National News
FG Insists Scavengers Need Adequate Remuneration
FG Insists Scavengers Need Adequate Remuneration
By: Michael Mike
The federal government has called on stakeholders in the environmental sector to recognize recognize the importance of waste pickers (scavengers) popularly called in local parlance Baban Bolla, insisting that they should be adequately remunerated for their valuable contributions to environmental sustainability and equitable waste management system in the country.
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at a stakeholders consultative meeting on the development of National Digital repository for waste pickers in Nigeria.
He said to address the problem faced by these heroes of waste management, stakeholders must work together to implement solutions that will guarantee better working conditions for waste pickers.
The Minister said: “Some of which include the following measures, formalization and recognition: Integrating waste pickers into the formal waste management sector.
“Training and capacity building: Enhancing skills and knowledge for improved safety and efficiency; Social protection and inclusion, Ensuring access to healthcare, education and social services; Policy and regulatory framework: Strengthening laws and policies to protect waste pickers’ rights and interests.”
Lawan noted that waste pickers are the backbone of the waste recovery, contributing significantly to the recycling and circular economy.
He said: “We cannot speak about sustainable waste management without reference to the operation of waste pickers who form an integral part of the waste management value chain.
“Waste pickers exists as unsung heroes but the truth is that they provide essential services which ensure protection of our environment and public health it is in recognition of this vital role that the Federal Ministry of Environment in partnership with International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Tearfund Nigeria is organizing this stakeholders forum to develop a National Digital repository for waste pickers to address the myriads of challenges they face in the course of performing their duties.”
The minister noted that they form the informal group whose activities encompasses all aspect of waste management from collection, sorting, transportation, processing and selling of recovered and recyclable materials to earn a living.
He said: “They have established such a high network of operation and distribution of valuables both within and outside the country, they can therefore not be overlooked in the value chain, the growing demand for recyclable materials and the transition to a circular economy makes it very imperative for governments and the general public to recognise, regulate and integrate waste pickers into the overall waste management effort in order to unlock the immense economic potential using them as reliable foot soldiers.”
Lawan noted that: “Waste pickers in Nigeria, are confronted with the following challenges, they live in shanties or makeshift house
“Their activities are not formalised which results in lack of coordination and regulation by government agencies, they are exposed to several health hazards and risk due to exposure to hazardous wastes, they lack access to adequate medical facilities or first aid treatment.
On his part, the National Project Coordinator, ILO, Mr Stephen Agugua, said concerted effort is required to ensure that waste streams are effectively controlled using sound waste management practices.
He explained that when managed well, waste offers opportunities for creation of jobs in the circular economy which can contribute to strengthening the resilience of local economies and expansion of opportunities for decent job creation.
Agugua said: “These considerations have motivated the interventions and actions of ILO within this sector, as a UN agency, the ILO is also bounded by the Fair Circularity Principles which applies the expectations and responsibilities outlined in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to the informal waste sector.
These were first published in Shift (2022) cutive Summary, Principles from Corporate Engagement on Human Rights with the Informal Waste Sector. ”
He however lamented that despite the crucial environmental and public health role they play, waste pickers often face significant human rights impacts.
“Under the UNGPs, internationally recognized human rights are defined in the International Bill of Human Rights, ie, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and core ILO standards, the principles concerning fundamental rights in the eight ILO core conventions as set out in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Rights and Principles at Work.” He said.
Agugua, also assured that ILO and its constituent partners are committed to ensuring a sustainable future takes place and meets the requirements of decent work in globally.
He further stressed that the ILO recognize the critical role of informal waste sector workers in plastics waste and recycling value chains.
“To respect the rights of informal waste sector workers by preventing and addressing human rights impacts experienced by those workers, in line with the nature of the company’s involvement, Engage all partners in plastics packaging recycling value chains towards coherent and comprehensive approaches, engage government actors to create enabling environments for rights-respecting business practices.” He said.
FG Insists Scavengers Need Adequate Remuneration
National News
VP Shettima Departs Abuja For Dakar To Represent President Tinubu At Senegal’s 65th Independence Anniversary
VP Shettima Departs Abuja For Dakar To Represent President Tinubu At Senegal’s 65th Independence Anniversary
By: Our Reporter
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has departed Abuja for Dakar, Senegal, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the country’s 65th Independence Day Anniversary celebrations.
Senegal celebrates its Independence Day on April 4 each year, commemorating its freedom from French colonial rule in 1960. The day is marked by national pride, with ceremonies, parades and cultural events.
The Vice President’s attendance at the annual event is in honour of an invitation extended to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Senegalese President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, following the strong mutual relationship between Nigeria and Senegal.
The independence Day celebrations will be held at the Place de la Nation in Dakar, with President Faye playing host to Vice President Shettima and other distinguished guests from across Africa and beyond.
The Vice President is expected to return to Nigeria tomorrow after the one-day event.
