Nigeria: The Advocates Decry Declining Health Funding, Call For Urgent Supplementary Budget

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15/07/2018

A cross section of The Advocates in a group photograph with the Nigeria's Minister of Health

The National Advocates for Health (NA4H), a Nigerian health advocacy group, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to increase health budget and ensures timely releases in 2018.

To this end, the group wants as a matter of urgency, a supplementary Budget on health to be submitted to the National Assembly to raise it’s percentage to at least 7% this year and subsequent 1% annual increase.

The group assures its commitment to tracking the implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (HUWE) using an accountability framework.

These are part of the resolutions adopted at a one day Symposium on “framing for advocacy and accountability for effective implementation of 2018 National Health Budget, Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and Global Financing Facility (GFF) convened by the group on Tuesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

The group chaired by Professor Dapo Ladipo observed with concern the decline in Nigeria’s budgetary allocation to the health sector, contrary to its commitment to the 2001 Abuja Declaration.

Below is the full text of the Resolution:

“The 2018 approved budget is about N9.12 trillion out of that N356 billion is earmarked for health which represents 3.9%. When compared to the 2017 health budget, which was an aggregate sum of N308.464 billion being 4.15% of the 2017 approved budget; the Federal Government commitment to the 2001 Abuja declaration of allocating at least 15% of total national budget to health is declining rather than improving.

“The 2018 approved budget has earmarked in the health capital expenditure the sum of N55.15b to the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), while this is commendable , however we notice that it is not captured as a statutory transfer as provided by section 11 of the National Health Act, 2014.

“ Funds in the statutory transfers are always prioritized as they are not largely affected by scarcity of funds. Not committing the BHCPF as statutory, means if there is any paucity of funds within the year, it will suffer severe budget cuts and poor implementation as the section 28 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act has empower the Minister of Finance on budgetary matters as follows “Where, by the end of three months, after the enactment of the Appropriation Act, the Minister determines that the targeted revenues may be insufficient to fund the heads of expenditure in the Appropriation Act, the Minister shall, within the next 30 days of such determination, take appropriate measures to restrict further commitments and financial operations according to the criteria set-in the Fiscal Risk Appendix ——- such provisions shall not apply to Statutory or constitutional expenditure.”

“As a matter of urgency, we call on President Muhammadu Buhari to submit a supplementary health budget to the National Health Assembly in order to raise its percentage to at least 7.5% this year and in subsequent years raise the budget by 1% point increase. The president is called upon to also direct his Minister of Finance to release the N55.15 billion at once earmarked for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and when commencing 2019 budgetary process to ensure it is captured as a statutory transfer.

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/05/15/news/nigeria-federal-government-partners-kwara-others-on-adolescents-health-issues/

Nigeria: PDP Consults With Obasanjo Ahead of 2019 Polls – Secondus

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15/07/2018

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PDP logo

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) is to meet with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta on Saturday ahead of 2019 polls.

The National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus, made this known in Abeokuta while addressing journalists after a meeting between the executive members of the party in Ogun and the PDP NWC.

The Chairman who described Obasanjo as a “warrior” who had fought many battles, explained that the consultation had become necessary to get direction from the former president and tap from his wealth of experience.

Despite explanations by the Federal Government on how the recovered Abacha loot will be spent, Secondus picked holes in its management, alleging it was being arbitrarily distributed instead of being budgeted for.

The disbursement of the money to poor and vulnerable Nigerians, according to the Vice President, will begin this July.

Maryam Uwais, who heads the Social Investment Programme of the Federal Government explained recently that the Federal Government and the World Bank had signed an agreement to use the money to fund the SIP.

According to Uwais, 18 states, which have been enrolled, will benefit from the programme. They are Niger, Kogi, Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Cross River, Bauchi, Jigawa, Gombe, Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Anambra.

The remaining 18 states have been excluded because the the state governments had not put in place the appropriate platform through which to implement the programme.

