The Federal Government is expected to announce the next phase of eased lockdown in the country on Tuesday ( tomorrow ).
Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID – 19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Boss Mustapha , made this known .
He disclosed this after the task force met with the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) , at the Presidential Villa .
Bashir Ahmad , Personal Assistant on New Media to Buhari , tweeted , “Today is the last day of Nigeria’ s phase II of the eased lockdown , members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 briefed and submitted their recommendations to the President for approval, the next lines of action will be announced tomorrow , SGF Boss Mustapha discloses. ”
Others in the delegation were the Minister of Health , Osagie Ehanire ; the Coordinator of the PTF on COVID- 19 , Dr . Sani Aliyu ; and the Director – General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control , Dr . Chikwe Ihekweazu .
The meeting, it was learnt , was meant to brief Buhari on the ongoing efforts to curtail the spread of COVID- 19 and the next steps to be taken .
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has kicked against the reopening of schools by the Federal Government amid the COVID- 19 pandemic .
The union argued that the government must make resources available in order for schools to meet proposed conditions by the Federal Ministry of Education.
ASUU National President , Prof Biodun Ogunyemi , made this position known while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ota , Ogun State .
He urged the government to provide the ideal environment and meet the conditions spelt out by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control before reopening schools across the country.
Ogunyemi said , “ The Federal Government must lead and show the ways by meeting the conditions for reopening of schools before any school can be allowed to open because COVID- 19 pandemic is a health challenge .
“ When it comes to public health , it is something that should not be left in the hands of individuals but the Federal Government must take the lead. ”
The ASUU president listed the conditions spelt out by NCDC to include the provision of materials for regular handwashing , provision of face masks, isolations spaces, hands sanitisers , amongst others.
He said many government – owned schools don ’ t have financial capacities to meet the outlined conditions.
He said , “ It is suicidal to reopen schools now if the Federal Government itself could not meet the conditions spelt out by the NCDC and the World Health Organisation . The nation will expose innocent children to avoidable risks . ”
Schools across the country were shut in March to curb the spread of the pandemic .
The Chairman , Osun State Universal Basic Education Board , Israel Famurewa , has said there was a need to fast track the implementation of the reviewed reclassification policy of government – owned schools in the state .
In a press statement , Famurewa said efforts are ongoing to ensure that the new policy is implemented when schools resume after COVID – 19 break.
The statement quoted Famurewa as saying this during the concluding part of data gathering and physical assessment tour of nine the federal constituencies of the state by top government officials held at Ijebu -Jesha High School on Friday.
According to him , the review is targeted towards restoring 6 – 3 – 3 – 4 classification system through which each level of education will return back to its earlier class structure .
He said that the implementation of the recommendations of the review panel necessitated the data gathering and physical assessment of school for takeoff .
Famurewa said “ There is a need to fast track the process of implementing the review on the education policy so as to put necessary logistics in place before the schools resume .
“ Thus , this necessitated this tour across the nine federal constituencies of the state as it’ s hoped to bring the desired result in no distant time for the benefit of our children and their teachers . ”
The Director of School in the State Universal Basic Education Board , Alhaji Yaya Bakare added , “ the tour is for data gathering and physical assessment of schools across the nine federal constituencies of the state as it preludes the implementation before the schools ’ resumption” .
The top officials of SUBEB who joined Famurewa in the tour include the Executive Secretary of SUBEB, Mr . Adeoye Bakare , Commissioner ( Technical) , Chief Moshood Adekunle Oluawo , Commissioner ( Services) , Hon. Amos Akindiya , and other members of the board and directors .
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has declared opposition alliance leader Lazarus Chakwera as the winner of Tuesday’s presidential re-run election.
Making the declaration, MEC chairperson Justice Chifundo Kachale announced that Chakwera, leder of the Tonse Allaince bagged 2,604,043 votes, representing 58.5 percent of the total votes cast.
Outgoing president Peter Mutharika of the DPP/UDF alliance came second with 1,751,877 votes. The third candidate Mbakuwaku Movement for Development candidate Peter Kuwani managed 33,456 votes.
Out of the 6,859,570 registered voters, 4,445,699 cast their votes. The Commission recorded 57,323 null and void votes, representing 1.29 percent. The commission received and resolved 10 complaints from all three participating sides.
