The Jigawa State Government has earmarked ₦250 million for the procurement of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) as part of its efforts to combat the growing malnutrition crisis among children in rural areas.

Dr. Sambo Shehu, Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, made this known during a meeting with agency staff. He described the situation as alarming and emphasized the urgent need for intervention to save the lives of vulnerable children.

He further outlined the agency’s key priorities for 2025, which include routine immunization, enhanced antenatal and delivery services, and a renewed focus on addressing malnutrition in the state.

The agency also officially handed over a newly constructed and furnished two-bedroom staff house to the Abaya Primary Healthcare Center in Dutse Local Government Area. Funded through a monetary gift from the Governors’ Forum, this project is one of seven similar housing units completed to support healthcare workers across the state.

Community members in Abaya commended the government for the initiative, expressing optimism that the improved facilities would boost healthcare delivery in the area.

A suspected bomb explosion has left the people of Umuneke Obazu Mbieri in Mbaitoli LGA, Imo State, devastated as they woke up on Sunday morning to witness the incident.

Confiding in journalists, a community leader, Emeka Arimanwa, narrated that at about 1 am, a suspected drone was seen hovering over the community and its neighbouring Umunjam and Amaulu in Ihitte Mbieri autonomous communities, a scene he said was unusual.

He further explained that within 10 minutes of sighting the object, a loud explosion was heard, leading to the destruction of one building and causing varying degrees of damage to other nearby buildings.

Arimanwa hinted that the effect of the explosion had created apprehension in the community, as such an incident had never occurred in the area before.

He called on security agencies to visit the scene to ascertain the level of destruction caused by the explosion and investigate its cause.

The DPO in charge of Mbieri Police Division, Superintendent of Police Wet Ben, had visited the scene but did not make any official statement regarding the cause of the explosion.

Visiting the scene of the explosion, the chairman of the local government, Ifunanya Nwanegwo, addressed residents of the area and urged them to remain calm, assuring them that everything was being done to unravel the cause of the explosion.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has called for constructive dialogue with the Federal Government regarding the Tax Reform Bill, especially its implications for the workforce across the nation.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, made this call at the weekend during the unveiling of CNG buses for the Southwest chapters of the Union in Ibadan

Ajaero stressed the urgency of addressing critical concerns within the Bill.

“Collaboration with the government is essential to clarify and resolve certain issues outlined in the Bill. For instance, the Bill proposes zero taxation for workers earning below N800,000 annually.

“However, it’s important to note that many in the public service earn above the levels that fall under this threshold.

“If we consider a baseline of N70,000 per month, there are hardly any worker on Level 1, Step 1 who earns this amount. This suggests that virtually all workers in Nigeria could be affected by the proposed tax structure. We need clarity on these matters, and a dialogue is necessary to highlight where the concerns lie,” Ajaero stated.

Contributing to the discussion, a tax expert from Lead City University Ibadan, Professor Godwin Oyedokun, acknowledged the importance of taxes in societal development, warning against imposing taxes on those who cannot afford to pay, a practice he termed taxing poverty.

According to him, the new tax initiatives should focus on individuals with luxurious lifestyles, ensuring they contribute fairly to the system.

He underscored the significance of reforming tax policies to capture revenue from informal sectors and digital businesses.

The tax expert also encouraged the NLC to pursue constructive negotiations with the government, rather than outright opposition to the reforms, suggesting that resistance might stem from self-interest.