The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Sokoto workers may get N70,000 minimum wage today

    Sokoto workers may get N70,000 minimum wage today

    Sokoto State government workers may today start receiving the new minimum wage as approved by Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.

     Sokoto had, during his 2025 budget proposal presentation to the Assembly last December, promised to start paying the new national minimum wage of N70,000 by the Federal Government last July this year.

     In a statement, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Abubakar Bawa, who confirmed the information, said the wage would cover civil servants, local governments and local government education authority staff members.

     The governor, therefore, urged the civil servants to reciprocate the government’s gesture by being alive to their responsibilities.

     “With the commencement of the payment of this new national minimum wage,we expect a renewed  commitment, hard work,punctuality and above all, seriousness from our civil servants,’ he added.

     The governor vowed to sustain the prompt payment of salaries from the 19th to 22nd monthly,saying that his administration will continue to remain workers’-friendly.

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      It would be recalled that prior to the coming of the administration,  workers were not sure of when to get their salaries, as salaries were paid after 50 days as against the usual 25-30 days.

     With the coming of the Ahmed Aliyu-led administration, workers in the state now receive their salaries between 19th and 22nd of every month, while the backlog of unpaid gratuity  of retirees is being defrayed  by the present administration.

     Hitherto, the state government had set aside N500 million monthly to pay the backlog of unpaid gratuity, while an additional N300 million has also been set aside monthly to pay retired civil servants from 2023 to date.

      The idea , according to the government, is to ensure  that by the time the administration completes its tenure, no civil servant would be owed any gratuity by the state government.

  • ‘Wike’s intervention on school for the gifted commendable’

    ‘Wike’s intervention on school for the gifted commendable’

    The School for the Gifted, Gwagwalada, Abuja, once plagued by dilapidated facilities and crumbling infrastructure, has experienced a remarkable transformation through the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, its Principal, Bello Adamu Audu, as said.

    He described the renovation as a lifeline for the institution, which was on the verge of collapse.

     “Before the minister’s intervention, the school was in a state of sorrow, with cracked walls, broken toilets, and a roof that was falling apart. Learning was nearly impossible.

     Now, the refurbished school boasts new fans, freshly painted walls, and upgraded facilities, creating an environment that fosters learning and inspires both students and staff.

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     “Students and staff members alike expressed gratitude for the facelift but also highlighted lingering needs.

     “Before, the broken boards and walls distracted us, but now, the conducive environment makes learning easier,” she said. However, she called for more chairs, modern books, and improved library facilities.’’

  • Coalition seeks sustained efforts against terrorism, banditry

    Coalition seeks sustained efforts against terrorism, banditry

    The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) yesterday called for intensified efforts in the fight against terrorism and banditry.

     The group called on governments, security agencies, and community leaders to prioritize long-term strategies aimed at restoring peace and stability.

     In a statement, the National Coordinator, CNG, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, emphasised the importance of long-term strategies by governments, security agencies, and community leaders to restore peace and stability in affected regions.

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     The coalition also lauded the heroic efforts of security forces for their recent successes in the fight against bandits and terrorists, which have brought significant relief to many communities across the North.

     Charanchi highlighted the successes of Operation Fansan Yamma, applauding the armed forces for their unwavering commitment to restoring security.

     He praised recent victories, such as the neutralisation of fighters loyal to bandit leader Bello Turji, including his second-in-command and key commanders in the Northwest, and also acknowledged the elimination of Boko Haram commander Abu Iklima in Bama, Borno State.

  • APC chieftain lauds Ododo, deputy over spread of projects

    APC chieftain lauds Ododo, deputy over spread of projects

    • From Olaide Oyelude, Lokoja

    All Progressives Congress ( APC) Secretary in the United Kingdom, Chief Momoh Obaro has lauded Governor Ahmed Ododo and his deputy, Joel Oyibo, over what he called  ‘‘the spread of projects’’ in the three senatorial zones of the state.

     He gave the commendation in Lokoja, the state capital, yesterday  while commenting on Ododo’s first year in office.

