The Abia State government has confirmed the sacking of about 7000 workers from the state civil service who were employed by the immediate past administration between January and March 2023.

The names of the affected people have also been removed from the state payroll.

The sacking of the workers said to have been illegally employed was disclosed by Prince Okey Kanu, the state Commissioner for information during a press briefing after the Executive Council meeting in Umuahia on Tuesday.

The information boss revealed that about N600 million has been saved with the sacking.

According to Kanu, over 2,300 ghost workers had been discovered through the on-going biometric verification of workers in the state, which has helped to save over N220 million monthly.

He restated the commitment of the Otti-led government to improve the welfare of workers and pay their salaries regularly.

The Government’s spokesman charged workers to reciprocate Government gestures with rededication to duty, stressing that Government would no longer tolerate nonchalant attitude.

He however warned workers who had converted their offices into business centres to discontinue with such attitude as it would no longer be allowed.

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) says it will soon meet with stakeholders in the broadcasting industry to review the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, this is as the commission revealed that it is considering upward review of television and radio stations licence fees.

NBC’s Director General Malam, Balareba Shehu Ilelah disclosed this at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday.

Though the press conference was called to announce the hosting of this year’s African broadcast exhibition (Africast) slated for October 24 to 26 in Lagos, Ilelah however disclosed that the broadcast code would be reviewed after all the stakeholders in the industry had made their inputs into it.

“We will seek contributions from all stakeholders in the industry to review the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. We also considering upward review of the broadcast licence for TV and radio stations”, the NBC DG said.

He said the NBC as a regulator would ensure that the broadcast media performed their roles as required by the law.

But in his contribution during the press conference, the Executive Secretary of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Dr Yemisi Bamgbose advised NBC against hiking broadcast licence fees now.

Bamgbose said it was a known fact that the broadcast industry in the country is in dire need of a lifeline, adding that increasing licence fees or any other fees might kill many of the stations.

“Let me appeal to the DG and of course the NBC not to increase the licence fee now. Broadcasters are already going through a very difficult time so I don’t think this is the best time to increase their licence fee or any other fees at all”, the BON scribe said.

Daily Trust reports that the current Nigeria Broadcast Code which was issued in 2016 and amended in 2020 contains rules and regulations guiding the industry and its practitioners in the country.

You will agree with me that it has become part of the culture of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to constantly dialogue with Nigerians who voted him into office. The President covenanted with Nigerians that their welfare and security will be topmost in the Renewed Hope Agenda of his government.

In the last few days, the conventional and new media platforms have become awash with stories of the government intending to embark on conditional cash transfer to vulnerable households mostly affected by the painful but necessary decision to remove subsidy from petrol.

The story has been widely reported that the Federal Government is proposing to give 12 million households from the poorest of the poor N8,000 monthly for a period of six months as government palliative to reduce the discomfort being experienced by Nigerians consequent upon subsidy removal.

A lot of ill-informed imputations have been read into the programme by not a few naysayers. The Administration believes in the maxim that when there is prohibition, there must be provision. Since subsidy, the hydra-headed monster threatening to kill the economy, has been stopped, government has emplaced a broad spectrum of reliefs to bring help to Nigerians.

While it should be noted that cash programme is not the only item in the whole gamut of relief package of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a listening leader who has vowed to always put Nigerians at the heart of his policy and programme, the President has directed as follows:-

1. That the N8,000 conditional cash transfer programmed envisaged to bring succour to most vulnerable households be reviewed immediately. This is in deference to the views expressed by Nigerians against it.

2. That the whole gamut of palliative package of government be unveiled to Nigerians.

3. Immediate release of fertilisers and grains to approximately 50 million farmers and households respectively in all the 36 states and the FCT.  

The President further assures Nigerians that the N500 billion approved by parliament to cushion the pain occasioned by the end of subsidy regime will be judiciously utilised. The beneficiaries of the reliefs shall be Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic, religious or political affiliation.

President Bola Tinubu has promised to always prioritize the wellbeing of Nigerians and he is irrevocably committed to the vow. A number of decisions taken so far by this Administration have buttressed this stance.

