Category: General

Katima Mulilo Urban Constituency Councillor Kennedy Simasiku says there are issues that require the Katima Mulilo Town Council (KMTC) to urgently engage the public.

This should be done through information sharing sessions where clarity must be provided and where necessary, decisions made for the good of both parties, said Simasiku in an interview with Nampa, following the public demonstration recently in which residents of Katima called for the removal of Redforce and brought up other issues related to the town council.

Simasiku told Nampa that an invitation was extended to KMTC to join the Constituency to engage and resolve some of the pressing issues the communities are faced with. One such issue is Redforce, a debt collection agency appointed by the council, and the issue of interest charged on outstanding municipal accounts.

‘We fully support the idea that, where qualifying pensioners deserve a rebate or specific treatment due to them being senior citizens, they ought not to be forced to pay amounts t
hey cannot afford in comparison to their living wages. The issue of invoicing dates must be corrected and conveniently sequenced to both parties but importantly, properly communicated to the community for clarity. And finally, under normal circumstances, the burden of recovery should not be entirely dumped on the end user considering the current economic circumstances our country is faced with, and one would hope that such a condition in the contract can be renegotiated or be noted for correction in future. These suggestions were made to KMTC by our office too,’ Simasiku stated.

At the public demonstration two weeks ago, demonstrators called for the closure of Redforce and removal of the KMTC councillors and its chief executive officer. The demonstrators charged that the current town council leadership has failed the masses in delivering proper services. They recited water shortages, poor services and corruption as some of the factors that are forcing them to demand for the removal of the team.

The petition
was handed over to Katima Mulilo Town Council Mayor Lister Shamalaza, who promised speedy feedback. Full feedback is expected to be delivered on Sunday when the whole council will be present, including CEO Raphael Liswaniso.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) has revealed its strategic initiative to construct local technical institutes throughout the nation.

The primary objective is to empower the youth with essential skills crucial for the advancement of the country.

During the commission’s inaugural news conference on repositioning senior secondary education held in Abuja, Dr Iyela Ajayi, the Executive Secretary, emphasised the necessity of these institutes.

He underscored the urgent need for improved workshops in technical schools nationwide.

“The state of workshops in our technical schools is an area we are going to address next year. Senior secondary school is pivotal for skills acquisition, with our curriculum offering around 34 trades.

“However, many schools lack equipped workshops and adequately trained staff.”

Speaking on funding, Ajayi explained that the primary financial support for senior secondary education comes from two percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).

He said in spite of not receiving funding in its two years of existence, the commission appealed to the Federal Government for the timely release of funds in 2024.

Acknowledging the challenges, he stated, “Over 80 percent of the 5.2 million senior secondary schools in the country are not under the control of the commission. Hence, collaboration with state governors is crucial to rejuvenate these schools.”

Ajayi emphasised the commission’s commitment to transparency and accountability, citing a prepared document outlining guidelines for accessing, disbursing, and utilizing the FGN/NSSEC intervention fund.

He urged the government to release the allocated two percent of the CRF to initiate vital improvements.

Responding to concerns about the adequacy of the two percent given the economic challenges, Ajayi said the commission would start from somewhere.

“Government has competing demands, we cannot ask the government to give us all the money.

”If government is giving us 10 per cent for example, what will happen to health, road, and other areas crying for government interventions.

”What we want government to do is to give us this two per cent and may be later on when the economy is good we can now demand for more,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) has urged government at all levels to enforce regulatory laws guiding buildings as a measure to curb recurring building collapses in the country.

The President NIQS, Mr Olayemi Shonubi, made the call on Wednesday at a news conference on activities of the institute ahead of its 30th Biennial Conference/General Meeting, scheduled to hold between Nov. 21 and Nov. 25 in Abuja.

Shonubi said the body known as ‘Quantity Surveyor Registration Board of Nigeria’, was established under a decree in 1986, and with democracy in place, became an Act of the National Assembly

According to him, with strict disciplinary actions by the government and the relevant professional bodies in the sector, building collapse will be restrain in Nigeria.

He attributed some incidents of building collapse to the handing over of some building constructions to unprofessional or quacks in the system.

“To check incidents in the system, a body, ‘Quantity Surveyor Registration Board of Nigeria’, was set up under a decree in 1986.

“But with the coming of democracy, it became an Act in the National Assembly.

“That body was set up to regulate the practice, but failed because of failure of implementation and enforcement, “Shonubi said.

The NIQS’s president advised Nigerians and government officials to always engage the services of professionals in any building construction.

He said that buildings collapse were becoming more pronounced and a shame to those who were trained in the field.

While calling on governments on the implementation and enforcement of the guiding laws, Shonubi, however, lauded the recent efforts of government at both the states and federal level at demolishing some buildings wrongly sited.

“In some states as well as at the federal level, there are some demolitions going on and people are sympathetic to people’s building being demolished, but why should people go and build on the water channels.

“Is it that people who build on flood areas do not know that the flood will also help to erode the foundation of their buildings, ” he said.

Shonubi said the forthcoming conference would address critical challenges facing Nigeria’s infrastructural growth.

“The week-long event is packed with diverse activities including a visit to the orphanage home in furtherance to the institute’s corporate social responsibility.

“There is the induction of new corporate members, and investiture of new Fellows.

“Other activities are the Annual General Meeting and elections into various positions in the National Executive Council as well as the inauguration of the newly elected members of NIQS.

“It is noteworthy to mention that we shall also be hosting Quantity Surveyors from all over Africa for the 9th Triennial General Assembly of the African Association of Quantity Surveyors (AAQS).

“This will take place on the sideline of our Biennial Conference on Nov. 24, “he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference is, “Integrated Cost Management Solutions for Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Delivery: A Key to National Economic Development.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Senate has urged the Federal Government to upgrade the Eastern Rail Line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, from narrow to standard gauge.

This followed the adoption of a motion by Sen. Victor Umeh( APGA-Anambra) and co-sponsored by 31 other senators at plenary.

Moving the motion, Umeh said that the eastern rail line passed through four zones of South-South, South-East, North-Central and North- East of the country.

“This runs from Port Harcourt through Enugu, Markurdi, Jos, Bauchi and Maiduguri, which is the longest and one of the oldest rail lines in Nigeria.”

He said that a functional railway system in the country would help to reduce vehicular traffic on the roads and save them from constant dilapidation.

The lawmaker said that rehabilitation and reconstruction of a narrow gauge rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri had been vandalised, abandoned and overgrown with weeds and trees.

“Not only that the project failed, but the Chinese contractors partnering with the Federal Government on the project who were expected to provide 85 per cent of the expected funding programme, abandoned the project without injecting any funds.”

He urged the federal government to take immediate steps to build standard gauge rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.

Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe (APGA-Abia) said that the issue was not new.

“This has been here since the 8th Senate.

“One of the biggest problems that we had was that no transport minister has been able to give a reason why in the modernisation of rail lines built by the colonial masters in Nigeria, only the eastern rail line has been ignored.”

He said that with the coming administration of President Bola Tinubu, the eastern rail line would be upgraded.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio said that the motion was a patriotic one that the federal government should take seriously.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigerian Army has alerted the public that it has not commenced recruitment for Direct Short Service course.

It said the online `Nigerian Army Direct Short Service (DSS) Recruitment Portal for 2023′ is fake, and warned the public not to fall victims of fraudsters.

This is contained in a statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said the fake online was created by unscrupulous persons to defraud and mislead the public, as such Nigerians especially applicants should avoid it.

According to him, the Nigerian army has already set measures in motion to apprehend those behind the fraudulent portal.

“Accordingly, members of the public are enjoined to report any suspicious recruitment portal or activities to the NA.

“The army will continue to remain committed to ensuring a transparent and credible recruitment process through its established official channels of communication.

“These channels include, the official Nigerian Army website and social media platforms https://army.mil.ng twitter @HQNigerianArmyFacebook, Headquarters Nigerian Army and other reputable media outlets.

“It is important to rely on these official sources for accurate and up-to-date information, rather than fall victim of fake recruitment online advertisements.

”Fake recruitment advertisements will inevitably mislead potential candidates and expose them to the vagaries of fraudulent activities of scammers.

“Potential Candidates are particularly urged to take this rebuttal cum advisory seriously,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

179 Nigerians have been awarded scholarship to study different programmes in Russia, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman has said.

Mamman, who said this at the 2023/2024 Pre-departure briefing of Bilateral Education Agreement Scholars to Russia in Abuja on Tuesday, noted that the first batch of students were already on their way to the airport for departure.

According to him, the second and third batches will depart on Nov.15 and Nov. 17 respectively.

Represented by the Director of Universities Education in the ministry, Mrs Rakiya Ilyasu, Mamman advised the scholars not to see the opportunity as uncontrolled freedom to do things that would be to their disgrace.

He explained that the country had invested a lot in them and as such required the returns of investment on their return to the country.

“Note that you are few out of thousands who secured this opportunity which you must not take for granted. Your parents and teachers would also be happy with your succor.

“Your selection is part of a broader plan which ensures that brilliant Nigerians, especially those that cannot afford to study programmes that are not readily available in Nigeria, are supported to get necessary knowledge, skills and competence that would be useful in Nigeria’s development agenda.

“I am happy to inform you that in spite of the global economic meltdown, the number of our development partners have increased and many of them now offer scholarship to Nigeria.

“As you prepare to travel out, ensure to uphold and eschew good values, focus on your studies and be a good ambassador of your country,” he said.

The Minister also charged the scholars to always strive to abide by the laws of their host country and as well remember to be their brother’s keeper in their new environment.

“Most importantly, you need to make your presence known to the Nigerian Embassy in Moscow. This is very necessary based on our experiences from Ukraine.

“Your parents are also spending a lot of resources on you. Note that we all expert you return to our dear country at the end of your studies to assist Nigeria to become a better place by contributing your quota to its development, using your new knowledge and skills,” he added.

Also speaking, the Director, Federal Scholarship Board, Asta Ndajiwo said the journey began in November 2022 with applications from thousands of Nigerians which later translated to the nomination of the candidates.

Ndajiwo commended the Federal Government efforts especially in the payment of the scholars allowances from September to December.

She also advised the scholars to do away with any extracurricular activities that could take their lives, recalling an incident where two scholars lost their lives while swimming in a pool.

“We regret loosing two Nigerian scholars in Russia in the past that went to swim and in the process got drowned. We don’t want to loose anyone again and so we advise you stay away from water if you cannot swim.

“We want you to be your brother’s keeper, work hard and face your studies as you also be a good ambassador of the country.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria