General News

NCC to Stop Phone Theft
In order to bring an end to the frequent cases of handset theft, the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has announced that handset anti-theft system that would render any stolen phone useless will come into operation as from December, 2008.
When it comes into operation, it will completely bar any stolen phone from being used in any of the network.
Speaking at the 47th consumer parliament at Awka, Anambra State, the Chief Executive of NCC, Engr. Ernest Ndukwe also said the NCC has concluded plans to force down the current tariffs charged on Short Messaging Service (SMS).
The anti-theft system, he said, was developed with collaboration with mobile phone operators while a company had been licensed to manage the system.
All the mobile phone operators, according to Engr. Ndukwe, will link their data to the system such that once a theft is reported, the handset will not work in any other network in the country.

Okogie Solicits Centre for the Blind
From Tijani Yakubu, Lagos
The Archbishop of Lagos, His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Olubumi Okogie, has appealed to individuals and corporate bodies to support the plan by Nigeria Association for the Blind (NAB) to build a special centre for the Blind in Nigeria.
Cardinal Okogie, who made the appeal recently while receiving delegates from the Association in his office, lamented over a situation where people make empty promises for persons with disabilities.
The clergyman, who commended NAB for what he referred to as a great vision, pointed out “though it is a capital intensive project, but I believe when Nigerians hear about your plan, they will come to your aid. I appeal to government, individuals, corporate organizations and even religious bodies to contribute towards the actualization of the dream”.
Responding, the National President of NAB, Mr. David Okon, disclosed that the centre, when completed, would house a Braille production centre, a guest house, market, multi-purpose hall, health centre and vocational training centre among others. He said they embarked on the project due to the fact that nobody seems to take up their case.
In a related development, the physically challenged people in Lagos State have appealed to the state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to implement the state law on welfare of disabled persons.
The disabled, who spoke under the auspices of the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria (SCIAN) said the law which was established in October 2003 had not been implemented. The association noted that when the law is implemented, the disabled in the state would have access to political, social and other forms of empowerment.


Govt Set to Curb Violence
By Emman Gwatana
In a bid to stamp out violence, Kogi State Government has concluded plans to establish a peace committee which will give orientation to Kogi people on the need to always eschew violence.
Kogi State Commissioner of Information, Dr. Tom Ohikere, made this known while briefing newsmen in his office on the preparedness of the state government to tackle incessant violence in the state.
Dr. Ohikere noted that there is the urgent need to give Kogi electorate orientation on their civic rights and privileges, adding that when the people are well informed they would be law abiding citizens.
The Commissioner stated that the state government has always paid serious attention on the security of its citizens, maintaining that this is because government is not ignorant of the social ills occasioned by frequent violence.
Dr. Ohikere appealed to social and political groups to avoid the temptation of fueling crisis in the state, pointing out that the state stands a better chance of moving on the fast lane of progress if peace is allowed to prevail.
He called on politicians to ensure that the forthcoming council polls is free of rancour and urged aggrieved parties in the political process to seek a peaceful means of addressing their differences rather than resorting to violence.

Minister Calls for more Teachers’ Recruitment
From Ali Garba, Bauchi
The Minister of State for Education, Hajia Aishatu Dukku, has declared that the Education Sector in the country will require about 338,758 additional teachers to meet the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (NDGs).
Hajia Dukku made this known during a two-day retreat organized for education officers in Bauchi at the Yankari Games Reserve, Bauchi.
According to the Minister, “education is a critical sector in the life of every nation”, stressing that “the Federal Government is doing its best in ensuring that the sector receives its deserved attention”.
Hajia Dukku also observed that about ten million children from the ages of three to fifteen are out of school, maintaining that the development portends a bad signal for the development of Nigeria.
The Minister also condemned the attitude of some state executives in the federation who used the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme to place their political associations in office. She maintained that the UBE was put in place to enhance the education standard in the country and must not be politicized.
The Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBE), Dr. Ahmed Moddibo in an address at the seminar, disclosed that his Commission has recruited 45,000 teachers for the programme. He added that instructional materials have also been procured for distribution to schools.

