Category: General

Farmers in Mafa and Jere LGAs of Borno affected by insurgency have urged the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for more support to agriculture to boost food production.

A cross section of the farmers and stakeholders in the area who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the areas have fertile land for food and cash crops production and needed support from government and relevant agencies, like the NEDC.

Malam Abba Kawu, the District Head of Mafa, said with agricultural support to farmers in the areas that have resumed farming activities would boost their production and addressed poverty.

“These areas are known for farming activities and the current road construction by NEDC will open up the area.

“We want the commission which had also intervened in provision of houses and other livelihood support to the people to do more in agriculture for the people to tap the maximum potential of the areas,” he said.

The Ward Head of Jiro in Mafa LGA, Alhaji Bulama Bukar, who lauded the return of relative peace in the area, said farming activities had resumed for the first time in several years, and farmers needed support in areas of inputs like improved seeds and pesticides.

“We have resumed farming activities with support from security personnel that still give us protection to work on our fields.

“The ongoing road construction in the area by NEDC linking Ngom to Koshebe, Zabarmari, Khadamari, Galameri and Dusuman communities in Mafa and Jere LGAs will greatly enhance agriculture in the areas,” Bukar said.

On their part, Messrs Mohammed Ibrahim, Danladi Idris and Usman Haruna from Khadamari village of Jere LGA known for all-year-round mass production of rice and vegetable, said they needed more agricultural support to expand their areas of production.

They noted that the access roads being provided by NEDC was a big relief that would enhance farming and business activities in the areas that have problem of access roads to transport their produce.

They lauded the Federal Government for establishing NEDC, saying that its interventions are impacting positively on the communities.

NAN reports that Vice President Kashim Shettima had last Friday performed the ground breaking ceremony for the roads by NEDC, linking communities in Mafa and Jere LGAs with Maiduguri. (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Tourism Month is celebrated annually in September, and provides a heightened month-long focus on the importance of the sector to the South African economy. It features themed activities that are aligned to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) World Tourism Day celebrations.

This global observance day by The United Nations World Tourism Organisation aims to foster awareness of tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic value and the contribution that the sector can make towards reaching the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Tourism Month encourage South Africans to travel domestically to sustain jobs and support the recovery of tourism in line with the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Heritage Month is celebrated annually in September. It is celebrated to mark South Africa’s diverse culture and heritage.

Government calls on all South Africans to use Heritage Month to foster greater social cohesion, nation building and a shared national identity.

The celebration of Heritage Month has created a conducive environment for all people to embrace and celebrate what was inherited or bequeathed to the nation by its forebears.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is expected to deliver the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) on November 1.

“The Medium Term Budget Policy Statement sets government policy goals and priorities, forecasts the macro-economy trajectory, and projects the fiscal framework over the next three years by outlining spending and revenue estimates, among others,” National Treasury said on Monday.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Public Financial Management (PFM) conference is expected to be held from 20 – 22 September.

The conference will be held under the theme: ‘Innovative and Ethical Public Finance Management in Challenging Times’.

According to National Treasury, the key objectives of the conference include:

Building a culture of accountability in specific PFM sectors.

Creating a platform for PFM officials to update their knowledge and awareness of the latest trends and developments in the financial management space.

Identifying new and improved practices and workable solutions that could assist PFM officials in performing their work smarter.

Profiling National Treasury, and its units, as important resources in achieving and sustaining PFM excellence.

Showcasing available PFM resources and training, and how to access them.

Highlighting good practice.

Building communities of practice.

“The 2023 PFM conference will serve as a platform to create awareness of some of the latest PFM reforms led by National Treasury. The conference aims to cover the nine PFM disciplines, which include, among others, Financial Accounting, Revenue Management, Expenditure Management, Supply Chain Management, and Budgeting.

“The conference will target all spheres of government. Delegates will include Chief Financial Officers, Provincial Accountant-Generals, heads of PFM disciplines, and other relevant stakeholders responsible for overseeing the implementation of the financial disciplines. In addition, development partners, members of the higher education section and relevant professional bodies,” Treasury said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has urged the Federal Government to resuscitate its four oil refineries and make them operational.

