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8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 UPDATE ON CORONAVIRUS Reps to Education, Health Ministries, NCDC: Use vacated FGC hostels as isolation centres SANITISING STATE HOUSE: A staff of Julius Berger sanitising the Media Briefing Room at the State House, Abuja yesterday. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida. COVID-19: No Senator has tested positive — SENATE •Says no Senator refused screening at the airport By Henry Umoru A BUJA—THE Senate said, yesterday that no senator in the 9th Senate has tested positive to the COVID-19 pandemic as being speculated in some sections of the media. Fielding questions from journalists yesterday in Abuja, Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe (APC Kwara Central) said that it was untrue and unfounded that some senators defiled screening at the Airport on arrival from foreign countries. NBA commends CJN for suspending court sittings By Innocent Anaba THE Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has commended the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, for his circular of March 23, 2020, directing “all Heads of Courts,” to with effect from March 24, 2020, suspend court sittings for an initial period of two weeks at the first instance, except in Oloriegbe said that both the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC and security operatives at the airports have confirmed that no lawmaker refused to be subjected to COVID- 19 test. It will be recalled that there was widespread information in some sections of the media that about 10 Senators, who recently came back from countries affected by the coronavirus had refused to be tested. Oloriegbe who described the report as fake and misleading, said that there was no letter addressed to Senate President Ahmad matters that are urgent, essential or time bound according to extant laws. NBA President, Paul Usoro, SAN, in a statement, yesterday, said: “In our initial release on the COVID-19 pandemic on March 22, 2020, we had indicated that the NBA “will be immediately consulting with the CJN, Justice Muhammad, and the Lawan by the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhar, Abba Kyari that some lawmakers had refused to get tested at the airport. According to him, the purported letter was the handiwork of mischief makers, adding that contrary to reports that some senators who returned from abroad had handshakes with their colleagues. Oloriegbe said, “Since a week ago, there was no form of handshaking in the Senate. You should not follow fake news on the social media, we saw the letter, it is fake. various Heads of courts, notably at the federal level, on how best to address the COVID-19 pandemic vis-à-vis our courts and their users. We followed up on that commitment and we are pleased that our efforts, as earlier stated, has yielded the desired results. “I must also commend our various branches and Presidency reduces number of journalists covering Villa activities By Johnbosco Agbakwuru A BUJA—THE Presidency, yesterday, reduced the number of journalists covering activities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The action according to a circular by the Deputy Director of Information Attah Esa, on behalf of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, was to help maintain social distancing. The circular read,” In view of the current restriction in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, against gathering of not more than 50 persons at the same time at any venue, as well as to be able to maintain social distancing following the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, it has become imperative to drastically review down the presence of the over 100 State House Correspondents, who usually rendezvous in the Press Briefing Room in the Presidential Villa during this period since all other departments have scaled down the presence of their staff. “Accordingly, only the under listed correspondents are to enter the Villa for media coverage of any event beginning from March 25, 2020, until further notice as the Covid- 19 incidence will dictate. “Chairman, SH Press Corps – for coordination, NTA crew, Channels TV crew, TVC crew, FRCN reporter, VON reporter, NAN reporter, the Sun reporter, Thisday photographer, Leadership photographer, Daily Trust photographer, Guardian photographer, Vanguard photographer. “During this interim arrangement, we advise those who are not represented in the above list to liaise with those listed for necessary information/ news as well as the Information Officers in the President’s Media Office.'' “No senator has refused any test, and since last week, there was no handshaking in Senate. The criteria for testing is that if you have symptoms or have contact, you will be tested, that is why the Senate want the Federal Government to expand the testing criteria but as at yesterday, the NCDC has acquired more new testing kits. “The critical issued to us is about Nigerians, not about senators alone. I can tell you that no senator has tested positive to coronavirus and none has also refused to be tested as being speculated.” sections that have canceled planned meetings and programmes as a preemptive measure to prevent contracting or spreading COVID-19 diseases amongst our members and guests. “We must be extra cautious in these moments of global distress and therefore, advise all our members to be safe and follow all the advisories of the Federal and State Governments, the World Health Organisation, WHO and the Nigeria Center for Disease Control on the measures to institute in order to forestall contracting or spreading the virus. As we pointed out in our release on the COVID-19 pandemic, these dark days will pass and we will survive the pandemic. We must not panic nor lose hope. “Meanwhile, we recognise that the stayhome orders that have literally been forced on all of us by the circumstances of COVID-19 may make it difficult if not impossible for some of our members who wished or planned to physically visit Bank branches and manually pay their Bar Practicing Fees. The remedy is to make the payments online.'' By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA—HOUSE