State Government
Cross River TUC denies bribery allegation
File Photo Officials of the Trade Union Congress, Cross River State chapter, have denied receiving bribe from the state government to back out of the strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress scheduled to begin on Monday. The state branch of the NLC through its chairman, Benedict Ukpepi, had declared an indefinite strike from Monday over unpaid gratuities, pensions, among other issues after the expiration of an ultimatum issued to the government. But the TUC branch in the state, as well as other affiliate unions, had said they won’t join the industrial action, noting that the timing – being amid the Covid-19 pandemic – was wrong. Speaking at a media briefing on Saturday, the State Secretary of the union, Ken Bassey, said, “Nobody has collected a dime from the government. And the TUC is ...
UCH denies receiving N118 million coronavirus donation from Oyo
The University College Hospital has denied receiving any money from the Oyo State Government in its fight against COVID-19 in the state. The Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Toye Akinrinlola, made this known in a press statement on Wednesday. Newsmen report that Oyo had claimed that over N2.7 billion had been spent on the fight against COVID-19 in the state. While giving the breakdown, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinola Ojo, said a total of N900.5 million was spent on procurement of the COVID-19 palliatives and seedlings; N370.6 million was spent on the upgrade of the Infectious Diseases Centre at Olodo; N453.7 million on securing borders, security trucks and personnel; N118 million as support to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, for COVID-19 tests. But the hospital s...
Kaduna reviews nutrition plan to include coronavirus response
The Kaduna State Government has started the review of the 2020 Operational Plan of its Multi-sectoral Strategic Plan of Action on Nutrition (KDMSPAN) to include Coronavirus (COVID-19) response activities. Mr Mahmoud Yamusa, Permanent Secretary, Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), said this at the on-going two-day Food and Nutirtion Co-ordination Meeting with Development Partners, organised by the Commission. Yamusa, who was represented by the Director, Development Aid Coordination, PBC, Mr Salisu Lawal, said that the review was necessary following the outbreak of COVID-19 and its effect on nutrition intervention in the state. He said that the review was also to enable the state implement nutrition activities in line with COVID-19 nutrition response. On his part, Lawal said that the objec...
Oyo HoS urges workers to comply with coronavirus guidelines
The Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs Ololade Agboola, has called on civil and public servants in the state to comply strictly with the COVID-19 guidelines, as they resumed work on Monday. Agboola, in a statement issued on Monday in Ibadan by her Media Officer, Mr Abiodun Atilola, listed wearing of facemasks, regular washing of hands/use of sanitisers and observance of social distancing as some of the precautionary measures. She further stated that the workers were restricted from moving from one office to another, except for very important official purposes. Newsmen report that workers from grade level 12 downward resumed duties on Monday to join their counterparts on grade level 13 and above who had resumed work after the March 27 closure of the secretariat due to coronavirus. Agboola furth...
Taraba governor launches 100-bed capacity isolation centre
Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba on Monday launched a 100-bed capacity isolation and treatment centre at the state NYSC Orientation Camp in Jalingo. He said that the establishment of the centre was part of measures to tackle the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Taraba. Represented by his Deputy, Haruna Manu, the governor said “there is currently no single case of COVID-19 in Taraba.” He explained that the move was, however, aimed at taking precautionary measures toward checking any spread in the event of an emergency. He commended the management of Access Bank PLC for donating beds for the centre and urged other well spirited individuals and groups to support government efforts at ensuring that the state remained COVID-19 free. Ishaku further urged the people to abide by the best global hygi...
Ekiti opens sexual assault referral centre for victims
The Ekiti State Government has established a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) where victims of rape and other molestations will receive medical and psychological attention, rather than being abandoned to suffer. The government also assured that it will strengthen the adopted policy of naming and shaming of perpetrators of rape, by publishing their photographs on the state’s website and pasting in public palaces. The wife of the state governor, Mrs Bisi Fayemi gave the revelation on Friday while making a presentation on the floor of the Assembly during an advocacy visit to expand the frontiers of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention in the state. She stated that the referral centre, located within the premises of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti will provide we...
Anambra should put donations for coronavirus to work – doctors
As resident doctors at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, Awka, the Anambra State capital, embarked on a strike on Monday, they have advised the Anambra State Government to put donations made by philanthropists for COVID-19 to the purpose they were meant. The chapter President of the body Dr Obinna Aniagboso, told newsmen on Tuesday as he ran round to mobilise members for the strike that apart from the fact that his members are not paid hazard allowance as approved by the Federal Government, there were other outstanding issues the resident doctors are yet to thrash out with the State Government. Aniagboso said: “Throughout this period we work every day exposing ourselves to danger and you know the situation in Anambra state. There is increasing number...
Lagos seals 56 illegal structures in Ikoyi, Banana Island
The Lagos State Government has asked 56 property owners sealed in Ikoyi and on the Banana Island axis to produce their building plan permits and evidence of stage certification. The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, said this in a statement released to newsmen by Mr. Mukaila Sanusi, the spokesman of the ministry on Sunday. Salako had during an ongoing Special Enforcement Operations, said that the government was alarmed at the rate of unapproved and illegal structures springing up in Ikoyi and on Banana Island of the state. “The exercise continues to send strong signals of government’s determination to guard the State Operative Development Plans. “Also, it is meant to curb illegal physical developments as the buildings/building construction sites se...
Jigawa ex-speaker drags speaker to court over committee chairmanship
The previous speaker in the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji Isa Idris, and three other House members have vowed to challenge the current Speaker, Alhaji Idris Garba, for stripping them of committee chairmanships. The aggrieved members include the former majority leader from Gumel constituency, Alhaji Isa Isyaku, who was until his removal the Chairman of the Emergency Relief Committee, while the former chief whip from Ringim constituency, Alhaji Aminu Sule, was Chairman, House Committee on Due Process. Former Speaker Idris, who was the Chairman, House Committee on Dutse Community Development Authority (DCDA), was stripped of his chairmanship along with a member representing Taura, Alhaji Dayyabu Shehu, was removed as Chairman, Committee on Petitions. The embattled members have accu...
Gombe Assembly passes local government joint project bill
The Gombe State House of Assembly has passed into law a bill for a law to provide for the establishment of a joint project development agency and other matters related thereto. However, the bill did not have a smooth sail following the ‘dust’ raised against the bill by Mr Rambi Ibrahim Ayala, representing Billiri East State Constituency. Mr Rambi is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary. The State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya had sent the bill which in other words, subjects initiation and execution of Local Government projects to the proposed agency. During its sitting on 4th February, 2020, the House, in receipt of the bill, after deliberations, referred the bill to the joint committee for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and that of Judiciary for further scruti...
Lagos to deliver Pen Cinema Bridge November
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday said it will complete and deliver the Pen Cinema Bridge by November, 2020. Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs Aramide Adeyoye, made this known while rendering account of the activities of the Ministry in the last one year. “The construction of Pen Cinema flyover and access roads in Agege, currently at over 50% stage of work is scheduled for completion in November this year 2020. “On completion the flyover is expected to resolve the perennial traffic gridlock in Agege and its environs,” she said. Adeyoye listed works carried out by the Ministry during the period under review to include continuation of projects embarked upon by the immediate past administration such as the Agric-Isawo road, Igbogbo-Igbe road, completion of...
Governor Wike: Some Rivers coronavirus cases recorded in hotels
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has stated that the State Security Council takes all decisions regarding the management of COVID-19 in the state. Wike, who stated this on Tuesday when the executive members of the Nigeria Hotel Association, Rivers State Chapter, paid him a courtesy visit, noted that all decisions taken by the state government were for the overall good and interest of Rivers people. According to him, no right-thinking government will deliberately make decisions that will negatively affect the lives of the people. “I don’t take decisions alone in the fight against COVID-19. All decisions are taken by the State Security Council and they are for the overall interest of Rivers people. “You know people applaud government decisions when it suits them but when it does not favou...
