News

24m Nigerians to benefit from Human Capital Development initiative -FG

Published

5 months ago

July 4, 2024

By Francesca Hangeior

At least that twenty-four million Nigerians will soon benefit from its Human Capital Development initiative that is among others, designed to improve education, healthcare, and skills training across the nation, the Federal Government has said.

The Deputy Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the HCD core working group, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, along with Acting Coordinator of HCD and Special Adviser to the President on NEC and Climate Change, Rukaiya El-Rufai disclosed this at a strategy validation stakeholder’s engagement workshop, both emphasized the government’s commitment to this programme.

According to them, the strategic investments in education, health, and skills development forms part of the moves by President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s intention to address the ‘japa’ syndrome.

The initiative is aimed at expediting targeted investments in people, fostering equitable economic growth across Nigeria.

Recall that in 2018, the National Economic Council launched the National Human Capital Development Programme with the goal of tackling poverty and promoting sustainable economic growth, emphasizing the importance of HCD.

Speaking with Journalists, Hadeija who noted the crucial importance of Human Capital Development (HCD), said that President Tinubu plans to build on the successes achieved by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Responding to a question on how this will curb “japa” (a Yoruba term meaning to leave for better opportunities), the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President who pleaded with Nigerians to participate in all HCD initiatives to help address their challenges, said “We live in a global setting, and with technology, the world is borderless. First of all, we can’t stop people from leaving Nigeria. What we will do is embrace the HCD initiative that creates opportunities for people to stay at home. This way, they don’t need to leave the country to earn a living. With the HCD initiatives, they can do that here in Nigeria.”

Hadeija who assured that by increasing access to quality education, enhancing healthcare services, and offering skills training and employment opportunities, many Nigerians will experience improvements in their lives, said, “Through collaboration, learning, and growth, we will shape the quality and effectiveness of the Human Capital Development Programme in building resilient healthcare systems, ensuring equitable access to education, and fostering an inclusive, future ready workforce.

” This workshop is an avenue to deliberate on and validate our strategies. This is the day to acknowledge that the solutions we seek lie within our collective wisdom and experience. By sharing insights, best practices, and innovative ideas, we can identify the most effective pathways to achieving our goals.

“It is through our combined efforts that we can create a comprehensive and sustainable framework for human capital development that will benefit generations to come.

“Through collaboration, learning, and growth, we will shape the quality and effectiveness of the Human Capital Development Programme in building resilient healthcare systems, ensuring equitable access to education, and fostering an inclusive, future ready workforce.”

In her remarks, the Acting Coordinator of HCD, Rukaiya El-Rufai who emphasized that Human Capital Development forms the cornerstone of sustainable economic growth and social progress, said that investing in people’s education, health, and skills not only improves individual well-being but also fosters innovation, productivity, and global competitiveness.

Rukaiya El-Rufai, “The HCD 2.0 target 24 million additional healthy (under-five-year-old children surviving and not stunted), educated (completing secondary school) and productive (youth entering the labour force) Nigerians by 2030.

“Our goal is ambitious yet achievable: to develop a comprehensive strategy that not only addresses the unique challenges we face but also leverages the vast opportunities available. This strategy must mainstream gender, ensuring equal opportunities for all, and incorporate climate change and climate action, recognizing the critical intersection between human capital and environmental sustainability.

“As we collaborate over the next few days, I encourage each of you to share your insights, challenge assumptions, and propose innovative solutions. Your expertise and experiences are invaluable, and together, we can craft a strategy that truly transforms lives and drives sustainable development.”

The workshop was attended by representatives from the Gates Foundation, the World Bank, ECOWAS, the Dangote Foundation, and the United Nations Development Program, among others.

News

Experts Urge NASS To Ban GMO In Nigeria, Says It Is A Time Bomb

Published

5 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

…says insecurity is caused by international community

…as agric minister assures FG will protect the interest of Nigerians

By Gloria Ikibah

A group of experts known as the “GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance” which comprises of over 200 individuals and groups including farmers, civil society, scientists/researchers, nutritionists, legal practitioners, medical practitioners, women and youth groups have raised alarm on the negative effects of Genetically Modified Organisms on Nigeria food system, human and environmental health.

The group which urged members of the National Assembly to place a ban on GMOs in the country stating that external forces who are behind the introduction of GMOs in Nigeria have fueled insecurity.

The group which represents millions of the Nigerian people with a share common concern disclosed this during a public hearing by the House Committee on Agricultural Production on genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

One of the consultant to the group, Johnson Ekpere presenting their memorandum to the Commitee said that government must take it as a personal responsibility to immediately declare a policy of no to GMO and GMO distribution and circulation in Nigeria should be halted.

He said: “We would like to see in the interim, while the argument is even going on, a national moratorium declared that even if they are not convinced that the adverse effects which majority of the experts have spoken eloquently to are obvious, even if they still want to go ahead with the investigation, pending when they reach a conclusion, GMO distribution and circulation in Nigeria should be halted.

“Because there is not a perception that you can do to Nigerians whatever you want to do and nothing will happen. And that explains some of the institutional arrogance that we witness today. To the point that someone was so audacious to say it is better to eat and die than not to eat and die.

“While we recognise the governments efforts at improving food security in Nigeria, the adoption of GMOs as a silver bullet to agricultural challenges is an error. Continuing this path holds serious implications on Nigeria’s food sovereignty, on our biodiversity/environmental sustain-ability, and on our health.

“We recommend a wholistic approach to these problems – one that addresses the root causes, ensures food security/food sovereignty, empowers the small holder farmers who are the mainstay of Nigeria’s agriculture system and builds biodiversity and overall environmental resilience.

“This Memorandum calls on the Nigerian National Assembly to ban GMOs in Nigeria and to instead, invest in Agroecology comprising of Organic Agriculture, Regenerative Agriculture, Agroforestry and other practices that are proven to be able to transform the Nigerian Food system to sustain-ability.

“GMOs do not Improve Productivity

In September 2024 the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) reported that they “did not record any significant increase in their yields compared to the local seed varieties but instead, since the introduction of GM cotton seeds during the 2020/2021 farming season, yield per hectare has remained almost the same.

“They also reported that no other plant has been able to germinate on the farmlands where the GM seeds were planted, even after four years. Across the country, farmers have complained that with GMOs, productivity reduces in the second planting season, meaning farmers cannot replant these seeds but have to continuously purchase the seeds every new season.

“While some GMOs are designed to have increased levels of some nutrients, studies have revealed that other essential nutrients or functions can be reduced in the process. An in-depth scientific comparison of GM crops and their non-GM varieties shows that the assumption of substantial equivalence is false, as unexpected differences has been found. Examples include that GM soy had 12–14% lower amounts of isoflavones than non-GM soy; GM soy had 27% higher levels of a major allergen, trypsin-inhibitor, than the non-GM parent variety.

“Burkina Faso, in 2016 phased out GM Cotton because it produced a poor quality lint which fetched low prices for the farmers and amounted to millions of dollars of losses. The same variety was approved for commercial release in Nigeria, that same year.

“Nigerians’ Right to Safe Food

Decisions made by the government should be in the interest of the Nigerian people. Since this year, 2024, there has been increased demands from the Nigerian people in online media and several other fora for a ban on GMOs.

” Nigerians do not want this technology in our food and the government’s persistent approval of GMOs, means a total disregard for the rights of the people and exposes the vested interest in this technology.

“GMOs are not currently being labeled in Nigeria. Although this is important, it is not a realistic practice considering of socio-economic context; with food mostly sold in basins in open markets and in processed forms.

“Additionally, Nigerians are consuming imported processed foods bought from supermarkets without any idea that they are made from the genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The manner in which these items are imported into the country calls for serious concern” he stated.

Briefing Journalist on the aftermath of the hearing, Executive Director Center for Food Safety and Agriculture Research, Qrisstuberg Amua said international forces were reason behind insecurity in Nigeria .

He said: “From Benue State, a food basket that is becoming empty, not because Benue people are not producing food, not because they don’t have GMOs, it’s because ethnic and foreign interests have successfully, and I’m saying this boldly to the media and to Nigerians, because I’m a researcher, ethnic interests that are interested in marketing, dumping GMOs, which are agents of mass destruction. These are biological weapons. I’m a professor of bioinorganic chemistry.

