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The Federal Government has said that a total of 55 , 031 health workers in 35 COVID- 19 designated hospitals and medical centres have been paid special hazard allowances totalling N4 , 642 , 485 , 146 . 00 as of Sunday .

The Minister of Information and Culture , Lai Mohammed , disclosed this at a press conference he addressed in Abuja shortly before the National Association of Resident Doctors suspended its strike , which he described as inexplicable .

Mohammed was joined at the press conference by the Minister of Health , Osagie Ehanire ; and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige .

He said the government had also paid N9 billion as premium for Group Life Insurance to all health workers .

He said the payment of COVID- 19 special hazard inducement allowances was based on four templates: 50 per cent of Consolidated Basic Salary to all workers in COVID- 19 designated hospitals and centres ; 40 per cent of Consolidated Basic Salary to health workers in non – COVID- 19 designated centres and hospitals; 10 per cent of Consolidated Basic Salary to non -health professionals engaged in those centres ; and 20 per cent of Consolidated Basic Salary special allowance to all health workers directly managing COVID- 19 patients in Treatment and Isolation Centres.

He explained that other matters relating to non – payment of arrears dating as far back as 2014 or salaries owed by state governments, were either in court or beyond the power of the Federal Ministry of Health to resolve .

He said , “Despite the payment of the hazard allowance and the group life insurance , the provision of PPE as well as addressing other issues raised by the resident doctors , they still opted to proceed on strike.

“ This is happening at a time the nation is battling a pandemic of immense proportions .

“ This inexplicable strike is a dangerous setback for the nation’ s efforts at tackling the pandemic . ”

Punch

Churches in Oyo State have reopened after three months of closure due to the ban placed on religious gatherings by the government.

You would recall that the state government had in March, placed a ban on religious gathering as part of measures to curb the spreading of the novel coronavirus disease.

The government, however, announced recently that churches and mosques in the state could reopen with some guidelines.

It directed that religious centres must operate, at not more than 25 per cent capacity, while wearing facemasks throughout the service among other measures.

The NAN correspondent, who visited some churches including the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and Winners Chapel among others in Ibadan, observed that the churches maintained the guidelines set by the government.

It was observed that there were buckets of running water and liquid soaps placed at entry points for members to wash their hands before and after the service.

Some of the churches had earlier fumigated their environments while all members were sighted putting on face masks as sitting arrangements gave room for social distancing.

Some of the churches held multiple numbers of services so as to allow social distancing while thermometers were used to check members’ temperature before they entered the church.

Also, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman in Oyo state, Apostle Joshua Akinyemiju, urged churches to maintain the guidelines set by the government.

“While appreciating the governor for allowing churches to worship, Christians must endeavour to abide by all the government’s guidelines to that effect.

“We should remember that the Bible enjoins us in Hebrew 13:17, to obey those that have the rule over us.

“Now that government has lifted ban on religious centres with conditions attached, it behoves us, as religious leaders, to ensure absolute compliance to protect government from being blamed for its leniency,’’ Akinyemiju said.

NAN

The National Association of Resident Doctors has announced the suspension of its strike with effect from Monday , June 22 , 2020 .

The organisation said it took the decision in order to enable the government time to fulfill outstanding demands following an appeal by the Speaker of the House of Representatives , Femi Gbajabiamila , Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Boss Mustapha , Chairman of the Nigeria Governors ’ Forum and other stakeholders.

NARD made the announcement in a communique read to journalists by its President , Dr . Aliyu Sokomba , in Abuja after its National Executive Council meeting attended by over 300 members.

Punch

THE Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has announced the commencement of enrolment for a new batch of N-Power beneficiaries effective June 26, 2020.

The N-Power Programme was inaugurated by
President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) with the mandate of lifting citizens out of poverty through capacity building, investment, and direct support.

In his Democracy Day broadcast on June 12, 2020, the president commended the programme, noting that “our Social Investment Programme has continued to be a model to other nations.”

The commencement of the Batch C enrolment, according to a statement from the ministry through its Deputy Director of Press, Rhoda Iliya, “is a sequel to far-reaching consultations and a review of the submissions on the reform and realignment of the programme for greater efficiency.”

Batch C is also being enrolled to provide opportunities for more Nigerian youths to access the programme, in furtherance of the President’s vision of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by creating opportunities that will enhance the productivity of the Nigerian youths for entrepreneurship.

