Birth limit policy: China to allow three children per family by Victoria Edeme

China has announced that married Chinese couples are now allowed to have up to three children, easing the child limit policy that restricted couples to just two children. The announcement was made on Monday, following a need to cope with the risk faced by Chinese economy as a result of the increasing aging population in China, according to Reuters. In order to reduce economic risks stemming from the rapidly aging population, China introduced the two-child limit policy in 2016 after its one-child policy that had been practiced for decades. However, the country expressed worry over a rapid fall in the working population and claimed that such is capable of disrupting the country’s future plans for the economy. Recent data has shown that there is a dramatic decline of birth and a rapid increase in the aging population, leading to more concerns. The reduction in birth rate, resulting from the high cost of child up-keep in China, has led to more provisions by the government. The new policy change will come with “supportive measures, which will be conducive to improving our country’s population structure, fulfilling the country’s strategy of actively coping with an aging population”.

N90bn drugs seized, 2,175 suspects arrested in four months –Marwa

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency intercepted assorted drugs worth over N90 billion and arrested 2, 175 drug traffickers in four months, the Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, has said. Marwa disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during a ceremony to present the best performing commands for March and April and presentation of commendation letters to outstanding officers and men. Marwa said the agency had spent the past four months implementing various measures aimed at repositioning the agency, with emphasis on strengthening the capacity of its officers. He said that the agency in return had reaped high-impact, far-reaching results that left no room for any doubt about the efficacy of the strategies adopted. The NDLEA chairman added that the results, however, justified the agency’s efforts saying that the evidence was clear for everyone to see. According to him, we would not have been able to arrest 2,175 drug traffickers. “And neither would the seizure of 2,050,766.33 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs have been possible if you had chosen to do just the minimal work across your various commands. “If our approach has been one of business, as usual, we would not have been able to seize drug and cash valued at over N90 billion in just four months. “Think of what a fraction of that could have done to the various criminalities in Nigeria. “The filing of about 2,100 drug cases in court with over 500 convictions was made possible by the collective efforts of our officers and men who decided to go the extra mile. “Today, it is part of our records and collective credits that we are not only breaking down the high walls shielding drug cartels but also reining in drug barons. “So, every one of you, our officers and men, spread across the country made the achievements possible,” he said. The NDLEA boss assured the officers and men that the agency would not rest on its oars. He added that the offensive action would not stop until the streets, communities, towns and cities have been cleaned up of any remnant of illicit drugs. Marwa said that the agency would keep up the offensive in the field, saying that the leadership of the agency would daily continue to work out effective strategies and tactics to sustain the momentum. “That is why we have strengthened our Directorate of Assets and Financial Investigations to go after all assets or funds linked to drug trafficking which had led to interim and final forfeiture orders on assets and funds worth billions of naira linked to drug traffickers and barons. “Of significant interest is our current investigation of N30 billion slush fund believed to be proceeds of drugs,” he said. Marwa charged the officers and men to sustain the hard work, adding “reward for good work is more work”. (NAN).

‘Lavished’ N3.4bn: Buhari sacks Somefun as MD of NSITF, names replacement By Frank Ikpefan

