Month: October 2023

President Bola Tinubu on Sunday served as the Special Guest of Honour at the change of Guards of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The event was part of the 63rd Independence Anniversary with the theme “Nigeria @63, Renewed Hope for Unity and Prosperity”.

Tinubu led other members of the administration to review the various activities of the event.

The activities included Submission of Parade, Independence Anniversary Parade, and Guards Brigade Silent Drill.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by Vice President, Kashim Shettima, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

Other personalities at the event included the Chief Justice of the Federation, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ministers, Head of the Civil Service and Permanent Secretaries as well as members of the Diplomatic Corps.

NAN also reports that other activities at the event included signing of anniversary register, cutting of anniversary cake as well as releasing of anniversary pigeons.

The president had earlier addressed the nation and spelt out the various reforms put in place by the new administration to turn around the economic and social fortunes of Nigerians.

Tinubu had stressed on the workers welfare, deployment of CNG cars to ease the cost of transportation as well as fiscal policies to attract businesses and employment for the teeming youths.

He said: “Nigeria is remarkable in its formation and essential character. We are a broad and dynamic blend of ethnic groups, religions, traditions and cultures.

“Yet, our bonds are intangible yet strong, invisible yet universal. We are joined by a common thirst for peace and progress, by the common dream of prosperity and harmony and by the unifying ideals of tolerance and justice.

“Forging a nation based on the fair application of these noble principles to a diverse population has been a task of significant blessing but also a serial challenge.

“ Some people have said an independent Nigeria should never have come into existence. Some have said that our country would be torn apart. They are forever mistaken. Here, our nation stands and here we shall remain.”

The president called on all Nigerians to rally round the administration to achieve the various initiatives for a better Nigeria.

Tinubu said: “I am attuned to the hardships that have come. I have a heart that feels and eyes that see. I wish to explain to you why we must endure this trying moment.

“ Reform may be painful, but it is what greatness and the future require. We now carry the costs of reaching a future Nigeria where the abundance and fruits of the nation are fairly shared among all, not hoarded by a select and greedy few.

“ There is no joy in seeing the people of this nation shoulder burdens that should have been shed years ago. I wish today’s difficulties did not exist. But we must endure if we are to reach the good side of our future.

“Fellow compatriots, the journey ahead will not be navigated by fear or hatred. We can only achieve our better Nigeria through courage, compassion and commitment as one indivisible unit.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu has approved N35,000 as provisional wage award for all treasury-paid federal government workers for a period of six months.

Malam Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, announced this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

He said that this followed consultations between the federal government and the leadership of the labour unions at the Presidential Villa.

At the meeting, the Federal Government also pledged its commitment to fast-track the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to ease public transportation occasioned by subsidy removal on PMS.

The Federal Government also committed to the provision of funds for micro and small-scale enterprises as well as waivers on VAT on diesel for the next six months.

It also announced the payment of N75,000 to 15 million households at N25,000 per month, for a three-month period from October to December.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlights of the decision reached at the meeting include:

The Federal Government urged the Labour unions not to embark on strike action as the issues in dispute can only be resolved when workers are at work.

Labour Unions made case for higher wage award.

A sub-committee will be constituted to work out the details of implementation of all items regarding government interventions to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

The lingering matter of Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State will be addressed urgently.

NLC and TUC will consider the offers by the Federal Government with a view to suspending the planned strike to allow for further consultations on the implementation of the agreed resolutions.

Gov. Abdulrazak Abdulrahman of Kwara and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, participated virtually in the meeting, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Also in attendance were the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, the Minister of State, Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu.

Others are the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu.

The labour delegation was led by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, Dr Tommy Okon, Deputy President, TUC, NLC General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, and the TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Ilebaye Odiniya has emerged winner of the Big Brother Naija “All Star” reality show.

She defeated other housemates to clinch the N120 million cash prize at slake during the finale of the show on Sunday in Lagos.

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, the host of the show, made the announcement.

The 22-year-old graduate of Criminology and Security Studies from Kogi was the third housemate to be evicted from Season 7 of the reality TV show in 2022.

Her victory makes her the third female to clinch the BBNaija top prize.

Ilebaye will also be walking away with some other consolation prizes.

Mercy Eke, who was the first runner-up, won the season four of Big Brother Naija in 2019, becoming the first woman to win the reality show.

Mercy bagged N60 million during the ‘Pepper Dem’ edition.

31-year-old lawyer from the ‘Double Wahala’ edition, Cynthia Nwadiora, popularly known as CeeC, emerged the second runner-up.

Adekunle Olopade, a 27-year-old digital consultant and entrepreneur from Lagos State, emerged the third runner-up with Pere Egbi as the fourth runner-up and Cross Okonkwo, the fifth runner-up.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the show began July 23 with 20 housemates, with four houseguests joining later in the course of the show.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Protecting the dignity and human rights of older persons, and addressing the challenges they face in society will ultimately benefit all of humanity, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said.

The global community is observing the UN International Day of Older Persons today under the theme "Fulfilling the Promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons: Across Generations."

Observed annually on 1 October, the Day aims to raise awareness of the challenges and issues faced by older persons worldwide.

The day also seeks to promote the importance of respecting and caring for older persons and to highlight their significant contribution to society.

In a message commemorating Sunday’s International Day of Older Persons, UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the pervasive issue of ageism in society and the vulnerability of older persons in the face of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, poverty and climate emergencies.

“Addressing these and other issues is a human rights imperative that will benefit everyone,” he said.

Studies show that number of people aged 65 years or older worldwide is projected to more than double – rising from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion in 2050 – with the number of people aged 80 years or older growing even faster.

This further underscores the urgency of strengthening the protection of the human rights of current and future generations of older persons around the world.

