The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), received a briefing from the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Boss Mustapha .
The task force members met with Buhari at the State House, Abuja , ahead of this week’ s review of the current easing of the lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory , Abuja as well as Lagos and Ogun States .
Buhari had on May 4 , relaxed the lockdown , and imposed a dusk – to -dawn curfew , ban on inter – state movements, compulsory use of face masks, amongst others across the country.
Also , civil servants on Grade Level 14 and above were asked to resume work three times a week.
President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, received the Madagascan native formulation against the Covid-19 pandemic, and reiterated that he will listen to science before allowing traditional or any new medicines to be administered on Nigerians.
At an audience meeting with President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea Bissau who brought along with him the samples of the traditional medicine as shared to African nations by Madagascar, President Buhari said his position on all such herbal or traditional medicinal postulates had remained the same.
“We have our institutions, systems and processes in the country. Any such formulations should be sent to them for verification. I will not put it to use without the endorsement of our institutions,” said the Nigerian President.
On the main reason for his visit, President Embalo said having stabilized his country after the tussles that attended the general elections won by him, he had come to seek counsel from his “father,” President Buhari on his plan for a “government of national unity” and a proposed war against corruption in his country.
He also said that his new government met a country beset with a number of issues and problems, the resolution of which would require tremendous assistance from the “big brother,” Nigeria.
“Problems of Guinea Bissau are problems of Nigeria. I have come to you as your son. I need your help and assistance to make the people happy. I will not let you down, neither will I put you in any difficult situation,” the visiting leader told President Buhari.
In response to these demands, the Nigerian leader commended “General“ Embalo on his confirmation as President and for stabilizing the country. “I commend your political dexterity in getting the opposition to join the proposed unity government,” he said.
President Buhari restated the determination of Nigeria to keep West Africa politically stable and promised to support the new government in Guinea Bissau. “I will cooperate and help in every way possible,” assured the Nigerian President.
President Buhari also used the opportunity of the visit to praise the good work that the President of Niger Republic, Mahamadou Issoufou, who is the current Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is doing in the sub-region, and commended him for keeping him informed of all that is happening around.
Garba Shehu Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity)
The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), has met with his Guinea Bissau counterpart , Umaro Sissoco Embaló .
Buhari received his guest at the State House in Abuja , according to his Personal Assistant on New Media , Bashir Ahmad .
The purpose of the visit was , however , not disclosed .
The PUNCH reports that the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 , Boss Mustapha , had said his principal ordered the airlifting of a consignment of Madagascar ’ s COVID Organics from Guinea Bissau .
“ Madagascar has made allocations to various countries and sent them to Guinea Bissau . We ‘ re supposed to make arrangements to freight Nigeria ’ s allocation from Guinea Bissau ; it‘ ll be subjected to the standard validation process for pharmaceuticals.
“ Mr President has given instructions for the airlifting of Nigeria ’ s allocation of the Madagascar COVID- 19 Syrup ; also given clear instructions that it must be subjected to the standard validation process for pharmaceuticals; there will be no exceptions for this , ” Mustapha , who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation , had said .
Some African countries have taken delivery of consignments of the Malagasy potion touted to cure coronavirus .
Madagascar said the drink is derived from artemisia annun, a plant with proven anti – malarial properties , and other indigenous herbs .
For the third time , Ogun State Governor , Dapo Abiodun , announced the extension of COVID- 19 lockdown in the state for another one week till Sunday , May 2 .
Abiodun said this while addressing newsmen at the Governor’ s Office , Oke Mosan , Abeokuta .
The governor cited non – compliance with the safety regulations and the community spread of the virus as reasons for extending the sit – at – home order.
He stated that the state officials would continue to monitor the level of compliance with the lockdown measures and the incidence of community transmission to determine easing of the lockdown .
He said “ Consequently , in view of the evidence of community transmission and poor compliance with the lockdown measures , we are constrained to extend the lockdown by another week till Sunday 24 th of May .
“ The current pattern of lockdown with relaxation windows from 7 . 00 am to 5 . 00 pm on Monday , Wednesday and Friday continues .
“ We will continue to monitor the level of compliance with the lockdown measures and incidence of community transmission and hopefully, there will be positive developments that will enable us further ease the lockdown at the end of this new lockdown period . ”
Brazilian Health Minister Nelson Teich resigned over what a ministry official said was “ incompatibility” with President Jair Bolsonaro ’ s approach to fighting the country’ s spiralling coronavirus crisis .
Teich, a 62 – year- old oncologist , served in the far – right president ’ s cabinet for less than a month .
His predecessor , Luiz Henrique Mandetta , resigned on April 16 , also after clashing with Bolsonaro , a vocal critic of the stay – at – home measures Mandetta recommended to contain the virus .
