The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • ASUP halts strike in Nuhu Bamalli Poly

    ASUP halts strike in Nuhu Bamalli Poly

    • Sani directs intervention

    Academic Staff Union of the Polytechnics (ASUP) in Kaduna State-owned Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria has shelved its decision to embark on strike due to what it called vulnerability of the institution to security threats.

    The earlier decision to close the polytechnic, came after Governor Uba Sani directed for the immediate implementation of interventions to end the impasse between the Academic Union and the Kaduna State Government.

    The development was coming after a series of intense deliberations with stakeholders comprising the Kaduna State Government, representatives from the polytechnic and ASUP.

    Executives of the union were invited to a meeting by the Kaduna State Government, following the release of a communique by ASUP on September 15, warning of an impending strike and subsequent closure of the institution of learning.

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    During the meeting several issues faced by the institution were discussed revolving around the provision of security to the main campus ,payment of accrued allowances to security personnel, improved salary structure,lack of adequate funding for academic activities among others.

    Representatives from the Kaduna State Government assured of Sani’s commitment to fulfilling the first pillar of SUSTAIN agenda which is security and safeguarding the lives and properties of all residents.

    ASUP in a communique issued on September 18, signed by Comrade Abubakar Sadiq Yusuf, its General Secretary, stated: “The soldiers guarding the school have been paid their allowances till December 2023, thanks to the proactiveness of the Rector and the Commissioner on Education.

    “In respect to the commitment shown by the Kaduna State Government,the Kaduna State Commissioner of Education, the Union hereby suspends its intended call for school closure, members are hereby directed to report to their workstations tomorrow.”

    The ASUP GS further expressed his gratitude to Sani for the prompt steps taken in preventing the institution’s closure.

  • Kogi wins fiscal transparency, accountability award again

    Kogi wins fiscal transparency, accountability award again

    Kogi State has again won the fiscal transparency and accountability award in a survey conducted across the States in North Central.

    The 2022 first position award was presented to the State on Tuesday in Lokoja during the launch of the 2022 North Central State Budget Transparency Survey Report carried out by the Social Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC).

    The National Coordinator, State and National Budget Transparency Survey for the agency, Mr. Tijani Abdulkareem, who presented the report and the award, said the objective of the budget Transparency and Accountability Program was to promote focus and attention of Nigerian States towards the improvement of their budget performance in providing good governance to the people.

    “Good governance starts from budgeting. This report and award are aimed at strengthening fiscal transparency to help build trust in government, facilitate accountability in public resource management and ensure sustainability in the participating states,” he said.

    He added: “It is evident from the 2022 SNBTS on the public availability of budget document and transparency that there are positive changes. Most of the North Central states now publish their budget documents in 2022 compared to 2020.

    “Nevertheless, in terms of state by state performance, none of the states provided extensive budget information to the public in 2022. Only Kogi State can be said to be significantly transparent and provide adequate amount of budget information to the public, as they score more than 60 per cent.”

    Tijani explained that the reports were collated across the six states of the North Central zone between 2021 and 2022, adding that the states were judged based on parameters such as Public participation, availability of budget, oversight functions of the state legislators and level of transparency of the procurement process.

    He noted: “The survey was set up as a model to improve budget transparency amongst North Central states towards a better fiscal outcome.

    “As in previous surveys, the SNBTS 2022 survey report employed a questionnaire approach like the International Budget Partnership, and Open Budget Survey questionnaires, which evaluate the availability of budget information (Transparency); Civic engagement opportunities in the budget process and methods; the strength of the legislature as well as the level of transparency of the North Central states’ procurement process.”

    The report, however, said the states’ legislators failed in their oversight functions.

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    “On Civic participation in the budget process, the 2022 survey reveals clear evidence of a poor level of engagement or interaction between the Legislature and the public in terms of the depth of scope of the public hearings,” the report said.

    “Consequently, on the issues of Audit, the 2022 survey reveals that not much effort was made by the states’ Auditors General to involve the public in the Audit phases of the budget process,” it added.

    The state commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning, Asiru Idris, said the award underscored the premium the state governor, Yahaya Bello, placed on providing good governance.

    Asiru said, “The success of the state in the areas of fiscal transparency and accountability can be linked to self-discipline, as well as the institution of a transparent and accountable governance system by Governor Yahaya Bello from the inception of his administration.

