Social Reporters News Service, published by IOE Publishers - CAC/BN/3400383

Posted by editor   President Jonathan on Sunday insisted that he will not fight corruption by jailing people, stating that he was going to build a system that would block people’s direct access to funds. The President said this at a corporate forum titled, ‘An Evening with Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan’ in Lagos on Sunday. He said even if five million Nigerians were thrown into jail for corruption, graft would still continue if the system was porous. He said, “People always say government is not fighting corruption but our position is very clear. We are fighting corruption and our position is that fighting corruption is not all about jailing people and showing them on television sets. “In this country, we never had armed robbery until the civil war when small arms were being used. Initially, armed robbers were being shot in public and later in secret. But it did not stop armed robbery; so our commitment is in the British law system that states that it is bet

Posted by editor   President Jonathan on Sunday insisted that he will not fight corruption by jailing people, stating that he was going to build a system that would block people’s direct access to funds. The President said this at a corporate forum titled, ‘An Evening with Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan’ in Lagos on Sunday. He said even if five million Nigerians were thrown into jail for corruption, graft would still continue if the system was porous. He said, “People always say government is not fighting corruption but our position is very clear. We are fighting corruption and our position is that fighting corruption is not all about jailing people and showing them on television sets. “In this country, we never had armed robbery until the civil war when small arms were being used. Initially, armed robbers were being shot in public and later in secret. But it did not stop armed robbery; so our commitment is in the British law system that states that it is bet

A police patrol team at Aboh Division in Delta State has nabbed two Fulani herdsmen, Usman and Idih with two AK 47 rifle magazines containing 30 rounds of live ammunition each. The Delta State Police Public Relation Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police , DSP Celestina Kalu, who disclosed the report today, said the suspects were on a motorcycle with registration number, NSK 136 QB, when theywere  arrested at Setraco Junction, Ashaka/Aboh road. She further explained that suspects are being interogating were undergoing investigation.   …recover pistol, daggers from cultists Similarly, Kalu also stated that another police patrol team attached to the “A” Division, Warr, along Okpe Street, Off Iyara road, ran into a group of suspected cultists, who fled on sighting the police, abandoning a black bag. She said the police recovered the bag and on searching it, found one locally made pistol , two daggers, mask –cap and one torchlight. “Investigation is in progress while

President Goodluck Jonathan; President of the Senate, David Mark; and a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ahmadu Ali, on Tuesday lashed out at a former Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, for dumping the PDP for the All Progressives Grand Alliance. While Jonathan described Maku’s action as anti-party, Mark said the former minister was a liar while Ali described him as an ingrate. They spoke at the Lafia Township Stadium during the PDP presidential rally. Jonathan said there was no truth in the former minister’s claim that he (the President) encouraged him to join APGA. The President said he could not be involved in anti-party activities. ADVERTISEMENT He said he did not at any time have any discussion or encourage Maku to join another party. He said PDP does not encourage anti-party activities and he, as the leader, would never flout the party’s rules and regulations. Mark on his part said Maku have to apologise and retrace his steps, before

Governor Adams Oshiomhole has approved the payment of 27.5% Teachers’ Special Allowance and implementation of other demands of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in the state. Also, the Governor has approved the payment of the November and December, 2013 salaries of over 322 teachers of Ovia North East Local Government Area. The other approved demands of the NUT which were presented on their behalf by the Nigeria Labour Congress include payment of 10% salary relativity increase and the consequential 27.5% TSA therefrom and payment of financial benefits of the last set of promotions approved for Primary School Teachers; Meanwhile, the Governor also directed the payment of the monthly salaries of workers of Edo Line Transport Company with effect from January, 2015; Governor Oshiomhole directed that full implementation of all the approvals must be done with immediate effect and not later than the last day of January, 2015. Edo State Government said Teachers in the state ha

The first Ebola Centre for Pregnant Women has opened in Freetown, one of the three West African nations most affected by the disease.a report said on Thursday. The medical humanitarian organisation, Medecins San Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) opened the centre in the city, The report said the centre is to address the high rate of deaths among expectant mothers and health workers who care for them. The opening of the centre came in the wake of local media reports that over 300 babies were buried within the past eight days in Freetown alone. The 80-bed facility, which would focus mainly on treating pregnant women suspected or confirmed to have Ebola, is located in the east of the capital. It is expected to bring the much-needed relief to residents in that part of the city which, even in normal times, records some of the country’s highest prenatal and postnatal mortality rates. The group said that the key reason for setting up the specialist unit is to minimise

The Independent National Electoral Commission  has dismissed two of its officers for alleged burglary and theft of Permanent Voter Cards in its Patani Local Government Area office of Delta state. This information was contained in the commission’s bulletin released in Abuja on Thursday.   The dismissed officers are: Mr. Collins Omofoma (SGL 09 Officer) and Mr. Onome Avbunudiogba (SGL 07 Officer). Also, the Commission said it has terminated the appointment of Mrs Obi Chinwoke Ugochi, an Administrative Officer II (SGL 08) for alleged absence from duty without leave. Mrs Ugochi is of the Commission’s Anambra State office. According to two Decision Extracts dated January 8, 2015 and signed by the Director (Commission’s Secretariat), Ishiaku Gali, the dismissal and termination of the three staff followed the commission’s meeting held on Thursday, January 8, 2015.

