Follow Us on Google
Stories from Magnus Eze, Abuja
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta, has urged the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to extend its sensitisation campaign to embassies in the country as well as Nigerians, intending to travel overseas on issues of rules and regulations, affecting visitors to ensure that they do not inadvertently engage in unacceptable practices when they visit other countries of the world.
This was as the two agencies agreed to collaborate in carrying out aggressive enlightenment campaign against corruption and other unwholesome behaviours aimed at salvaging the battered local and international image of Nigeria.
Nta, who spoke while playing host to the Director General of NOA, Dr. Garba Abari, in his office, noted that the core strategy of ICPC was corruption prevention.
He used the opportunity to counsel the youth to take advantage of the present administration’s effort in job creation initiatives to gain meaningful livelihood instead of patronising job racketeers.
The NOA DG said the visit was a continuation of the cooperation that had existed between the two organisations, noting that they must forge a formidable alliance in the fight against corruption.
He stressed that with its population structure, the country had the demographic advantage to harness its natural resources to its advantage rather than the get-rich-easy syndrome of today’s youths.
Abari noted that the youth, which form 60% of the country’s population, were exposed to various negative values on the social media, which denied them the national core values but added that the agency was determined change the trend.
SCIENCE & TECH: FG tasks polymer institute on gas resource
The Federal Government has charged the Polymer Institute of Nigeria (PIN) to exploit the abundant natural resources in the country, particularly in the gas sector to engender rapid industrialisation.
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbbonnaya Onu, stated this when the institute’s management team called on him in Abuja, yesterday, to seek support for their upcoming 2016 PIN conference with the theme: “Unlocking Nigeria’s Economic Potentials through Polymer Science and Technology.”
Onu pledged to work with PIN and other societies and organisations that would help to promote the use of science and technology for industrialisation and nation- building.
According to the minister, “It is extremely important that we industrialise in Nigeria; we must be in a position to produce everything we need and polymer science and technology is very important because there are so many polymer related industries, we have the raw materials to explore efficiently the contribution of polymer to science and technology and to nation-building.”
Earlier, the National President of the Institute, Dr. Paul Mamza, said that partnership with the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology would help the government in its diversification efforts through the exploits of polymer science and technology.
Mamza insisted that “Nigeria must move swiftly from a consumer-oriented society to a productive one and science and technology holds the key to open up new vistas of prosperity.”
He stated their desire to enhance and promote scientific and technological development in the areas of plastics, paints, adhesives elastomers and pigments, among others.
COMMUNICATION: NITDA recruitment, abuse of due process – Minister
From Walter Ukaegbu,Abuja
The Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, has described the last recruitment exercise carried out at the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), as lacking merit and did not follow due process.
According to the minister, contrary to insinuations in some circles, the minister did not cancel the exercise because only one candidate from Oyo State was offered employment but because it was conducted in conflict with due process. He said “the former Director General of NITDA, Mr. Peter Jack, neglected due process in conducting the recruitment exercise.”
According to him, the recruitment process was stopped after realising that it did not follow laid down procedure and that approvals were not obtained while most of those employed don’t have the requisite skills to adequately bridge the manpower gap at the agency.
“The employment process did not follow due process because employment letters were issued to the applicants, even before the interview exercise and the issuance of Certificate of Compliance by the Federal Character Commission (FCC), coupled with the disregard of Ministry of Communications directive that the recruitment exercise be put on hold,” the statement added.
EDUCATION: Expect my action plan in a month’s time, new NECO chief
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The new Chief Executive Officer of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Professor Charles Uwakwe, has disclosed that the action plan that would help him drive his vision for NECO, as the Chief Executive Officer would be ready for implementation in one month’s time.
Uwakwe, who was among the newly appointed 17 Chief Executive Officers of the Parastatals under the Ministry of Education added that the action plan would be specific, measurable, attainable, eelevant and time bound.
He said, “The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has graciously approved that we use the next one month in office to acclamatise, study the books of our individual agencies, familiarise with the staff members and the entire system, and within the same period, develop an action plan for our new agencies. Emphasis should be made on the vision, mission and mandate of the agency, not forgetting the Change Mantra of the government.”
Speaking to Daily Sun shortly after receiving his letter of appointment, as the new Chief Executive Officer of NECO in Abuja, the Professor of Counselling and Human Psychology appreciated the minister for the priviledge given to him to serve, as NECO Chief for the next five years, promising to deploy his years of experience and knowledge to clean whatever rot that might hitherto existed in system.
EDUCATION: FG to partner Nigerian Breweries on annual teachers award
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Federal government has struck a partnership deal with the Nigerian Breweries Plc. to formalise and strengthen the annual Maltina Teacher of the Year Award.
Both parties are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would clearly specify the responsibilities of each of the partners.
While playing host to the management of the company in Abuja, yesterday, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwuka, said that such partnership would help the government achieve its desire of motivating teachers for improved performance.
He commended the initiative to honour Nigerian teachers, describing the scope of the competition, which involved private and public secondary schools across the 36 states of the federation, as very impressive.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Mr. Victor Famuyibo, told the minister that the Maltina Teacher of the Year Award was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), stressing that beyond the common saying that teachers’ reward is in heaven, teachers should actually reap some of the rewards here on earth.
Mr. Famuyibo disclosed that the company had made its impact at various levels of education, from primary to secondary and tertiary education through the provision of facilities such as libraries, laboratories, classrooms and others.
The General Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Obong Obong, commended the kind gesture of the Nigerian Breweries Plc. through the yearly awards.
