Category: General

Secretary to Parliament, Xolile George, has described the first sittings of the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) as a reflection of the electoral mandate of the people of South Africa, as expressed in the recent elections.

‘The people have spoken. They have chosen a Parliament that will represent them, as freely elected representatives as reflected in the preamble of the Constitution, to champion their causes, and serve their interests for the next five years,’ he said on Thursday.

George held a media briefing on Thursday as Parliament gears up to host the first sittings of the two Houses of Parliament scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

Tomorrow’s proceedings will also see Members of Parliament (MPs) electing a President who will form the seventh administration to govern the nation.

‘Over the past months, the administration of Parliament has undertaken extensive preparatory work to ensure a seamless transition from the sixth term to the seventh term of Parliament. This h
as been a pivotal moment for us as a nation, involving a delicate constitutional process that has not been without its challenges.’

He touched on the challenges they have had to overcome such as court challenges to ensure the success of these important inaugural sittings of the two Houses of Parliament.

‘This collective effort underscores our commitment to upholding the democratic principles underpinning our Constitution and ensuring that the will of the people is effectively translated into action.

‘With each step in this constitutional process having been meticulously followed and adhered to, we now stand at the cusp of yet another critical milestone in the history of our constitutional democracy.’

George explained that it was the Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s responsibility to determine the dates for the first sittings of both Houses to preside over these sittings.

‘Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has diligently complied with these constitutional obligations, ensuring that the two Houses of Parliament hol
d their first sittings within the prescribed 14-day period as mandated by the Constitution.’

The Secretary announced that the inaugural sittings will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

Parliamentary process

The Chief Justice will open the session and preside over the swearing-in of all the permanent delegates appointed by their respective provinces.

‘This will follow the first sittings of the provincial legislatures to elect permanent and non-permanent delegates to the NCOP.

‘After presiding over the swearing-in of the 54 designated permanent delegates, the Chief Justice will also chair the election of the Chairperson of the Council.’

Once elected, the new Chairperson will take over the proceedings and preside over the election of the Deputy Chairpersons.

Following the swearing-in ceremony, Chief Justice Zondo will also preside over the election of the Speaker of the NA and then he or she will take over the proceedings and preside over the election of the Deputy Speake
r.

‘These elections are crucial for the proper constitution of the National Assembly, as they ensure the leadership structure is in place to guide the House’s functions and duties.’

Once the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected, George explained that the NA will then be constitutionally competent to proceed with electing a Member of the Assembly to be inaugurated as the President.

‘This is a crucial process, as it sets the stage for the formation of the new administration that will govern the country. Once elected, the person ceases to be a Member of Parliament.’

George has assured citizens that all necessary voting infrastructure has been meticulously prepared to ensure a smooth and secure election process.

This includes the setup of voting booths for privacy, the provision of ballot boxes for the collection of votes, the preparation of the voters’ roll to verify eligible voters, and the availability of safety boxes for the secure safekeeping of ballot papers.

‘We are fully prepared for the first sit
tings … Our comprehensive preparations ensure that every aspect of these inaugural sessions, from logistical arrangements to security measures, have been meticulously planned and implemented.

‘We are confident that the proceedings will unfold smoothly and effectively, marking the successful commencement of the 7th democratic Parliament,’ said George.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Nigeria Customs Service (NSC)

said it has seized 26,950 litres of petroleum products worth N19 million being smuggled out of the country into Republic of Benin.

The National Coordinator, Operation Whirlwind of the NSC, Mr Hussein Ejibunu, disclosed this on Thursday at a news conference held at the command’s headquarters in Abeokuta.

He said that the petroleum products which consisted of 978 kegs of 25 litres totaling 26,950 litres was impounded in Zone A of the NCS consisting of Lagos and Ogun.

Ejibunu said the special squad was set up few weeks ago by the Controller-General of NCS, Bashir Adeniyi, to complement efforts aimed at cracking down on criminals smuggling petroleum products outside the country.

The customs officer added that the activities of the smugglers usually aid the artificial scarcity of petroleum products in the country forcing the prices to go up for as much as N900 per litre.

He said: ‘In just about two weeks of operation, Operation Whirlwind team, Zone A axis, intercepted 26,950
litres of premium motor spirit worth N19 million.

‘121 kegs of PMS of 25 litres equivalent to 3,025 litres was intercepted at Oyinkansola Global Concept along Badagry/Seme road in Lagos State on May 31.

