The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abuja

  • Sacked lecturers sue Kogi govt to court

    One hundred and twenty lecturers at the Kogi State University Anyigba (KSU) who had their appointments terminated on the heels of the proscription of the local branch of the Academic Staff of Union of Universities (ASUU), have dragged the state government before the National Industrial Court, Abuja Division.

    Joined in the action challenging their sack was the Attorney-General of Kogi State.

    In suit No: NIC/ABJ/304/2017, and instituted at the National Industrial Court, Abuja Division, a copy of which was sighted by The Nation, the ASUU-KSU, led by the Acting Chairperson, Dr Daniel Oluwagbemiga Aina, is seeking redress over some contentious issues, including the proscription of the union and the termination of their appointments.

    The names of 113 lecturers were listed in the suit.

    Aina, at a press conference in Lokoja, said it was beyond Governor Yahaya Bello to prescribe the union.

    Reading from a text titled: “Towards Ending Impunity in Kogi State University”, he accused the Governor of rebuffing efforts to resolve the impasse between the government and the striking lecturers, and warned against what he described as the imminent collapse of the state-owned institution.

    “For the past three months, we were being pushed, pressed, oppressed and persecuted. We have prevailed to absorb all in our stride, hoping that the voice of reason, sanity and legalism will prevail across the strata of our tormentors. Many have wondered and even castigated us for not hitting the court long ago. We offer you some of the principles of the Academic Staff Union of Universities: we act, not react; we always explore every amicable means of resolution, not destroy.

    “The government of Kogi State, the Governing Council and management of Kogi State University Anyigba have taken steps which violate our fundamental human right and flouted the rules and regulations governing our contractual intercourse with the university.

    “We thought it is common knowledge that proscription of a trade union is beyond the jurisprudence of an executive governor. We have given time for this error to be corrected. The Nigerian Labour Congress made an attempt to wade into the matter, highlighting its illegality, but it was rebuffed. Twice we were at the office of the Honourable Minister for Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige in his bid for reconciliation but, the government of Kogi State never showed up.

    “ASUU has made a request to have audience with his Excellency, the Governor of Kogi State in a bid to finding a common ground for reconciliation, which was equally dishonoured out rightly.

    It must be noted that while ASUU was in a protracted strike of seven months, no move was ever made by the government of Kogi State or the Governing Council to reach a common ground.

    “Finally, ASUU has gone to court to seek for redress for the proscription of ASUU-KSU and the termination of the appointment of one hundred and twenty (120) academic staff members.

    “It is pathetic and unfortunate that taking a cursory look at the list of the purportedly sacked lecturers, identifying the courses they teach, the reallocation of such courses and identifying those who are assigned to teach those courses, it is crystal clear that the ‘one ready to kill has met the one ready to die’, while not knowing that there is no one to bury.

    “Unethical practices are done with imminent colossal damage in an effort to create the impression that all is well within the system”, he stated.

  • Abuse of office: Senate threatens to issue arrest warrant on IGP

    Abuse of office: Senate threatens to issue arrest warrant on IGP

    The Senate on Wednesday threatened to issue an arrest warrant against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris if he fails to appear before its ad-hoc committee investigating allegations of abuse of office against him.

    Chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Senator Francis Alimikhena, gave the threat after waiting endlessly for the IGP for a scheduled investigative hearing in the Senate.

    The Edo North Senator told reporters that the IGP was summoned on October 16th, 2017 to appear before the panel to respond to allegations made against him by Senator Isah Hamman Misau.

    The panellists expressed dissatisfaction that the IGP failed to appear before the panel.

    Alimikhena noted that instead of appearing before the panel the IGP, through his lawyer, Alex Iziyon, wrote to the committee informing it that the matter was already in court.

    He said that the letter expressly stated that IGP will not appear before the panel because the matter for which he was invited was before the court.

    Alimikhena who appeared to have been angered by the letter, thundered nobody, including court, can stop the Senate from carrying out its constitutional duties.

    The lawmaker who is also Senate Deputy Chief Whip noted that the separation of powers guaranteed by law made it explicit that the Senate cannot be prevented in carrying out its constitutional duties by any other arm of government.