    “Kogi State is blessed with a Governor who provides leadership from all fronts, a professional to the core that has surrounded himself only with persons that have the capacity to deliver.

    “The governor believes that governance is about the people and whatever you do must be open and transparent to the people.

    “The philosophy of the Governor of the state is making every single kobo available work for the entity of the State, hence he has instituted self-discipline, as well as a transparent and accountable governance system from day one of his administration.”

    According to the report, this is the second time in a row that Kogi State will top the chart in fiscal transparency and accountability in the North Central, having won the award in 2021.

  • Kogi 2023: Bello inaugurates Campaign Council, urges members to focus on issues, achievements

    Kogi 2023: Bello inaugurates Campaign Council, urges members to focus on issues, achievements

    Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello has charged members of the All Progressives Congress(APC) governorship campaign council to base their campaign on issues and performance of the current administration.

    The Director General of the campaign council and Minister of and Steel Development, Prince Shaibu Abubakar Audu, charged Igala people to shun ethnic agenda that would not bring about development in the state.

    Speaking during the inauguration of the Kogi APC governorship campaign council on Tuesday at the Government House in Lokoja, Governor Bello called on the campaign council not to preach ethnicity or religion but base their campaign on what the government had achieved in the last eight years and the ability of the governorship candidate, Usman Ododo, to build effectively on the current administration’s successes.

    He urged members and supporters of the party not to join issues with others who do not have anything to offer in terms of adding value to the state and its inhabitants.

    “Forget about liars, whose stock in trade is thuggery with nothing to offer. Go out there and preach what we have on ground in terms of infrastructure, not about ethnicity. Kogi State belongs to all of us. I have always said that Kogi State has the potential to be great if only we stop playing politics of ethnicity.

    “I want all of you to go and work for the success of the party and you will be adequately rewarded.”

    Read Also: Kogi community backs Ododo

    Director General of the campaign council said his late father and former governor of the state had never believed in ethnic agenda, but had vision for the growth and development of the state.

    He noted that in the last eight years, Governor Yahaya Bello had demonstrated his father’s vision for the state through appointments, distribution and execution of projects across the three senatorial districts of the state without any iota of bias or sentiment.

    “My father had a pan Kogi vision and was never a leader that focused on Kogi East.

    “Any agenda that focuses on a particular senatorial district instead of Kogi State would not bring about justice, equity and development. We know that Igala people are agitating for return of power to the East but it must be discussed and resolved because power can never be taken with force.”

  • Drug war: Cryptocurrency, money laundering top agenda as 54 African countries converge in Abuja

    Drug war: Cryptocurrency, money laundering top agenda as 54 African countries converge in Abuja

    Delegates from 54 African countries and 15 observer nations will next week converge in Abuja for the 31st meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Africa, (HONLAF) to discuss new trends and partnerships to curb the global drug scourge.

    Top on their agenda will be discussions and collaborations on alternative development to cannabis cultivation, assets forfeiture, cryptocurrency, and money laundering by drug cartels, among others.

    This was disclosed on Tuesday, September 19, at a joint press briefing in Abuja by the Secretary to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Shadrach Haruna, and the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Oliver Stolpe.

    Haruna, who represented the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Buba Marwa (Retd) at the briefing, said the 31st meeting of HONLAF, a subsidiary body of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (UNCND) is to enable heads of drug law enforcement agencies in Africa to discuss and develop strategies to combat drug trafficking and abuse in the region.

    He said: “The HONLAF meeting is an annual event. The last one was held in Nairobi, Kenya, where Nigeria was unanimously elected as the host of the 31st edition, which will take place from Tuesday, September 26 to Friday, September 29, 2023, in Abuja.

    “This annual HONLAF meeting features a line-up of activities that include technical meetings, paper presentations, deliberations on reports and trends, workshops, and bilateral talks among member nations. It is a platform for brokering collaborations in the areas of shared intelligence, joint training, and joint operations against international drug cartels in the African region. 

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    “This year, Nigeria has the honour of being the chair and host of the meeting. So, it means delegates from 53 other African countries will converge on the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Monday, and for the rest of the week, they will be guests of NDLEA and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    “Aside from delegates from African countries, there will be representatives from observer bodies and other non-African countries who will be attending to watch the proceedings”, he said.

