FG’s Growth Plan ‘Doesn’t Fully Reflect People’s Needs’, Says Bill Gates

Philanthropist and Founder of Microsoft Corporation Bill Gates on Thursday in Abuja faulted part of the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

Gates, the Co-Chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said the implementation of the ERGP is at odds with the needs of Nigerians. The ERGP, which was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2017, is a medium-term plan for 2017-2020, that sets out an ambitious roadmap to achieve a seven percent growth rate for the country by 2020. It is aimed at restoring economic growth while leveraging the ingenuity and resilience of Nigerians.

But Gates, while delivering a speech at the special and expanded National Economic Council on Investment in Human Capital in Abuja, suggested the plan got part of its priorities wrong. “The Nigerian government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan identifies investing in our people as one of three strategic executives, but the execution priorities don’t fully reflect people’s needs – prioritising physical capital over human capital,” he said.

According to Gates, Nigeria can only maximise its enormous potential when citizens are well equipped. As such, he expects the government to prioritise human capital development. “Nigeria has unmatched economic potentials but what becomes of that potential depends on the choices you make as Nigeria’s leaders. The most important choice you can make is to maximise your greatest resource – the Nigerian people.

“Nigeria will thrive when every Nigerian is able to thrive, If you invest in their health, education and opportunities, the human capital that we are talking about today, then that will lay the foundation for sustained prosperity,” Gates said. Without human capital development, the billionaire believes there will be “a sharp limit on how much the country can grow”. He stressed the need for the country to act fast by analysing the state of country’s health sector. “Much of Nigeria still looks like a low-income country. Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the world to give birth,” he said. “With the fourth-worst maternal mortality rate in the world, ahead of only Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, and Chad. One in three Nigerian Children is chronically malnourished.”

Source: Channels TV

SENATE OKAYS ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC ITEM, ABIA STATE

The Senate has technically endorsed the establishment of Federal Polytechnic Adikpo, Benue State, Federal Polytechnic Item, Abia State and the Federal College of Education, Omuo Ekiti, Ekiti State. The endorsement followed the consideration of the Bills which proposed the establishment of the institutions at a widely attended public hearing held by the upper chamber in Abuja.

 

Senators Barnabas Gemade sponsored the Bill for the establishment Federal Polytechnic, Adikpo and Senator Mao Ohuabunwa proposed the establishment of Federal Polytechnic Item, while, Senator Biodun Olujimi sponsored the establishment of Federal Collage of Education, Omuo Ekiti. Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye who represented Senate President at the public hearing underscored the importance of education in the country.

 

He also stressed the need to spread the establishment of educational institutions in parts of the country for the benefit of education hungry Nigerians, Adeyeye assured that the Senate will continue to support the establishment of vital higher institutions in the country.

He said: “there is no doubt polytechnics have continued to play vital role in the provision of middle level manpower and young professionals who help in no small measure in the development of the country.”

Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Jibrin Barau noted that the public hearing became necessary in order to enable Nigerians make input before the Bills are passed. At the end of the public hearing nobody spoke against the establishment of the three institutions in the three states.

Barau promised to submit the report of his committee to the Senate in plenary as soon as possible. 

Source: Dailypost

MELAYE, THREE OTHERS CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY, ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF FIREARMS

Senator representing Kogi West in the Senate, Mr. Dino Melaye, who is challenging moves to recall him by his constituency, is in fresh trouble: the Police said they have filed a case in a Lokoja court accusing him and three other persons of illegal possession of firearms. Police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, announced the move today in a statement. The police took the action, following the confession of two alleged thugs who claimed to be working for Melaye.

“The men were arrested on January 19 at Ogojueje in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State after a shootout with the Police; and have confessed to being hired by Melaye to cause mayhem in the state,” Moshood said. One of the persons arrested was identified as 31-year-old Kabiru Saidu, a.k.a Osama. The other was Nuhu Salisu, who is 25 years old. The third person charged to court was identified as Muhammed Audu, a politician, who is said to currently be at large. The police said they seized from the thugs and their gang members two AK-47 rifles, five pump action guns, two locally made pistols and heaps of charms.

According to the police, the men not only confessed to have been involved in several kidnappings in the state and environs, they also claimed to be hired thugs for politicians. “According to the gang leader, Osama, he has been working as a political thug for one Alhaji Mohammed Audu, a politician in the state. “He said Alhaji Mohammed Audu invited him to Abuja and introduced him to Senator Dino Melaye and they met on Airport Road, Abuja, inside Senator Dino Melaye’s car in the month of December, 2017.

 “The suspect further confessed that Senator Dino Melaye told him that they should start working for the Senator as his political thugs and they should recruit and train more other (sic) thugs to work for him in preparation toward 2019 general election to enable him (Sen. Dino Melaye ) challenge his political opponents and disorganise Kogi State,” Moshood added. The police said Osama further confessed that Melaye handed over a bag containing one AK-47 rifle, two pump action guns and N430,000.00 to share with his boys. 

“Consequent upon the indictments and criminal confessions against Senator Dino Melaye by the principal suspect, Kabiru Saidu a.k.a Osama, “31 years,” Nigeria Police Force wrote a letter dated 2nd of March, 2018 addressed to the Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, informing and requesting him to release Senator Dino Melaye to report to Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command on the 7th March, 2018 to answer to criminal offences leveled against him, to enable the Police carry out a discreet investigation into the confessions of the principal suspect against Senator Dino Melaye. But Senator Dino Melaye have refused to honour the Police invitation till date.

“A case of Criminal Conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms have therefore been filed by the Nigeria Police Force at Federal High Court Lokoja on 16th March, 2018 against the two suspects mentioned above, Senator Dino Melaye and Mohammed Audu who is also a suspect in the matter and is now on the run.

Source: NAN