The Federal Government has begun the establishment of innovation hubs for the promotion of reverse engineering.

The hubs are expected to promote research, development and innovation activities in the country.

The Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Henry Ikoh stated this yesterday in Abuja at the flag off the National Dialogue with the Government and Stakeholders in the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Ecosystem.

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He said: “The Establishment and implementation of these technology and innovation centres will serve as hubs for the promotion of technology utilisation, strengthening of technology management and information systems, the facilitation of commercialisation and global competitiveness.

“These hubs will bring together the government, the academia, industry and civil society as unifying centres for constant dialogue on strategies for the promotion of industry and business-driven research, development and innovation activities which will focus on reverse engineering, innovativeness, production, value addition and commercialisation leading to global competitiveness and ultimately sustainable wealth creation. It will also support the stabilisation of the country’s foreign exchange.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has disbursed N2, 648,651,923.16 billion to the six area councils in the FCT and other stakeholders as its share of statutory allocation for the month of August 2022.

This figure represents an 8.41712 per cent decline, as against the N2, 892,081,930.29 billion disbursed to area councils and other stakeholders in July 2022.

The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, who presided over the 169th Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting, urged the area council chairmen to make judicious use of the allocations despite the shortfall.

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A breakdown of the figures released during the JAAC meeting indicated that N370, 280,634.39 million was made available for distribution to the six area councils, while N2,278,371,288.77 billion was made available to other stakeholders. This totalled N2, 648,651,923.16 billion.

According to a statement by the Special Assistant Media to the FCT Minister of State, Austine Elemue, distributions to area councils show that the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), received N77, 916,414.47million, while Gwagwalada got N52, 800,000.91 million and Kuje received N91, 066,291.32 million.

Other area councils that received various amounts of the allocation include Bwari Area Council which received N47, 017,877.83 million; Abaji got N59, 050,970.93 million and Kwali received N42, 429,078.93 million. This totalled N370, 280,634.39 million disbursed to the six area councils.

Disbursements to other critical stakeholders include primary school teachers that received N1, 917,556,374.33 billion, 15 per cent; Pension Funds received N226, 478,989.57 million, one per cent; Training Fund got N26, 486,519.24 million, while 10 per cent; Employer Pension Contribution received N107, 849,405.63 million. This amounted to N2, 278,371,288.77 billion.

As Nasarawa State marked its 26th anniversary, Governor Abdullahi Sule has highlighted the achievement of his administration. He called on the people to eschew politics of bitterness and rivalry in the build-up to next year’s general elections.

Governor Sule highlited his key achievements while delivering his anniversary address at the Lafia Square.

Governor Sule said his administration has achieved much in the areas of security, economic transformation and employment generation, among others.

On security, he said his administration embarked on a sustained collaboration with security agencies by providing them with logistics toward ensuring protection of lives and property.

He added that his administration provided operational vehicles and motorcycles to enhance effective coverage and quick response to security threats.

His administration, he said, established military super camps at Kenyehu and Udege in Toto and Nasarawa local government areas and four Special Forces in Doma to tackle security threats in the area.

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On economy and investment, Governor Sule said his government initiated and executed policies and programmes for the sustainable development of the state, launched the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS), which outlines the development blueprint of the government.

Sule said his administration established the Nasarawa Investment Development Agency (NASIDA) which has so far attracted investments from the Dangote Group, Azman Rice Limited, and Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, among others.

The governor also presented his scorecard in the health and other sectors, adding that his administration achieved a lot in the areas of health, education, agriculture, public sector restructuring, provision of urban/rural infrastructure and women/youth empowerment.

Other areas of achievement, according to Sule include market development, urban/rural electrification, employment opportunities and enhancement of traditional institutions, among others.

On the 26th anniversary of the state, Governor Sule acknowledged the contributions of previous administrations toward its development.

“However, there are still challenges, which we inherited, believing that development is a continuous process.  This is why we endeavoured to make some strides through various policy interventions and programme initiatives to propel development in various sectors of the state economy,” he said.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has kicked off a tour of states in the Northeast with a focus on identifying all complaints for resolution.

The National Vice-Chairman of the party in charge of the Northeast, Comrade Mustapha Salihu, who is leading the tour, said in Yola, the Adamawa State capital yesterday that all grievances would be resolved before next year’s general elections.

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“You can’t have a party presenting members for competitive elections and not have conflicts, and it is good that people are voicing their grievances,” the APC zonal chairman told reporters who covered the Adamawa State Engagement of the Northeast zonal tour which took place in Yola yesterday. He said the APC would go to the 2023 polls as a united front.

The Adamawa State Engagement of the Northeast zonal tour began at the Muna Hotel in Yola, after which the National Vice-Chairman addressed the media.

