The Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo’s northwest is growing, according to health officials, sounding the alarm weeks after the country officially declared an end to a separate Ebola epidemic which claimed over 2,000 lives.
There have been 54 confirmed cases since June 1 in Mbandaka, a transport hub in Equateur province, including 22 deaths, according to figures released by the country’s health ministry on Friday.
There were four additional suspected cases.
The outbreak is DR Congo’s 11th since Ebola was identified in 1976.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has said it supported the decision of the Federal Government to stop Senior Secondary School 3 pupils from partaking in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination earlier scheduled to commence on August 4 .
The union advised the government to shut down schools until 2021 to ensure adequate preparations , citing the case in some countries such as Kenya.
News correspondents had reported that the Federal Ministry of Education met with officials of the West African Examination Council in Abuja and resolved to announce a new date for the examination.
The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, had also said the government would consult with the four other countries under WAEC to set a new date , while announcing COVID- 19 mandatory guidelines for schools which must be kept before July 29 .
The ASUU President , Prof Biodun Ogunyemi , who made the recommendations in an interview with newsmen , said no reasonable government would take such chances unless parents would be told to sign an undertaking .
Ogunyemi said , “ Look , Kenya has said they have closed all their schools till next year ( 2021 ); they too have exams to write. Safety first . If it means closing the schools until next year to safeguard the lives of Nigerian children and safeguard the health of all Nigerians , so be it.
“ So , if that will help us to address cases that can lead to increase in mortality, I think Nigerians should go that way and all of us should see reason for it. If they need to cancel admission for the year , it is good for them. Life matters first , people must have life first before they can go to university. Are the universities ready to work now?
“ Our position is that they should not experiment with the lives of our children . Nobody can tell ; the situation may soon normalise and they can do their exams and there is another opportunity for external candidates around November . So , it’ s not as if the door is totally closed . “
The ASUU president added that the union had not seen any evidence to show that schools were secured for students to go back .
He said , “ The first thing that should be tackled is whether schools are safe . And if the schools are not safe , why do you want to carry out an experiment with the lives of our children ? An attempt to send back the children to school at a time there is a spike in COVID – 19 cases in Nigeria is like experimenting with the lives of our children .
“ If they put all the things in place, including social and physical distancing , sanitisers , kitting the children as we see in other places , decontamination with water flowing in the schools and all the gadgets, why not ? So , if government can meet all these conditions, then they can reopen the schools . But if they cannot meet all these conditions , they should not experiment with even 10 students in any school . ”
The organised labour in Ekiti State has issued a 14 – day ultimatum effective from Monday , July 20 to the state government within which to meet its demands on workers ’ welfare issues or risk strike action .
The organised labour , comprising Nigeria Labour Congress ; Trade Union Congress ; and Joint Negotiating Council , rising from their meeting in Ado Ekiti , accused the Dr Kayode Fayemi administration of turning blind eyes to workers ’ welfare.
Labour stated its position in a letter to the governor entitled, “ 14 days ultimatum to implement matters affecting workers ’ welfare in Ekiti State to avoid three days warning strike ” signed by the chairmen of NLC , Kolapo Olatunde ; TUC, Sola Adigun ; and JNC , Kayode Fatomiluyi ; and secretaries of JNC , Gbenga Olowoyo; TUC, Kuloogun Lawrence ; and NLC Taiwo Akinyemi .
According to the statement made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti , the organised labour , which reached the decision at its meeting on July 16 , said it “felt dazed and betrayed by the state government for not acceding to any of workers ’ demand since the beginning of the lifespan of the present administration which is now close to two years . This is painful . ”
While calling on the state government to implement all the listed items within 14 days effective from Monday , July 20 , labour stated that if the government fails to meet its demands, “ workers shall embark on three days warning strike commencing in the midnight of Monday 3 rd August 2020 without fail ” .
The items , according to the statement included “non – implementation of financial benefits arising from the letters of promotion given to all deserving workers from years 2015 , 2016 , 2017 , 2018 and 2019 and advancement and government ’ s decision to petition the outstanding promotions for the years 2015 , 2016 and 2017 and contemplating the implementation of 2018 and 2019 only .
