Metro
Wike Commits to Economic Empowerment, Social well-being of FCT Residents in 2024
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed his dedication to enhancing infrastructure, inclusive growth, and sustainable environment, conducive for economic empowerment and social well-being of FCT residents in 2024.
Wike said in a New Year message in Abuja on Monday, that the resolve is embedded in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
He said that “over the past few months, we have made significant strides in various sectors, propelled by commitment to excellence and innovation.
“Our efforts have been directed toward enhancing infrastructure, ensuring effective urban planning, bolstering healthcare facilities, improving education, and creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
“In the year ahead, we will commit to implementing robust policies and initiatives that will bolster the development of the FCT and ensure that it continues to thrive as a model of excellence in all ramifications.”
Wike added that in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, development plans for the FCT for 2024 encompasses several key areas.
He identified the areas as infrastructure development, economic empowerment, social welfare, sustainable development, community engagement and inclusion, and security.
The minister said that efforts were ongoing to accelerate infrastructure development, including road construction, public transportation with the re-opening of the Abuja Metro Line System.
He added that the FCT Administration would also expand essential amenities such as water supply and electricity to meet the demands of the ever-increasing FCT population.
On economic empowerment, Wike said “we remain committed to fostering economic growth, involving the creation of an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, promoting entrepreneurship, and initiating programmes that provide employment opportunities for our youth.
“We intend, especially, to focus attention on the tourism sector which hitherto remained largely untapped, and which has the potential of being a major revenue earner for the FCT.
“We are also dedicated to advancing social welfare programmes that prioritise healthcare, education, and housing, ensuring that every resident has access to essential services and quality living conditions.
“We will intensify efforts to enhance educational institutions, equip our youth with the necessary skills, and create opportunities for their holistic development.
“We are also determined to promote sustainability practices that preserve the environment, such as green initiatives, waste management, and renewable energy projects.
“We are equally dedicated to implementing robust urban planning and renewal strategies and initiatives which include the removal of shanties and slums and a renewed commitment to adherence to the dictates of the Abuja Masterplan.”
Wike also said that FCTA had recognised the importance of engaging communities and fostering social inclusion.
To this end, the minister said, the administration would continue to prioritise dialogue, participation, and collaboration with residents to address their needs.
On security, the minister reaffirmed the administration’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the security and well-being of residents.
“Security remains a top priority, and we will continue to support the efforts of the security agencies in keeping the FCT safe.
“While we will remain vigilant and responsive by adapting to evolving threats, I equally call on residents to play their roles by cooperating with security agencies by providing much needed information should the need arise,” Wike said.
He also urged residents of the FCT to join hands with the administration to build a stronger, more prosperous, and harmonious capital territory.
He added that “your support and cooperation, especially in the prompt payment of taxes, and active participation in the overall development of the FCT are invaluable.
“I wish to enjoin residents of the FCT to rally behind and support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This transformative vision is poised to bring about positive change and elevate our nation to new heights.
“President Tinubu’s commitment to good governance, economic prosperity, and social development aligns seamlessly with our collective aspirations for a better Nigeria and a Federal Capital Territory which will be the pride of all of us.” (NAN)
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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