    He threatened that if the IGP fails to appear on November 7th, 2017, the committee would invoke Section 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to compel him to appear.

    Alimikhena who quoted copiously Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, insisted that the IGP “will be summoned again and must appear next Tuesday, 7th of November.

    Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which the committee is relying on to issue a warrant of arrest on the IGP, reads: “For the purposes of any investigation under section 88 of this Constitutional and subject to the provisions thereof, the Senate or the House of Representatives or a committee appointed in accordance with section 62 of this Constitution shall have power to procure all such evidence, written or oral, direct or circumstantial, as it may think necessary or desirable, and examine all persons as witnesses whose evidence may be material or relevant to the subject matter

    “Require such evidence to be given on oath; summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence at any place or produce any document or other thing in his possession or under his control, and examine him as a witness and require him to produce any document or other thing in his possession or under his control, subject to all just exceptions.

    “Issue a warrant to compel the attendance of any person who, after having been summoned to attend, fails, refuses or neglects to do so and does not excuse such failure, refusal or neglect to the satisfaction of the House or the committee in question, and order him to pay all costs which may have been occasioned in compelling his attendance or by reason of his failure, refusal or neglect to obey the summons, and also to impose such fine as may be prescribed for any such failure, refused or neglect; and any fine so imposed shall be recoverable in the same manner as a fine imposed by a court of law.

    “A summons or warrant issued under this section may be served or executed by any member of the Nigeria Police Force or by any person authorised in that behalf by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case may require.”

    Alimikhena said: “We invited the IGP to appear before our committee. This morning (yesterday), we got a letter from his lawyer, Alex Iziyon, that he will not appear before this committee. He said the IGP has already gone to court and appearing will be sub-judiced.

    “It is our duty as a parliament to investigate the allegations raised. This committee was set up before they went to court. We cannot be stopped. No court can stop us from carrying out our duties. There is a separation of powers. No court can stop us.

    “We will invite him again next Tuesday. There are issues about virement in the 2017 budget which Misau also raised. We need him to respond to these allegations. We will invite him again and he will appear before us. If he fails to appear, we will invoke Section 89 of the 1999 constitution, as amended.”

    Misau,(Bauchi central) had while testifying before the probe panel, claimed that the IGP purchased two jeeps for the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari.

    He also alleged that the IGP misused over N120 billion generated by the Force in one year.

    Misau further alleged that the police boss impregnated a serving police officer and hurriedly arranged a marriage ceremony in Kaduna.

    The Police boss, through the Force spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, dismissed the claims as unfounded and smear campaign against the IGP.

    The police spokesman asked Nigerians to disregard the allegations against the IGP

    In like manner, Mrs. Buhari also denied the purchase of cars for her by the IGP.

  • Cabinet reshuffle: Buhari just betrayed his promise – ADP

    Cabinet reshuffle: Buhari just betrayed his promise – ADP

    The Action Democratic Party (ADP) said on Wednesday that the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to expand his cabinet and appoint more Ministers was a betrayal of his promise to run a lean government as a way of conserving funds.

    National Chairman of the party, Engr. Yabagi Sani said in a statement in Abuja that it was unfortunate that the same President who promised change has refused to be consistent and faithful to all the promises he made to the Nigerian people.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had told the National Executive Committee of the party on Tuesday that “the compressed Federal Executive Council will be expanded to bring in more supporters at Federal Level, with fresh ideas to be injected into the process.”

    The ADP said “It is sad and very disappointing that President Buhari who promised CHANGE has refused to be consistent and faithful to all the promises he made to the Nigerian masses.

    “His attitude towards corruption allegations against his close associates, his unprecedented tribal/kinsmen appointments and penchant for refusing to talk when Nigerians needed his voice of assurance mostly, have proved that his body language, in the beginning, was a mere gimmick.

    “We want to advise that what he needs is not the appointment of additional ministers but to make himself more accessible to the current cabinet members so as to achieve synergy and success.

    “The current Cabinet members have been working with a President they only see on FEC meeting days and hardly had the opportunity to discuss personal challenges or aspirations except through the Chief of Staff or the now replaced Secretary to the Government (SGF). If the President continues to run the government by proxy, history may not be kind to him in the final analysis.”

  • Angry Oyo-Ita confronts Kyari in FEC over leaked memo 

    Angry Oyo-Ita confronts Kyari in FEC over leaked memo 

    The Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, showed her anger on Wednesday when she reacted in a very unusual manner at the Council Chambers apparently over her leaked memo to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    This happened before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council ( FEC ) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Her angry reaction was witnessed by all those who were in the Council Chambers for the swearing-in of the new Secretary to the Government or the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and the launch of the 2018 armed forces emblem.

     Many Council members were also in the hall for the Federal Executive Council meeting.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari were seen questioning Oyo-Ita, shortly before the commencement of the event which started at 10:55am.

    Oyo-Ita, who has never lost her cool in the public, was seen angrily gesticulating while trying to make her point in what was obviously a heated argument with Kyari.

    The Head of Service went back to her seat and then rose again and headed straight to Osinbajo, who also engaged her in a tête-a-tete over the issue.

    The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, later joined the conversation after which the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation was seen calming the Head of Service.

    She was later asked to return to her seat by the Deputy Chief of Staff Femi Ipaye, when it was now obvious all eyes were fixed on them.

    The drama, which lasted about 10 minutes, was witnessed by Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Chief of justice of the federation, Walter Onnoghen, the Governor of Adamawa, Jibrila Bindu, All Progressives Congress National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, chief of defence staff, service chiefs, Inspector General of Police and other heads of paramilitary service among others.

    A national daily had quoted Oyo-Ita, in the leaked memo, as saying that Buhari was aware of the reinstatement of the former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina.

    Oyo-Ita was also quoted to have stated that she had warned the president against the controversial recall of the embattled former pension boss.

    President Buhari had ordered last week the immediate disengagement of former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdullahi Abdulrasheed Maina.

    Maina was in 2013 recommended for dismissal by the Federal Civil Service Commission following a recommendation by the Office of the Head of Service.

    In 2012, Maina was accused of leading a massive pension fraud scheme amounting to more than N100 billion.

    He was drafted by the Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2010 to sanitize a corrupt pension system.

  • Senate decries non completion of N48b national library 11 years after

    Senate decries non completion of N48b national library 11 years after

    The Senate on Tuesday described as unacceptable the failure of the federal government to complete the National Library after 11 years.

    The upper chamber resolved to urge the government to prioritize the funding and completion of the permanent site of the National Library of Nigeria in order to mitigate losses accruable to the project;

    It also mandated its Committee on Education to meet with the Ministers of Education and the Federal Capital Territory and the National Librarian/Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria to adopt an appropriation strategy that would ensure the completion of the project starting from the 2018 Appropriation Bill.

    It further advised the Government to be more strategic in the award of contracts with a view to embarking on only projects that can be adequately financed to the tune of its budgetary appropriation.

    The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion entitled “The preventable economic loss and national embarrassment arising from the failure of the federal government to complete the National Library after 11 years, “sponsored by Senator Olugbenga Ashafa (Lagos East).

    Ashafa in his lead debate noted that the National Library building project was conceptualized by the Federal Government in 2002 but awarded in 2006 to Messrs Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) at the sum of N8.590 Billion with a project timeline of 22 Months.

    He said that while the company commenced work on the project in April 2006, it could not proceed due to the failure of Government to release sufficient funds for the completion of the project, leading to its being revised three times over the period.

    Ashafa observed that a comprehensive report recently detailed the pitfalls of the project as follows:

    “That after a series of false starts leading to the initial suspension of work on the project, sometime in 2009, the project scope was reduced from the initial 8-floor plan to 5 floors and the contract sum of the reduced scope was reviewed upward to N17 billion from the original sum of N8.590 billion;

    “The Bureau of Public Procurement issued a compliance certificate of ’no objection’ on the review and the Federal Executive Council approved the revised sum. The completion period for the revised project was made 21 months effective from July 2010. The project could not be completed again due to paucity of funds; and

    “That in 2012, the presidency requested for the return of the project back to the full scope. A presidential anticipatory letter with reference number NLO/C.62/Vl/66 was sent to NLN (National Library of Nigeria) dated October 11, 2012, with a directive to CIA to instruct the contractor to revert to full scope.