Teich and Bolsonaro reportedly disagreed over use of chloroquine to treat the new coronavirus . Bolsonaro touts the drug as a promising treatment , despite studies casting doubt on its effectiveness and raising concerns about its safety .
The ministry announced Teich’ s resignation in a brief statement , saying a press conference would be held later .
The news drew anti – Bolsonaro protests. In Rio de Janeiro , residents banged pots and pans out their windows, shouting “ Get out , Bolsonaro !”
Brazil has emerged as one of the countries hit hardest in the pandemic , with a sharply rising death toll that has reached nearly 14 , 000 .
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad , has ordered the Chief Judges of the judiciaries of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to take urgent steps towards ensuring speedy trial in criminal cases and prison decongestion .
He urged them to , for instance , “ consider conditional or unconditional release of Awaiting Trial Persons who have spent 6 years or more in custody. ”
The CJN , in his capacity as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council , gave this directive in a memo with reference number, NJC/ CIR /HOC /II / 662 , and dated May 15 , 2020 .
The memo addressed to the Chief Judges of the various states and the FCT was posted on the NJC ’ s website .
He said his directive was in line with the call by the United Nations on countries of the world “ to consciously reduce the population of prison inmates since physical distancing and self – isolation in such conditions are practically impossible ” during the ravaging COVID- 19 pandemic .
The CJN expressed worry over the overwhelming proportion of awaiting trial inmates in the various prisons across the country.
He noted that of the 74 , 127 persons held in the prisons , 52 , 226 of them were awaiting trial .
He stated, “ From available records , the inmates population at various custodial centres across the country presently stands at about 74 , 127 out of which 52 , 226 are Awaiting Trial Persons .
“ Most of these custodial centres are presently housing inmates beyond their capacities and the overcrowded facilities pose a potent threat to the health of the inmates and the public in general in view of the present circumstances, hence the need for urgent steps to bring the situation under control . ”
He , therefore , asked the Chief Judges “ to embark on immediate visit to all custodial / correctional centres within your respective states to identify and release deserving inmates, where that has not been done already . ”
He urged them to consider releasing inmates who had spent six years or more awaiting trial in prison.
He also urged the Chief Judges to consider discharging awaiting trial persons who had no confirmed criminal cases against them, the aged , and terminally ill.
The House of Representatives has faulted the Nigerian Governors ’ Forum for asking the federal parliament to step down the controversial Quarantine Act ( Repeal and Enactment ) Bill 2020 .
The NGF had earlier on Wednesday asked the House to withdraw the bill and engage stakeholders on formulation of a popular one .
Reacting to the call , Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs , Mr Benjamin Kalu , in a statement , stated that the federal parliament does not legislative for states .
The statement partly read , “ It has come to the attention of the House that the NGF has , through a communiqué at the end of its virtual meeting held on Wednesday , May 13 , 2020 , asked the House to step down the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill , 2020 , which public hearing is already scheduled.
“ In the communiqué , the NGF noted that , ‘ Following an update from the Governor of Sokoto State and Vice Chairman of the NGF, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal , on the proposed Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, 2020 , introduced by the House, governors raised concern with the lack of consultation with State governments who are at the forefront of the epidemic . ’
“ The NGF said it ‘ resolved that the bill should be stepped down until an appropriate consultative process is held , including a public hearing to gather public opinion and concerns. ”
Kalu stated that contrary to the impression given in the NGF’ s communiqué , the House had since subject the bill to a public hearing, where Nigerians from all walks of life would have the opportunity to make their inputs towards the draft legislation .
“ The NGF’ s position is coming rather belatedly , ” he stated .
The statement further read , “ However , the House wishes to state clearly that whilst it legislates for the Federal Republic of Nigeria , including being the parliament for the Federal Capital Territory Abuja only , the NGF is recognised by members of the House as leading lights in the task of nation building .
“ It is rather surprising that the NGF , in arriving at its decision, relied on ‘ an update from the Governor of Sokoto State ’ who , apart from being a lawyer , is a former Speaker and an ex – ranking member of the House, who should know better and guide the forum accordingly. We assume that his position was informed by his well -known personal and partisan opposition to the emergence of the current leadership of the House, considering his obvious stance in 2015 and 2019 .
“ Unlike in a constitution amendment matter where state Houses of Assembly have a defined constitutional role to play in effecting any review to it, bills such as the Control of Infectious Diseases are not by our constitution , subject of concurrence of state Houses of Assembly or state governors . We do believe that our respected governors are aware of this lawful processes of legislation and should not be misguided by a biased position of a former speaker . ”
Kalu added , “ Let it be known that the House, and indeed the National Assembly , are independent of the control of any state governor or former speaker , except if we want to change that now . Even at that , it has to be by a constitutional amendment sponsored by the citizens and not by the personal view of one governor and former speaker .