But Secondus insisted that : “Mother of all corruption is happening under Buhari’s government.

“This is the first time a government in Nigeria, not even under the military, that cash will be withdrawn from the bank and distributed to party cronies.

” The Abacha returned loot is being shared by the incumbent government, without putting it in the budget,” he alleged.

Secondus gave assurance that the party would win the Saturday governorship election in Ekiti state.

The PDP chairman who alleged that there were plans by the All Progressives Congress(APC) to take Ekiti state by force, said ” no amount of intimidation can subvert the will of the people.”

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/07/14/news/election-2019-lamido-to-nigerians-liberate-yourselves-from-shackles-of-poverty-hunger-frustration/

Nigeria: Massive Turnout Of Voters At Ekiti Election, Peaceful Exercise Reported

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15/07/2018

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There was a massive turnout of voters in Ekiti as the accreditation and voting process got underway in Saturday’s governorship election.

Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) monitoring the election across the three senatorial districts of the state report that many voters had arrived their polling units as early as 6.30 a.m. to wait for election officials.

Across many polling units in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, there was an impressive turnout of enthusiastic voters determined to exercise their civic responsibilities.

At ward 10 Unit 12 a&b, Basiri area of Ado-Ekiti, the Assistant Presiding Officer, Miss Nafisat Jamie, told NAN that though they collected all the election materials as early as 6.00 am, the process could not start due to transportation challenge to the unit.

As at 8.53 am, the names of eligible voters were just being pasted for viewing and confirmation.

An observer from the Transition Monitoring Group, Mrs Tosin Abati, told NAN that the process started late due to late arrival of INEC officials.

At Ward 10 Unit 9, Okesha area of the state capital, the Assistant Presiding Officer 2, Mr Owoseni Taiwo, addressed the voters, who were already on the queue and opened the ballot box for everyone to see and confirm that it was empty.

Visits to Wards 3, Units 5 and 13 Idemo, and Ward 9 Unit 12 Odo-Ado revealed that accreditation and voting were going on simultaneously with security men on standby.

Dr Mike Omilusi, an observer from the Allaince for Credible Election, commended INEC for its pro-active strategies in terms of voter education and sensitisation ahead of the poll.

He also commended INEC on the use of the card readers for the election, but advised that more card readers be made available in future elections.

The observer said that the new idea of accreditation and voting simultaneously was commendable, noting that this would ensure quick conclusion of the exercise.

At the St Michael’s School, Ajilosun, opposite Mobil filling station, the turnout was also impressive while the accreditation and voting process was also going on simultaneously.

Speaking with NAN, an observer from the Justice Development and Peace Initiative, Mr Aluko Isiaih, said that, the election started well until when the card reader in one of the wards stopped working for about 45 minutes before it was rectified.

Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, elections were going smoothly in all the eight units located within the school’s premises while there was no report of violence.

Efforts to speak with members of the monitoring team from the British High Commission, however, failed as they declined comments.

Mr Wale Adebayo, a member of the team, told NAN that they had no comment to make.

In Isan-Ekiti, where the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, hails from, accreditation and voting commenced across many polling units between 8.03a.m and 8.38.

In Fayemi’s Polling Unit 009 Ward 11, NAN reports that accreditation and voting commenced at about 8:38 a.m. although INEC officials arrived at about 7:26 a.m.

Accreditation and voting began in Polling Units 006 and 007 as well as 005 between 8: 03 a.m. and 8:10 a.m.

At Unit 009, no fewer than 345 names of voters appeared on the pasted registered list.

In Ikere –Ekiti, the home town of the PDP flagbearer, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, voters trooped out as early as 6.30 a.m. to various polling units.

NAN reports that a huge crowd was sighted at the Ofamofuru Polling Unit 007, Ward 02, of Olusola.

The Presiding Officer of the polling unit, Mr Layeni Segun, had urged the voters to conduct themselves in an orderly manner after displaying the empty ballox box to those gathered.

