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FCT Urges Action on Sanitation, Open Defecation

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Mr Kassim Ali, the Chairman of FCT Water Board has called on the Federal Government to expedite action to address the issues of sanitation and open defecation across the country.

Ali made the call in  his presentation at the ‘1st Engr Umar Jibrin Distinguished Annual Public Lecture titled “prioritising Development of Sanitation Infrastructure Towards Eliminating Open Defecation in the FCT” on Friday in Abuja.
The public lecture was organised by Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, a division of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) to honour Jubrin for his meritorious services to the engineering sector in FCT and Mark his birthday.
According to Ali, access to basic sanitation services is still a major challenge in Nigeria.
“ As of 2018, about 112 million people lack access to basic sanitation services and almost a quarter of the population practice open defecation.“ Over the years, government made frantic efforts to ensure access to sanitation service and discourage open defecation but its efforts did not show significant progress.“ Thus, universal access to toilet that safely contain excreta and elimination of open defecation should be prioritised by governments at all levels, ensuring that progress is equitable and in line with the principle of the human right to water and sanitation.“ Sanitation interventions should ensure coverage of entire communities with safe toilets that address technological and behavioural barriers to use,” Ali said. The FCT Water Board boss also suggested that everyone in school, healthcare facilities, workplace and public places should have access to a safe toilet. He stressed that sanitation workers should be protected from occupational exposure through adequate health and safety measures and also sanitation campaign to give strong emphasis on Information, Education and Communication. Speaking, the Minister of Water Resources,  Mr Suleiman Adamu, commended NICE and Jubrin. Adamu urged the FCT administration to ensure that the territory was free from open defecation adding that there was a need to improve sanitation in the territory. He also called on participants to also contribute their quota in the provision of toilets to reduce open defecation in rural areas and communities. Adamu said his ministry was open to collaboration in the area of sanitation and addressing open defecation. Also speaking, Mr Jang Tanko, the National Chairman of Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE), said the theme of the lecture was apt and timely. According to him, the Federal Government has already issued an Executive Order 009 for an open defecation free Nigeria by the year 2025.“We thank the FCT authorities for attending to some of the report we  put forward on open defecation and sanitation; we urge them to take immediate action to addressing the issues.“I congratulate Jubrin on this well deserved honour by NICE,” Tanko stressed. Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion , Mr Babagana Mohammed, who is also the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and Chairman in Council described Jubrin as a committed engineer with ethical values. Mohammed commended the effort of NICE, adding that the honour on Jubrin was well deserved. News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Mohammed was represented at the event by Mr Gidari-Wudil Saad, the National Deputy President of NSE. The Minister of FCT, Mala Mohammad Bello, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, said Jubrin had distinguished himself and rose through the ranks to become what he is today. According to him, FCT is not doing well in the area of sanitation and open defecation.“ However, we are closely working  with the Ministry of Water Resource, because the effort to overcome open defecation and sanitation is absolutely necessary; collaboration is good for sustainability”. The Managing-Director of Federal Road Maintenance Agency, Mr Nurudeen Rafimdadi, represented by Mrs Gini Osoro congratulated Jubrin on his contribution to the Development of FCT.NAN reports that other dignitaries present at the occasion include the former Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Mina, Prof. Suleiman Adeyemi, President of COREN, Mr Ali Rabiu among others. High points of the occasion was the award for excellence to Jubrin and the cutting of his birthday cake. (NAN)

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FG Reaffirms Commitment to Providing Enabling Environment for Migrants

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The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to providing enabling environments and adequate protection for migrants in the country.

Mr  Tijjani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI), said this at the International Migrants Day in Abuja on Wednesday.

Report says that the theme of the celebration was  “Beyond Borders: Celebrating Migrants’ Legacy, Protecting their Rights.

The Commission organised a walk in commemoration of the day to sensitise Nigerians of the danger of not following the right path when leaving the country.

Ahmed highlighted the invaluable contribution of migrants to Nigeria’s development, including remittances exceeding 23 billion dollars annually,  and advancements in technology and agriculture.

He said that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was committed to creating a secure and supportive environment for migrants while enhancing migration governance.

“We are here today to celebrate the migrants for their technological transfer.

“We celebrate migrants because of their contributions towards the development of this country.

“We also celebrate them today in order to inform them that the Nigerian government and the people of Nigeria are there for them.

“We do not forget the contribution of our migrants in the diaspora towards the development of Nigeria,” he said.

Ahmed emphasised Nigeria’s readiness to lead migration governance globally through the “Rabat Process” in 2025, showcasing its dedication to migration management and human rights.

“Nigeria is preparing  to take over the leadership of the rubber process by 2025.

“We are asking everyone within and outside this country to support Nigeria to succeed in the governance of migration internationally.

“We have at least 10,000 migrants in Nigeria and over 20,000 outside the country that are contributing towards the development of  the country, ” he said.  (NAN)

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FCT Civil Service Commission Begins Regularisation of FCTA Staff Appointments

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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)

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Jos School Collapse: CWON Holds Trauma Healing Session for Parents, Survivors

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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.

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