Kwara Govt Subsidizes Food Prices
From Toyin Adurodija, Ilorin
IN order to alleviate poverty and reduce the impact of current food crisis, the Kwara State Government has procured about 5,000 bags of rice for sale at subsidised price to the people of the state.
Presenting the rice to the public, Governor Bukola Saraki, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Saka Onimago, said food is one of the basic needs of man, stressing that the state government deemed it necessary to provide such needs.
The rice, he said, would be sold at N7,000 per bag against the current price of the essential commodity at N10,000 per bag.
The sale of the rice at subsidized rate, the SSG said, is targeted at meeting the food requirement of the downtrodden in the state.
He warned businessmen to steer clear of the government rice, threatening to deal ruthlessly with government officials who sabotage this effort.
Speaking with newsmen, the Chairmen of Offa and Moro Local Governments, Barrister Segun Olawoyin and Alhaji Abdulraham Adisa, commended the efforts of the state government to reduce hunger in the state.
The two chairmen assured the state officials that they would ensure smooth and appropriate sale of the commodity.

NAAT Cautions FG against Prolonged NUT Strike
FOLLOWING the recent face-off between the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Federal Government, members of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), have implored the apex government to expedite action to resolve the problem and ensure stability in the education sector.
This call was contained in a communiqué signed by NAAT General Secretary, Alhaji Sani Suleiman, President, Alhaji Lateef Jokomba and National Public Relations Officer, Amana Albert Amana and issued at the end of its National Executive Meeting held in Abraka, Delta State and made available to The Graphic.
The communiqué also urged the Federal Government to speed up the process of its on-going re-negotiation with Staff Union of the Nation’s Universities in the interest of peace and justice.
NAAT further urged the federal government to look into ways and means of including technologists in the composition of committees considering their role in the technological advancement of the nation.
In addition, the association expressed its displeasure over the continuous delay in the constitution of Governing Councils of Federal Universities with a call on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, reconstitute the councils.
While noting that the essence of every public hearing is for transparency and developmental growth of nation, NAAT used the medium to appeal to the Federal Government to implement the various recommendations of these public hearings.
The communiqué urged authorities in Abuja to find lasting solutions to problems of incessant power outages and increase in food prices, which according to them, have seriously affected production services and increase in mortality and morbidity rates in all sectors of the national economy.

Eri Bags Chieftaincy Title
From Segun Thomas
BARELY twenty – four (24) hours after his retirement, former Kogi State Chief Judge, Justice Umar Eri, was penultimate week conferred with the Igala traditional title, Egena Attah of the kingdom by His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Aliyu O. Obaje.
Justice Eri retired as a pioneering Kogi State Chief Judge on Friday June 27th after a meritorious 37 years of legal services to the nation.
Conferring one of the most prestigious chieftaincy titles on the eminent legal jurist, Alhaji Obaje described the recipient as a worthy and distinguished ambassador of Igala race who had used the talents given to him by God for the benefits of mankind.
The foremost traditional ruler in the state enjoined citizens of Igala race to emulate the retired chief judge by contributing their quota to the emancipation and development of the society.
Earlier, the Ejeh of Ofu, His Royal Highness, Peter Adebo Opaluwa, described Justice Eri as a leader per excellence and a detribalized Nigerian who worked very hard to take the Kogi State Judiciary to an enviable height.
The official breaking of traditional kola in respect for Justice Eri was performed by the Royal Majesty, the Attah Igala.
The formal installation and coronation as Egena-Attah was with all the traditional rights while the recipient moved radiantly in his royal attire to pay traditional homage to His Attah and other palace chiefs.
Other highlights of the coronation ceremony were cultural display and dances by cultural groups and the appearance of the most royal masquerades of Attah Igala which according to a palace source, is the highest of mark of respect for recipients of traditional title.

Plan For Future - Prison Officials Urged
By Noah Ocheni
STAFF of the Nigerian Prison Services, Kogi State Command, have been told to be dedicated to their duties and plan well towards a successful retirement.
The Comptroller of the Command, Jimoh Owulu, gave the advice at the decoration ceremony of the 17 newly promoted staff of the command.
Owulu advised the staff to be prudent in the management of their salaries, adding that it would be disastrous for a civil servant that has no plan for the future irrespective of his salary.
He pointed out that the promotion is to boost the morale of hardworking officials, adding that those who are not affected should not be lazy but continue to work hard in order to qualify for future promotions.
The comptroller, who stressed that promotion is a reward for hard work, however, enjoined those promoted to reciprocate government’s gesture by improving on their previous attitudes to work.
Owulu charged the newly promoted staff to always regard any promotion by government as a motivating factor towards achieving maximum results.
Responding on behalf of the newly decorated officers, Salifu Ndamicho Musa, promised that they would work harder in order to justify their promotions.
He described the day as memorable, adding that the promoted officers would not disappoint the prisons authority in their bid to achieve the set objectives.