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Tag: Akwanga

  • Sule to dualise Akwanga road in Nasarawa

    Sule to dualise Akwanga road in Nasarawa

    Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has revealed that work will commence on the dualization of the the Ismaila Abbas petrol station-Akwanga roundabout-AYM Shafa petrol station in Akwanga, after his administration approved 50 percent of the cost to the contractor handling the project.

    Governor Sule said this during the inauguration of the Gaji Luxury Hotels built by a private investor, McDaniels Jika, in Akwanga.

    The Governor explained that following the approval by the Federal Ministry of Works for his administration to start the work, he quickly approved 50 percent of the contract sum to enable the contractor handling the project to immediately commence work.

    “Just yesterday, we have done something that we don’t usually do. When we give a contract, we usually give the contractor 30 percent mobilization.  But because Nasarawa State is blessed now, just like so many other places, as a result of improved revenue, yesterday, I approved 50 percent of the money to the contractor to ensure that he will do this work in time.

    “That would give him the opportunity to buy all the materials to be able to do something. I told him before I come back from my trip that I want to see some significant amount of work that is being done.

    “I know a lot of people have certain things in mind when I said we are doing this in Akwanga. We are not doing this in Akwanga because of the votes. We are not doing this in Akwanga because of any individual.  We are doing this in Akwanga because Akwanga is central to the development of Nasarawa State.

    “By the time we finish the design that we are doing at this roundabout, as a result of this construction work, a lot of people may not be interested in taking the bypass, they may want to pass through the town to see the development coming to Akwanga.  And for us, that is the idea. That is the dream. That is what we are doing. Not for us today, not for anybody today, but for tomorrow when we are no longer here,” he stated.

    He used the opportunity to highlight on some of the projects being undertaken by his administration in Akwanga to include three township roads, the Baba Arago-Taal road, Dankazo-Akwanga Modern Market road, and the road linking the newly constructed bridge on Andaha road.

    The governor said his administration has already completed the VIP lodge, another event centre, as well as the youth club that was previously in a terrible shape.

     “We have not only completed the youth club, we have also awarded the contract for the construction of the road to that area,” he said.

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    He added that his next big project is to build the first ever underpass in Lafia as is obtained in advanced countries.

    He said the design for the Lafia underpass is already with the Federal Ministry of Works for approval.

    “The next big project that I have in mind is building the first underpass in the history of Nasarawa State.  That underpass is going to be in Lafia. Lafia is going to have an underpass similar to what obtains in advanced countries. The design is awaiting approval also by the Federal Ministry of Works,” he added.

    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Gaji Luxury Hotels, McDaniels Jika, said the idea to build the hotel came after he realized that Akwanga is a confluence town, a link between the North and South.

    Jika added that he decided to construct a 500m road with drainage as part of his corporate social responsibility.

  • Nasarawa State-owned tertiary institutions suspend strike

    Nasarawa State-owned tertiary institutions suspend strike

    The Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions in Nasarawa State has suspended the infinite strike action it began on Feb. 16.

    Mr Ariks Samuel-Bashayi, state’s Chairman of the union, announced the suspension of the strike while briefing newsmen on Friday at the College of Education, Akwanga, after the union’s emergency meeting.

    He stated that the suspension of the strike was due to the commitment made by the state government through the respective management of the three state-owned tertiary institutions.

    He said, “Though all our demands are not met, but because of appeals and interventions by the stakeholders, the union shifted ground to give room for further discussion.
    “The state government and other stakeholders appealed to the union to call off the strike in order to pave way for further negotiation.”

    Read Also: Buhari advises TETFund on interventions to institutions

    The chairman, therefore, called on all members of the union to resume work immediately pending further directives.

    Newsmen reports that the union had embarked on an indefinite strike since Feb. 16, citing government’s refusal to address welfare- related issues.

    The Institutions involved are: the College of Education, Akwanga, College of Agriculture, Lafia and the Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia.

    NAN

     

  • Buhari’s visit: Security beefed up in Nasarawa

    Buhari’s visit: Security beefed up in Nasarawa

    Security measures have been beefed up in in Lafia and environs as security personnel have been deployed in strategic locations ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Nasarawa on Tuesday.

    A correspondent, who went round the state capital on Tuesday, reported that officers and men of the Nigeria Police, Civil Defence and other security agencies were stationed at all nooks and crannies.

