Group tasks new ministers on Renewed Hope Agenda

Published

4 weeks ago

August 24, 2023

The Natives, a pro-Nigerian democracy group, has charged the recently inaugurated ministers to either deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu or resign from office.

Mr Smart Edward, leader of the group, gave the charge on Wednesday in Abuja at a news conference.

Edward said the ministers could not afford to fail Nigerians because all eyes were on them.

He noted that Tinubu had demonstrated good leadership by appointing the ministers, and advised them to reciprocate by ensuring excellent performance.

“We are total and firm believers in the Renewed Hope administration, so we will give you the ministers support. We will be at your doors, keep you on your toes, and meet you in the field.

“We will monitor and evaluate your progress and will not be afraid to spot you out or call for you to be booted out. This time around, Nigerians must win.

“The undaunting task to renew the hope of Nigerians through creative and innovative solutions has been signaled unmistakably.

“We are all aware of the sacrifices Nigerians have had to make in the face of the bold decisions to rescue our country by Tinubu and the challenges of temporary pain confronting the people,” he said.

Speaking on the ministerial composition, Edward said Tinubu had given Nigerians a combination of courage, open mindedness, experience, inclusion and performers.

This, he said, was achieved with the cooperation of a people centered National Assembly.

“To the new ministers, we say congratulations, we call upon you to be constantly aware of the Renewed Hope covenant with the people.

“Come alive, wake up and rise up, you are 45 of the best among us, do not be a disgrace to us, globally, collectively and individually. We won’t tolerate failure.

“Tinubu has played his part, he has both the mandatory role to supervise and be responsible for successes and failures,” Edward said.

He stressed that Nigerians within and in the diaspora must experience renewed hope under the Tinubu-led administration.

“We are citizens, we are Natives and we are Tinubu’s helpers and followers, our nation deserves better than the past.

“Nigeria must be greater, you have been burdened with the task to lead us to our destination; we will follow, lead us well.

“We call on you to be on your toes, fold your sleeves, the task is enormous, you all have the pedigree to surmount the challenges.

“This is our clear chance to restore the image, glory and economy of our nation,” he further said.

He added that the ministers should not discriminate, but should unite the country and deliver dividends of democracy.

This, he said, was critical to making the country attractive again and restoring its dignity and pride among the committee of nations.

Edward urged the ministers to work hard to eradicate poverty, re-energise the country and give hope to young people, women and the disabled.

He also charged the ministers to open up the reservoir of knowledge, potential and skills inherent in the country.

“We want to see great infrastructure, durable roads, active railways, amazing air and land transport; utilise the sun, the ocean and our brains.

“Create polices that make businesses profitable and inspire Nigerians at home and everywhere.

“You have Singapore, Rwanda, China before you as examples. This is a different journey; the president wants delivery, Nigerians want results,” he said.

He charged the ministers to remove all debris, clogs in the wheels, uproot all blockades, imbalances and impediments on their pathways.

“There must be power; gas, solid minerals, water, fertile land and human talents are before you, explore them creatively and elevate them,” he stressed.

He added that youths under the Tinubu administration must find jobs, noting that the country must be safe.

He also said the forum would monitor and support the minister to ensure that a stronger Nigeria was built, adding that the journey to success and renewed hope demanded the inputs of all.

Edward stressed that the president had empowered the ministers to create a paradigm shift, and urged them to think out of the box to make things happen in the interest of all.

“Produce legacies via knowledge and research, recreate and redesign your ministries for greater output,” he stressed.

LUTH denies late doctor worked 72-hour call duty

Published

1 hour ago

September 21, 2023

Alero Danjuma

The management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, has denied allegations that one of its house officers, Dr Michael Umoh, died after a 72-hour call.

This is contained in a statement issued by LUTH management team in Lagos on Thursday.

“LUTH management understands the fact that the family of Dr Umoh is presently mourning the death of their beloved son and requested the foreclosure of any media engagement regarding the death of their son. It is important for us as a management to make clarifications regarding the circumstances surrounding his death.

“Dr Umoh died on Sept 17 while in church with his parents. The management was informed, and the death was later confirmed by one of the Consultants in his unit (Neurosurgery).

“The death of Dr Umoh is unfortunate but the narrative of a 72 hours non-stop shift is false.

“The record from Neurosurgery unit shows that the last time he was on call was 13th and 14th September, 2023.

“He was not on call on the 15th, 16th and 17th (the day he died), contrary to the insinuations on social media. He was at home with his parents on Sept. 16 and Sept. 17,” the management said.

Prior to this time, the management said, he was on call on the Sept. 7 and Sept. 8.

”This shows that Dr Umoh was on call for a total number of four days in September, 2023.

“A delegation from LUTH visited the family on Wednesday to commiserate with the family and to get more details of the circumstances surrounding his death.

“The parents gave the details of what they thought must have contributed to his death but pleaded that the wish of the family be respected and that the narrative is not for public consumption,” it said.

The management described Dr Umoh as a hardworking and diligent house-officer, and a very promising young man.

It said he will be sorely missed by his friends and colleagues.

“May his soul rest in peace, and may the Almighty give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss” LUTH said.

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Gov Sule charges real sector conference to proffer practical solutions to economy

Published

1 hour ago

September 21, 2023

Olakunle Adeniyi

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has charged participants at the Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK) 1st International Real Sector Conference to proffer practical solutions to rejuvenate the economy.

He gave the charge on the first day of the two days conference on real sector productivity held at the University in Keffi Local Government Area of the state.

The theme of the conference is “Rejuvenating the sector productivity in Nigeria”.

Sule challenged participants to get real and proffer workable and practical solutions that would rejuvenate the real sector in Nigeria for optimal productivity which in turn would impact on the economy of the country positively.

“The question we should be asking ourselves here is that why are we not getting it right in the real sector in Nigeria?

“So let us proffer practical solutions so that we don’t just end up having an event and having all the communique and all that and then they end up in our offices. Let us ask ourselves what is that is possible and how do we contribute,” he said.

He said their recommendations should also be useful in shaping a better future for the real sector in Nigeria so that future Nigerians could build on that.

“So we must sit down and deliberate on what exactly is our problems in this sector. Are we ready to make sacrifices? And we must make sacrifices because that is the only way we can move forward.

“I want to assure you that in Nigeria we can change the narratives but it will take all of you here to convince the rest,” he said.

Prof. Suleiman Bala-Mohammed, Vice Chancellor, NSUK, commended the university’s Department of Business Administration for organizing the conference and urged the department to sustain it as it would be a platform for cross fertilisation of ideas and wider conversations on local and international issues.

He also urged participants to brainstorm and come up with policy recommendations on how to rejuvenate the real sector in Nigeria.

Mr John Mamman, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Education, however, told NAN that he expected the outcome of the conference would change the narratives because the real sector, according to him, is the driver of the economy.

“The manufacturing, construction, engineering and others are the real movers of the economy. Once we get it right from the drivers of the economy, other sectors will also be impacted positively,” he said.