NIGERIAN NOTCH

The Senate has urged the Federal Government to review implementation of the policy making it compulsory for the National Identity Number (NIN) to be a prerequisite for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).  Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had previously insisted that NIN must be for the 2021 UTME. Based on that development, candidates have lamented the insistence of JAMB on the policy saying NIN requirement was adding to their registration hurdles as they were forced to go through extortion, long queues, and other unwholesome practices to obtain NIN to register for their examination.   The Senate in it's resolution therefore, asked the Ministry of Education, JAMB, and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to review the policy by extending the UTME registration deadline and NIN requirement until there is a seamless and well-organised process for obtaining NIN by candidates. The senate also called on the Federal Ministry of Education and

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) recently adjudged the Enugu Electricity Distribution PLC (EEDC) “Best in Human Resource Development for 2020”. Presenting the award to the Head, Human Resources, EEDC, Nkiru Chukwuma, at the company’s Corporate Headquarters in Enugu, the Area Manager, ITF Enugu, Uzoamaka Yahaya said the award is in recognition of EEDC’s efforts in the area of human capital development and capacity building within the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. Yahaya further revealed that the power firm clinched the coveted award for the first time by meeting and exceeding all the necessary training requirements and financial obligations. While responding on behalf of EEDC, Chukwuma appreciated ITF for acknowledging all that the company has been doing in empowering its personnel, and reiterated its continued commitment to the training and retraining of staff, bearing in mind that they remain its critical asset. “We recognize that training and retraining of employees result in exce

Nnewi- Patients and concerned Nnewi residents today, trooped to the streets of Nnewi and took their protest NAUTH alleging poor handling of patients and lack of drugs at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi, Anambra State.   The protesters, who took to the streets of the industrial city, walked from the teaching hospital through the NITEL Junction, down to Igwe Orizu Road, displaying placards of different inscriptions such as: “No more sale of drugs in NAUTH,” “Much avoidable deaths are occurring in NAUTH,” “There should be enough drugs in NAUTH, why referring patients outside the hospital,” “Buhari should dissolve the Afukonyo-led Board in NAUTH, sack Ugbaja, the CMD; they’re the cause of problems in NAUTH,” among other inscriptions. Speaking during the protest, leader of the protesters, who gave his name as Emmanuel Okoye, said: “The people you see here are patients, patient relations, and residents of Anambra State, and Nnewi in particular. We’re here to pro

By Byijindu Emeruwa  Elder statesman and Pioneer chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia state chairman, Chief Tony Ukasanya has lambasted Senate Chip Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu for allegedly failing to lay solid foundation for the infrastructural development to thrive in the state when he held sway as Governor of Abia between 1999 to 2007. Ukasanya lamented that at the early stage of Orji Kalu's past administration, nothing was planned, and due to lack of foundation, it became difficult for people coming after that tenure of government to follow with a plan. He maintained that nothing was on the ground for other successive governments to follow. Ukasanya who spoke during an interview with select Journalists in Umuahia, further claimed that ex-Abia Governor plunged Abia citizenry into untold hardship and suffering with draconian policies. According to him, "If there was foundation, subsequent governments would have followed and continued to build from what they

Nigeria's economic future is very bleak and if nothing drastic is done to address the mass youth unemployment, this Country will collapse within the next decade. Our population is exploding by the year, millions of young people leave colleges and universities every year and are emptied into a non existent job Market; yes indeed there is no job Market in Nigeria; none at all, yet we produce millions of Mid-level and High-level graduates every year. Can we pause a while and imagine what this Country will look like in the next fifteen years when oil will become almost useless?. The picture is not just grim but terrifying. Nigeria can no longer afford analog leadership when the world has long gone digital. In the last twenty years of this democratic Republic since 1999, we have remained on a roller coaster; under the same centripetal force that has kept us in circles without progress. There has never been a deliberate effort to recreate our economic base and move it from it's analo