    “By then, the contractor was about concluding arrangement for roofing at the fifth floor. The initially reviewed sum of N23.153 billion for the full scope was submitted by the consultants to the Ministry of Education but it was never processed.

    “In February 2013, the contractor requested for the extension of time and reviewed the contract sum upward to N48 billion.

    “Observed that despite the importance of this National Library, the project has been poorly funded since its inception.”

    The Lagos East lawmaker listed the allocation to the project between 2008 and 2015 as reported as follows: i. 2008N2, 269,197,198. 00 appropriated N1, 217,401,308.05 was released;

    2009N2. 4 billion budgeted and N2, 367,968,402 14 released; 2010 N18 billion budgeted N708, 301,501.34 was released; 2011 N758, 549,771.00 was earmarked but N491, 230,136.70 was released; v. 2012 N2 billion budgeted and N1, 081,448,443.00 was released; 2013 N4 billion was budgeted and N3, 164,726,518.19 was released; 2014 N22 billion was budgeted and N555, 697,923.52 was released; and 2015 N1.4 billion was budgeted, but N7 million was released.

    Ashafa said that the Senate should be worried that the continuous failure to properly fund the project within the specified period would cause the government losses modestly estimated to be in the range of 40 to 50billion naira and that if this failure to fund the project expeditiously continues, it might cost the Government even more in the long run.

    He also the Senate should be disturbed that 57 years after the birth of Nigeria and with trillions of naira sunk in the development of Abuja, the National Library of Nigeria still operates from a rented building because it does not have a permanent site;

    He said that the National Library is of critical importance to the country because it would serve as an important intellectual monument, representing the value placed on information, learning, knowledge, culture and history amongst others.

    He added: “Further disturbed that the failure of prioritization of this project by successive governments, is a direct reflection and metaphor for the almost inexistent premium we place on knowledge and intellectual capital as a country. This trend must stop and we must rise once again to the occasion;

    “Concerned that in View of the population explosion taking place in Nigeria, we no longer have the luxury of relegating knowledge and information amongst the populace.

    “1n the world that we are living in now, knowledge is the new black gold and we must not only diversify our economy into agriculture and solid-minerals but most importantly migrate wholly into a knowledge-based economy. In achieving this, Government must be focused on providing public access to quality knowledge and information;

    “Worried that the future of generations yet unborn is in jeopardy, as a failure to properly fund the National Library Project would greatly affect the capacity of the country in the area of proper documentation of historical documents, artefacts and archiving in general. Our heritage as a people is now at risk of extinction if we don’t move now.

    He said that the Senate should be disturbed that “this failure of strategic planning is not peculiar to the National Library Project alone but has become the bane of various capital projects across the country, amounting to a significant number of abandoned projects and preventable economic loss.”

    Other senators who contributed to the debate expressed disappointment that the projected remained non-completed years after it was initiated.

  • Court rules on Dasuki’s application to stay Metuh’s trial Nov. 1

    Court rules on Dasuki’s application to stay Metuh’s trial Nov. 1

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, will on Nov. 1 rule on whether or not to stay proceedings in a matter between the Federal Government and Olisah Metuh, pending the outcome of an appeal on the matter.

    Former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Sambo Dasuki, a party in the matter, asked the court to stay further proceedings pending the determination of his appeal.

    The court would also rule on whether or not to stay execution on a subpoena order issued against Dasuki to compel him to appear in court to testify in the matter.

    Counsel to Dasuki, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), told the court on Tuesday that his client, on Oct. 30. filed a motion on notice, praying the court to adjourn further proceedings relating to the subpoena order issued on Dasuki.

    According to Raji, further proceedings should be adjourned pending the determination of an application filed in the Court of Appeal, seeking a stay of execution of the subpoena.

    Raji also informed the court that his client also filed a motion asking for accelerated hearing of the appeal and asked the Court of Appeal to give a date to hear the appeal.

    Similarly, counsel to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN) informed the court that his client had filed an application asking the court to set aside an order of subpoena issued on him.

