Plagiarism: Another Job For Corruption-Fighting-Back Brigades, By Yusuf Ozi-Usman

September 19, 2016

They have never failed to live up to what really people thought they have been up to. They would, and, indeed, have been grabbing every opportunity to fight back with the hope of bringing down the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, simply because he has declared war, practical war on their pay-masters.
This time around, the fight back platform is the issue of President Buhari inserting in a speech he delivered a fortnight ago, a paragraph of Barak Obama’s inaugural speech in 2008, as American President.
Yes, some smart alecs had dug deep to bring out the portion of Obama’s speech which was stolen, known as ‘intellectual property’: yes, the Presidency itself has admitted the situation as it was presented and apologised, but they would not rest – those corruption-fighting-back brigades.
As a matter of fact, the way they have been beating the drum of ‘crucify him’ you would think that plagiarism has anything to do with the high prices of foods and other items in the Nigerian markets!
You would think that the act of plagiarism is the same as stealing the nation’s billion of Naira and even Dollars by a few privileged ones. Indeed, one gets confused by the noise being made by those Brigades about plagiarism to the point of asking, what really is plagiarism or how does it affect the nation’s economy or individual well-being?
The American President, Obama, whose words were plagiarized has never said a word so far; none of the aides of Obama has uttered a word so far (I stand to be corrected), but here in Nigeria, it is a big deal. It is another opportunity to make ear-shattering noise and get paid for it.
We have all forgotten about the poverty in the land or subdued it; we have all forgotten about high cost of goods and services; about lack of food to eat, about lack of job to do to earn a living, about the real thieves who are daily being brought for all Nigerians to behold, and what we hear from corners of the country, from the loud-mouthed ones is plagiarism. Plagiarism!
From one fruitless and none issues to another, the corruption-fighting-back-brigades have continually lost out as the corruption battle on the heartless few rages.
Of course, those of us who have maintained our sense of reasoning because we are not corrupt, watch with baited interest, the fizzling away again, of this plagiarism job for the boys.
Una do-o-o!!! [myad]

How We Are Tackling Humanitarian Needs Of Over 2 Million IDPs – Buhari

Greenbarge Reporters

September 19, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari Monday assured the international community that his administration is already implementing several people-oriented programmes to meet the humanitarian needs of the over two million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria.

The President, who disclosed this at the High-Level Summit on “Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants” on the margins of the 71^st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA71) in New York, United States, said such intervention programmes include: the Presidential Intervention Committee on Rehabilitation of the North-East; the Victims Support Fund; the Safe Schools Initiative and the proposed North-East Development Commission currently undergoing legislative process.

President Buhari added: “we are making concerted efforts to meet our citizens’ immediate humanitarian needs by reducing their risk and vulnerability and increasing their resilience through vocational training and skills acquisition programmes, particularly for IDPs in camps.”

The President said that any discourse on refugees and migrants in the case of Nigeria, “will be incomplete without reference to our internally displaced persons, victims of Boko Haram’s terrible atrocities,” which also rendered 600,000 persons homeless in Nigeria’s neighbouring countries.

He noted that in order to find a lasting solution to this regional challenge, Nigeria in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, recently hosted a regional conference on displacement of persons within the framework of Regional Protection Dialogue on the Lake Chad Basin.

At the global level, President Buhari said Nigeria has equally shown appreciable concern on issues of global human mobility using such control instruments as the National Migration Policy; Labour Migration Policy; Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Laws, and Nigeria Immigration and National Drug Law Enforcement Acts.

The Nigerian leader condemned all new forms of racism, xenophobia and hate ideology targeted at “undermining the considerable benefits that migration can deliver to global efficiency.”

He said that such divisive tendencies only lead to violence and avoidable loss of lives in a world that requires cooperation, adding that “globalization should mean free movement of goods, services and people.”