of Representatives has directed the Federal Ministry of Education to immediately use the now vacated hostels of the Federal Government colleges across the country as emergency care centres and isolation units by the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC. This however, is in the event tthat there were overwhelming number of number of people requiring treatment from the COVID- 19 disease. It also asked president Muhammadu Buhari to exercise his authority under the Customs, Excise Tariffs, Etc. (Consolidation) Act to remove import or excise duty on essential medical equipment as determined by the Minister NNPC orders staff to work from home the COVID-19, the Management of NNPC, has directed all office-based staff By Michael Eboh below management cadre THE Nigerian across all its formations to National Petroleum work remotely from home Corporation, NNPC, with effect from today.” yesterday, directed all its The directive, which was office-based staff, below conveyed to the NNPC management cadre to with workforce via a message by effect from yesterday, begin the Group Managing working from home, as Director, Mallam Mele parts of measures to contain Kyari, directed all NNPC the spread of the Strategic Business Units to Coronavirus, COVID-19, activate their business pandemic currently continuity plans ravaging the globe. immediately to ensure In a statement in Abuja, minimal disruption to Group General Manager, operations while protecting Group Public Affairs staff from exposure to the Division, Dr. Kennie COVID-19. Obateru, said the directive “The NNPC leadership, affects staff of all its business since the COVID-19 units, noting also that the outbreak has been units had been ordered to providing daily immediately activate their enlightenment to staff on business continuity plans. how to keep themselves He said, “In compliance and their families safe with the Federal from infection.'' Government’s directive on Coronavirus-positive staff didn’t visit office after trip — FIRS A Federal BUJA—THE Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, has said that its staff who tested-positive for coronavirus did not report for work after his foreign trip before going into selfisolation. D i r e c t o r , Communications and Liaison Department, Dr. Abdullahi Ahmad, said in a statement, yesterday, that the affected staff did not have any contact with any other staff before his voluntary self-isolation. He said, “We can confirm that a member of staff of the service - in a voluntary waive of patient confidentiality accorded all patients by care-givers of Health to be necessary for the management of the diseases in the country. The House also mandated the Federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC to immediately develop contingency plans for the establishment of emergency care facilities at the colleges. The contingency plans, the House said, should include cost estimates for the provision of equipment, material, medicines and other such requirements as may become necessary. The parliament further directed the Health Ministry to work with the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMPN and other similar bodies to develop plans for the deployment of a corps of doctors and medical professionals to the emergency care centres as the need arises. By Emma Ujah globally - on March 23, 2020, at noon took to the micro-blogging platform, twitter, to announce his COVID-19 status, which was thereafter, picked up and reported by the media. “The member of staff suspected that he may have picked up COVID-19 while sharing a flight with the child of a prominent, politically-exposed person whose COVID-19 status has also been widely reported by the media “Management hereby, wishes to inform the public that the member of staff was in voluntary self-isolation after alighting from the aforesaid flight and did not therefore visit any FIRS facilities or have further contact with any of his colleagues.''
UPDATE ON CORONAVIRUS OPS writes Buhari, demands tax holiday, 7 other palliatives for private sector •Warns of looming closures, job losses By Victor Young ORGANISED Private Sector, OPS, has written to President Muhammadu Bahuri over the corona virus, COVID19, pandemic, demanding for a tax holiday for the private sector among other seven palliative measures to rescue the sector from the consequences of COVID pandemic. In a letter dated March 24, 2020, by the Director- General of Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, Dr Timothy Olawale, it warned that “the implications of the pandemic on businesses could lead to the closure of companies, massive job loss and loss of revenue to government through payment of taxes, increase in social vices and increased insecurity, among others, leading to further economic crisis.” The letter read, “We call on your Excellency to take more specific steps in providing palliatives and support to organised businesses. The specific support, would among others, include: * A temporary scheme for paying compensation to companies in the risk of laying off in order to retain jobs. This is to aid the continued existence of companies and prevent layoffs within private companies facing financial pressures as a result of Coronavirus. Under the scheme, which could last ....As NASS shuts down for two weeks By Henry Umoru A management BUJA—THE of the National Assembly has shut down the complex, asking all the staff, legislative aides to the law makers to remain in their various homes following the outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus( COVIC- 19) that is at the moment, ravaging the world. In a statement yesterday in Abuja, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Muhammed Omolori, said the management has also mandated all the banks, restuarants and other business outfits within the National Assembly I’m in high spirits, yet to manifest symptom — ATIKU’S SON A B U J A — CONTRARY to perception that people who test positive for Coronavirus, COVID-19, are sickly and on the verge of dying, Mohammed, the son of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, said he has not manifested any apparent feature of the disease four days after commencing