    The Kogi-born businessman and data scientist also declared that President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the state was a pointer that things were on the right track.

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    He charged the administration to remain committed to peace, infrastructure development and other ideals of good governance.

    Obaro observed that Ododo had started well and had proven to be sensitive to the yearnings of the citizenry.

    He noted that the governor seemed well-prepared and determined to succeed in his public service career, adding that his steps had again rekindled hope and the dreams of “our founding fathers’’.

  • Women farmers seek more funding

    Women farmers seek more funding

    Rural women farmers should be well funded to enable them contribute more to agric production, an expert has said.

    The expert, Dr. Ndudi Bowei Bowie, who is the Consulting Partner, International Centre for Environmental Health and Development, explained that the funding women get is very small compared to what it should be.

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    Rural women farmers, according to her, should be funded well based on the challenges they have, noting that climate change brings in more challenges for women farmers.

    Bowie stated this at the meeting for the Grassroots Driven Climate Action by Rural Women Farmers in Nigeria, CSOs, NGOs consulting advocacy forum in Abuja.

  • Kwara delegation visits Shonga, probes rice plantation flooding

    Kwara delegation visits Shonga, probes rice plantation flooding

    Kwara State Government delegation on Sunday visited Shonga in Edu Local Government Area to establish the causes of the unusual flooding that has submerged rice farmlands stretching thousands of hectares.

    Led by the Deputy Chief of Staff Princess Bukola Babalola, the delegation also delivered relief materials worth millions of naira for the farmers in the affected community, Tada.

    The delegation visited the Emir of Shonga Dr. Haliru Yahya Ndanusa and the victims at Tada. 

    Babalola assured the victims that the government would offer assistance to the farmers to cushion the effect of the flooding on their farms. 

    “We are here to see the damage done to the farms, especially the rice farms in Tada community. We have seen what happened and we are taking the message back to His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to see what can be done to remedy the situation —  immediate and future remedies — and avert loss of lives and farmlands,” she told reporters on the sideline of the visit.

    “Also, a lot of farmers are crying here that they need a lot of support. We have heard their complaints, and help is on the way.”

    Babalola thanked residents of the community for their cooperation and understanding, saying the government cares for their well-being and would support them, including establishing the causes of the flooding. 

    Emir of Shonga Dr Halidu Yahya Ndanusa expressed sadness over the incident, saying the flooding could affect food security in the state. 

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    He urged the State Government to carry out thorough investigation to get the cause of the “unusual” flooding at this time. 

    “From here up to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, and Mali, there was no rain. The Sahel is dry. How can there be a flood here? The source of this flood must be local,” he said.

    “We have asked from Kainji Dam, and they said it wasn’t from them. But Jebba Dam could not deny it. In fact, they said they would soon close it. We spent several years attracting people to this place. We hope this will not happen again next year to avert food insecurity. 

    “His Excellency has spoken to me, and he took it very seriously. I didn’t expect this delegation again, given his interventions already. We are very grateful to him for his concern and for sending this powerful delegation. 

    “It is very important that we get to the roots of the matter. If it is true that Jebba Dam released water, what was the reason, and who authorised it?”

    Muhammad Abdulkadir, a Tada community leader, disclosed that several farmlands were submerged due to the flooding. 

    “Our farmers here came from different states in the north. We have farmers from Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, and Niger State, and they have lost millions of naira worth of rice farms to this flooding,” he said. 

    “We definitely need government’s assistance. When there was no flooding, we realised over 3m metric tonnes of rice here annually. 

    “We thank the government for coming to our aid immediately. This should not end here. We want the government to find the permanent solution to perennial flooding in this axis. The permanent solution is to dredge the River Niger.”

  • NUJ FCT Council commends Minister on infrastructural development

    NUJ FCT Council commends Minister on infrastructural development

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has commended the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, for his visible efforts in improving infrastructural development within the nation’s capital.

    While acknowledging the Minister’s developmental strides, the union urged for more economic reforms to improve the well-being of citizens in the FCT.

    This was stated in a communiqué released after the Council’s historic first Congress, held on Saturday at the Council’s Secretariat in Utako, Abuja.