You will recall that the President took a similar decision after listening to complaints from the business community/stakeholders about burdensome taxes, particularly multiplicity of taxes they are made to experience. This warranted the signing of four (4) Executive Orders cancelling some classes of taxes, while suspending the implementation dates of others.

In addition, the President has also set up a Tax Reform/Fiscal Policy Committee to bring up recommendations that will engender a wholesome fiscal environment for the country and remove anti-business barriers.

I wish to assure Nigerians that President Tinubu will continue to be a listening leader whose ears will not be dull to the views expressed by the citizenry. The President believes government exists to cater for the interest of the people and he has demonstrated this so clearly.

Thank you all.

Dele Alake

Special Adviser to the President

(Special Duties, Communications and Strategy)

July 18, 2023

The Nigerian Government announced it has ensured the sum of the disbursement of N308.45 billion promissory notes to 199 Nigerian exporting companies.

They also added that in a bid to boost the promotion of non-oil exports in Nigeria, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is in the works with the National Universities Commission (NUC), to teach export promotion in Nigerian Universities.

This was disclosed on Monday by The Executive Director of NEPC, Dr Ezra Yakusak, in Abuja at the presentation of the first half-year progress report on the non-oil export performance for 2023.

Food processing

Dr Yakusak revealed that NEPC has concluded plans for the establishment of a cashew processing plant in Ogbomosho, Oyo State.

He said  that the development was in line with the council’s mandate and efforts to strengthen its value-addition campaign, adding:

• “NEPC under its export development programme for priority products has concluded plans for the establishment of a cashew processing plant in Ogbomosho, Oyo State on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.”

The NEPC chief noted that Ogbomosho cashew is globally acknowledged as a brand for good quality and thereby highly sought after in the international market, adding they havesince commenced processes towards setting up the processing plant.

University curriculum

Yakusak said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would soon be signed between NEPC and the National Universities Commission (NUC), to promote export promotion in Nigerian universities.

He added that when introduced would go a long way in enabling undergraduates to become employers of labour and be self-reliant after graduation.

• “This initiative will further complement the efforts of NEPC at promoting the “Export4Survival Campaign’’ which is targeted at increasing the export of Nigeria’s non-oil product.”

Other developments

The NEPC revealed it inaugurated an Export Trade House (ETH) in Hunan Province, China in April 19, 2023.

Yakusak noted that this is part of NEPC’s efforts to increase the export of Made-in-Nigeria products to China.

• “The establishment of the ETH is a collaborative effort between the NEPC and Zeenab Foods Limited under a Public-Private-Partnership arrangement.
• “With the opening of the China ETH, the Council has launched and operationalised a total number of four ETHs which are located in Cairo, Egypt, Lome in Togo, Nairobi in Kenya and China.
• “Plans are underway to establish another ETH in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)”.

Promissory notes

They revealed that they have ensured the disbursement of N308.45billion promissory notes to 199 Nigeria exporting companies, as non-oil exports in the first half of 2023 generated 2.539 billion dollars adding:

• “Following the approval of the Federal Government, the disbursement to 199 exporting companies under the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) Scheme has since been completed.”

The Federal Government said the risk assessment conducted by the human health sector showed that the likelihood of an outbreak of anthrax disease in the country is high.

The FG also said that the potential impact of the disease on humans is high.

These were made known on Monday night in a joint press statement signed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Columba Vakuru, and the Director General of NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa.

The government, however, noted that it has activated the incident management system at level two with an incident manager appointed for effective coordination of the response.

Earlier, FMARD confirmed one case of Anthrax disease in a mixed livestock farm in Niger State.

This is the first animal case to be reported in Nigeria since the beginning of the West Africa outbreak in Ghana in June 2023.

FMARD said on July 13, 2023, the sudden deaths of livestock in this farm with eight mortality was reported and the animals who died were observed to have been bleeding from external orifices without blood clotting.

Following this report, samples were collected on July 14, 2023, from multiple species in this livestock farm and transported to the National Veterinary Research Institute, VOM, Plateau State for testing and the results were positive for anthrax.

The statement read in part, “Further investigation is also ongoing to trace the source of the infection and to identify the spread to other farms and humans. Though human exposure has been reported, there are no reports so far of human symptoms or mortality.