He equally appealed to the voters to allow the elderly and nursing mothers to cast their votes first.

Other polling units visited such as ‎L.A Pilot Polling Unit,08, Ward 002, Custom Polling Unit,08, Idiyin Polling unit 006, Ward 002 also‎ witnessed a massive crowd of voters.

NAN reports that no fewer than 667,064 eligible voters had collected their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) out of the 913, 334 registered.

NAN also report that the electorate would vote in 2,195 polling units spread across 177 wards in the 16 local government areas of Ekiti while 35 candidates are contesting.

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2017/12/18/governance/nigerias-independent-national-electoral-commission-registers-over-47-000-voters-in-continued-exercise-in-gombe/

Election 2019: Lamido to Nigerians Liberate Yourselves From Shackles Of Poverty, Hunger, Frustration

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14/07/2018

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By Joseph Edegbo:

Former Governor of Jigawa State and presidential hopeful on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Sule Lamido has called on Nigerians to vote out the present leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

Lamido who is eyeing the Presidency come 2019 under the PDP platform, urged Nigerians to liberate themselves from the shackles of untold hardship, hunger and poverty brought upon them by the APC.

The presidential hopeful who was speaking during a consultation meeting with the leadership of the PDP, Kaduna State chapter Northwest of the country, said, PDP as a party has learnt her lessons and has taken necessary steps to remedy them accordingly.

He therefore called on the good people of Nigeria to unite and salvage the country from the present insecurity, arm banditry, kidnapping, hunger and abject poverty.

According to Lamido, “I have come to consult with the PDP leadership and members of Kaduna State and to intimate them that I will be seeking the party’s ticket to run for the 2019 presidency.

“Nigeria and Nigerians have suffered a lot from the failed promises of the present administration and the need to salvage it.

“Today, Nigeria had never been so insecure like it is now, bombings and killings every where. We need a sincere leader whose words will be his bounds.

“The APC proof to be government of angels, are they angelic in their dealings, they said the are fighting corruption, are they not corrupt too, the stealing in this government is much compared to what the APC is alleging that the PDP stole.

“Today we have history of PDP and APC history of anger, hunger, frustration and poverty. The APC as a party have only succeeded in sowing seed of discord among Nigerians and the PDP is ready more than ever before to right the wrongs come 2019.

“APC is accusing PDP of looting the treasury in our 16 years rule, but those in APC today served in those 16 years of PDP rule either as governors, Speakers, Senators, House of Representative members, Ministers, Ambassadors among several other capacities but today, they are saints because they are now in the ruling party.

“Let it be known that nothing last forever, today APC is busy blackmailing and labelling PDP members as thieves, when they are no longer in power, they are likely to feel how it taste to call people thieves, it is for that singular reason that they are afraid and taking to intimidation and all forms of harassment.

“We are ready to change the narratives for the better come 2019 and if given that opportunity through my party, I will render selfless service to the betterment of the country and her people”.

Earlier, Kaduna State PDP Chairman, Felix Hassan Hyet promised to pray for the best leader that will fly the party flag to victory come 2019.

In his words to the presidential hopeful, “You are a man whose words is your bound. We will put you in our prayers. Power comes from God, we can however attest to the fact that you are one of the finest leaders the PDP has ever produced”.

Lamido later paid a visit to another Presidential aspirant on the same platform, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi at his Kaduna residence and had a brief closed door meeting.

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/07/13/news/nigeria-2019-kaduna-pdp-to-run-govt-of-integration-not-disintegration-ashiru/

Nigeria: Zamfara Has Employed 100 Doctors, 322 Nurses To Boost Health Sector – Official

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Africaprimenews

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14/07/2018

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map Zamfara — Map of Nigeria showing Zamfara State

By Mohammed Munirat Nasir

Zamfara state government in northwest Nigeria says it has recently employed 100 doctors and 322 nurses to boost its health sector.