“They are pushing insecurity on our nation, sponsoring it clandestinely, and I challenge the national security apparatus to look deeply into, investigate into why our farmers can’t go to farms, only to create a scenario of hunger to advertise genetically modified poisons.

“In agriculture, they are gain-of-function research outcomes. That means these transgenes, they are transgenic, can be manipulated to do exactly what they have been manipulated to do. Number one, whereas our grandparents were having children, our mothers were having children, 11, 12, 13, today, young Nigerian girls marry, and they are jumping from one fertility clinic to another, struggling to get pregnant”.

Also speaking earlier at the hearing, Minister of Agriculture and food security Sen Abubakar Kyari said the federal government would not in any way promote anything that would endanger the people .

“The government would not deliberately bring what is poisonous to the people . This forum is meant for searing ideas from the GMOs experts to find a level plane field for food security.

“There are seed councils and regulatory bodies, res rich institute in charge of checkmating seedlings used by farmers hence the need for a collaborative effort”, he stated.

News

President Tinubu Seeks Legislative Approval for $8.6bn, N100m External Borrowing Plan

Published

7 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

President Bola Tinubu has written to the National Assembly, seeking the approval for N1.767 trillion ($2.209 billion) new external borrowing plan in the 2024 Appropriation Act.

This request from President Tinubu was contained in a letter addressed to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen titled: “Request for a Resolution of the National Assembly for the Implementation of the New External Borrowing of N1.767 trillion (About $2.209 billion) in the 2024 Appropriation Act”.

In the letter read by Speaker Abbas at the resumed plenary on Tuesday, the President said the borrowing was to part-finance the 2024 budget deficit of N9.179 trillion.

According to President Tinubu, the 2024 Appropriation Act approved the sum of N7.828 trillion as New Borrowings out of which Domestic Borrowing stood at N6.061 trillion and New External Borrowing pegged at N1.767 trillion to part-finance the N9.179 trillion budget deficit.

The letter reads in part: “In accordance with the provisions of Sections 21(1) and 27(1) of the Debt Management Office (DMO) (Establishment, Etc.) Act, 2003, and the approval of the Federal Executive Council, I write to request for a Resolution of the National Assembly to raise the sum of N1,767,610,321,779.00 (equivalent of USD2,209,512,902.22 at the Budget Exchange Rate of USD1.00/N800) provided as New External Borrowing in the 2024 Appropriation Act to part finance the budget deficit of N9.179 trillion.

“The Right Honourable Speaker may wish to recall that the 2024 Appropriation Act approved the sum of N7,828,529,477,860.00 as New Borrowings to part-finance the 2024 budget deficit of N9.179 trillion. The total New Borrowings of N7.828 trillion was further subdivided into New Domestic Borrowing of N6.061 trillion and New External Borrowing of N1.767 trillion”.

The President also explained that external borrowing funds were needed to give more momentum to the ongoing implementation of the projects and programmes in the 2024 Appropriation Act, which were designed to stabilise the economy and put it on the path of sustainable growth and development.

According to him, the key projects to which the proceeds will be deployed include the priority sectors of the economy, such as power, transport, agriculture, defence and security, while increasing accretions to the external reserves.

Likewise, President Tinubu in aletter transmitted to the House requested that it approve the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP).

Naijablitznews.com reports that the Federal Executive Council last week, approved the MTEF/FSP which pegged the 2025 budget at N47.9 trillion, oil price benchmark at $75 per barrel, oil production of 2.06 million barrels per day, an exchange rate of N1,400/$1, and GDP growth of 4.6 per cent.

The president asked the House to expeditiously consider the

MTEF/FSP as the 2025 budget was prepared based on the document.

“It is with pleasure that I forward herewith, the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF&FSP) for the kind consideration and approval by the House of Representatives. The 2025- 2027 (MTEF&FSP) was approved during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of 10th November, 2024.

“The House is invited to note that, as the 2025 budget of the Federal Government will be prepared based on the parameters and fiscal assumptions of the approved 2025-2027 (MTEF&FSP), it is imperative to seek National Assembly’s expeditious legislative action on this submission,” the letter stated.