“The FMARD and the NCDC are currently working closely with the Niger State Ministries of Health and Agriculture to identify, isolate and follow up all exposed persons. The NCDC has activated the incident management system at level two today with an incident manager appointed for effective coordination of the response. The risk assessment conducted by the human health sector today remained HIGH for the likelihood of an outbreak and its potential impact on humans.

“The FMARD was able to diagnose anthrax and provide early intervention within 48 hours of notification of suspected animal deaths. The Government of Nigeria, through the FMARD and NCDC and other one-health stakeholders, have put measures in place to ensure any outbreak of Anthrax in Nigeria is quickly detected, controlled, and contained.”

Anthrax is a severe disease caused by the bacteria – Bacillus anthracis. It can affect both humans and animals, including wild animals and livestock such as cows, pigs, camels, sheep, goats, etc.

The bacteria, which exist as spores, can be found in the soil, wool, or hair of infected animals. Anthrax spores are resistant to extreme conditions and can survive in the soil or environment for decades, making controlling or eradicating the disease very difficult. The spores are brought to the surface by wet weather, by deep digging, or when eaten by livestock or wild animals when they graze.

Anthrax affects humans through skin infection, gastrointestinal, and inhalation.

[Punch]

Hundreds of thousands of immigrants who enter Canada annually are required to take a language test. But their scores expire within the next two years — one of many problems critics have with the test. 

The Canadian government invited 431,645 permanent residents into the country last year — a record high. Most are required to be proficient in either English or French. 

Applicants can attempt either of the two tests recognized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) — the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Both cost more than $250 and the results are only valid for two years. There are also French tests that have the same validity period and cost about the same.

Results from a language test are also sometimes required when immigrants enrol in university or apply for work permits. 

The price of the exam, and potentially having to pay to take it multiple times, is just one issue advocates and prospective residents have with the test. Some see it as an insufficient way of assessing someone's candidacy for residence in Canada. 

Language abilities 'being called into question'

Ukwori Ejibe, now an Alberta-resident, moved to Canada from Nigeria in 2020. She holds an undergraduate degree from the U.S. and two master's degrees — one from Paris and one from Singapore.

But before moving to Canada, she attempted the IELTS test twice in Nigeria, where English is the official language.

Language test scores are assigned a point value. Applicants also get points for things like education and work experience. The more points an applicant has, the greater their chances of becoming a permanent resident.

Ejibe's first scores in 2016 were not high enough to gain permanent residency. After her second attempt, she was invited to immigrate.

She says she was "quite upset" to learn she'd have to take the test a third time to gain admission to the university program she wanted to attend in B.C. 

"It's definitely an expensive process to move to Canada, and one of the reasons why it's so expensive is because the IELTS is not like other processes, that you, hopefully, just do once," she said.

When Ejibe took the test for the third time, she said she didn't prepare as much as she had before, but still got a great score. 

"You feel like you've gone through all the hurdles and your English abilities are being called into question, and this is for someone who went to school in the U.S. and got educated in Nigeria in English." 

Concern about validity period

Syed Hussan, the executive director of the advocacy group Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, says most people they work with have difficulty passing the test on their first try, even if English is their first and only language. 

"It is a massive money-making machine," he said, noting the fact that the tests have a two-year expiry date before they have to be taken again makes it apparent that the exams are cash grabs. 

"It just goes to show it's just a way to get money out of people and not really assess people's ability to work or live in Canada," he said. 

The application for permanent residency costs $1,365. Ejibe says she has spent roughly $1,000 on tests alone, and says they just add onto an already expensive process. 

Unlike permanent resident applicants, those seeking citizenship don't need to take the test again if they've passed it once. They can submit their test results even if they've expired. 

Ejibe wonders about the rationale behind this.

"If they can do this for citizenship, they should consider it for immigration purposes, too," she said. 

Elena Ashford, an Ontario-based immigration lawyer, says these English language test scores play a significant role in a person's eligibility to move to Canada and considers the cost of the tests to be an issue. 

"Many individuals have to retake the test and that's a lot of money. I don't understand why the test expires within two years," she said. 

