beneficiaries and non beneficiaries of the PAP, it has continually become crystal clear that those attacking the PAP boss are doing so out of their selfish interest and their position does not represent that of majority of people of the Niger Delta Region.
Ndiomu remains the right man for the job as he has continually stood for the good of all beneficiaries of the PAP and the people of the Niger Delta.
The Niger Delta youths interviewed generally calls on the powers that be to give Ndiomu the time and space to execute his plans for the ex-agitators and advised the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not to listen to blackmailers and naysayers who are bent at sabotaging his works.
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), says it enrolled two million poor and indigent Nigerians as beneficiaries of a comprehensive Basic Minimum Package of Health Services through the State Health Insurance Agencies (SHIAs).
Dr Kurfi Abubakar, Head, Policy, Planning and International Collaboration, Division, disclosed this on Tuesday at a two day Joint Learning Agenda(JLA), on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Health Financing and Budget Advocacy.
Abubakar said the agency was also working towards 83 million vulnerable Nigerians to be covered under the Compulsory Social Health Insurance (CSHI).
He said that the NHIA Act would solved out-of-pocket expenditure for Nigerians when fully implemented.
He said that the country working hard towards achieving UHC, as the Authority was ready to implement the Act and get Nigerians internalised.
“With the NHIA, efforts to tackle high incidence of poverty caused by out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare, through health insurance for all categories of Nigerians by 2030 is now more realisable than ever before,” he said.
Dr Sakinatu Dan’agalan Capacity Development Lead; National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), BHCPF, said that the specific objectives of implementing the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) were to achieved at least one fully functional PHC facility in each ward.
“As least 30 per cent of all wards over the next three years, 70 per cent within five years, and 100 per cent within seven years, she said.
Dan’agalan said that it would achieved at least three fully functional public or private secondary health care facilities, benefitting from the BHCPF in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
“At least 50 per cent of all states over the next three years, and 100 per cent within five years.
She said that the BHCPF would also establish effective emergency medical response services in 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
Mrs Oyeyemi Pitan ED Gem Hub Initiative Co-Convener Joint Learning Agenda for UHC in Nigeria, said that the overview of the JLA is to advanced Health Insurance Uptake in the country at National and Sub-national levels.
Pitan said that this would ensure financial risk protection for the most vulnerable in the country.
“Initial focus is on 2 States ( Lagos and Kano with plans to scale up to other states based on available resources.
“To also promote CSO understanding of the NHIA, Implementation guidelines and opportunities for partnership and facilitate platform for engagement among various stakeholders,” she said.
She said that the overview would also develop civil society scorecards for tracking national and subnational implementation of the NHIA Act.
Mr Ademuyiwa Damilola, Program Manager, Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL), said that the Legislature had made valuable impact towards health system strengthening in the country.
Damilola said that a country’s health system that fulfills its responsibilities to citizens cannot function in isolation.
He said that the country needs good governance in terms of policymaking, fund allocation, oversight, and accountability mechanisms.
Ms Olayide Akanni ED Journalist Against AIDS, Co-convener Joint Learning Agenda for UHC in Nigeria; said that the overview would secure commitments for the inclusion of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent and Elderly Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAEH+N), services such as family planning consumables in the National and State Health Insurance Schemes.
Akanni said that the overview would also promote CSO understanding of current priorities with the State Health Insurance schemes, gaps and opportunities for collaboration.