President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the suspended Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund for spending N3.4 billion on “non-existent staff training.” The President approved the appointment of Akabogu Michael as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer to replace Somefun. Somefun and three other Executive members of the NSITF were suspended last year for breaching procurement rules and other financial infractions by Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige. Ngige had accused the then Management team of lavishing N3.4 billion on “non-existent staff training split into about 196 different consultancy contracts in order to evade the Ministerial Tenders Board and Federal Executive Council (FEC) approvals.” Following their suspension, Buhari inaugurated a Presidential Joint Board and Audit Investigation Panel set up in July 2020 to investigate the infractions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, and the Financial Regulations (FR) in the NSITF. A statement by the Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan said the President acted on the report of the panel to approve the sacking of Somefun and also ordered the reconstitution of the management board of NSITF on Monday. Somefun and the three Executive Directors fingered in financial infractions were asked to refund to the NSITF treasury N181, 056,000 million being illegal over payments in salaries, allowances such as overseas travels, leave allowances for self and spouses in overseas, house allowance, DSTV and club registration and extraneous allowances not approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC). The statement said: “These financial infractions and other serious prima facia established malfeasance had resulted in the President approving the setting up of the Panel and the subsequent suspension from Office of the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive, and the three Executive Directors respectively of Finance and Investment, Operations, and Administration and Human Resources. Nine other top Management Officers in the General Manager Cadre were also suspended with the MD and the three Executive Directors on the recommendations of the Honourable Minister of Labour & Employment. “In approving the implementation of the recommendations in the Panel’s report, the President specifically approved: 1) The removal from Office of the MD/CE and the three (3) Executive Directors and their immediate replacement from the pool of General Managers of the NSITF and if necessary sourcing of capable hands from sister like corporate organizations to uplift performance in the NSITF. “Messrs. Bayo Somefun, Jasper Azuatalam, Tijani Sulaiman and Mrs. Olukemi Nelson were therefore relieved of their appointments with effect from 1st July, 2020. Also relieved of their appointments were the nine (9) top Management Officers on suspension with the MD and EDs who had their appointments terminated compulsorily with some to be retired after demotion in ranks from their present Ranks as recommended by the Panel. “The MD and the three (3) Executive Directors are to refund the NSITF Treasury the total sum of One Hundred and Eighty One Million, Fifty Six Thousand Naira (N181, 056,000) being illegal over payments in salaries, allowances such as overseas travels, leave allowances for self and spouses in overseas, house allowance, DSTV and club registration and extraneous allowances not approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC). “Other nine top Management staff whose appointments were terminated for various infractions and who have also benefitted from the excess remuneration are to refund such overpayments to the Panel. These staff are: i) Bashorun Olumide, General Manager, Administration, ii) Alhaji Lawan Tahir, General Manager, Finance and Accounts, iii) Chris Esedebe, General Manager, Claims and Compensation, iv) Enyinanya Sike, Deputy General Manager, Finance, v) Dorothay Tukura, Deputy General Manager, Training, vi) Victoria Ayantuga, Assistant General Manager, Audit, vii) Dotun Adegbite, Deputy General Manager, Investment, viii) Arokoyo Olutoye, Deputy General Manager, Legal, ix) Abdul Rasheed Lawan, Deputy General Manager, Procurement. “The “total overhaul” of the Procurement Department of the NSITF with a new team of Procurement Officers be trained from the pool of existing Staff and deployed to the Department while all the staff that have been serving there from 2017 – 2020 be removed and made to undergo disciplinary actions for offences ranging from injection of extraneous companies and projects after advertisement and bidding has been concluded, contract splitting, initiation of procurement contract without budgetary allocation, conversion and switching of one fully bided project to another. All Officers indicted are to receive the appropriate official sanction by the Board. “The President also approved and directed that the Head of Service of the Federation terminate the appointment and dismiss the erstwhile Head of Procurement Department Engr. Abdulrasheed Lawal from the Public Service with effect from the date of suspension. “The President also approved that erring companies and persons who default/neglect/refuse to make refunds of illegal monies paid to them will be sent to Anti-Graft Agencies (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission – EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission – ICPC) by the Minister of Labour and Employment for further necessary action.”

THE AFRICAN PEAR (UBE) - Praise Amula

In Nigeria the Igbo’s call it Ube, the Yoruba’s call it Orumu, I don’t know if hausas eat it. It’s commonly known as African or native pear. It’s a nutritious fruit and very medicinal. African pear (Ube) is a seasonal fruit that goes very well with corn. How to prepare African pear (Ube) before eating : Boil hot water and pour it in a bowl put the pear in the hot water, cover for about 4 minutes remove it from the water and it’s ready or put it In a dry frying pan, place it in fire and turn it until soft and it’s ready for eating, in a traditional kitchen you can roast it in a hot ash until soft, it’s best enjoyed with roasted or cooked corn. Exposed: How this Amazing Powerful Cooking Spice can Improve your Memory, reduce your Belly fat and reduce Miscarriage. So here are other amazing health benefits of licking pear. 1. It helps in pregnancy Its high natural Folic acid content makes it suitable for pregnant women, it’s natural folic acid is an essential supplement for pregnant mothers. As we all know, Folic acid helps prevent deficiencies in baby’s brain and spinal cord. 2. African pear promotes good bones and teeth African pear (Ube) is also rich in calcium and phosphorus which are the main element for flexible and strong bones, and neat and healthy teeth. The calcium and phosphorus in Ube helps prevent stiff joints and bone or teeth pains. So if you are battling with toothache or joint pains, it’s advisable you start with natural remedy without spending much money. In it’s season, consume lots of African pear for great result. 3. Ube reduces the risk of diabetes African pear has high content of Vitamins and minerals that helps in controlling the blood sugar level. It is good for Diabetics. 4. It helps prevents constipation Because of its high fiber content it helps in the easy movement of stool down to the anus, making stool easy and simple. 5. African pear maintains a healthy skin Because of its butter like nature when roasted or dipped into the hot water, it improves the texture by smoothing and reducing wrinkles on your skin. It’s high in Vitamin C, which repairs damaged cells in the skin. Ube repairs damaged skin even more than vitamin C found in other fruits like orange and lemons. 6. Ube reduces age related diseases Because of its strong antioxidants contents, it prevents some age related diseases and poor vision. Eating ube will make you look younger than your age. The risk of muscular degeneration in aged people will reduced drastically as you consume Ube regularly. 7. African pear is a heart friendly fruit. It has been discovered that African pear contains lots of soluble fiber that reduces cholesterol and bile acid from the small intestines, it thereby reduces blood cholesterol level completely when consumed on a daily basis. Africa pear (Ube) is in season, start consuming it for it’s healthy benefits.