Nigeria, he said, “believes that without deliberate and collective commitment and action, the issue of large movement of refugees and migrants may impede our aspirations toward achieving the Programme of Action of the Cairo Agenda +20 and global determination to leave no one behind in the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” [myad]

Osinbajo Laments Factors Slowing Down National Development Plans, Projects

Greenbarge Reporters

September 19, 2016

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has lamented over what he called encumbrances that have been working against speedy execution of national development plans and projects in the past.
The Vice President spoke today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja when he met with representatives of private sector groups from Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), National Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (NACCIMA) and other business leaders. It was an inaugural Presidential Quarterly Business Forum with the Organized Private Sector.

Osinbajo said that the Muhammadu Buhari government is looking very carefully at how to reduce the time it takes to provide quality service delivery particularly with respect to processing and getting procurement done in the public sector.”

He said that the execution of plans and projects remains generally a major challenge in the country, adding that it is significantly a public sector problem which is the reason why the Federal Government is making proposals to cut the time it takes to get things done.

“After all of the plans, execution remains the major challenge, but we are trying to work very hard at ensuring that we’re able to execute and that’s one of the reasons we’re making the proposals. For some of them, we need to make specific changes, some of them can go by way of presidential directives and some are just attitudinal changes that have to be dealt with.”
The Vice President said that the Federal Government is devising home grown strategies to steer the nation out of the current economic recession.

He said that it is important to avoid the tendency to generalize as some commentators are doing regarding the causes of the recession, stressing that there is need to acknowledge the peculiarities of the country’s present challenges.
He reassured members of the Organized Private Sector that the Federal Government will try and focus on the kind of problems that we have and what solutions can come from there.
The Vice President said that the Federal Government is ready to engage with them especially in respect of any game-changing investments such as the Dangote’s 650,000 b/d crude oil refinery being constructed in Lagos which he noted has the potential to a “make huge difference to everything we’re doing”.
Professor Osinbajo restated the commitment of the Federal Government to work closely with the private sector, adding “I want to assure you that we will continue to engage with you, first of all, through the quarterly meeting, then the sectoral meetings too”.
He expressed the commitment of the Buhari administration to its engagements with the youths and militants in the Niger Delta, adding: “I think we are all very committed to ensure that we deliver on many of the promises made by the Buhari administration; we are working through those challenges day by day.”
During the interactive session the Minister of Budget & National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; and Minister of State for Industry, Trade & Investment, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar as well as the representative of Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu made some presentations. The ministerial presentations were followed by a Questions and Answers session where the business leaders spoke. [myad]

Tension Mounts In Kogi As Supreme Court Delivers Judgment On Governorship Legal Battle

Greenbarge Reporters

September 19, 2016

As the Supreme Court delivers judgment tomorrow, Tuesday, on the Kogi State governorship election appeals, tension is believed to be mounting, leading to the deployment by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps of over 1,000 personnel to maintain peace.
The Commandant of the Corps in the state, Everestus Obiyo, who spoke at a press briefing in Lokoja today, Monday, said the effort is to avert possible breakdown of law and order after the court judgment.
Obiyo said that the command would not hesitate to deal decisively with any individual or group that disturbed public peace after the verdict.
According to him, peace remains the hallmark of any meaningful development, urging the people of the state to remain calm and display sense of maturity during and after the judgment.
He reiterated the Corps’ mandate to protect critical infrastructure in the state.
Obiyo urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents and guardians, to educate their people on the need to avoid acts capable of undermining peace in the state.
The commandant urged youths in the state to desist from any act that could land them in trouble, but engage in lawful businesses and ventures as means of livelihood.
A former Governor of the State, Captain Idris Wada, and a contender for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress for the election, James Faleke, had approached the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the governorship election petitions tribunal, which dismissed all six petitions challenging the election of Governor Yahaya Bello. [myad]

FCT Government Moves To Enforce No-Grazing-Law On Herdsmen

Greenbarge Reporters

September 19, 2016

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has set machinery in motion to enforce the law banning street begging, street hawking, cattle grazing and commercial motorcycle (Okada).

The minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, who made this known after an emergency FCT Security Committee meeting held in Gwarinpa I District, Abuja today, Monday, insisted that such law must be enforced by the security agents.

The Minister said that the FCT Administration would continue to collaborate with the Security Agencies to ensure that the ban is made effective while following all due processes, adding that the institutions must be strengthened to carry out their statutory duties in line with the Change Agenda of the Federal Government.

He commended the security community in the capital city for the high-level intelligence sharing that has so far assisted the Administration to nip in the bud any security breath in the Territory.

The Minister reiterated that owners of uncompleted buildings must provide security in and around such property and ensure the cleanliness of the surrounding areas. [myad]

We Are Combining Force Of Arms On, And Di-Radicalization Of Boko Haram – Buhari

Greenbarge Reporters

September 19, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the battle with the remnant of the Boko Haram insurgents in the North East is now being combined with di-radicalization of the members.

President Buhari, who was speaking at a bilateral meeting with President Jacob Zuma of South Africa today, Monday in New York, on the sidelines of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, said: “the de-radicalization process is also going on, and we are achieving some measure of success. Even suicide bombing is becoming rare, as the local people are themselves rejecting indoctrination by the insurgents.”

The President assured existing and potential investors in Nigeria of adequate protection of their lives, investments and property, as the security situation in Nigeria is now very much better and conducive.

President Buhari said that Nigeria was working hard to diversify the economy and expressed willingness to collaborate with South African businessmen especially in the areas of mining and agriculture, for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

In his remarks, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa recollected his visit to Nigeria earlier this year which he described as “very successful.” He added that he was interested in the promotion of economic and trade partnerships between the two countries.

At another bilateral meeting with President Macky Sall of Senegal, both President Buhari and the Senegalese President expressed their happiness at the good cropping season being experienced in their countries as it portends bumper harvests which will ultimately translate into an enhancement of the quality of lives of their people.

The two Presidents also reviewed the situation in Guinea Bissau and concluded that political leaders in the country need to make sacrifices to guarantee peace and development of the country. [myad]

Sokoto Engages 500 Unemployed Youths In Sweeping The Streets

Greenbarge Reporters

September 19, 2016

The Sokoto State government has indicated its determination to engage about 500 unemployed youths to be sweeping the streets and undertake other sanitation duties in the state capital.

According to the state Commissioner for the Environment, Alhaji Muhammadu Sifawa, who spoke at a media chat, the state government has already purchased sanitation tools and protective wears for those who would be recruited for the job.
The commissioner said that the government has bought eight vehicles for refuse evacuation and disposal, adding that this is to ensure early evacuation of refuse and improve the health of the people.
He said that the government has also procured 30 garbage collection tricycles for waste management in densely populated areas.
The state government, he said, has taken some proactive measures to boost environmental sanitation.
The measures are special refuse evacuation in 17 major drains at a cost of N 4.5million and resuscitation of the monthly sanitation exercise.
Others are introduction of cash prizes of N2.25 million to the winning zones, and certificates to youth clubs and associations in sanitation exercise. [myad]

I’m Proud Of You, Buhari Tells Victorious Nigerian Paralympic Athletes In Rio

Greenbarge Reporters

September 19, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Nigeria’s team for an outstanding performance at the just concluded Paralympic games in Rio, Brazil

In a statement by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the President extolled the resilient spirit of the Paralympic athletes, who he said were able to excel in the face of adversity.

He commended the athletes for doing the country proud by winning 12 medals and setting new records, which made them the top-performing African team at the 2016 games.

President Buhari applauded the athletes for their tenacity, focus and determination, which has brought glory to the country.

