Category: Northern Reports

The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said Governor Bello Matawalle, would not resign his position as the state governor, as demanded by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The PDP had urged the governor to resign following his defection to the APC, as well as his inability to tackle the prevailing security challenges in the state.

But Mr Yusuf Idris, the state APC Publicity Secretary, told reporters in Gusau yesterday that the call was misplaced.

Idris said Matawalle would not resign because of a certain call by desperate politicians trying to safeguard their selfish interest.

He said Matawalle‘s emergence as the state governor was ordained by God, adding that the call for his resignation by the PDP was a sign of accepting defeat in the upcoming 2023 general elections.

“The achievements of the governor are very clear; even though he is not in full control of the security agencies.

“His administration has been giving support to them in restoring peace and stability in the state,” he said.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps is to collaborate with the Nigerian Hunters’ Council (NHC) in the fight against vandalism and other criminal elements in Zamfara State.

The Zamfara Commandant of the Corps, Athanasius Sparks, disclosed this while receiving the leadership of the NHC Zamfara chapter led by Alhaji Suleiman Lawali in Gusau on Tuesday.

Sparks said the corps, which is saddled with diverse responsibilities, is poised to ensure that the insecurity challenges bedeviling the state and the country become a thing of the past.

He urged the council to assist the corps in the area of intelligence- gathering in order to fight vandalism and other forms of insecurity in all parts of the state.

The commandant praised the council in some places where banditry and brigandage have taken a centre stage and urged them to replicate same gallantry in Zamfara.

Lawali commended the NSCDC for the fight against vandals and other criminals in the state.

The Adamawa State University (ADSU) is so lowly subscribed to by those indigenous to the state. In terms of students seeking admission, the university does not get enough applications from the 21 local government areas of the state.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kaleptapwa Farauta, who stated this and other matters in a chat with reporters at the university’s main campus in Mubi, said getting enough students who are indigenous to the state to fill their quota poses a challenge.

The V-C said: “We have challenge of students in the council areas applying to be students of the Adamawa State University. The people in the council areas are our major stakeholders, but they don’t apply to come here.”

She reiterated that rather than such happening, the university finds, after every admission exercise, that so many of the councils fall short of the number of new intakes expected from them.

“They let go of their slots by not bringing enough candidates to fill up the gaps,” she stressed, adding that this is a major challenge because being a state university; it is expected to provide adequately for every part of the state,” the V-C said.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned what it termed the unrelenting onslaught against Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.

PDP’s comment was in reaction to an incident in which Governor Ortom was locked out of the Makurdi Airforce Base where he had gone, upon formal invitation, to receive the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday, February 12, 2022.

The party alleged that the action was another vicious attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to embarrass, harass, and unsettle Governor Ortom and sustain the “terrorisation of the people of Benue State in the desperation to take away their constitutional and ancestral heritage.”

PDP spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Tuesday, explained that Governor Ortom, upon formal invitation, cancelled his official engagements to accord the Vice-President, who landed at the Makurdi Airforce Base en route Taraba State, the necessary respect in line with protocols applicable to the office. The governor was denied access into the Airforce Base to meet the Vice-President.

Ologunagba argued that the Buhari Presidency cannot deny involvement in this “pre-meditated and provocative act because all arms of the Armed Forces, including the Airforce, are under the authority and control of the Commander-in-Chief, who is the head of the executive arm to which the Vice-President also belongs.

The PDP dismissed the belated apologies by Vice-President Osinbajo and the excuse of communication gap as an afterthought.

According to the party, the reported suspension of an officer over the despicable act is “an attempt to pull the wool in the face of Nigerians, consistent with the action of the APC in matters requiring transparency and independent public inquiry.

The party through its spokesman demanded an immediate public investigation to unravel the real brains behind the action against the governor as well as ensure that such desecration of public office is not encouraged or condoned.

The Police Command in Kaduna State yesterday, donated N37.28 million to 23 families of personnel who died in active service.

The Commissioner of Police, Mudassiru Abdullahi, presented the cheques to families of the deceased at the Command Headquarters on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police.

Abdullahi said the N37, 280,667 was for the Group Life Assurance and Group Personal Accident Insurance Scheme.

