The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Yobe governor sacks six commissioners

    Yobe state governor Ibrahim Gaidam has sacked six out of his 21 commissioners .

    The commissioners disengaged were those of  Ministry of Health, Hajiya  Fatsuma Talba; Ministry of Sports Yusuf Yahaya; Ministry of Youths Musa Maina Dumburi; Ministry of Transport and Energy Bar. Yusuf Bala Haladu and Ministry Environment  Ahmed Wakil Sarki.

    The governor who read the announcement  to the press in the presence of the commissioners noted that he was dissatisfied with their performance hence the reason for their disengagement.

    He thanked them for the service they  have rendered to the state and wished  them the best in their future endeavors.

    This is the first time Gov. Gaidam is making a major cabinet reshuffle since he took over from the late governor Mamman Ali in January 2008.

    Most of the commissioners in Gaidam’s cabinet were inherited from late Mamman Ali.

  • NGF crisis: Court strikes out suit against Jang

    A Federal Capital Territory  High Court on Thursday struck out a suit filed by Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State challenging the election of Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau as Chairman of Nigeria Governors` Forum.

    Also named as defendants are the Registered Trustees of the NGF, Secretary General of the forum, the Sole Administrator, Mr Osaro Omaiwu and the Director- General, Mr Asishana Okauru.

    Justice Peter Affen, in his ruling, said that he struck out the case because the statement of defence was not heard.

    He said: “This case is an off-shoot of the lingering crisis in the Nigeria Governors Forum, since April between Gov. Ameachi and Gov. Jang.”

    Affen said that he struck out the suit after Fashola’s counsel, Prof. Yemi Osibajo, on July 17, filed a notice of withdrawal

    with eight paragraphs.

    “The situation we are confronted with is different from the citation of the defence,” he said.

    Affen said the power to dismiss or strike out a suit lay with the court and in discharging it, a judge must exercise its

    discretion judiciously.

    “I find it necessary not to dismiss the suit but to order for it to be struck out. The plaintiff may file his case whenever he

    so wishes,” he said.

    At the last hearing of the suit, counsel to first defendant, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), told the court that he had filed a counter

    affidavit praying the court to dismiss the suit.

    Oyetibo said that the plaintiff realised that he had no sufficient materials to defend his claims.

    He said the issue for determination was that whether all materials in defence were placed before the court or not.

    He said the court should note that the question of which order was appropriate to make, when plaintiff sought for leave, should be to discontinue or not. (NAN).

  • 2013 NECO result released

    65 percent credit pass recorded in 2013 National Examinations Council (NECO) result

    After three years of consecutive mass failure at Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) National Examinations Council (NECO) on Thursday  announced that 69.57 per cent candidates had five credits and above in the June/July 2013.

    Announcing this year’s school based examination in Minna, the Registrar and the Chief Executive of the Council, Professor Promise Okpala said that 681,507 candidates representing 66.63 per cent made credit pass and above in English Language while 668,314 candidates or 65.50 percent recorded same in Mathematics.

    In Biology 66.88 percent had credit and above, 66.68 per cent of the candidates that wrote Physics and 66.41 percent Chemistry candidates equally made credit pass and above.

    The NECO boss also said that out of 1,034,263 candidates that sat for the examination which had 128 blind candidates, 998,624 candidates or 96.55 per cent made five passes and above.

    The elated NECO registrar also said that low percentage of candidates were involved in examination malpractice.

    Giving a comparative analysis of students’ performance in the last three years, Okpala said the council witnessed “rises in performance from 15.84 per cent in 2011 through 51.66 per cent last year to this year’s 69.57 per cent”.

    Attributing the improved performance on federal and states governments resolve as well as all other stakeholders to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the country, Okpala said the improved performances over the years were”empirical indications that the efforts of the President, Ministry of Education are yielding positive results”.

  • Ombatse killings: Emergency rule looms in Nasarawa

    With the deployment of troops in Nasarawa State to forestall further breach of the peace by the dreaded members of the Ombatse militia, the Federal Government has set the tune for the declaration of a state of emergency in the North Central State, it was learnt on Thursday.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Services, Senator Suleiman Adokwe, disclosed this Abuja while speaking with journalists on the latest killings in the state.

    The Federal Government on Wednesday deployed troops to the state following fresh outbreak of ethnic hostilities.

    The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, announced the decision of the Federal Government to draft troops to the troubled state.