    While President Bola Tinubu is expected to deliver the keynote address and also declare the conference open as the special guest of honour, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and some invited ministers, as well as heads of relevant parastatals and agencies, would be at the opening ceremony.

    The conference, which holds between Tuesday 26th and Friday 29th September will also provide opportunities for bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the main agenda.

    He said: “Among other positive outlooks, Nigeria hosting the 31st HONLAF is an indication of the trust in the leadership quality of NDLEA among its peers on the continent. At the last HONLAF meeting in Nairobi, Nigeria seized the momentum to broker bilateral cooperation with a number of countries with the intention of forming a strong regional defence against transnational illicit drug organisations trying to establish bases in our countries. Such bilateral relationships have been crucial to NDLEA’s interdiction exercises in the past year.”

    In his remarks at the briefing, Dr. Oliver Stolpe said the HONLAF meeting will also focus on “regional and national cooperation to reduce illicit production and cultivation of illicit drugs, something that has been observed, thanks to the operational success of NDLEA over the years in Nigeria not only for the destruction of cannabis farms but also the manufacturing of other drugs like methamphetamine.

    He added: “There will also be discussion on alternative development, an approach promoted by many countries; financial investigation in drug trafficking cases and the role of cryptocurrency in drug trafficking cases, and money laundering. It’s safe to say NDLEA has made great strides to confiscate the money and proceeds of drug crime. We’ll also look at how to follow the money and seize the immense riches accumulated in the drug trade.”

    He added that the opening ceremony of the HONLAF meeting will equally afford UNODC and the National Institute of Security Studies to present a report on organized crime trends that constitute a threat to Nigeria.

  • FCTA to demolish illegal buildings in Abuja popular market today

    FCTA to demolish illegal buildings in Abuja popular market today

    • Victims may get alternative shops as govt holds talk with leaders

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will today demolish illegal buildings within the Area 1 Shopping Complex.

    This is as the attachment shops and other illegal constructions, and wrong parkings which made it impassable to traffic would be removed and the environment cleaned up.

    This development was arrived at by authorities of the FCT Administration (FCTA) made up of the Departments of Development Control, Security Service, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, as well as the Abuja Investments Company Limited, at a meeting with traders.

    Director, FCTA Development Control, Muktar Galadima made this known at the meeting with traders and owners of shops during the weekend.

    Galadima told the traders that the people-friendly FCT Administration decided to meet with managers of the market to reach an understanding before carrying out the exercise.

    According to him, the congested nature of the market, its unhygienic and untidy conditions, were not good for any emergency and health.

    He also said the security of lives and property was threatened.

    “The way the market is very congested and unhygienic is not good for the safety and health of the traders and customers,” Galadima said.

    He insisted that the kilishi/suya sellers would be located under one roof, parking spaces inside the market would be removed and that they should have one source of energy, instead of littering the market with generating sets, causing noise pollution.

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    He said: “God forbid, but imagine if there is any fire outbreak in this market, it will be disastrous, and rescue operations impossible.

    “As a government, we do not have to wait for that to happen before we take action.

    “Remember, we were here last year to do some clean up, but this time, it is different. We are going to remove the attachments, and create space inside the market for parking.

    “We are not happy with the traffic situation caused by activities of this market so we will sanitise it in line with the vision of the Nyesom Wike-led FCT Administration in sanitising the Federal Capital Territory.”

    He called for the support of stakeholders of the market, hinting that the Administration would make arrangements to provide alternative shops for those who would be affected by the clean up.

    Speaking on behalf of the traders, Umar Uba thanked the FCT Administration for thinking it wise to meet and inform them of the plans to remove illegal structures in the market.

    Umar pledged that they would assist with the authorities in sanitising the market since it was also for their good.

  • Nasarawa PDP visiting retired Generals in Abuja to influence tribunal outcome, says Sule

    Nasarawa PDP visiting retired Generals in Abuja to influence tribunal outcome, says Sule

    Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has accused the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state of meeting retired Generals in Abuja to influence the outcome of the governorship tribunal judgment.

    Sule, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Comrade Peter Ahemba, at a press conference yesterday in Lafia, reminded the PDP leaders that democratic powers could not be acquired through the backdoor.

    The governor was reacting to a statement by the state PDP Chairman, Mr Francis Orogo, that the recent visit by the governor to the FCT minister Nyesom Wike was to influence the outcome of the tribunal judgment.

