Nigerian govt bans private practice for medical doctors

Nigerian Government has banned medical doctors working in public hospitals from private practice. The decision was taken at the Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari. Government added that henceforth the doctrine of no work no pay which was contained in the nation’s law would be invoked for workers embarking on strike. In a joint media briefing after the FEC, the Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole and Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, noted that most of the unions that recently embarked on strike contravened the labour laws especially the Trade Dispute Act. The ministers further disclosed that a committee had been set up for comprehensive evaluation of job done by workers, especially in the public sector.

TStv: Nigerians excited as new pay TV launches

The commercial launch of TStv (Telcom Satellite TV) in Nigeria held in Abuja on Sunday October 1, 2017. Nigerians across the country believe that the launch could not have come at a better time, expressing delight that MultiChoice’s monopoly in the pay TV business in Nigeria is over. They also hail the idea of October 1 (Nigeria’s independence day) as roll out date, noting that the development signifies their freedom from existing pay TV providers, such as DStv, GOtv, StarTimes, MyTv, Joy Tv, among others. Mr. Musa Bello, a civil servant, said he was elated when he heard that TStv was making entrant into the market. “Nigerians have long prayed for this moment. The exploitation by existing providers is too much”, he lamented. “How can someone be away from home for days or weeks and then lose all your subscription. I understand TStv is not like that. “So for this reason and the fact that it is affordable, has many interesting channels and a promise of strong signal, I am ready to buy immediately.” Also speaking, Mrs Eunice Agbo, a businesswoman, vowed to patronise the TStv. She disclosed that her daughter had explained the advantages and services of the new pay TV, adding that “I’m in love with this service provide already”. “Competition is good. So for those who have been treating us how they like all these years, their time is up because millions will port to TStv within one month.” TStv introduces the Pay-as-You-Consume model, an option other providers had insisted was not possible, arguing that they bought the contents they relay as a whole and not in bits. The DTH pay TV, offers 200 rich blend of local and international channels and packages for entertainment, including news, sports, kids, health, etc. These will be distributed on the ABS 3A Africa beam, located at 3 degrees west, beginning with 100 channels. TStv will also show live sports like Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Europa League and much more. Some sport channels on TStv Africa are Sport 1-10, Fox Sport HD, and Ts Sports. Running on 4.5G network, every subscriber will get 20G of data for N3,000 monthly. The data can also be used for video calls conferences with camera and WiFi. The TStv decoder has 50GB hard disk to record TV programmes and a pause/play function. Bright Echefu, Managing Director of TStv, during the signing of the multi-transponder agreement with their ABS partner, said their services would offer viewers the experience of HD and SD video, internet services, broadband, TV and radio, at a very affordable rate. “What makes the project unique is that it would start with 100 channels of local, regional and international programmes in Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Ghanaian, Sierra Leonean, Liberian languages, among others”, he said. Echefu noted that TStv has the right content and premium product to satisfy the growing demand of Nigerians. “It would assist ABS take Nollywood and Sport to great heights. Their sport channels is the bomb! EPL, La liga, and Champion League are amazing! “With TStv, you don’t need to pay subscription monthly or periodically. You pay as you consume. “It is the first Nigerian TV to launch a pay-as-you-consume, so you can pause your subscription whenever you are travelling. “It is just N5000 for the decoder and dish and subscription prices ranges from N200, N500, N1,000, N1,500 and N3,000, respectively”, he said. TStv Africa aims to cover the 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), but will launch first in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Owerri and Kano. Also speaking, Madu Ugo, Head of Corporate Communications, welcomed Nigerians to “a new world”. He assured citizens that TStv will “ensure that their yearnings about pay TV are met”. “We are here to provide the best products and services. We urge every one to get their decoders and start enjoying sports, news, movies, documentaries, soap operas and others”.

Order FG to bring me back to Nigeria – Diezani begs Court

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Tuesday signified her interest to return to Nigeria and defend a criminal trial against her. She said this while urging a Lagos Federal High Court to compel the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, to bring her back to Nigeria from the United Kingdom. Alison-Madueke has been linked with a N450m money laundering case before the Justice Rilwan Aikawa. Others involved in the trial include, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Dele Belgore; and a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had alleged that Belgore and Suleiman were charged for allegedly collecting N450m from Diezani and laundering the sum in the build-up to the 2015 general elections. EFCC alleged that the N450m was part of a sum of $115m which Diezani allegedly used to compromise the 2015 general elections. She made the appeal in an application filed on her behalf before Justice Rilwan Aikwa by an Abuja based lawyer, Obinna Onya which seeks to join her as one of the defendants in the trial. Onya noted that contrary to the declaration by the EFCC that Diezani was at large, the former minister was in the UK and was willing to return to Nigeria so that she could appear in court to take her plea and defend the charges.. He contended that since Diezani’s name had been linked to the charge, it would be against her right to fair hearing for the case to proceed without affording her the opportunity to defend herself. Onya said, “The statement made by the prosecution means that the applicant (Diezani) is going to be convicted without being given the opportunity to defend herself.” He prayed for an order “mandating the Attorney General of the Federation, being the agent of the complainant, to facilitate the prompt appearance of the applicant in court on the next adjourned date, to take her plea and to defend the allegations made against her in counts 1, 2,3 and 4 of the charge, numbered FHC/L/35c/2017.” However, EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, opposed the application, saying it was not ripe for hearing, as he had yet to be served. After listening to arguments by all the counsels involved in the trial, Justice Aikawa adjourned the matter till tomorrow.

NDA Fraud Alert: Beware of Fake Admission Letters

Nigerian Defece Academy, NDA notice to the general public as regards the fake admission letters circulating around the internet. The attention of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has been drawn to a fake and outrageous NDA Letter of Admission being circulated through emails, social media and other sources. The fake letter purportedly signed by the...