#COVIDMythAndReality

FG RELEASES N100BN LOANS TO PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS, HEALTHCARE INVESTORS.

August 10, 2022 by GLOBE-TELLY, posted in NEWS

President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed the release of N100bn to health care investors and indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturers as an intervention by the federal government to expand their capital base and boost local production of medicines and medical consumables.

This was disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja during a meeting between the new executives of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the president.

He said, the loan would be facilitated through the Central Bank of Nigeria to support the private pharmaceutical sector.

Speaking on brain drain in the health sector, Buhari said he had directed the Minister of Health to look into ways of turning “brain drain” to “brain gain” by engaging top Nigerian medical experts in the diaspora in knowledge and skills repatriation.

The President extended a congratulatory message to a former president of the body Osahon Enabulele, president-elect of the World Medical Association, the first Nigerian to hold the position, he expressed confidence in Enabulele towards improving health care delivery in Nigeria and lower income countries.

NMA President Uche Rowland Ojinmah asked Buhari to ensure full and appropriate implementation of the National Health Insurance Authority Act, provision of “adequate work equipment, conducive work environment and necessary budget support as well as elongation of the retirement age for medical consultants to 70 years and 65 years for non-consultant doctors and other healthcare workers.

APPEAL COURT VACATES JUDGEMENT VOIDING 84(12) OF ELECTORAL ACT.

May 11, 2022 by GLOBE-TELLY, posted in NEWS

The judgement of a three-man panel of justices led by Justice Hamma Akawu Barka has been vacated by the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, over a void in the provision of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which disregarded Mr. Nduka Edede decision to institute the verdict.

The appellant Court, noted that Edede had failed to establish the cause of action that warranted him to approach the court on the issue citing that the plaintiff couldn’t prove how he was affected by the section of the newly amended Electoral Act.

The appellate Court upheld that the said provision of the Electoral law was unconstitutional because it is in breach of Section 42 (1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, pointing out that a class of Nigerian citizens would be denied their rights to participate in election.

The judgment followed an appeal marked: CA/OW/87/2022, which was filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The high Court in Umuahia had establish in March the striking out of section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, 2022 ordering that it should be deleted by the Attorney-General of the Federation for being inconsistent with the Constitution, a compliance was thereafter followed by the the AGF, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, barely 24 hours after the judgement was pronounced.

President Muhammadu Buhari had some reservations about the Electoral Act Amendment Bill where some portion of the Electoral law had some discriminatory contents which specified that the Electoral Act, 2022 made it compulsory that political office holders must first resign before he/she could vie for any elective position.

It reads: “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”

SENATE REVISITS ELECTORAL ACT TO ALLOW PRESIDENT, OTHERS VOTE AT PARTY PRIMARIES.

May 11, 2022May 11, 2022 by GLOBE-TELLY, posted in NEWS

The Electoral Act 2022 which allows statutory delegates to be involved in political parties’ congresses and conventions was amended on Tuesday by the Senate.

An acknowledgement copy of the current version was sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for approval sometimes February this year, which as at that time did not allow statutory delegates to participate or be involved in party primaries.

The number of Statutory delegates affected by this policy include, president and vice president, political parties’ National Working Committee, local government chairmen and their deputies, political party chairmen in all the 774 LGAs, state and federal lawmakers, governors and their deputies, members, state party chairmen and secretaries as well as councillors

The modifications to the clause was raised by the deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege during the plenary on Tuesday, where he revealed that same amendment would be passed by the House of Representatives before it’s being transmitted to the president latest by next week.

He noted that the amendment is to ensure that no individual is denied their rights during political parties activities.

Meanwhile, The clerk of the House of Representatives, Dr Yahaha Danzaria disclosed that a notice has been sent to all lawmakers to hold an emergency plenary Wednesday with focus of discussions on passing of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill. 2022.