Ex- President Olusegun Obasanjo has said insecurity is one issue common to Nigerians , regardless of tribe , language, religion, location, gender , age or social position.
He noted that without reforming the federating units, Nigeria would remain insecure , unstable , unprogressive , stagnated and , at worst , disintegrate.
Obasanjo spoke at this year ’ s edition of the Sobo Sowemimo Annual Lecture organised by Abeokuta Club . The event was titled, “ COVID- 19 and the Nigeria security issues : The way forward . ”
He added , “ Let me lay more emphasis on the issue of security , which in itself is serious enough to make restructuring imperative. The South -West governors cried out and devised Amotekun as a solution or part -solution . We have yet to see how successfully that will be operated . Other zones are clamouring for a solution because in no state and in no geopolitical zone is life and property safe and secure .
“ Criminality is the order of the day . And it cuts across the entire nation. Insecurity is one issue of commonality among Nigerians , no matter their tribe , language, religion, geographical location, gender , age or social position. ’’
He recalled that the Northern Elders’ Forum , through its spokesperson , Akeem Baba Ahmed , had declared President Buhari a failure on account of persistent insecurity within the nation.
The former president stated, “ I leave out economy which is in the doldrums and fighting corruption where you see more heat than light and which is festering like a bad sore. That , to me , is what reform of federating units and restructuring is all about and not about break- up or disintegration . Insecurity brought about by widespread criminality of Boko Haram , insurgents , herdsmen / farmers conflict , terrorists , bandits , armed robbers , militants , kidnappers , abductors and human traffickers is a new phenomenon that is ravaging the entire country . ’’
According to Obasanjo , it is evident that no ethnic group or geopolitical zone and even the Fulanis in Nigeria are collectively satisfied with the present situation in spite of the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), being a Fulani man .
“ I am , of course , discounting invidious and irredeemable Fulani fundamentalists and hegemonists. Federal security architecture , as organised and operated by the present government , cannot give any individual or group hope , let alone assurance of security within Nigeria , ’’ Obasanjo noted .
He further said that from the beginning of June , there had been agitations and protests of a revolutionary nature in Mali.
Obasanjo stated , “ Not that I am afraid of revolution, no , not at all, but I love and cherish peace and , of course , not peace of the graveyard . If I am concerned about security issues in Mali because of possibility of flow -over to other parts of West Africa , I should be more concerned about security in any part of Nigeria . I have not lived for the demise of Nigeria nor for its destruction or incapacitation in any form . Rather , I have lived to make and see a great and united country. ’’
The former president noted that there was a time when kidnappers , militants, and human traffickers ravaged the East and the South- South and the North was relatively unaffected .
He added , “ Now, no part of the country can claim to be safe from the menace and insecurity caused by terrorists , armed robbers , human traffickers , kidnappers of all sorts , cattle rustlers, insurgents , bandits and herders / farmers conflicts.
“ We are all challenged to put our thinking caps on , join hands and seek solutions together , otherwise , we will be destroyed piecemeal. ’’
He said the country was not out of the woods yet regarding COVID- 19 , adding that awareness must continue to disabuse the minds of the ordinary people being made to believe that COVID- 19 was unreal or that the disease belonged to the rich .
Osun State Government has said a fresh lockdown may be imposed in the state after 22 new cases were reported in 24 hours .
A statement quoted the State Commissioner for Health , Dr . Rafiu Isamotu, as threatening that “ government might be forced to impose another lockdown on the state if residents and citizens continue to flout the lockdown relaxation guidelines” .
He complained that the new cases came barely 24 hours after the discovery of 17 cases in the state .
Isamotu also noted that 11 of the new cases were from the ongoing contact tracing within the Ede community, while the remaining are from the previous cases in Osogbo and its environs .
He said , “ On Thursday , we announced the discovery of 17 new cases in our dear State . Sadly, today again , we have 22 new cases. Considering where we are coming from , this is worrisome . We must , therefore , take responsibility . The battle against Coronavirus is not over yet .
“ The virus is still very much with us . We must observe precautionary measures if we must avoid community transmission .
“ With the latest development , the number of our active cases as at today , Friday, June 26 , is 54 . We have 106 confirmed cases , out of which the State has successfully treated and discharged 47 patients while five deaths have been recorded. ”
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), has said it will begin the implementation of a tarrif review effective July 1.
This, according to the company, was part of its plans and effort to deliver what it described as “excellent services” to its customers.
IBEDC, while speaking through the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. John Ayodele, said the tax review became imperative in view of the need for the company’s tariff to be in line with current economic realities as well as ensuring the financial and fiscal sustainability of the company in the Nigerian power sector.
He assured that the new tariff regime would ensure that those who enjoy more supply would pay more than those who have lesser access while appealing for the support and understanding of its customers.
He said: “The objective of the review is to ensure that IBEDC adjusts its tariff in line with the current economic realities. This is required to meet the new Performance Improvement Plans (PIP) for Electricity Distribution Companies in Nigeria, as well as to achieve financial and fiscal sustainability in the Nigerian power sector.”
“In order to provide more efficient and reliable service to customers, cost-reflective tariffs are required to cover the cost of critical investment in infrastructures and other parameters necessary for improved service delivery.”
“This new tariff design is based on the quantity of power supplied as customers will only pay based on the availability of supply.”
“For example, the tariff design is based on service delivery, such that those receiving 20hrs supply daily will pay more than those getting 10hrs.”
Ayodele also explained that the company is very mindful of the challenging economic situation occasioned by the global pandemic COVID-19, but the macroeconomic facts of rising inflation rates and a volatile foreign exchange market compelled the implementation of the new tariff design.
“The tariff review is to reflect macroeconomic indices in Nigeria and the global harsh economic realities facing the power sector.”
“With this tariff, the company amongst other things will be in a better position to roll out more meters, upgrade aging infrastructure, and be more responsive to the complaints of customers. We appeal for the understanding and cooperation of our esteemed customers as we are poised to serve you better,” he stated.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has declared that its orientation camps will reopen when it is very safe, in view of the danger posed by COVID-19 pandemic.
Director, Press and Public Relations of the scheme Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi made this known in a statement issued in Abuja.
“The attention of the management of the scheme has been drawn to an online publication stating that the ‘NYSC is set to reopen orientation camps, lists guidelines’, alluding that the scheme will soon resume orientation programme,” Adeyemi said.
She said the scheme placed a very high premium on the lives of corps members, camp officials and other stakeholders, “which was the key reason it suspended 2020 Batch “A” Stream 1 orientation programme in March and shall never act in any way that will compromise their safety”.
Adeyemi urged corps members and prospective corps members to glean information concerning the scheme only from NYSC official sources – both the social and mainstream media.
The federal government has disclosed that 80 per cent of the parents across the country are against the reopening of schools, and has however, promised to announce the new date for the resumption of domestic flights by next week.
The government has also expressed worry over rising cases of COVID-19 in the country, with Cross River State also recording the first case of the virus.
It has also disclosed that the report of the National Agency on Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on the Madagascar herbal drug is ready.
This is coming as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha has said that he would impose a fresh lockdown on the country if it was within his power to do so.
Speaking in Abuja during the press briefing by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba revealed that 80 per cent of the responses from parents that followed a perception survey conducted across the country by the ministry, said they were opposed to any hurried reopening of schools to experiment with their children.
“We are keeping the children at home because you can’t see coronavirus with your naked eyes and can’t know if a child is asymptomatic, carrying the virus. If he does and he goes back and infects another person, there is no way for us to know.
‘’Prior to that, the ministry carried out a perception survey around the country and 80 per cent of the responses were assurances from parents that they’re not willing to experiment with their children. If there are parents willing to experiment – to check whether it can work or not, we can invite them to a test,’’ Nwajiuba said.
The Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 has said the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) , would receive this week, its recommendations regarding the next steps of the country’ s National Response to the pandemic .
PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Boss Mustapha , made this known during a briefing in Abuja .
He said , “ I wish to inform you that by the end of this week, the Presidential Task Force will be submitting a report containing our assessment and recommendations to Mr President for his consideration .
“ We , therefore , urge Nigerians to await our recommendations regarding the next step of action to be taken in our National Response to COVID- 19 . ”
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