By Adenike Ayodele

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, on Thursday sensitised students of Ikeja junior and senior high schools about zero tolerance for sexual and other forms of abuse.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day outreach is aimed to enlighten the students on how to get lawyers’ representation whenever child abuse occurs.

The outreach with the theme: “Zero Tolerance for Child Abuse: Speak Out”, featured presentations on basic children’s rights.

The Chairman of the branch’s Human Rights Committee, Mrs Tracy Amadigwe-Dike, said that children were important to every society and should have their rights adequately protected.

Amadigwe-Dike, also the Vice-Chairman of the branch, told the students that their rights as contained in the Child Rights Law of Lagos State, were meant to protect them from physical, emotional and sexual abuse.

According to her, even harsh words affect children’s reasonings and mindsets.

She regretted that parents, sometimes, spoke harshly to their children.

“We have received various cases of sexual abuse, and that has become worrisome to us.

“We are urging you not to be afraid to report sexual abuse when it occurs around you or to you, even if it is your parents that abused you.

“The law does not allow it,” she said.

The vice-chairman advised the students to speak up and report to the association’s legal clinic, if any teacher would touch them inappropriately.

“As a student, if a teacher touches you or makes unwanted advances, you have to report it to us at the legal clinic, which holds every Thursday morning.

“We promise to help you to get representation in court,” she said.

Other members of the committee addressed the students also on human rights matters.

Mrs Linda Igiewe spoke on children’s right against discrimination and their right to equal access to education.

Mrs Chinenye Ude spoke on the right of children not to be exposed to the use of narcotics and psychotropic substances. (NAN)

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Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu/Ijeoma Popoola

By Okeoghene Akubuike

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says there has been an upward trend in the life expectancy of both males and females from year 2020 to 2022.

This is according to the NBS Statistical Report on Women and Men in Nigeria 2022 released in Abuja on Wednesday.

The NBS said the statistical report analysed the status of women and men across Nigeria from 2020 to 2022 using statistics from agencies at the Federal and state levels.

The report covered six key economic policy domains: Population, Health, Education, Employment, Power and Decision-Making in Governance, and Violence Against Women and Crime.

The report said the life expectancy of females in 2020 was 56.6 years, it increased to 56.9 years in 2021 and 57.2 years in 2022.

It said the life expectancy for males in 2020 was 54.6 years, it increased to 54.8 years in 2021, and 55.1 in 2022.

The NBS said according to the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS)/National Immunisation Coverage Survey (NICS) report, Nigeria recorded 75 live births per 1,000 women among adolescents.

“Under-five mortality rate stood at 102 per 1,000 live births, the adolescent fertility rate was 75 live births per 1,000 women and the crude birth rate was 31.7 live births per 1,000 women.”

“In addition, the neonatal mortality rate in Nigeria was 34 per 1,000 live births, while the infant mortality rate stood at 63 per 1,000 live births.”

Also, the 2021 MICS/NICS report showed that the percentage of pregnant women who attended antenatal care and were seen at least once by skilled health personnel was 69.60 per cent.

The report said the percentage of females aged 15 to 49 with knowledge of HIV in 2022 was 74.01 per cent and 70.70 per cent for males.

“The percentage of females with access to anti-retroviral treatment was 66.46 per cent in 2020, which decreased to 64.99 per cent in 2021, and 64.00 per cent in 2022.”

The report showed that there were more male medical doctors compared to female doctors in Nigeria.

“The percentage of female doctors in 2020 was 36.03 per cent, which increased to 37.16 per cent in 2021 and declined to 35.42 per cent in 2022.

The report said that the percentage of female dentists in Nigeria was below 50 per cent across the period under review.

It said since independence, no woman has been appointed as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The report also showed there were more male judges in the Federal Courts in 2020, 2021, and 2022 with 168, 184, and 191 compared to the female judges with 79, 92, and 92, respectively.

The NBS said 67.31 per cent of females and 77.35 per cent of males were employed in Q4 of 2022 in Nigeria.

The report said the underemployment rate of females in Q4 2022 stood at 16.70 per cent, compared to males at 11.00 per cent.

It said the percentage of unemployed females in Q4 2022 stood at 6.60 per cent, while the percentage of unemployed males was 4.00 per cent.

The report said according to the National Directorate of Employment data, the percentage of females who benefited from the Enterprise Development Programme was 59.81 per cent in 2020.

