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PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS SIX CHIEF MEDICAL DIRECTORS FOR FEDERAL HOSPITALS

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed six Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) for federal government-owned hospitals across the country. The appointments are part of the president’s efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure and ensure access to quality medical services for all Nigerians. In a statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed the names of the newly appointed CMDs and their respective hospitals. The appointees include Prof. Olusegun Sylvester Ojo, who will head the Federal Teaching Hospital in Akure, Ondo State; Prof. Yusuf Mohammed Abdullahi, who has been reappointed as the CMD of the Federal Teaching Hospital in Gombe; and Dr. Dauda Abubakar Katagum, who has been confirmed as the substantive CMD of the Federal Teaching Hospital in Azare, Bauchi State. Onanuga also mentioned that Dr. Ikrama Hassan has been appointed as the CMD of the newly upgraded Federal Teaching Hospital in Lafiya, Nasarawa State; Dr. Ali Mohammed Ramat will head the newly established National Orthopedic Hospital in Maiduguri, Borno State; and Dr. Haruna Abubakar Shehu will lead the newly established Federal Medical Centre in Kafanchan, Kaduna State. All appointments are for a four-year term, effective from the respective dates of assumption of office. President Tinubu congratulated the newly appointed and reappointed CMDs, urging them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, accountability, and service delivery in their respective roles. “He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and ensuring all Nigerians have access to quality medical services,” Onanuga said. Bayo Onanuga further stated that Prof. Yusuf Mohammed Abdullahi’s second and final term as CMD of the Federal Teaching Hospital in Gombe commenced on September 5, 2024, while Dr. Dauda Abubakar Katagum’s tenure as CMD of the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital in Azare, Bauchi State, took effect from December 6, 2024.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTRODUCES NEW APPOINTMENT STRUCTURE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

The Federal Government has introduced a new appointment structure for local government administration under the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), aimed at ensuring uniformity and financial accountability. According to official sources, the new framework will see eight to nine officials receiving direct salaries from Abuja. Each local government will have a Chairman and Deputy Chairman, alongside key appointments covering various sectors, including health, agriculture, education, and security. The designated positions also include a Secretary, Supervisory Councillors for different sectors, and Statutory Advisers for People with Disability, Youth Development, and Community Work. The salaries of these appointees will be paid directly from Abuja under the FAAC system, ensuring financial accountability and transparency in local government administration. This move is expected to strengthen the local government system and promote effective service delivery at the grassroots level. The new appointment structure is seen as a significant step towards revitalizing the local government system, which has faced challenges such as poor financing, limited autonomy, and lack of accountability. Experts have emphasized the need for a more decentralized system, where local governments have more control over their finances and decision-making processes.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO REASSESS ELECTRICITY TARIFFS FOR BAND B, C CONSUMERS

The Federal Government has announced plans to standardize electricity tariffs in a bid to address disparities in the current billing system and encourage further investment in the power sector. Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu revealed that the government is revisiting the tariff structure, citing the slow shift of customers to Band A due to the reluctance of Distribution Companies to invest in necessary upgrades. Under the current arrangement, Band B consumers, who receive 17-18 hours of electricity supply, are charged N63 per kilowatt-hour, while Band A customers, who receive 20-24 hours of supply, are charged N209 per kilowatt-hour. Adelabu criticized this discrepancy as unjust and stressed the need for a fairer pricing framework. “We will re-examine the tariff structure. I am not suggesting that an increase is on the cards immediately,” Adelabu said. “Our aim is to build on last year’s modest progress—not only to foster the growth of the sector but also to invest more in revitalizing our aging infrastructure.” The government is contemplating a restructuring of the tariff bands to reduce the wide gap between them. A proposed new system would categorize consumers into Bands A, B, and C, aimed at addressing the existing inequities. “The gap between the Band A tariffs and those for Bands B, C, D, and E is simply too wide,” Adelabu observed. “It is neither fair nor just, and we must introduce some level of regularization.” Adelabu reassured that the reassessment of the tariff structure does not imply an imminent increase in electricity rates.

VICE PRESIDENT SHETTIMA REITERATES FG’S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS

In a bid to address Nigeria’s food security challenges, Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to supporting local farmers through targeted interventions. The government plans to intervene robustly to protect local producers, reduce production costs, and provide single-digit loans. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, stated that Vice President Shettima made this known during the steering committee meeting of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) at the Presidential Villa. “We need to support our local farmers. Give them single-digit loans. The Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit has metamorphosed into an incubator beyond being an advisory body,” VP Shettima stated. Nkwocha added that the Vice President emphasized the importance of strategic government intervention to reduce production costs and support local farmers. The Vice President cited South Korea’s transformation through strategic industrial investments as an example. “How South Korea, a former poor nation, was able to become the world’s number one steel producer. They gave hefty discounts and single-digit loans to the Daewoos, LGs, and Samsungs, who are now global leaders even in the semiconductor business,” VP Shettima explained. Stanley Nkwocha noted that the Vice President directed Governors Umar Namadi of Jigawa State and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State to engage with a Brazilian delegation this Saturday to explore opportunities for collaboration on agriculture. Nkwocha stated that the meeting aims to promote food stability and support local farmers.