The President also extended gratitude to all the officials and trainers of the Paralympic athletes, who made sacrifices and persevered to fly the country’s colours. [myad]

Shell Company Again, Awards Scholarships To 60 Niger Delta Students

Greenbarge Reporters

September 19, 2016

A new batch of 60 children from the Niger Delta has been awarded the special secondary school scholarship of The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Joint Venture, Cradle to Career. The scholarship covers tuition and all other bills for six years in four of the topmost private secondary schools in Port Harcourt.

Brookstone Secondary School, Jephthah Comprehensive College, Archdeacon Brown Educational Centre (ABEC) and Bloombreed High School in Port Harcourt receive 60 beneficiaries each year from difficult to reach parts of the Niger Delta on full scholarship for their secondary education, after a two-week orientation programme with introductory courses in academics, character and psychology.

The 60 students are the seventh set of beneficiaries and they bring the total number of beneficiaries since inception of the Cradle to Career programme to 410. The Managing Director of SPDC and Chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, said, “This year, the first set of beneficiaries completed their secondary education and the report we have is that about all of them recorded excellent performance in the school certificate and unified tertiary matriculation examinations. It means the aims of the programme are being achieved.”

Represented by the General Manager, External Relations at the award ceremony in Port Harcourt on Friday, the Managing Director said that SPDC and its joint venture partners have sustained the scholarship initiative despite the current economic challenges because they see education as a right for every child and not a privilege.

Dr. Patricia Ogbonnaya, Mrs. Elizabeth Alagoa and Dr. Moses Onoriode Bragiwa, representatives of the Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states Commissioners for Education respectively, extolled the Cradle to Career scholarship scheme for complementing their governments’ investments in education. They praised the transparent selection process and the human capital development benefits of the programme to the region.

The proprietress of one of the implementing schools, Dame Christie Toby said: “SPDC has a passion for investing in people and we are happy to report that students in the programme have over the years been on the top of their classes in their respective schools. We thank Shell and their joint venture partners for helping to ameliorate the problems of the Niger Delta.”

The SPDC JV launched the Cradle to Career initiative in 2010 to provide for bright indigent students and improve on the positive results of its other portfolio of scholarship schemes for local and international undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

Shell Companies in Nigeria have a long history of supporting education through scholarships and other initiatives. In 2015, a total of $10.1 million was invested in scholarships by the SPDC Joint Venture and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo.) Grants were awarded to 930 secondary school students and 638 university undergraduates in 2015, with a total of 10,401 (secondary) and 3,532 (university) grants given over the last five years. [myad]

Federal University, Lafia Sacks 35 Workers For Lack Of Funds To Pay Salaries

Greenbarge Reporters

September 18, 2016

The Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State has terminated the appointment of 35 of its non-teaching staff over the inability of the institution to pay their salaries.
The institution’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Sanusi-Liman, told newsmen today, Sunday in Lafia that the council took the decision due to paucity of funds.
Sanusi-Liman explained that the affected workers, who were employed by the institution earlier in the year, comprised 11 corps members that were retained after their service year and 24 others.
The Vice Chancellor said that the council had directed the management to source for funds and pay off the affected staff since they have worked for over five months without being paid.
“It would be inhuman to keep the staff working when we cannot pay them giving our poor budget and that is why the council decided that we should pay them off.”
According to him, the university has consistently encountered a shortfall of over N38 million in its allocation for several months, which had adversely affected the running of the institution.
He also confirmed that the management has uncovered a job racketeering syndicate in the university, which has offered illegal employment to some persons.
“When we got wind of the matter, the management set up an investigative committee which turned in a report that was submitted to the council. The university council referred the matter to its disciplinary committee for investigation and appropriate action.”
On the post UTME screening of candidates for admission into the university for the 2016/2017 academic session, the vice chancellor said that over 4,000 applicants have been screened, adding that the council would meet to determine its carrying capacity before the admission list would be released.
He also announced that the university council has approved the commencement of its post graduate programmes effective from the 2016/2017 academic session. [myad]

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