The State says it is also currently renovating 147 Primary Health Centres (PHC) across the state to improve health care delivery in the rural areas.

Commissioner for Health, Lawal Muhammad Liman, announced the developments in Gusau at the 5th annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Zamfara state chapter.

He said the renovation of the PHCs was coming after the renovation of all the General hospitals in the state, as well as the expansion of Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau.

The Commissioner who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Habibu Yelwa said one of the top priority of Governor Abdul’Aziz Yari Abubakar was to make health care available and affordable to the people.

He said the state government had spent six years without polio virus, due to the adequate attention given to immunization activities in the state.

The Commissioner commended the NMA for supporting government’s health care programmes and assured of continued partnership with all stakeholders in promoting health care services in the state.

He thanked development partners for supporting Zamfara state in the areas of health care delivery.

Earlier, State Chairman NMA, Ologunde Kehinde Williams commended the state government over recent recruitment of doctors and health workers in the state and construction and renovation of hospitals.

Williams called for the improvement of the general welfare of health workers in the state.

He appealed for a strong partnership by all stakeholders in the state to join hands and work in addressing health challenges, saying the NMA was ever ready to partner government at all levels to render health services to citizens of the state.

Talent Hunt For Next Generation Leaders Kicks-Off In Nigerian University

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14/07/2018

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By Oshio Joy

Theatre and Performing Arts Department of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, in northern Nigeria, is supporting other partners to hold an Inter-faculty Talent Hunt Series – the 3^rd in a series of the activity.

This is aimed at discovering new talents in creative and entertainment arts, social entrepreneurship, critical thinking, architectural designing, locally-produced/home-made technologies, cultural engineering, as well as tourism governance for sustainable development.

Unlike the past editions, the organisers said, this year’s edition will provide opportunity to students in the sciences, engineering, arts, management science to showcase their research findings, talents, and creative abilities, adding that there is a need to identify students with native abilities in diverse areas in order to mentor them to be effective leaders for tomorrow.

Speaking on the importance of the project, a University don, Dr Emma Gana, said, the academia must begin to discover talents from the university campuses all around Nigeria and coaching identified talents to achieve their potentials.

According to him, students after graduating from the university are faced with harsh realities and most of them often abandon talent for survival.

“We must begin to check against students abandoning talents for survival. Most of the popular start-ups and real-time services we enjoy today are borne or nursed by students from university campuses.

“Tech-students with talent were quickly identified and mentored and today they have delivered services that have made communication and businesses to thrive”, he said.

A lecturer with the University Department, Jamila Mohammed, noted that Nigeria is lagging behind among the comity of nations with large population of student innovators.

She calls for replication of the talent hunt project in other Nigerian institutions for greater harvest of innovations.

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/06/23/news/nigerias-open-university-matriculates-transport-workers-reiterates-commitment-to-human-capacity-development/

South African Companies Eye Business Opportunities In Angola

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13/07/2018

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South African Trade and Industry Deputy Minister, Bulelani Magwanishe, is expected to lead a business delegation on a trade and investment mission to Angola.

Speaking ahead of Monday’s investment mission, Magwanishe said the mission grants the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) the prospect of continued economic collaboration and partnerships with African countries. This is for the realisation of higher levels of industrialisation through sustainable trade and investment.

“South Africa’s economy is linked to other economies, especially those in Southern Africa, and is therefore obligated to stimulate economic development through promoting outward investment, trade, regional industrialisation and infrastructure development,” said Magwanishe.

Angola remains a strategic and significant trading partner to South Africa. The two countries enjoy strong bilateral relations, with total trade currently amounting to R25.6 billion.

As Angola seeks to address the triple economic challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment through industrialisation and the diversification of its economy, Magwanishe said South Africa can consider this mission as a strategic intervention of its investment-led trade approach.

This approach aims to position South Africa as the preferred trade and investment partner to the new Angolan government through commercial exchanges in the targeted sectors of the mission.

According to Magwanishe, the mission is anticipated to see an increase in trade and investment between the two countries, the strengthening of existing relations between the two nations and the formation of commercial partnerships and joint ventures.

The business delegation consists of 20 South African companies funded by the dti.

These companies represent the aerospace and defence, built environment professionals (consulting engineers, civil engineering contractors), mining products and services; and infrastructure (road construction, housing development) sectors.

Prospects of opportunities

One of the companies, UWP Consulting (Pty) Ltd, is hopeful of expanding its customer base in Angola.

The Gauteng civil and structural consulting engineering firm is excited about business-to-business meetings that will be held.

“We are particularly excited about the business-to-business meetings that are being arranged for us. On our own we would not have been able to arrange such meetings, considering the language barrier. We are optimistic that this mission will yield positive results in a form of partnerships with local companies and cooperation,” said the company’s tender manager Humbulani Mulaudzi.

The company is a majority black-owned company that currently employs about 250 people in 14 offices across South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania, Botswana, Lesotho, Ghana and Zimbabwe.

The dti has over the years assisted companies through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance scheme. The scheme develops export markets for South African products and services.

The week-long mission will include a trade and investment seminar, targeted business-to-business meetings and sector specific site visits.

The investment mission, which follows on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s working visit to Luanda, will conclude on 21 July.

During his visit, President Ramaphosa said South Africa will continue to work to increase cooperation with Angola at higher levels.

Angolan President João Lourenço was on a State visit to South Africa in November 2017. –SAnews.gov.za

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/05/09/development/south-africa-land-reform-to-be-aligned-to-economic-growth-says-ramaphosa/

South African Energy Sector Gets $10bn Boost From Saudi Arabia

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13/07/2018

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A $10 billion investment pledge into the South African energy sector by Saudi Arabia is set to enhance energy security, create capacity and reduce the cost of energy in South Africa.

The pledge was made during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State visit to Saudi Arabia, which began on Thursday.

“This commitment from the Kingdom is a demonstration of confidence in our economy and gives further impetus to South Africa’s drive to raise $100 billion in new investment over the next five years to create jobs and for development,” said President Ramaphosa.

President Ramaphosa characterised his State visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a remarkable success. He engaged in official talks with King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud, the Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman and the government of Saudi Arabia during his one-day State visit in the Arabic country.

The State visit provided a platform to President Ramaphosa and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to deliberate on various issues of mutual concern, as well as to deepen and strengthen bilateral, political, economic and cultural relations between the two countries.

The President was accompanied by the Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation; Defence and Military Veterans; Energy; Police and the Deputy Minister of Trade & Industry.

President Ramaphosa was also conferred with the Order of King Abdulaziz, the highest honour by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia awarded to citizens of Saudi Arabia and foreigners for meritorious service to the Kingdom and is named after King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founder of the modern Saudi state.

Saudi Arabia backs SA to receive observer status

During the visit, Saudi Arabia pledged support for South Africa to be accorded the observer status in the Organization for Islamic Co-operation (OIC).

The OIC is the second largest inter-governmental organisation after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents.

It aims to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.

An observer status will give South Africa a number of privileges in terms of accessing developmental co-operation support, especially its financial institutions that support infrastructure development as well.

South Africa and Saudi Arabia have also signed memoranda of understanding on defence and on co-operation in the energy sector.

President Ramaphosa applauded the significant work done by the South Africa-Saudi Arabia Joint Economic Commission, which is co-chaired by respective Ministers of Trade and Industry.

“The seventh edition of the Joint Economic Commission took place in South Africa in 2016 and we look forward to building on the gains made at the forthcoming meeting, scheduled to take place in October later this year,” said President Ramaphosa.

The President has departed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and will head to the United Arab Emirates to complete his three-nation state visit. – SAnews.gov.za

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/07/12/politics/president-ramaphosa-in-saudi-arabia-for-state-visit/

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