VP Shettima Departs Abuja For Dakar To Represent President Tinubu At Senegal’s 65th Independence Anniversary
President Tinubu Laying Foundation For A Better Nigeria, Says Hajiya Nana Shettima
- Tasks Nigerians on constructive criticism of government actions, policies
By: Our Reporter
Wife of Nigeria’s Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, has scored the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu very high, saying the President is building a better Nigeria for Nigerians through his laudable economic policies, various empowerment initiatives and investments in key sectors of the economy.
And to help the President secure a better future for all Nigerians, the VP’s wife also encouraged the citizens not to relent in giving very useful advice to the government, urging them to be more constructive in their criticism of the administration instead of just attacking for political reasons.
Hajiya Nana Shettima spoke on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, during the annual Ramadan feast, which had in attendance women groups and students
Emphasizing the determination of the Tinubu administration to leave a lasting legacy for generations to come, she said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is baking a new cake for us that are alive today, and for the Nigerian children and grandchildren that are coming behind us. It is who he is ably supported by our lovely First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.”
Hajiya Nana Shettima noted that the President means well for the people of Borno State as well as Nigerians in all parts of the country, even as she urged the citizens to always pray for President Tinubu and members of his cabinet.
“I can tell you that he (the President) means well, not only for Borno people but for the entire nation. We should not forget him and his subordinates in our prayers,” she added.
She further commended the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her contributions towards actualizing the agenda of the administration, especially through the Renewed Hope Initiative which she said has impacted many lives, including women, children and people with disabilities.
Also speaking at the event, the Director General of Maryam Babangida Centre for Women Development, Abuja, Dr Asabe Bashir, admonished women and the people of Borno State to imbibe the teachings of the just concluded Ramadan.
She also sought the people’s support and prayers for President Tinubu, thanking the President for picking his deputy from Borno State.
She said, “I always reiterate the importance of prayer because without prayers we can do nothing in life. We have just come out of Ramadan; let us imbibe that culture and lessons we received during the 29-day fast. We need to continue with the spiritual reflection.
“We should thank God and President Bola Tinubu for remembering the people of Borno State again by bringing the seat of the Vice President, not just to the North-East region but to Borno State after Ambassador Babagana Kingibe was elected along with the late Chief MKO Abiola so many years ago.
“We must continue to pray for the administration of President Bola Tinubu because if it succeeds, we succeed,” Dr Bashir added.
On his part, the Speaker, Youth Assembly of Nigeria, Tijjani Abubakar, thanked President Tinubu for his support to Nigerian youths through various youth empowerment initiatives.
Also, Dr Martins Ekunke, who spoke on behalf the South-South, Yoruba and Igbo communities residing in Borno State, commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for galvanizing support for people living with HIV/AIDS through her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative.
Among those that attended the annual Sallah feast hosted by Hajiya Shettima, were the wife of the Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Hajiya Maryam Lawan; wife of the Deputy Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Hajiya Laure Musa-Askira; female Commissioners and political appointees.
Also in attendance were women groups, members of the Borno State chapter of the Nationals Association of Nigerian Students, as well as the leaders of South-South, Igbo and Yoruba communities residing in Borno State, among others.
President Tinubu Laying Foundation For A Better Nigeria, Says Hajiya Nana Shettima
UNILORIN Alumni Commences Tinubu on Appointment of Nandap, Omotowa, Aribisala
By: Michael Mike
The National Headquarters of University of Ilorin Alumni Association has lauded President Bola Tinubu for appointing three of its members into various leadership positions in the country.
Those appointed were Comptroller General of Immigration, Mrs Kemi Nandap,, whose tenure was elongated till December 2026, Non Executive Director of NNPC, representing North Central, Mr Babs Omotowa- and the Pioneer Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin-Ekiti, Prof. James A. Aribisala.
In a congratulatory message to the trio, the National President, Prof. AbdulRasaq Kilani, and the National Secretary, Dr Barakat Raji, said the Association received the news of the appointments with excitement.
The Alumni, who commended President Tinubu for selecting the best for their various positions, assured him that the three alumni would not disappoint him in attaining the goals set for them to achieve.
While felicitating with the appointed members on their well-deserved appointment, the Association charged them to always show the excellence in them in surpassing the targets set for them by Mr President.
The Association who extolled the pedigrees of the appointed members in their various fields, implored them to live up to the expectations of the slogan of the institutions “better by far” in all ramifications.
The Alumni then prayed for their successful tenure and tasked them not to hesitate to reach out to them whenever their services are needed in any capacity towards national development.
UNILORIN Alumni Commences Tinubu on Appointment of Nandap, Omotowa, Aribisala
VP Shettima Departs Abuja For Dakar To Represent President Tinubu At Senegal’s 65th Independence Anniversary
KOGI YOUTHS CALL ANTI-AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN’S CAMPAIGNERS ENEMIES OF DEMOCRACY
President Tinubu Laying Foundation For A Better Nigeria, Says Hajiya Nana Shettima
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