    Ozekhome said that the subpoena issued on his client on Oct. 23 was to compel his client to appear in court and give evidence in the ongoing trial of Metuh.

    Ozekhome, however, said that in the alternative, the court should direct Metuh to deposit N1 billion to cover his client’s traveling expenses from his home town, Otueke to Abuja to attend court.

    “Metuh, should in line with Section 241(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) deposit the sum of N1 billion with the court to cover the traveling expenses of my client.

    “This is to take care of him and his security operatives and other logistics involved in ensuring that my client appears before the court as President of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015.”

    He further urged the court to rule on his application before entertaining further processes in the matter as stipulated by relevant authorities.

    Counsel to Metuh, Mr Emeka Etiaba had in his submission, prayed the court to discountenance the submission of the prosecuting counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir that Dasuki had refused to appear in court.

    Etiaba noted that the submission of the prosecution should have been accompanied by an affidavit and not a mere oral submission.

    Tahir had earlier told the court that the Department of State Services (DSS) had made concerted efforts to bring Dasuki to court, but the former NSA had refused to appear in court.

    “I am in touch with the Legal Director of the DSS and he just sent me a text message saying, subject is still adamant and blatantly refuses to be brought to court except by force.

    “But after much exchange, he agreed to appear in court on the subsequent adjourned date, so you may wish to take a date sometime this week.”

    Justice Okon Abang in his ruling, said that all the applications filed by the parties would be entertained on Nov. 1.

    According to Abang, “from what is before me, I cannot conclude that the DSS flaunted the orders of the court, the issue of Dasuki will be handled administratively.’’

    He said the court would first rule on the application of Dasuki on whether or not to stay proceedings on the matter.

    He said that should Dasuki’s application succeed, further proceedings in the matter would be adjourned.

    He, however, said that if the application failed, the court would deliver ruling on the application filed by the former president.

    Metuh who is standing trial for receiving N400 million from Dasuki had asked the court to issue a subpoena on Dasuki and Jonathan, compelling them to appear in court to give evidence.

    NAN

  • Nigeria National Parks Service arrests wildlife trafficker

    Nigeria National Parks Service arrests wildlife trafficker

    Alhaji Ibrahim Goni, Conservator-General, Nigeria National Parks Service ( NPS ), says the service has arrested an international trafficker of endangered species of wildlife.

    The Conservator-General, who said this in an interview in Abuja, gave the trafficker’s name as Zakari Yau.

    Goni said that Yau was arrested at a spot near the Nigeria-Cameroon border.

    He said that the service rangers had embarked on aggressive patrols of parks, with the aid of the military and other agencies, to check illegal activities in all the national parks.

    “The exercise led to the arrest of Zakari Yau from Cameroon, who was in possession of a pair of elephant tusk, contrary to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild Fauna and Flora Act ( CITES ).

    “The suspect had since been handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency ( NESREA ) for further investigation and prosecution,” he said.

    NAN recalls that the NPS said that it had arrested 325 wildlife offenders at seven parks across the country in the first half of 2017.

    Goni said that the offenders had since been taken to court, adding that some of them were fined, while compensations were paid to the NPS.

    The conservator-general, however, said that in the first half of 2017, more than 5,356 tourists visited national parks across the country.

    “The service is making frantic efforts to improve and maintain international global standards and services; we want to give our parks a facelift to attract more tourists, both local and international,” he said.

    Goni said that the service had developed a network of national parks that could compete favourably with other national parks in the world.

    “To this end, the park service is making efforts to put in place operational management plans for each park and a systems plan for the entire country.

    “We want a national park system that meets the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians, and indeed the whole world, in preserving and protecting our natural heritage and the cultural relics that enliven them for generations to come.’’

    Besides, Goni said that 1,986 students, who were on industrial attachment, were trained in national parks across the country.

    “The national parks are not only for revenue generation but they are also for research and training,’’ he said.

    He thanked the Federal Ministry of Environment, the media, military and paramilitary agencies for their support for the service.

