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Enugu State rolls out COVID-19 Suspect Reporting Tool
Enugu State Government on Wednesday rolled out Pharmacists and Proprietary/Patent Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) COVID-19 Suspect Reporting Tool to strengthen early case detection and prevent further spread in communities.
The tool was developed by the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Pillar of the State Ministry’s Emergency Operations Centre.
At the presentation of the tool to members of Community Pharmacists and PPMVs in Enugu, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Ikechukwu Obi, said that the tool would greatly enhance early case detection of COVID-19.
Obi also said that the tool would serve as a model that other states in the country might copy in responding to the pandemic.
He praised the state’s IPC Pillar for efforts toward developing the tool.
“The roles of Community Pharmacists and PPMV members are key to effective healthcare delivery in our communities since they are usually the first port of call for sick community members,” he said.
The commissioner said that the tool, which had been produced in booklet form, would be distributed free to Community Pharmacists and members of PPMVs in the state.
He said that by the action, Community Pharmacists and PPMVs had also been co-opted into the Local Government COVID-19 Rapid Response Team.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Health, Dr Ifeanyi Agujobi, said that the tool was a timely addition to the already laid down COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control practices.
Agujobi urged Community Pharmacists and PPMVs to make good use of the tool.
Dr Eddy Ndibuagu, the state Infection Prevention and Control Focal Person, who took Community Pharmacists and PPMVs through the use of the tool, said that Nigeria Centre for Disease Centre’s case definition for COVID-19 suspect was used in developing the tool.
Ndibuagu said: “The tool essentially, is used in identifying COVID-19 suspects early, and preventing them from spreading the infection in communities. This is a form of triaging.
“Community Pharmacists and PPMVs are encouraged to set aside a place where these identified suspects can be kept, while the Local Government Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO) and State Emergency Operations Centre are alerted.”
In a goodwill message, Dr Ada Erinne, World Health Organisation Coordinator in South-East states, lauded the state government for coming out with an initiative to deepen containment of COVID-19.
Erinne said that the initiative would involve more stakeholders in the fight against the virus at the community level.
“It is good that these two critical stakeholders on health at the local and community levels are brought in to broaden and strengthen the fight against the pandemic for more effective results,” Erinne said.
The Secretary of Community Pharmacists, Enugu State Branch, Mr Ken Amafidegbe noted that most countries that had fought COVID-19 successfully had to think outside the box.
“With this tool, which is a product of thinking outside the box, I believe better and more results will start coming,” Amafidegbe said.
The President of PPMVs Enugu State, Chief Cyprian Ekpete assured the state government and other stakeholders that PPMVs would comply to safeguard the health of all.
“We will work in active partnership with the government, health partners and other stakeholders in order to use this new tool effectively,” Ekpete assured.
The Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission Hussani Ishaq Magaji, SAN, has approved the distribution of palliatives (foodstuff) to the entire Staff of the Commission nationwide.
This commendable act took place yesterday at the Commission’s Headquarters.
Presenting the items to Staff, the Director Human Resources Mrs. Olayemi Oyeniyi who represented the Registrar-General revealed that the RG’s magnanimity was in line with his promise to prioritise staff welfare as captured in his 4-Point Agenda as well as his own way of felicitating staff on the recently observed Eid-el Adha celebrations.
Staff from various Departments and Units who were elated by the gesture expressed their gratitude to the RG and wished him the very best as he continues to pilot the Commission to greater heights.
…We won’t disappoint on judicial procedures – CJN assures Tinubu
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, led the groundbreaking for the new Court of Appeal complex in Dakibiyu, Abuja, marking a milestone in Nigeria’s judicial infrastructure development.
The state-of-the-art five-storey building will house ten courtrooms and offices, greatly expanding the Court’s capacity in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Justice Ariwoola expressed profound gratitude to Minister Nyesom Wike and the Federal Capital Development Authority for their visionary leadership and support.
“We appreciate the government’s commitment to strengthening the judicial system, ensuring access to justice, and promoting the rule of law in Nigeria,” he said.
FCT Minister Barr. Nyesom Wike revealed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has made judicial infrastructure a top priority.
“When I presented the memo, the President’s immediate response was ‘Approved!’ That speaks volumes about his commitment to the judiciary,” Wike said.
The Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, expressed concern that the judiciary has become inaccessible to all but the wealthy, while the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, commended Wike for fulfilling his promise and noted that the edifice will facilitate swifter justice in Nigeria.
NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, thanked Tinubu and Wike for initiating the long-awaited complex, 48 years after FCT’s creation, despite 16 past ministers neglecting the judiciary’s needs.
“Justice is essential to human existence, and we urge Court Justices to remain focused and eagle-like in administering justice to citizens,” Maikyau said.
“The new facilities will greatly enhance the Court’s functionality, and the judiciary is committed to utilising them effectively to serve the nation. The project is expected to be completed by the third quarter of next year, and FCDA has pledged to maintain world-class engineering standards.
“This 37-billion-naira project has already been allocated 30 billion naira in the budget. I’m committed to delivering it within the scheduled time frame, not in two years as usual. We’ll get it done as planned, thanks to Mr. President’s vision and support,” Wike pledged.
Honourable Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, expressed gratitude to Barrister Nyesom Wike, Minister of FCT, and FCDA management for their support and vision. She also thanked guests, partners, and stakeholders for their contributions, acknowledging the organising team’s hard work.
She concluded by urging everyone to remain committed to justice, fairness, and the rule of law as they look forward to the completion of the Appeal Court complex in Abuja.
Executive Secretary of FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, in his address of welcome and project overview said the project is awarded to Messrs Visible Construction Nigeria Limited and is expected to be completed by the third quarter of next year.
He emphasised the project’s importance in fulfilling the administration’s commitment to providing a conducive working environment for judicial officers, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The complex will feature ten courtrooms, suites for justices, administrative offices, file rooms, and conveniences, ensuring a comprehensive and efficient judicial system. FCDA has pledged to maintain world-class engineering standards, urging the contractor and supervision team to deliver high-quality work and meet the expected timeline.
By Esther Agbo
Retirees from the now-defunct Nigeria Airways have formally requested President Bola Tinubu to reinstate them into the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS), aligning their pension benefits with those of other sectors.
In a letter endorsed by Stephen Onuh and Ahmed Sulugambari, the Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively, and addressed to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the retirees outlined their appeal.
The letter argued that re-enrollment in the DBS would ensure they receive pensions comparable to other retired civil servants.
Operating under the banner of the Airways Retired Workers of Nigeria, the retirees highlighted that until the airline’s dissolution in 2004 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, they were participants in the scheme. They contended that their removal from the DBS post-liquidation was contentious.
The petition emphasised that, contrary to expectations, the pensioners were not fully compensated and should receive payments for life. The group includes those who retired before and those affected by the 2004 liquidation.
“The N45 billion paid to our members were part-payment of our accumulated pension arrears for over 10 years. We were on the monthly pension payroll before the liquidation in September 2004.
”In pursuance to make sure that the pensioners are paid monthly pension, relevant government authorities have made interventions, directing that the pensioners be pay-rolled into the monthly pension scheme of the Federal Government,” the petition read.
It further mentioned that governmental bodies have previously intervened to ensure monthly pension payments for these retirees.
The Senate conducted a public hearing on pension matters in 2012, subsequently resolving that the retirees should be immediately added to the Federal Government’s monthly pension scheme. Additionally, in 2013, the House of Representatives urged the government to integrate these retirees into the monthly pension payroll.
However, the group claims this directive has been ignored by the authorities.
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