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JUSTIN: Truck crushes four students, Okada rider to death in Oyo

March 29, 2021Posted in lifeLeave a comment

Four students of Idito Secondary School in Lagelu Local Government area of Oyo state were reportedly killed in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

The Nation learnt that the students were going to school on motorcycle, when the truck crushed them along Iwo-road, Ibadan express way.

The state police public relations officer, Olugbenga Fadeyi, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Ibadan on Monday, said the Divisional Police Officer in the area had sent the signal to the state command headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.

Fadeyi said, “It is true. The DPO told me that the incident happened when the driver of the truck was trying to avoid killing some sheep and rammed into the students on the Okada. Police have moved to the area to ensure life and prosperity were not vandalised by the angry students.”

News Correspondent reports that the students of the school moved to the nearby park and vandalised vehicles in the area.

Eyewitness told newsmen that parents of the students have stormed the schools to pick their children, but it is unclear whether the four children belong to same parents.

TheNation

JUST IN: Kidnapped Zamfara schoolgirls released

February 28, 2021Posted in SecurityLeave a comment

The kidnapped schoolgirls of Government Secondary School in Jangebe , Zamfara State have been released and are currently in the palace of the Emir of Anka waiting for transportation to Gusau, the state capital .

A very competent source had informed newsmen that negotiations with the bandits who kidnapped the schoolgirls had reached a very advanced stage, saying “ they may be in Gusau today . ”

Punch

Ekiti to Teachers: Resign if you can’t work in rural areas

February 23, 2021Posted in EducationLeave a comment

SUBEB lamented the lopsidedness created over the refusal of teachers to go to rural areas

thereby concentrating them in the cities at the expense of rural schools, saying the board would undertake a redistribution policy to correct the imbalance.

The SUBEB Chairman, Prof. Femi Akinwumi, said this in Ikogosi, Ekiti West Local government area, while flagging off a five-day training programme for primary schools’ Quality Assurance Officers held at the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort Centre.

“We don’t have teachers in local areas while they are in surplus in our cities, particularly Ado Ekiti. This lopsidedness is a major problem and we have to embark on teachers’ redistribution. If we don’t use a radical approach, we won’t go far.

“We have teachers that are sufficient in primary schools, but the question to ask is, have those teachers in the villages committed a crime?

“The new policy now is, is either they honour the postings we are going to do or they tender their resignation. Some believe they can influence, but in this exercise, we are going to transfer those who thought they are untouchable”.

Vanguard

Buhari, govs meet Thursday to discuss fuel pricing —Ngige

February 23, 2021Posted in FuelLeave a comment

The President , Major – General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), and the state governors will discuss the issue of fuel pricing.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige , disclosed this after a bipartite meeting of the Federal Government and the organised labour at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa , Abuja.

The minister said , “ The labour side saw that they were making some points and like I said , it is work in progress . Governors are going to discuss this on Thursday .

“ They have discussed this at the National Economic Council and so , everybody is involved because we find ourselves in dire straits . There is no money for subsidy .

“ The NNPC has explained : What they are doing is import – dependent . Deregulation is import – dependent but they are doing bulk purchasing . So , they can get discounts .

“ They are also using foreign exchange that is discounted for them. They are not buying from the parallel market . So , all these things will be put in basket and a price will emerge from it. ”

Punch

FG bars trainee doctors from joining strikes

February 19, 2021Posted in HealthLeave a comment

THE Federal Government has warned that henceforth it would no longer allow trainee doctors on one year internship programme in hospitals across the country to participate in industrial action .

The Chairman of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria , Prof . Abba Hassan , sounded the warning in Abuja during the swearing – in of 1 , 021 foreign trained medical and dental graduates .

He said , “ By law , they are not supposed to join any association until they are fully registered as doctors . For now, they are on probation and they should not belong to any union or join in strike .

“ Anybody who is caught will be brought before the council and if found guilty , will be sanctioned . The person may be barred from practice . ”

Hassan said one of the implications of the transfer of supervisory role to the MDCN was that it would instil more discipline and ensure that doctors on internship would no longer be compelled to join others in the incessant industrial action thereby deviating from the set objectives of the programme .

“ They must commit themselves fully to pay attention to their seniors who are training them. This is not the era of people going into private practice . If they spend their time understudying their seniors very well , by the time they finish the 12 months internship, they will be very good doctors , ” he said .

Punch

JUST IN: Poly Ibadan workers suspend 38-day strike for three weeks

February 19, 2021Posted in EducationLeave a comment

The aggrieved staff of The Polytechnic Ibadan (academic and non – academic staff ) said it has suspended its industrial action over the non – implementation of the new national minimum wage by the Oyo State Government.

The workers embarked on an indefinite industrial action since January 11 following the resolution of a special congress of the unions .

It was gathered that the strike was suspended for 21 days in honour of Governor Seyi Makinde and the Governing Council of the institution .

The staff unions of the Polytechnic, Ibadan , in a statement jointly signed by SSANIP Chairman , Biodun Abegunde ; NASU Chairman , Ibraheem Akande; and T. M . Oyebola , Representative of Academics , said , “ Members of staff of The Polytechnic, Ibadan , under the umbrella of NASU , SSANIP and Academics , had a congress this morning Thursday , 18 th February, 2021 at the Conference Centre of the institution to review its position on implementation of minimum wage , payment of obnoxious tax , the imposition of Platinum I . T Consultant on the institution among others.

“ After serious deliberations at the congress , it resolved to honour Governor Seyi Makinde and the sub -committee of the Governing Council of The Polytechnic, Ibadan who made an appeal and who had been listening to the yearnings of the Unions and other dignitaries within Ibadan metropolis .

“ The Congress unanimously decided to suspend its strike action for 21 days with the hope that The Polytechnic, Ibadan Council Committee headed by Prof . S . G. Odewunmi would liaise with the government to resolve the Unions ’ demands.

“ If the government and the Council fail to do the needful within the 21 days set , the Unions would not have any other option than to resume the suspended strike action .

“ The unions appeal to the stakeholders in the education sector in Oyo State and the general public to prevail on the Oyo State Government to accede to its requests and save the state and the institution from avoidable embarrassment . ”

Punch

Electricity grid suffers first collapse in 2021

February 17, 2021Posted in ElectricityLeave a comment

The nation’ s power grid has suffered its first collapse this year , plunging parts of the country into a blackout .

Two of the electricity distribution companies in the country, Ikeja Electric Plc , and Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc , disclosed this in messages to their customers through their Twitter handles .

It said , “ This is to inform you that we experienced a system collapse at 13 : 58 hrs today and this affected all customers on the IE network . However , we are pleased to confirm that supply has been restored to Alimosho , Ogba , and Alausa transmission stations at 14 :47 hrs .

“ Please note that gradual restoration to other areas is currently ongoing . Thank you for your understanding . ”

EKEDC said , “ There has been a partial system collapse on the national grid interrupting supply to most areas within our network . We are gathering updates on the situation and will provide them as available.

“ For now , please be assured that all stakeholders are working hard to make sure this is resolved . We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding . ”

Marketers raise petrol price to N170, depots suffer shortage

February 17, 2021Posted in FuelLeave a comment

Fuel marketers have started adjusting their petrol pump prices amid the supply shortage facing private depots in Apapa.

News correspondent observed that some filling stations in Lagos and Ogun states increased the pump price of petrol to N170 per litre on Tuesday from N162 per litre .

Some of the stations were Capital Oil and Gas , Fatgbems and Amo Oil, all along the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway . Another station , Enyo Retail, adjusted its pump price to N165 per litre from N162 .

The National Operation Controller , Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria , Mr Mike Osatuyi , told news correspondent that members of his association had to increase the pump price because they bought the product at N 160 – N161 from depot owners .

They picketed the facilities to protest their inability to get products due to a new payment method introduced by the Petroleum Products Marketing Company , a subsidiary of the NNPC .

“ My members buying from DAPPMAN members are buying at N160 – N161 , and they will have to add their transportation costs to it . So , at what price do you want them to sell ? Even that N170 is still very cheap , ” Osatuyi said on Tuesday .

He said the PPMC had told marketers to register under the new payment method , called ‘ PPMC Customer Express’ , before they could buy products from it.

“ Right now, PPMC has said that the era of ATP ( Authority to Pay ) has gone . It means that payment has to be made online. So , my members are now in the process of doing that , and without doing it, we cannot lift products , ” he added .

Punch

JUST IN: Declare state of emergency on security, Senate tells Buhari

February 17, 2021Posted in SecurityLeave a comment

The Senate has asked the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd ) , to declare a state of emergency on security without further delay .

The red chamber made the call following a point of order by Senator Sani Musa (APC , Niger East ), on the abduction of students and staff of the Government Science Secondary School in Kagara , Niger State in the early hours of today .

Musa said the terrorist who whisked their victims away were dressed in military uniforms .

He said the actual number of students abducted was not known but that the school had over 1000 students .

The Senator said security agencies had explained that they were on the trail of the criminals .

The Senate demanded the implementation of its ad hoc resolution on security and urged the combined team of military and police to set up an operation to destroy criminal camps across the country.

Senator Sabi Abdullahi , also from Niger State , said the kidnappers and bandits were emboldened by the successes being recorded in the state in recent time as about 100 people had so far been kidnapped in the state .

He said the forest from the FCT which extends to Niger up to Zamfara State was being used by the criminals .

He said the fact that the bandits have invaded Niger State was an indication that the safety of lives and properties of FCT residents is being threatened .

Senator Bima Enagi , also from Niger State , declared that the Buhari regime was incompetent to handle security challenges in the country .

He said , “ We need to amend the constitution so that governors should be chief security officers of their states since the government at the centre had failed to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians .

Punch

[Abduction Again] Kagara: 27 students, three teachers, others missing —Niger govt

February 17, 2021Posted in SecurityLeave a comment

No fewer than 42 people, including 27 students , were kidnapped when bandits attacked Government Science Secondary School , Kagara in Niger State .

The Niger Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Muhammad Idris , who made this known , also said the whereabouts of three teachers are unknown .

According to him , 12 family members of the teachers were also abducted during the attack .

Idris added that one student , whose identity is yet to be given , was killed .

“ They kidnapped 42 people from the school . They took away 27 students , along with three teachers . They also kidnapped 12 family members of the teachers , ” Idris told AFP by phone.

This is coming barely two months after over 300 students were kidnapped in nearby Katsina State .

On his part, the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , in a statement , condemned the abductions and ordered a rescue operation but did not confirm how many students were missing .

“ The President has directed the Armed Forces and Police , to ensure immediate and safe return of all the captives , ” presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said in a statement .

Punch