    NAN

  • Atiku Abubakar absent at APC Caucus meeting

    Atiku Abubakar absent at APC Caucus meeting

    Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar was conspicuously absent at the All Progressives Congress’ caucus meeting which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the new Banquet Hall, Aso Rock, Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), however, gathered that the Turakin Adamawa might have travelled out of the country.

    NAN reports that the meeting which started at about 8.45p.m. was being attended by the newly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.

    NAN also observed that some participants at the meeting were seen “struggling’’ for photo opportunity with the new SGF.

    Others attending the meeting include Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, the APC national Chairman, John Odigie Oyegun, Sen. Bola Tinubu, cabinet ministers and presidential aides.

    Read also: Buhari hands over Lawal, Oke to anti-graft agencies

    The meeting was also being attended by governors of Plateau, Adamawa, Bauchi, Sokoto, Niger, Kogi, Jigawa, Benue, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Kebbi, Nasarawa as well as deputy governors of Kwara and Yobe states.(NAN)

  • Updated: Buhari, Ouattara meet over Togo, Liberia, other issues 

    Updated: Buhari, Ouattara meet over Togo, Liberia, other issues 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with the Cote d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The leaders discussed issues bordering on the situation in Togo, Liberia, among other issues.

    The meeting also deliberated on issues of mutual benefit to the countries.

    Speaking with reporters in the State House, Ouattara said “It is a great honour and privilege to be in Abuja to see my brother and exchange views with him on the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Cote D’Ivore and to see how our sovereign nation is doing and also of course we had the opportunity to exchange views on major issues on the continent and the world.

    “I will like to thank President Buhari for his invitation. I had expressed the wish to come and see him, we had been in touch and I came to tell him that we are very happy that he is back in good health. This is important not only for Nigeria but for the whole of West Africa and our continent. We pray God that his health continues to be strengthened and be better for him to lead our sub region.

    “The leadership of Nigeria is quite important to all of us which is something that is obvious but I think it needs to be said.

    “President Buhari has shown a great leadership with the fight against Boko Haram, insecurity in the sub region and also on economic matters.

    “I expressed to him the fact as an economist and having worked in Nigeria many years ago, I am impressed by the measures which have been implemented to lift Nigeria out of recession.

    He said that Nigeria and his country have similar experiences resulting from crash in the prices of the two countries’ main export commodities at the international market.

    He specifically commended the President for the measures engaged to bring Nigeria out of recession.

    “Nigeria has seen sharp drop in the price of oil and Cote D’Ivore has also experienced an important decrease in the price of cocoa. As you are all aware, Cote D’Ivore produces 40 percent of world cocoa, two million tons and the price dropped early this year by 40 percent.

    “So this has had negative effect on our economy. I know what Nigeria went through with the sharp drop in the price of oil.  So I expressed to him my admiration for all the measures which have been taken to lift Nigeria out of recession and to wish all the Nigeria people well because our sub region has made a lot of progress over the past few years and we need to strengthen the bilateral relationship between Cote D’Ivore and Nigeria. This is what we discussed and we have committed ourselves to do so.

    “We also discussed the situation in Togo and situation in Liberia on those we have complete consensus on how we should go about to strengthen democracy in our sub region.” he said

    According to him, President Buhari has promised to attend the AU/European meeting in Abidjan at the end of November.

  • FUBK gets new VC

    FUBK gets new VC

    The Federal University Birnin-Kebbi ( FUBK ) governing council, has approved the appointment of Prof. Bello Shehu, as the new Vice Chancellor of the university for a single term of five years.

    This approval was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the registrar of the university, Mr Ibrahim Mungadi.

    Mungadi said that the appointment of the new Vice Chancellor was approved by the council at its 9th meeting held on Oct. 26.

    The new Vice Chancellor, who was born on Feb. 13, 1958 in Birnin-Kebbi, would replace the Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Dr Sahabi Jabo.

    Until his appointment, the statement stated that Shehu was the provost of the university’s College of Health Sciences.

    He was at various times, the Chief Medical Director of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Abuja and Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin-Kebbi.

    Shehu, a neurosurgeon, is a Fellow to several professional institutions including the West African College of Surgeons, Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, American College of Surgeons and National Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria.

    NAN