NIGERIAN NOTCH

The Federal Government on Thursday approved phased return of students to classrooms, and asked state government and school administrators to start making arrangements for full reopening of schools in the country. Schools in the country were shut in March as part of measures to control the spread of the coronavirus disease. But, the government had on August 4, announced the resumption of graduating pupils to write this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination from August 17, 2020, through September 12, 2020. The National Coordinator of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, who spoke during a briefing at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, said the task force recommends phased return of students to classrooms. “For educational institutions which include daycare, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Educational institutions should begin the process of working towards potentially reopening within this phase. “However, we strongly recom...

From Ikenna Aniagboso  Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has restated his commitment to the development of smart cities in Anambra state.  The Governor stated this while performing the ground breaking ceremony of the Anambra Luxury Place Estate, Nkwelle Ezunaka - a PPP housing initiative between the Anambra state government and Rotech energy services Ltd.  Speaking at the event, Gov Obiano commended the CEO of Rotech Energy Services Ltd, Chief Austin Oguejiofor for embracing the think home philosophy. He described the estate as a modern, smart and hitech city and encouraged Ndi Anambra to buy property in the estate.  According to Gov Obiano, "what we are building here is a smart city. It is very close to Anambra state international cargo airport, Umueri. The closeness of the estate to the airport, the commercial city of Onitsha and the capital city, Awka makes it a choice location". Going further, he said that his administration has remained committed "t...

Harvard-educated and longtime World Bank economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is bidding to become the next director-general of the World Trade Organization under a nomination from her native Nigeria while also holding dual U.S. citizenship. Okonjo-Iweala obtained American citizenship in 2019, her spokeswoman told Bloomberg News, after spending most of her career at the World Bank and living in the Washington suburbs. It’s not uncommon for international civil servants who spend long stretches working abroad to take a second citizenship, especially when their families have been living overseas with them, a spokeswoman for Okonjo-Iweala said. She’s humbled by the support of the government of Nigeria and its people, the spokeswoman said. Okonjo-Iweala has a resumé full of qualifications, and there is no citizenship requirement for the job. Still, the revelation of her dual status may become magnified as protectionist sentiment rises around the world and national allegiances are questioned, obser...

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Owerri zone, has urged the federal government to expedite action to deploy the University Transparency, Accountability Solution, UTAS, over the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS, to resolve the issue of irregularity of salary payments among university staff. Speaking at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia state, the zonal coordinator, ASUU, Owerri Zone, Comr Uzo Onyebinama, explained that ASUU is unveiling the UTAS as a credible alternative to IPPIS, since IPPIS has failed to address major issues that border around personnel information and payroll system. In his words; “IPPIS does not respect the nature, structure and character of the Nigerian University System. The IPPIS does not recognize agreements entered into between the government and university-based trade unions as well as does not ensure simultaneous payment of employees’ salaries and third party deductions such as Tax, pension, u...

​•••••••• Says the Force Remains Committed to protecting the Sanctity of the Ballot The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A. Adamu, NPM, mni has warned politicians and their supporters in Edo and Ondo States, where gubernatorial elections are scheduled to hold on 19th September, 2020 and 10th October, 2020 respectively, to conduct themselves properly, play by the rules and steer-clear of tendencies capable of undermining the electoral process in the two States.   The IGP gave the warning having reviewed the Election Security Threat Assessment Reports submitted by the Commissioners of Police from both States in a meeting held Tuesday, 25th August, 2020. The Election Security Threat Analysis reveals amongst other indicators: arming and movement of political thugs, use of inciting statements during political campaigns, high likelihood of violence and possible cross attack by political opponents, misinformation/disinformation aimed at heating-up of the polity and deliberate effor...