Metro
FCTA Perm Sec Expresses Gratitude to PMB on Release of Food Items to Ondo State.
By Laide Akinboade
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mr. Olusade Adesola has expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari over release of food items to Ondo State.
Adesola who made the gratitude while presentating 30 tones of garri to the State Government for onward distribution to the people, on behalf of the President, in Akure commended him for his love and care for Nigerians, in general and Ondo people, in particular.
The Permanent Secretary explained that the release of food items from strategic reserves was part of government efforts to alleviate hardship occasioned by high cost of food items and scarcity in the country.
His words: “We are here to deliver a message of His Excellency, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, to the good people of Ondo State.
“The essence of this visit is to demonstrate in clear terms, the concern of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for the people of Nigeria in general and the people of Ondo State, in particular”.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the nation-wide food distribution to Nigerians was a response to needs assessment which indicated a growing concern on scarcity and high prices of food items thus making the Federal Government to direct the release of food materials from strategic reserves for distribution to States of the Federation through Principal Government Officials.
Adesola explained that the 30 tones, which is about 1, 200 bags of garri, would go a long way in providing reasonable food for the poor, and added that it was an indication that the Buhari-led government cared and showed concern about the welfare of Nigerians.
It is the care and love, not necessarily the value that matters; but for government to reach out to its people during difficult times like this, shows that government care about the people”.
He recalled that government has been implementing various people-friendly and social intervention programmes such as; N-Cares, Traders Money, Farmer Money and Conditional Cash Transfer, among others, which the people of Ondo State have also benefited from.
Adesola disclosed that while about 150 Ondo people have benefited from the conditional cash transfer programme, about 200 youths from the State are also beneficiaries of the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme, among others.
Revealing that government would also release more food items from its reserves to the people, Adesola noted that the administration has shown that it is not only during electioneering campaigns that such gesture is extended to the people.
“This has shown that the government is pro-people and it has demonstrated this in many more ways in other sctivitues”, he buttressed.While appealing that the items should be distributed only to deserving beneficiaries in the State.
Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, who received the items on behalf of the State, expressed gratitude to President Buhari, FCT Minister and the Permanent Secretary, and pledged that the items would be distributed to the right persons, “This will definitely get to the intended beneficiaries. It will go along way to support some of the families that need it in the State”.
He appreciated the Permanent Secretary for delivering the items personally, describing him as an “Illustrious son of Ondo State who is representing the state well. We are indeed proud of you.”
Corroborating the Permanent Secretary, the Deputy Governor who is also Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA), stated that the President’s action was a practical demonstration of love for all the States, especially those facing some hardship.
He also disclosed that the State Government had already mapped out modalities on distribution as well as identified those who would be beneficiaries of the commodity.
“We have a long list already, so it is easier for us to know how this product should be distributed”.
The Permanent Secretary also paid a courtesy call on Speaker of the State House of Assembly, RT. Hon. Bamidele David Oleleyelogun who also praised him for making the state proud.
He was accompanied on the visit by his wife, Mrs. Clara Adesola, Special Assistant to the FCT Minister of State on Social Development Services, Mrs. Ayoade Simisola, and his Technical Assistant, Mr. Adewuyi Francis..
The Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission has begun the regularisation of staff appointments in the FCT Administration and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
The Head of the Civilo Service, Dr Udo Atang, said at the commencement of the exercise in Abuja on Wednesday, that the move was to ensure accurate data of all staff.
Atang described the regularisation as a “critical” exercise, which forms the bedrock of the new FCT Civil Service Commission (CSC).
He pointed out that all the staff were holding letters of appointments from various agencies, departments, area councils, and the defunct Ministry of FCT and FCDA among others.
The holders of these letters, he said, have been raising issues of discrimination based on letters of appointment.
According to him, the exercise and the gazette by the commission that will come thereafter, will give all staff a sense of identity.
“The essence of this regularisation is to ensure that staff are properly documented.
“You will now have letters that will now qualify you as a bonafide staff of the FCT Civil Service Commission.”
The head of service, who appealed for full cooperation of the workers, directed that a list of all staff on course, study leave, leave of absence and other related permissions be compiled and submitted.
He added that the list should be compiled with grade level, designation and record of service, including approvals.
Atang commended the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, for his doggedness and commitment in implementing the provisions of the FCT CSC Act, 2018.
Noting Wike’s support and love for the FCT workers, the head of service urged the workers to reciprocate the minister’s uncommon gesture, by being dedicated and committed to their respective duties.
Also speaking, the Chairman, FCT CSC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, stressed that part of the responsibilities of the commission was in the appointment, promotion and discipline of all FCTA and FCDA workers.
Ezeh also stressed the need for the workers to be more committed in the discharge of their responsibilities. (NAN)
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Catholic Women Organization of Nigeria (CWON) has organized a trauma healing session for survivors of the Jos Saint Academy School collapse alongside parents who lost their children in the unfortunate incident.The National President of the organization, Dame Mary Gonzum noted that the effort was part of their psychosocial support and counseling services for victims of the school building collapse as a follow-up to the assessment of the condition of the victims during their visit.
Gonzum speaking during a one day trauma session held at the Secretariat of the Justice Development and Peace/Caritas Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Archdiocese located along Zaria Road in Jos the Plateau State capital said the trauma healing session was in continuation of their intervention to students who experienced the building collapsed.”Today, a trauma healing session was flagged off with a seminar on how to go about handling the trauma that victims of the Saint Academy School Busa Buji in Jos are passing through.”We will later select those that are so traumatic and need help to continue with the process of healing because it is not something that will end in a day or two but will need sometime.”The surviving students who experienced the building collapsed, parents of the students are all here because some parents are so traumatic, we have one other woman that lost two children”This trauma became necessary because when we went visiting in the hospitals, we observed that some of them are really traumatic. Like the other boy, his mother said up till today he kept telling his mother that he is seeing dead bodies, and anybody he sees he will say is his classmate.”Some of the affected parents while sharing their encounters after the incident said they hardly sleep in the day or night time. Some manage to sleep for two hours and they’re awake, and from the little lectures we received today it is clear that there is a problem,” She noted.The President calls on the government to ensure that those saddled with the responsibility of approving, inspecting and supervising structures are meant to do their job with all diligence to avert future happenings again.Some of the affected parents including; Hasana Suleman Sale who lost two of her children recalled with pains the unfortunate development that claimed the lives of her two children. She expressed gratitude for the trauma healing session which she said came as a means of consolation and strength for her to overcome the trauma she is passing through.
The Catholic Church in Nigeria has welcomed the newly-appointed Apostolic to Nigeria, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty.
Crotty, an Irish, was appointed by the Vatican.
He will oversee the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the church in Nigeria.
The position, an ambassadorial status, advances cohesion in the body of Christ.
In his welcome message for Crotty on Tuesday, the President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, said that the Church was glad to receive him.
The CBCN president, who is also the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, said,” With joy and gratitude to God, I extend a hearty welcome to Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, clergy, religious and lay faithful in Nigeria.
“We are thankful to His Holiness, Pope Francis, for appointing Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty as the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria to build on the good works of his predecessor, Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi.
“His appointment is a testament to the strong spiritual bond between our countries,” he said.
He said that although Crotty was the first Apostolic Nuncio from Ireland to serve in Nigeria, many Irish missionaries had played significant roles in spreading the gospel in Nigeria.
“We appreciate Archbishop Crotty’s acceptance of serving in Nigeria and assure him of our full support and cooperation.
“We pray for a fruitful mission and a blessed tenure for our excellency,” he added. (NAN)
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