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2024 Hajj: NAHCON warns against nursing volunteerism offer on social media
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says it has not registered any organisation to recruit volunteer nurses for the upcoming 2024 Hajj operation.
The Assistant Director, Public Affairs, NAHCON, Fatima Sanda-Usara said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
She said the commission had observed misleading information circulating on social media regarding the invitation for recruitment of volunteer nursing staff for the 2024 Hajj services.
She said it was crucial for the public to be aware that NAHCON had not registered any organisation for the recruitment of volunteer nurses during Hajj.
She strongly cautioned the public against falling victim to potential scams.
Sanda-Usara said that only medical personnel engaged by the commission would be authorised to practice medicare during Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
“For emphasis, even setting up of clinics by verified country representatives such as NAHCON is strictly regulated by Saudi Arabia’s authorities.
“Hence, how can any organisation offer medical assistance without the commission’s knowledge?
“Under Saudi Arabian medical policies, no State Pilgrims’ Board, Private Tour Operators or organisations are permitted to run clinics.
“It is only under a Hajj participating country’s recognised Hajj Mission with approval from the Saudi Ministry of Health through the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
“Whoever does otherwise runs the risk of arrest and persecution.”
Sanda-Usara further clarified that Sheikh Muhammad Adam, the Imam of Sultan Bello Mosque has disassociated himself from the purported recruitment offer.
Similarly, she said the NAHCON delegation, on the instruction of its Chairman, Malam Jalal Arabi who is on official assignment in Saudi Arabia, met Dr Mohammed Suleman for clarification on the matter.
“Led by Malam Yusuf Balele and Ahmad Muhammad of NAHCON Media unit, the revered Sheikh assured the team of their commitment to share only authentic information from NAHCON.
“He called for collaboration between NAHCON and Ulama in the dissemination of the commission’s messages to avoid misinformation.”
She said that NAHCON communicated solely through official government channels, print and electronic media, as well as through its authorised social media handles.
“They are @nigeriahajjcom (Instagram, Facebook & Twitter) and the NAHCON Website at: nahcon.gov.ng.
“For legitimate enquiries, the public is advised to contact the commission’s official access numbers at 09071800007 & 08059456781 (Calls/Text/WhatsApp).
“Followers are advised to disregard any unverified information that does not originate from the commission’s official sources.”
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Stop using repressive laws to intimidate journalists – SERAP, NGE tell FG
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, and Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, have called on Nigerian authorities at all levels of government to stop using repressive and anti-media laws to target, intimidate and harass journalists, critics and media houses.
The groups made the demand after an interactive session on ‘the state of press freedom in Nigeria’ held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja.
In a joint statement, SERAP and NGE said that, “the government of President Bola Tinubu, the country’s 36 governors and FCT minister must now genuinely uphold press freedom, ensure access to information to all Nigerians, obey court judgments, and respect the rule of law”.
They expressed concerns about the escalating crackdown on the right to freedom of expression and media freedom and the flagrant disregard for the rule of law by authorities at all levels of government.
The groups note that the suppression of the press in recent times takes various forms ranging from extrajudicial to unlawful detentions, disappearances, malicious prosecutions and wrongful use of both legislation and law enforcement.
The statement read in part: “We would continue to speak truth to power and to hold authorities to account for their constitutional and international obligations including on freedom of expression and media freedom.
“Nigeria as a country has a long and unpleasant history of press gagging and clampdown on media freedom, which is evidence of extensive state censorship of media and in some cases, the utter control of state-owned media houses.
“This position has not changed considerably despite almost 25 years of unbroken democratic rule in the Fourth Republic.”
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FG adds 625MW to national grid – Minister
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Tax: Court orders FCT-IRS agency to seal off defaulting coys
A Magistrate Court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) to seal off a company, Ifedi A.K. Nigeria Ltd, over allegations bordering on non-filing of annual returns.
The Magistrate, Janada Balami, gave the order after lawyer to FCT-IRS, Michael Towolawi, moved the application to the effect.
Towolawi told the court that the company had failed to file its annual returns from 2019 to 2023 in breach of Section 81 of the Personal Income Tax Act, LFN, 2004, and amended in 2011.
He said all efforts to make the company comply with the law proved abortive.
The lawyer, therefore, applied that the company be compel to appear before the court to explain why it acted in breach of the law.
Balami, who held that the application by the agency against the company had merit, accordingly granted same to seal the No 6, Rudolph Close, Off Katsina-Ala Street, Maitama, Abuja.
She, consequently, ordered the company, the sole defendant in the matter, to appear before the court on May 16.
The Director, Legal Services of the FCT-IRS, Festus Tsavar, told journalists after the proceeding that the service would move against companies that do not file their annual returns as provided by law.
“You know that we have a new minister in FCT that is doing a lot of projects and that hinges on money.
“And of course, you are aware that FCT has come out of TSA.
“So it is the internally generated revenue that will make the government of FCT to be able to do those projects completely within required time,” he said.
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