“ Non – payment of Leave Bonus for the years 2016 , 2017 , 2018 , 2019 and 2020 to all deserving workers in the state ; non – payment of special hazard allowance for health workers ; and non – payment of deductions such as cooperative societies deductions , bank loan repayment , union check – off dues among other deductions in recent time by the present state government under the guise of the introduction of net salary payment ” .
They also sought “ with immediate effect , payment of three months gross salary arrears and five months deductions for state workers and secondary school teachers ; six months gross salaries and six months deductions for local government workers and primary school teachers ” .
The workers also rejected “ the speculated percentage salary payment to workers ” and as well “ failure to inject more funds into Car and Housing loans to enable the fund to reach out to a higher number of applicants that are yet to be attended to ”.
The organised labour also resolved to support any popular decision taken by the pensioners on their pensions and gratuities and as well called on the state government to , “with immediate effect , allow final agreement to be signed for implementation” of the new minimum wage and its consequential adjustment .
Resident Doctors at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital , Sagamu, Ogun State who are working at the Covid – 19 treatment and isolation centre in the state have joined their colleagues in the ongoing industrial action .
The doctors reportedly left the isolation centre following the directive by the Association of Resident Doctors, OOUTH, Sagamu directing them to leave their duty posts at the isolation centre and joined the indefinite strike .
The association confirmed the development , in a statement jointly signed by its president , Dr Popoola Mutiu and the secretary, Dr Osundara Tope .
The ARD which comprises Resident Doctors, Medical Officers and House Officers under the national body of NARD had begun an indefinite strike since July 1 , but exempted its members at the isolation centre from the strike .
However , the association in the statement said it changed its decision and asked the members to leave the isolation centre in protest against the alleged maltreatment of its members by the government .
The statement partly read , “ Since the government has chosen to simply rub the issues without any form of real commitment , our members working at the COVID – 19 Isolation Centre will henceforth join the Industrial action .
“ We expect the government not to dethrone reasoning or shirk from responsibility expected of a considerate , sincere and truthful government . We call on Ogun State government not to leave us up a creek without a paddle .
“ Our service to the people should not be abridged by the ineptitude of the government . We work for the common good and sound health of the people of Ogun State .
“ Insouciance on the part of government shows gaucherie and a faux pas which does not befit the principle of justice, equity and transparency expected of Ogun State Government. ”
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu has told the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu that the police have no hand in his detention.
Magu is currently being interrogated by a presidential investigation committee headed by Justice Ayo Salami following corruption allegation against him from the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
Magu has been detained for about 10 days at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID.
Following the detention, the former anti-graft boss’ lawyer Tosin Ojoamo, had written to the IGP requesting for his bail.
But in a response to the request, the police boss denied a hand in Magu’s detention, attributing it to the presidential panel.
In a letter addressed to the lawyer with reference number: CB:7000/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.489/171, dated 14th July 2020 and cited by newsmen, IGP Adamu explained that Magu was not being detained by the police but by the panel investigating the activities of the EFCC.
The IGP response read in part: “Your letter 00C/TOL/89A/07/2020 of 10th July 2020 on the above-underlined subject refers.
“The Inspector-General of Police directs that your attention be drawn to the fact that the Nigeria Police Force is not investigating C.P. Ibrahim Magu (your client) and he is not accordingly, not being detained by the police but by the presidential panel that is investigating the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“The Inspector-General of Police, therefore, advises that you consider re-directing your request to the Chairman of the presidential panel for appropriate attention.
“I am to convey the assurances of the warmest regards of the Inspector of Police, please.”
The IGP letter was signed by DCP Owohunwa, Principal Staff Officer for the Inspector General of Police.
Meanwhile, Magu arrived at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with his lawyer for the ongoing investigation.
The Senate has passed a bill which prescribes life jail, as against the current 10 years maximum sentence , for kidnappers .
The bill contains amendments to the criminal code which is currently in operation in the southern part of Nigeria .
The proposed legislation , sponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu , is titled, “ A bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code Act CAP. C. 38 , Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 . ”
It seeks to delete the statute of limitation on defilement , increase punishment for the offence of kidnapping , and remove gender restrictions in the offence of rape and other related matters.
