President Muhammadu Buhari has approved immediate payments of the two months withheld salaries of University lecturers that refused to enroll in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS.

The President’s approval came after he had a meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige yesterday in Abuja.

The Federal Government and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, have been on loggerheads over the refusal of the university teachers to join in the IPPIS payment platform.

Even the other three university-based unions, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, and the Non-Academic Union of Universities, NASU that had enrolled in the IPPIS have threatened to pull out over the alleged irregularities in its implementation.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige told Vanguard that President Buhari has directed the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed and the Accountant General of the Federation to immediately effect the payment of February and March salaries to university lecturers.

Senator Ngige said, “Mr President Muhammadu Buhari has today approved the immediate payment of the withheld salaries of February and March 2020 of the University Lecturers who had not registered on the IPPIS platform.

” He has also directed that the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the Accountant General of the Federation to effect the payments urgently by all means to cushion the deleterious effects of the Corvid-19 pandemic on the Lecturers and members of their family.

“All Vice Chancellors are to revalidate affected Lecturers BVN and foward to Accountant General of the Federation for the payments.”

PRESS STATEMENT

NORTHERN GOVERNORS MEET, INSIST ON MORE COVID-19 TESTING CENTRES AND BAN ALMAJIRI SYSTEM.

For the second time in one month, the Northern States Governors Forum has met to discuss the region’s response to the Corona Virus pandemic and evaluate some of the measures adopted by each State to deal with the situation.
The meeting presided over by its Chairman, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State was convened via teleconferencing with 17 Governors participating.
The Chairman briefed the members on some of the issues discussed at their last meeting and the follow up developments.
He told them that based on their resolution at the last meeting, he had a discussion with President Muhammadu Buhari where he conveyed their concerns on the need for the region to access special funding, palliatives, testing centres and other forms of support to assist the region deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the President assured him of the support of the Federal Government within the context of Federal Government programmes both under the Corona Virus response and under other incentives to farmers and States.
The meeting further discussed the issue of COVID-19 Testing Centres within the Northern Region where it noted some improvement, but again insisted that all States in the region should have at least one centre in order to make the detection of the disease and its management easier and faster.
On border control and lockdown measures, the Northern Governors retained their earlier decision for the States to individually decide on the measure to adopt, but reaffirmed the need for border closures to stop inter-state spread of the disease, which is rising in the region.
The Governors also discussed the risk that Almajiri children are exposed to because of the Corona Virus disease where they unanimously decided to totally ban the Almajiri system and evacuate the children to their parents or States of origin.
They agreed to take a cue from Kano, Kaduna and Nasarawa States who have begun returning Almajiri children to families and States of origin, while those within their States who do not have parents are taken care of by the Government.  
They vowed never to allow the system persist any longer because of the social challenges associated with it including the perpetuation of poverty, illiteracy, insecurity and social disorder.
The meeting also engaged the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Alhaji Muhammed Sabo Nanono on the incentives available to Nigerian Farmers and how those in their region can benefit. The Minister outlined all the agricultural programmes of the Federal Government including provision of farm inputs and fertilizers, cluster farming, training and deployment of extension workers, provision of rural roads, value chain addition, development of irrigation facilities, agro-mechanization and mobilization of agro-rangers.
The Governors also raised concerns about the challenges of insecurity especially the activities of bandits, Boko Haram insurgents, Kidnappers and other criminals who they say pose great threat to farmers who are afraid to go to their farms – a development that could result in food insecurity. They therefore resolved to engage relevant Federal Government Agencies and heads of security agencies to urgently address the problem.
The Forum also noted with dismay rapid deforestation in the region and resolved to take tougher measures to curtail the situation.
They also reiterated their resolve to turn the economic challenges posed by the Corona Virus Pandemic into opportunities for diversification and emancipation.
The Northern Governors also commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari over the loss of his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari and prayed that God will grant his family and the Government of Borno State the fortitude to bear the loss.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State &
Chairman, Northern Governors Forum
21st April, 2020.
 
 

The Nigerian government has postponed the Senior School Certificate Examination organised by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) for the year amid coronavirus outbreak.

Emeka Nwajubu, Minister of state for education announced this during a press briefing monitored by Middlebelt Reporters on Channels Tv.

“WAEC and NECO for the year have been postponed indefinitely.

“The students can learn online, we have made a lot of provision for that. The director of FCT has also opened a portal for the process

“We are working with the ministry of information to escalate education content to provide for everyone at home.

“Our biggest challenge is to reach children who do not have devices but we are working with radio corporations to instil some of that for primary and secondary students .”

PRESIDENT BUHARI LOSES PERSONAL BODYGUARD, WO LAWAL MATO

After three years of struggling with diabetes, one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s bodyguards, Warrant Officer Lawal Mato, on Tuesday passed away.