    He said Sule’s visit to the FCT minister was mainly to solicit further collaboration with the FCT administration for a metro line from Apo to Keffi, as well as partner to build the 13,000 hectares Gurku/Kabusa mega city that is only about 5km away from Maitama II.

    According to him, “Mr Francis Orogo should rather tell the people of Nasarawa State why himself and other PDP leaders in the state suddenly relocated temporarily to Abuja since commencement of proceedings at the tribunal and have been moving from one retired military General to another with the intention to get the mandate freely given to Governor Sule by electorates uptured.

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    “The PDP chairman should be reminded that political power under a democratic setting cannot be acquired through the backdoor’’.

    “Governor Abdullahi Sule has zero worries about what might be the outcome of the tribunal, the governor has tremendous respect for the judiciary and believes in its ability to dispense justice fairly.

    “With the rejection and humiliating defeat of the PDP Governorship candidate during the election and the sound legal defence mounted at the tribunal by Governor Sule legal team throughout the proceedings,’’ he added.

    “Coupled with the disgraceful outing of PDP witnesses at the tribunal, who admitted that their party rigged the election in several polling units and shortchanged the ruling APC by hundreds of votes during the election.

    “Governor Sule has absolutely no reason to contemplate going to anyone to help influence the outcome of the tribunal as alleged by the PDP, it is glaring that the PDP may have no case after all,” he said.

    On the issue of insecurity as raised by the PDP, Ahemba said since Sule took over, the state is rated many times as one of the most peaceful state in Nigeria because of the way Sule has continued to deal with security threats.

    “The governor has been able to restore peace in all parts of the state through effective synergy with the Federal Government and security agencies which is why the citizens, including leaders of the opposition party and their private investment in many parts of the state have remained secured,” he said.

  • Niger govt shuts five private hospitals in Minna

    Niger govt shuts five private hospitals in Minna

    Five private hospitals have been shut by the Niger State Ministry of Secondary and Tertiary Health for having unqualified staff and non-renewal of facility registration.

    The affected facilities are Prince Clinic in Tunga, Union Diagnostic in Minna, Triple Medical Diagnostic in Bosso, Chall Dental in Minna, and Daza Primary Healthcare in Beji.

    The hospitals were closed during an unscheduled inspection of 40 private health facilities in Bosso and Chanchanga local government areas by the Inspectorate Division of the Ministry for Secondary and Tertiary Health.

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    The Vice Chairman of the Inspectorate Division, who is also the Deputy Director, Medical Services and Training, Dr Usman Abubakar Bosso, noted that the affected clinic did not register with the Ministry of Health, which does not have their records.

    He also said several other clinics were cautioned over poor hygienic conditions during the exercise.

    “This shows that we have a lot of work cut out for us. Most of these hospitals are a danger to the lives of those who patronise them. From henceforth, we will embark on such unscheduled visits to private facilities to raise health standards.”

  • ‘COVID-19, humanitarian crisis impacting sexual reproductive health’

    ‘COVID-19, humanitarian crisis impacting sexual reproductive health’

    From Grace Obike, Abuja

    Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) has been impacted by COVID-19 and Humanitarian crisis, a report by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child health (PMNCH) has said.

    It said the expanding number of humanitarian conflicts around the world has affected women’s sexual and reproductive health rights.

    PMNCH’s report, which would be presented before the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York this week, supports countries in making the case for SRH and rights to be prioritised and recognised with urgency within global agreements.

    Part of the report entitled: ‘Overturning Roe v. Wade: Concerns for Accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health Services, Including Safe Abortion ‘ states: “For PMNCH, the survey results confirm widely held fears of potential impact. The need for intensified advocacy is clear, especially at a time when SRH services and rights have been assaulted by the impact of COVID-19, as well as other factors such as the expanding number of humanitarian conflicts in the world today, where women are often highly affected.

    “The findings highlight the realities faced by some PMNCH members in particular, the need for practical tools and mitigation strategies that partners can use to strengthen accountability for SRHR within their respective domains.

    “The effects of the overturn of Roe v. Wade extend far beyond US borders,” said  Helen Clark, PMNCH Chair and former Prime Minister of New Zealand.

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     “As is often said: ‘When America sneezes, the world catches cold’.

