The Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will do all it can to defeat forces of evil marauding about in different parts of the country, to restore peace and order.

The National Security Adviser to the President, Major General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), said the President made this known at a crucial security meeting in Abuja on Friday.

Monguno stated that ”the meeting was summoned by the President to address the persisting security challenges in some parts of the country.”

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He disclosed that the meeting which had been adjourned to Tuesday next week, deliberated on vital national security issues.

Monguno stated that President Buhari reiterated the determination of government to decisively end the assault on the nation and would do all that it takes to achieve this.

He said: ‘’Concerned about the persisting security challenges in parts of the country, Mr President summoned a crucial meeting of the National Security Council today as he continues to frontally confront the situation in the country.

”At the meeting, the President made it abundantly clear that while the insurgents, bandits and criminals are still at it, he has no doubt that the Nigerian security agencies and all of us as a nation will certainly overcome all the current security problems and defeat the forces of evil marauding about in different parts of the country.

”While the criminals continue to test the will of the Nigerian government, the President and the Council which adjourned today’s (Friday) critical meeting until Tuesday morning to receive further briefings from the Security Chiefs, are set and determined to decisively end the assault on the nation and will do all that it takes.”

”Mr President is very prepared to take profound measures in the wider interest of the people and the Nigerian nation.

‘”There shall be no relenting until peace and security is significantly restored in our communities,” he said.

NAN/Mercy Chukwudiebere

The Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has approved the payment of the consequential adjustment to pensioners.

President Buhari’s approval of the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) is in line with the minimum wage approved in 2019.

The Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, Dr Chioma Ejikeme, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja.

Dr Ejikeme said that with the presidential approval, PTAD had been empowered to start the upward adjustment of all pensioners’ benefits according to the approved template.

She said the adjustment of the new pension payment would start from May 2021 and the payment of the arrears would cover the period of the implementation of the minimum wage.

“The arrears from April 2019 will be paid along with the pensioners’ monthly benefit starting from May 2021 payroll,” Dr Ejikeme stated.

A statement was released on April 22, to inform the public of the President’s sincerity to implement the consequential adjustment on the pension benefits through PTAD.

She said; “I emphasise that the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has no reason to go on protest because the matter has been finalised.

“True to that statement, we are here to confirm that the consequential adjustment will be implemented from May 2021 payroll.

“As a responsible agency of government saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the payment of pension benefits to pensioners under the DBS and their welfare, we are encouraged to do more for our pensioners…And we will continue to strive to improve the quality of their lives.”

Dr Ejikeme also said that PTAD would not request the senior citizens to pay any gratification to anybody before they receive their money.

The Executive Secretary advised them not to give their account details to anybody, and to report any scammer to any of the security agencies or PTAD.

“We have concluded arrangements to send SMS to all pensioners, informing them of the payment and to caution them on the activities of the pension scammers.

“The time has come for DBS pensioners to continue to eat the fruits of their labour,” she added.

NAN/Additional report/Mercy Chukwudiebere

The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, says National Assembly  will soon create 111 legislative seats, specifically for Nigerian Women.

Tallen made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday.

She said that a bill to create 37 seats in the Senate and 74 in the House of Representatives for women had already passed second reading in the lower legislative chamber.

The Minister said; “Nigerian women today stand tall and in solidarity as we send warm felicitations to the ninth National Assembly on this historic milestone recorded in our demand for more political space for women.

“I want to, on behalf of Nigerian Women, salute the leadership of the ninth National Assembly, especially the Senate led by Sen. Ahmed Lawan, and the House of Representatives led by Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

“The year 2021 represents a great milestone in our advocacy for increasing the participation of women in governance and decision making.”

“A Bill that seeks to create 111 additional special seats for Women in the National Assembly has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

“Sponsored by the Deputy Chief Whip, Nkiruka Onyejiocha, when passed into law, 37 additional seats will be created in the Senate and 74 in the House of Representatives for Women,” Tallen promised.

According to her, Bill also provides that one additional member from each of the three senatorial districts in the state will be created exclusively for women in each State House of Assembly.

She said that the Bill was expected to serve as a remedy to the low representation of women in legislative houses by providing additional separate seats to be contested and occupied by only Women.

“As a temporary measure to promote women representation, the Bill is expected to be subjected to a review after four general election cycles of 16 years for the purpose of retaining, increasing or abolishing the temporary measure.

“As we await the final reading, we will not rest on our oars in praying for them,” she said.

NAN/Mercy Chukwudiebere

The Tanzanian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Benson Bana, says the country is set to host Tanzania-Nigeria Tourism, Investment and Trade (TN-TIT) forum, to deepen trade between both countries.

Bana, says the forum is scheduled to hold on May 4, in Abuja and May 6, in Lagos State.

He disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Friday.

The High Commissioner said that ”the forum, centered on economic diplomacy, aimed at promoting Tanzania-Nigeria bilateral relations dated back to the early 1960s.”

Economic cooperation
According to him, it will enhance economic cooperation between the two sister countries in areas of tourism, investment, trade and development financing.

Bana said: “TN-TIT is specifically intended to increase the number of tourists from Nigeria to Tanzania from the annual average of around 6,000 to about 12,000 by December 2022.

“To increase the number of major Nigeria companies with investments in Tanzania from the current five to about eight by December 2022.

“Increase volume of Tanzania products into the Nigerian market from an average of 13,641 tons per year to 15,000 tons by December 2022. Increase number and varieties of Tanzania products available in the Nigeria markets.

“To facilitate Tanzania government’s access to Nigeria-based finance institutions for loans or grants at affordable terms and conditions, at least one trade mission from Nigeria to Tanzania.”

Bana noted that the forum would be attended by business moguls from across the two countries in sectors such as the chamber of commerce, banking, tourism among others.

The High Commissioner stressed that precautionary measures had been put in place in line with the Covid-19 protocols to achieve meaningful growth.

The event would be streamed live through the mission’s platforms via; www.tanzaniahcnigeria.com.

Bana urged people wanting to participate to register http://bit.ly/TN-TITabuja and http://bit.ly/TN-TITlagos for Abuja and Lagos event respectively.

NAN/Mercy Chukwudiebere

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has felicitated Nigerian workers as they join the world to commemorate this year’s International Workers Day.

Lawan, said  May 1, has been set aside every year to celebrate workers as the creators of wealth and to reflect on how to improve their work environment and welfare.

He urged the organised labour to always look at the larger picture and consider higher national interest in their responses to government policies and actions.

Welfare of workers
The Senate President stated that ”the National Assembly believes in the well-being and welfare of the workers and will always provide legislative support for every effort to tackle their challenges and improve the work environment.”

He said: ”I felicitate the Nigerian workers on this occasion of the Worker’s Day of International Solidarity and Unity. The Nigerian labour movement has a proud heritage beginning from the heroic contributions of its founding fathers like Pa Michael Imodu and his contemporaries in the struggle for the independence of Nigeria and emancipation of workers and the masses.

“The Nigerian workers across the generations since then have continued to drive economic productivity, nation-building and democratic governance in the country. I commend their patience, understanding and also their resilience in the face of the current challenges that our nation is facing. I assure you of the resolute commitment of the Ninth Senate to its mantra of ‘Work for Nigeria’.

“By this, we will continue to stand by the Nigerian workers to rid our statute books of anti-labour laws and promote legislations that will make our society a better place for the working people.”

PR/Mercy Chukwudiebere