Mr Peters Adeyemi, the General Secretary of NASU, made the call on Monday during an interview with newsmen on the sidelines of the 2023 Quadrennial Delegates Conference/Election in Ilorin, Kwara.

The programme consist of Universities and Inter-University Centres Trade Group Council, held at the University of Ilorin (Unilorin)

Adeyemi appealed that Nigerian oil refineries must start working to ensure that the country produced what the citizens consumed.

He urged the government to investigate all monies committed to refineries repairs in the country and ensure adequate security to prevent the smuggling of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to neighbouring countries.

The NASU general secretary decried the treatment of members by the government, saying “we are yet to receive their outstanding salaries during the strike actions we were forced into”.

He added that the issue of Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system (IPPIS) has created crisis in salaries of members, including delayed payment, haphazard payment, allowance omission and lack of payment.

Adeyemi explained that the conference was expected to deliberate on finding lasting solutions to issues such as the hardship associated with the removal of subsidy and setting agenda for the next four years.

Prof. Wahab Egbewole, the Vice Chancellor of Unilorin, said that tertiary education was going through turbulent times.

Egbewole, who was represented by Prof. Olubunmi Omotesho, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) of the university, stated that NASU had become a crucial component of universities and Inter-University union.

He called on the unions to collaborate and work together to move the education system forward, saying that no country can develop without addressing problem confronting its education.

He urged the union to therefore, deliberate on challenges of access to education and autonomy of universities.

“Financial issues, curriculum and ‘Japa syndrome’ must be addressed. A lot of staff are leaving the country and it is becoming difficult to replace them.

“The state of the tertiary education in Nigeria is tied to the state of the economy. No country can make progress without developing the state of its education,” he said.

Mrs Roseline Adebayo, the Chairperson, Kwara State Chapter of NASU, observed that the recent removal of subsidy on petrol amidst high inflation had resulted to increase in price of other commodities in the market.

According to her, the increase has eroded all gains of the New Minimum Wage approved by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“This precarious situation is a serious threat that could have truncated the delegates journeys and made the National Secretariat call for ratification of tenure elongation for all levels of officers serving our union in this critical time.

“Universities and Inter-Universities Trade Group is key to NASU operation and our leaders cannot treat matters concerning this trade group with kid glove,” she said.

Earlier in his welcome, Mr Suberu Ibrahim, the Unilorin Branch Chairman, commended members for their perseverance, diligence and sacrifice and also thanked them for the support giving to his executive.

He advised members to be more proactive and pragmatic in their approach to ensure that NASU realised its lofty goals and ideas without losing her long-sustained accomplishment and fame.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The funeral of the late Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) founding President and Traditional Prime Minister of the Zulu Nation, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, will take place on Friday, 15 September 2023.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, as well as the Buthelezi family, made the announcement after a short meeting on Sunday.

“The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, has confirmed that there is ongoing communication with The Presidency on the funeral arrangements. The Premier stated that the funeral service and the associated ceremonial logistics will be communicated in due course,” the provincial government said in a statement.

Prince Buthelezi passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 95.

Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of the passing of Prince Buthelezi, the KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council, led by the Premier, visited KwaPhindangene in Nkonjeni, uLundi, to pay respects to the family.

Dube-Ncube said Prince Buthelezi was a giant whose footsteps are etched indelibly on the canvas of time, and his role in the negotiations, which led to the democratic transition was emphatic.

“His passing is equivalent to the burning down of a library as Prince Buthelezi was an unmatched chronicler and an encyclopaedia of our history. His memory was, even until his passing, photographic and his storytelling the stuff of international theatres.

“As he transitions to the world of ancestors, our hearts are deeply pained by the loss. On behalf of the government and people of KwaZulu-Natal we doff our hats to Prince Buthelezi for his own part in seeking to work for the people of our country. May his soul rest in peace,” Dube-Ncube said.

Meanwhile, in their quest to grieve the sad passing of Prince Buthelezi in private, while accommodating mourners who are streaming in to pay their respects, the family has set up a marquee at the entrance of the homestead where a daily service will be held at 5pm.

The family has thanked South Africans from all walks of life for the outpouring of messages of condolences as they mourn the sad passing of the family head. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency