Kim Jong Un, leader of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), and U.S. President Donald Trump are willing to hold the first-ever historic summit as scheduled in Singapore.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Sunday confirmed this in a nationally televised address at the presidential complex, saying both Kim and Trump wished the success of their summit originally scheduled for June 12 wholeheartedly.

The confirmation came after Moon held a surprise summit Saturday with Kim on the DPRK side of the border village of Panmunjom. Moon met with Trump in Washington on May 22 to discuss the DPRK-U.S. summit.

The South Korean leader said he met with Kim for the second time in a month following the third inter-Korean summit on the South Korean side of Panmunjom on April 27. The second meeting between Moon and Kim was held at the request of the DPRK leader.

At the April 27 summit, Moon and Kim promised to meet at any time, in any place and in no format, if necessary, to discuss significant issues between the two Koreas.

Kim had delivered his intent Friday afternoon to meet with Moon in no format, which the South Korean president willingly accepted.

Moon spoke highly his second meeting with Kim, which the South Korean leader likened to a daily round between old friends. He said the two Koreas should meet as it was.

During the Saturday meeting, Moon explained to Kim about the outcome of his summit with Trump in Washington earlier this week, conveying Trumps firm will to end hostile relations with the DPRK and build economic cooperation if Kim fulfills complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Moon told Kim that Pyongyang and Washington should dispel possible misunderstandings via direct dialogues and have sufficient working-level talks over agenda that needs to be agreed upon at the Kim-Trump summit as both Kim and Trump wholeheartedly wished the success of the DPRK-U.S. summit.

Kim agreed to the need for what Moon told him, the South Korean president noted.

The DPRK leader made clear his commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula at the Saturday meeting, expressing his willingness to end the history of war and conflicts, and cooperate for peace and prosperity via a successful DPRK-U.S. summit.

Moon and Kim wished the June 12 DPRK-U.S. summit could be held as scheduled and the journey of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and building permanent peace should never be stopped. The leaders agreed to closely cooperate to achieve it.

To rapidly enforce the Panmunjom Declaration, which Moon and Kim announced after the April 27 summit, the two sides agreed to resume high-level inter-Korean dialogue on June 1, which had been cancelled at the last minute.

It will be followed by inter-Korean military talks to ease military tensions and a Red Cross talks to hold the reunion of separated families across the inter-Korean border since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, according to the South Korean president who took office in May last year.

Moon and Kim also agreed to meet and communicate, if necessary, at any time and in no format, Moon said.

The inter-Korean talks between high-level officials were originally held last week, but Pyongyang made a pre-dawn cancellation citing the joint annual South Korea-U.S. air combat exercises, codenamed Max Thunder that ended on Friday.

In a publicized letter to the DPRK leader, Trump cancelled the DPRK-U.S. summit on Thursday, citing tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in recent DPRK statements.

Following the cancellation, the DPRK said it was ready to sit down with the United States, and then Trump said the U.S.-DPRK summit likely remained as scheduled.

Moon said in the speech that the DPRK showed its determination by dismantling its nuclear test site and stopping nuclear and missile tests, calling it a completely new start toward complete denuclearization and permanent peace on the peninsula.

Pyongyang invited journalists earlier this week to let them cover the dismantlement of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, where all of its six nuclear tests were conducted.

*Xinhua

Source: NAN

NAN Reporting

The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) has appealed an Order of Interim Injunction from the National Industrial Court (NIC), compelling it to immediately resume duties.

Addressing an emergency news conference on behalf of the national body of JOHESU in Abuja on Saturday, Dr Godwin Okara, the Chairman, Assembly of Healthcare Professionals Association (AHPA), said the matter is now at the Court of Appeal.

Okara said JOHESU had filed Court Processes before the Court of Appeal on May 21, challenging the locus standi of the Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International, an NGO, and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit.

He said the union only received the NIC order at 5.39 p.m. on Friday (May 25).

“An Order of Interim Injunction compelling JOHESU to immediately resume duties was just served on JOHESU at 5.39 p.m. on Friday May 25.

“We have the greatest respect and regard for the Judiciary of our country Nigeria.

“It has always proved to be the bulwark of our democracy, the last hope of the common man and the flagship of the vanguard for law and order in human society,” he said.

Okara described the suit as a calculated attempt by the Federal Ministry of Health and the NGO to demonise JOHESU through sustained misinformation and falsehood.

The JOHESU official explained that the briefing was aimed at updating the media and the general public on the latest developments affecting the industrial action.

He explained that the union decided to seek legal redress when it noticed that there was an intention by the parties to tarnish the image of its members on the mass media when they have not received any court order.

“JOHESU had before the receipt of this Court Order filed Court Processes in the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal on May 21, 2018, challenging the locus standi of the NGO and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit.

“The move is a follow up to the calculated attempt to demonise JOHESU through sustained misinformation and falsehood by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International, an NGO, which is neither our employer nor a party to the agreement JOHESU signed with Government.

“The NGO has constituted itself into a meddlesome interloper,” Okara said.

He also expressed concern over the persistent attempts by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to misinform the public through malicious fabrication of accusation and blatant lies that JOHESU members had locked up theatres, consulting rooms, laboratories and wards.

Okara dismissed insinuations by the NMA that their members were intimidated by JOHESU officials and hospital authorities lack the power to keep the gates and doors of our health facilities open.

“It beats imagination that NMA will go to any ridiculous length in giving bad names to a dog in order to hang it,’’ he said.

According to him, JOHESU members have conducted themselves with the highest degree of restraint and discipline in the face of provocation and double-dealing by the Federal Ministry of Health and NMA.

The AHPA chairman commended the leadership of the Senate for their recent intervention aimed at ensuring full and amicable resolution of the crisis.

Okara also appreciated all men and women of good conscience that have lend their voices of reason to JOHESU’s struggle for improved healthcare facilities in the country, justice, fairness and equity in the health sector.

While sympatising with patients and their relatives over the pangs of the strike, he appealed to the general public to understand that the strike was in the best interest of improving the country’s health sector.

Okara urged members of JOHESU to sustain the strike pending the outcome of national consultative meetings with states and zonal leaders of the union to review the latest situation and decide on the next line of action on May 27 and 28 in Abuja, respectively.

The JOHESU official therefore, urged the Federal Government to implement the agreement reached with the union on Sept. 30, 2017, to avoid further loss of lives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the NIC had on May 17 ordered striking members of JOHESU to suspend its ongoing strike, and resume work nationwide within 24 hours.

Justice Babatunde Adejumo, President of the NIC, gave the order after listening to the submissions of Mr Okere Nnamdi, in an ex-parte motion filed by the NGO, Incorporated Trustees of Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International.

The NGO in the motion prayed the court to order the workers to restore normal healthcare services and go back to negotiation table.

Source: NAN

Frustrated by the lingering impasse in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senators Suleiman Hunkuyi and Shehu Sani are considering dumping the party.

Their faction of APC in Kaduna State says it was considering defecting to another political party barely few months to the 2019 general elections.

The faction, known as APC Akida, said in a statement in Kaduna on Friday that they have concluded a review of the state of the party and governance issues in the state and the nation, and was considering leaving the party they worked hard to put in place.

The group said it would take the decision if there is no visible evidence of success in addressing the damaging levels of alienation and frustration among the millions of party faithful in Kaduna State.

Other prominent members of the faction that are set to discard APC are Isah Ashiru former APC governorship aspirant, and Mr. Mataimaki Tom Maiyashi.

Maiyashi, Chairman of the group, who signed the statement said two recent events in the state chapter of the party have confirmed the fears of the absence of credible and legitimate party leadership.

These, he said, were capable of destroying the credibility and popularity of the party.

The party congresses and the Local Government Councils elections in Kaduna State have confirmed the fears of the absence of credible and legitimate party leadership and this would destroy the credibility and popularity of the party.

These are fears which the Akida group had raised since the early days of the administration of Governor Nasir el-Rufai.

The congresses have exposed the contempt for popular participation by the Governor and his hand-picked choir.

Our party has lost massive popularity and goodwill as a result of attempts to force the choices of an unpopular government on party faithful, he said.

Maiyashi said those who emerged as leaders of the party from the congresses enjoyed no support or legitimacy among party members.

It has become painfully aware that all efforts to halt the damage being done to our party ,including many attempts by the leadership of the APC at zonal and national levels, are unlikely to reverse the decline in our partys capacity to live up to its promises made to the people in 2015.

The Akida group has informed all relevant party organs and leaders that it will regretfully consider leaving a party it worked hard to put in place if there is no visible evidence of success in addressing the damaging levels of alienation and frustration among the millions of party faithful in Kaduna State.

As things stand, the founding values of our party, particularly integrity, accountability, inclusiveness and compassion have been systematically repudiated by the government of Nasir el-Rufai, starting with the subversion of the autonomy and integrity of the party at all levels in the state.

We appeal to anyone with authority or influence over the governor to use it responsibly to head off a looming disaster in the shape of a party that has lost its foundations and integrity, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The recently passed 2018 Appropriation Bill has been transmitted to the presidency for the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Sen. Ita Enang , the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), confirmed on Friday, the receipt of the 2018 Appropriation Bill.

The NASS had on May 16 passed the 2018 Appropriation Bill of N9.12 trillion.

The budget was increased by the legislature by N508 billion from the N8.61 trillion proposed and presented by President Buhari to the NASS in November 2017.

Enang, in a statement in Abuja, said he had received the 2018 budget passed by both chambers of the NASS and was set to be transmitted to the president for further action.

I have received the 2018 Appropriation Bill for onward transmission to the President as soon as possible.

Since the Appropriation Bill has been received, what is left is for it to be transmitted immediately to the President, he said

The National Assembly on May 16, passed the 2018 Appropriation Bill of N9.12 trillion after it was increased by the lawmakers by N508 billion.

Chairman of the committee, Sen. Danjuma Goje, presented the budget and explained that it was premised on oil price benchmark of 51 dollars per barrel as against 45 dollars proposed by the president.

He added that it also benchmarked at crude oil production of 2.3 million barrels per day and exchange rate of N305 to one dollar.

Goje said that of the aggregate expenditure of N9.12 trillion, N530 billion was earmarked for Statutory Transfers while N2 trillion was earmarked for Debt Service.

He added that N3.5 trillion was earmarked for Recurrent Expenditure, N2.8 trillion for Capital Expenditure, N1.95 trillion for fiscal deposit, while Deficit to Gross Domestic Product was put at -1.73 per cent.

He recalled that the 2018 Budget as presented by Buhari had the objective of delivering on a three year (2018-2020) Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

The Bill contained the estimates of revenue and expenditure totalling N8, 612, 236, 953, 214.

It was made up of Statutory Transfers of N 456, 458, 654, 074 and Debt Service of N2, 233, 835, 365, 699.

Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure is N3, 494, 277, 820, 219 and Contribution to Development Fund for Capital Expenditure is N2, 427,665,113,222, he said.

Goje disclosed that there was additional allocation to security to the tune of N47 billion, Reduction of Deficit, N51 billion and Health, N57 billion.

Other additional allocations, according to him, are Power, Works and Housing, N107 billion, N16 billion to Education, particularly for infrastructure for the 12 newly-established universities and meal subsidy in Unity Schools.

He also said that N10 billion was allocated to Judiciary while additional provision of N44 billion was allocated to Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The committee chairman, therefore, explained that the various additional allocations accounted for the budget increment from N8.61 trillion to N9.12 trillion.