APC Stalling National Convention Because Committee Members Plan to Succeed Themselves By Unini Chioma

*APC members threaten legal action for over staying The extraordinary caretaker committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to announce dates for the national convention of the party because some members of the committee are allegedly planning to succeed themselves as national executive committee members, According to Thisday report. A Special National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC in June 2020 appointed a former National Secretary of the party, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, as Chairman with a six months mandate to organise an election that would elect a new National Working Committee (NWC). But after 12 months, no date has been announced for the election of the executive committee members, even after the six months mandate was extended in December 2020. THISDAY also gathered that the Buni-led caretaker committee had begun to plan another meeting of NEC to seek an elongation of the tenure of the committee. A member of the committee that spoke to THISDAY in confidence said there was a plot for the Buni committee to seek an elongation or an outright self-perpetuation of members in office. The argument, the source said, was that an election from ward to states and eventually, national convention in the party would further divide the party at a time when it should be consolidating in the states It was against this backdrop that some committee members, albeit with the consent Buni were considering presenting to the NEC that he should rather resign as governor and continue at the national convention, where he would be affirmed as the substantive national chairman of the party. The source hinted that Buni did not spend up to four days a week in the state as he stays in Abuja most of the time.. Before winning the election to become the governor of Yobe State, he was the national secretary of APC, when Adams Oshiomhole was the national chairman. Although this has not been tabled before the NEC, members of the party, who should know were already protesting against the idea of members self-perpetuating themselves under any guise. Some of the members that did not want be quoted said they had concluded plans to seek legal action against any plans by the committee members to self-perpetuate in office Another member told THISDAY that the Buni committee had already overstayed its welcome. According to the source, “We were appointed to right the wrongs of Adams Oshiomhole, but this idea of not announcing the dates for the wards, local government, states and national convention. Anything outside announcing the dates of the national convention and other dates for the states congresses is outside our mandate. If by the next month, there is no date announced for the elections, I will speak out and also resign. What is happening is not our mandate. “We were appointed in June 2020 and our mandate was renewed in December to end in June. Any further plan to seek extension or perpetuate us in office, count me out.”

