NEWS
FCT Wins Awards for Excellence at PHC Leadership Challenge
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care (PHC) system has emerged as one of the best in the country at the 2nd edition of the Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge awards.
This is contained in a statement by Mrs Bola Ajao, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Mrs Adedolapo Fasawe, on Friday in Abuja.
The statement indicated the award, launched by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) in 2022, held its first edition in 2023.
It noted the second edition of the award recently took place in Abuja, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was represented by former FCT Minister, Alhaji Aliyu Madibbo.
The statement said PHC Leadership Challenge was created by the NGF to strengthen and improve the Primary Health Care system nationwide, as well as assess the performance of states.
The statement also noted that the event attracted several dignitaries, including the Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo.
It said the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, was also in attendance.
According to the statement, the FCT emerged as the runner-up for “Best Performing and Most Improved State,” receiving a cash prize of 400,000 dollars in recognition of its exceptional progress in strengthening the PHC system in the territory.
The statement highlighted that the FCT, along with other states, would continue efforts to enhance Universal Health Coverage in 2024.
It said since President Bola Tinubu’s administration began, the FCT healthcare system had seen significant improvement under the leadership of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The statement, quoting Fasawe in her response, emphasized that the award reflected the FCT Minister’s strategic leadership and investment in healthcare, as well as the quality services being delivered daily at PHC centres across the city.
She also noted the effective use of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in improving antenatal care.
Fasawe, represented by Dr Ruqqaya Wamako, Acting Secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Board, further stated that the system had increased the use of modern contraceptive methods and the proportion of women delivering with skilled birth attendants.
She said these improvements were supported by targeted awareness and education efforts aimed at vulnerable populations.
She also acknowledged the contributions of the entire management team and staff of HSES, along with other stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO), calling for continued collaboration to further strengthen the PHC system.(NAN)
NEWS
Life Doesn’t End in your Communities, NYSC D-G Tells Corps Members
The Director-General of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmad, has advised corps members to stop thinking of relocating back to their communities, emphasising that life does not end there.
Report says that Ahmad spoke when he visited the NYSC temporary orientation camp on Friday in Kaduna.
Addressing corps members of the 2024 batch ‘C stream ‘I’ currently on the mandatory three-week orientation course, he urged the corps members to find home anywhere they were posted to, emphasising the importance of adapting to new environments.
Ahmad emphasised that the corps members must find a sense of belonging wherever they were posted, stating that such mindset was crucial for a successful service year.
According to him, embracing new experiences and being open to change can lead to personal growth and development.
He urged the corps members to focus on making a positive impact in their host communities.
The director-general encouraged them to be proactive and seek opportunities to contribute to the development of their host communities.
He urged them to respect the cultures and traditions of their host communities, advising, ”remain peaceful and resilient as you add value to the community you are posted to.
”I am sure many of you will choose to remain here after your service. You should also take security seriously.
“Your security is our concern, but no one can secure you more than yourself.”
Ahmad underscored the importance of skills acquisition and entrepreneurial development of the scheme.
He urged the corps members to take advantage of the programme to become not just self-reliant, but job and wealth creators after their service year.
“Skills acquisition is designed to make you independent, self-reliant and productive.
”The Federal government is out to ensure that youths are supported and empowered so they can stand on their own.
“Thousands of your predecessors who maximised the opportunity are now independent,”Ahmad said.
The director-general however warned the corps members on unauthorised and night travels, indecent dressing, among other acts that may project the scheme in bad light.
(NAN)
NEWS
Protect TETFUND from Abrogation Under Proposed Tax Bill–ASUU urges NASS
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the National Assembly (NASS) to protect the Tertiary Education Trust (TETFUND) from being abrogated under the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024.
Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the President of ASUU, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
Osodeke said that the proposed bill was worrisome and also posed potential danger to the Tertiary Education Trust (TETFUND).
“ASUU has observed with keen interest the ongoing debate on the review of the tax system in the country under a proposed bill tagged, Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024.
“This is currently before the National Assembly. Arising from the tax bill is the proposed abrogation of the education tax.
“ASUU is alarmed by this dangerous and unpatriotic aspect of the proposed new tax regime,” he said.
According to Osodeke, the bill proposed that education tax, called development levy, used to bankroll TETFund’s programmes should be ceded to the newly established Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
“TETFund will also receive 66.7 per cent in 2027, 2028 and 2029 years of assessment but zero per cent in 2030 year of assessment and thereafter,”he said.
He said that the far-reaching consequence of the new tax system is that from 2030, all funds generated from the development levy would be passed to NELFUND.
He said that ASUU found the development not only worrisome but also inimical to the national development objective due to the potential danger to the survival of TETFund.
Osodeke said that TETFund has been viewed as the backbone for infrastructural development, postgraduate training and research capacity building in Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions in the
last 15 years.
He said that ASUU had resolved not to stand by and watch the denigration or obliteration of TETfund which represents a positive testament to its constructive engagements with Nigerian governments since 1992.
“It is our considered view that abrogating the TETFund Act 2011, by design or default, will be a great disservice not just to education but to Nigeria as a nation.
“As a result, ASUU is urging members of the National Assembly to do all within their capacity to protect TETFund from being abrogated under the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, ”he said.(NAN)
NEWS
Gunmen Kill 1 at Benin Nightclub
The police in Edo have confirmed the killing of a guest at the popular Raptor Club and Lounge, Stadium Road, Benin.
The victim was shot dead by gunmen in the early hours of Friday, while his female passenger sustained gunshot injuries.
SP Moses Yamu, Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in Edo, said that investigations into the incident were ongoing.
According to him, the police received a distress call at 3 a.
m. that there were gunshots at Raptop Club.He said the operatives of the command on reaching the scene went after the hoodlums, who escaped and abandoned a pump action gun and two expended empty shells.
Yamu explained that efforts were ongoing to arrest the perpetrators.
NReport says that the incident, which occurred at about 2 a.m., has left the management and patrons of the nightclub in shock.
A source told newsmen that the deceased, whose identity has not been disclosed, was shot inside his white Lexus Jeep vehicle, while the female passenger was hit by stray bullets on her lap.
The incident left the club with some damages, including shattered show glasses and a destroyed glass door.
Policemen were seen at the scene of the incident, as the deceased’s vehicle was towed away. (NAN)