He reiterated that issues such as the court case challenging the election of Senator Aishatu Binani as the Adamawa State candidate of the party for the 2023 elections would be resolved amicably.

In subsequent engagements, the team would meet with party stakeholders in other states of the Northeast, including Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe and Borno.

The Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative (TADI), a civil society group, has hailed the reforms introduced by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Prof. Is-haq Oloyede to reposition the agency.

The organisation dismissed allegations of corruption against the Registrar, saying they were peddled by “few disgruntled members of staff of the Board who want the old way to remain.”

The TADI had submitted a petition to the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in respect of the allegations made by its sister organisation, Integrity and Transparency Watchdog against Prof. Oloyede.

However, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, the organisation said its independent investigation showed that the allegations were false and therefore had decided to withdraw its petition against the Registrar.

“As a civil society organisation that has integrity as our watchword, we cannot continue to be part of the selfish motive of some few corrupt individuals in JAMB that want to return the Board to the old ways and are hell-bent on dragging a man of integrity to the mud,” the Director of Media and Advocacy of TADI, Comrade Adamu Matazu said.

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Matazu said the group’s findings showed that Prof. Oloyede had delivered beyond expectations.

He said: “We found out that the man has delivered beyond expectations. Some of his achievements in the past six years are many. The Prof. Oloyede-led management has, through prudent management of resources, blockage of all corrupt channels yielded over N50 billion to the coffers of the Federal Government.

“In his first year in office, he remitted N7.8 billion to the Treasury Single Account. The highest the Board had remitted in the 40 years of its existence before Prof. Oloyede was appointed was less than N70 million.

“The credibility of the examination has been improved through the credibility he introduced in the process chains and the inclusivity. As of today, the Board is one of the most sought-after public examinations in Africa. The Board receives requests for partnership from sister organisations to train their members of staff in new forms of the conduct of public examination.

“The Board, through the renewed image brought about by the innovations of Prof. Oloyede, conducts qualifying examination for several national and international organisations such as the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council for medical doctors who study abroad and want to practice in Nigeria, it conducts examinations for West African College of Surgeon and the West African College of Physicians for different medical specialties, oil companies, EFCC and the Immigration Service, among others.

“The Prof. Oloyede-led administration has completely blocked the corruption in admission by the introduction of an automated admissions platform called central admission processing system (CAPS) which has removed all human interferences in the conduct of admissions exercise in all tertiary institutions.

“He has constructed mega CBT centres across the country with befitting office accommodation.

“It’s on this note that we are going to write and withdraw all the petitions we’ve earlier written to the Anti-corruption agencies and to equally pass a vote of confidence on the leadership of Prof. Is-haq Oloyede.

“We urge him to continue to sustain the tempo and not give in to the evil machinations of those who are trying hard to distract him from the good work he has been doing.”

The Plateau State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated Governor Simon Lalong on the conferment of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) honour on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

A statement on behalf of the party by the State Publicity Secretary, Sylvanus Namang noted that the party is not surprised over the recognition and appreciation accorded to Governor Lalong by the Federal Government.

He noted that considering Governor Lalong’s political trajectory and service to the country, the national honour bestowed on him is timely.

Namang stated that the governor, having risen from a private legal practitioner, state legislator, the longest serving Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, a two-term governor and currently Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and now the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, are  no mean achievements  and service to the country which deserve recognition by all.

He stated that the APC is elated and proud of Governor Lalong over the honour and recognition by the Federal Government.

Namang also congratulated the 10 other recipients of various national awards from the Federal Government who are indigenous to Plateau State.

They include the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Ahmed Idris Wase, who was also  awarded CON, Justice Monica  Bolna’an Dongban Mensem, Chief Judge of the Federal Court of Appeal, Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic,  CFR,  Da Jacob Gyang Buba, Gbong Gwom Jos, CFR.

Others are Professor Sabestian Seddi Maimako, former Vice Chancellor,  University of Jos and Director General of the APC Gubernatorial Campaign Council Plateau State, Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON,  Prof. Mary Lar, a foremost educationist and wife of the former Governor of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Daushep Lar, OON,  Ambassador James Dimka,  a veteran journalist and former Ambassador to Liberia, OON, and Prof. Doknan Decent Danjuma Sheni, former Vice-Chancellor,  Plateau State University, OON.

Also benefitting from the National Award are Mallam  Yakubu Ibn Muhammad,  Director-General of NTA, who, though from Taraba State,  was born and brought up in Jos, OON and Jummai Kizito Gukas from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, bagged the Federal Republic Medal 1.

He described all the recipients of the awards as true ambassadors of Plateau State.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government for bestowing the honours on the recipients.