National

In order to realize the change desire of the present administration, the Federal Government said that concerted efforts are on to reposition the Federal Civil Service for effective service delivery to Nigerians. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita disclosed this today in her office in Abuja when she received members of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) led by its President and Chairman Mr. Anthony Chukwuemeka Nzom.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta in Lagos, presided over a consultative forum on the Draft Regulatory Framework for the Provision of Value Added Services in Nigeria, with a promise to do more in order to protect, and empower consumers of telecommunications services in the country.

Federal Government of Nigeria has said it would not provide resources to any government official to travel abroad for medical attention unless the case cannot be handle in Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari made this known at the opening ceremony of the 56th Annual General Conference and delegates meeting of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) “tagged Sokoto 2016 held in the ancient city of Sokoto.

The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Nwabueze Ngige has disclosed that the Present Administration has set the stage for the establishment of Productivity Units in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAS) in the Country, as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari GCON in his address at the occasion marking the observance of National Productivity Day on 20th August, 2015.

ALTHOUGH NIGERIA is the 12th largest iron ore resource country in the world and the second largest in Africa, about 70% of the deposits are yet to be proven, a pursuit the federal government declares it is now engaging in, according to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

In a bid to introduce enterprise culture and commercial orientation in the Federal Civil Service, the Federal Government is considering the establishment of a commercial unit, Division or Department in addition to the Public Private Partnership(PPP) Unit as one of the Common Services in Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) of the Federal Government. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita disclosed this today in her office in Abuja when she received the report of an 8-man Technical Committee on enterprise culture and commercial orientation in the Federal Civil Service.

As part of government's effort at addressing the issue of unemployment, the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Student Affairs (SAPYSA) has developed a partnership with a leading global ICT solution provider, Huawei Technologies to initiate a social development programme that would empower 1000 youths in Information and Communication Technology. The initiative which would be overseen by the Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Student Affairs, Nasir Adhama would commence at a date to be announced soon.

A total of 1, 934, 765 displaced persons are currently living in formal camps, host communities and satellite camps in liberated communities as a result of insurgency in North Eastern States of Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi and Adamawa states. This was disclosed by Yola Camp Coordinator , Saad Bello, who, on behalf of the Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi, took the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Samanthan Power, round the facilities at Malkohi IDP Camp in Yola, Adamawa State at the weekend.

The attention of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works & Housing has been drawn to reports that the leadership of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), has issued instructions to its Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), members to stay away from their duty posts. The reports have understandably led to fears of a nation-wide blackout, as has also been reported. The Ministry, after consulting the management of TCN, wishes to state in clear terms that it is not aware of any declaration of industrial dispute by NUEE, nor any lawful notice of strike action against TCN. Therefore no staff of TCN has any legitimate cause to absent him or herself from duty.

The Nigerian government will no longer enter into any Bilateral Air Services Agreement with any country unless it is mutually beneficial to both parties. This is against the backdrop of such agreements in the past from which Nigeria has not reaped the desired benefits. Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika made this known when he received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia to Nigeria,Samia Zekaria Gutu in his office.

Education Minister, Malam Adamu Adamu stated this today in his office in Abuja, when he received in audience, the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr. Saleh AS’AD Saleh Fhied who paid a courtesy call on the Minister. When signed according to the Minister, the Memorandum of Understanding will help strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

· Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun gave an update to the Council on the progress regarding the constitution of the NSIA Board. · The Minister told the Council that nominees have been selected to form a Search Committee that will bring up names of potential Board members of the NSIA.

The managements of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Arik Air Group have been given two weeks within which to resolve all issues relating to indebtedness between the respective organizations.

The Accountant-General of the Federation, AGF, Ahmed Idris, has given assurance that the Federal Government is working out modalities to ensure that payment of...

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, (OAGF) has given assurance that the Federal Government is working out modalities to ensure that payment of Federal Government workers are paid early, in line with the directives of Mr. President. The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris gave the assurance during an interactive session with a team of journalists led by Director News Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Alhaji Sani Sulieman. According to the AGF, ”there is a standing instruction from Mr. President for workers to be paid on or before 24 or 25 of every month,” but said compliance has been hampered by the limited resources available to Government which can only be determined after the monthly FAAC meeting.

The attention of The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has been drawn to publications in the media insinuating looming nationwide blackout due to the ongoing labour lockdown of the TCN headquarters in Abuja. The Transmission Company of Nigeria wishes to clearly state that there would be no blackout in the nation as TCN staff in its regional offices nationwide, who are responsible for the actual wheeling of bulk electricity, are at their duty posts, ensuring that electricity generated by power generating stations is seamlessly transmitted to distribution load centres nationwide.

Hon. Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has said that the ministry is ready to partner with relevant stakeholders to deliver the housing needs of the country, noting the huge potential and economic value chain available in the sector.

The detention of the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) since December 2015 which has prevented him from accessing his lawyers for defence in criminal charges filed against him by the government scuttled the trial before an Abuja High Court today. The trial scheduled to hold today before Justice Peter Affen could not hold as Dasuki maintained that he has not been able to brief his legal team because of his continued detention since last year after being granted bails by three different courts.

In a determined effort to chart the way forward on effective crisis communication in the Nigeria, the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) with the support of Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) will host a 3-day Seminar on Media Engagement in Crisis Situation for public relations and information officers of the military, security and response agencies in the country.

The Federal Government has announced a new date for the commencement of the verification exercise of the Directorate Level Officers in the Federal Public Service which was earlier suspended in view of the scope of the exercise and the thoroughness it required.