Education is the bedrock of every economy and has to be taken serious.  It is on this backdrop that today Saturday, 15th May 2021, the Honorable Minister of State Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba went on an inspection visit to the Federal Science & Technical College, Ahoada,Rivers State.  Due to the recurring incidents that affects the welfare of students of the secondary school, he took a first hand tour of the school facilities.  The Honorable Minister hammered on the need for efficient management of both the school infrastructure and its human resource. He maintained that nothing can be achieved if there is no proper management. He was received by the school Principal, Mr. Madukwe C.O who led the school management team round the school for the minister to note first hand, the problems and how they can be solved. The students were also appreciative of the fact that the minister took out time from his busy schedule to attend to their welfare and prayed that God gives him the s

  ~ As Seriake condemns, calls for cessation of all forms of attacks on the Police    The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc today, Friday, 14th May, 2021 received the immediate past Executive Governor of Bayelsa State and currently, the Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, His Excellency, Henry Seriake Dickson, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.  Senator Henry Seriake Dickson noted he was at the Force Headquarters to solidarize with the IGP and the entire police family on the account of the dastardly and criminal acts of terrorism, unprovoked and coordinated attacks on Police, murder of innocent police officers and malicious damage of security assets and other Government infrastructure in some parts of the country. The Senator, unequivocally condemned the attacks and called for a cessation of all such criminal act. He asserted that the Police is not the problem of the nation and should not be seen as the enemy of the people.    

The Police Command in Ebonyi has warned native doctors against providing criminals with charms to perpetrate criminal activities in the state. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Loveth Odah, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abakaliki. Odah, who said the command was committed to the protection of lives and property, urged native doctors in the state and country at large to steer clear of unlawful businesses.  NAN reports that the police had on April 30 discovered the decomposed bodies of two young men in a shallow grave inside Uduku-Igbudu forest in Agubia, Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi. The victims were said to have been abducted and buried alive inside the forest by their abductors, including two native doctors, who have been arrested by the police.  According to Odah, the deceased were blindfolded while ropes were tied to their necks when their decomposing bodies were exhumed by the police. “We went to the f

…exonerate Speaker Gbajabiamila Abuja Members of the House of Representatives have descended on the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan for opposing the call of the southern governors for restructuring and true federalism. They said that Lawan through his utterances has shown biases, technically killing the constitutional review committee. It will be recalled that the Senate President had while granting an interview to State House Correspondents on Thursday after observing the Eid prayers alongside President Muhammadu Buhari and the Speaker of the House of Representatives at the Presidential Villa, Abuja vented his opposition to the restructuring call. Speaking exclusively to Saturday Vanguard on the matter, some members of the House however exonerated Gbajabiamila from the opposition. The lawmakers included Hon. Sergius Ogun, representing Esan North East/ South East Federal Constituency of Edo State; Hon. Kingsley Chinda, representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State and Hon.

The front line gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressives Congress and the Chairman/CEO of the Wichtech Group, Dr. Chidozie Nwankwo has felicitated with the foremost traditional ruler and the chairman of the Anambra Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe as he celebrates his 80th birthday today, May 14th 2021. Speaking through his media office, Dr. Chidozie Nwankwo stated that Igwe Achebe has redefined what it was to be a traditional ruler at this time by successfully marrying traditions alongside the need to progress. He further stated that the traditional ruler of the ancient Onitsha kingdom is a statesman who need to be understudied by all and sundry as he has played his fatherly role exceptionally well in the state and have become a stabilizing hand in activities of our state. Dr. Chidozie Nwankwo further wished him more wisdom, knowledge, health and good fortune so that he can continue to add his quota to the development of the state by offering advises and

Manchester City football club was on Tuesday confirmed winner of the 2020/2021 English Premier League (EPL). For those who follow football keenly, whether it is played in the dusty fields of Ajegunle, in Lagos, the La Liga in Spain, Italian Serie A, German Bundesliga, or EPL, this was one pulsating season, filled with excitement, despite the absence of physical spectators, due to the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. As someone who gets his kick from football (from what do you get your’s?) the fact that Manchester City got crowned champions three games to the end of the season, after Manchester United lost 1-2 at home to Leicester City, holds great significance even for our country, and what she is currently passing through. Unique lessons can be drawn, which can inspire us as a people. Since it was established in 1880, Manchester City was winning the League for the 7th time. Incidentally, five of the victories were in the past 10 years. Three of them are in four years, under the current coa