NEWS
Senate to Suspend Budget of FEDCAM over Non-productivity
The Senate says it will ensure that no budget is released to the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (FEDCAM) of Nigeria over non-productivity.
Sen. Banibo Ipalibo, Chairperson, Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) disclosed this on Thursday when she led members of the committee on oversight visit to the college in Abuja.
Reports says the committee also visited other health facilities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
NAN reports that FEDCAM was established in 2009 with a mandate to train alternative medicine practitioners in the health care delivery services and also to carry out clinical works and as well provide an alternative method of treating ailments and research.
Ipalibo, while expressing her disappointment on the non-productivity of the institute said that nothing was happening there,.
“There are no students, the staff members are not coming to work and the building they rented is unused.
“It is supposed to be a key area in alternative medicine, it is such a place we could train our children but non of that is happening there and as such, the committee will definitely look into that.
“We will ensure that no budget is released and no tax payers money is wasted in such a project until the project comes back on stage and provides the services that this country needs,” she said.
Chief Accountant of the College, Mr Abayomi Abiodun disclosed that the there were over 132 workers of the establishment.
He recalled that in 2011, the Ministry of Health suspended the management staff and appointed an interim administrative team.
“From 2011 to 2019, FEDCAM was administered by the interim administrative team of the ministry of health.
“We have been trying to see how the college will come on board but unfortunately, last year, the ministry decided to place hold and suspend the activities of the college.
“Without the principal leadership of this college, absolutely nothing can take place because the ministry has a way of doing their things.
“These and other more, are our challenges,” he said.
NAN reports that other facilities visited by the committee included the National Hospital, Abuja, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and Federal Staff Hospital, Gwarimpa.
While at the National Hospital, Ipalibo expressed satisfaction with the services rendered by the hospital.
“They have a lot of potentials, there is a lot more that they can do if they are provided with more equipment.
“The hospital is also doing a lot of cancer care,” she said.
Ipalibo assured the management of the hospital of legislative backing to further boost ita activities.
At the NHIA, the Director-General, Dr Kelechi Ohiri said that the agency was currently finalising the 2021 and 2022 Audit.
He said the reports would be completed in March while the 2023 Audit Report would also be concluded on time.
Ohiri said an estimated 15,000 persons had been enrolled on health insurance from both the national and the state health insurance authorities.
He said the figure represented about seven per cent of the population but too low to provide health coverage for Nigeria.
The DG said, in 2023, a total of N128 million was generated internally from enrollees and accreditation of Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) and health care facilities, among others.
He said about half of the total sum was remitted to the federation account.(NAN)
The Lagos State High Court will begin its annual vacation on July 21 to end the 2024/2025 legal year of the state judiciary.This is contained in a notice dated June 5 and signed by the State Chief Registrar, Mr Tajudeen Elias.According to the notice, the vacation will end on Sept.
12.Elias stated that the State Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba, approved the annual vacation pursuant to Order 49, Rule 4(D) of the High Court of Lagos Civil Procedure Rules, 2019. However, he noted that the Criminal Division of the High Court would continue to sit during the vacation.Elias said: “Notwithstanding the long vacation, the Criminal Division of the High Court of Lagos State may sit throughout the period of the vacation.“Where a judge of a criminal division is on vacation, a vacation judge may be assigned to deal with all pending criminal cases in that court.“Notwithstanding the long vacation, any case or matter may be heard by a judge during the period of vacation (except on a Sunday or public holiday).“Where such case or matter is urgent, a judge will, at the consent of all parties concerned, agree to hear it.”The chief registrar said that any application for an urgent hearing could be made by summons in chambers before the vacation judge or the judge before whom the substantive case was pending.He also stated that the 2025/2026 legal year of the state judiciary would begin on Sept.15, while the new legal year service would take place on Sept. 22. (NAN)Two clerics, Bishop Charles Ighele and Prof. Amidu Sanni, on Monday faulted calls for establishment of federal ministry of religion.They said that establishment of such a ministry would stir disharmony among religious groups and create other problems.Ighele, a Christian cleric, and Sanni, a Muslim cleric, spoke in interviews on Monday in Lagos.
They reacted to calls in some quarters for establishment of the ministry to support religious affairs more. Ighele, the General Superintendent of Holy Spirit Mission, Ikeja, said that establishment of the ministry would not contribute to the much-needed human capital development.“I do not see any need for the ministry. I do not see how this will contribute to human capital development and other forms of development.“Instead, it will increase the already over-bloated cost of governance.“The first area of major dispute is likely to be whether a Christian or a Muslim or a traditional worshiper should be the first minister,” he said.Ighele told NAN that disputes over unequal representation of different religions in the hiring of personnel for the ministry would likely have no end.“The energy needed for national development will be diverted into endless disagreements,” he said.Sanni, the Chief Imam of Lagos State University, said that there was no need to contemplate establishing such a ministry.According to him, dedicating a ministry to religion will fuel religious intolerance.“There are intra and inter-religious disharmony already retarding national progress. Creating the ministry will cause more problems.“The first major problem will be in the leadership and personnel.“Will it be headed by a Muslim, a Christian, a traditionalist, or an atheist?“As a matter of fact, government should hands off all matters of religion and limit its involvement only to enablement of pilgrimage to Saudi Arabian, Rome and Israel,” he said.He said that religious education in schools should be encouraged with proper curriculum and personnel to enhance religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence. (NAN)
A philanthropist and businessman, Mr Mtom Aondona, has donated a Hilux van and five motorcycles for security surveillance in Aondoana Community, Gwer West Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue.Handing over the items to the security agencies and the community leaders in Aondoana on Monday, he said security was everybody’s business.
Aondona said the government alone cannot address the growing insecurity in the country and urged prominent Nigerians, especially politicians, to contribute their quota to achieve peace. He said, as a philanthropist, he could not watch and allow his own community to continue to experience such devastating attacks and sleep well.The philanthropist explained that he was only reaching out to his community in times of need, adding that it was not for any political purposes.“We cannot all continue to wait for the government to do everything for us. Let us do the parts we can do for our people.“We need to do our best to support the security agencies to succeed. As I do my little part here, I plead that other privileged individuals in other communities should do the same.“Let us help ourselves to protect ourselves and communities. I do not have any political ambition, and I am not contesting any position.“These things I bring today, I know, are not enough but are just a stepping stone to our collective recovery as a people,” he said.The philanthropist said his aim was to support the Aondoana community and its environment to overcome the growing insecurity.While he donated the Hilux and motorcycles for the effective patrol of the security agencies, he also laid the foundation for a new police station and quarters in the area.He also donated 100 bags of rice, cartons of seasoning, bags of salt, gallons of groundnut oil, mattresses, among other things, to the security agencies.Receiving the items, the traditional ruler of Gwer West LGA, Ter Naggi, Chief Daniel Abomtse, commended the philanthropist for remembering his people at the critical time.Represented by the Kindred Head of Bunaka, Chief Jen Ukura, Abomtse cautioned against spreading fake security alerts.He said the people must be conscious and investigate and verify every piece of information before spreading it.Also speaking at the event, the new Gwer West Divisional Police Officer, SP Charles Gadzama, commiserated with the people over their losses and urged them to support the police to end the attacks.Report says that the Aondoana community was among other communities in Gwer West LG that came under heavy attacks recently. (NAN)
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