Day: August 8, 2023

The Federal Government says it has withdrawn the contempt of court proceedings against organised labour for embarking on a nationwide protest.

This is contained in a letter addressed to the lead counsel to the NLC, Falana and Falana’s Chambers and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

The letter dated Aug. 7 to Falana’s Chambers was signed by the Solicitor General of the Federation, Mrs B.E. Jeddy-Agba.

NAN reports that the Federal Ministry of Justice had through the National Industrial Court (NICN), issued the leadership of organised labour summons on contempt of court for embarking on the protest.

NAN also recalls that organised labour had threatened to embark on a nation-wide strike from Aug. 14, if the Federal Government failed to withdraw its contempt of court charges.

Organised Labour had embarked on mass protest over anti-poor policies of government, especially the removal of subsidy that had brought untold hardship to Nigerians.

The letter reads: “Kindly recall the exchange of correspondence between the ministry and your office on the need for compliance with the extant court orders, restraining industrial action of any kind on the part of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress.

“The position of the ministry was informed by the need to safeguard the integrity of the court and prevent avoidable service disruption or damage to public facilities.

“Inspite of these exchanges/interventions, the labour unions on Aug. 2, proceeded with the industrial action through public pretests”.

It also said the protest led to disruption of work and the eventual pulling down of the gate of the National Assembly.

“The foregoing, it said, prompted the ministry to initiate contempt proceedings by tiling Form 48 on the same 2nd August 2023 in accordance with Section 72 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act and Order 9 Rule 13 of the Judgment (Enforcement) Rules.

“It is trite that issuance of Form 48 is just the starting point in contempt proceedings which will only crystalise upon the issuance of Form 49 and the consequential committal order.”

It noted that upon the intervention of President Bola Tinubu and the decision of the labour unions to call-off their industrial action after meetings with the President and leadership of the National Assembly.

“The ministry did not proceed further with the contempt proceedings, which would have required the issuance of Form 49 within two days of the issuance of Form 48.

“It is self-evident that the none-issuance of Form 49 as at Aug. 4, renders the contempt proceedings inchoate.

“You may therefore wish to advise or guide the labour unions on the practice and procedure of contempt proceedings.

“Also particularly to the effect that the issues or concerns raised by NLC in its communique on the proceedings, have been overtaken by events,” it said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has underlined his support for ongoing mediation efforts by the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) in the wake of the July 26 coup in Niger.

UN Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq said this while answering questions from journalists on the ECOWAS deadline at a news conference on Monday in New York.

An ultimatum issued by the bloc to the military junta that has ruled Niger since the coup d’état expired on Sunday.

ECOWAS is scheduled to hold another meeting on the crisis on Thursday in Abuja, Nigeria, according to media reports.

This follows an extraordinary summit last week where the 15-member bloc issued a communiqué calling for the reinstatement of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum.

ECOWAS had threatened to take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order, including use of force if the coupists failed to do that.

Military leaders in Niger have closed the country’s airspace in response.

“The secretary-general is concerned over the continued detention of President Bazoum and the failure so far to restore constitutional order in Niger,” Haq said.

Meanwhile, UN Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, continues to provide good office support to regional stakeholders, and is currently in Abuja.

“The secretary-general emphasises the urgent need to ensure that life-saving humanitarian work continues unhindered, and that the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service that provides a vital link to remote communities in Niger is allowed to operate to and continue to serve those communities,

Simão had earlier reported that 4.3 million people in Niger required humanitarian assistance.

He also warned that the unfolding crisis could worsen insecurity in the wider West African region.

UN humanitarian agencies have pledged to stay and deliver in Niger.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Senate has confirmed 45 ministerial nominees out of the 48 nominees forwarded to it by President Bola Tinubu.

The confirmation followed the consideration and approval of the nominees during Monday’s plenary.

The nominees include Sen. Abubakar Kyari (Borno ); Abubakar Momoh (Edo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Prof. Joseph Utsev (Benue), Sen. John Enoh (Cross River).