    “The PMNCH survey results show that what we most feared: that there could be a potential reduction in access to sexual and reproductive health services for women, following the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

    “This may pose serious risk to the health and well-being of millions of women worldwide, who rely upon access to family planning and abortion services.’’

    “The ruling also lends spurious legitimacy to those who seek to restrict the rights of women and may also encourage some countries to move towards their own regressive and restrictive abortion laws. This cannot be accepted. Now more than ever, we must invest in protecting sexual and reproductive health services, increasing public education on the value of these services, and upholding human rights.

    “Ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York this month, this report supports countries in making the case for SRH and rights to be prioritized and recognized with urgency within global agreements. Advocates and partners supporting health service provision must re-double their efforts to scale up access to comprehensive and accessible reproductive healthcare services to safeguard the well-being of individuals seeking the full range of SRH services, including safe abortion.” The report stated.

  • Stop gagging, blackmailing of the judiciary, APC tells Plateau govt

    Stop gagging, blackmailing of the judiciary, APC tells Plateau govt

    Ahead of the expected election tribunal judgment on the governorship election in Plateau State, the state chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC) has cautioned the state government to desist from gagging and blackmailing judges of the election petition tribunal.

    The opposition party in a press conference at the APC Secretariat in Jos said the PDP-led administration is jittery over the expected judgment and has embarked on undemocratic means to hoodwink the judges of the tribunal.

    The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Sylvanus Namang, said: “The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Plateau State Chapter has been drawn to some reckless press statements by the Plateau State Chapter of the PDP and obviously state-sponsored protests aimed at distracting and diverting attention by whipping up ill-motivated sentiments against judges of the Election Petitions Tribunal in the State.

    “That these are coming in the wake of the fair, firm and just pronouncements of the first tribunal, which declared some APC and LP National Assembly candidates victorious, smacks of sheer mischief and blackmail.

    “Nothing can be more divisive than its recent allegation that these respected and peace-loving leaders of our great party are interfering with the activities of the high-heeled tribunals even when the opposite is the case. This amounts to crying wolf where there is none.”

    The party noted: It is important to state that before the Justice B. M. Tukur-led tribunals’ meticulous, fair and just pronouncements, there were previous judgments by the second tribunal presided over by Justice Rotimi Williams who ruled against the APC and Labour Party despite the evidence and position of the law.

    “Interestingly, in our usual propensity for respect of court orders and judicial decisions, though dissatisfied with the judgments, we accepted them in good faith without raising any dust, but preferring instead, to appeal such judgments at the Appeal Tribunal as constitutionally stipulated.

    “We, however, found it undemocratic of the PDP-led government in the state, as a pre-emptive move and organised mischief is involved in mobilising hoodlums to harass and intimidate tribunal judges ahead of  the remaining judgments”

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    The state APC further alleged that the state government had even gone further to begin mobilisation of their supporters to assemble at the premises of the Jos High Court on the day the governorship election petition would be disposed of. ‘These are rather a design by a pack of anti-democratic forces hired to truncate our democracy.

    “Nothing can be more threatening to democracy than when political parties and governments which are supposed to be guardians of democratic norms embark on sponsoring ill-motivated protests against judicial decisions and judgments.

    While calling on the tribunal judges to remain resilient, focused and committed to their responsibility of dispensing law and justice, the opposition party assures them that nothing untoward would emanate from law-abiding members of the APC in the state and well-meaning Plateau citizens.

  • Rice farmers hail appointment of Perm Sec in Kaduna ministry

    Rice farmers hail appointment of Perm Sec in Kaduna ministry

    The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) has expressed satisfaction with the choice of Alhaji Abba Umar as Permanent Secretary in the Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

    Iin a congratulatory message, the Kaduna State Chairman of RIFAN, Alhaji Mohammed Numbu, lauded the magnanimity of the governor in appointing Umar, who isa “seasoned administrator and grassroots mobiliser”.

    He expressed optimism in the capacity of the new permanent secretary, adding that he would work  towards the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani.

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    Numbu added that the new permanent secretary had contributed to farmers’ growth and development during his tenure as Vice Chairman of Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The RIFAN chairman, however, appealed to the new permanent secretary to redouble his efforts towards uplifting farmers, especially in the new regime of subsidy removal.

    He prayed for God’s guidance and protection as well as the desired wisdom to enable the new government official to succeed in his new assignment.