“It declined to 11.14 per cent in 2021 and increased to 55.00 per cent in 2022.”

The report said females were the highest beneficiaries in the National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (NOAS) in 2020, 2021, and 2022 with 54.94 per cent, 57.86 per cent, and 61.93 per cent, respectively. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

By Abiodun Lawal

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero, has described the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, as a ruler with a difference and a leader to be emulated.

Bayero, who stated this during a courtesy visit to the Awujale in his palace in Ijebu Ode on Wednesday, said the visit was to felicitate the first class traditional ruler on his 90th birthday and 64th year on the throne.

He noted that the experience he had tapped from Awujale’s words of wisdom would leave with him for the rest of his life.

The emir said it was important to continue to strengthen the cordial relationship that had existed for several years between the Awujale and his father and late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

“Awujale is someone who has been at par with my forefathers for 64 years and I’m privileged to still have people like him around at 90.

“He is a real gem who is a close associate of my late father and that is why I call him my father as well.

“So coming here to greet him and get his blessings is something I will appreciate till the end of my life. It is a good experience for me,” he said.

Ado-Bayero noted that the traditional institution before and after the colonial era had remained constant.

“It is an institution that has remained constant; the changes may be there but the values and traditions are kept that whoever comes in will just tune in to and it is perfect for us.

“When I became the emir of Kano about four years ago, I went round virtually all the states of the federation. This visit is a continuation of what I’ve been doing but it is very special.

“I am happy in my lifetime and during my reign that I’m here, and the experience I’ve tapped from him (Awujale) today is one that will live forever with me.

“Kano and Ijebu, I look at them like twins as far as I am concerned, especially in terms of commercial activities.

“We all know Ijebu very well; Kano is a carbon copy of Ijebu or I will say Ijebu is a carbon copy of Kano.

“The truth is we both have a lot of things in common in terms of culture, tradition and commercial activities,” he said.

Responding, the Awujale recalled the cordial relationship between him and the late father of the emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

He appreciated the visit by the emir and called on Nigerians to continue to live in unity and harmony.

Speaking at the occasion, Gov. Dapo Abiodun said the royal visit would, no doubt, further strengthen the existing bond of unity and mutual respect across the diverse ethnic groups in the country.

Abiodun, represented by Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Ganiyu Hamzat, described Awujale as ‘a loving royal father of high repute’. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yinusa Ishola and ‘Wale Sadeeq

Group seeks end to  looting, vandalisation of gov’t properties

By Angela Atabo

A group, Noble Minds Initiative for the Discouragement of Vandalisation of Public Equipment has condemned the frequent looting and vandalisation of government properties across the country.

The Chairman of the organisation, Ikechukwu Chukwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday, that such acts hamper national development.

Chukwu said that efforts should be put in place by individuals, corporate organisations and non-governmental organisations across the country to ensure that the issue of vandalisation of public equipment comes to an end.

He said that such a move was necessary for Nigeria to attain the desired development, stressing the need to end vandalisation of government properties henceforth.

Chukwu said: “Noble Minds Initiative will be involved in the advocacy to sanitise refiners and miners of minerals, Oil and Gas curb looting and vandalisation of government properties so as to boost the economy of the country.

“The need to eliminate looting and vandalism, bunkering, exploitation, hoarding, dubious middlemen, sharp business practices, artificial scarcity and adulteration of fuel products in the chain of distribution needs to end.

“To this end, a commissioner will be appointed in every state of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as the eye of the organisation and to carry out the organisation’s activities.

“All the 37 Commissioners would be inaugurated on June 11, in Abuja.”

Chukwu said that the organisation, when fully in operation, would protect and encourage youths in the country to engage in legal minerals mining and oil and gas business in all the states and Local Government Areas in Nigeria.

This, he said, would curb looting and vandalisation of government properties.

He added that the organisation would assist and support non-profit organisations to utilise their goals by transforming the social sector landscape in Nigeria through the use of practical training and capacity building.

Chukwu added, “We will also encourage members to build more mineral mining sites, to build modular refineries, filling stations, gas plants, renewable and alternative energy products and consumer shops to meet the increasing demand of goods and services.”

According to him, this will help to stabilise price fluctuations.

The Secretary of the organisation, Innocent Ogu, also told NAN that the organisation would ensure continuous availability, easy access and supply of unadulterated kerosene, cooking gas and fuel.