Others are Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (Ondo), Dr Betta Edu (Cross River) Imaan Sulaiman (Nasarawa), Ahmed Dangiwa (Katsina), and Uche Nnaji (Enugu),

The nominees include Bello Muhammad (Sokoto), Mohammed Badaru (Jigawa), Yusuf Tuggar (Bauchi), Uju-Ken Ohaneye (Anambra).

Abdullahi Gwarzo (Kano), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Tunji Alausa (Lagos), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun) and Uba Ahmadu (Taraba).

“Lola John (Lagos), Dr Isiak Salako (Ogun), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa), Dr Yusuf Sununu (Kebbi), Prof. Tahir Mamman (Adamawa), Zaphaniah Jisalo (FCT), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Dr Bosun Tijjani (Ogun) are on the list.

“Shuaibu Abubakar Audu (Kogi), Sen. Sabi Abdullahi (Niger), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Sen. Alkali Ahmed (Gombe), Dr Mariya Bunkure (Kano), Festus Keyamo (Delta) and Hannatu Musawa.

“Dr Dorris Uzoka (Imo), David Umahi , Ekperipe Ekpo (Akwa-Ibom), Nkiru Onyeojiocha (Abia), Dele Alake (Ekiti), Lateef Fagbemi (Kwara), Muhammad Idris (), Olawale Edun (Ondo) Adebayo Adelabu (Oyo) and Prof. Ali Pate (Bauchi).

In his remarks, President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio thanked the lawmakers for their doggedness throughout the exercise.

He said that the Senate had so far confirmed 45 nominees out of the 48 sent by the President.

NAN reports that former governor of Kaduna Nasir El-Rufai, Sen. Abubakar Danladi (Taraba) and Executive Director (Business Development) of Nigerian Export and Import Bank (NEXIM), Stella Okotete are awaiting clearance to be confirmed.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) an NGO, says no career path is irrelevant for females as it empowers over 400 school girls on leadership programmes.

The JAN Executive Director, Mrs Foluso Gbadamosi, made the disclosure in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

The programme which was just recently concluded across the federation according to her, is in partnership with Union Bank.

“No fewer than 16 schools participated in the three-day Leadership, Empowerment, Achievement and Development(LEAD) camp program, organised for young secondary school girls across the nation,” she said.

She added that the programme was aimed at empowering young girls with relevant entrepreneurial and career skills needed for the future.

“The 16 schools that participated were Seed of Life College, Oyo; Topfield College, Lagos; Redeemer’s International Secondary School, Lagos; Queens School, Enugu; Kano Capital Girls School; Hope High Academy Zawan, Plateau.

“Others were Rosa Mystical High School Agulu, Anambra; Faith Baptist College, Rivers; Bedrock International School, Mararaba; Community Secondary School Asokoro, FCT; Taidob College, Ogun, Baptist Girls College, Ogun; Merit International School, Ondo.

“The remaining schools included Faith Academy, Kaduna; Christian Secondary Commercial School, Akwa-Ibom and Adiahaobong Secondary Commercial School, Akwa-Ibom,” she said.

While saying that the camp proved to be another transformative experience for the over 400 young minds nationwide, Gbadamosi added that JAN firmly believed that leadership had no gender boundaries.

“We are dedicated to breaking the barriers that have held girls back for far too long.

“During the programme, we nurtured the courage of these young girls, instilled essential leadership skills, expanded their networks, and, most importantly, showed them that no career path is gender-specific or irrelevant.

“We are confident that the positive impact of the LEAD camp programme will resonate for years to come, producing change-makers ready to shape the future of Nigeria and the world.

“Our commitment to expanding and strengthening the JAN Nigeria LEAD camp programme across the country remains unwavering as we aim to impact even more young girls,’” she said.

She said the three-day camp featured interactive workshops, panel sessions, and skill-building activities to equip the participants with valuable leadership skills.

“This year’s LEAD camp was tailored toward inspiring and empowering young girls with relevant leadership, entrepreneurial and career development skills they need to be high-achieving leaders.

“Throughout the camp, the girls were coached by experienced mentors who led them through developing their presentations to enhance their leadership skills further.

“A panel of judges evaluated their presentations on the final day, and the winners won different prizes.

“This year’s LEAD camp occurred in Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, and the FCT,” she said.

She expressed deep gratitude to Union bank for its consistent support, which had made the LEAD camp vision a reality.

“Together, we empower the next generation of leaders to create a brighter, more inclusive future for all,” she added.

Miss Olufunmilola Aluko, Chief Brand and Marketing Officer at Union bank, said the programme marked the ninth year of partnership with JAN on LEAD camp.

“We have impacted thousands of girls in these nine years. Through LEAD camp, Union bank continues to empower young women to be high-achieving leaders well-prepared for the future of work and entrepreneurship.

“Glass ceilings are easier to shatter when we know people are supporting us, and the girls who participate in the LEAD camp programme benefit from exposure to phenomenal Nigerian women.

“This partnership aligns with our commitment to enabling success for women and girls, as is our contribution to supporting Nigeria to achieve SDG 5 – Gender Equality,” she said

One of the school girls, Chiamaka Moses from Topfield secondary school, said her experience was an unforgettable one.

“I learned about emotional intelligence and self-awareness, working with others, managing my temper, and what triggers my emotions.

“ I was also made aware that etiquette is a soft skill rather than a personality trait and that there is a need to improve soft skills.

“These skills are required to position me for employment opportunities successfully. I am grateful to JAN for this opportunity, which I intend to utilise,” she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Angolan Government recently created the “Best Municipality of Angola Award” to ensure a continued improve in the public management of municipalities, through the promotion and appreciation of initiatives that guarantee the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of local government action.

This also include the integrity, good governance and adoption of the best practices in the territory’s administration.

The objective, according to the Presidential Decree, is to encourage healthy competition between municipalities in promoting actions that tend to satisfy the population’s needs and promote local development, by awarding distinctions, incentives that recognize innovative initiatives in municipal public management.

The regulation also mentions that the prize is of a social and symbolic nature, and constitutes a way of stimulating and encouraging the best management practices to transform the local reality and develop municipalities.

The award comprises two modalities, namely “Best Municipality by Category”, which distinguishes the three municipalities with the best performance in a given category, and “Best Municipality in all Categories”, which rewards those with the best performance in all categories, according to typology.

The award categories include fundamental areas such as Urban Planning, Infrastructure and Spatial Planning, Transport, Mobility and Accessibility, Connectivity, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Health and Well-Being, Education and Professional Qualification, Good Governance, Transparency and Quality of Budget Execution, among others.

The judge for the Best Municipality of Angola Award will be made up of seven members, whose the appointment is based on criteria such as suitability, competence and experience in the matters in competition.

While the candidacies will be presented by the municipal administrators to the provincial governments.

The prizes will include trophies, commemorative medal, certificates, delivery of financial support title and goods to support municipal development.

In accordance with its article 25, the award gala will be held on the 10th of August of each year, the African Day of Decentralisation and Local Development, and the results will be disseminated through the media and the official website of the Ministry of Territorial Administration.

Angola, with an area of 1.247.700 square kilometers, has 18 provinces and 164 municipalities

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

The Kimpa Vita University, located in the northern Uíge Province, has 1310 vacancies available for the 2023/2024 academic year, thus surpassing the number of the previous year.

The submission of applications to sit for admission tests began on the 1st of the current month and will end on the 12th.

Of the total vacancies, there are 120 for nursing, 250 for accounting and administration, 220 for computer engineering, 350 for law, 250 for economics, 60 for hydraulic engineering and 60 for agronomy.

Course vacancies must be filled through exams to select students.

Kimpa Vita University has been operating since 2011 and in addition to the courses mentioned above, it also teaches water sanitation.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) at Aussenkehr on Sunday retrieved the body of the 40-year-old man who allegedly drowned at the Orange River early in July.

NamPol’s crime investigations coordinator for the ||Kharas Region, Deputy Commissioner Nikodemus Mbango, told Nampa on Tuesday that the body of Mikel Muyambo Shingereshu was retrieved on Sunday at around 17h00, with the help of the South Africa Police Services after a 22-day search.

On 15 July, it is alleged that the deceased and his girlfriend went to collect pods from a tree along the Orange River on the fatal day.

“While the girlfriend and the kids waited along the river, the man went on a canoe to load the 16 bags of pods. On his way back, the canoe capsized in the middle of the river. The man screamed for help but drowned,” Mbango said.

He added that the deceased’s remains were taken to the Noordoewer Police Mortuary and will further be taken to Keetmanshoop for an autopsy.

The deceased’s next of kin have been informed and police investigation continues.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Omaheke Governor, Pijoo Nganate, said human trafficking is not a new phenomenon in the region and Namibia at large as people have been practising it, while unaware.

Nganate made the remarks in a speech he delivered on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, at the International Trafficking in Persons Day at Aminuis on Tuesday.

“Some of the acts that we are practising are part of human trafficking, acts like us employing young boys as street vendors, cattle herders especially from neighbouring countries like Angola, and our young girls from the San community that are taking care of our kids while they are supposed to go to schools is human trafficking. We are not innocent at all we are as guilty as anyone else,” he said.

The governor further alluded that some of the causing factors contributing to people becoming victims of this act are among others poverty and unemployment.

“Our aim is to fight poverty in Omaheke, unemployment and poverty because this act affects women and children thus, we need to educate them and make them aware,” he said.

Speaking at the same event the Aminius constituency councillor Peter Kazongominja highlighted that people in his constituency and the entire region should be vigilant, especially with the new road being constructed that will connect different countries.

According to the councillor roads such as the one between Aminuis and Aranos are good projects but may also bring problems like human trafficking and other evil acts.

“Our people will be subjected to all the illegal acts as we will be hosting people from other countries through this road. Thus, we need to be very careful, especially parents and take good care of our children not to fall prey to these acts,” Kazongominja said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Kharas Governor Aletha Frederick has called on Government to fast-track the upgrading of the Keetmanshoop-Aroab road in order to provide rural communities with access to essential services.

Frederick made the call on Tuesday when she received members of the National Council Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Roads. The committee is in the region on a three-day oversight visit to familiarise themselves with the conditions of the road network, as well as access to various schools and healthcare facilities in rural areas.

She said when heavy rains are experienced, it becomes a challenge for the community of Aroab and surrounding areas to travel to Keetmanshoop to access services as the road is washed away.

Aroab is a village located some 170 kilometres south-east of Keetmanshoop.

Frederick said other roads that need to be upgraded are the Tses-Berseba road, the Noordower-Chibela road and the Rosh Pinah-Aussenkehr road

“As for the Rosh Pinah-Aussenkehr road, a feasibility study was done and the road is viable and it should be part and parcel of the master plan to upgrade it. Once upgraded, it will make it easy for trucks transporting commodities from Ariamsvlei to take that road,” she said.

On his part the committee chairperson, Alfeus Kaushiweni, said as much as Namibia is ranked number one when it comes to national road connectivity, the same cannot be said when it comes to the rural areas.

“We still have a challenge in the rural areas as our people there cannot get to the necessary services such as schools and clinics during the rainy season. We now have to see where the lack of connectivity is so that we compile a good report for the House for adoption and make sure it is gazetted and sent to the executive for implementation,” he said.

The committee will also conduct meetings with various stakeholders at Aussenkehr, Rosh Pinah and Lüderitz, as well as officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport to discuss challenges they face when it comes to the construction and maintenance of roads.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency