The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday launched a US$6.4 billion emergency funding appeal to reach more than 190 million children affected by humanitarian crises amidst the coronavirus pandemic. The appeal for 2021, which is a 35 per cent increase over the funds requested for this year, is the largest ever by the UN agency. It will support essential programmes in 149 countries and territories. It is an “unprecedented” situation, said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “Today we are facing a child rights emergency in which COVID-19 and other crises are combining to deprive children of their health and wellbeing.…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
Former Sokoto state governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa on Thursday, met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila in Abuja. He visited the Speaker to discuss security issues and demand compensation for the victims of genocide and kidnappings in Northern Nigeria. Bafarawa also sought urgent solution to the security challenges facing the North, with the participation of all stakeholders in the country. “It is time to take action to provide relief for the affected communities and to bring about a speedy recovery,” he said. The former governor presented documents containing names and assets of others who had lost…
A bill for an Act to establish the Nigeria Army University, Biu, Borno, to make comprehensive provisions for its management and administration has passed second reading in the House of Representatives. The bill, which originated from the Senate, seeks to give legal backing to the university, which is already in existence, was presented by the Majority Leader, Rep. Ado Doguwa. Rep. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta (PDP-Abia) argued that the army did not need a university to address the security challenge in the country. He said that rather than establish new institutions, the Nigerian Defence Academy and the Armed Forces Command and Staff…
The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, Professor Joseph Fuwape has advised the Federal government of Nigeria, to adopt appropriate research strategies that will promote green economy to mitigate the increasing dangers of unbridled exploitation of the environment. Fuwape gave the advice while declaring open a two-day virtual conference of the Commonwealth Forestry Association (CFO), which originated from FUTA Campus in Akure on the 2nd and 3rd December 2020. The conference is themed: Forest Ecosystem Potential in Nigeria, Opportunities for Green Economy in the 21st Century. He described a green economy as a situation where growth…
By Abubakar Shekara If the nineteenth century was a period of learning and political awareness, when the formation of empires and states was inspired more by enlightenment than the exigencies of need and survival, Sokoto Caliphate is one of the most advanced societies of its time. The antecedents of Sokoto in the field of learning and the fine virtues that made kingdoms, states and empires great need no rehash. The Caliphate’s history by right places it among the greatest civilisations in the world. In the current century, however, greatness has assumed a new meaning. While the prerequisite for advancement is…
By Tina George, Minna The Niger state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has announced that the suspended indefinite strike in will resume on Tuesday, 1st December 2021. This is contained in a letter signed by the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Yakubu Garba and the state TUC Chairman, Comrade Tanimu Yunusa and addressed to Niger state governor. The development followed the state government’s insistence to cut workers’ salaries by 30 per cent. Recall that the meeting between the state government and labour on Friday ended in deadlock with both parties sticking to its position. The union in the letter…
By Tina George, Minna The week has been a hectic for Niger state government and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, with endless meetings to negotiate on planned salary cut of November salaries by the government. While the state government says it cannot pay full salaries of workers, the NLC insists that workers must collect 100 per cent of their take home pay without compromising. The meeting held on Thursday ended in a deadlock as none of the two parties was ready to shift grounds. According to a source who spoke to AsheNews on condition of anonymity, in the meeting NLC…
Kano state government has taken measures aimed at ending farmers and herdsmen conflicts that have resulted in the encroachment and blockage of cattle stock routes across the state. The chairman, Kano State Stock Routes Demarcation Committee, Alhaji Ibrahim Dan’Isle made the assertion during its maiden meeting in Kano on Friday. According to him, government was ready to address the issue dispassionately, with a view of finding sustainable solution to the crisis that had led to severe social, economic and food security challenges. “It is regrettable that famers and herdsmen have been engaged in clashes which have caused loss of lives…
Governor Bello Mohammed of Zamfara, has alleged that the extent of ‘bad blood’ in the present Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was partly responsible for Ebonyi governor’s defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC. According to him, he would rather commend David Umahi for his bold decision rather than condemn him, “because everyone feels welcome only in a house where he feels comfortable. “If this trend of generating ‘bad blood’ amongst us continues unabated, our great party will increasingly be on the receiving end as we move towards the year 2023. “I am having a very bad experience of recent from…
The deputy governor of Sokoto state, Manir Dan’iya has reiterated the state government’s commitment to ending rising violence against women and children. He stated this at the quarterly coordinating meeting on ending violence against women, children and the girl- child under the European Union (EU-) Spotlight Initiative, a 5-year project to tackle gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria. According to Dan’Iya, “the administration of Aminu Tambuwal has demonstrated total commitment and willingness to partner the EU and United Nations (UN) agencies “who are strong partners in the fight against GBV in the state by mandating the Ministries of Budget and Economic…