Why Nigeria Needs State-Of-The-Art Population Census – Vice President Osinbajo

September 8, 2022

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that one of the very important benefits of the population census scheduled for the 2023, the same year Nigeria will be holding general elections, is the fact that data collected will help to make critical decisions regarding the country’s future.

“This is why we must ensure we have the right data to plan adequately for our people and for the future of our children.”
The Vice President, who inaugurated a donor’s forum ahead of the 2023 Population Census, in Abuja, today, September 8, said that the government is fully committed to investing in the development of the country’s human capital across different sectors, including health, education and nutrition, despite the growing population.
The Vice President, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said: “as a government, our most important objectives, both nationally and regionally, must be on the improvement of the quality of life, living standards and livelihoods of our people. In other words, we are committed to the happiness, security and general welfare of our populations.”

The Vice President insisted that “we must therefore, adequately capture all the important indices of our great population.”

He said that the government will continue to make crucial investments in the development of the nation’s human capital, especially now when the population of the African continent is growing at an even faster rate when compared to the rest of the world.
“By 2050, Nigeria is projected to have 400 million people. And government must continue to provide quality basic education, nutrition and healthcare for them, improve on security and create more job opportunities for our young people, who currently make up more than half of our country’s population.”
He recalled President Buhari’s speech at the recent National Stakeholders Summit where he described population as a critical factor in a nation’s efforts toward achieving sustainable development. People are both the agents and beneficiaries of the development process. Therefore, the knowledge of the national population in terms of size, distribution and socio-economic characteristics is required for planning purposes.”
professor Osinbajo commended the Commission and its partners for their hard work and dedication in preparations for the 2023 Population and Housing Census (PHC), the Vice President highlighted the Commission’s efforts in this regard.
A special documentary on Nigeria’s 2023 Census journey so far was also screened at the event, while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination to the President, Dr. Habiba Lawal; Chairman of NPC, Nasiru Kwarra and the UNFPA Resident Representative, Ms. Ulla Mueller, delivered special remarks.

2 NCC Top Spokesmen Bag Fellowship Of NIPR

Greenbarge Reporters

September 8, 2022

Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has conferred its Fellowship award on two management staff of the National Communications Commission (NCC).

They are the Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka and Head, Media Relations, in the Public Affairs Department, Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan.

The two top spokesmen were inducted as Fellows of the Chartered Institute during its AGM and Conference at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

Congratulations from the Board, Management and Staff of the Greenbarge Media and Communications Limited, publisher of Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper and hard copy magazine.

PDP Chairman, Ayu, Triumphs Over Wike’s Group; NEC Backs Him Not To Quit

Greenbarge Reporters

September 8, 2022

The National Chairman of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu smiled home today, September 8, against the agitators, led by Governor Nyeson Wike of River State, for him to resign towards settling the rift in the party.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, at a make-or-mar meeting in Abuja, along with members of the party’s Board of Trustees, passed a vote of confidence in Senator Ayu, a clear sign of the support for him to go on as chairman of the party.
A motion for the vote of confidence in the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), led by Dr. Ayu was moved by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu at the meeting.
The vote was supported by a NEC member from Kwara State at the meeting that was presided over by the acting chairman of the PDP BoT, Adolphus Wabara.
This is coming against the background of calls by the southern caucus of the PDP for Ayu to step down for a southerner.
With the vote of confidence, it is almost certain that Ayu will not be vacating the seat as he had insisted before the meeting that he would not resign before his tenure is over.
In reaction to the development, the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, said that the party is determined to resolve its disagreements.
According to him, such disagreements that have continued to disrupt the party’s progression in recent times, are normal in a family.
Atiku, who is former vice-president of Nigeria, said that the PDP is the oldest party in Nigeria and had stood the test of time.
He said that the PDP had a constitution that “guides the conduct of members and the party’s activities,” and that all disagreements must be resolved in tandem with the party’s rules and regulations.

Queen Elizabeth II, Ruled UK For 70 Years, Dies At 96

Greenbarge Reporters

September 8, 2022

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.

Her family gathered at her Scottish estate after concerns grew about her health earlier today, September 8.

The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social changes.

With her death, her eldest son Charles, the former Prince of Wales, will lead the country in mourning as the new King and head of state for 14 Commonwealth realms.

In a statement, His Majesty The King said: “The death of my beloved mother Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.