Posted by the Editor The All Progressive Congress, Wednesday, flagged off its senatorial campaign in Benin City with Governor Adams Oshiomhole taking a swipe at Senator Ehigie Uzamere who rode to the Senate on the back of the Action Congress of Nigeria only to decamp to the Peoples Democratic Party afterwards He said he was warned that Uzamere is like the leopard which cannot change its spot, but he thought he would have repented and was ready to serve the people. Unveiling the candidates of the APC at the mega rally held at Urokpota Hall in Benin City, Oshiomhole said the party had carefully chosen its best to represent it. Speaking on the Edo South senatorial candidate the governor said “there can be no man however generous who will give you what he does not possess. If a man is kind, he will give you everything that he has. You look and I ask you over the past for years, he has been the minority whip at the federal House of Representatives. “When you listen to S

Notagain Campaign     CANADA and Nigeria are collaborating to end child, early and forced marriage in the country, the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria said on Thursday. A statement issued by Ms Ezinne Uluocha, Public Affairs Officer of the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, said a significant reduction in child marriage would ensure a better society. The statement said the High Commission was collaborating with Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative, a Nigerian NGO, to highlight the worldwide issue of child marriage as it affects Nigeria. ``The Canadian High Commissioner, Mr Perry Calderwood is collaborating with Ms Amina Hanga, Executive Secretary of Nigerian NGO, Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative. ``The NGO forms part of the ``Girls Not Brides” network, which was awarded the Government of Canada Diefenbaker Human Rights and Freedom Award in Ottawa in November 2014. ``Ms Hanga, along with a representative from an India-based sister organisation, and a membe

Some 237 petitions against the governorship aspirants of various parties are waiting for the attention of the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the various zonal offices of the anti-graft body. A competent source disclosed this to our Correspondent, adding that the bulk of the petition were locked away in the anti-craft commission headquarters in Abuja. “We would not go after any politician, based on just a petition. Although a good number of them are with facts and figures and emanate from very credible individuals in the society, but we won’t be in a haste to begin investigation on them yet,” the source said. EFCC source confirmed that the petitions were mostly against aspirants who were successful in their primaries. “So, we are looking at it from the angle that, some of the petitioners are angry and as such are seeking for a way to revenge, but EFCC has concluded that it won’t be dragged into politics.” The source said the com

Former Senate member and Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ayo Arise, has absolved President Goodluck Jonathan of blames for naira devaluation. According to him, the dwindling fortunes of oil price in the international market accounts for the fluctuation and should not be erroneously ascribed to President’s incompetence, as being flaunted by the All Progressives Congress. Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti on Friday, Arise who was the Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatization between 2007 and 2011, said the problem would remain except the country addressed its sole dependence on oil. Arise said the currency devaluation was not new to Nigeria, saying it had become a global problem that cannot be taken as a local affair. He said, “Currency devaluation is not new to Nigeria or any country across the globe. Between December and now, Euro has lost 15% value in the international market, naira as well. Even Russian currency, Ruby has lost same rate of

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), has again issued another statement, this time around reacting to the allegation by President Goodluck Jonathan that the leader of the group, Henry Okah was sent to bomb him in Abuja.The group in a statement by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo described the statement by the Jonathan as the most outrageous and ridiculous speech by any president. Gbomo challenged the Jonathan to name those he claimed paid Henry Okah to asisinate him in Abuja, adding that his statement has vindicated the group that the president has a status of a clueless, inet and bare face liar. Read the full statement below: The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) views the President, Goodluck Jonathan’s recent campaign rally speech as the most outrageous and ridiculous speech by any President, were he openly accused Mr Henry Okah of being “paid to assassinate” him. Mr President, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger

Posted by the Editor Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State says the state Government has secured a N5.7 billion facility from the World Bank to tackle the erosion problem at Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of the State. The Governor said the facility was secured by the government after the state was abandoned to its fate by the Federal Government which refused to release funds to the state from the Ecological Fund to address erosion problems in many parts of the state. Speaking at the commissioning of the Auchi-Jattu-Afashio-Ikabigbo-Ojio road on Thursday, Oshiomhole said, “Erosion has been a problem that has been threatening the existence of Auchi as a community. Not only has erosion destroyed the farmlands, erosion has also destroyed a number of roads and even killed a number of our people. “A series of petitions have been written to the Federal Government for intervention. I know on an occasion the Royal Highness, the Otaru of Auchi, decided to lead the Auch

By Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Mr. President,the Nigerian healthcare workers’ ongoing strike is seen as extreme by many and has significantly impacted lives in the last few weeks. Using your executive power, you have the authority to demand that they end the strike and return to work within 48 hours or face mass dismissal with instant replacements from near or far countries. President Jonathan, Nigeria recently suffered a senseless death and tragic loss ofa valued life in the death ofDr. Effiong Akang  of the University of Ibadan,  who was reportedly the only neuropathologist known internationally for his work in the area of the diseases of the brain and spinal cord. The shocking death two days into this New Year was mainly the result of the  labour strike by JOHESU (Joint Health Sector Unions), a Nigerian union made up of nurses, laboratory specialists, emergency care workers, and others. Certainly, healthcare employees like other workers

Posted by the Editor Vice Presidential Candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Prof. Yemi Osibajo has unfolded plans by his party to introduce a social security scheme for the elderly and disabled in Nigeria just as he promised that APC-led Federal Government will provide 720,000 jobs in its first year, when elected come February 14 Professor Osibajo disclosed this on Thursday in Benin City when he met with the people of Edo State across political divides where he articulated the position of APC in its quest to effect change in the social and economic life of Nigerians. Addressing the mammoth crowd at Imaguero College Hall, Osibajo said, “For the first time in the history of Africa, we are introducing a social security scheme. It means the elderly who are poor and the disabled will be given stipends. “Now the reason why that is important is because our country has continued to be one of the poorest 35 countries in the world despite our resources. We have 110 million pe