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Stakeholders Task FG on IMF’s N500b Covid-19 Stimulus Utilisation

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By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

Stakeholders in the health sector have tasked the Ministry of Health to effectively utilise the N500 billion stimulus funds, donated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Nigeria, to help combat Covid-19 and allied issues.

Leading the call at a two-day conference of Association of Nigeria Health Journalists, ANHEJ, in Keffi, Nasarawa State capital is the African Health Budget Network (AHBN), coordinated by Dr Aminu Magashi, who stated that every COVID-19 funding and recovery plan touches the lives of all Nigerians, and as such, the public should adequately be informed on how the fund is utilised.

Magashi who was represented by the Senior Programme and Partnership Officer, Dr.

Obinna Onuoha observed that so far, about N126 billion has been received by the health sector to help build resilient health system and tackle other challenges faced by the sector. 

The remaining N374 billion will be shared out to non-health sectors.

In the health sector, N86 billion is for capital projects on the revatilisation of the health sector, while the remaining N40 billion was earmarked for other critical challenges the sector faces.

The Nigerian Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) received N10million, of which N2billion is for the equipment of its laboratory for effective and efficient testing of vaccines. The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), also received N2billion for its research and development.

The sum of N8 billion was allocated to 21 university teaching hospitals and 31 federal medical centers and specialist hospitals. N 7.7 billion was added for the provision of personal protective materials for workers in the laboratories.

The 36 states including the FCT got N18.4billion for the equipping of 10 intensive care units. N5.2billion was allocated for the equipping of the isolation centres in each state and a N20 billion as hazard allowance for workers, involved in Covid-19 treatments.

Only about 50 percent of the funds has been released and shared among the various organizations and sectors. The recipient organisation was urged to commence work immediately, so as not to be seen as sabotaging the good intentions for which the grant was released.

Magashi further called on journalists, covering the health sector to ensure that they make enquiries on the type, nature and duration of funding support for every recovery plan, noting that the media is critical in ensuring that all Nigerians are well-informed regarding “what funding has been received and from whom; what plans from the government are in place to utilize these funds to provide quality health; what are the checks and balances to ensure these dedicated funds offer value for money; what are the steps taken to ensure all concerned parties are held accountable in the disbursement and utilization of these funds; what are the feedback mechanisms from the beneficiaries of these health interventions; and how are the challenges and lessons handled for future reference,” so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

The annual conference of the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists,(ANHEJ), which is the fifth in a roll, was organised to brainstorm and come up with ideas that will assist in convincing  Nigerians to accept COVID-19 vaccination, with the theme: “Improving Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccine in Nigeria: the Role of the Media.”

The conference attracted key stakeholder in the health sector including the World Health Organisation, (WHO), Africa Health Budget  Network(AHBN), Pathfinder International, Institute for Human Virology and Marie Stopes amongst others.

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FG Disburses N5.12bn Pension Arrears to 90,689 DBS Pensioners

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By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Federal Government has released funds for the disbursement of N5.12 billion in pension arrears to 90,689 Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) pensioners under the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate.This was contained in a statement by the Head of Corporate Communications of PTAD, Olugbenga Ajayi.

He said that the directorate had finalised the disbursement of the money.
The Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and Prisons Pension Department (CIPPD) pensioners are 8,626, received N276,032, for one-month arrears; the Police, Pension Department (PPD) pensioners are 9,681, received N619,584, for two months as arrears.
The Civil Service Pension Department (CSPD) pensioners are 12,773, received N408,736, for one-month arrears, and the Parastatals Pension Department (PAPD) pensioners are 59,609, received N3,814,He said that the payment reaffirms the administration’s commitment to ensuring that pensioners receive their due entitlements in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola TinubuAccording to the statement, the approvals align with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This move shows President Tinubu’s strong commitment to senior citizens’ welfare and marks a new era in DBS pension management,” said PTAD, Executive Secretary, Tolulope Odunaiya.Among the key measures is the immediate implementation of an extra budgetary allocation to enforce new pension rates for DBS pensioners.The President also endorsed the adoption of a proposed pension harmonisation policy, which will be incorporated into the 2026 pension budget. Additionally, health insurance coverage for all DBS pensioners has been approved, ensuring access to essential healthcare services.The proposed reforms include a new pension rate of N32,000 and incremental increases of 10.66% and 12.95% for pensioners from defunct and privatised agencies. Other components of the reform package include harmonisation of pension rates across all DBS pensioners and their enrolment into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).In June, PTAD announced the successful disbursement of N8.6 billion in pension arrears to 148,625 eligible DBS pensioners across various sectors. The payments reflect the implementation of the N32,000 pension increment approved by President Tinubu in 2024.PTAD had previously settled arrears related to the first pension increment of 20% to 28%, which came into effect in January 2024.

