President Biden issued an order for Secret Service protection to be provided to independent candidate Kennedy Jr. 15th of July 2024

Agency Report

US President Joe Biden has ordered Secret Service protection for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, the homeland security chief said Monday.

“In light of this weekend’s events, the president has directed me to work with the Secret Service to provide protection to Robert Kennedy Jr,”  United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, told journalists.

Kennedy, the scion of America’s most famous political clan, is an environmental lawyer and long-time vaccine sceptic who has no chance of winning in November, but whose candidacy could potentially sway close contests in key swing states.

Trump called earlier in the day for Secret Service protection to be extended to Kennedy.

A ‘new era’ in malaria control has begun with a vaccination campaign for children in Ivory Coast

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Health workers in Ivory Coast began giving children the latest malaria vaccine on Monday, the beginning of a regional campaign that experts hope might curb the impact of one of Africa’s top killers.

The West African country became the first to start rolling out the newest shot targeting malaria in an effort that aims to cover about 250,000 children under two. The three-dose vaccine known as R21/Matrix-M was developed by Britain’s Oxford University and was authorized by the World Health Organization last October.

Research suggests it is more than 75% effective at preventing severe disease and death in the first year and that protection is extended for at least another year with a booster.

Alice Kanga was one of many who brought their children to get vaccinated Monday. “It’s really important for the children, for their health,” she said.

LG AUTONOMY: GOV. ENO LAUDS SUPREME COURT RULING, STATES CONCERNS ON IMPLEMENTATION

LG AUTONOMY: GOV. ENO LAUDS SUPREME COURT RULING, STATES CONCERNS  ON IMPLEMENTATION 

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno , has described the recent Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to local governments as a welcome development and relief to state governments.

He however expressed concerns over its effective implementation and the ability of LGs to handle their financial responsibilities. 

Governor Eno made the observations while fielding questions with Government House correspondents at Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, upon his return to the state from an official engagement.

The Governor noted that the Supreme Court verdict on  local government autonomy remains sacrosanct, being the pronouncement of the final court in the land.

He noted that the judgement will not impact the Akwa Ibom State Government in anyway, stressing that so far, under his administration and even in previous years,  local governments have been getting their due allocations, without any interference with the operations of the joint account.

He affirmed that his administration's ARISE Agenda places a premium on rural development.

Gov. Eno stated that the present state government has channelled volumes of funds into offsetting arrears of gratuities, pensions, salaries and other entitlements to local government workers, noting that  the autonomy granted the third tier of government is a relief to the state government.

He expressed hope that local governments, under the new arrangement, would take over the responsibility of prompt payment of  salary abd other emoluments to teachers, health workers and other  LG workers to avoid leaving unnecessary burden of arrears to successive governments.

In his words: "The Supreme Court has made pronouncements. That's the final court of the land, but for us in Akwa Ibom, honestly I don't see us having any issues. For me, this is a welcome development because I know how much we, as a state, support the local governments. 

 

"Since I assumed office, I've not touched any funds allocated to the local governments. The only challenge I envisage now, which we have to sit down and find a way around is how the local government workers would be paid promptly? How will primary school teachers be paid promptly? How do we clear the backlog that we have? I pray that we find a way around this.

"Our ARISE Agenda is also centered around developing the local government areas, so with this judgement, I feel relieved but my concern is how they would bear the brunt of the autonomy."

GOVERNOR UMO ENO TASKS NIGER DELTA REGION ON HARMONIOUS DEVELOPMENT

GOVERNOR UMO ENO TASKS NIGER DELTA REGION ON HARMONIOUS DEVELOPMENT*

--urges NDDC to collaborate with state governments

The Southern Post

3 minutes reads

Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno has urged stakeholders of the Niger Delta Region to evolve a unified strategy for the development of the region. 

He gave the charge while delivering a goodwill message, Friday, at the Niger Delta Stakeholders' Summit organized by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Senator (Dr) Akon Eyakenyi, the Governor emphasized the need for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to work collaboratively with the state governments for the advancement of the region.

"As a region, the Niger Delta must evolve a unified strategy that will drive development efforts going forward.

"While I recognize the efforts of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the NDDC, IOCs, multilateral agencies and other organizations in developing the region over the years, I like to quickly observe that the need for a harmonized strategy remains an overriding imperative for the sustainable growth and development of the Niger Delta Region," he noted. 

The Governor disclosed that the ARISE Agenda of his administration was big on agriculture, rural development, infrastructural maintenance, security management and educational advancement, noting that the NDDC was expected to collaborate with the state governments for the implementation of these developmental programmes. 

"The ARISE Agenda, our economic and governance blueprint is big on agriculture, rural development, infrastructural maintenance, security management and educational advancement. These are some of the areas the NDDC was, and still is expected to work collaboratively with the state governments for the region to advance."

He also advocated for the creation of jobs for the youths as a panacea for the restiveness which has characterized the region over the years.

"We must redouble our efforts to create jobs for our youths, we must train them in marketable skills, encourage them to absorb and develop an entrepreneurial mindset, so the restiveness may continue to dissipate."

Speaking earlier, Chairman of the event and former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan commended the Commission for bringing stakeholders together to fashion out the way forward for the region. 

In his remarks, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu acknowledged the efforts of the current management of the NDDC at completing projects abandoned by successive management of the Commission, urging them to faithfully execute the mandate of the Commission. 

Represented by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the President promised to complete the East-West Road and commence the Niger Delta portion of the Lagos - Calabar Coastal Highway. 

The event was attended by members of the National Assembly, governors, ministers and other stakeholders of the Niger Delta Region.