The bill eliminates time frame for prosecuting defilement cases by increasing the period from two months to as many years as the victim decide to take up the manner .
It also removes gender restrictions on the offence of rape by explaining that both male and female could be raped .
The Minister of State Labour , Festus Keyamo (SAN ), has secured the approval of the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) to begin the recruitment of 774 , 000 youths under the Special Public Works Programme.
Keyamo confirmed that the President had directed him to continue with the exercise which was earlier suspended by the National Assembly following a disagreement with the minister .
The minister in a text message to news correspondent said , “ I have the instructions of my boss , Mr President , to proceed with the supervision of the preparation for the execution of the programme in accordance with the law . ”
He argued that the lawmakers had no power to give directives to the executive under section 88 of the 1999 constitution .
He stated, “ I only insisted on the provision of the constitution; I insist that they have no power under section 88 of the 1999 constitution . Their powers under section 88 of the 1999 Constitution is only limited to investigations, but not to give any directive to the executive. ”
Findings indicate that the SPWG portal , https /specialpublicworks . gov . ng/ site / is now live . It contains the list of state selection committee members inaugurated by the minister a few weeks ago and other tips on the exercise .
The House of Representatives has called on the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), to order a partial reopening of schools to allow pupils sit for the 2020 West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination .
The House made the call at the plenary following a unanimous adoption of a motion moved by a member , Nnolim Nnaji .
The Committee on Basic Education and Services had earlier on Friday faulted the decision by the Federal Government to suspend the plan to partially reopen schools for pupils in final classes to take external examinations .
The committee had particularly criticised the decision to disallow Nigerian pupils from sitting for WASSCE to be conducted by the West African Examination Council for the 2019 /2020 academic session .
Schools at all levels have been shut since March due to the COVID- 19 pandemic .
Ivory Coast’s Vice President, Daniel Kablan Duncan, has stepped down, the presidency said , an announcement that comes on the heels of the sudden death of Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly on July 8.
Kablan Duncan, 77, “handed his resignation to the president on personal grounds on February 27”, it said in a statement read by chief of staff Patrick Achi.
“After several conversations, the latest of which took place on July 7, the president accepted (it) and on July 8 signed the decree ending Mr Kablan Duncan’s duties.”
Rumours that Kablan Duncan would be leaving office have circulated for several days.
He has traditionally been seen as close to President Alassane Ouattara, even though he is a member of a party that was once part of his political alliance before joining the opposition.
A veteran figure of Ivorian politics, Kablan Duncan served as foreign minister from 2011-12 and then as prime minister in charge of economy and finance from 2012-17.
In January 2017, he became the first vice president in Ivory Coast’s history, taking up a post created under a new constitution adopted in 2016.
Ouattara “would like to pay tribute to a great servant of the state, a man of power and commitment,” the statement added.
His departure was announced just five days after the shock death of Coulibaly, 61, a popular figure seen as Ouattara’s anointed successor for elections due in October.
The Kwara State branch of the Nigeria Medical Association has said that people should avoid paying unnecessary visits or consultations to hospitals to minimise the spread of the coronavirus pandemic .
It said 35 doctors had so far been tested positive for COVID – 19 since the virus manifested in the state .
Dr Kolade Solagberu , NMA Chairman , disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Ilorin on events heralding the association ’ s 2020 Annual General Meeting .
Solagberu , however , noted that the association had not recorded any casualty among its members.
He cautioned residents to disregard the beliefs that COVID- 19 was not real and was only a money – making avenue for the government .
” Residents should help the doctors to help them by not paying unnecessary visits or consultations to hospitals.
” For now , people should avoid visiting the hospital except for life- threatening issues .
” We advise people to engage in e -health service instead of physical consultation to avoid contact as much as possible .
” People should stop unnecessary visits to patients in the hospital . Those who follow a patient waiting to be attended to , are not encouraged for now.
” You should just help us to help you because the less the number of patients we attend to , the less the chances of spreading the virus .
” This is because every patient is a potential COVID- 19 case , ” he said .
/specialpublicworks . gov . ng/ site / is now live . It contains the list of state selection committee members inaugurated by the minister a few weeks ago and other tips on the exercise .
LatestNewsUpdates 