The Ogun State National Association of Nurses and Midwives has lamented  deficit of nurses in the following the ongoing relocation from Nigeria, often referred to as ‘japa’ syndrome.

Nurse Adejoke Bello, the newly elected chairman of the association on Friday stated this at the state’s inauguration of exco members held at the  Nurses’s house in Abeokuta.

While urging nurses in the state to support and collaborate with the new excos administration, Bello urged the federal government to hire additional nurses to relieve their strain. 

“Well, I want to appreciate our governor, Dapo Abiodun for everything he has done for the nurses in Ogun state,  I’m requesting for more from him. We need the support. He is  just like a father figure to us and we wish him all the best. And we plead with the federal government, the president to please employ more nurses for us. We need nurses. It’s biting so hard on the remaining ones that here. 

Roseline Funmilayo, the immediate past chairperson of the association, maintained that despite efforts by the state government to hire more nurses, the number of people relocating rises daily.

“ My message to the newly elected chairman is to be ready to face alot of challenges, challenges will come but the moment you have a solid solution it will over take that event  then another thing is that unionism this days  as to do with alot of dialogue, where there are issues  you have to ensure that you dialogue with the people in authority because strike is the last option but I believe that since we have a government that has a listening ears there will not be issue of too much strike  but they should at all ties be ready  to work and see to the to the welfare of nurse’s in the state,” she said.

Residents of Oke-Afa in the Magboro community in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State have urged the state government to upgrade the Primary Healthcare Centre facility in the area and make available medical doctors for efficient service delivery.

Our correspondent gathered that the health centre provides health care services such as antenatal, family planning, delivery and immunisation to about 30 communities in the area.

It was gathered that the PHC serves communities which include Ilupeju, Sani Omotedo, Olowofela, Kajola, Gateway Sparklight, Wemabod, Redstar, Arepo and about 22 estates.

It was learnt that pregnant women and nursing mothers who use the facility for antenatal and immunisation always sit under the sun while waiting for their turns.

Some of the residents who spoke with PUNCH Metro on Sunday said the upgrade would provide a conducive environment for the health workers and their patients.

The youth representative of the Oke-Afa Community Development Committee, who doubles as the Vice Chairman of the Health Centre Committee, Lawal Alihu, said, “Whenever pregnant women are put to bed, they stay in the same ward with sick patients and that is not supposed to be so. We are requesting for an upgrade of the health centre.

Another resident who identified herself simply as Akinyegun

said, “We need a doctor. When they bring patients with critical conditions to the health centre, the doctor will be able to attend to them. Unfortunately, this is the only health centre we have that provides health services to people around the communities.”

When contacted, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, said the government had a plan for the PHCs.

 “There is a system for that. We have a plan which we are rolling out on PHCs. I am sure we will get there soon,” she said.

source: punchng.com

The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have resolved to ground activities nationwide from October 3, 2023, following what the Labour Unions tagged as the “failure” of government to successfully implement policies to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians following the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, The PUNCH exclusively gathered.

The PUNCH reports that the NLC national president, Joe Ajaero, during a virtual National Executive Council meeting which was held on Zoom, Tuesday told members of NEC that a meeting was held with the officials of the TUC to deliberate on ways forward. Ajaero noted that it was resolved that the two centres work together to make their stance known to the government.

A source who was present at the meeting noted that some members of the NLC initially objected to the development of the NLC working together with the TUC.

“Initially some members did not want us to work with the TUC but as of now, we don’t have a choice. The government has not been proactive. So it is going to be a definite action this time around.”

Among other things, the NLC and the TUC are asking for wage awards, implementation of palliatives, tax exemptions and allowances to public sector workers and a review of the minimum wage.

President Bola Tinubu had on June 19 set up the Presidential Steering Committee and various sub-committees to discuss the framework to be adopted on the palliatives.

Though the FG made a commitment to restructure the framework for engagement with organised Labour on palliatives, the eight-week timeframe set for the conclusion of the process expired in August with no action taken.

The committees were given eight weeks to conclude their assignment and hasten the implementation of the framework in cushioning the effect of petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians but weeks after the timeframe expired, the sub-committees had yet to meet or actualise their mandates, leaving the NLC and TUC leadership frustrated.

source: punchng.com

Former President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said, on Wednesday, that the ex-President regretted some of the decisions he took while in office and felt he could have done some things better.

According to Adesina, who spoke in Osogbo on Wednesday, such is normal for any human being.

The ex-presidential spokesman was a guest at a programme tagged ‘Media Dialogue with Femi Adesina’ organised by the Association of Veteran Journalists in Osun State.

He said before Buhari left office, he had a two-hour chat with him, during which he asked all manner of questions.

“There is no living human being that will not regret certain things. It is one of the questions I asked the President.

“Before we left office, I sat with him for about two hours and I asked him every question under the sun; there was no question I didn’t ask him. There were things he (Buhari) felt could have been done better,” Adesina said.

He, however, defended Buhari’s controversial naira redesign policy, saying it was for the good of the nation.

The Ogun State Chapter of the SheFarmers Initiative has been launched as part of efforts to support female farmers.

The Permanent Secretary of Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Samuel Adeogun, who was among the officials of government that witnessed the occasion, commended the initiative and promised that government will connect them with opportunities within the agricultural sector.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Ogun State Government, under the leadership of Prince Dapo Abiodun, to improve the livelihoods of its citizens and deepen their involvement in agriculture.

Mr. Adeogun highlighted past initiatives where women in the cassava value chain were empowered with production inputs and financial backing, and he announced plans for a budget allocation to further empower women in agriculture.

In his inaugural address, Managing Director of IDEAS CENTRE, Mr. Olusegun Dada, emphasised the significant potential of the SheFarmers initiative in empowering women in agribusiness. He underscored that women are essential for sustainable development programs, citing their creditworthiness, stability, and family-oriented nature as attributes that make them indispensable tools for driving economic growth. Mr. Dada remarked, “IDEAS Centre sees women as pillars of sustainability.”

The SheFarmers Initiative, Ogun State Coordinator, Alhaja Olukemi Ogunmoye, while delivering the inaugural address, highlighted the pivotal role of women in driving innovations and technology in agriculture.

She emphasised that integrating technology, education, and innovations enables women to propel sustainable agricultural practices, boost rural economies, and ensure food security. She said, “Women are catalysts for progress in the agricultural sector.