    Adekwe said he was trapped in Lafia, capital of Nasarawa State when the latest skirmishes started on September 13.

    He noted that there was no doubt that the activities of the Ombatse militia had gone out of hand.

    The lawmaker, who represents Nasarawa South Senatorial District, said that he had concluded arrangements to sponsor a motion praying the Senate to prevail on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the state due to the activities of the cult group.

    While applauding the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to send soldiers to the state, he added that at the moment, the deployment of the soldiers may be quite sufficient to mitigate the problem.

    Adokwe said that though the lawmakers are studying the unfolding situation, if deployment of soldiers fails to address the situation they would back the state House of Assembly who had already called for declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

    He insisted that state of emergency is “what we really need in the state.”

    He said, “I was in Nasarawa when the brouhaha broke out and up till today, nobody can give you a precise reason as to the outbreak of hostilities but before you knew it, there was free-for-all.

    “The activities of the Ombatse started last year when they had some clashes with the Asakyo; it was almost like a full-blown war.”

     

  • SWF instrumental to fiscal discipline in Nigeria – Jonathan

    SWF instrumental to fiscal discipline in Nigeria – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday insisted that the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is critical to maintaining fiscal discipline in Nigeria.

    Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, also inaugurated the governing council and board of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and issued share certificates of contribution to the SWF to the 36 states.

    Issuing the certificates to the federal, state and local government for their contribution to the Fund before the commencement of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, the President said the inauguration of the governing council was an indication of the progress made so far in the running of the fund.

    He called on government officials at all levels to ensure that the objectives of Nigeria’s own Fund is achieved through the commitment of their contribution.

    He listed the objectives of the NSIA to include: building a saving base for future generations of Nigeria, enhancing the development of Nigeria’s infrastructure and promoting fiscal stability for the country in times of economic stress.

    He said: “Sovereign Wealth Fund all over the world has been instrumental for the instrument for fiscal discipline and development of the countries in which they exist. Our collective furnishing of the fund is re-enforced by the presentation of certificates of contribution for federal, state and local government and I urge all Nigerians and officials of all levels of government to give their full support to the NSIA to ensure that the objectives are speedily realized for the benefit of all Nigerians.

    “As you all know, these objectives include: building a saving base for future generations of Nigeria, enhancing the development of Nigeria’s infrastructure and promoting fiscal stability for the country in terms of economic strength. I am happy to report that the board and management team of the NSIA has set about implementing robust governance and investment structures towards the achievement of its laudable objectives and the international community is already taking note of their efforts.”

     

     

     

  • Anambra commissioner to resign over alleged fraud

    The Anambra State Commissioner for special Duties, Chief Vincent Ejikeme Ezenwajiaku, said he will resign his appointment on Friday following his alleged involvement in a N10.6 million fraud.

    He has sued the state Commissioner of Police in charge of Special Fraud Unit (SFU), one Chuks Mgbemena of (NIMASA) and CSP Okposiakpo Elolor for 250 million naira over what he described as attempt to destroy his reputation.

    Briefing reporters on Thursday in Awka, Ezenwajiaku, who has already instituted two cases against the four persons, said the people are taking a pound of flesh because of his appointment as commissioner by Governor Peter Obi.

    The police on Wednesday declared the commissioner wanted for over his alleged refusal to honour their invitation.

    “I am going to step further on the court cases against these people. I have never been involved in any form of fraud because of a personal vow I took after my youth service. I have never been arrested or detained all my life.

    “As a result of this raging fire, I am going further by resigning my position as the state Commissioner for Special Duties. I am going to tender the letter to Governor Peter Obi first thing tomorrow morning (Friday).”

    “I do not intend to embarrass this government, this is to prove my innocence until I clear my name of this mess, whatever it will take to do it, I will do it,” Ezenwajiaku said.

     

  • Kidnapped Edo monarch released

    Traditional ruler of Udo community in Ovia South West local government area of Edo State, HRH Patrick Igbinudu, the Iyase N’ Udo, who was abducted last week Thursday has been released.

    Igbinudu was released at about 7am on Thursday at Uwelu area in Egor local government area of the state.

    Sources told The Nation that the monarch walking along the street and looking haggard when they saw him.

    The monarch was abducted in his palace by four armed men who came in an Audi car.

    The kidnappers had demanded for N100 million ransom but was later reduced to N10 million.

    However, it was not confirmed if any money was paid for his release.

    Palace sources said the monarch held a brief meeting with his chiefs shortly after his release

     

  • Nigeria to deploy aid corps volunteers to Rwanda

    The Federal Government has concluded arrangement to deploy more volunteers of the Technical Aid Corps to Rwanda.

    The arrangement is at the instance of Rwanda who officially requested for Nigeria’s assistance.

    Already, more than 40 Nigerians in the health sector are working in Rwanda under the scheme.

    The Director General of the Directorate of the Technical Aid Corp, Dr. Pius Osunyikanmi, made the disclosure on Wednesday, when he received the Rwandan Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Joseph Habineza, in his office in Abuja.

    According to the Director General, the decision to send more volunteers was based on a request made by the Rwandan authorities to his office that they required Nigerian professionals in the education sector.

    He said, “`We have well over 40 volunteers in the health sector in Rwanda and let me place on record that they have been worthy ambassadors of Nigeria in Kigali especially in terms of their disposition, spirit of hard work and enterprise.

    “It is this spirit of hard work that has endeared Kigali to Nigeria to the extent that this cooperation is being asked to be deepened today.

    “Learning from the experiences of those in the health sector and also leveraging on the fact that Nigeria is an English-speaking country and the fact that Nigeria has abundance of teachers, who are competent in English language, not only in our secondary schools but in our higher institutions of learning, Rwanda is hoping to use our African brotherliness to also leverage on this abundance human resource base.

    “Rwanda has made the request to us, with a view to getting teachers especially in English language to assist in the educational development of Rwanda,’’ he said.

     

  • Budget: Senate summons Okonjo-Iweala, Ngama

    Budget: Senate summons Okonjo-Iweala, Ngama

    The Senate on Thursday invited the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama over the implementation of the 2013 budget.

    Okonjo-Iweala and Ngama are to face members of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriation to disclose causes of falling revenue if any.

    The ministers are also expected to brief the lawmakers on the level of implementation of the 2013 budget including releases made to ministries, department and agencies of the federal government.

    The decision to invite the ministers followed a motion sponsored by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) and 13 others entitled: “2013 budget and alleged over bloated revenue estimates.”

    Ningi had on Wednesday drew the attention of the Senate to alleged statement credited to Ngama that “the National Assembly over bloated the 2013 budget making it unimplementable.”

    Ngama had since disowned the alleged statement, saying that he never made such pronouncement.

    Senate President, David Mark, said that Ngama wrote him, denying ever saying that the National Assembly over bloated the 2013 budget.

    In the motion, Ningi noted that the National Assembly passed the 2013 Appropriation Bill on December 20, 2012 and assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan on February 15 this year.

     

     

  • I don’t hate Northerners – Dokubo -Asari

    I don’t hate Northerners – Dokubo -Asari

    Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, on Thursday said it was unfortunate that some of his strong views on national issues have been translated to mean that he hates the north.

    Asari told reporters at a press conference in Abuja that having spent the greater part of his life in the struggle to defend the oppressed, it would be wrong for people to consider him as one who hates the north or any other part of the country.

    The former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) however insisted that he would never shy away from speaking the truth, not minding who feels offended.

    He noted that it is time for Nigerians to face realities and come together to fight the injustice in the land.

    This, he said would ensure that they do not go back to the “era of darkness, especially now that the calls for a sovereign national conference have become louder.”

    He stressed that a new vista of interaction has been opened with people across the country where everyone has shown commitment to “midwife a genuine rebirth of mutual cooperation, love and unity amongst ourselves and all our various people.”

    He said: “Most of my address has been translated as hatred against the north, this is far from the truth, because the word hatred has never existed in my dictionary.

    “But I will never shy away from stating the fact, not minding who feels happy or sad about it.

    “I have spent most of my life, in my close to 50 years that Allah has graciously allowed me to live so far, in the forefront of various struggles against oppressions of my people and others. I cannot do this if I hate any part of the country. But I will remain consistent in the fight against oppression.

    “It is time for us to face the obvious realities and come together to fight and ensure we don’t go back to the era of darkness, especially now that the calls for a Sovereign National Conference have become louder.

    “We believe that with the appearance of true, sincere and genuine northerners, a new page of interaction has been open, where we see ourselves as equals and our interest as closely knitted.

    “These genuine patriots have assured and confirmed to us that those who held the disgraceful and racial belief of being superior to others and are born to rule do not represent the overwhelming majority of the people of the north.”