’77 drums of PMS (616 kegs of 25 litres) equivalent to 15, 400 litres was seized on June 7 at Seayab Petroleum along Imeko/Obada road in Ogun state.

‘The means of conveyance is a truck with the registration number 95D4244D.’

Ejibunu stated further that another 100 kegs of PMS of 25 litres equivalent to 2,500 litres was impounded on June 8 along Owode/Atan road in Ogun.

‘While an equivalent of 6,025 litres consisting of 141 kegs of 25 litres was seized at Julankoly Oil and Gas along Owode-Ilaro Road,” he said.

Ejibunu said that the petrol stations involved in the criminal activities had been sealed while their owners would be prosecuted.

He said the menace posed by the unpatriotic act of smugglers on the Nigerian economy could not be overemphasised, hence the need for synergy with other relevant agenci
es to win the fight against the saboteurs.

He warned all those who were into criminal acts of sabotaging the country’s economy to either have a change of heart or get dealt with according to the laws.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Some experts have called for a well-articulated and sustainable programme to decentralise the power sector regulatory environment and incentivise investors to boost natural gas production in Nigeria.

They said this at the American Business Council (ABC) Economic Update with theme: ‘Energising Nigeria: Navigating Challenges, Harnessing Opportunities,’ on Thursday in Lagos.

Prof. Barth Nnaji, the Chairman, Geometric Power Ltd., said for almost three decades, the world had been possessed with finding a solution to climate change, having identified fossil fuel as the main culprit to global warming.

Nnaji noted that Nigeria had set a target of 2030 to achieve complete flare-out in its oil industry with various aspirations to pursue renewable energy options.

Nnaji noted that, unfortunately, the non-availability of adequate gas for power and industrial processes would afflict all the initiatives, in spite of the country’s proven natural gas reserves of over 206 trillion cubic feet.

He said that while government
must be commended for exploring overseas markets for Nigeria’s natural gas for its benefit, they should bear in mind that ‘charity begins from home.

‘It is not just local power producers that are currently bleeding owing to insufficient gas.

‘There is no sufficient liquified petroleum gas for our kitchens and people are now resorting to firewood and coal for cooking, thus worsening the environmental crisis,’ he said.

Nnaji, also former Minister of Power, stressed the need for a total overhaul of the transmission arm of power generation, saying that the current national grid is grossly inadequate for 200 million.

‘Nigeria needs over 100,000 MW to meet its energy needs and we currently have just 13,000MW of installed capacity from which we are only able to put less than 5,000 MW on the grid due to reasons primarily of gas and transmission constraints.

‘The Nigerian government at every level should employ already tested approaches to collaborate with competent private sector operators to quickly progress po
wer availability to the level that matches our country’s sustainable economic growth desire,’ he said.

Mrs Margaret Olele, Chief Executive Officer, American Business Council, noted that the theme of the event was a critical conversation on how government and private sector can best move forward to energise the country.

Olele noted that in spite of the economic reforms by the current administration and the implementation of the Petroleum Industrial Act, Nigeria was still unable to meet Organisations of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production quota.

‘Issues of theft, insecurity have impacted the country meeting its OPEC quota and it is important to address this because a major chunk of the country’s revenue is tied to the power, oil and gas sector.

‘The gas we have is still underutilised and power generation issues is impacting manufacturers and everybody in general so we are here to unload and shift your mindsets from the status quo to innovation and progression amidst the challenges,’ she said
.

Mr Martins Arogie, Partner, Energy and Natural Resources Services, KPMG, said that Nigeria’s energy industry was considered one of the most inefficient in meeting the needs of its customers globally, in spite of the country’s enormous energy resources.

Arogie noted that underutilisation of these resources was rampant and exacerbated by a chronic imbalance in the electricity and petroleum products markets.

This situation, Arogie said, had threatened Nigeria’s energy security, harmed the economy, increased income inequality and energy poverty, weakened industrialisation processes, and the undermine efforts to achieve sustained economic growth.

‘In a market where demand far outstrips the current supply, Nigeria’s energy sector presents attractive investment opportunities within its various subsectors including oil and gas, electricity and renewables.

‘With an abundance of both renewable and non-renewable resources, Nigeria provides immense opportunities for sustainable solutions to address existing energy
demand gap and contribute to government’s drive to improve the efficiency and contribution of the sector.

