Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
From the Civil Service
Sunday, January 26, 2014
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Council vice chairman slumps, dies while waiting for doctor
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L-R: Chairman , Senate Committee on MDGs, Sen. Ali Ndume; United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle; his wife, Pamela; Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu and Director General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Prof. John Idoko, at the premiere of Shuga PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA Series 3 in Abuja recently.
Police commiserate with family of man shot by its personnel
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he Ebonyi Police Command has commiserated with the Uto Family of Amike Community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area (LGA) over the shooting of a member of the family, Chukwudi, by a policeman. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Chukwudi, a cement dealer at 135 Junction, on the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway, was shot by Cpl. Efom Andei, on the road. In a statement signed by ASP Chris Anyanwu, the command’s Public Relations Officer, and made available to newsmen on Saturday, the command regretted the shooting. “The state Commissioner of Police and the command’s entire management
team commiserate with the family, relatives and friends of the deceased over the unfortunate incident. “We give the firm assurance that the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident will be thoroughly investigated and justice will take its full course,” the command said. It said that the deceased was shot for failing to stop at a police checkpoint on the road, contrary to reports that he was shot while celebrating with his friends over purchase of a new car. “Andei and his colleagues were on a stop-andsearch duty at Nwankwo Elom, Ohaukwu axis of the expressway when they received information that an
armed robbery gang was heading toward their end. “The information revealed that they were inside a purportedly stolen Dyna vehicle without a registration number, as the said vehicle raced toward our officers. “The officers flagged it down; the driver refused to stop but meandered through the temporary barrier put in place along the road, thereby evading being halted. “A Good Samaritan later offered assistance to the policemen and pursued the fleeing suspects; in a bid to halt the car at the popular 135 Junction, the corporal used his firearm and a bullet hit the driver,” it said. It said that the corporal had been arrested and put
in custody. “The command promises to make public, the outcome of its investigations and further disciplinary actions against the policeman if found culpable. NAN, however, learnt from some indigenes of the community that the victim, a father of one, returned from Lagos after buying a Dustan truck for his cement business, and was rejoicing with friends when the policeman shot him. A source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the policeman came into a drinking bar and demanded for the key of the truck. “When the victim refused to hand over the keys to him, the officer shot him thrice on the chest,” he said.
NUT partners Glo on free phone calls for teachers
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he Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State Chapter, is partnering with the Glo mobile network to provide a platform for members of the union to talk free to one another on phone. The Chairman of the chapter, Mr Segun Raheem, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos that the initiative was aimed at bridging communication gap between the union and its members. He also said that the free mobile phone calls would promote effective communication among the union members.
``As part of our 2014 agenda, we have concluded a system of communication with Glo network tagged: Close User Group (CUG). ``This will enable teachers in the state to talk with one another for free. Members will only be charged N1, 000 rental fee each month. ``As a movement, we want to build a platform that will elevate the profession through effective dissemination of information and smooth communication among members,’’ he said. The chairman said that the union would roll out
3,000 lines to start the free phone calls. Raheem also told NAN that there was an arrangement to register teachers in the state at the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) for them to obtain their teaching licence. According to him, teaching without a licence is a punishable offence, although some teachers are not aware of that. ``Most teachers practise only by registering and not obtaining the licence to teach from the TRCN. ``The union recognises this fact; that is why we
want to obtain the licence for them,’’ he said. Raheem said that obtaining the licence would enable the teachers to benefit from lectures, seminars, symposia and training organised by the TRCN. ``The union is facilitating the licencing process between TRCN and the state government,’’ he said. The chairman encouraged the teachers to use the social media to interact with one another. ``The NUT, Lagos chapter, is online to connect with our members on Facebook, Twitter and other social networks.
he Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo has been thrown into mourning as its Vice Chairman, Mr Charles Eshiesimua, slumped and died while waiting for a doctor on Friday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the vice chairman died at about 3.55p.m., while waiting to see a doctor at the Iruua Specialist Hospital in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo. He had gone for a medical check-up. The council Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Momoh, expressed sadness over the death which, he said, was
shocking. ``The death of Charles is surprising to me because we both spoke before I left for Benin. ``I can’t believe that Charles is dead,’’ Momoh said on Saturday when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased. He described the late vice chairman as a loyal official, who was committed to the development of the council area. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Esan West Local Government Council boss, Mr Henry Irumudomon, died barely three months after he was sworn-in in April 22, 2013
Nigerians hail INEC over timely release of 2015 polls time-table
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ajor stakeholders have continued to react to the release of the timetable for the 2015 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Mr Sunday Oginni, Secretary of Labour Party (LP) in Ogun, in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), commended the electoral body for the prompt release of the timetable. Oginni said that the release of the timetable had officially signified the commencement of politicking. ``INEC with the release of the timetable has blown the whistle for politicking to start,” he said. The LP chieftain, how-
ever, urged political office holders not to jettison governance for politics. He enjoined them not to neglect the people they were elected or appointed to serve while preparing for elections. Mr Buruji Kashamu, Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee (South-West) of the PDP, also lauded the development. ``Political parties will have enough time to prepare for the elections,” he said. He said that the PDP in the region was prepared to play the game by the rules and expressed optimism that the party would sweep the polls in all categories in the region.
NUT tasks govts on recruitment of teachers
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he Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) yesterday called on governments to adhere to the 1: 26 teacher/student ratio recommended by the United Nations for improved students’ performance. The NUT President, Mr Michael Alogba-Olukoya, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation recommended that teacher/student ratio should
be 1:26. Alogba-Olukoya said that the NUT desired to see the implementation of the ratio in 2014. “If we should analyse this properly, we will discover that nearly all the state governments as well as the Federal Government are not meeting the standards. He urged employment of more teachers to enable achievement of the ratio. “Currently, there is a shortfall in the number of teachers in our schools due to retirement and other reasons.