By Jessica Onyegbula
Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BSPR) has said it is collaborating with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), a German foundation, to strengthen the capacity of Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for good governance.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Aliyu Umar, Public Relations Officer, BPSR, at the end of a 2-day workshop on Tuesday in Abuja.

The Country Representative of the foundation, Dr Vladimir Kreck, expressed confidence that the partnership would entrench growth and effective development in MDAs.

According to Kreck, the essence of the workshop is to help strengthen the capacity of board members of parastatals and commissions for improved performance.

It is against this backdrop, that our organisation feels honoured to support Nigeria in its attempt to make continuous and meaningful impact in the functionality of government and to improve governance, he said.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the office of the SGF, Mr Moris Ngeli, decried state of relationship between boards of federal agencies and their Chief Executive Officers.

According to him, this could be avoided if chairmen and members of boards acquaint themselves with the instrument of establishment of their respective organisations, where roles are prescribed for effective service delivery.

Director General, BPSR, Dr Dasuki Arabi, described the workshop as timely and said the weak corporate governance practice and misunderstanding among board members in some federal parastatals were worrisome.

The statement said Kreck appreciated the SGF for his enormous support and encouragement towards the success of the programme.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kingsley Okoye

Senate, on Tuesday at plenary received a request from President Muhammadu Buhari, to confirm the appointment of Acting Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi, as substantive Chief Judge.

Buharis request is contained in a letter read by President of Senate , Ahmad Lawan.

Buhari, in the letter said his request was made pursuant to Section 256 subsection 1 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The letter reads in part: Request for the confirmation of the appointment of Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi as the Chief Judge for the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

Pursuant to Section 256(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

I hereby request for the Senates confirmation of the appointment of Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi, the acting Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, as substantive Chief Judge of the Court.

I trust that the Senate will favorably confirm Hon. Justice Salisu Abdullahi as substantive Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in the usual expeditious manner.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, inaugurated Garba as the acting Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Garba hails from Malumfashi local government area of Katsina state.

He was called to the bar in 1984, and he completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in 1985.

Garba was appointed as a magistrate of the FCT high court in 1989.

In 1997, he became the chief registrar of the FCT high court, and was appointed a judge of the FCT high court in 1998. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By AbdulFatai Beki

A Cleric, Sheikh AbdulHakeem Oganija, has called on the Nigeria Censors Board to put up stiffer penalty for film producers who promote nudity in their films.

According to him, the measure will encourage producers to make positive movies that will promote decency and instill good morals in the younger generation.

Oganija, who is a Missioner of Zarumi Alanamu Mosque in llorin West Local Government Area of Kwara, made the call on Monday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin.

According to him, several promiscuous films have damaged the moral upbringing of many young boys and girls who are supposed to become responsible leaders of the country.

The Censors Board needs to wake from its slumber to eradicate promiscuity and other destructive tendencies from film productions, to protect the good image of the country, he said.

The cleric urged the Federal Government to give the Nigerian Censor Board enabling environment that will make them discharge their duties optimally.

The Islamic cleric suggested that the board should have offices in all the states of the federation.

According to him, this will make it have easier access to markets in order to get rid of several films with nudity that are being sold.

Oganija called on parents and guardians to always caution their children against engaging in immoral acts especially during this Ramadan period.

This will encourage them to earn the reward of the Ramadan season, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Segun Giwa

Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Monday in Ijebu-Ode promised a cash reward of N50,000 per goal scored by players of Sunshine Queens Women Football Club of Akure.

Aiyedatiwa made the promise while speaking with the team ahead of their clash with Bayelsa Queens of Yenagoa at the 2020/2021 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership Super Six.

I am assuring you girls that the government of Ondo State is behind you. Just go out there and give your all. For every goal you score, you get N50,000, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team are at the ongoing Super Six contending for one of the two available tickets to the CAF Womens Champions League.

The deputy governor, who is also Chairman of the Committee put in place to reposition the Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA), assured the girls of governments commitment to their welfare.

NAN reports that ODSFA is the body supervising both the Sunshine Queens and their male counterparts, the Sunshine Stars of Akure who play in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Responding, Head Coach of the team, Wemimo Mathew, assured the deputy governor that the Sunshine Queens players were in high spirits in readiness for the competition.

They will give their best to ensure the states team participate in the inaugural CAF Womens Champions League, the coach said.

NAN reports that the Super Six is a competition for the top six teams of the 2020/2021 NWFL Premiership after the league was terminated abruptly.

The competition was introduced to determine the two teams which would represent the country at the inaugural CAF Womens Champions League.