BREAKING NWES: ASUU elects new President .ByMojeed Alabi

Mr Osodeke, a professor of soil science at the Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, was elected early Sunday morning during a three-day conference of the union which held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. The immediate past vice-president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Emmanuel Osodeke, has emerged as the new president of the union. Mr Osodeke, a professor of soil science at the Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, was elected early Sunday morning during a three-day conference of the union which held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. He took over from Biodun Ogunyemi, a professor of education at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State. Other members of the union, who were elected alongside Mr Osodeke, include Chris Piwuna of the University of Jos as vice president; Olusiji Sowande of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, as treasurer while Ade Adejumo, a professor from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, was elected as financial secretary. Also, a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Austen Sado, was elected as investment secretary; Adamu Babayo from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, was elected the union’s internal auditor while Stella-Maris Oke from Cross Rivers State University of Science and Technology, was elected as the new welfare secretary. Mr Ogunyemi will continue to serve in the new executive committee as an ex-officio, apparently to guide the new leadership. I’m back to the classroom Meanwhile, Mr Osodeke’s predecessor, Mr Ogunyemi, described his two-term tenure of office as a period of service to the nation. Speaking on the phone with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, Mr Ogunyemi thanked the union and his colleagues for the support and encouragement. He said whatever that was achieved during his tenure was a product of team work, and urged the successors to continue the tradition. “Sure, I’m returning to the classroom to continue to do our own bit towards the development of this nation.” Earlier on Friday, in his valedictory speech at the conference as reported by Punch Newspaper,Mr Ogunyemi highlighted some of the union’s activities including successes and challenges recorded within the last five years of his administration. The tenure of office for elected ASUU leadership is a period of two years and Mr Ogunyemi spent two terms of four years. His tenure was, however, elongated by the dangerous Coronavirus pandemic which paradises activities for almost one year globally. He said, “At a point of departure, we must place on record that COVID-19 did not spare our campuses. Many of our infected members had had to combat the COVID attack with resources from colleagues and other people of goodwill because their salaries and emoluments, as well as the union’s check-off deductions, were either withheld by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation over the rejection of the discredited Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System. “Our other comrades suffered the same fate in the hands of overzealous State University Vice-Chancellors and Visitors. As a matter of fact, we lost at least 30 members.” He, however, said the union, in the last three years, has enjoyed tremendous goodwill from quarters he said were too numerous to mention. Mr Ogunyemi said: “Despite being a government official, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund has never denied his training in ASUU and the role played by the Union in midwifing the intervention agency. “The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission is also another rare breed who projects his clear understanding of ASUU’s mission at every meeting with the government. May their race multiply! “We equally appreciate the intervention efforts of the Hon. Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu as well as his Labour and Employment counterpart, Sen (Dr) Chris Ngige when it mattered. “We cannot thank them enough. Our profound appreciation equally goes to the Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, who has continued to play significant roles in getting our matters resolved in the last one year. “The NLC President and Global President of the International Trade Union Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has stood by us all the way. His strategic intervention, on behalf of the Congress to which we are an affiliate, always made the difference. Comrade Global President, may your shadow never grow less.” ASUU elects new president Mr Osodeke, a professor of soil science at the Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, was elected early Sunday morning during a three-day conference of the union which held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. The immediate past vice-president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Emmanuel Osodeke, has emerged as the new president of the union. Mr Osodeke, a professor of soil science at the Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, was elected early Sunday morning during a three-day conference of the union which held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. He took over from Biodun Ogunyemi, a professor of education at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State. Other members of the union, who were elected alongside Mr Osodeke, include Chris Piwuna of the University of Jos as vice president; Olusiji Sowande of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, as treasurer while Ade Adejumo, a professor from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, was elected as financial secretary. Also, a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Austen Sado, was elected as investment secretary; Adamu Babayo from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, was elected the union’s internal auditor while Stella-Maris Oke from Cross Rivers State University of Science and Technology, was elected as the new welfare secretary. Mr Ogunyemi will continue to serve in the new executive committee as an ex-officio, apparently to guide the new leadership. I’m back to the classroom Meanwhile, Mr Osodeke’s predecessor, Mr Ogunyemi, described his two-term tenure of office as a period of service to the nation. Speaking on the phone with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, Mr Ogunyemi thanked the union and his colleagues for the support and encouragement. He said whatever that was achieved during his tenure was a product of team work, and urged the successors to continue the tradition. “Sure, I’m returning to the classroom to continue to do our own bit towards the development of this nation.” Earlier on Friday, in his valedictory speech at the conference as reported by Punch Newspaper,Mr Ogunyemi highlighted some of the union’s activities including successes and challenges recorded within the last five years of his administration. The tenure of office for elected ASUU leadership is a period of two years and Mr Ogunyemi spent two terms of four years. His tenure was, however, elongated by the dangerous Coronavirus pandemic which paradises activities for almost one year globally. He said, “At a point of departure, we must place on record that COVID-19 did not spare our campuses. Many of our infected members had had to combat the COVID attack with resources from colleagues and other people of goodwill because their salaries and emoluments, as well as the union’s check-off deductions, were either withheld by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation over the rejection of the discredited Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System. “Our other comrades suffered the same fate in the hands of overzealous State University Vice-Chancellors and Visitors. As a matter of fact, we lost at least 30 members.” He, however, said the union, in the last three years, has enjoyed tremendous goodwill from quarters he said were too numerous to mention. Mr Ogunyemi said: “Despite being a government official, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund has never denied his training in ASUU and the role played by the Union in midwifing the intervention agency. “The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission is also another rare breed who projects his clear understanding of ASUU’s mission at every meeting with the government. May their race multiply! “We equally appreciate the intervention efforts of the Hon. Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu as well as his Labour and Employment counterpart, Sen (Dr) Chris Ngige when it mattered. “We cannot thank them enough. Our profound appreciation equally goes to the Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, who has continued to play significant roles in getting our matters resolved in the last one year. “The NLC President and Global President of the International Trade Union Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has stood by us all the way. His strategic intervention, on behalf of the Congress to which we are an affiliate, always made the difference. Comrade Global President, may your shadow never grow less.”

