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Tanzania’s Handling Of Coronavirus Highlights President Magufuli’s Relationship With TB Joshua

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The respected Pan-African magazine ‘The Africa Report’ has written a detailed report on Tanzania’s unique approach to the coronavirus pandemic, citing the faith of its President John Magufuli and his relationship with Nigerian Pastor TB Joshua as a mitigating factor.

With just months to go to the end of his first term, Magufuli is making global headlines as his administration continues its unusual approach to controlling COVID-19 within its borders.

On 3 May, Tanzania’s head of state triggered shockwaves after he said fruits and inanimate objects he had had secretly sent to the East African nation’s main lab had come back positive for COVID-19, casting doubt on the efficacy of testing kits they had received from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

While President Magufuli’s scientific background makes him a rarity among his peers in the region, the outspoken leader has clearly decided to rely more on faith than science, insisting on not closing down any churches or religious gatherings or initiating a strict lockdown.

He was recently seen in pictures at a ‘prayer mountain’, seeking God’s intervention for his nation.

“Other than the chemistry doctorate and a decade and a half spent serving in the cabinets of two of his predecessors, there’s little in President John Magufuli’s recent political and personal life that suggests he would have reacted any differently to a health crisis,” the article in The Africa Report details.

“For example, the Tanzanian president is a follower of popular Nigerian preacher T.B Joshua,” the report explains, adding that Joshua had controversially revealed the virus would stop spreading in Wuhan, China from March 27th 2020.

Around the same time, President Magufuli asked the nation to “use the three days from 17th to 19th April to pray to God to help us evade this disease”.

“When he landed in Tanzania for Magufuli’s inauguration ceremony in 2015, Joshua was treated like royalty, and welcomed into the country by the outgoing president, the incoming president, and the head of opposition at the time,” the article continues, revealing the extent of the Nigerian Pastor’s relationship with the ‘Bulldozer’.

“Joshua is widely popular in certain parts of Africa, including among southern African leaders, and over in Latin America. On Magufuli’s election, several news sites claimed it was the preacher who had encouraged his presidential ambitions as early as 2011,” it continued.

They also referenced the video on Emmanuel TV in which Magufuli’s eldest son explained how “the Nigerian preacher had healed him of a respiratory disease in 2013 when modern medicine had failed”.

Magufuli visited Joshua’s popular church in Lagos several times prior to his ascendancy to power and his wife Janeth was among the thousands in attendance at the cleric’s crusade in Nazareth, Israel in June 2019.

Whilst maintaining scepticism over the test-kits, Magufuli is also one of the first African leaders to order a consignment of the Madagascar-made herbal treatment for coronavirus.

TB Joshua recently made headlines when pictures surfaced of his time at an undisclosed ‘Prayer Mountain’.

Upon his return, the cleric warned of impending hardship that would accompany the aftermath of COVID-19, advising citizens to “be ready to start little, cut your coat according to your cloth and endure temporary pain”.

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Tinubu The Best Thing To Happen To Nigerians, Says Lagos Assembly

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Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday listed some achievements of the Bola Tinubu-led administration describing the President as a blessing to Nigeria.

Speaking during plenary, the lawmakers took time to eulogise the President saying he came into office at a time when Nigerians were at a crossroads over the country’s socio-economic status before the 2023 elections.

Raising the motion, Hon. Tobun Abiodun (Epe I) told his colleagues that the policies initiated by Tinubu had begun to yield positive results in less than two years of his being in office.

Tobun noted that the country’s GDP had been boosted following Tinubu’s economic expertise. According to him, this is further reflecting in the current continuous strength of the Naira.

“Currently, the policies are yielding positive results and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased. The value of naira is gradually gaining strength.

“There is no more fuel scarcity anymore in the country. We need to encourage the federal government to continue on the good pedestrian it started two years ago,” Hon. Tobun said.

In his contribution, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Adewale Temitope (Ifako-Ijaiye I) said the President’s steps had shown that he was prepared before he took the baton of leadership.

Temitope said the Federal Government under Tinubu continues to meet the yearnings of Nigerians citing the refineries that are in operation and that have led to drops in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

He re-echoed the efforts and sacrifices made by Tinubu, who he described as a true democrat, for the continued successes and strength of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) both in the state and the nation.

He said the House remains committed to the ideals of the party, its leadership and the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), a team of elders that continue to guide the party in Lagos.

On his part, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Etim Osa II) praised the President for his fight against insecurity and his reducing inflation.

Contributing to the debate, Hon. Aro Moshood (Ikorodu II), commended the President for the upward review of the country’s minimum wage, his investment drive that has seen the country securing over $40 million and for assuaging the effects of the removal of subsidy.

Speaker Mojisola Meranda expressed optimism that the President would meet the yearnings of Nigerians.

“I know President Tinubu will take us to the Promised Land. When he started, it was rough but it is becoming obvious the policies are yielding results.

“This is a positive result happening within the short time Tinubu came into power. Tinubu’s investment in the security architecture is also yielding results as we have insecurity reducing,” she said.

She directed the acting Clerk of the House, Abubakar Taiwo Ottun, to send a commendation letter to the President acknowledging the positive impact of his policies and programmes.

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Tinubu Approves Retirement Age Increase For Doctors, Healthcare Workers To 65 Years

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President Bola Tinubu has approved an increase in the retirement age for doctors and other healthcare workers from 60 to 65 years.

Dr Mannir Bature, national publicity secretary, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), made the disclosure in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

Bature said the coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, has been directed to formally present the approval to the council on establishment through the office of the Head of Service for finalisation.

He said the policy shift was conveyed by Pate during a high-level meeting with the

NMA President, Professor Bala Audu, and key stakeholders in the health sector.

Bature said the meeting also had in attendance the leadership of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

He said discussions centred on progress made regarding the welfare of doctors and other healthcare professionals in Nigeria.

According to him, the coordinating minister confirmed that the arrears resulting from the adjustment of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) are set for payment.

“The necessary funds have been secured, and disbursement to beneficiaries will commence soon,” he said.

Bature quoted the minister as saying that President Tinubu has approved the correction of consequential adjustments for both CONMESS and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), arising from the implementation of the new minimum wage.

“The process to effect this correction is at an advanced stage, providing much-needed relief to doctors and other healthcare workers” he said.

He said following an extensive review initiated by the NMA, approval has been granted for the implementa tion of new tariffs for healthcare service providers.

“This will particularly benefit members of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners and Nurses (ANPMPN), ensuring better financial remuneration and sustainability for healthcare services nation-wide,” he said.

Bature said the coordinating minister expressed appreciation for the patience and collaboration of all stakeholders, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of all healthcare workers.

He said attendees at the meeting renewed their commitment to work together in advocating for the welfare of healthcare workers and ensuring the full implementation of key reforms.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NMA has championed increasing the retirement age of health workers from 60 to 65 years to address brain drain, improve knowledge transfer and for quality healthcare delivery.

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First Lady Commiserates With Families Of 17 Zamfara School Fire Victims

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The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has condoled with the families of those who died in a fire outbreak that affected an Islamic school in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, on Tuesday night.

The police in Zamfara confirmed the death of 17 almajiris (street children), while 17 others were injured in the fire incident in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area.

In a statement on Thursday, Senator Tinubu also commiserated with Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara over the tragic incident.

“I pray Allah to comfort and give the families and loved ones of the departed the fortitude to bear this painful loss.

“This, once again, brings to mind the need for precautionary safety measures in all our public facilities.

“I pray that such an incident will not recur, not only in Zamfara but in any other part of Nigeria.

“May Allah grant the souls of the departed Aljannah Firdaus,” she said.

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