Sunshine Queens began their campaign against the Bayelsa Queens at the main bowl of the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu Ode. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sundays announcement of a long-feared European Super League raised the possibility of unprecedented change in football.

Already, the 12 founding clubs are seemingly at threat of being kicked out of other competitions as a result.

The Premier Leagues so-called big six, Spanish giants Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid and Serie A trio Juventus, Milan and Inter have broken ranks.

They have agreed to the formation of the breakaway competition.

Sundays uniform announcement from most of the clubs involved confirmed the Super League will be made up of 15 founding clubs.

Three clubs are to be added to the initial 12 and unconfirmed guest teams.

It will run as a midweek tournament alongside the teams respective domestic leagues and guarantees the founding clubs a share of 3.5 billion euros.

This is solely to support their infrastructure investment plans and to offset the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But, pre-empting the announcement following widespread media speculation, UEFA released a statement co-signed by the national associations of England, Spain and Italy, and those countries respective top-flight leagues.

It reiterated a threat to ban players and teams involved from competing in other competitions.

While that is a debate that will rage on for some time, with the legality of such measures unclear for the moment, it raises the possibility of a Premier League without its big six.

It will also see a La Liga missing FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, and Serie A expelling Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan.

With that in mind, we looked at what those three divisions would look like in the admittedly unlikely event that the 12 Super League clubs are expelled.

Of course, it does mean results involving them are expunged

Premier League

Who would have thought in 2013 when he was appointed as Alex Fergusons successor at Manchester United that David Moyes first Premier League title would come as West Ham boss?

Well, if the big six were expelled and their results were void, it would be the Hammers sitting at the top of the pile - and by some distance.

Moyes men would be on 49 points from 21 matches having suffered just two defeats.

Curiously, the exclusion of the Super League clubs would seemingly harm Leicester City, as they have lost just three matches to them in 2020/2021.

West Ham have been beaten seven times by big six opposition.

Nevertheless, Leicester City would still be on course to get back in the Champions League.

Leeds United (1.8) and Everton (1.6) would appear to be the favourites to join them, by virtue of their better points-per-game record than Aston Villa (1.5).

La Liga

Fair play to Real Betis, who have already embraced a future without Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona by deleting them from the Liga table that sits on their website.

Unfortunately for Real Betis, that same table now has their bitter rivals Sevilla sitting pretty at the summit.

In fact, Sevilla probably should not be ruled out of the real title race just yet.

This is given the fact they are actually only six points behind leaders Atletico Madrid and still have to face Zinedine Zidanes Real Madrid.

In the La Liga table excluding the big three, Sevilla have 60 points from 26 games, giving them a 13-point lead over Villarreal.

It also highlights just how bad Los Nervionenses record against Real Madrid, Barca and Atletico Madrid is, as they have taken just four points from them this term.

Rounding off the top four would be Real Betis in third and Real Sociedad in fourth.

Serie A

Juventus stranglehold on Serie A looks set to end regardless of any action from UEFA and the league.

Having won each of the previous nine Scudetti, the Old Lady have been dire under Andrea Pirlo for much of the season.

So, helping establish a new semi-closed competition under the guise of needing better opponents is the logical step

While Atalanta would sit top of a Serie A without Juve, Inter Milan and AC Milan, technically it is Lazio who would be on course for title success.

The Biancocelesti have played a game less than Atalanta but would only be behind them on goal difference - their points-per-game record is 2.24, slightly more than the Bergamo sides 2.15.

Napoli (2.12) and Roma (1.96) would remain in the running as well were the big three to be dumped out of the competition.

Source: NAN News

The British government is launching a fan-led review into how football in England operates after the Super League scandal.

A statement to British parliament on Monday by Digital, Culture, Media and Sports Secretary Oliver Dowden revealed this.

It said the review would cover the financial sustainability of the game, governence and regulation, and the merits of an independent regulator.

It will also investigate how fans can have an even greater say in the oversight of the game and how to achieve that.

Dowden added he had met with the Premier League and the Football Association, and said they were considering a wide range of sanctions.

He revealed that he was planning to launch the review after football returned to normal in England.

However, due to the new revelations, he had brought it forward.

We will put everything on the table to prevent this from happening, Dowden said, adding there would be a very robust response.

Source: NAN News

By Segun Giwa

Delta Queens Women Football Club of Asaba on Monday at the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode beat Edo Queens of Benin 2-1.

The victory was in the opening match of the 2020/2021 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership Super Six.

