FG Extends Stay-at-home Directive For Workers

The Federal Government has extended the work-from-home directive to civil servants on Salary Grade Levels 12 and below.

In a circular dated March 3rd it stated as received below:

‘Stay-at-home directive continues’

“Further to the circular No: HCSF/3065/Vol.1/68 dated 26th January 2021, and following the advice of the presidential task force on COVID-19, all officers on SGL 12 and below are to continue working from home till the end of March 2021.
“While it is acknowledged that there has been a reduction in the number of reported cases of COVID-19, it is important that this downward trend be maintained. It is to this end, that the work-from-home directive has to continue as specified above.
“It is also important to emphasise the need to ensure strict compliance with the existing guidelines on the prevention and spread of COVID-19.
“Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executive Officers are enjoined to bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all concerned and ensure strict compliance.”
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control had, on Tuesday, announced 479 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in Nigeria to 156,496.
The NCDC disclosed the figure on its official Twitter handle on Tuesday.
Since the outbreak of the disease in the country, the number of people who have contracted the virus has risen to 156,496, out of which 134,551 have recovered and discharged.
The health agency recorded additional eight COVID-19-related deaths in the past 24 hours, raising the total number of fatalities to 1,923 since February 27, 2020, when the index case was reported.
The NCDC stated that 479 new infections were reported across 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory, which had 40.
Lagos State recorded 153 new cases but no death.
The NCDC stated that till date, 56,001 people have contracted COVID-19 in Lagos State, 53,805 of whom have fully recovered and discharged. It said 410 COVID-19 patients in the state had succumbed.
Other states which recorded new COVID-19 infections were Enugu-75; Rivers-50; Kaduna-18; Ebonyi-17; Plateau-17; Edo-17,’Borno-16 and Oyo-12.
Kano State reported 11; Abia-10; Cross River-10; Taraba-nine; Nasarawa-seven; Bauchi-four; Bayelsa-three; Delta-three; Ekiti-two; Niger-two; Ogun-two and Akwa Ibom-one.
The NCDC said that 647 people have been discharged from the various isolation centres in the country, after testing negative for the virus

Veteran actor Sadiq Daba, is dead

Late Daba who became a household name in Nigeria for his role as Bitrus in the now rested NTA drama series Cock Crow at Dawn, died on Wednesday evening, March 3, after a long battle with Leukemia and prostate cancer.

He reportedly died at his Marwa Garden residence in Alausa, Lagos State.

In 2019, he came out to publicly seek financial assistance for his treatment. Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola and many other Nigerians rallied around and supported him financially.

Sadly, he lost the battle to the ailment this evening.

Plateau EXCO moves to commence ranching/end open grazing

State Government is set to domesticate the National Livestock Transformation Programme by approving a bill for the establishment of the Plateau State Livestock Transformation which when passed into law, will promote livestock business anchored on ranching.

The State Executive Council at its weekly meeting approved the transmission of the bill to the Plateau State House of Assembly for consideration by the legislature.

Briefing journalists after the EXCO meeting, Commissioner for Information and Communication Dan Manjang said the bill is to facilitate smooth transition from open grazing to ranching.

Manjang said the State has been working assiduously to put in place all necessary requirements for the take off of the model ranching programme at the Wase and Kanam Reserves which are wholly owned by the State Government.

He assured that once the programme takes off and alternatives are provided, people will no longer be allowed to move around with livestock in the State. Already, local and international investors have shown interest in putting their money in the pilot phase of the livestock transformation program.

Secretary of the State Livestock Implementation Committee Prof. John Wade said the programme has zero land grabbing as nobody’s land will be appropriated for ranching. The Government he said will put into use its gazetted reserves in Wase and Kanam for the take off and thereafter, anyone who wants to go into ranching will follow the guidelines provided by the law.

He said the State is approaching ranching strictly as a business hence the directive by the Governor for robust sensitization to enable more citizens key into modern livestock business. He said the notion that one ethnic group has a monopoly of the business is incorrect and such must be discountenanced in the new development.

Wade said the ranching policy will also accommodate other species of livestock aside from cows to bring in more diversification of the agriculture sector.

Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General Chrysanthus Ahmadu explained that the proposed law takes care of herders, farmers and other interests in the livestock value chain. He said in ranching, there will be dairy and beef production, fodder production, marketing and associated businesses that will employ many.

He said it will also go along way in ending destruction of farmlands by livestock, clashes between farmers and herders and unnecessary violence that is rooted in the unsavoury relationship between them.

The people of Plateau State have therefore been reassured that no land will be grabbed by anyone as there is already an anti-land grabbing law signed by the Governor which prescribes stiff penalties for violators.