NEWS
Nigeria has Strengthened Health Sector with Domestic Funds – Pate
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate has stated that Nigeria is actively working to strengthen its health system by leveraging domestic resources.
He affirmed that Nigeria had anticipated a decline in global financial aid even before the U.
S. government publicly announced cuts to funding for agencies that support developing countries.Despite the challenges ahead, Prof. Pate expressed heartfelt gratitude to the United States Government for its extensive and generous support over the years; emphasizing, the Nigerian Government holds deep appreciation for the assistance received, which has played a crucial role in advancing the nation’s healthcare landscape.
This was contained in a statement by Tashikalmah Hallah, Special Adviser on Media and External Relations to the Coordinating Minister; the Nigerian government reiterated its commitment to prioritizing health. This focus has led to significant advancements and successes in the healthcare sector, reflecting the government’s determination to improve the well-being of its citizens.
According to Professor Pate, “For the past 20 years or so, thanks to the generosity of the United States government and its people, many countries around the world have benefited from lifesaving interventions that have saved billions of lives from HIV, TB, and malaria.
“For Nigeria, we sincerely appreciate all the support received from the United States. It is unwise for any country to think it can rely entirely on another country for the health and lives of its population.
The direction taken by the U.S. government is understandable, given its current interests, and we respect that. Here in Nigeria, we are focused on rebuilding our health system, strengthening and increasing our domestic resources, and providing services for our citizens. We aim to cooperate with other countries in Africa and around the world to enhance biosecurity and health security while opening up our economy to private-sector investments.
The Coordinating Minister further explained that Nigeria has approved the ratification of the African Medicines Agency Treaty, which positions Nigeria to be part of a larger African market for what is produced locally.
“There are also investment opportunities in health that Americans are welcome to participate in. We have innovations, tools, systems, and technologies that we can trade. We are very open and confident that as the direction of the U.S. government evolves, Nigeria will continue to welcome genuine partnerships with the United States and other countries that share an interest in advancing humanity while respecting each nation’s interests,” Prof. Pate added.
Judges, lawyers and litigants at the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and National Industrial Court in Ibadan, on Monday, were locked out by protesting members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).The national leadership of JUSUN had directed its members in the federal courts to embark on a strike on Monday over unpaid 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increment, minimum wage and wage award.
A JUSUN official at the National Industrial Court, who craved anonymity, told Daily Asset in Ibadan that their salary was no longer enough as a result of current economic situation in the country. He said that the workers were seriously suffering while judges in the courts did not see them as part of them.According to the official, several steps taken to ensure their demands are met have been unsuccessful.The JUSUN representative said that no fewer than 10 members of staff of the National Industrial Court nationwide had died from February 2025 till date.“The suffering is too much and we are not asking for too much,” he said.Also speaking, a JUSUN official at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, Mr Atanda Babatunde, said the strike was embarked on in compliance with the directive of the national leadership of JUSUN.Babatunde said that the strike would continue untill their demands were met.A lawyer, Mr Ismail Saka, who was at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, expressed his disappointed over the strike.Saka said that he had been notified of his case coming up today and was surprised to have been locked out due to JUSUN strike.He said that one of his clients came from Sango-Ota, Ogun State, for the case, risking his life and wasting time and resources.He said that it was the right of JUSUN to embark on strike due to their entitlement while everyone was aware of the current economic reality in Nigeria.‘I urge the federal government to be compassionate and pay them their demands, which will make them live comfortable lives and not to be corrupted.Also, Mr Wale Oyegoke, who had a case at the Federal High Court in Ibadan, said he was angry that his case did not hold as a result of JUSUN strike.Oyegoke said that the Federal Government must treat the judiciary workers well, being a sensitive area.He said that the cost of living in Nigeria was already high while government was getting enough money due to subsidy removal.“The cost of transportation is very high, and if care is not taken, these staff will spend all their earnings on transportation.“I, as a person, spend N60,000 weekly on transportation.“Leaving home today, I thought my case would go on, but I am dsappointed that cases are not going on due to the strike.,” he said.A litigant, Mr Seye Olawale, who came from Lagos State, said that he was seriously pained risking his life on the bad road and wasting time and resources to come to Ibadan.(NAN)
The Cross River Government has threatened severe penalty on a firm, Bao Yao Iron and Steel Company, for owing the state N1.2 billion accrued tax liabilities.This was disclosed by Mr Ayi Bassey, Director Compliance, Cross River Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on Monday during a compliance drive by the service to the premises of the firm in Calabar.
Bassey said the service had taken steps provided by law but the company refused to discharge its statutory responsibility to the government. “We have served them demand notice, final demand notice; for four periods they have been issued pre action notices and they have done nothing to show they have a responsibility to the state.“As a service, we view this as a deliberate attempt on the part of the management of the company to undermine the developmental efforts of the present administration in the state.“We have placed the non compliance stickers as our final demand to them, beyond this, we will take necessary steps to ensure we enforce compliance,” he said.On his part, Mr Emmanuel Esira, Director Legal Services and Enforcement of Cross River IRS said the visitation was a further administrative step to get the company informed of their indebtedness to the government.According to him, “the tax we are asking for are deductions from staff salaries that have not been remitted to the tax authorities in the state since 2009.“The notification stickers will be on their premises until they comply and if they don’t respond, we will take further actions.Esira urged other companies doing business in the state not to allow situations to get to the point where they have to paste non compliance stickers in their premises before they carry out their obligations. (NAN)
A Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State on Thursday, ordered the remand of a 35-year-old man, Segun Deala, for stealing Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) cable.Deal whose address was not provided, had pleaded guilty to a two-count charge bordering on stealing and breach of peace.
The Chief Magistrate, Nurudeen Layeni ordered that he should be kept at the Awhajigho correctional facility in Badagry. He adjourned the case until Aug. 14, for fact and sentencingEarlier, the prosecution, ASP Edet Ekpo told the Court that the defendant committed the offences on May 9, at about 2p.m., at Gbenapon Ajara-Topa, Badagry, Lagos.Ekpo said that the defendant stole some length of electric cable with value yet unknown belonging to the EKEDC .He said the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by destroying the cable.According to prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 287 and 168 of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2015.
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