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August 30, 2024 FG okays 50% electricity subsidy for hospitals

FG okays 50% electricity subsidy for hospitals

A nationwide 50% subsidy for the amount of electricity used in public hospitals has been approved by the federal government.
The federal government would subsidize power in hospitals and colleges, even if they were on Band-A feeders, as the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had promised.

The license was given in spite of the government’s pledge to support public universities in this area, as the Eko electrical Distribution Company, or Eko DisCo, cut off the University of Lagos’ Akoka campus’ power supply yesterday due to unpaid electrical bills.

Yesterday at the National Neo-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa, Kadunas State, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, announced the permission.

He was at the hospital to officially launch the electronic health records, the solarization project at the dialysis unit, which includes a solar-powered borehole, and an alternate power source at the Lawal Jafaru Isah Emergency Complex.

He claims that the purpose of this gift is to lessen the financial burden on public hospitals while also improving patient outcomes.

Recall that government will not subsidize private enterprises operating in hospitals and colleges, according to Power Minister Adelabu.

The minister revealed that the government knew hospitals and institutions were having trouble covering their excessive costs.

He did, however, add that in order to avoid giving subsidies to private companies, the federal government intended to meter every firm operating within each of the institutions.

We are aware that these are social and development institutions. But there are private companies operating beneath the surface of health and education establishments. These businesses charge their clients commercial rates, and since they are situated inside these institutions’ boundaries, they anticipate receiving subsidies.

We responded no, go ahead and meter everyone and conduct a thorough search. We are prepared to provide subsidies for those who are adequately tied to health and education, even if they are on Band A.

DisCos will gather a portion of the data that we are gathering, and the government will cover the remaining costs. However, accuracy in the data is crucial to avoid supporting a private company that bills its clients commercially. It’s unjust, and that will be an abnormal profit,” he said.

We responded no, go ahead and meter everyone and conduct a thorough search. We are prepared to provide subsidies for those who are adequately tied to health and education, even if they are on Band A.

DisCos will gather a portion of the data that we are gathering, and the government will cover the remaining costs. However, accuracy in the data is crucial to avoid supporting a private company that bills its clients commercially. It’s unjust, and that will be an abnormal profit,” he said.

Eko Electricity Distribution Company has cut off the University of Lagos, Akoka’s power supply due to unpaid electricity bills, despite the government’s pledge to subsidize public university electricity rates.

The university has been struggling with the weight of growing electrical bills, as it revealed in a statement on Wednesday.

The university’s tariff category was upgraded from “Band B” to “Band A” by EKEDC, which increased monthly electricity expenditures and made the problem even worse.

Prior to the improvement, UNILAG was reportedly making monthly payments of between N150 million and N180 million.

But the June bill, which increased by 100% under the new “Band A” rate, practically doubled to about N300 million, a sum the university is finding difficult to handle. The administration of the university expressed apologies for the campus blackout that began on Tuesday.

The administration clarified that the university was unexpectedly cut off from the power supply on August 27 without any prior notice, even in spite of continuing talks with EKEDC and a recent payment of N180 million on August 20.

Our debt load increased even more when we received an astonishing bill for July that was about half a billion naira (N472 million) just two weeks after our meeting!

The statement said, “We kept our word and paid N180 million on August 20, but EKEDC disconnected us without warning on August 27 and has refused to reconnect the university to the national grid.”

The university community was reassured by the management that attempts were being made to find a solution with EKEDC.

It called for calm and announced that power supply across the campus would be rationed until further notice.

August 29, 2024 Ajaero Declares ‘Our Patriotism Is Unshakable’ After Meeting with Police

Ajaero Declares ‘Our Patriotism Is Unshakable’ After Meeting with Police

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has hailed the labour movement as the most patriotic organization in the country, pledging that the union will not compromise its commitment regardless of the challenges it faces.

Ajaero made this statement while addressing a crowd of labour members at the NLC headquarters on Thursday, following his visit to the police. He emphasized the labour movement's dedication and unwavering patriotism from the colonial era through the military regime, asserting, “The labour movement is worth dying for due to its patriotism and commitment. We are more patriotic than any other institution in this country, and we will continue to be so.”

He reassured the members that despite facing questioning related to allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony, his focus remains on advocating for better welfare for Nigerian workers. Ajaero compared the police invitation to past challenges he faced, including his imprisonment during General Sani Abacha’s regime in the 1990s.

Ajaero expressed gratitude to NLC members for their support and solidarity, both at the headquarters and nationwide. He stated that his return signifies a continued commitment to the labour movement's cause, promising to ignore any attempts to distract from their mission.

His recent police invitation, which garnered significant attention, was criticized by the NLC and Amnesty International Nigeria as politically motivated harassment. The NLC National Executive Council has condemned the allegations against Ajaero as fabricated, while Amnesty International denounced the move as an attempt to intimidate union leaders.

August 29, 2024 Osigwe Sworn In As 32nd NBA President

Osigwe Sworn In As 32nd NBA President

Afam Osigwe has officially taken office as the 32nd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in a ceremony held in Lagos. Osigwe, who succeeded Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, was sworn in on Thursday, marking the beginning of his term as the leader of the esteemed legal organization.

Elected in July 2023, Osigwe assumed the role following the end of Maikyau’s tenure. Previously the NBA’s General Secretary, Osigwe won the presidential election by defeating two other candidates. The Chairman of the NBA Electoral Committee, Oluseun Abimbola, announced Osigwe's victory after he secured 50.52 percent of the votes.

Osigwe received 20,435 votes, surpassing Tobenna Erojikwe, Chairman of the NBA Institute of Continuing Legal Education Governing Council, who received 10,998 votes (27.19 percent). Chukwuka Ikwuazom (SAN), the former Chairman of the NBA Lagos Branch, came in third with 9,018 votes (22.29 percent).

In his inaugural address, Osigwe reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining the NBA's influential role in the country’s democratic process. “Under my leadership, the Nigerian Bar Association will not hesitate to hold federal and state governments accountable. The rule of law must be upheld, and the rights of Nigerians must be protected,” he declared.

Osigwe also expressed his gratitude to NBA members for their trust. “I am deeply honored by this responsibility, and I pledge to work tirelessly to advance the interests of our members and the broader Nigerian society,” he stated.

August 29, 2024 Dispatch Rider Jailed 18 Months For Absconding With Employer’s Goods

Dispatch Rider Jailed 18 Months For Absconding With Employer’s Goods

On Thursday, a Wuse Zone II Magistrates’ Court in Abuja sentenced dispatch rider Shamsu Sani to 18 months in prison for absconding with his employer’s goods valued at N3.5 million. Senior Magistrate Okpe Ibrahim handed down the sentence after Sani pleaded guilty to charges of criminal breach of trust, cheating by personation, and theft.

Magistrate Okpe chose not to offer Sani an option of a fine, stating that the sentence would have been harsher if Sani had not spared the court from a lengthy trial. The 28-year-old from Ruga village, Wuye, Abuja, had earlier admitted his guilt and requested leniency.

Prosecution Counsel Mr. Donatus Abah informed the court that Hadizah’s Fabrics, Sani's employer, had submitted a petition to the FCT Commissioner of Police on May 16. According to Abah, Sani was assigned to deliver goods worth N3.5 million to a customer but instead sold them to unknown individuals and kept the proceeds for himself before fleeing.

Sani was eventually apprehended and handed over to the police. During the investigation, he confessed to the crime, but efforts to recover the stolen goods were unsuccessful. Abah noted that the offense violated Sections 322, 324, and 288 of the Penal Code.

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