Author: The Nation

Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence and Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, has described the death of Iyan Zazzau, in Zaria , Kaduna State, Alhaji Bashir Aminu, as a great loss not only to his family, Zazzau Emirate or Kaduna State, but a loss to the entire country.

In a condolence message, Wamakko, who represents Sokoto North Senatorial District, also said that , the late Iyan Zazzau,had made immeasurable contributions to the nation, for a period spanning decades.

Wamakko, according to a statement Friday  by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Bashir Rabe Mani, specifically eulogized the invaluable roles played by the deceased in ensuring national unity, cohesion and indivisibility .

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According to Wamakko, the name of the late Iyan Zazzau would be written while chronicling the history of the nation’s traditional institutions.

He recalled that, the late Iyan Zazzau, was a true, blue-blooded Monarch, whose towering presence in the Zazzau Emirate was tangible.

” His death, today, Friday, January 1,2021, at the age of 70, had created a wide vacuum, too difficult to fill.

“I am praying to the Almighty Allah to grant him Aljannat Firdaus and grant his family, Zazzau Emirate, people and Government of Kaduna State to bear this irreparable loss,” Wamakko, added.

Linus Oota, Lafia

Executive Chairman, Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Hon Aminu Muazu Maifata Thursday signed the 2021 appropriation bill of N4.2bn into law.

The council had budgeted N4, 150,492.120.00 billion for 2021 fiscal year.

Speaking during the signing at his office, Hon Maifata said the quick passage of the bill reflects the harmonious relationship between the executive and the legislature, as well as the mutual dedication to the progress of the council.

The signing of the budget took place in the presence of the council deputy chairman, secretary and the speaker, principal officers and members of the legislative council

According to the Chairman, ” N3,311,021,220 has been appropriated for recurrent expenditure and 839,480,000.00 has been estimated for capital expenditure.

Read Also: LG pensioners to shut down 13 LGAs in Nasarawa

“All the expenditures were planned to be financed through the following expected sources of revenue:  Statutory allocation, Value Added Tax, exchange gain difference, excess crude oil and internally generated revenue, ” he said.

Aminu Maifata who is also the chairman of the Association of Local Government ( ALGON ) in the state, said that his administration plans to drill boreholes and provide solar street light in the 13 wards, construct culverts among others.

He said in the year 2020, his administration purchased a tractor, embarked on  daily evacuation of refuse, provided relief materials to victims of disaster, provided palliatives, paid WAEC and NECO examination fees to students amongst others.

Kolade ADEYEMI, Jos

Following the continued streets protest by local government workers in Plateau State against the state government’s non-implementation of the new minimum wage at the council level, a group, under the aegis of Plateau Concerned Local Government Staff Forum (PLALOCAF), has called for suspension of the action.

PLALOCAF said its appeal for suspension of the action was on the grounds that the protest meant to draw attention of the state government to the deplorable plight of workers at the council level and push for implementation of the new minimum wage at the state’s local government level, had been hijacked by opposition politicians and hoodlums alike for selfish reasons.

Besides, the group alleged that the protest has become an avenue for the desperate opposition politicians to feather their nest, adding that the development had been turned into campaigns for the 2023 elections.

In a statement on Friday, and signed by representatives from the three senatorial districts of the state, the group called on members to withdraw from the action to allow relevant bodies negotiate with the government towards amicable resolution.

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In the statement signed by Mr. Pam Bot for Northern Zone, Nde Patrick Gomos for Central Zone and Sir Birtrus Nanven for Southern Zone, the group charged the state government on the other hand, to sustain negotiations with stakeholders and declare its own position to the aggrieved workers.

“We, the entire management and members of Plateau State Concerned Local Staff Forum (PLALOCAF), came together to issue this statement after a critical and painstaking analysis of the over one-month old strike protest embarked upon by our members and the circumstances that led to the protest.

” We observe with regret that protesters have continuously blocked the entrance to the Plateau State Secretariat for over three weeks, thereby preventing civil servants and other legitimate income earners access to the secretariat for their legitimate business.

“This is illegal and worrisome. This development which we have found to be sponsored by some self-seeking and desperate opposition politicians in the state is a threat to peace and stability of the state,” the group said.

Uja Emmanuel Makurdi

The Special Adviser, Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ken Achabo has described recent   garnishee orders against bank accounts of the Benue State government as sabotage.

The Nation investigations have revealed that over 20 banks accounts belonging to Benue State are garnished.

On the eve of Christmas celebration, Benue State government through the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mike Gusa told reporters that the state was unable to pay salaries in the month of December because accounts were garnished on court orders .

This week again, the bank accounts of Benue  State and local governments Joint Allocation and Account Committee ( JAAC) were garnished .

Achabo was served with the court garnishee order which amount to the tune of N1. 2b  in addition to the one of N1.9b which is already in existence.

Read Also: Gunmen kill three policemen, two others in Benue

Reacting, the governor’s aide on Local Governments and Chieftaincy, described the trend as a deliberate ploy to frustrate the developmental stride of Governor Samuel Ortom.

He said the garnishee order are slowing down the space of governance and to the extend holding the administration of Governor Ortom to ransom.

He faulted the  judicial process that produced  such orders especially that most of these orders are obtained from Courts outside the State noting that it was the handiwork of a syndicate who were all out to fraudulently deprive the state of her hard earned resources and frustrate the positive efforts of the governor towards developing the state.

According to Achabo , with the current garnishee orders against the accounts of the Benue State Government, salaries of Benue workers and indeed all ongoing state projects may be stalled .

He directed the 23 local government councils to liaise with the State Ministry of Justice to find a solution to the current challenge the state is facing.