“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”

He said during the period of mourning and change he and his family would be “comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held”.

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

“The King and the Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”

All the Queen’s children travelled to Balmoral, near Aberdeen, after doctors placed the Queen under medical supervision.

Her grandson, Prince William, is also there, with his brother, Prince Harry, on his way.

Queen Elizabeth II’s tenure as head of state spanned post-war austerity, the transition from empire to Commonwealth, the end of the Cold War and the UK’s entry into – and withdrawal from – the European Union.

Her reign spanned 15 prime ministers starting with Winston Churchill, born in 1874, and including Liz Truss, born 101 years later in 1975, and appointed by the Queen earlier this week.

She held weekly audiences with her prime minister throughout her reign.

At Buckingham Palace in London, crowds awaiting updates on the Queen’s condition began crying as they heard of her death. The Union flag on top of the palace was lowered to half-mast at 18:30 BST.

The Queen was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, in Mayfair, London, on 21 April 1926.

Few could have foreseen she would become monarch but in December 1936 her uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated from the throne to marry the twice-divorced American, Wallis Simpson.

Elizabeth’s father became King George VI and, at age 10, Lilibet, as she was known in the family, became heir to the throne.

Within three years, Britain was at war with Nazi Germany. Elizabeth and her younger sister, Princess Margaret, spent much of wartime at Windsor Castle after their parents rejected suggestions they be evacuated to Canada.

After turning 18, Elizabeth spent five months with the Auxiliary Territorial Service and learned basic motor mechanic and driving skills. “I began to understand the esprit de corps that flourishes in the face of adversity,” she recalled later.

Through the war, she exchanged letters with her third cousin, Philip, Prince of Greece, who was serving in the Royal Navy. Their romance blossomed and the couple married at Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947, with the prince taking the title of Duke of Edinburgh.

She would later describe him as “my strength and stay” through 74 years of marriage, before his death in 2021, aged 99.

The Duke of Edinburgh was at the Queen’s side for more than six decades of reign, becoming the longest-serving consort in British history in 2009

Their first son, Charles, was born in 1948, followed by Princess Anne, in 1950, Prince Andrew, in 1960, and Prince Edward, in 1964. Between them, they gave their parents eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Princess Elizabeth was in Kenya in 1952, representing the ailing King, when Philip broke the news that her father had died. She immediately returned to London as the new Queen.

“It was all a very sudden kind of taking on and making the best job you can,” she later recalled.

Elizabeth was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953, aged 27, in front of a then-record TV audience estimated at more than 20 million people.

Subsequent decades would see great change, with the end of the British Empire overseas and the swinging ’60s sweeping away social norms at home.

Elizabeth reformed the monarchy for this less deferential age, engaging with the public through walkabouts, royal visits and attendance at public events. Her commitment to the Commonwealth was a constant – she visited every Commonwealth country at least once.

But there were periods of private and public pain. In 1992, the Queen’s “annus horribilis”, fire devastated Windsor Castle – a private residence as well as working palace – and three of her children’s marriages broke down.

After the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in a car accident in Paris in 1997, the Queen drew criticism for appearing reluctant to respond publicly.

There were questions about the monarchy’s relevance in modern society.

“No institution… should expect to be free from the scrutiny of those who give it their loyalty and support, not to mention those who don’t,” she acknowledged.

PDP Board Of Trustees Chair Throws-In The Towel

Greenbarge Reporters

September 8, 2022

Chairman of the Board, Senator Walid Jibrin

Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Walid Jibrin, has resigned.

The BoT chairman announced his resignation at the ongoing Trustees’ meeting today, September 8, in Abuja.

Jibrin said that he resigned as his own sacrifice for the resolution of some of the knotty issues confronting the opposition party, especially the leadership crisis.

There have been growing demands for the resignation of Jibrin and the party’s National Chairman, Iyorcha Ayu, since the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate.

The presidential candidate, party chairman and Trustees’ chairman are from the North.

Telecom, Technology Sustainability Group Appoints Board Members

Editorial staff

September 7, 2022

Telecommunication and Technology Sustainability Working Group (TTSWG), a Nigerian pro-technology and non-governmental organization has announced the appointment of its inaugural board members. TTSWG is an aorganisation that advocates for sustainability through best practises in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector,

According to a statement from the organization, the board consists of eminent personalities with a proven track record within the telecommunication and technology industries.