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NAF Offensive Decimates 592 Terrorists, Destroys 372 Assets in Eight Months

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By David Torough, Abuja

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has killed no fewer than 592 terrorists and destroyed 372 enemy assets in Borno within the last eight months, surpassing the total operational gains recorded in 2024.A statement by NAF’s spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame yesterday said the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, said this during a courtesy visit to Gov.

Babagana Zulum of Borno.
Abubakar said the offensive had destroyed 206 technical vehicles and 166 logistics hubs in deep hostile territory, with coordinated day-and-night strikes from Gonori to Rann, Dikwa to Damboa, Azir to Mallam Fatori.He said the offensive had been boosted by the deployment of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft capable of precision and night missions, Mi-171 helicopters for medical evacuation and logistics, and enhanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms for round-the-clock target tracking.
He added that a new Mi-35 gunship was expected to further intensify close-air support for ground troops in the theatre.“Backed by an upgraded fleet and precision night-strike capabilities, NAF aircraft executed 798 combat sorties, clocking over 1,500 operational flight hours in the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai.“This year, our air war is faster, sharper, and more surgical.“We are taking out high-value targets, crippling their logistics, and hunting down every cell that threatens the peace of the North-East,” he said.The CAS also praised the “Borno Model” of combining community-driven non-kinetic measures with decisive military action, saying it had proven effective in the counter-insurgency campaign.He also inspected facilities at the NAF Base, met with aircrew and ground personnel, and received operational briefings.He reaffirmed the NAF’s commitment to precision air power, intelligence-led operations, and inter-agency collaboration to protect Nigerians.In his response, Gov. Zulum praised the NAF for its sustained air support in degrading terrorist capabilities and protecting communities.According to him, the NAF has been a steadfast partner in their fight against insurgency.“Your operations have saved countless lives and allowed our communities to begin rebuilding.“The people of Borno recognise your sacrifices and stand firmly behind you,” he said.

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Over 8,000 Mentally ill Inmates in Custody Nationwide, Says NCoS

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By Divine Ndukwe, Abuja

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has disclosed that at least 8,246 inmates across the country’s custodial centres are living with mental health conditions.Assistant Controller General of Corrections in charge of Medical Services, Dr.

Glory Essien, revealed the figures yesterday in Abuja during the third public hearing of the Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption, Abuse of Power, Torture and Other Inhumane Treatment by the NCoS.
Essien described incarceration as a deeply stressful experience, noting that the loss of freedom can trigger or worsen mental health conditions. She explained that inmate-leaders are trained to identify and report cases of psychological distress for early intervention, but available resources remain insufficient.
“If you’re in a facility housing 500 to 1,000 inmates, with just one doctor or psychologist, monitoring everyone individually is impossible,” she said, citing logistical and funding challenges that hamper adequate care.Similarly, the NCoS Assistant Controller General in charge of Pharmaceutical Services, Mohammed Bashir, acknowledged that drug shortages and limited staffing remain major obstacles despite government funding.He revealed that a psychological services unit has been established, partnering with psychiatric associations to visit major facilities, though resources still fall short of demand.Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, called for urgent private sector support, stressing the need to deploy more psychiatric professionals to underserved states. “Please come to Macedonia and help us,” she appealed to the Nigerian Medical Association and pharmaceutical companies.Meanwhile, in Kwara State, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has expressed alarm over rising mental health issues among doctors, linking the trend to burnout, workplace violence, and poor working conditions.Kwara NMA Chairman, Prof. Olushola Abdulrahman Afolabi, said a significant proportion of doctors experience depression, anxiety and other psychiatric disorders, often without seeking help due to stigma.Former NMA chairman, Prof. Issa Baba Awoye, warned that current figures could be worse than past studies, especially in resource-poor settings.The NMA is advocating for mandatory mental health evaluations for doctors, alongside increased awareness and stigma reduction campaigns. “Our healthcare system can only be as strong as the mental and physical well-being of those who sustain it,” Afolabi stated.Both the NCoS and NMA agree that mental health care must be prioritized, not just for inmates, but for those tasked with caring for the nation.

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