By Uchenna Ugwu

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has ordered the state and local government civil service commissions to commence immediate assessment of all existing vacancies due for promotion.

The governor gave the directive on Thursday in his hometown, Uburu, Ohoazara Local Government Area of the state, during a courtesy visit to him by members of the commissions and other support.

Umahi said the exercise was to ensure immediate promotion of civil servants based on the existing vacancies.

The governor explained that the exercise was informed by vacancies created by those who retired and other occurrences in the service.

He also ordered that the promotion at both and state levels should be completed within the first week of January.

“All existing vacancies for the promotion of civil servants should be assessed immediately, so that those who are due will be promoted base on existing vacancies.

“No delay and it must be completed within the first week of January,” Umahi said. (NAN)

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reassured that the country will come out of its challenges under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari with the cooperation of all stakeholders.

The party said this in its new year message to Nigerians on Thursday in Abuja, adding that the Federal Government is taking necessary measures to resolve the country’s challenges.

The message was signed by Gov. Mai Mala Buni, Chairman, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, and Sen. James Akpanudoedehe, the committee’s secretary.

The party noted that on account of difficult economic circumstances occasioned by the decline in economic activities, the country’s security challenges got escalated.

It, however, said that Nigerians must unite and work together to bring about lasting solutions to the country’s challenges.

It added that though it had been very slow in getting Nigerian leaders at all levels irrespective of differences to appreciate and accept to work together, “we are surely and gradually getting there.”

According to the APC, “recent events in the country had demonstrated the efficacy of how successful we could be as a country in overcoming our security challenges if we worked in unity.

“Our party, its leadership and membership, join Nigerians to celebrate the commencement of another year: 2021, we are grateful to God Almighty for sparing our lives and blessing us to see this New Year.

“Surviving year 2020 was very difficult for humanity in every part of the world because of the COVID-19 pandemic as nations and governments had to shut down,” it said.

The APC added that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted to a new normal with all its adverse consequences on human life while the struggle to save lives from the virus became the order of the day.

It noted that many lives were unfortunately lost and millions of people suffered as a result of being infected by the corona virus.

It added that luckily, a vaccine had been successfully developed towards the end of 2020, saying that with the vaccine, nations of the world could begin to plan for a return to normal life.

It expressed confidence that the Federal Government under President Buhari would take necessary measures to return Nigeria to pre-COVID-19 normal conditions.

It said the party was, however, proud that its elected representatives in government were able to put Nigeria among countries of the world that successfully controlled the spread of the corona virus.

The APC commended the effort of its elected representatives, adding that as a nation, “we must not rest on our oars.”

It stressed that everything must be done to improve the capacity of our health institutions to deliver world class health services to Nigerians in 2021.

It assured that its elected representatives in government would continue to do their best and work for justice, peace and unity in every part of Nigeria according to its moto.

“We will, at all times, recognise our challenges and work to resolve them. This means, we will constantly take steps to rebuild ourselves to be able to develop the capacity and competence to serve Nigerians.

“Ability to rebuild ourselves requires that we are able to make changes internally in our party.

“As a party, we want to assure our members that our commitment to lead the process of political change in Nigeria is unwavering.

“Our ability to constantly strengthen the structures of our party is part of our change credentials, a democracy is as strong as the political parties it produces. We are rebuilding our party to strengthen our democracy,” it said. (NAN)

By Veronica Dariya

Some hairdressers and beauticians in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are currently ‘smiling to the banks’ as they enjoy high patronage due to the Yuletide.

A correspondent of  the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who went round Bwari town on Thursday to speak with some of them reports that young girls and women of all ages were seen patronising their services.

The hairdressers all said they recorded huge sales due to high demand for their services since Dec. 20.

Mrs Halimat Abdulfatiu, a resident of Zango area of Bwari town, said she made close to N100, 000 from Dec. 24 to date.

Abdulfatiu who specialises in weaving commonly called “matting” said she was shocked to make the kind of profit she made this year, compared with previous years during the yuletide.

”Normally, when it’s Christmas, i make between N20, 000 and N 30, 000 from all the work of the season.

”Surprisingly, this year that everything has been tight for people and everyone is saying there’s no money, that is the year i received more patronage.

”One of the reasons i can say people patronised me is because of the hike in the prices of sophisticated hair extensions.

”One of my customers told me that she compared the price of the number of hair extensions she would buy for her three girls and how much she would pay for the service and discovered it was too expensive.

”She opted for my service at the end, because all she needed to buy was this local wool for plaiting and my service charge, which is just N700 to N1,500 per head, depending on the hairstyle.

”I made N20, 000 only on Dec. 22, N30, 000 the next day, by Christmas morning, i had above N80, 000 and up till now, the patronage continues.

”People came from Kubwa and Gwarimpa just to patronise me, especially for their children. I hope to take my time to rest tomorrow only if they would let me.”

Abdulfatiu, who expressed  gratitude to God, also said she would save the money and assist her husband to pay their children’s school fees and other home needs in the new year.

Madam Ohunene Adam, who specialises in fixing artificial nails and artificial eye lashes for women, told NAN a similar story of huge profit.

According to her, women loved to look good for all occasions even when they had no money and the Yuletide was one of such.

She said that although most of her services were usually patronized at weekends because women had various parties to attend but the season attracted more patronage and more money for her.

” It is a hectic job. On normal days i  open my shop around 7 a.m but since Dec. 23, I open by 5:30 a.m because some people want to be attended to on time due to the long queue.

”I attend to close to 20 people or more a day and make close to N30, 000 everyday from the service. I had to employ the help of my siblings to enable me meet the demand.

”It is a lucrative business and requires creativity and expertise or else but I will say God has been faithful”.

In a similar development, Mr Alvin Ndubisi, a dealer in children’s fairly used clothing in Dutse Market, told NAN that the surge for fairly used clothes commenced in the last week of November.

According to him, the high demand for the items has made him record high sales, also, making the business very lucrative every Christmas season.

”Infact, costumers plead with me to call them whenever i want to open new bale of clothes, so they can be the first to pick the very best.

”For most of my customers, it has become imperative for them to pick fairly used clothes for their children not only because they cannot afford the new clothes but because they find these ones unique and durable”.

He noted that although getting the bale was now quite expensive due to border closure and the high exchange rate. He admitted that the  profit made this season was worthwhile, as he had doubled his initial business capital already.