“They are the chairperson, Engr. Abdu-Waya Mohammed, Head Strategy at FCT Internal Revenue Service; the vice-chairperson; Dr. (Mrs.) Wunmi Hassan, President/CEO, High-Tech Centre for Nigerian Women and Youth; Iklimatu Abubakar Ramallan, Founder/CEO of IQRAM & IRA Technologies; Dr. Chris Uwaje (FNCS, FSP), Chairman, Mobile Software Solutions Ltd; and Professor Francis Idachaba, professor of Communication Engineering, Covenant University.

According to Engr. Abdu-Waya, in the statement: “Nigerian businesses are fast redefining their operations around sustainable business models that create enduring value for all stakeholders and the planet,”saying that it is against this backdrop that TTSWG is positioned to propel more action in sustainability across industries by creating a strong network for collaboration.

“It is an honour to serve these highly experienced and inspiring leaders. The sooner we expedite the education of every stakeholder in the sector about sustainability, from product providers to customers, the sooner we begin to protect more of our social and physical environment, health, and wealth for the future.”

It said that the board members are passionate about sustainability practices in ICT and are in alignment with the organisation’s mission and vision.

A run down on the experience of the board members goes thus:

Engr. Abdu-Waya Mohammed is a technology specialist with over 30 years of experience in the world of telecommunications both as an industry practitioner and in academia.

He is currently the Chief Strategy Officer at FCT Internal Revenue Service pushing for the alignment of the Services mandates and its Technology Strategy. He serves on the National Broadband Steering Committee of the NCC.

Dr. (Mrs.) Omowunmi Hassan is an IT professional per excellence. She evaluated Nigeria’s Information Technology Policy of 2001 in her PhD research with her results as a major input to the reform and convergence of the major ICT institutions in the country, thereby culminating in a Communications Technology Ministry in Nigeria today. She is the founder and national coordinator of the Women and Youth IT Capacity Building Centre.

Dr. Chris Uwaje is acclaimed as the pioneer of the National Information Technology Policy for Nigeria (2000-2002), which created the National IT Development Agency (NITDA). He is a founding member and Fellow of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS). He is also a Co-Founder, Past President and Fellow of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON).

Iklimatu Abubakar Ramallan is the Founder/CEO of IQRAM and IRA Technologies. She is also the Co-Founder of Secure Agric, a food security focused organisation.

She is experienced in managing and leading teams across multiple sectors. Her interests are in business management and making organisations successful.

Francis Enejo Idachaba is a Professor of Communication Engineering at Covenant University and Director of the Covenant University Open and Distance Learning Unit. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the Nigerian Society of Engineers and a COREN Registered Engineer in Nigeria.

Buhari Welcoming Ex President Jonathan To Villa On ECOWAS

Greenbarge Reporters

September 7, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari is here welcoming the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to the Presidential villa, Abuja today, September 7, as the Nigeria’s special envoy to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Jonathan was in the presidency to brief President Buhari on the Mali crisis.

Fat Salaries: You Lied: Polytechnics Teachers Tell University Academic Staff

Editorial staff

September 7, 2022

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has accused the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities (CVCNU) of spreading lies and misinformation with regards to the salaries received by senior polytechnic lecturers.

ASUP said that the claim made by the Vice Chancellors that senior lecturers in polytechnics earned more than university professors was false and could cause issues during negotiations for polytechnic lecturers.

ASUP, in a statement today, September 7 by its Secretary General, Abdullahi Yalwa, said: “Our Union’s attention has been drawn to a statement from the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities contained in the report submitted by the body to the government during the meeting of Vice Chancellors, Chairmen of Governing Councils of Federal Universities and the Minister of Education on September 6, 2022.

“An extract from the submission made by the CVCNU was emphatic in conveying the erroneous impression that chief lecturers in Nigeria’s polytechnics (and colleges of education) earn more than professors in the nation’s universities.

“The position of the CVCNU was made in order to justify the legitimate demands of our sister union, the Academic Staff Union of Universities for a wage increase.

“While we understand the disposition of the CVCNU to support the aspirations of ASUU, putting out fallacious statements as it affects the emoluments of other workers in the other tiers of tertiary education in the country will only undermine same aspiration.