Ogu, however, expressed displeasure over artificial scarcity of petroleum products from time to time in the country, adding that the group would contribute its quota to tackle it.

He said the organisation leverages free will donations, levy from members and grants from international organisations to do interventions and would judiciously use it for the good of the nation.(NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe-Mani

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

With barely a week to the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, some stakeholders have urged Nigerians to be hopeful.

According to them, the various reform programmes of the government will improve their livelihoods.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu was sworn-in on May 29, 2023 after campaigning on the “Renewed Hope Agenda’’.

Shortly after assuming office, the president embarked on economic policy reforms, such as removal of the long, controversial petrol subsidy and unification of the dual foreign exchange rates.

Both policies, which were designed to improve revenue of the Federal Government, have had a ripple effect on the micro economy of the average Nigerian, due to worsening inflationary trend and high cost of basic commodities.

An economist, Prof. Ken Ife, urged Nigerians to be patient with the Tinubu – led government while the various economic reforms come into fruition.

Ife, the Lead Consultant on Private Sector Development to the ECOWAS Commission, said that the reforms though biting were necessary bitter pills to reposition the ailing economy.

“We should consider where we were one year ago and where we are today.

“Our economy was in an intensive unit, very sick in crisis. Everything went wrong, N23 trillion Ways and Means, almost N100 trillion debt; debt-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio at almost 40 per cent, debt service to revenue of more than 90 per cent.

“One year down the line, Nigeria has come out of the intensive unit. We are now in a recovering position,’’ he said.

According to him, we have to make sacrifices.

“Inflation has gone up significantly, but that is part of the price we have to pay before we experience economic boom,’’ he said.

On the appropriate “living wage’’ for Nigerian workers as promised by the president, Ife called for sincere negotiations.

“Minimum wage is a matter for negotiation because, it is not just the minimum wage, but there are repercussion on the minimum wage that affects the wages of everyone else.

“What is agreed on today may be progressively improved over the next year or two.

“There needs to be a three-year wage increment by percentage, so that as they are increasing it, inflation has to be coming down.

“Inflation is the biggest challenge, if inflation is within a single digit then the money that people receive can buy much more,’’ he said.

Dr Chijioke Ekechukwu, an economist, said that the reforms usually ended in hope.

Accordimg to Ekechukwu, a past president of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), reforms usually come with relief if sincerely carried out.

He urged Nigerians to give Tinubu some more time to see his various economic reforms come to fruition.

“When there are reforms, they bite hard, but the idea is that there should be light at the end of the tunnel.

“The government has embarked on a lot of reforms to reposition the economy. The removal of fuel subsidy is to make more money available for other sectors.

“And that has actually ncreased government revenue. Same with floating of the Naira, even though it has also contributed to inflation. Interest rate today is about the highest in Africa.

“The higher the interest rate, the higher the cost of production and the cost will be passed over to the consumers.

“Generally, there is a growth in the economy. The GDP is growing to the extent that the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) have improved on their projection for Nigeria,’’he said.

He, however, said that insecurity was still a major challenge.

“Unfortunately, not enough has happened to insecurity, and it is a major bane of our economic development,’’ he said.

He said that while we appraised the Federal Government, we should also consider the performances of states and Local Government Councils.

On minimum wage, Ekechukwu said that when we look at the level of depreciation of the Naira and the level of inflation, even N100,000 as Minimum wage would not be enough.

According to him, the percentage of depreciation and inflation are way above that.

“What Nigerians need is not high salary per se. What we need is an economy where prices of goods and services are affordable to all Nigerians.

“We need inflation to be low, we need amenities to be working at affordable prices.

“In an economy like the UK, education till the child is eighteen years is free,’’ he said.

The Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Mathew Kukah, said that 12 months were not enough to “pass judgment’’ on the government.

Kukah said that though government’s economic reforms had created some hardship, there is hope that things would improve.

“I am sure many people will tell you that one year is not enough to make a judgment. However, from where we all stand, we know that we are all in a very difficult situation.

“Nigerians are in various levels of pain, and they are pains that are unintended.

“But they are the results of certain policy decisions that hopefully with time, can be amended to serve the welfare of the people,’’ he said.

He urged Nigerians to commit themselves to the fact that building a good society takes a lot of time.

“It is not something that is done in one lifetime, and for me, the most important thing is to continue on the building blocks of the things that we think are being done well,” he said.

However, the President of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, decried the current state of the nation’s economy and called for the return of fuel subsidy and reversal of other policies to make life easy and meaningful.

Ajaero described Tinubu’s action “as palliative policies’’ that had kept Nigerians in perpetual poverty.

“Nigerians are the losers; look at the polices, from devaluation of Naira, removal of fuel subsidy, Value Added Tax, increase in taxes and many others.

“These are being done without commensurate increase in salaries of the Nigerian workers.

“Many companies have closed down. A lot of businesses have wind down, youth are leaving the country, the exchange rate of Naira to a dollar hit the ceiling causing increase in prices of goods and services,’’ Ajaero said.

Also,a member of the Northern Elders Forum, (NEF), Prof. Usman Yusuf, said that Nigerians were fast losing hope due to harsh economic conditions.

He urged the economic management team of the government to take steps that could improve the economy as a matter of urgency.

A civil servant, Abbas Ibrahim, described the last 12 months of the Tinubu presidency as very harsh on workers.

“In the midst of all these reforms, the Nigerian worker is the worst hit.

“Inflation is at its worst level, yet our salaries remain unchanged. If you ask me, I will tell you clearly that the government has not done well,’’ he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

By Justina Auta

The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), says, it has  facilitated the provision of electricity to 12 Primary Healthcare Centres(PHCs) in the Niger Delta region.

Mr Tunji Idowu, PIND’s Executive Director, made this known in a statement highlighting the foundation successes and achievements in its 2023 Annual Report themed: Advancing Frontiers for
Greater Impact.

Idowu said the project was under the  United States Agency for International
Development-led Health Electrification and Telecommunication Alliance (HETA) initiative aimed at providing electricity to healthcare facilities.

According to him, PHCs in Bayelsa, Delta, and Ondo States benefitted from the project in 2023.

He said through its Market Systems Development project, they supported over 49,000 farmers (46.35 per cent females) with recorded cumulative investments by PIND-supported farmers and MSMEs recorded at over N10 billion.

The Executive Director, said they assisted in establishing Peace Clubs in secondary schools and universities across the region to foster change attitudes, behaviours and promote peace through education.

“We launched a business start-up challenge fund through its Youth Employment Pathways project in which 66 successful contestants received grants totaling N42 million to establish their businesses.

According to him, they also partnered with Ford Foundation on the Bridges Project to support the implementation of the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) component of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

He said they were able to achieve it through awareness creation and capacity building for non-governmental and community-based organisations.

Idowu noted that in spite of the socioeconomic challenges, rising inflation and foreign exchange rate fluctuations, the Foundation continued to facilitate peace and equitable economic growth in the Niger Delta.

“2023 saw us exceeding expectations and achieving several milestones as we consolidated our previous work and successes while exploring new opportunities.

“Together with our partners, [PIND] continued to find creative, people-centered ways to carry out our mission to facilitate peace and equitable economic growth in the Niger Delta,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by AbdulFatai Beki

By Talatu Maiwada

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has approved $4.49 million dollars grant for healthcare interventions in Adamawa.

The grant would fasttrack rehabilitation of nine primary healthcare facilities in eight local government areas of the state.

Laurent De Boeck, Chief of Mission IOM, made the disclosure on Wednesday during the inauguration of the project at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola.

De Boeck said that 150,000 residents would benefit from the rehabilitated facilities, and 80 persons with disabilities would benefit from referrals and specialised assistance, while 1,350 other beneficiaries would benefit from cash-for-work.

According to him, the project will build the capacity of 216 healthcare professionals in Maiha, Michika, Song, Mubi-North, Mubi-South, Hong, Lanurde and Gombi LGAs.

The IOM official further said that fostering peaceful coexistence and an inclusive environment was crucial for any country facing conflict and displacement.

“Encouraging the return and resettlement of IDPs along with ensuring access to qualify healthcare is a vital part of this effort.

“The support is also aim at strengthening the capacities of governments in the six conflict affected states in the North-East,” he said.

Earlier, Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri said the project would complement government’s decision to close IDP camps across the state.

Represented by his deputy, Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta, the governor said the project was aimed at addressing health related issues among other needs of the displaced persons, returnees and host communities.