Maintaining proficiency 'critical': IRCC

British Council, the U.K.-based organization that offers IELTS, recommends test results remain valid for a period of two years. IRCC says it has followed this recommendation in its policy since it first began using third-party language testing.

IRCC said via email that the two-year validity period is meant to take into consideration factors like how often people actually speak the language they're supposed to be proficient in, how recently they've had instruction in the language and if they've maintained their level of language proficiency.

"It is critical to ensure that their language proficiency does not deteriorate over time, prior to landing," the email said. 

In its emailed response, IRCC said language proficiency is strongly associated with positive economic outcomes and has been shown to have a direct impact on increased earnings and finding suitable employment. 

But some still say the language tests aren't a reliable indicator of how well a person will do after immigrating to Canada. 

When the temporary resident to permanent residency pathway was introduced in 2021, Hussan says traffic on the language testing sites was so heavy the websites crashed. 

He says using the language tests to determine a person's ability to thrive in a new country is baseless and thinks it would be better to update the assessment system entirely.

"If you've been working in Canada already, that should be proof enough, if you've been studying here, that should be proof enough."

[cbc]

Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe has lost his spot as the most valuable football player in the world, according to the latest report by Football Benchmark.

The 24-year-old has already topped the list of previous editions released by the renowned football business portal.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is now occupying the position.

Mbappe and Haaland are widely regarded as the two main dominant forces in European football at the moment, following the departure of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo from the continent.

Haaland is now valued at an estimated €194.2 million, and this figure puts him on top as the world’s most valuable player.

Haaland scored an astonishing 53 goals in a single season to help Manchester City win the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup last season.

Mbappe, the Frenchman, who is now placed second on the list, reached the 2022 FIFA World Cup final with France and helped PSG win last season’s Ligue 1 title.

He currently has an estimated value of €181.6 million.

Sheriff’s authorities on Tuesday reported that a three-year-old baby shot and killed a one-year-old sibling with a handgun that had been left unsecured in a home in San Diego, California.

It was not immediately clear who reported the shooting or where the children’s parents were at the time of the incident.

Authorities said deputies in Fallbrook arrived and found the one-year-old girl, who had sustained “head injury.’’

The child was taken to Palomar Hospital where she died an hour later. The Sheriff’s department did not release the name of the child who was fatally injured.

Investigators, however, said the department’s Homicide Unit was working to gather more information about the incident.

NAN

Victor Osimhen has been offered a new two-year contract extension with a salary worth N6.5bn — €6.5m plus €1m in bonuses.

Serie A champions, Napoli offered Osimhen the new package to keep him at the club.

Osimhen has been attracting top European clubs following his outstanding performance which helped Napoli secure the title, their first in 33 years. The club has now offered Osimhen a new two-year contract extension with a salary worth N6.5bn — €6.5m plus €1m in bonuses, according to reports.

Skysports reported on Monday that Napoli was in advanced talks to extend his (Osimhen) contract until 2027 with an increase in salary.

Osimhen who has two years left in his contract had earlier requested an improved deal with €7 million. Napoli has now, however, tabled their offer that comes with a release clause of £170m.

Napoli’s new manager, Rudi Garcia had confirmed that Osimhen would remain at the club ahead of the new season, saying “Of course, I have spoken to Osimhen who wants to stay here to make another great season with Napoli.”

“I can assure you that he (OsImhen) wants to stay, he is happy to be with us and still wants to do great things.”

Osimhen scored 26 goals plus five assists in 32 league appearances for Napoli last season.

Hunger is violence. Many freaks, upheavals and misfortunes of history were by the fashioning of hunger. Hunger is a maximum ruler. It sets in motion inexorable forces of chaos and anarchy.

The French Revolution had the spurring of hunger. In 1788, France was scourged by deleterious winter resulting in widespread famine. Citizens were seized by hunger. They starved as the famine ratcheted up its grip. The price of bread became unaffordable. Soon, riots broke out in some cities, including Paris, the country was broke, and by 1789, the revolution conjured by hunger, with the alliance of some concomitants, began.

In Africa, food riots have led to the spiralling of violence, chaos, and anarchy. In 2018, "the bread revolution" in Sudan upended the country. The consequence of that revolution today is Sudan in the throes of a civil war. The Arab Spring and the Tunisia bread riots were also some of the fashioning of hunger. Why always bread?

We must appreciate the power of hunger to deal delicately with matters of food security. Food security is national security. In policymaking, addressing hunger is pivotal -- because "foodology" is at the nucleus of existence. Hunger is a mad man.

It is within this context that the federal government’s expeditious declaration of state of emergency on food security is most judicious. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s annual inflation rate rose to 22.79% in June relative to May headline inflation rate of 22.41%. Food inflation rose to 25.25% on a year-on-year basis in June 2023, higher than the rate recorded in June 2022 -- 20.60%. Evidently, this is a national emergency.

The federal government says all matters pertaining to food and water availability and affordability, as essential livelihood items, will now be within the purview of the National Security Council. It also says it will deploy some savings from the fuel subsidy removal into the agricultural sector focusing on revamping the sector.

According to Mr Dele Alake, spokesman of the government, the immediate intervention strategies are -- release of fertilizers and grains to farmers and households to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal; urgent synergy between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Water Resources to ensure adequate irrigation of farmlands and to guarantee that food is produced all-year round; creation of a National Commodity Board that will review and continuously assess food prices as well as maintain a strategic food reserve that will be used as a price stabilisation mechanism for critical grains and other food items; and engage the security architecture to protect the farms and the farmers so that farmers can return to the farmlands without fear of attacks.

Mr Alake says through the National Commodity Board the government will moderate spikes and dips in food prices.

Other measures he says the government is initiating to arrest the current drift are: ‘’Activation of land banks. There is currently 500,000 hectares of already mapped land that will be used to increase availability of arable land for farming which will immediately impact food output; Mechanization and land clearing - The government will also collaborate with mechanization companies to clear more forests & make them available for farming; River basins - there are currently 11 rivers basins that will ensure planting of crops during the dry season with irrigation schemes that will guarantee continuous farming production all year round, to stem the seasonal glut and scarcity that we usually experience. We will deploy concessionary capital/funding to the sector especially towards fertilizer, processing, mechanization, seeds, chemicals, equipment, feed, labour, etc. The concessionary funds will ensure food is always available and affordable thereby having a direct impact on Nigeria’s Human Capital Index (HCI). This administration is focused on ensuring the HCI numbers, which currently ranks as the 3rd lowest in the world, are improved for increased productivity; Transportation and Storage: The cost of transporting Agricultural products has been a major challenge (due to permits, toll gates, and other associated costs). When the cost of moving farm produce is significantly impacted - it will immediately be passed to the consumers, which will affect the price of food - the government will explore other means of transportation including rail and water transport, to reduce freight costs and in turn impact the food prices.’’

These remedial measures are timely and show that the government is attuned to the prevailing hardship. Addressing hunger is critical to deploying and sustaining other government plans and programmes. Nigerians have got to feed.

Food security is national security. No nation can secure itself if its citizens are hungry. Insecurity, itself, is a manifestation of the corollaries of hunger. So, addressing food security with deliverable targets and a Marshall Plan is a must, and a commendable effort.

A bulk of household cash is spent on food. According to the 2023 Minimum Wage report, the cost of basic food items required for survival by an average Nigerian family rose by 17.5 percent to N48,130 in January 2023 from N40,980 in 2022. So, if food prices are effectively tempered through incentivised agriculture, much of the quotidian stress many Nigerians are going through will be alleviated.

I believe "service plans" -- like the food security initiative -- are the most effective in addressing the collateral ramifications of policy implementation and in achieving a multiplier effect in mass survivance.

Another important service plan is the review of the minimum wage, which the government is currently working on. The cost of basic food items required for sustenance by an average Nigerian family is already above the minimum wage mark. So, this is most elemental. Some state governments, like that of Imo, have already begun to initiate a review of their own accord.

It is important that these plans are followed timeously -- as the government is already doing.

Nigerians have got to eat.

 Fredrick Nwabufo, Nwabufo aka Mr One-Nigeria is a media executive.