    During the Congress, members discussed the state of the union and the nation, urging relevant government authorities to enhance economic and social development for the benefit of citizens.

    Other pressing concerns raised included the rising cost of living, poor power supply, and insecurity across the country.

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    The event, presided over by Comrade Grace Ike, Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, marked a significant milestone, bringing together over 400 members, including former Chairmen of the Council and past leaders of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).

    In her opening address, Comrade Ike emphasized the executive’s commitment to fostering unity and progress within the Council. 

    She said, “It is a privilege to welcome you all to this momentous first Congress of the NUJ FCT Council under our leadership. Today represents more than a formal gathering; it is an opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to unity, progress, and the collective good of our profession.”

    Members deliberated on critical national issues, highlighting the rising cost of living as a major challenge. 

    The Council described the escalating prices of basic goods and services as a heavy burden on Nigerians and called on the Federal Government to take immediate action to address these hardships.

    The Congress also expressed concern about the erratic power supply in the Federal Capital Territory, noting its detrimental impact on businesses and residents’ daily lives.

    “The frequent disruptions in electricity and water supply are increasing operational costs and reducing profit margins for businesses, placing additional strain on the average Nigerian,” the communiqué stated.

    It called on relevant agencies to prioritize the restoration of essential services to improve the quality of life in the region.

    The NUJ FCT Council also voiced grave concerns over rising insecurity, including alarming reports of ritual killings and other heinous acts. 

    It attributed these incidents partly to the ongoing economic downturn and emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to address economic and security challenges.

    The Congress concluded with a pledge of commitment to the unity and advancement of the union for the betterment of its members.

  • BudgIT condemns govt attacks on NGOs demanding budget transparency in Sokoto

    BudgIT condemns govt attacks on NGOs demanding budget transparency in Sokoto

    BudgIT, a civic-tech organisation that focuses on promoting transparency and accountability in public finance management, has condemned the Sokoto government’s attacks on non-governmental organizations that are seeking budget accountability. 

    It said the attacks by the state government were unwarranted and undermined the principles of transparency and accountability in governance.

    BudgIT’s Research Analyst, Temitope Odeyemi, said in a statement on Friday that governments exist to serve the public, and as such, they must be held accountable to their citizens. 

    He added that accountability in government was not optional, but a fundamental requirement of democracy. 

    The Nation recalled Sokoto State Governor, Dr. Ahmad Aliyu, on 29 November 2024. presented a N526.88bn budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly, which was subsequently passed on 17 December 2024. 

    Odeyemi emphasised that holding the government accountable in public finance management is an essential principle of democracy.

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    He said: “Civic responsibility is vital in a democracy, enabling citizens to hold leaders accountable and ensuring that government actions reflect the people’s interests. Accusing the Sokoto State Government of fiscal opacity is not overreach; it reflects citizens’ rights to know how public resources are managed. BudgIT and like minded CSOs are vehicles of citizen hope, aspiration and collectivity and translate the yearnings of citizens to action.

    “States are not private enterprises, and dismissing accountability by claiming NGOs have no constitutional mandate undermines democracy. Governments exist to serve the public, and as such,

    they must be held accountable to their citizens. This accountability is not optional; it is a fundamental requirement of democracy. Transparency goes beyond satisfying state assemblies; it includes active engagement with the public. Budget documents are public documents; everyone, including the citizens and Civil Society Organizations, should have access to them. 

    “Criticising NGOs for exposing gaps does not address those gaps; it perpetuates them. An accountable government should not become defensive; instead, it should reflect on its performance to understand why it has fallen short of expectations and best practices.”

    Odeyemi said that instead of attempting to suppress NGOs, the state government should embrace accountability and promote collaboration with civil society organisations (CSOs) to improve governance.

    He said: “This partnership benefits citizens with a more responsive government and allows administrations to stand out among peers by demonstrating their commitment to good governance. 

    “By viewing governance challenges as opportunities for collaboration, citizens, CSOs, and the government can achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.”