Delta Queens Chiamaka Okwuchuku scored the first goal after connecting well with Chioma Olises pass in the 41st minute to end the half 1-0.

Nneka Julius of Edo Queens scored with a brilliant free-kick from 23 yards out to make it 1-1 for his team in the 53rd minute to restore hope.

After so much pressure, Delta Queens Comfort Folorunso scored from a Mamuzo Edafes corner-kick to give her side the win.

Head Coach of Delta Queens, David Ochei, in his post-match comments said the win was very important for his team.

Ochei said he had told his players not to exhibit fancy football and that it was the result that mattered.

We told them that all they need to do is to go for goals. Dont try and play fancy games, just try and be yourself, be natural and as they come you take it, because everybody will come with experience and their strength, he said.

Also, the captain of Edo Queens, Glory Ogbona, said the loss did not mean her team were out of the competition.

Ogbona said her teammates were however not happy with the outcome, and would fight back in subsequent matches.

We are not happy losing the match. Its not what we planned, But, in football, anything can happen.

That we lost the game doesnt mean we are out of the competition. We will still fight back, she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Delta Queens now have three points from one match, while Edo Queens are with no point from one match. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Segun Giwa

Sunshine Queens Football Club of Akure and their Bayelsa Queens counterparts on Monday drew 1-1 in a Match Day 1 fixture of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Super Six.

In the match at the main bowl of the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode, Sunshine Queens made their intentions known immediately the match started by putting pressure on their opponents defence.

Five minutes into the game, the Akure-based Queens pressure paid off with forward Sunday Abigail scoring from Aminat Yakubus cross to put them in the lead.

Bayelsa Queens forwards Anjor Mary and Charity Reuben began to trouble the Sunshine Queens defence in search of the equaliser which eventually came in the 31st minute.

It came through Charity Reuben who effectively utilised Zainab Olopades pass.

In the second half, there were no clear-cut goalscoring chances as both sides were being too careful in order not to to concede.

Sunshine Queens coach, Wemimo Mathew, later said her players were able to control the game and did a fantastic job in the encounter.

Mathew said the aim of the team was to win the tournament, which she noted had started on a good note.

I think they did well. We were able to control the game and I think a 1-1 draw is still okay for now and we will take the game one after the other, she said.

Also, the skipper of Sunshine Queens, Goodness Onyebuchi, said the result was not a bad one.

When playing against a Bayelsa Queens side with some of the best quality players of the league on their side, you should expect nothing better, she said.

Head Coach of Bayelsa Queens, Moses Aduku, said his team conceded the goal as a result of loss of concentration from his left full-back.

Aduku, who said it was not a bad game, added that it was just the first match and his girls did not warm into the game on time.

We will go back to the drawing board and improve on our performance, he said.

In the other encounter of the day, Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Robo of Lagos.

Vivian Ikechuckwu scored first for Rivers Angels in the 46th minute, while Monday Gift equalised in the 87th minute for FC Robo to make it 1-1.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tournament will continue on Tuesday with three matches involving the six participating clubs. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Three former board members of Dutch bank ABN Amro were under criminal investigation in a money-laundering probe, the public prosecutors office in The Hague says.

The bank has agreed to a settlement and paid 480 million euros (575.1 million dollars), the prosecutors office said.

The suspects include former finance minister, Gerrit Zalm, and the chief executive of Danish financial institution, Danske Bank, Chris Vogelzang, who resigned on Monday following the allegations.

The investigation had started in 2019 and covered transactions between 2014 and 2020.

ABN Amro violated the Anti-Money Laundering Act, according to the prosecution.

Both customers and the origin of larger sums of money were not sufficiently verified and checked.

Documents were missing; a risk analysis was not in place.

Large transactions were not reported.

As a result, several clients may have used the banks services for money-laundering purposes for a longer period of time. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

People who travel to Greece from another European Union country no longer have to quarantine, provided they can provide a negative Coronavirus test or have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

The civil aviation authority announced this on Monday.

This is also the case for people arriving from the U.S., the United Arab Emirates and Serbia.

The rule has already been in force for arrivals from Israel since March.

The required test has to be within three days, the authority said, and vaccinated people must havereceived both anti-COVID-19 shots at least two weeks prior to arrival.

The Greek government has been pushing for an EU-wide vaccination passport to boost tourism, an industry that usually makes up one fifth of the Greek economy but has been crushed by the pandemic.

Based on current plans, anEU vaccination passport which would give travel privileges to people vaccinated against COVID-19 is only to come in June, but Athens wants to open the tourism season on May 14.

Most hotels in Greece were still shut at present. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News