The Federal Government on Tuesday clarified that it has not declared a fresh lockdown of the country following confirmation of the second wave of COVID- 19 .
The Minister of Information and Culture , Alhaji Lai Mohammed gave this clarification when he featured on a Radio Nigeria programme, “ Politics Nationwide ’’ .
“ The Federal Government has not declared a fresh lockdown .
“ What we have done is that we have simply reiterated the old protocols and asked federal workers on Level 12 and below to stay at home and they will still receive their salaries .
“ Lagos state has equally asked their level 14 workers and below to work from home and Kaduna state has done the same.
“ Therefore , there is no fresh lockdown and the issue of hardship and economy meltdown does not arise , ’’ he said .
As part of measures to curb the spread of COVID- 19 , the Osun government has announced a ban on youth carnival as well as New Year rallies and ceremonies in the state .
The government also directed social clubs , hotels , departmental stores , supermarkets , event centres , and allied centres in the state to henceforth operate at half capacities .
A statement issued by the Secretary to State Government, Mr Wole Oyebamiji , in Osogbo , said that the decision was taken at the state Executive Council meeting .
“ The council pleaded with the citizenry to continue to take their health as their personal responsibilities and adhere to the COVID- 19 protocols .
“ Residents of the state are also encouraged on proper management and disposal of used face masks and other materials to prevent the virus from spreading .
“ No face mask , no entry at ministries, department , and agencies of government ( MDAs ) is to be sustained ” , the statement said .
The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), says only God can effectively “ supervise ” the border Nigeria shares with the Republic of Niger.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity , Femi Adesina , the President spoke while receiving in audience former Vice President Namadi Sambo , who heads ECOWAS Election Mission to the Republic of Niger.
The statement was titled, ‘ President Buhari pledges support for polls in Republic of Niger , describes outgoing President as ‘ very decent man ”.
Buhari said , “I come from Daura , few kilometers to Republic of Niger , so I should know a bit about that country.
“ The President is quite decent, and we are regularly in touch . He is sticking to the maximum term prescribed by the Constitution of his country .
“ Also , we share more than 1 , 400 kilometers of border with that country, which can only be effectively supervised by God .
“ I will speak with the President , and offer his country our support. We need to do all we can to help stabilise the Sahel region , which is also in our own interest. ”
The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , will today , meet with members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 , the Presidency has said .
“@MBuhari will meet with the Presidential Task Force on Covid – 19 this afternoon , ” @ NGRPresident tweeted.
The meeting, which will hold at the Aso Villa in Abuja , comes at a time when Nigeria is battling the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic .
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige , said university students would resume in January 2021 .
Ngige spoke in Alor , in the Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State during the inauguration of his medical outreach for the people of the area .
He said the Federal Government had met 98 per cent of the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities , adding that the remaining two per cent demands holding the strike would be sorted during negotiation on Tuesday ( today ) .
He expressed optimism that after the meeting , ASUU would call off their strike and students would commence studies in January .
“ We have met about 98 per cent of the request of ASUU ; the remaining two per cent is what you can call promissory notes. So , I am very hopeful that by midnight of Monday , there are some works we are supposed to get on to do . They also have some work they are supposed to do on their own side with their people.
“ We will be meeting in the afternoon of Tuesday to compare notes. I believe that we might have come to the end of the strike after the meeting. It is a journey of a thousand miles which you will have to take one step first . Tomorrow, all things being equal , we will agree because we were disagreeing before .
“ We disagree to agree and agree to disagree formerly . But tomorrow , I hope we will agree to agree . Once we do that , schools will open in January , ” Ngige said .
ASUU President , Prof . Biodun Ogunyemi , in an interview with news correspondent said the union would conclude make its decision known on Wednesday .
He said , “ I will address that matter on Wednesday . There is nothing I can say now . We are concluding our consultation by tomorrow (Tuesday ) . I have been telling all journalists that I won ’ t say anything until Wednesday . Whatever he (Ngige ) says I ’ m not saying anything . We are reviewing the situation. ”
The Federal Government has yet to take a decision on the possible restriction of international travels due to the spread of the coronavirus .
The chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 , Boss Mustapha , disclosed this at a press briefing of the task force in Abuja.
He said , “ A lot of discussions is still going on around the calls for the restriction of international travels due to the discovery of new strains of the virus in certain countries .
“ The PTF, Aviation and health authorities including the WHO , are assessing the situation closely and would take a position as soon as a cogent scientific basis are established .
The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , has approved fresh measures to curtail the further spread of COVID- 19 across the country.
Part of the measures is the restriction of guests at weddings , conferences , and sporting activities among others to 50 .
The government also ordered the closure of all bars , nightclubs , and restaurants .
The chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 , Boss Mustapha , disclosed this at a press briefing of the task force in Abuja.
He said , “ The PTF has surveyed developments and actions taken by governments around the world , assessed our domestic environment and has accordingly submitted its recommendations to Mr President on immediate measures to be taken.
“ Accordingly , His Excellency , Muhammadu Buhari , President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has authorised the PTF to engage with the states and the FCT to assume full ownership of this stage of the response by deploying legal structures and resources , including enforcement to manage the pandemic within their jurisdictions .
“ In line with the authorisation , the PTF wishes to issue the following advisories to sub – national entities for implementation over the next five weeks because these activities are considered super spreader events:
a . Close All bars , night clubs , pubs and event centres , and recreational venues ;
b. Close all restaurants except those providing services to hotel residents; takeaways , home deliveries and drive -ins shall remain closed ;
c . Restrict all informal and formal festivity events including weddings , conferences , congresses , office parties , concerts , seminars , sporting activities, end of year events shall be restricted to not more than 50 persons ;
d. Limit All gatherings linked to religious events to less than 50 % capacity of the facility of use during which physical distancing ; mandatory use of face masks shall be strictly enforced
e . Where more than 50 persons are attending , any such events, the gathering should be held outdoors only ;
f . Public transportation systems are to carry passengers not more than 50 % of their capacity in compliance with social distancing rules.
The Federal Government has extended the deadline for the provision of National Identification Number by telecommunication service subscribers.
This was contained in a statement by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy .
The statement titled, ‘ Extension of Registration Period and Cancellation of USSD and Verification Fees ’ , was jointly signed by the Executive Vice -Chairman , Nigerian Communications Commission , Umar Danbatta; and Director – General , National Identity Management Commission , Aliyu Aziz .
It read , “ The National Task Force on National Identification Number and SIM Registration met today , 21 st December , 2020 .
“ The meeting was chaired by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy , Isa Ali Pantami with major stakeholders in the sector including Chairman – NCC, EVC – NCC, DG- NITDA, DG- NIMC , ECTS /ECSM – NCC , Chairman ALTON , CEOs of MTN , Airtel , Ntel, Glo , Smile, and 9 Moble in attendance .
“ Based on the endorsement of the Federal Government of Nigeria , the following resolutions were made :
“ Three (3 ) weeks extension for subscribers with NIN from 30 th December , 2020 to 19 th January , 2021 ; and
“ Six (6 ) weeks extension for subscribers without NIN from 30 th December , 2020 to 9 th February , 2021 . ”
The statement further stated , “ NIMC has provided strategies to enable citizens attend the registration in full compliance with Covid – 19 protocols – particularly the use of facemasks which remains mandatory and maintenance of social distancing . ”
The Senate at a special plenary has passed the 2021 budget totalling N 13 . 5 trn .
The fiscal document is predicated on oil benchmark $ 40 per barrel , N3 . 324 trn for debt servicing , N4 . 1 trn for capital expenditure , N5 . 6 trillion for recurrent , N496 bn for statutory transfer .
It has an increment of N505 bn.
The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), presented N13 . 082 trn to National Assembly on October 8 .
As you begin to set goals for the coming year, it’s important to contextualize them.
Whose support would you need to reach your goals? What specific items would come handy? And where would you need to be or go to connect with the resources you need?
If you only write your goals without contextualizing them, you’d be planning half-prepared.
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