He said the IGP had assured them of proper welfare packages at all times within and out of service which is one of his administrative cardinal principle.

The beneficiaries expressed their  appreciation for the gesture and prayed that God will continue to guide the Nigerian Police in discharging their duties.

Mr Muhammad Suleiman, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressed pleasure for the gesture and prayed that God would continue to guide the Nigerian Police in discharging of their duties.

Suleiman pledged that the beneficiaries would use the money judiciously, especially in taking care of the families left behind by the deceased personnel.

“We are grateful. This gesture shows that the Nigeria Police has not forgotten us in times of our needs,” he said.

The Atiku Support Organisation (ASO) has said no amount of campaigns of calumny against former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, will stop him from becoming the next president in 2023.

Mr Akinze Moze, Director, Support Groups, stated this at a briefing in Abuja. He described the former Vice-President as someone who will represent and protect the interest of the youth.

They called on him to present himself for the presidency in 2023.

At the moment, he said, Nigeria requires a leader with two fundamental characteristics; the experience to untangle our socio-economic and political quagmire, and the determination to chart a sustainable future for our country.

He condemned what he described as sponsored attempts to malign the former Vice-President.

He said: ”Nigeria requires a leader with two fundamental characteristics; the experience to untangle our socio-economic and political quagmire, and the determination to chart a sustainable future for our country.

”We clamour for an Atiku presidency in 2023 because no politician in Nigeria’s history has invested in preparing himself for the office of the president of Nigeria, as much as Atiku has.

”We need a leader that identifies with the youth. We need someone who is ready to lay an impregnable path for the younger generation to take charge and this cannot happen by magic.

As Vice-President, Atiku began the process of recruiting young minds to the political space. Some of the most successful public servants we hear of today were brought in their youth by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. We need him to complete the works he started. His transitional presidency will serve that purpose.

”This is a man who has guaranteed 40 per cent of his cabinet appointments to the youth, including the physically challenged people if given the opportunity, a detribalised Nigerian, a man whom we refer to as WAZOBIA; having family roots in all parts and segments of Nigeria which connotes unity in diversity.

”We note with dismay the many sponsored attempts at maligning our principal and we know the actors behind them; within the PDP and beyond. Our message is simple; we remain unshaken in our resolve, and they will all be put to shame eventually.”

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, yesterday approved the immediate implementation of the N30, 000 new national minimum wage for the state workforce, with partial consequential adjustment.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Folashade Arike-Ayoade, disclosed this after an extensive meeting with the organised labour in Lokoja, the state capital.

Arike-Ayoade explained that the delay in the implementation of the new wage was due to the inability of the constituted working committee to meet regularly, mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The SSG, however, commended the organised labour for their understanding and patience so far, which, she noted, had resulted in the approval of its implementation.

The Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja, praised the organised labour for their commitment to reaching the agreement amicably, without resorting to strike actions.

“Governor Yahaya Bello is passionate about the welfare of civil servants, and would continue to give priority attention to its workforce,” Onoja said.

The Head of the State Civil Service, Mrs Hannah Odiyo, said: “With the signing of the agreement on the new national minimum wage, the committee had completed its work peacefully, without recourse to strike action.”

The Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Onuh Edoka, commended Bello for “taking the bull by the horns in signing the new minimum wage.

“We, indeed, commend the state government for signing the agreement with the mandate of immediate implementation to give civil servants in the state a new lease of life.

“We assure you of civil servants’ commitment to effective productivity in all sectors of the economy,” the chairman said.

The agreement also covers state and local government workforce.

Present at the signing of the agreement were the state chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Ranti Ojo, state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Adeiza Momoh-jimoh, and chairman, National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Tade Adeyemi, among others.

The Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Borno State said it has disengaged 2,203 children within its rank and file in compliance with the United Nations (UN) Convention against the use of child soldiers.

The CJTF was established by the Borno State Government in 2013 to assist security forces in the fight against insurgency.

The Commander of the CJTF, Malam Abati Isa, disclosed this in Maiduguri, on Monday, during an event to commemorate this year’s International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers.

Isa praised the state’s Ministry of Justice and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for their roles in the initiative.

“The CJTF was listed in the annexes of the Secretary-General’s Report on Children and Armed Conflict in April 2016, for child recruitment and use.

