Aso Villa Reads for Friday, Apr. 30th, 2020
Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria has announced plans to boost the nation’s manufacturing industry with its newly accredited laboratories. The SON said on Thursday that it was also targeting an increased level of export of locally made goods to the international market. The Director-General, SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, said this during the unveiling of the laboratories accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation in Ogba, Lagos. He said manufacturers would be encouraged to produce more, adding that products certified and tested in the accredited laboratories would gain acceptance anywhere in the world. [Punch]
Nigeria is prioritising innovation and technology investments in agriculture so as to transform the sector by attracting young people and scale up productivity, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said. This is just as he disclosed that an indigenous technology company has developed a microchip for tracking cattle movement. Osinbajo, who stated this yesterday in his remarks at the 2021 High-Level Virtual Dialogue on Feeding Africa, listed the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESC), National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) and the Green Imperative Project as some of the programmes of the federal government to ensure agricultural transformation.[This Day]
The National Directorate of Employment NDE is set to assist unemployed persons who are willing to acquire training and explore job opportunities in the Environmental Beautification and ornamental sector. This assurance was made by the NDE’s Acting Director General, Mallam Abubakar Fikpo, while speaking through the NDE state coordinator Mallam Ismail Yekeen, at an orientation exercise for 1548 participants nationwide who were been recruited for three months training under the NDE 2O21Environmental Beatification Training Scheme EBTS. [This Day]
The Federal Government has stated that several unique programmes and policies are already being implemented to make housing affordable and accessible in the country. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr Babangida Hussain, disclosed this. Mrs Boade Akinade, Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, made this known in a statement issued to newsmen on Wednesday. According to the statement, Hussain said that some of the programmes were being executed in collaboration with the private sector through the Site and Services Scheme.[Guardian]
ABUJA-A curriculum aimed at accelerating the education of the over 10 million out-of-school children in the country has been developed. The curriculum tagged: “Accelerated Basic Education Programme, ABEP, was developed by the federal government in collaboration with the European Union PLAN International and other development partners. Executive Secretary of Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, NERDC), Prof. Ismail Junaidu, explained that the programme was designed to provide equivalent, certified competencies for basic education through effective teaching and learning approaches that match the recipients’ cognitive maturity. [Vanguard]
The consequential adjustment of the new pension payment will start from the May 2021 payroll. The arrears will take effect from April 2019. PTAD will also commence payment of the arrears from May 2021. [PTAD]
The Minister of Power, Engr Sale Mamman, has again expressed the Federal Government’s commitment to the delivery of the Mambilla Hydro Electric Power Project. He said a key inhibitor to execution is the ongoing legal challenges with the former contractor, Sunrise, which admittedly has encumbered further development of the project. He said the Government is in the process of finalising settlement terms leading to an amicable arbitration, to ensure the project’s take off. [Tribune]
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Lagos State has begun skill acquisition training for 40 unemployed youths under the the Advanced National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (A-NOAS) scheme. Lagos Coordinator, Mrs. Serena Edward, told The Nation the programme was a rare opportunity by NDE Acting Director- General Mallam Abubakar Fikpo to combat mass unemployment in the country. Edward said that 40 graduated youths from the Basic National Open Apprenticeship Scheme will undergo a three- month intensive training known as A-NOAS to re-sharpen their horizon.[The Nation]
Worried about the high level of youth unemployment currently at 33.3 percent, the Bank of Industry (BOI) has announced plans to establish tech hubs to address youth unemployment in the country. Specifically, the bank stated it would be sponsoring tech hubs in recognition of the talented youths in universities and the need to channel youths to more productive and impactful ends, rather than social vices like internet fraud. Managing director, BOI, Olukayode Pitan, stated this at the Boi-unilag Incubation and Co-working hub commissioning at the University of Lagos. [Business Day]
The Federal Government on Wednesday launched the Revised National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health to commemorate the 2021 World Day for safety and health at the workplace. Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, in an address during the event said the World Day for Safety and Health at Work “is celebrated annually on April 28 to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally.”[Business Day]
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