‘Therefore, it has become imperative for all the stakeholders to collaborate to address the challenges hampering the development of energy sector and unlock the vast opportunities that it holds for the country, Africa and the world,’ he said.

Mrs Eyono Fatayi-Williams, President, Women in Energy Network, noted that Nigeria, blessed with a lot of natural resources, has a 206 trillion feet of proven gas reserves, which means there’s so much that can be done to harness the country’s gas resources.

Fatayi-Williams noted that the country had a lot of room for growth, particularly as gas has been recognised globally as the transition fuel in energy transition.

‘So, gas development is a good thing and gas development will help in closing the huge deficit we have seeing that what Nigeria produces and what it needs are at two different points apart.

‘But I think our message is the government declared a decade
of gas and we are still in that decade and that decade of gas is supposed to be the big ticket, and we look forward to that happening.

‘I think the government can continue in that trajectory and we are bound to see positive changes and we look forward to when Nigeria can actually become a gas-powered economy in 2020,’ she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The prevalence of smoking in South Africa remains high compared to other countries, with an average of 8.5 cigarettes smoked per day by daily smokers.

This information is based on the 2021 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) South Africa report, released by the Department of Health on Thursday.

Based on the most recent data from GATS, sampled from 7 245 households, it was found that the prevalence of tobacco use in South Africa is 29.4%.

The data also revealed that a higher percentage of men (41.7%) are currently using tobacco compared to women (17.9%).

Lead investigator, Dr Catherine Egbe from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), stated that 21.2% of adults in South Africa smoke daily, while 4.6% smoke occasionally.

The highest prevalence of tobacco is found in the Northern Cape, followed by the Western Cape, while the lowest is in Limpopo.

Shifting her focus to the age of initiation of tobacco use, Egbe said the average age of initiation was 17.6 years old among adults aged between 20 an
d 34.

Meanwhile, 20.9% of urban residents and 13.5% of rural residents initiated smoking before the age of 15.

In addition, Egbe stated that 33.9% of daily tobacco users smoke within five minutes of waking up.

E-cigarettes and hookah pipe

Meanwhile, 2.2% said they were currently using e-cigarettes, of which 3.8% are men and 0.7% are women.

Of those using e-cigarettes, 70.3% cited enjoyment, 67.5% cited flavour, 45.1% perceived it as less harmful than tobacco, while 43.5% said their use was influenced by friends or family members who use e-cigarettes.

The study also found that 3.1% of adults reported smoking hookah pipe or hubbly bubbly.

‘The mean age of initiation for those who have ever smoked water pipe was 21.1 years,’ Egbe said.

For those aged between 15 and 24, the average age of initiation was 17.3 years old.

Quitting

Among adults currently smoking tobacco, 80.9% attempted to quit without assistance, 4.1% used pharmacotherapy, and 42.9% received advice to stop from their healthcare provider.

Data also shows that 74.4% of adults who visited public places were exposed to second-hand smoke (SHS) at bars, taverns, shebeens or nightclubs.

Meanwhile, 19.9% were exposed to SHS at school, 16.0% at tertiary institutions and 11.3% in cafes.

Data indicates that men spent slightly more on cigarettes, R273.20, while women spent around R207.20 monthly.

Government interventions

The Department of Health’s Deputy Director of General Primary Healthcare, Jeanette Hunter, has noted an increase in the use of hookah, e-cigarettes and vapes, particularly among young people.

‘Studies have highlighted health risks associated with the use of e-cigarettes and hookah pipes, hubbly bubbly or shisha, even though they are aggressively marketed as healthier tobacco alternatives,’ Hunter said.

She said scientists have provided enough evidence for countries to act and put measures in place to curb the use of these new-generation products.

‘It is for this reason that we, as a country, amended the existing Tobacco Product Co
ntrol Act, Act 83 of 1993 to incorporate the control of the use of electronic delivery systems. This amendment Bill is at the stage of going through Parliamentary processes.’

Hunter also raised concerns about citizens who are now starting to smoke at a younger age.

‘Disappointingly, it reveals that a small percentage, only 42.9% of smokers, were advised by a healthcare provider to quit smoking.’

Hunter said the department has since identified the need to establish tobacco cessation programmes in primary healthcare facilities and that the feasibility of such programmes is being explored.

Hunter also highlighted the importance of the proposed ban on smoking in enclosed spaces after it was found that 44.5% of adults in South Africa are exposed to SHS.