He regretted the delay in the passage of the budget, but said that it was not entirely the fault of the National Assembly.

Lawmakers commented on the budget, with James Manager (Delta-PDP) saying that to avoid speculations, it was important to let Nigerians know that the increment in the budget was in consultation with the Executive.

Sen. Lanre Tejuoso (APC-Ogun) described the bill as a budget of transformation with the introduction of one per cent Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) in the health allocation.

He explained that the implication of the one per cent was that a minimum of 3,000 Nigerians in each local government area would have their health bills paid for by government.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said that there was need to grow the economy away from oil.

He also said that government spending must continue to grow on issues relevant to the welfare and security of the people.

Saraki stressed that government spending should reduce in areas where the private sector was better placed to catalyse progress, adding that it would free up funds for education, health, water and sanitation services, among others.

On this note, it is with great delight that I announce that the 2018 Budget has met the threshold of reserving at least one per cent of total budget to health.

This is historic. We were focused on this commitment of the one per cent set aside for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). We promised and we have delivered.

For us, this is not a commitment to numbers; it is a commitment to the health and well-being of our people; it is a commitment to making Nigeria stronger.

We expect that this will continue and even inch upwards as we work to eradicate malaria, and significantly reduce infant and maternal mortality.

The statistics that show Nigeria as having one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world is not the Nigeria we want to leave behind for our children.

The journey starts now; let us not look back, he said.

Saraki emphasised the need for the Executive and the Legislature to come together, especially in the formation and passage of Appropriation Bill.

He said that while progress had been made in the formation stages, a lot more needed to happen to minimise delays and other stumbling blocks in the process.

One of the symptoms of the unhelpful aspects of the prevailing culture hampering the process remains the neglect or refusal of certain agencies of government to honour invitations to budget defence.

It is our hope that we will see a major change in this regard, going forward.

The Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) has been passed; it should, of course, be duly signed and implemented so that our people can reap the full dividends of this landmark legislation.

We would like to see that the process of implementation of the budget starts immediately so that our people will begin to benefit from the objective of the budget and opportunities it opens.

In order for us to have an efficient budget implementation, we will advise that agencies of government eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy and speed up the procurement process, he said.

Passing the Bill at the House of Representatives, the lawmakers warned the Federal Government not to engage in extra-budgetary spending unless through supplementary appropriation.

They also barred the government from borrowing without first furnishing the legislature with details of the borrowing plan and obtaining approval.

Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas, who briefed the media on the conditions given to the government, said that the House had constituted a conference committee to liaise with the Senate on the conditions.

He said that the budget must henceforth, run a full circle of 12 months.

We have set up a conference committee to harmonise with the Senate based on the new clauses passed by the House.

We believe that a clean copy of the budget will be ready by next week and sent to the president for assent.

Namdas explained that the budget was jacked up based on a new oil benchmark of 51 dollars, crude oil production of 2.3 million barrels per day and an exchange rate of N305 to one dollar.

After close consultation with the Executives, the increase in oil benchmark was applied in the following critical sectors of the economy reduction of deficit amounted to N50.88 billion; security N46.72 billion; health N57.15 billion; power, works and housing N106.50 billion. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has appointed a former Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico, Chief Lawrence Nwuruku and a former Minister of State for Power and Steel Chief Goddy Ogbaga, to manage two rice mills in Ikwo and Izzi Local Government Areas (LGA).

Nwuruku, also a former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) National Commissioner, would manage the Ikwo Rice Mill, while Ogbaga was appointed the Chairman of the Rice Mill, located in Iboko, Izzi LGA.

Umahi made the announcements on Friday during the novelty football matches involving the various arms of governments and parastatals in the state as part of events to mark the 2018 democracy day celebrations.

The governor commended the organisers of the novelty matches, noting that the excitement had reduced the blood pressure of spectators at the refurbished Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium.

He also announced a donation of N5 million to participants of the matches with the six winning teams getting N500, 000 each.