In view of these, the ministry has announced that Batch A will exit June 30, 2020, and Batch B will exit the programme on July 31, 2020.

According to the Honourable Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq , “we have commenced the transitioning of beneficiaries from Batches A & B into government entrepreneurship schemes and engaging private sector bodies to absorb some of the beneficiaries after the completion of psychometric assessment to determine competency and placement into various opportunities.

The Federal Government is committed to the continuation and expansion and as such will now begin enrolment and onboarding of a new Batch of beneficiaries. Skills acquisition for entrepreneurship and job creation are critical for an economy that will require a boost Post-COVID-19 and we are gearing up proactively for the challenge.”

Applications will be conducted using a hybrid system of enrolment to ensure that all Nigerians are given an opportunity to participate. As a Ministry that caters for the vulnerable, we will also make special considerations for Persons living with disabilities.

The online portal would be open to receive applications from noon on June 26, 2020, and will provide a level playing field for all applicants.

As part of the ministry’s reforms to make the programme more efficient, all applicants must supply their Bank Verification Number (BVN) in their application. This is to ensure a streamlined and transparent selection process.

Once applications are submitted, the ministry will review submissions and publish a list of successful applicants. Past beneficiaries are not eligible to participate in the application process.

Comprehensive details for the new batch will be announced in the coming weeks.

The N-Power Programme has enrolled 500,000 beneficiaries thus far – 200,000 from Batch A which started in September 2016 and 300,000 from Batch B which kicked off in August 2018. The beneficiaries were supposed to spend not less than 24 months on the programme and were spread across the key industries targeted by the program – Agriculture, Health, Education, and Tax.

The current beneficiaries from Batches A and B are scheduled to transit the programme by July 31, 2020, with plans already in place to transition them into entrepreneurship.

Vanguard

Ogun State Governor , Dapo Abiodun , has suspended the planned reopening of the religious centres in the state .

The governor said he changed his plan as earlier promised following the increase in the cases of coronavirus in the state .

Abiodun had earlier fixed June 19 for the planned reopening of the worship centres in the state and had set up a tripartite committee to work out the modalities for the reopening .

He said , “ Consequently , we are confronted with two choices – yield to the demand of those who want the restrictions to be further relaxed or even completely removed , even if this is at variance with the dictates of incontrovertible data analysis and scientific opinion ; or tow the path that preserves public health and safety , even if not so popular .

“ As a responsible administration , we choose life and the wellbeing of our citizens and are therefore constrained to take the painful but necessary decision to maintain the current regime of eased lockdown in the meantime.

“ We are consequently suspending our initially slated reopening of places of worship . ”

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige , has disclosed that the Federal Government has released N 4 . 5 bn to 31 federal teaching hospitals and medical centres nationwide .

He said the sum covered hazard and inducement allowances of striking doctors for April and May .

Ngige disclosed this to State House correspondents shortly after he , the Minister of Health , Dr Osagie Ehanire ; and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo , briefed the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , on the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors.

He said , “ Just this morning , before we went to see Mr President , the Ministry of Finance reported that as at this morning , 3 am , they have paid the allowances for hazard and inducement to 31 teaching and Federal Medical Centres and specialist hospitals of the Federal Government service and they have expended close to N 4 . 5 billion on the payment because we are paying them the arrears of April and May.

“ The payment for June will also be done immediately these ones are sorted out.

“ Again , it is important to report to you that in consonance with what he is saying, we have arranged a meeting for them to speak to the Nigerian Governors ’ Forum because you don ’ t mix apples and oranges .

“ The issue of health is on the concurrent list , so the Federal Government will do its own and the state governments will be expected to do their own. Some of their grievances border on what they feel the state governments have not done . ”

Punch/Vanguard

Sequel to the gradual easing of the COVID- 19 lockdown nationwide by the Federal Government, the Comptroller -General of Nigeria Immigration Service , Muhammad Babandede , has directed commands to commence the migrant e – registration exercise from July 1 , 2020 .

He also directed them to adhere to the COVID- 19 guidelines stipulated by the National Centre for Disease Control .

Over 30 , 000 migrants have so far registered with the NIS since the exercise commenced .

According to a statement in Abuja  , by the NIS spokesman , DCI Sunday James , the commands must clean the registration centres before migrants are granted access, check the temperature of migrants while providing sanitizer and soap for washing hands .

The migrants were expected to wear face masks and observe physical distancing .