Guterres highlighted that older persons can make significant contributions in terms of their knowledge and experience, and have the potential to contribute to peace, sustainable development and the protection of the environment.

“We must ensure their active engagement, full participation, and essential contributions – including through social and workplace policies built around their specific needs,” he said.

He also emphasized the need for intergenerational dialogue and unity as vital components of building more inclusive and age-friendly societies and a resilient world for everyone.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed laid a foundation stone for the development of Denbi Lake Lodge as part of the “Dine For Generations” initiative.

Recalled Prime Minister Abiy announced last March this year that 8 tourism sites would be launched under the "Dine for Generation" initiative in various parts of the country.

As part of the initiative, the premier laid a foundation stone for development of Denbi Lake Lodge, during his visit to Bench Sheko Zone, South West Region.

The project is expected to be completed in 1.5 years time by Midroc Ethiopia, according to office of the prime minister.

The site location maximizes on the rich natural endowments of the area, it added.

The 8 tourism site projects planned to be implemented under “Dine for Generations” initiative would bring multifaceted social, economic, and political benefits to the country by helping the tourism sector to flourish, according to Ministry of Tourism.

Jobs, foreign currency, and good image are among the advantages the country would get from the development of the projects, it was indicated.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Speaker of the House of Peoples' Representatives, Tagese Chafo underscored that the development activities being carried out on natural resources by linking them with human power would lay foundation to realizing Ethiopia's prosperity.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other senior government officials had conducted a two-day visit on the development works being carried out in Jimma, Oromia region and its surrounding areas.

In his trip, the prime minister mainly visited development activities on “Yelemat Tirufat,” a national development campaign which was launched by the premier himself that focuses on nutritional opulence.

Yelemat Tirufat is a development initiative being carried out across Ethiopia with the objective to ensure food self-sufficiency at the family and national levels.

Abiy and those senior government officials also reviewed the agricultural activities under progress in the areas and tourism development projects in Jimma City through the "Dine for Generation" initiative.

Recall Prime Minister Abiy had disclosed last March the plan to develop eight tourism sites in different parts of the country under Dine for Generation initiative which are believed to greatly stimulate Ethiopia's tourism activity, enabling citizens to benefit more from the sector.

Speaker of the House of Peoples' Representatives,Tagese Chafo who was also part of the visit said that he has witnessed the implementation of many development projects that have benefited the people of Jimma Zone.

The speaker pointed out that encouraging work is being done in the cultivation of coffee, rice, vegetables and fruits as well as activities being underway in tourism development in the area.

The development activities being carried out by the federal government in coordination with the Oromia region are on an effective path, he affirmed.

Such ongoing development works are therefore instrumental at the national level that would lay the foundation to realizing the prosperity of Ethiopia, the Speaker noted.

He was very much impressed by the encouraging achievements being registered in the cultivation of wheat and rice.

“The wheat and rice farms demonstrate the fact that it is possible to achieve the target of three or four times as much cultivation in cluster farming in a very short period of time here in Jimma zone. Similarly, extensive works have been done in fruits and vegetables. This entails that if we work hard, we can ensure the prosperity of our country in a short period of time.”

The speaker also explained that development works that benefit the people play vital role in building sustainable peace.

Noting that Ethiopians have been able to maintain their unity by overcoming together several challenges they had encountered, Tagese stressed the need to strengthening this solidarity by connecting it with development activities.

In this regard, he pointed out that the works that have been undertaken on Yelemat Tirufat and tourism development are encouraging.

Former Speaker of the House of Peoples' Representatives, Abadula Gemeda said on his part that many development works have been carried out in Jimma city and its surroundings specially to enhance the productivity of rice and coffee.

Abadula further mentioned that the tourism development activities being carried out in Jimma city through the Dine for Generation initiative have the potential to make the city a tourist destination.

He also pointed out that the agricultural development activities being underway through Yelemat Tirufat program are playing an important role in facilitating the growth of Ethiopia's economy.

In this case, Abadula urged the leadership of the country to work more in maintaining and replicating the success stories recorded in other parts of Ethiopia.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

A new global framework to reduce environmental risks from chemicals and waste was adopted at a UN conference on Saturday, with countries committing to phase out the most harmful ones.

Agreed at the fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5), in Bonn, Germany, the Global Framework on Chemicals sets concrete targets and guidelines across the lifecycle of chemicals.

Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), said “Everyone on this planet should be able to live and work without fear of falling sick or dying from chemical exposure. Nature, free from pollution, should be able to thrive and support humanity for millennia to come.”

The framework provides a vision for a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste, for a safe, healthy and sustainable, the Directors stated.

The framework is based around 28 targets, designed to improve responsible management of chemicals and waste.

These targets also aim to establish stronger connections with other important global agendas, including climate change, biodiversity, human rights and health.

Governments have committed to setting up policies and regulations aimed at reducing chemical pollution by 2030 as well as promoting safer alternatives.

Industries also pledged to managing chemicals in a manner that reduces pollution and its adverse impacts, according to UN News.

In addition to the Global Framework, the Conference also adopted the Bonn Declaration.

The Declaration aims to “prevent exposure to harmful chemicals, and phase out the most harmful ones, where appropriate, and enhance the safe management of such chemicals where they are needed.”

It also encourages countries to support the transition to circular economies, fostering the development of safe alternatives and substitutes for chemicals.

This approach aims to not only safeguard health and the environment but also reduce waste and enhance recycling efforts.

The Executive Director of UNEP urged all parties to start acting immediately.

“The World Health Organization (WHO) tells us that direct chemical pollution of the air, land, water and workplace is causing two million deaths per year,” she said.

“I call on governments, the chemicals industry and everyone involved to go above and beyond what has been agreed to protect people and the planet upon which we all depend.”

Source: Ethiopian News Agency