treatment. It will be recalled that Mohammed was declared a clinical case for COVID-19 after his blood sample which was taken by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, returned positive, prompting his father to announce his condition on Monday. However, the ex-VP’s son who checked into Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital Abuja for treatment on March 20, said in a brief chat with a team of journalists: “I didn’t feel poorly and for the next three months. The government will cover 60 percent of the salaries of employees paid on a monthly basis, who would otherwise have been fired, with companies paying the remaining amount. *Support from government to negotiate and reschedule bank loans, to aid in boosting businesses and also afford adequate time for payment, especially loans taken by companies within the past three months. *Suspension of payments of taxes and levies: The coronavirus pandemic has affected businesses circles and activities. The real sector is facing the risk of total shut down, as there are no imports and exports, sales are down and production at almost zero levels. At the same time workers are expected to be paid and other commitments honoured by the businesses. *Tax-free cash flow boost for employers: A stimulus package to help pay wages or for investment to protect against downturn inactivity. The payment should be open to businesses with a turnover of less than N50 million. *Government should allow for tax payment deferrals more flexible for a period of six months, upon request, with a discount on interest rates. *Special focus should be Complex to close down complety during the period of two weeks. According to him, “The leadership of both Houses of the National Assembly, in consultation with the management of the National Assembly, has noted with concern, the rising incidence of COVID-19 and therefore, the need to put in place, effective measures to curtail the possible incidence and spread of the disease ‘in the National Assembly. Earlier today, both Houses adjourned plenary till April 7, 2020. “ In furtherance of the above objectives, the following measures are being put ‘in place: all …adds; I didn’t shake hands with Bauchi gov aboard Aero flight By Luminous Jannamike didn’t have any COVID-19 symptom. “Till today, I still don’t have any symptom. I only called NCDC because I came back from virusprone countries,” Mohammed added. On his reported contact with Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State aboard an Aerocontractor flight from Lagos to Abuja last week, he said: “I did not shake hands with the governor. He sat on the other side of the aisle during the flight.” He thanked Nigerians for their prayers and support to his family since he was admitted into an isolation centre. NUPENG threatens mass withdrawal of members over COVID-19 By Victor Young NIGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, yesterday, expressed serious concern over the risk exposures of members in the informal sector of petroleum industry because of their daily contact with all manners of people in the course of their work. In a statement by its President and General Secretary, Prince Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, respectively, they threatened to withdraw members from the informal sector from their duty posts in the next 72 hours if the risk exposure worsened. Specifically, NUPENG said members at high risk include the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, Petrol Station Workers, PSW, Petroleum Depots Workers, PDW, Independent Marketers Employees, IME, Oil and Gas Suppliers, OGS, Surface Tankers Kerosene Peddlers, SUKATEP, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers, LPGAR, etc. They said, “In view of the given to sectors that are worst hit: Aviation, hospitality, manufacturing, retails, tourism, food and beverage, etc. The government could collaborate with NECA as the representative body of organised business to implement stimulus packages that are sectorspecific. *To encourage disclosure and contain the spread of the virus, the government should institute payment support for employees both in the Public and Private sector who are self-isolating and for those diagnosed with the virus, the payment will be made for the duration of illness. This will encourage those that have contacted the disease to voluntarily report.” staff, including legislative aides, other than those enumerated in paragraph 2(b) are directed to remain at home with effect from March 25, 2020, for an initial period of two weeks, subject to review.” In the memo, the Clerk to the National Assembly has however, exempted Clerks of Senate and House of Representatives from the stay at home order, saying that they must be at duty posts during the period as well as all directors/heads of departments; Identified essential staff covering medical, security and utility services.” Mohammed Atiku. growing cases of the deadly COVID 19, pandemic and the stay at home orders given by the federal and state governments, the leadership of NUPENG, is seriously concerned with the health and safety of our very vulnerable members who are rendering critical services to the nation on a daily basis in these critical times. These sets of workers include the petroleum tanker drivers, Petrol stations workers, petroleum products depots workers and others who in the course of serving the nation become highly vulnerable to the virus.'' “NUPENG wishes to Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 — 9 SOCIAL MEDIA KICKBACK Coronavirus has turned to a unifying factor around the globe; in fact, it might end up being the first word of some babies. While we are at it, the social media cannot keep calm particularly as high profile cases were discovered in the last 48 hours. Here are some of the reactions on trends around coronavirus, COVID-19 discussions.
Page 1 and 2: The role of traditional rulers - Sa
Page 3 and 4: Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020
Page 5 and 6: vanguardnews @vanguardnews Vanguard
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Page 37 and 38: COVID-19: Tokyo 2020 Olympics offic

25032020

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