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PWDs Demand Inclusion In Petroleum Industry Act Benefits

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PWDs Demand Inclusion In Petroleum Industry Act Benefits

Timi Ebikeme, the Amananowei of Peretoru Kingdom, emphasised the importance of prioritising people with disabilities in community development.

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have called on the federal government to develop a supplementary Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) that ensures their inclusion in benefit structures outlined in the current law.

The demand was made during a three-day workshop on the PIA and Disability Laws in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and organised by the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD).

The event, titled “Ending Barriers Against Niger-Deltans with Disabilities (EBAND)”, was funded by the Ford Foundation.

The PWDs, drawn from various disability clusters in Bayelsa, presented a charter of demands to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), urging the agency to ensure their voices and needs were included in the PIA’s benefit frameworks.

They noted that while the current PIA recognised the interests of women, youths, and traditional rulers, it was silent on the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities.

The group called on NUPRC to mandate Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) to integrate disability-related concerns in line with the National Disability Act, which stipulated a minimum five per cent employment quota for the disability community.

“One key provision of the PIA requires oil companies to contribute three per cent of their annual operating expenditure to fund HCDTs, which are responsible for driving development in host communities.”

Mayor Ekpomokumo, the chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Bayelsa, stated that the leadership of various disability clusters was united in demanding full inclusion in the implementation process of the PIA.

“JONAPWD, as the umbrella body of all PWD organisations in Bayelsa, is demanding inclusion in every structure of benefit within the PIA.

“It’s a shared call among all stakeholders,” Mr Ekpomokumo stated.

He added that the charter also involved other actors such as oil companies, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, and the business community.

David Anyaele, chairman of the Abia State Commission for the Welfare of Disabled Persons and Founder of CCD, assured participants of his commitment to ensure that PWDs were not excluded in Bayelsa.

“Globally, more than 1.3 billion people, about 16 per cent of the population, live with some form of disability,” Mr Anyaele said.

Godwin Unumeri, acting director of CCD, explained that from the creation of the Niger Delta Development Board in 1961 to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), PWDs had been consistently left out of development planning.

“When the PIA was being developed, efforts were made to include persons with disabilities, but they didn’t succeed.

“So now, we’re leveraging the opportunity to propose a supplementary framework, supported by the Ford Foundation, to address this gap,” Mr Unumeri said.

Timi Ebikeme, the Amananowei of Peretoru Kingdom, emphasised the importance of prioritising people with disabilities in community development.

“If you look closely at our communities, those who require the most attention are persons living with disabilities.

“Their inclusion in the PIA is not just necessary; it is overdue,” he said.

Gazettengr.com

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FULL LIST: Major Shake Up In Nigeria Police As IGP Deploys Commissioners Of Police

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The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has approved the deployment of Commissioners of Police to State Commands and strategic formations across the country.

The deployment follows the approval of his recommendations by the Police Service Commission (PSC).

According to a statement on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the deployment is aimed at strengthening operational effectiveness, enhancing leadership across Commands and formations, and consolidating the ongoing reform and repositioning of the Nigeria Police Force.

Naija News reports that the Inspector-General of Police charged the affected senior officers to bring their wealth of experience to bear in their new assignments by strengthening intelligence-led policing, enhancing operational effectiveness, promoting professionalism, and deepening community engagement in line with the vision of the Force.

He also urged them to remain steadfast in safeguarding lives and property while upholding the highest standards of discipline, accountability, and service delivery.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to strategic personnel deployments as a key component of its ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, strengthening internal capacity, and delivering more effective policing services to all Nigerians,” the statement concluded.

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Shettima Steps Aside from Official Duties After Three Years

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Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Thursday commenced a two-week leave — his first since assuming office over three years ago.

According to a statement issued by the media aide to the vice-president, Stanley Nkwocha, during the leave, the vice-president will devote time to study, reflect and do intellectual renewal as part of efforts to strengthen his capacity for continued service to the nation.

The leave offers Shettima an opportunity to review the administration’s ongoing programmes, deepen his understanding of emerging national and global policy issues, and prepare for the responsibilities ahead as the Federal Government intensifies the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Since assuming office on May 29, 2023, the vice-president, the release stated, has remained actively engaged in the coordination and supervision of several strategic government initiatives, particularly in economic development, food security, humanitarian affairs, digital transformation, job creation and regional cooperation.

He has consistently chaired the monthly National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, which brings together the governors of the 36 states, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and other relevant public officials to deliberate on policies affecting the economy and the welfare of Nigerians.

Beyond his responsibilities within the country, Shettima has represented President Bola Tinubu at major international and regional engagements, advancing Nigeria’s position on economic integration, peace and security, climate action, investment and sustainable development. ExecutiveBranch

He remains deeply committed to the ideals of loyalty, duty and service that have defined his role in the administration, as well as to supporting President Tinubu’s efforts to build a more secure, productive and prosperous Nigeria.

The vice-president will return to office at the end of the two-week leave period and resume his official responsibilities with renewed energy and dedication to the service of the nation.

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Friday, August 7, Declared Public Holiday, Government Announces Reason

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Rwanda has declared Friday, August 7, 2026, a public holiday to mark Umuganura Day, a national harvest festival with roots stretching back to pre-colonial times.

Legit.ng reports that the announcement came from the Ministry of Public Service and Labour on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, and applies to workers across all sectors, both public and private.

The ministry said in its official statement:

“The Ministry of Public Service and Labour informs all employers and employees in both public and private sectors that Friday, August 7, 2026, will be a public holiday in celebration of Umuganura Day.” 

What is Umuganura Day?

Umuganura is one of Rwanda’s most significant cultural observances. The festival gives thanks to God and ancestors for the bounty of the land and marks the collective effort of communities in cultivating it. Despite being called a harvest festival, it is observed before the harvest begins, a tradition rooted in the practice of elders tasting the fruits of the new season before any family member is permitted to do so.

The celebration starts within individual families and then expands into wider community gatherings where traditional foods, crafts, and performances are shared. Rwandan restaurants and cultural centres, both at home and abroad, typically mark the occasion with special offerings tied to the country’s culinary heritage.

Agriculture sits at the heart of why the day carries such weight. About 80% of Rwanda’s labour force is engaged in farming activities, which contribute roughly 40% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. Tea and coffee are the country’s most important cash crops, making up around 80% of its agricultural exports.

History of Umuganura festival

Umuganura has survived considerable upheaval. Germany colonised Rwanda in 1899 as part of German East Africa, and Belgium took control in 1916 during World War I. The prolonged period of colonial rule disrupted the festival, and it went uncelebrated for many years. Rwanda gained independence in July 1962, and the country gradually rebuilt its national identity in the decades that followed.

Despite its ancient origins, Umuganura was only formally recognised as a public holiday in 2011. Beyond its cultural significance, the day also serves as an occasion to reflect on the country’s yearly achievements across the sectors that drive national development.

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