EXCLUSIVE: How Abidemi Rufai’s brother declined to stand surety for him - ByAdejumo Kabir

Mr Rufai is currently enmeshed in a $350,000 COVID-19 unemployment fraud in the United States. Abidemi Rufai’s brother refused to stand surety for him in the $350,000 fraud case against him in the United States (U.S.), PREMIUM TIMES can report. Mr Rufai, a suspended aide of Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on May 14. He was on May 19 granted a $300,000 bail by a New York magistrate’s court, but the Acting U.S. Attorney, Tessa Gorman, on May 24, filed an “emergency motion” at the U.S. Western District Court of Washington, Tacoma, “to stay the order of release.” It was earlier reported that Mr Rufai remained in detention, despite the magistrate’s order for his release, because his brother proposed as his surety could not post the $300,000 bond. But the U.S. government’s court filing obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, on Friday, has now shown that the proposed surety did not sign the bond not because of his inability to pay. The surety, whose name was not given in the document, was not just willing to play that role for his brother, the court document showed. Even when the magistrate, Ramon Reyes, explained to Mr Rufai’s brother that he would not be required to make payment for the bond only if Mr Rufai jumped bail, he still declined. “Rufai’s brother told the Court he was unwilling to sign the bond. Judge Reyes explained to Rufai’s brother that he would not be required to put up any security for the bond, and would be required to make payment on the bond only if Rufai failed to appear at court proceedings. “Rufai’s brother stated that he was unwilling to sign the bond even on those conditions. Accordingly, Judge Reyes entered a detention and transfer order,” the U.S. government said in the document. Questionable character as surety? Following the refusal by Mr Rufai’s brother to stand as a surety, the defendant’s lawyer, Michael Barrows, on May 21, presented Nekpen Soyemi, a registered nurse, whose family comes from Nigeria. She told the court that she would guarantee the $300,000 bond and allow Mr Rufai to stay at her and her husband’s home. The Acting U.S. Attorney, Ms Gorma, later exposed Ms Soyemi, saying she is a “suspect in an investigation into an email impersonation scheme.” Her husband, Idris Soyemi, is also said to have been convicted for wire fraud in 2014. The U.S. government told the court that it is dangerous to release Mr Rufai on bail, claiming the suspect presents an extreme risk of flight and “if he does escape to Nigeria, extradition will be extraordinarily difficult or impossible because of his ties to the Nigerian government.” Government’s request for order to stay release granted On Tuesday, the United States District Judge, Benjamin Settle, granted the government’s motion to stay release of Mr Rufai. “The release order is stayed, and the defendant shall remain in custody pending this Court’s decision on the government’s motion for review,” a court document obtained by PREMIUM TIMES read. Backstory Mr Rufai was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York while heading to Nigeria on May 14. He allegedly used the identities of more than 100 Washington residents to steal more than $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) during the COVID-19 pandemic last year. At the end of a detention hearing held on May 19, 2021, the Magistrate of the District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Ramon Reyes, agreed with the government that Mr Rufai posed “a serious flight risk”, but found that the risk could be addressed by conditions of release, including a $300,000 bond. The magistrate went on to issue an order releasing Mr Rufai based on the bond in which Mr Rufai’s brother, who is licensed as an attorney in New York, was proposed as surety. But Mr Rufai was not released eventually because his brother did not sign the bail bond. The suspect was therefore remanded pending when he would provide an alternate surety. The U.S. government on May 24 filed an emergency motion of stay release order before the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, on May 24. The court on Tuesday granted the U.S government’s request staying the earlier release order issued by the magistrate’s court.