The President described the officer, who had been working with him for many years before he won the 2015 elections, as “very thorough, trustworthy and dependable soldier who carried out his duty with diligence and focus.’’

President Buhari prayed that Allah will ease his passage to paradise and grant his family, government and people of Jigawa State, the fortitude to bear the loss.

WO Mato was part of a team that former President Umaru Musa Yar’adua restored to President Buhari as personal security and he had been off full duty for three years, treating diabetes.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 21, 2020

A fire incident has occurred at the Central Bank of Nigeria’s office in Jos, Plateau State.

The incident occurred on Tuesday and the fire was said to have gutted part of the building.

Confirming the report, the apex bank tweeted, “Minor fire outbreak at the Jos branch of Central Bank of Nigeria, promptly contained today, April 21, 2020.”

Details later…

PRESS RELEASE

The attention of Kano State Ministry of health has been drawn to a post being circulated on social media platforms on purported death of number of people within two days and buried in some cemeteries within Kano metropolis.

As the ministry could not immediately verify the veracity of the claim going round,
the state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, hereby assured the general public that investigation into the matter is ongoing to verify the claim and possible causes of the deaths.

Dr. Tsanyawa also assured that the public will be informed on the outcome of the investigation in due course.

While he prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed, the commissioner also advised people to continue to observe social distancing, wash hands regularly, avoid gatherings and stay at home to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

HADIZA M. NAMADI
Information Officer
Ministry of Health
Kano State

COVID-19: Rep. Bagos Calls for Rapid Community Testing, Lauds NCDC Approval of Plateau Testing Centre

With over 2.4 million total cases and over 170,000 deaths recorded globally, the Member representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency Plateau State, Rep. Dachung Musa Bagos has called for rapid community testing for proper contact tracing and possible isolation of carriers of COVID-19, if any to avoid mass spread.

He said considering the daily exponential increase in the number of confirmed cases across the Country and the porous nature of the Border entry points in Plateau State which have allowed people from States with confirmed cases unhindered access to the State, t is important to carryout rapid community testing.

Hon. Bagos said though the State is yet to record any confirm case, it is pertinent to take proactive steps to prevent spread of the virus.

The Federal Lawmaker also lauded the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for the timely approval of National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom, Plateau State as a molecular testing centre.

He said the centre should be able to conduct rapid community testing in order to trace contacts in good time.

He Lauded the DG NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu for being proactive and displaying high level of responsibility, diligence, integrity, professionalism and above all patriotism in the discharge of his duties.

Rep. Bagos called on government at all levels to provide humanitarian interventions as palliatives to alleviate the, sufferings of the people saying economic, social and religious activities have been adversely affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic.

He admonished the people to remain law abiding, exercise total adherence to preventive and safety measures put in place by health experts as well as full compliance to directives laid down by government to prevent the spread of the virus.

HON MANJI B.D.GONTORI EXPRESSES SHOCK AND DISPLEASURE OVER THE ABDUCTION OF A ROYAL FATHER,HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS,THE PANKWAL BOGGHOM IN KANAM LGA,PLATEAU STATE….

Hon Manji Gontori said he received the news of the abduction of PANKWAL BOGGHOM in the early hours of Monday 20th April,2020 with shock and displeasure.he said,for a royal father of this repute to be whisked away by heavy armed men in his palace is not only barbaric but uncalled for.

Hon Manji Gontori,while praying that the good lord keep the royal father safe and touch the heart of his abductors to release him immediately,equally identify with the kanam Local govt council,the kanam traditional council,the immediate family of the royal father,BOGGHOM chiefdom and the entire good peace loving people of kanam LGA over this sad and devastating news.our hearts are with you and God will bring back our father without any harm ,he said.he also call on the security agencies to ensure the release of the royal father immediately.

Sign:
HON MANJI B.D.GONTORI

Dr.HOSEA I FINANGWAI EXPRESSED GREAT DISPLEASURE AND CONDEMNED IN STRONG TERMS THE ABDUCTION OF PANKWAL BOGGHOM HRH ALH SHEHU SULEIMAN.

The Hon.Commissioner of agriculture and Rural Development of Plateau State Dr. Hosea Istifanus Finangwai expressed great displeasure and condemnation of the abduction of Pankwal Bogghom HRH Alh Shehu Suleman,the Paramount ruler of the Bogghom nation.

The Hon.Commissioner described the targeting and abduction of the Royal father by kidnappers which has today left a bad taste in our mouth as an insult to culture and tradition and should be condemned in strong terms by all.

He said HRH is a simple and peaceful personality and further described him as “being peace-loving even to a fault” who do not in anyway deserve such barbaric treatment.

He further call on all security agencies in the states to make concerted effort to rescue the victim and bring the perpetrators to book and urged all to maintain peace and support the officers of the law in carrying out their duties.

Bappidak Sambo
Personal Assistant to the Honourable commissioner
29th April 2020.
10:39am