Meanwhile, as part of the recommendations, Egbe emphasised the importance of implementing tobacco taxes, smoke-free laws, graphic health warnings, and total bans on tobacco advertising and promotion to reduce smoking initiation, particularly among young people
.

‘Effective strategies to reduce tobacco use, including putting in place more comprehensive laws that are compliant with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, should be implemented to protect more people from exposure to SHS, and provide cessation services to help more people who smoke to quit,’ Egbe said.

In addition, Egbe believes that if Parliament were to pass the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill of 2022, it would help reduce long-term tobacco use and the burden of tobacco-related diseases.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), says the country’s democracy has been tested by the fires of adversity but had remained steadfast because it is the best form of governance.

Its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, in a message to mark this year’s democracy day, emphasised the need for the government to lead the country with integrity and put its citizens first.

‘As we celebrate 25 years of uninterrupted democracy and the 31st anniversary of the widely acclaimed ‘freest and fairest’ presidential election of June 12, 1993, CAN congratulates the government and people of Nigeria.

‘Our democracy has been tested by the fires of adversity, from the struggles of its early years to the present-day trials of insecurity, economic hardship, and social injustice.

‘Nevertheless, we remain steadfast in our belief that democracy is the best form of government for our nation.

‘We urge the government to prioritise the common good, address pressing issues, and ensure that our democracy serves the people, not just
the interests of a few,’ he said.

Okoh emphasised the importance of integrity, transparency, and accountability in governance, saying that leaders must recognise that power is a sacred trust and that they would be held accountable for their actions.

He also stressed the need for unity and inclusivity, recognising the value of Nigeria’s ethnic, religious, and cultural differences.

‘Let us work together to build a stronger, more just Nigeria, where everyone has a voice and equal opportunity.

‘As people of faith, we believe that democracy is a gift from God, and we must steward it wisely.

‘We pray for divine guidance and wisdom for our leaders, and we urge all Nigerians to participate actively in the democratic process.

‘Let us work together to build a brighter future for ourselves, our children, and generations yet unborn,’ Okoh stated.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A lecturer at Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Dr Churchill Okonkwo, has urged lecturers to invest in academic research in order to meeting the teaching needs of the 21st century.

Okonkwo, a lecturer, in the Department of Physics at the institution, is the Vice-President, College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU).

He said this on Wednesday in Awka during a two-day international training for guidance counselors on ecological approach to social-emotional learning.

The training had as its theme: ‘Envisioning an Ecological Classroom to Enhance Knowledge in Social- Emotional Learning.

It was jointly organised by U.S.-based NGO, Life Care Coalition Outreach (LCCO), Igwe Davison Okafor/Mercy Ikeanyi (IDOMI) and Anambra State Ministry of Education.

Okonkwo said scientific research would help teachers to improve in their teaching and learning in a changing world for impactful development.

He said teachers should also avail themselves of new teaching tools and technologies to effectively
engage in knowledge transfer in a digital age.

Okonkwo urged them to invest on research to gather more knowledge of new technologies and methods of teaching so as to be fit in transferring same to students as the world evolve.

Also speaking, the Coordinator, IDOMI, Dr Chinedu Ikeanyi, said the workshop was part of their contribution towards improving the standard of education in the state.

He said the organisation was conscious of the role of quality education in the development of any society.

According to him, the training was in response to calls by the present and previous administrations in the state for the repatriation of knowledge by those in the diaspora.

Ikeanyi said with the right teaching and learning environment, students would learn and impact positively on society.

He assured that the programme would be sustained in the same way the organisation had sustained its free medical and scholarship programmes.

He, however, said it would be evaluated to know areas of improvement.

The LCCO Coord
inator, Mrs Victoria Anago, explained that the programme would also empower counselors to act as social workers in schools while improving the education system.

Anago said it would expose the teachers to ways of improving their teaching skills and enhance their competence.

Dr Sevaughn Banks, a Professor of Social Work, California State University, Stanislaus, Thurrock, California, argued that classroom ecology could addressing students learning and educational needs while customising the school resources.

Classroom ecology is the study of how students and their teachers interact both with the classroom environment and with each other within that specific space.

One of the participants, Mrs Loretta Uzuagu from Aguata Educational zone, said she would share the knowledge gained with her colleagues in the zone.

Mrs Chinwe Chukwuemeka from Otuocha zone, commended the organisers for the training noting that it had improved her communication skills.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was g
eared towards enhancing and addressing the needs of students and teachers towards improved learning and social development.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria