Troops of Multinational Joint Task Force

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters says the troops of the Armed Forces have in the last two week neutralised scores of suspected terrorists.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, made the disclosure on Thursday in Abuja at the bi-weekly news conference on the operations of the armed forces.

The director also said that large cache of arms and ammunition in different theatres of operations were recovered.

Danmadami, said that both kinetic and non-kinetic operations were conducted in the various theatres of operations, with significant results recorded between May 4 and May 18.

In the North East, he said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai had sustained offensive against terrorist and other criminal elements through intense ground and air operations, which yielded tremendous successes.

He said the troops had during the period neutralised 26 suspected Boko Haram terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, as well as arrested 25 logistics suppliers, one spy and another suspected terrorist.

Danmadami said the troops also rescued one of the kidnapped Chibok School girls.

He, added that 511 suspected terrorists and members of their families comprising 99 adult male, 161 adult female and 251 children surrendered at different locations.

He said that the rescued Chibok School girl, Saratu Dauda was on serial 10 of the list of the abducted girls.

According to him, the surrendered claimed to have escaped the terrorists camp due to troops intensive offensive in the general area.

Also, a JAS fighter surrendered to troops at Damboa in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno, claiming that his motivation to surrender was due to military offensive in Sambisa forest area.

Consequently, within the weeks in review troops recovered 17 AK-47 rifles, one AK-49 rifle, eight SMGs, 15 grenades rifles, two pump action guns, one LMG, one Ma rifle, four AA guns.

Troops also recovered two AA barrel, 12 dane guns, 38 AK47 magazines, two double barrel guns, 3,896 rounds of .50 inch, 2,189 rounds of 12.7mm, 1,475 rounds of 9mm and 86 rounds of 12.7mm x 108API.

Also recovered are 183 rounds of shilka, 60 rounds of 40mm BGL, two rounds of 7.62mm x 39 B/SP, 34 cartons of sig pistol, 125 RPG bombs, 52 x 36 hand grenade, five SMK bombs, and 13 RPG tubes.

Eight 76mm bombs, 130 SMK grenade (tear gas) 13 x PG 42 grenade, and 247 rounds of 38mm SMK bombs, 15 RPG tail pin, 275 rounds of 7.62mm special, 163 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 440 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 364 rounds of 7.62 x 50mm NATO, were also recovered.

234 rounds of AK49 ammo, one G3 skeletal weapon, two AK47 working parts, two mortar bombs, two 60mm mortar tube, one shoulder grenade launcher, eight propeller charger (155 gun), among several Improvised Explosive Devices too were recovered, he said.

The director, defence media operations, further said that scores of suspected terrorists were also killed in an air bombardment by the air component, while many gun trucks were destroyed in the air strike.

In the North Central, Danmadami said that the troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralised two suspected terrorists and arrested 25 suspected criminals during the period.

In North West, he said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, eliminated 12 suspected terrorists and arrested 26 suspected criminals as well as rescued 24 kidnapped civilians.

He added that the troops recovered different calibre of weapons and several military uniforms and accoutrements.

According to him, the air component bombarded suspected terrorists camps in Zamfara, saying the feedback revealed that several suspected terrorists were neutralised in the airstrike.

Furthermore, on May 10, the air component of Operation Whirl Punch conducted air interdiction operation at Sabon Birnin in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The operation was carried out following reports of sighting suspected terrorists on seven motorcycles fleeing North West of Sabon Birnin.

Accordingly, the targets was engaged, neutralising the suspects.

In another air operation, an air strike was conducted at Warari and Sambo in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, sequel to INTEL of terrorists activities at the locations.

Accordingly, the locations were attacked with bombs and rockets and the suspected terrorists neutralised, he said.

He assured Nigerians that there would be no hiding place for the terrorists who are fleeing from North East and North West. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Ladi Memorial Foundation (LMF) has trained and empowered students and youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)with sewing equipment as starter packs.

The Foundation donated 40 industrial sewing machines and other sewing equipment to schools in the FCT.

During the event on Wednesday, the Executive Director, LMF, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, said the idea of the programme was engaging stakeholders support for technical vocational education.

These, she said, were through the Incentivised Pilot School sewing championship Project 2023 (SSCP23).

According to him, the idea is to incentivise stakeholders across different sectors because education seemed to have been by-organised into different sectors and the industry is far from the school.

She said so we thought we could bring everybody together on the same page and as you could see here today, we did it, we got support from everybody.

What have we done today? We have equiped three schools with minimum sewing equipment that they need. We have also equiped five individuals from what you could see.

If you put all of that together, you have about 10 individuals so all together we have produced about 40 sewing equipment that is going to different schools and I think it is a good thing to be sustained.

The process is competitive but you could see everyone has to put in their best but for that best dress to come out soon after four hours, it shows the person has taste and competence and we are grateful for that, he said.

Like I said, about 15 individuals benefited but when you look at the fact that some schools, like the three schools that received the equipment, have over 1000 students each, it tells you that we have actually reached in real verifiable terms, more individual than 2000.

And it means that for these particular three schools and for these individual, the rippling effect is large, he said.

Osikoya however, said that the National Senior Secondary Education Commission had promised to give support for the project to become a national competition in 2024.

She said: we want to encourage that every other persons support them. FCT have also promised they will continue with this. That is promising.

Also at the function, the FCT Secretary for Education, Alhaji Sani El-Katuzu, commended the foundation for the initiative.

El-Katuzu assured the continuous support of the FCT minister, adding that the empowerment programme was a way of also curtailing idleness among youths.

He, however, urged youths to use the opportunity that had been given and ensure they participated in all tasks.

One of the beneficiaries, Susan Audu, appreciated the organisers for creating the empowerment programme, adding that she would use the equipment given and ensure she excelled in all.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that UNESCO, Ministry of Education among others, supported the event.

Awards and equipment were given to winners and other beneficiaries. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

Mr Okwy Okeke Managing Director International Gaming and Entertainment limited (IGE) promoters of Mega Millions Naija.

By Kingsley Okoye

International Gaming and Entertainment Limited (IGE), promoters of Mega Millions Naija, says it is deploying more technology and meticulous record keeping to protect winners claims.

The Managing Director of IGR, Mr Okwy Okeke, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that IGE is licensed by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission to operate a national lottery promotional scheme, Mega Millions Naija.

According to Okeke, the deployment of more technologies are additional measures to safe-guard wins in case players lose their tickets.

Our commitment to deploying technology to protect players from losing their winnings to store clerks, agents, or other forms of theft is second to none.

We are doing more to sustain the security of our platform, If players in Nigeria lose their physical ticket, they can rely on the platforms secure record-keeping system, which retains a digital copy of all tickets purchased.

Okeke said the technology had inbuilt features of eliminating the possibility of losing out on winnings due to misplaced or stolen tickets.

He said in the event of loosing tickets, players could readily access their records and pursue their claims accordingly.

This is complemented by electronic transmission of each tickets numbers to the email account or phone number of each player.

For this reason, the company verifies all email accounts and phone numbers for the purposes of protecting customers winnings by employing these proactive measures.

He assured subscribers that their participation in the lottery was not only convenient but also safeguarded against potentially fraudulent activities.

Okeke said that mega millions naija was committed to transparency and security, hence created a trustworthy environment for lottery enthusiasts to enjoy their gaming experience while having the assurance that their claims were protected.

The measures follow an incident where a 23-year-old liquour store clerk, Carly Nunes, was indicted on charges related to an alleged scheme to steal a million winning Mega Millions ticket in Lakeville, Massachusetts, USA.

At Savas Liquours, where Nunes served as a checkout counter clerk, a customer dropped his purchased lottery tickets, including the winning Mega Millions ticket, while leaving the store with his bag of chips.

Nunes, with a co-worker, tried to cash the ticket, he said.

To avoid such incidents in Nigeria, Okeke said mega millions naija lotteries, set up a platform where all players could secure their tickets via digital means.

He said the lottery prioritised player convenience, protection and also gave Nigerians the opportunity to access over 20 international lotteries across the world, such as the US Powerball, Eurojackpot, US MegaMIllions, EuroMillions, SuperEnalotto, and UK Lotto. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

============
Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta
A report on the safety of girls and women shows that 95 per cent of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Niger and Nasarawa state communities are perpetrated by men and boys.

Ms Comfort Bello, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of Talitha Cumi Foundation (TCF), made the assertion at the Flash Light Actions on Girls Safety (FLAGS) project midline dissemination meeting held in Abuja.

Bello said that the three-year FLAGS project is being funded by the UN Trust Fund and implemented by TCF to end GBV and support 750 marginalised schoolgirls between 10-19 years.

She explained that poverty, culture, lack of skills and parental care and neglect are some of the causes of GBV.

She added that on the midline assessment conducted in our FLAGS communities, the major cause of GBV as identified by the respondents is poverty.

About 71 per cent cases of GBV are due to poverty and 75 per cent of major perpetrators are men, 20 per cent are boys.

Therefore, basically 95 per cent are men and boys who are the major perpetrators of GBV in the country.

Bello explained that the survey also showed that most of the perpetrators of GBV were family members such as brothers, fathers and uncles.

We believe that if they are continually sensitised in the community, they will be able to protect the girls and GBV will reduce to minimal.

We also encourage skill acquisition training for girls to keep them busy and be empowered, as the respondents requested for more police stations in their communities, she said.

She also stressed the need for the establishment of police stations and swift judicial process to ensure arrest, investigation and prosecution of perpetrators to serve as deterrent to others.

Ms Tayo Erinle, the Executive Director, TCF, stressed the need for the establishment of shelter for the safety of GBV survivors.

She said it was important to empower women and girls with skills to enable them have psycho-social support.

Erinle decried the inadequate shelter to carter for the GBV survivors, especially for girls above 18 years, urging stakeholders to provide more for the safety of girls and women.

We need shelter, places where we can keep the survivors safe and rehabilitate them, while justice is taking its cause and government
can support in this regard.

If we are unable to take survivors out of where they are being abused, it will continue because of their level of vulnerability.

So, shelters are very important and as it is now, shelter is inadequate; we dont have enough, especially for people above 18 years.

People who have access to the fund and facilities should provide shelter, that is a great way to support the war against GBV.

She also revealed that slow judicial process stalled justice for GBV cases, increased the act and further affected the mental health of survivors.

The will of justice is very slow and can be very frustrating for the survivors and us.

This is because sometimes when you pass through the stages of gathering required evidence, getting the support from the health
and community level, FIDA, Police and ends up in the court and it is taking forever.

According to her, the issue has to be looked into so as not to make it appear as if nothing is being done.

She said that when people suffer GBV, the harm could be soothed or some comfort could come when they see justice, but not while these cases are ongoing.

Mrs Gloria Ekanem of Women Development Department, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, said every opportunity to talk about girls
safety was an opportunity to discuss the future of young Nigerian women.

Ekanem expressed regret that the issue of rape was still rampart, and urged girls to know how to protect yourselves and be armed
with the right education from the right people so that you will not be misled.

Also, Mrs Funmi Kolawole, the Gender Desk Officer, Nigeria Police said most of the cases reported are from villages,
communities and most of the perpetrators are relations that are supposed to take care of the survivors.

The number of people reporting GBV cases are more than how it used to be and the culture of silence has been broken
and we have a lot of reports now, Kolawole said.

Miss miracle, 12 year-old school dropout, said the FLAGS project exposed her to GBV preventive measures, how to seek
help, improve her self-esteem and menstrual health hygiene management. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Thompson Yamput/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Source: NAN News

L-R: Eivind Fjeldstad, Business Counsellor, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Abuja; Nabila Aguele, Special Adviser to Nigerias Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning; Laoye Jaiyeola, CEO, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG); Osasuyi Dirisu, Executive Director, Policy Innovation Centre (PIC); Michael Ojo, Country Director, Global Alliance for Nutrition (GAIN Nigeria) and Oluwatobiloba Moody, Director, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) at the launch of the PICs Purple Book in AbujaTuesday

By Justina Auta
The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), has unveiled its Purple Book, to promote gender equality and inclusion in Nigeria.
The book, tagged From Voices to Action, is a curation of policy and programme recommendations from the PICs maiden Gender and Inclusion Summit (GS-22) held in Abuja in 2022.
Mr Laoye Jaiyeola, CEO, NESG, said the recommendations in the book aligned with best practices for delivering gender programmes to facilitate inclusion and diversity while connecting dots for an equitable society.
This book serves as a reference document that helps people reflect on the conversations at the summit and take actionable recommendations they can deliver gender-responsive programs in Government.
It would help stakeholders explore transformative ways to achieve gender equality and inclusion in Nigeria
As we know, there is still much to be done, and much responsibility lies upon us to create the inclusive society we all seek.
Fostering gender equality will require continuous collaboration between governments, private and public sectors, civil society organisations, and communities.
Also, recognizing and addressing the intersecting forms of discrimination and working towards creating a society where all individuals can enjoy equal rights, opportunities, and freedoms, regardless of their gender, he said.
Jaiyeola, while unveiling the 2023 theme of its next Gender and Inclusion Summit (GS-23) said it will enable stakeholders within Nigeria and Africa to gather, discuss and deliberate on important steps to take to facilitate gender-inclusive society.
Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu, Executive Director of the PIC, highlighted the need for gender and Inclusion summit, which serves as a platform to amplify stakeholders voices about Gender Equality and Inclusion.
Dirisu added that the Purple Book provides an opportunity for us all to move From Voices to Action by reflecting on approaches to improve the Gender Equality profile of Nigeria.
We translates voices to action by developing the purple book. It contains learnings from the summit as well as recommendations for policies, programs to improve.
We want to create an opportunity to start the conversation for people to take action and make those changes that will make difference in equity, social justice and inclusion in Nigeria, she said.

Mrs Maryam Uwais, Special Assistant to the President on Social Investments, noted the gender inequality, adding that the book would serve as reference material in addressing gender disparity and inclusion.
Theres a huge disparity in terms of gender balance, and its very important not just for females, but for the country to have this inclusion, because it is better everywhere.
The statistics show that when you have voices at the table, diverse voices, diverse perspectives, governance is better, she said.

Similarly, Dr Ejike Oji, Chairman, Technical Management Committee, Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP), urged stakeholders to increase advocacies on GBV and maternal health.

CSOs and NGOs should know that when you talk about maternal health
is a broad range of issues, from cancer to gender based violence, to maternal health, to sexual violence so we need to increase our space of work.

And then were looking forward to the next meetings or the next nursing summits on gender inclusiveness, he said.
Other highlights of the events were the unveiling of the GS-23 theme and panel discussion on Womens health and the SDGs: Exploring Intersecting Priorities for 2030 and beyond. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

==============
Edited by Josephine Obute/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Grace Alegba

The Federal Ministry of Works on Wednesday shut down the Apapa-bound lane of the beginning of Marine Bridge in Lagos, damaged by vandals, for safety of the public.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who visited the site of the collapsed portion of the bridge reports that a team of engineers from Buildwell Plants and Equipment Industries Ltd. used crash barriers to barricade the damaged portion of the deck on pile bridge.

A deck on pile is a bridge that does not have piers.

NAN observed that while the firm, contractors handling, Eko and Marine Bridge projects, did that, a combined team of traffic regulatory agencies managed traffic around the diversion.
The Police also supported the team.

Mrs Olukorede Keisha, Assistant Director in charge of Federal Highways in Lagos State, upon arrival and re-evaluation of the infrastructure, ordered total shutdown of the portion.

Keisha told NAN that the service lane of the deck on pile bridge was damaged and caved in due to activities of vandals.

She said investigation revealed that the vandals had set fire underneath the bridge to gain access to iron rods and other steel components under the bridge to be able to cut them off.

She said because the steel components of the bridge had been removed and stolen by the vandals, it caved in.

She said thorough assessment revealed urgent need to close the bridge to avert risk to motorists and other road users.

On inspection, we discovered that the place was set on fire to expose the reinforcement for them to cut it off and that is what they have done.

And the concrete alone without the tension cannot cope with the pressure. It needs to be assisted with reinforcement. Once reinforcement is taken away, concrete alone cannot do the job, hence the collapse.

For overriding public safety, there is need to shut it down immediately.

We have looked at it, the contractor has critically assessed the situation. So, we are going back to the drawing board to evaluate it and look at the possible quick way to resolve it.

But meanwhile, we are going to close this and divert traffic to alternative routes, she said.

Keisha, who arrived the scene at about 3.03 p.m. with a team of engineers, engaged the head of the LASTMA and FRSC teams on an urgent traffic architecture for the closure and diversion of vehicles.

She told NAN that traffic would be diverted through Costain and the Lagos Island-bound portion of the Marine Bridge as alternative routes.

Placing of crash barriers on the bad portion.
Keisha appealed to road users to be patient as the Federal Government was doing everything humanly possible to quickly fix the damaged portion.

She said an urgent proposal was being prepared for immidiate dispatch to the ministrys headquarters in Abuja, assuring them that repairs would begin almost immediately.

She appealed to Lagos residents to take ownership of roads and other public infrastructure to protect them against vandalism.

She said the hardship caused by activities of vandals usually impacted negatively on all residents of the state, hence the need for vigilance to stop miscreants from damaging public infrastructure.

We have to take all public utilities as if it is ours, she said.

She said that the road caved in on Tuesday evening and the contractor was immidiately mobilised to site to begin investigation toward quick solutions.

NAN reports that the traffic regulatory agencies allowed vehicles that were already on the Carter Bridge to be evacuated through the earlier diversion created.

They then totally closed the approach of the Apapa-bound lane of the Marine Bridge located near Ijora Olopa, adjacent to the Lagos State Water Corporation. (NAN)

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Oluwole Sogunle

Source: NAN News

Mr Joe Ohiani, the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulator Commission (ICRC)

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Mr Joe Ohiani, the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulator Commission (ICRC) has urged state governors to establish Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework to boost infrastructure development their states.

Ohiani, gave the advice at the ongoing induction programme for newly elected and returning governors organised by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) in Abuja .

Discussing as a panelist in one of the sessions at the event, Ohiani, advised governors to embrace PPP as alternative vehicle to deliver services to the electorates and also to bridge infrastructural gaps in their states.

He said that presently, only 25 state of the federation had approved the legal framework for PPP in their states.

He said that PPP was not only imperative to close infrastructure gaps but also important for job creation and to boost economic growth both at the state and federal level.

PPP is a win-win for all the parties. A win for the government in provision of the projects and facilities, a win for the investor who has invested in the project and a win for his citizen who will use the project.

At federal government, we are happy to say that under this administration between 2015 to current period about 75 projects has been consummated under President Muhammadu Buhari in Nigeria.

The net worth is 2.1 trillion Naira investments. That goes to show that PPP is an alternative source of investment at federal government and sub national government.

They dont need to have deep pocket in the face of dwelling revenue as regards to provide all the facilities that is required.

On that note, we encourage PPP as a vehicle for delivery of service for our people, he advised.

Ohiani said that as a governor coming into office with four years within which to deliver on his mandates, the adoption of PPP would be of great benefits to achieve that.

Ohiani said that by virtue of Section 11 of the ICRC Act, once a governor structure a PPP project in line with applicable law, no successive government would terminate such PPP arrangements without following due process

He said all that was needed to be done was to identify priority infrastructural projects that could be done within the four years, conduct feasibility study and invest on well structured PPP projects.

He said that there was also needs to allocate risk, carryout proper consultation, evaluate and monitor a project through the duration of the project.

Also discussing as a panelist at the session, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Prof. Adesoji Adesugba enjoined governors yet to embrace and support free trade zone scheme to do so in order to attract investments into their states to generate employment opportunities.

Only 22 states in Nigeria subscribe to the free trade zone scheme. We need to do everything and act fast as if it is an emergency to create job for our youth.

I am also using this opportunity to ask those states that have not keyed into this scheme to please sign the approval. It is a very good way to attack investment into your state. It took Ekiti State just four weeks to get Mr President assent.

It is very interesting to know that of the 46 free trade zones that Lagos has 18, they understand the concept very well. No wonder so many investors are going there.

You can develop your free zones just as it is done in Ghana, Cte dIvoire. You can develop small free trade zone that can attract investors into your state.

Adesugba said that Lagos, Ogun, Borno and Delta are already having creative concepts with the scheme.

About 450million dollars is going to Ogun State very soon. So open the door of your state for the scheme.

He said Nigeria needed to do more in the area of free trade zone scheme to move fast just like China and Dubai.

China has 5,000 enterprises in free zones which transacted about billion shares.

In Nigeria, we are trying, we set up our free zones scheme before China in 1992

Right now the total investment in free trade zone is about 30 billion dollars. That means we still have a lot to do, (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

=========
Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

By Bosede Olufunmi

Genus Inverters Company has donated 30 traffic control shelters to Kano State Road and Traffic Agency (KAROTA) to enhance safety on the road.

Representative of the company, Mr Adeyemi Olanrewaju-Ismail handed over the traffic shelters to the agency in Kano on Tuesday.

He reiterated commitment of the company to work with relevant government agencies to better the working conditions of their personnel.

According to him, government at all levels are overstretched due to huge demands, and urged well meaning Nigerians to support government to make life meaningful to its citizens.

We discovered that the agency is committed to ensuring traffic safety and sanity, and to also relieve Kano state government of some burdens, he said.

The company, he said, committed to work with relevant government parastatals as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the state.

He said the donation was necessitated by the working condition of the traffic warders, who stand under the sun to do their work.

Responding the Managing Director of the Agency, Baffa Babba-Danagundi lauded the gesture, adding that it was worthy of commendation.

He urged other organisations to assist government to fast track sustainable social and economic development of the state.

It is always amazing to see our personnel identified with and attract companies to expend its resources on it, he said.

He pledged that the traffic stands would be distributed to various streets in the metropolis.

While commending the personnel for a job well done, Baffa-Agundi tasked them to ensure effective utilisation of the traffic stands. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

=============

Edited by Remi Koleoso/Rabiu Sani-Ali

Source: NAN News

Stakeholders during the inauguration of the NIMASA Abuja Zonal Office on Tuesday

By Lucy Ogalue

Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Muazu Sambo, has urged members of staff of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to double their efforts to ensure improved service delivery and economic development.

Sambo gave the advice while inaugurating the new NIMASA Abuja Liaison office on Tuesday.

He said that establishing a permanent Zonal office for the agency was imperative because of its strategic role in the sector.

Apart from the reduction of cost of governance, the New Abuja Zonal Office will serve as the centre piece of government relations on matters with bilateral and multilateral implications on international trade and cooperation.

It will enable the agency to host foreign diplomats and other key maritime stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory, thereby helping the agency to speedily achieve its mandate.

All these led to the acquisition of the office and served as further proof of the growth in capacity of NIMASA due to its deepened role in Nigerias economic development, the minister said.

While expressing the ministrys commitment to NIMASA and all other departments under it, Sambo said this project was a pointer to its determination in that regard.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for approving the procurement of the office, the NIMASA Chief executive and all who made the project a reality.

Sambo thanked everyone who contributed to the realisation of the project, saying more of such projects would subsequently be inaugurated in the country

Earlier, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, thanked the transportation minister and the Federal Government for ensuring the acquisition of the state-of-the-art edifice.

Jamoh said the project signaled the agencys commitment to providing conducive, favourable and supportive working conditions to boost staff productivity.

The director-general said todays ceremony is just one more step in living up to what the world has come to expect from us.

If we train our staff internationally, we must provide them with a working environment that matches with those international standards.

This edifice reflects managements commitment to providing a world-class working environment in addition to the recently reviewed and improved conditions of service for all employees.

With this investment, we have taken things up. Top- notch by providing support, infrastructure environment, regarding safety and security.

He, however, pledged NlMASAs commitment to ensure a culture of maintenance to extend the lifespan of the building. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

===============
Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Adeleye Ajayi

Source: NAN News

FEC meeting

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the universal implementation of the Employee Compensation Act (ECA) 2010.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, disclosed this on Monday after an emergency FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to the minister, the law, operated by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), is a replacement of the old Employee Compensation Actcalled Workmen Compensation in the olden times.

Today, the council has approved it for universal implementation, meaning that apart from private sector, that is already implementing, the public sector, which comprises federal, state and local governments have now to adopt this for the protection of their workers.

The Act provides that the worker, who is injured or had an accident or contacted a disease or disabled or dies in the course of work, should be compensated, remunerated and even the family, pay something when the man is no longer there.

So, today is a good day for the Nigerian workers because the decent work agenda that is contained in Convention 102 of the ILO has a major branch on what they call workers protection in the course of work.

He said there was a directive that all workers in the ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government should be covered with a percentage contribution.

It is an insurance premium, one per cent of remuneration.You pay it and it insures your worker against these workplace accident injuries.

That is what the council passed today and directed the Minister of Finance and the Budget Office of the Federation to make provision for it in annual budget as social contributions.

Under the subject of social contributions in our annual appropriation, as of today, you only have two items there; number one is Pension Contribution of employers.

Second one is the Health Insurance Scheme by the employer, he said.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

Source: NAN News