“However, in September 2017, the Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting (CTFMR), in collaboration with UNICEF and other partners, signed an Action Plan with the CJTF to put an end to child recruitment and use.

“Following that, the CJTF, with the support of the CTFMR and the Borno State Ministry of Justice, took significant steps to put an end to this practice.

“Significant progress has been made by the CJTF in implementing the Action Plan, including standing orders to all commanders and their sectors to stop recruiting children and the separation of 2,203 children (363 girls, 1,840 boys) from the group’s rank and file.

“As a result of this significant achievement, the Secretary-General has delisted the group from the annexes of the Secretary-General’s Annual Report on CAAC,” Isa said.

The Head of UNICEF Maiduguri Field Office, Phoung Nguyen, said the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict violated national and international law.

She said the protocol on the Rights of the Child, prohibits any forced recruitment or conscription of children under 18 by any party to be used or recruited in hostilities.

“The Federal Government ratified the Optional Protocol in 2012,” Nguyen said.

The Borno State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, said the Borno State Government has negotiated, released and reintegrated children formally associated with armed groups.

Niger State Governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello has ordered the redeployment of 13 Permanent Secretaries.

In a letter dated February 1, 2022, with reference number HoS/NS/044/T by the Head of Service, Hajiya Salamatu Abubakar, addressed to all ministries, the Clerk of the House of Assembly and the Secretary to the State Government, the redeployed Permanent Secretaries were asked to report to their new ministries on or before February 8, 2022.

The redeployment letter reads: “I write to convey the approval of Mr Governor on the posting of the attached list of Permanent Secretaries. The officers are expected to report on or before Tuesday, February 8, 2022, and you will kindly avail this office with handing/taking over note.”

The Nation learnt that the redeployment is part of the strategies of the governor to reshuffle his executive, as it was alleged he is not satisfied with the non-performance of some of his commissioners.

It was also learnt that some Special Advisers and Coordinators would be affected by the impending reshuffle.

Also, the Niger State civil servants have given the state government a 14-day ultimatum to address the lingering issues affecting civil servants in the state or face indefinite strike action by the workers.

This was stated after the State Administrative Council of the Organised Labour after their meeting in Minna to review the status of workers’ welfare.

The union expressed dismay that despite the evidence of improvement in revenues, the government has remained adamant in addressing the lingering issues of civil servants in the state.

“The council noted that the FAAC allocation to Niger State had improved significantly from the 3rd quarter of 2021; the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state had also improved since the 3rd quarter of 2021,” the union said.

The chairman-elect of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mr Christopher Zakka has promised to prioritise policies and programmes targeted at meeting the development needs of rural areas within the council.

 Zakka, particularly disclosed that his administration will ensure that rural communities get 80 per cent priority attention, in terms of provision of water, electricity, education, roads, health care and other programmes. He also said urban areas would get only 20 per cent. This, he said, will help in widening access to better living standards.

  Making this assertion yesterday while addressing reporters on the just-concluded FCT area council election, the chairman-elect commended President Muhammadu Buhari, FCT Minister INEC and security agencies for ensuring a free, fair and credible election in the Territory.

 He said: “During our campaigns, we went to many villages in AMAC, because the council is very large, so we have many people suffering in the rural areas.

“There are communities that I and my team went to where we discovered that they don’t have potable water, roads and other social amenities, and if you visit such places, you will shed tears.

 “What I’m going to do differently is to focus on these rural areas. I’m giving urban areas 20 per cent, and I’m taking 80 per cent to rural communities. This is because these people need the government’s intervention.

 “In the urban areas we have a lot of social amenities already, but I’m telling you the truth that if you visit some of our villages, you would shed tears. So I’m going to focus my attention down to our rural areas, in order to give them a better life.”

 He, however, declared the desire to accommodate all the political parties and carry everyone along, in the quest to make AMAC great.

 “In my administration, there is nothing like religion or tribal consideration as everybody is welcomed to contribute towards good governance. By the grace of God, we are going to make AMAC great.

 “I thank the President, Minister of the FCT, INEC, media, and the entire people of the FCT for coming out in their numbers and voting for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” he stated.