Namibia ’ s president has slapped a five- year ban on buying new cars for top politicians and government officials in order to channel funds into fighting coronavirus , his office said .
President Hage Geingob “ has directed that the vehicle fleet of the Namibian government will not be renewed for the period 2020 – 2025 , ” presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari announced in a statement .
“ No new vehicles will be purchased for members of the executive and public office bearers in the Namibian government . ”
He said the decision would save some 200 million Namibian dollars (US$ 10 . 7 million ) , which will be directed “ to urgent priorities , specifically at a time when the country is dealing with the health and economic implications of COVID- 19 ” .
The southern African country of 2 . 5 million people has so far recorded 16 cases of COVID- 19 , with no deaths .
Namibian ministers and their deputies each qualify for Mercedes – Benz vehicles upon their appointment .
The president also directed a limit on monthly fuel consumption for top politicians , the government said .
In 2002 , then – president Sam Nujoma had banned the use of Mercedes -Benzes , insisting that ministers should ride in Toyota Camry cars.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has said the Office of the Accountant – General of the Federation used the controversial Integrated Payment and Personnel Information System platform to pay the salaries of university lecturers , without capturing their biometrics and other information .
ASUU argued that such step by the Federal Government confirmed its suspicion that the IPPIS was fraudulent and unfit for the university system , while urging the authorities to consider its alternative – the University Transparency and Accountability Solution .
The ASUU President , Prof Biodun Ogunyemi , stated this in an interview with news correspondent in Abuja , adding that if lecturers who did not register on IPPIS were paid through the system , it meant that anyone could be imported onto the platform .
The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , had on April 21 ordered the payment of the February and March 2020 withheld salaries of lecturers in federal universities .
The salaries had been withheld because the lecturers had failed to register on the IPPIS – an ongoing matter of contention between ASUU and the government .
But a statement by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige , had said the payment was immediate and without condition .
The ASUU President , Ogunyemi , said on Thursday that the union had clear evidence that the controversial IPPIS platform was used in paying the lecturers ’ salaries without any biometrics or data capture .
He said , “ The first comment is that we wondered how they could have used the IPPIS platform when our members didn ’ t submit BVN or sign into IPPIS? The impression we were given before is that before the government could use IPPIS, people must submit themselves for data capture , biometrics capture and so forth . But that did not happen in this instance .
“ So if the government could go ahead and use the IPPIS to pay salaries , it means our suspicion is being confirmed which means they can manipulate that platform as they want . This is because if people who did not register on IPPIS are being paid through IPPIS, it means that anybody can be imported into that system and that has been our suspicion all along . We have said that the IPPIS is not waterproof as claimed.
“ Secondly, by using IPPIS to pay our members ( because in the alert , it was clearly stated there; the IPPIS was mentioned in the alert ) we have also seen the inadequacies of that platform .
“ When the government called us for a meeting in July 2019 , it said all the fears had been addressed . How come , this time round, by using the IPPIS, you distorted people’ s salaries ?
“ Our members are saying the government amputated their salaries . They removed from some people’ s salaries . The pay slips are nowhere and the cooperative deductions, union dues and all the third party deductions are nowhere to be found . You now start to wonder whether this is the system we need . As we have been saying, the alternative we have been working on is in progress and we will soon unveil it to Nigerians . ”
The Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, reminded states and security operatives that farmers are essential workers and should be allowed to access their farms in order to guarantee food security.
Speaking during the PTF COVID-19 briefing, Mustapha said; “You will recall that when the new measures were rolled out and published, we ensured that certain economic activities pertaining to food production and distribution were exempted.
“This, for the avoidance of doubts includes farming activities. We recognize the fact that we are in the planting season and the nation cannot afford to prevent our hardworking farmers from going to their farms.
“We, therefore, use this medium to reemphasize that farmers fall within the list of essential workers and urge State Governors, Local Government Authorities and security agencies to please allow them to carry out their activities. Our food security is critical to our national security.
“The PTF welcomes the resolution of the Nigeria Governors Forum to take steps to ramp up testing and provide the prescribed minimum number of bed spaces in their isolation/treatment centres.
“We in turn assure the States that the NCDC will continue to provide technical support and standardization guidelines. It will also continue to firmly pursue its surveillance activities nationwide.
“We urge the States to recognize the essence of a strong partnership and always allow overarching public interest to prevail”.
On the level of compliance with public safety protocols, Mustapha said a lot still needs to be done.
”I must, however, state that our initial evaluation point firmly in the direction of a high level of non-compliance which, as we have often warned, portend grave self-inflicted danger.
“This fact has made it imperative for me to re-echo our call for taking personal responsibility.”
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