“Apart from the falsehood, it is improper for the CVCNU to have made such statement at a time that our Union is also renegotiating emoluments for our members as it has the potentials of creating the wrong impression about the emoluments of workers in polytechnics and Colleges of Education, thereby undermining the ongoing renegotiation process between the FGN and Polytechnics.

“Without doubt, the CVCNU has access to the salary structures of the different cadres of staff across the tertiary education landscape and therefore has no basis to indulge in needless extrapolation. The agitation for wage review in the university system can indeed proceed creditably without such fallacious reference by parties as such can only breed needless rivalry in the sector,” the statement read.

Cote D’Ivoire Wants ECOWAS Quick Action On Hostage-Taking Of its Soldiers By Mali

Editorial staff

September 7, 2022

Cote D’Ivoire has called for immediate intervention of the regional group, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in what it called hostage-taking of its 46 soldiers by the Mali authorities.

Briefing President Muhammadu Buhari today, September 7, at the Presidential villa, Abuja, on the face-off between Mali and Cote D’Ivoire over detained Ivorian soldiers, Special Envoy to ECOWAS and former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan stressed the need for intervention of ECOWAS leaders.

Dr. Jonathan said that about 49 Ivorian soldiers were initially detained in Mali for ‘unlawful entry,’ and that three females in the team were later released, leaving 46.

According to the former President, this development is threatening a rupture in the relationship between the two countries.

Responding, President Buhari said that Nigeria is committed to promoting peace and harmony among the ECOWAS countries and promised to come out with initiative towards immediate resolution of the impasse.

Nigeria To Foreign Airlines: You Are Not Allowed To Sell Tickets In Dollars

Editorial staff

September 7, 2022

Minister of state for aviation, Hadi Sirika

Federal Government of Nigeria has made it clear to foreign airlines operating from the country that they will not be allowed to sell their tickets in dollars, stressing that dollar is not the legal tender in Nigeria but the Naira.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who spoke to news men today, September 7, shortly after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential villa, Abuja, said that the federal government will sanction foreign airlines that are selling air tickets to Nigerians in dollars.

Hadi Sirika warned the airlines to desist from writing sensitive issues on their social media accounts, coming on the heels of recent developments in the Nigerian aviation sector where foreign airlines like Turkish Airlines and British Airways began to sell their tickets in dollars.

In July, the International Air Transport Association said foreign airlines have $465m of un-repatriated revenue trapped with the Central Bank of Nigeria. But the Central Bank recently release the sum of $465 million for the settlement of the un-repatriate airline revenue from sales of tickets. Consequently, Emirates Airline had threatened to withdraw operations in Nigeria from September over $85m trapped revenue, but relaxed its plans after the CBN released $265m to the foreign airlines.

Turkish Airlines said it will charge the highest fare for economy and business class tickets. The Minister said, “Reports are reaching us that some of the airlines are refusing to sell tickets in Naira. That is a violation of our local laws, they will not be allowed. The high and the mighty amongst them will be sanctioned, if they’re caught doing that. “NCAA has been directed to swing into action and once we find any airline violating this, we will definitely deal with them. Also, they blocked the travel agents from access. They also made only the expensive tickets available and so on and so forth. “Our regulators are not sleeping; we have a very vibrant Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. Once they find any airline guilty, that airline will be dealt with because we need to protect our people. It is according to our agreements, to what we have signed and this is according to international convention.

“So, going forward, they should desist from doing things that are outside of the law. They should also desist from writing to us and putting things in social media. They should go through diplomatic channels if they want a response from the federal government.” The minister also revealed how foreign airlines made over $1.1bn from Nigeria in 2016. He said during the period, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration cleared the $600m inherited from the Goodluck Jonathan government.

He reiterated that the CBN has released $265m out of $484m un-repatriated revenue belonging to them. The Minister further revealed that Nigeria has signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement with the State of Kuwait.

“Today we had two memoranda in front of Council, both of which have been approved graciously by council. Memo number one is to do the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the State of Kuwait. That memorandum has been approved that we should sign the Bilateral Air Service Agreement with the State of Kuwait.

“And of course, this is in line with the provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s requirements in line with the convention of December 7, 1944, to which both countries are signatories. It provides reciprocal rights and privileges for both countries and airlines therefrom.”

Source: Business News Report.

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