The statement read , “ The Comptroller -General of Nigeria Immigration Service expects maximum compliance from both the operatives at the frontline and the migrants as a safety and precautionary measure to curb the spread of the COVID- 19 and safeguard lives. ”

Punch

The Federal Government says the June 21 date for the restart of domestic flights in the country is not feasible .

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika , made this known at a Presidential Task Force on COVID – 19 briefing in Abuja .

Reports had earlier reported that the PTF said aviation authorities will determine the resumption of flight operations .

PTF coordinator , Sani Aliyu , had on June 1 requested the aviation industry to develop protocols for the resumption of domestic flights anytime from June 21 .

But Sirika, who was represented by the Director- General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority , Capt Musa Nuhu , at the briefing on Thursday , said , “June 21 st is not a feasible date to resume domestic operations .

“ The civil aviation authority, despite pressures coming from all quarters ,
will not approve the start any day until we are sure and we confirm that we are ready to start in a safe , secure, organised and efficient manner . To do otherwise is disastrous for all of us .

“ If we open the industry when we are not ready , and we are guilty of spreading coronavirus, God forbid we have any incident , I believe the government will come hard on us and it is going to be counterproductive and disastrous for the industry .

“ We are not too far , we are close but there is a need for timing to ensure that we are ready, positively , absolutely ready to start work. ”

Punch

The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , has finally admitted that although the nation’ s service chiefs are trying to tackle the security challenges being experienced across the country, their best is not good enough .

He has therefore told them that he will no longer accept what he described as excuses .

The National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd . ) , disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of a meeting Buhari had with the security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja .

Monguno quoted Buhari as telling the service chiefs he appointed since 2015 that he expected them to henceforth live up to expectations.

With the rising cases of insecurity across the country, individuals and groups have been calling on the President to change the service chiefs , some of whom he has on different occasions extended their tenure.

Protests have been holding in some parts of the North , including the President ’ s homes state, Katsina , over the shoddy manner the government and security agents have been handling cases of banditry and insurgency .

Punch

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted thundery and cloudy weather conditions across the country from Wednesday to Friday.

NiMet weather outlook released in Abuja said there had been a little respite generally in rainfall activities across the country.

It said that such relief in rainfall had led to more accumulation of atmospheric moisture and increased insolation for thunderstorms occurrence during the forecast.

“For Wednesday, cloudy conditions are probable over the north, except southern Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa, Katsina, Dutse, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna where there are chances of thunderstorms in the morning.

“ Later in the day, widespread thunderstorms are anticipated. Central cities are expected to be cloudy with exception of parts of Abuja, Jos, Lokoja, Nasarawa, and Mambilla Plateau which will likely experience thunderstorms in the morning hours.

“There are better prospects of thunderstorms during the day. Thunderstorms are likely over southern cities like Obudu, Akure, Benin, Osun, Ikom, Abakaliki, Umuahia and rains over the coastal belt in the morning hours, “it said.

The agency forecast indicated that thunderstorms were likely to be over the inland later in the day with rains probable over the coastal cities.

NiMet predicted cloudy conditions over the north on Thursday, with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over Sokoto, Kebbi, Gombe, Taraba, Bauchi, Southern Borno, and Adamawa in the morning hours.

It envisaged thunderstorms likely to be over southern Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Bauchi, Gombe, Sokoto, Kebbi Maiduguri, and Yobe as the day progresses.

“Over the central states, increased cloudiness is anticipated, however, thunderstorms are likely over parts of Niger, Kwara, and Abuja in the morning.

“Cloudy condition is expected later in the day with prospects of thunderstorms over Jos, Abuja, Nasarawa, Makurdi, and Lokoja. Thunderstorms are expected over inland cities, while morning rains are anticipated over Calabar, Eket, and Port Harcourt.

“There are chances of thunderstorms over the inland cities with high prospect of rains over most parts of the coastal belt in the afternoon and evening periods, “ it said.

According to the agency, cloudy conditions with spells of sunshine are probable over the north in the morning hours of Friday with chances of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening hours.

NiMet predicted cloudy conditions over the central states with few thunderstorms over Abuja, Jos, and Makurdi in the morning hours but thunderstorms over the entire region later in the day.

It forecast increased cloudiness over the southern region with thunderstorms over Lagos and Ijebu Ode in the morning.

It further forecast a few thunderstorms over the inland and over most parts of the coastal cities in the afternoon and evening periods.

Vanguard