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Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed , says the President , Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , has approved the engagement of 774 , 000 Nigerians on Special Public Works programme in the country to cushion the effect of COVID- 19 pandemic.

Ahmed disclosed this at a press conference on fiscal stimulus measures in response to COVID- 19 pandemic and oil prices fiscal shock , in Abuja .

She explained that 1 , 000 people were expected to be recruited from each of the 774 local government areas in the country.

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According to her , N 60 billion for allowances and operational cost has been earmarked from the COVID- 19 crisis intervention fund for the initiative .

She disclosed that President Buhari had previously approved a pilot special public works programme in eight states to be implemented by the National Directorate of Employment.

She added that Buhari had now approved that this programme be extended to all 36 States and the FCT from October to December 2020 and the selected timeframe was to ensure that it was implemented after the planting season .

Ahmed said , “ With regards to the Special Public Works Program , Mr . President had previously approved a Pilot Special Public Works Programme in eight States to be implemented by the National Directorate of Employment from February 2020 to April 2020 .

“ Mr . President has now approved that this Programme be extended to all 36 States and the FCT from October 2020 to December 2020 . The selected timeframe is to ensure that the Programme is implemented after the planting season is over, and it will result in the employment of about 774 , 000 Nigerians (that is , 1 , 000 people per Local Government).

“ The Federal Ministry of Finance , Budget and National Planning is also evaluating how best to extend the Special Public Works Programme, to provide modest stipends for itinerant workers to undertake Roads Rehabilitation and Social Housing Construction .

“ And also Urban and Rural Sanitation, Health Extension and other critical services. This intervention will be undertaken in conjunction with the key federal ministries responsible for Agriculture , Environment , Health and Infrastructure, as well as the states , to financially empower individuals who lose their jobs due to the economic crisis .

“ Mr . President has approved the establishment of N500 billion COVID- 19 Crisis Intervention Fund . The establishment of the Fund will involve drawing much – needed cash resources from various Special Funds and Accounts , in consultation with and with the approval of the National Assembly .

“ The N500 billion is proposed to be utilised to upgrade healthcare facilities as earlier identified by the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 and approved by Mr . President .

“ This will help to finance the Federal Government’ s Interventions to support states in improving healthcare facilities , finance the creation of a Special Public Works programme and Fund any additional interventions that may be approved by Mr . President . ”

The minister noted that although similar challenges were experienced in 2008 / 2009 as well as in 2015 / 2016 , Nigeria had considerably lower fiscal buffers now than in previous economic downturns .

According to her , the decline in international oil prices and domestic production may be magnified if a severe outbreak of COVID- 19 occurs , despite ongoing efforts to curtail the spread of the pandemic through compulsory lockdown of Lagos and Ogun States , as well as the FCT.

The minister said to directly address these health and economic challenges , the president approved the Fiscal Stimulus Package among others as part of an Integrated Policy Framework to ensure that Nigeria ’ s healthcare system , fiscal position and economy were sufficiently supported to weather these shocks.

NAN

The Speaker of the House of Representatives , Femi Gbajabiamila , has said that based on the concerns raised by Nigerians , the Chinese doctors and nurses being expected in Nigeria to assist with the coronavirus pandemic would first be quarantined for 14 days .

Gbajabiamila said this decision was reached based on his meeting with the two ministers of health  , adding that the doctors and nurses would at no time have “ any physical contact with any patient . ”

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On his Facebook page , the Speaker said , “I just met with the two Ministers in charge of Health over concerns expressed by indigenous medical practitioners and many Nigerians on the engagement of Chinese doctors and nurses for the management of COVID- 19 in Nigeria .

“ We extracted the following commitments from them; One , the Doctors and Nurses will follow the protocol and be quarantined for 14 days once they arrive in Nigeria . Two , the doctors and nurses will at no time have any physical contact with any patient .

“ Three , there will be strict compliance with all relevant immigration laws regarding work permits. We remain vigilant and our engagement continues . ”

The Federal Government has slammed critics of an offer by a foreign company, Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company CCECC to import an 18-member Chinese team of medical experts including doctors, nurses and public health advisers to share experiences with their local counterparts on the management of the Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic.

Several stakeholders had berated the government for its decision to allow the Chinese team into the country, expressing fears that their coming could worsen the spread of the pandemic in Nigeria.

However, Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha said every country needs all the help it can get at this point, adding that even the “almighty United States of America USA” is seeking external help.

According to him, the Chinese will only offer their experiences and expertise as they are not accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to ply their trade in the country.

He, however, said no country on earth has greater experience than China when it comes to managing the Covid-19.

He said; “One major support that has attracted public commentaries is the offer by CCECC, a Chinese company to import about 256 equipment and items in different quantities, notable amongst which are, 1,300,000 medical masks, over 150,000 pieces of assorted personal protective equipment as well as 50 medical ventilators. The company has also proposed, on its own, to sponsor public health experts to help strengthen our public health capacity and advise on processes and procedures.

“However, I wish to clarify that all Countries of the world are seeking assistance and are receiving help in the fight against COVID-19. Even the ‘almighty’ United States is looking for heal elsewhere. The support coming from China is a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative by CCECC, a company with a total value of infrastructure contracts worth over $10 billion in Nigeria. The professionals that have been invited from China are public health specialists and medical engineers that will support Nigeria’s capacity in managing the Pandemic on the advisory basis when necessary while drawing from the experience of the Chinese. In no way shall there be case management and interface with patients. They will train our manpower, advise on procedures and methods, install and test the equipment donated before handing them over.

“I, therefore, use this medium to appeal to our medical professionals to see the positive aspects of this gesture as an extension of development in the field of medicine. The PTF recognizes and respects the competence and capability of Nigerian Doctors and other medical personnel. This is a state of war against the coronavirus and time should not be devoted to unhelpful controversies” Mustapha added.

On the lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states, the SGF said reports from the Taskforce’s assessment still show substantial compliance in these places. According to him, the federal government is already meeting the objectives of the lockdown saying 35 per cent of infections is by returnees and 25 per cent by close contacts while the sources of 40 per cent of infections are currently unknown.

As a result of the 40 per cent infection whose sources are unknown, the PTF said soon, a new public advisory would be issued in that regard.

“We shall prepare a full assessment by the end of the week in order to advise Mr President on the next step to take before the expiration of the 14days lockdown”, he stated.

He also asked stakeholders not to contest test results issued by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control NCDC.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors ’ Forum , Dr Kayode Fayemi , has said the forum is discussing with World Bank to mobilise support for states in order to mitigate the economic and social costs of the coronavirus pandemic .

This was contained in a statement by the forum ’ s Head, Media and Public Affairs , Abdulrazaque Bello- Barkindo .

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He said the forum appreciates the Federal Government’ s reduction in the pump price of petrol amid the COVID- 19 crisis .

Fayemi , who is also the Ekiti State Governor , said , “ The NGF Chairman briefed state governors on ongoing coordination with the World Bank to mobilise support for states to mitigate the economic and social cost of the COVID- 19 pandemic .

“ Ongoing plans include accelerated disbursement of existing and new financing for States under the State Fiscal , Transparency , Accountability and Sustainability Programme – for -Results , and mitigation and recovery support for expenditures to protect livelihoods , support local economic activity and recovery over the next 18 months to 2 years .

“ The forum also expressed full support for the federal government ’ s timely implementation of the petrol price modulation mechanism to eliminate petrol subsidy permanently in the country . ”

The President , Major – General Muhamadu Buhari (retd . ) , has given approval for the withdrawal of $ 150 m from the Sovereign Wealth Fund for distribution to the three tiers of government .

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed , disclosed this , in Abuja during a media briefing on the fiscal policy measures to tackle the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the economy .

She said the amount would be withdrawn from the stabilisation fund component of the Sovereign Wealth Fund .

The fund is currently being managed by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority , according to reports .

Zainab said the need to withdraw the amount was to cushion the negative impact of the drop in revenue on the federation account .

The Lagos State Police Command has taken Nollywood actress , Funke Akindele, and her husband , Abdulrasheed Bello popularly called JJC Skillz , to court for flouting the lockdown order in Lagos State .

The Police Public Relations Officer , Bala Elkana , confirmed to newsmen
that the actress , popularly called ‘ Jenifa’ , had been taken to a Chief Magistrates ’ Court in Ogba , Lagos .

The police spokesman told newsmen , “ The husband arrived at the SCID around 2 am and they will be arraigned together . ”

They will be arraigned for breaching the Lagos Infection Diseases Regulations 2020 (the Regulations ) which prescribes a jail term of one month or N100 , 000 fine or both for persons found guilty of hosting gatherings or flouting the lockdown order.

It reads in part, “ Where there is a violation of a close down or stay at home order, security Agencies shall have the power to arrest without warrant and may detain any person who violates the close down or stay at home order for at least 48 hours.

“ Where the arrested person is found guilty , the person is liable to a fine of N100 , 000 . 00 or one – month imprisonment or three months Community service . ”

However , JJC Skillz and Naira Marley were absent during the time of arrest , causing the police to invite them.

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics has said it is suspending its planned nationwide strike because of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

The ASUP President , Mr Anderson Ezeibe , in a statement in Abuja , recalled that the industrial action was decided after the 97 th National Executive Council meeting of the union , adding, however , that the strike would not begin due to the “ unacceptable rate of the spread of the dreaded COVID – 19 pandemic across the nation and the union ’ s overriding need to arrest the growing spread of this scourge . ”

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ASUP noted that the nationwide industrial action was necessitated by the shortcomings in the February 2020 salaries of its members based on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System as well as the inability of the Federal Government to keep to agreements reached with the union since 2010 .

Ezeibe , said , “ As a consequence of the inability of the government to keep to agreements entered into with our union since 2010 as well as the avoidable shortcomings associated with the payment of February 2020 salaries in federal polytechnics in the country, our union ’ s 97 th National Executive Council meeting had resolved to embark on an industrial action after the expiration of a 15 – day ultimatum issued with effect from March 18 , 2020 . The ultimatum expired on April 3 , 2020 .

“However , our union is concerned about the prevailing but unacceptable rate of the spread of the dreaded COVID- 19 pandemic across the nation. Moved by the need to collectively arrest the growing spread of this scourge in our nation, the union has resolved to put on hold its proposed industrial action in the overriding national interest to resume .

“ We encourage our members nationwide to play complementary roles to the extent of the deployment of their professional competencies as well as participating in safe community action efforts in the fight against the COVID – 19 pandemic . ”

The face-off between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the federal government may likely be resolved as soon as the country-wide lockdown caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 ends, investigation has revealed.

An indication to this emerged at the weekend as both sides appeared to share similar views on the need for concessions following the impacts of COVID-19, which cut across every sector of the country’s economy.

The reconciliatory tone came just as ASUU said that its members in the Chemistry and Pharmacy departments at the various universities in the country have teamed up to support the campaign against the virus by initiating the production and distribution of hand sanitizers and other protective materials.

ASUU, whose members embarked on an indefinite strike action few days before the federal government closed educational institutions as part of measures to contain the virus, said at the weekend that it did not rule out the possibility of concessions.

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In the same vein, newsmen gathered from a top official of the Federal Ministry of Finance that the federal government will most likely release the withheld salaries of ASUU members as a form of olive branch to quicken the resolution of the crisis in the education sector.

President of the union, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, who spoke to newsmen in a telephone interview at the weekend said the union understood the precarious position the country had found itself and that it would be open to dialogue to resolve the issues.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has said it has not yet fixed the cut – off marks for the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculations Examination . It described the cut – off marks being circulated on the Internet as fake .

The board stated this in its weekly bulletin obtained by news correspondent .

It stated that the 2020 UTME cut – off marks would be decided at a stakeholders’ policy meeting that would be chaired by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu .

JAMB said , “Kindly disregard any cut -off marks paraded by fraudsters . It is fake news. ”

The board’ s Head of Media and Information , Dr Fabian Benjamin , added , “ The board has fixed the policy meeting for June 15 and 16 , 2020 . Cut – off marks are decided at a policy meeting chaired by the Minister of Education with all the heads of tertiary institutions, chief executive officers of regulatory agencies in education and all other critical stakeholders in attendance .

“ This meeting has been fixed for June 15 and 16 , all things being equal . Until this meeting is held , nobody can talk about cut – off marks. Nigerians are advised to disregard any such marks being paraded. ”

Meanwhile , JAMB has delisted nine Computer – Based Test centres used in the conduct of the 2020 UTME for engaging in various infractions.

While one was delisted for conniving with candidates to engage in malpractices during the conduct of the UTME , others were delisted for technical deficiency .

The Osun State Governor , Adegboyega Oyetola, has urged the Federal Government to assist the state to contain the spread of coronavirus , saying some of the samples that were already tested indicated high level of viral loads .

Oyetola said the samples suggested a strong capability to infect massively if necessary measures were not taken .

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He said , “ Considering our peculiar circumstance , there is the urgent need for the Federal Government to assist us in our efforts to contain the spread of the virus .

“ Our call is predicated on the fact that some of the samples that were tested indicated high level of viral loads, suggesting a strong capability to infect massively if necessary measures are not taken . ”

The governor noted that the current number of index cases that Osun had recorded was as a result of government ’ s responsiveness and proactive interception of what would have resulted in national distress .

On the restriction order, Oyetola said the initial 14 days lockdown might be extended unless there were indications that the situation was safe enough for people return to work.

He advocated one – month total lockdown of the country by the Federal Government to properly contain the spread of COVID- 19 , pointing out that the total lockdown of China for over one month assisted the country to stop the spread of the disease .

On the escape of some of the 127 Ivory Coast returnees that tested positive to coronavirus, Oyetola said those that left the isolation centre were forced back to the facility because their relations did not allow them into the houses .