In another letter to the House, President Tinubu transmitted to the House, the National Social Investment Programme Agency Establishment Amendment Bill, 2024, and requested expeditious consideration and passage.

He said the purpose of the bill was to make National Social Register a primary targeting tool for the implementation of social investment programmes of government.

According to the President, this will ensure social welfare programmes are data driven and implementation processes are transparent, targeted, dynamic and effective in delivering social protection benefits to vulnerable Nigerians.

“Pursuant to Section 58(2) of the Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I forward, herewith, for the kind consideration and passage by the House of Representatives, the National Social Investment Programme Agency (Establishment) (Amendment) Bill, 2024, for the amendment of the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act, 2023.

“The purpose of the bill is to make the National Social Register the primary targeting tool for the implementation of social investment programmes of Government. This will ensure our social welfare programmes are data driven and implementation processes are transparent, targeted, dynamic and effective in delivering social protection benefits to vulnerable Nigerians,” the letter read.

News

Catholic Church rejects $40k from Kenya’s president

Published

9 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Naijablitznews

Archbishop of Nairobi Philip Anyolo said the cash would be returned and declined other pledges from

Kenya’s Catholic Church has rejected a donation of about $40,000 (£32,000) made by President William Ruto.

He offered the money towards the building of a priest’s house and as a gift to the choir during Mass on Sunday at the Soweto Catholic Church in the capital, Nairobi.

The donation followed a recent statement by Catholic bishops, who had hit out at the government for failing to fulfil their electoral promises.

Churches have been under pressure this year from young anti-tax protesters who have accused them of being too close to politicians.

Following Ruto’s much-publicised donation on Sunday, many Kenyans urged the Catholic Church to reject the money.

The president had given around 2.6m Kenyan shillings ($20,000, £16,000) in cash, pledged the rest of the money later and also promised to give the parish a bus.

The Catholic Archbishop of Nairobi, Philip Anyolo, said the cash would be returned over “ethical concerns and the need to safeguard the Church from being used for political purposes”.

He also declined his other pledges and said a donation of 200,000 Kenyan shillings made by the Governor of Nairobi, Johnson Sakaja – who attended the same service, was also being handed back.

“The Catholic Church strongly discourages the use of church events such as fundraisers and gatherings as platforms for political self-promotion,” Archbishop Anyolo said.

Such donations were in breach of the church directives as well as the Kenyan law, he added.

The long ties between churches and political institutions – in a country where more than 80% of the population are Christian – seem to be fraying.

Three years ago, established churches banned politicians from using the pulpit during services in return for donations.

But the relationship was still perceived to be close – with young demonstrators accusing the churches of siding with the government when it decided to impose new taxes earlier this year.

Under the social media hashtag #OccupyChurch, many hit out at the churches for failing to take their side during the deadly protests that erupted in response to the planned tax hikes.

The uproar forced President’s Ruto’s government to withdraw the controversial finance bill in July.

Then last week, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops – which represents all Catholic bishops in the country – accused the government of perpetuating a “culture of lies”.

In a scathing statement, it also raised issues about over-taxation, corruption, violation of human rights, freedom of speech, unemployment as well as a “crumbling” education system and healthcare services.

“Despite the calmness we are experiencing, there is a lot of anxiety and most people are losing trust in the government,” it said.

In response, President Ruto appeared to hit back at the clergy, saying “we must be careful to give factual information lest we become victims of the things we accuse others of doing”.

A senator allied to government, Aaron Cheruiyot, also accused the church of “misinformation”, adding that the “clergy must avoid being purveyors of propaganda, fake news and falsehoods”.

Many of Kenya’s Christians are Catholic – estimated to number 10 million, about 20% of the population, according to government statistics.

Other Christians belong to a variety of evangelical churches and other denominations, including the Anglican Church of Kenya – which has defended the Catholic Church’s position.

Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit said the Catholic bishops had reflected the feelings of many Kenyans.

“Calling church leaders names or dismissing the bishops’ statement as ‘misleading, erroneous and false,’ is itself dishonest,” he said.

“The [Catholic] bishops have spoken the minds of Kenyans and faithfully expressed the truth as things are on the ground.” (BBC)