He assured that the state government would leverage on the Japanese experience to build a world class 21st century economy through the application of ICT in schools, deployment of digital health technologies and entrepreneurship development.

The governor reiterated commitment to explore opportunities of establishing technical and development cooperation with development partners, to address health and other needs of the people. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Rabiu Sani-Ali

By Joan Nwagwu

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) says it is partnering the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to develop a Roadmap for mainstreaming gender policy for the country.

Ms Inviolata Chinyangara, ILO Workers Specialist, said this at a two-day workshop on “Defining a Roadmap for Reviewing the NLC Gender Policy” on Wednesday in Abuja.

The programme was organised by the ILO in collaboration with NLC and Fredrich Ebert Stiftung (FES).

Chinyangara said that the review of the gender policy was imperative as the existing policy was developed in 2003 and long overdue.

According to her, gender issues have evolved over time and it is becoming the heart of sustainable development globally all over the world.

“We cannot do any programme or any activity or any developmental intervention without mainstreaming gender.

“So, that is why the ILO and FES are collaborating with the NLC to see how we can develop a roadmap for updating the NLC gender policy,”she said.

According to her, our role is to provide the technical support and the information about which standards are supposed to be mainstreamed.

“We are also supporting them financially to ensure that what we discuss here can support the development of the gender policy that is being updated, ”she said.

Chinyangara said that the ILO had congratulated the government of Nigeria and NLC for adopting gender conventions on equality, non-discrimination, and ending violence and harassment in the world of work.

According to her, what we now want to see is to ensure that these conventions are also cascaded and mainstreamed in the gender policy of the NLC.

“The 2003 policy only talks about sexual harassment, but convention number 190, recommendation 206, has given us more information on how to integrate issues of gender-based violence.

“This also includes the definitions and the scope of coverage,” she added.

Mrs Salamata Aliu, Chairperson of the NLC Women Commission, noted that the review of the congress gender policy was long overdue.

According to her, the one we are looking at right now came about in 2003.

“So, is a thing of joy that we have partners that believe in the same cause and that is to update the policy.

“It is important for us to finalise the new document that the younger generation will be proud of as what we have now, is just 30 per cent gender parity and we have not even been able to achieve it.

“Meanwhile, the world has gone to 50-50 representation. So it’s an issue that the congress should not look or sweep under the carpet anymore. We have had a lot of arguments on why it should not be.

“But what is in vogue is that 50-50 representation and is what should be aimed at, so that the younger generation will have a foundation to build on,”she said.

Aliu said that if the policy was updated, it would afford women the opportunities for their voices to be heard.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

By Okon Okon

Sen. George Akume, Secretary to  Government of the Federation (SGF), says President Bola Tinubu’s administration is supportive of autonomy for Local Government Areas in the country.

Akume said this during the Ministerial Press Briefing on Wednesday in Abuja to mark Tinubu’s one year anniversary in office.

The SGF said that Tinubu was commitment to rules of law and constitution of the country and had also shown good faith towards true fiscal federalism since he assumed office.

Akume gave the assurance that the administration would continue from where previous government stopped on autonomy of the local governments.

“On the need for national dialogue for local government autonomy, I think that the National Assembly has done quite a lot on that issue.

“I remember the last administration also came up with some executive orders to enhance independence of the local governments and the national assembly is very supportive of that.

“The present government is also supportive of that, we believe and strongly too, that we will continue to improve on the questions of autonomy for the local government areas in Nigeria.”

According to him, the present administration has recognised the fact that local government areas are the closest tier of government to the people at the grassroots in particular.

“In a typical federal set up, you have tiers of governments and these tiers of governments are also independent.

“One of them have access to the federation account which goes to each state and it is under the control of the governors of those states and the legislators of that state.

“The money going to the state was supposed to be applied prudently, efficiently for the benefit of the people. It is true that the bulk of people live in the state and local government levels,” he said.

According to him, the purpose of sharing the nation’s wealth is to ensure that the welfare of the people is enhanced.

The SGF, however, commended some state governors for their efforts at ensuring that people at the grassroots feel the impacts of government through ‘People Oriented Projects’.

“I want to state here that many of the states are also doing their best for the people and therefore, we will continue to give governors the chance to do their best for their people.

“I am aware that people feel they are not doing their best, the legislators are also there to ensure that people feel impacts of governance at the local government levels,” he said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Ismail Abdulaziz