INEC Publishes Final List Of Candidates For Bayelsa, Kogi And Imo Governorship Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates to contest the Saturday, November 11, 2023, end-of-tenure governorship election scheduled to hold in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo states.

According to Victor Ayodele Aluko, the list, which was published by the Commission in compliance with the provision of Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, was contained in a press statement by National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Festus Okoye, Esq., issued on Tuesday.

Okoye disclosed that the final list of candidates for the three off-cycle governorship elections scheduled to hold in the three states had been published on the Commission’s website and social media platforms, while adding that “same will be published in our State and Local Government offices in the affected states on Thursday, June 8, 2023, ahead of the statutory deadline of June 9, 2023”.

According to the IVEC Chairman, “the list shows that all 18 political parties are fielding candidates in Kogi State, 17 in Imo State and 16 in Bayelsa State. The list also shows that two political parties are fielding female candidates in Bayelsa State, one in Kogi State, and none in Imo State”.

The statement also restated that campaigns for the governorship election in the three states should officially flag off on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. It read “The Commission wishes to remind political parties and candidates that, in line with Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the three elections, campaign in public officially commences on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in line with Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, and ends on November 9, 2023, i.e., 24 hours prior to election day”.

It further called on parties and their candidates to go about their electioneering campaigns with decorum and civility, while frowning at an ugly incident involving the convoys of two political actors that led to the destruction of vehicles and properties.

Registering its displeasure over the development, the Commission said, “Regrettably, the ugly incident last week involving the convoys of two political actors in Kogi State resulting in the destruction of vehicles and other properties ahead of the commencement of campaign is worrisome”.

“We urge parties and candidates to conduct their political activities with civility and decorum, as peaceful electioneering heralds a peaceful election. Political parties and candidates have a responsibility to de-escalate tension ahead of the elections, the statement reads”.

UK commits £2 million to strengthen health workforce in Nigeria-WHO

The World Health Organization welcomes a new funding commitment made by the United Kingdom’s Department of Health and Social Care to support Nigeria in strengthening her health workforce in the vision of achieving Universal Health Coverage.

The grant amounting to £2 will cover two years period to support the government of Nigeria to optimize the performance, quality, and impact of the health workforce through evidence-informed policies and strategies.

The UK provided a multi-million-pound boost to support healthcare staff recruitment and retention in three African countries – Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana – supporting resilience against global health challenges.

Nigerian health system like many countries in the global south has been beset with challenges in having a resilient health system that is able to provide quality health services, promote health and prevent diseases.

The challenges have been further exacerbated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic which directly impacts the availability of health workers to provide quality services across the country.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery says, “A skilled, well-motivated and adequate health workforce is critical for Nigeria to #EndPreventableDeaths and build resilience against global threats.
This UK International Development funding aligns with the Nigerian health workforce strategic plan and will help the country upskill its workers, and improve health outcomes in the long run.”

The 2-year HRH project aims to support the government at national and sub-national levels and support regulatory bodies, professional associations, and other key stakeholders to develop transformative strategies for scaling up the quantity and quality of health workers, including competency-based curricula development and reviews.
It will help to align investment in HRH with the current and future needs of the population and health systems; strengthen the capacity of institutions including regulatory bodies for effective public policy stewardship, leadership and governance, optimize health workers’ retention, equitable distribution, and performance and strengthen the management of Health workforce data for monitoring and accountability. The project will implement interventions in Nigeria.
The project will draw on the technical capacity of WHO to strengthen health systems including experience of implementing similar projects with appreciable results in the past. Implementation at sub-national levels with a focus on 6 states of Cross River, Enugu, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, and Lagos, will build on the presence and technical support being provided to State governments through the 37 WHO sub-national offices in Nigeria.
“The strength of every health system reflects the capacity and adequacy of its health workforce, which are necessary to deliver quality services to address population health needs,” says Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Representative in Nigeria.
For a resilient and effective health system, Nigeria must have adequate numbers of health workers who are fit for purpose, motivated to perform, and equitably distributed across the subnational levels to enhance equity in access to their services by the population in need.
“Through the UK government’s generous support through WHO, we will deploy the technical support from the 3 levels of the organization to support the development of evidence-based policies and strategies, capacity building and management for improved planning and management of Nigeria’s health workforce”.

WMO SEC GEN Congratulates DG NiMet On Election Into EC

The Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organisation WMO, Professor Petteri Talaas has congratulated the Director General CEO of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) Professor Mansur Bako Matazu on his recent election into the Executive Council of the WMO.
Prof. Taalas’ congratulations is contained in a letter he signed and addressed to Prof. Matazu

” I wish to refer to the recent election held at the on going Nineteenth session of the World Meteorological Congress, to elect members of the Executive Council. In this regard, I am pleased to extend, on behalf of the Organisation and my own, our warmest congratulations to you on your election as member of the Executive Council “, the letter reads.

Professor Matazu who is also Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the WMO, was elected into the Executive Council for his dedication and commitment to the advancement of the science of Meteorology and to humanity. His election is to run for four years.

The Executive Council is the second highest decision making body of the WMO,