  • UNICEF: Schools in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina failing to provide quality education for children

    UNICEF: Schools in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina failing to provide quality education for children

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised concerns about the poor quality of education for children in northern Nigeria, in addition to the high number of Out of School Children (OOSC) in the region.

    Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, Chief of UNICEF Field Office Kano, made the statement at a press conference marking this year’s International Day of Education (IDE) at Bon Hotel in Kano on Friday.

    UNICEF pointed out that the northwest region has the second-highest rates of children out of school, and the situation is worsened in Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states, where even children who are enrolled in school are facing poor learning outcomes.

    “There are currently about 10.2 million children at the primary level are out of school in Nigeria, 16 per cent of them are from Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states, according to MICS 2021.

    “Close to one million children are out of school in Kano state( 989,234); a total of 337,861 out of school children are in Jigawa, while Katsina state has 536,112 out of school children,” Farah said, adding that 32% of primary school going age children were out of school in Kano state.

    He said: “While the spectre of Out of School Children (OOSC) is a major concern, the challenge is that even those children who have the opportunity  to be enrolled in school are not having quality education.

    “Only 1 out of 4 children in Nigeria, aged 7-14 years can read and understand a simple sentence or solve basic arithmetic, according to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 2021) report.

    “Across Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states, this challenge is staggering: Tests conducted by the Federal Ministry of Education in 2022 found that Foundational Learning rates stand at 11 per cent or lower in the three states of Kano, Jigawa and Katsina.

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    “For instance, only 2% of primary school learners in Jigawa state have foundational reading skills while less than 1% have numeracy skills.

    “Although Kano figures appear better at 9.6% for reading proficiency, and 11.2% for numeracy, these figures are way lower than the national averages of 26% per cent for Reading proficiency and 25% for Numeracy respectively.”

    The theme for the 2025 International Day of Education was given as: “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation.”

    UNICEF said the 2025 IDE conference was organised to leverage the advocacy moment of the IDE to highlight the significance of education and its role in fostering a well-informed, inclusive, and peaceful society.

    Farah mentioned inadequate funding of the education sector, dissruptive impact of climate change on learning as other challenges confronting education in the country, particularly in the north.

    He said UNICEF was supporting basic education in Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states through cash transfers, tree planting campaigns, enrollment drives, supply of learning materials, building of schools and improvement of teachers’ capacities among other interventions. 

  • Northern caucus pledges support for Njoku’s leadership of NRM

    Northern caucus pledges support for Njoku’s leadership of NRM

    The Northern caucus of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) has pledged its support for the leadership of party under Chief Edozie Njoku.

    Members of the caucus, led by Comrade Iliyasu Adamu, expressed delight about Njoku’s emergence as the party’s new National Chairman and promised to do all within their power to ensure his success.

    At a press conference in Abuja, leaders of the caucus from the 19 northern states, including Chairmen, Secretaries, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) said they resolved to back Njoku. 

    The party members said they took the decision after reviewing “the unnecessary and avoidable dissentions arising from the just concluded national emergency convention of NRM held on January 17.

    A communique issued at the end of the Northern Cacus meeting, endorsed by 17 party officials, said the emergency national convention was properly convened in line with the Constitution of the Party.  

    Adamu, who read the communique, explained that “the emergency national convention became necessary to address the lopsidedness in the composition of the then National Management Committee (NMC), which has been amended to National Working Committee (NWC), in the new Constitution at the emergency national convention held on January 17, 2025”. 

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    “That we unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the person of the National Chairman of NRM, Chief Edozie Njoku, and the leadership of our great Party. 

    “The emergency national convention was also convened to address the stepping down of the then National Chairman of the Party, Ambassador Isaac C. Udeh. 

    “We wholeheartedly accept the outcome of the emergency national convention under the leadership of Chief Edozie Njoku, the National Chairman of NRM. 

    “That we urge all members of our great party to rally around the Party’s new leadership for greater exploits.

    “That we support the President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in his administration’s efforts to reposition the Local Government system, which will enthrone developments at the grassroots” the Northern Caucus of NRM stated in the communique.