The four-runners up will get N400, 000 each, while the officials would also get N400, 000, he said.

NAN reports that Ogbaga and Nwuruku recently declared their intentions to run for the Ebonyi North and Central Senatorial seats of the state respectively.

Source: NAN

Leaders of North and South Korea have met to ensure the historic meeting between North Korea leader Kim Jong Un and the U.S. President Donald Trump, still holds.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in met with his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong Un in the demilitarized zone for the second time in a month on Saturday to discuss the peace commitments they reached in their first summit.

There has been uncertainty over the North Korea-U.S. meeting following various demands by Trump and his North Korean counterpart.

The meeting between the Korean leaders came hours after President Donald Trump suggested his June 12 meeting with Kim may still go ahead.

Moons office, which released photos of the meeting, said the leaders met on the North Korean side of the demilitarized zone in the village of Panmunjom between 3 and 5 p.m. local time.

The Blue House said Moon would personally announce the outcome of Saturdays summit on Sunday.

The two leaders reportedly spoke for two hours to frankly discuss how they could make the potential summit between Kim and Trump a success.

The meeting came hours after South Korea expressed relief over revived talks for a summit between Trump and Kim following a whirlwind 24 hours that saw the U.S. president cancel the meeting.

In their first summit in April, Kim and Moon announced vague aspirations for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and permanent peace, which Seoul has tried to sell as a meaningful breakthrough to set up the summit with Trump.

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Source: NAN

The U.S. government has warned the Syrian government not to execute its planned attack of rebels in the Southern part of the country following a “de-escalation zone” agreement signed by three countries.

It would be recalled that the U.S., Russia, and Jordan agreed last year on a “de-escalation zone” in southwestern Syria to freeze the lines of conflict.

In a statement released Friday, the State Department said it was concerned by reports that Assad’s forces were preparing for an operation near the Jordanian and Israeli borders.

The U.S. said it will take “firm and appropriate measures” to protect a cease-fire in southern Syria if President Bashar Assad’s forces attack rebels there.

The State Department further warned the Syrian government against “any actions that risk broadening the conflict.”

The U.S. and Israel are growing increasingly concerned about Iranian military activities in Syria in support of Assad.

Israel says it does not want Iranian forces massing close to the nearby occupied Golan Heights.

Source: NAN

At least 40 people have died in a road accident involving a passenger bus, a tractor and a beer truck in Northern Uganda, the country’s Red Cross said on Saturday.

The police had initially put the death toll at 19, but the Red Cross said on their official Twitter page that the accident had “claimed over 40 lives.’’

The accident occurred late on Friday near Kiryandongo, about 260 kilometers from Kampala, police spokesman Emilian Kayima said, adding that children were among the dead.

The bus “rammed into a tractor and hit it badly, rolled and hit another beer truck,’’ he said in a statement.

“Evacuation teams are working tirelessly to rescue the injured. Reinforcement is being organised to support the rescue services,’’ Kayima added, without saying how many were injured.

Bus accidents are common on Ugandan roads and are blamed on speeding, drunken driving and the poor mechanical condition of the vehicles.

Source: NAN

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has pledged its commitment to end violence against children in Nigeria, as the country joins the world to mark the 2018 Children’s Day.

Mr Isiye Ndombi, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Children’s Day is commemorated on May 27, every year.

NAN reports that the theme of the celebration is: “Creating Safe Spaces for Children: Our Collective Responsibility.’’

Ndombi decried violence against children in the country and promised that the organisation was determined to mobilise the will and resources to tackle all forms of violence against children wherever it occurred.

The UNICEF deputy representative, however, described violence against children as pervasive, adding that it occurred in the home, school, work place and “online”.

According to him, perpetrators often include the very people children are expected to trust – parents, caregivers and other family members, friends, teachers and intimate partners.

“We are currently re-analysing the 2014 Violence Against Children Survey (VACS) findings to gain an even deeper understanding of the drivers of violence against children.

“We are also supporting our Government partners to launch our National Plan of Action to End VAC by 2030, alongside a national Social Norms Change Strategy.

“We are supporting the Government to track and monitor reported cases to end the menace,’’ she said.

Ndombi noted that violence against children affected them for life, saying that the marks were sometimes visible bruises and broken bones.

According to him, harm caused by violence on children also affects their mental and physical health and their ability to function in the world.

Speaking on the year’s theme, Ndombi said it provides an excellent opportunity to speak up on behalf of all the vulnerable children in the country.

He identified the efforts of the government to end violence against children to include the conduct of VAC survey in 2014.

The survey, according to him, provides the first national representative data on the prevalence of sexual, physical, and emotional violence among children in the country.

Ndombi identified Nigeria as the first country in the West African sub-region and the 9th worldwide to conduct VAC survey.

This, he said demonstrate the commitment of government to tackle the menace.

“The findings released at the end of 2015, highlighted that millions of Nigerian children are suffering from violence every year and most are suffering in silence.

“Six out of 10 children will suffer some form of emotional, physical or sexual violence before they reach the age of 18.

“Many of them encounter violence over and over; yet, less than five per cent of the children that seek help and receive support.

“This is a clear call for the government at all levels to act to end violence against children.

“In September 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari launched a Year of Action to End Violence Against Children and called on all Nigerians to join this battle.

“Buhari renewed his commitment in October 2016 by launching a long-term campaign, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, to End Violence Against Children by 2030,’’ he noted.

Source: NAN

A First class traditional ruler in Bayelsa State and Amananaowei of Amassoma, His Royal Highness Maj. Graham Naingba (retired), has raised the alarm that politicians are exploiting the crisis in the community to cause fresh tension over the 2019 general elections.

He, therefore, warned politicians against igniting fresh crisis that could deepen the unfortunate crisis which recently engulfed Amassoma, a host community to the Niger Delta University in Wilberforce Island.

Naingba specifically cautioned a popular Ijaw musician and lawyer against producing any music on the recent crisis involving the NDU and the Amassoma community.

The monarch in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by him, described the planned crisis as “condemnable and reprehensible.”

He said any further fresh crisis could negate ongoing efforts of the Bayelsa State government towards amicable resolution of the crisis.

According to him, governor Henry Seriake Dickson, has not only put adequate measures in place to address emergent issues but is also effectively resolving the crisis.

“Characters with dubious intent with the backing of politicians focused on 2019 elections should desist from exploiting the crisis to cause further division in Amassoma community.

“The platform of music should not be exploited to inflict pain and agony on the community because the conflict is already being resolved by the various authorities.

“It has come to the attention of the traditional institution and authorities of Amassoma that a popular musician, Chief Barrister Smooth, has released a musical record in the form of an inflammatory dirge on the recent crisis in our dear community, Amassoma.

“While we are not opposed to genuine efforts geared towards peace, security and prosperity of our town, the people òf Amassoma are not in support of the activities of the particular musician with the backing of politicians which are designed to inflame passions in the community.

“Politicians should leave Amassoma alone. The tendency to exploit a crisis situation to aggravate conflict cannot be the best way to show concern and love. This is unknown to the culture of our people.

“The Amassoma community finds this curious action as unpatriotic. Amassoma can do without these crocodile tears and detrimental sympathies. For the purpose of emphasis, we advise that nobody should compose a song to inflame tension and threaten public peace in our community.

“The Governor and the traditional authorities have not only put machinery in place to address the issue but are indeed resolving the crisis. Nobody should do anything that will inflame passion or acts that can lead to further unrest in our community. ”

The monarch said that for anyone to claim to love Amassoma more than the indigenes was the loudest way to express hypocrisy.
“Politicians should leave Amassoma alone. The tendency to exploit a crisis to deepen conflict cannot be the best way to show concern. Amassoma is beyond any individual,” he said.

Source: NAN