    Read also: Buhari wants Tinubu to reconcile aggrieved APC members

    Reports say that more security personnel had also been deployed in Akwanga, Keffi and Karu Local Government areas of the state.

    Mr Bello Ahmed, the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, had on Monday, said that over 4000 personnel had been deployed in strategic locations in the state.

    The commissioner said that police officers were collaborating with other security personnel to ensure hitch free visit by the President.

    President Buhari is paying a one-day visit to Nasarawa State where he will also inaugurate some projects of the state government.

    NAN

  • Nasarawa tertiary institutions suspend strikeNasarawa tertiary institutions suspend strike

     

    The Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions in Nasarawa State has suspended its two weeks indefinite strike.

    The state’s Chairman of the union, Mr Ariks Bashayi, announced the suspension on Wednesday in Lafia, shortly after the union’s emergency meeting.

    According to him, the suspension of the strike is due to the commitment shown by the State Government through the authorities of the three tertiary institutions owned by the state.

    “Though all our demands were not met, the union has shifted ground for now.

    “The State Government and other stakeholders appealed to the union to call-off the strike to pave way for further negotiations.”

    Bashayi said that the government had agreed to grant 75 per cent of the union’s demands, resulting to the suspension of the strike.

    The chairman called on members of the union to resume work immediately, pending further directives from the union.

    On April 5, the union embarked on an indefinite strike, citing government’s refusal to address welfare-related issues.

    The institutions involved in the strike are the College of Education, Akwanga, College of Agriculture, Lafia and the Nassarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia.

  • Nasarawa tertiary institutions suspend strike

    The Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions in Nasarawa State has suspended its two weeks indefinite strike.

    The state’s Chairman of the union, Mr Ariks Bashayi, announced the suspension on Wednesday in Lafia, shortly after the union’s emergency meeting.

    According to him, the suspension of the strike is due to the commitment shown by the State Government through the authorities of the three tertiary institutions owned by the state.

    “Though all our demands were not met, the union has shifted ground for now.

    “The State Government and other stakeholders appealed to the union to call-off the strike to pave way for further negotiations.”

    Bashayi said that the government had agreed to grant 75 per cent of the union’s demands, resulting to the suspension of the strike.

    The chairman called on members of the union to resume work immediately, pending further directives from the union.

    On April 5, the union embarked on an indefinite strike, citing government’s refusal to address welfare-related issues.

    The institutions involved in the strike are the College of Education, Akwanga, College of Agriculture, Lafia and the Nassarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia.

     

  • Nasarrawa: Students seek truce between labour unions, government to end strike

    Nasarrawa: Students seek truce between labour unions, government to end strike

     

    Students of tertiary institutions in Nasarawa State have called for truce between the state government and labour unions of the three higher institutions currently on strike.

    Some of the students told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Keffi on Wednesday that both sides must take step to end the strike in the interest of the students.

    NAN reports that the Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions had embarked on an indefinite strike on April 5, demanding for promotion, payment of their annual increment and other entitlements.

    The institutions involved in the strike include the College of Education, Akwanga, College of Agriculture, Lafia and Nasarawa State, Polytechnic, Lafia.

    The students called for understanding between the state government and the union in resolving the industrial action, so that it would not have adverse effect on the education sector.

    Mr Thomas Bulus, a student of Computer Science at the state Polytechnic in Lafia, said the strike was a set back to education.

    “The ongoing higher institutions workers strike has affected our education negatively as academic activities had stopped in these institutions.

    “The strike is unfortunate. No student will be comfortable staying at home, That is why, I want to use this medium to appeal to the state government and the organised labour to dialogue in order to end the strike in our interest.”

    Another student, Sarah Ali of College of Education, Akwanga, also appealed to the government and union to dialogue so as to end the strike.

    She noted that the strike had not only crippled economic activities but also affected the education sector negatively.

    “No nation could achieve speedy development without sound education; the strike has affected the state socio-economic development and our education negatively,” she said.

    Ali reminded the government and the union that the future of the state and the country at large lied on the proper education given to the youths.

    Mr Haruna Mohammed of College of Agriculture, Lafia said “we are still at home because of the strike and this is not fair.

    ‘‘Government should do something about it and the union should also have understanding with the government in order to end the strike,” he said.

     

  •  Al-Makura dissolves governing council of tertiary institutions

     Al-Makura dissolves governing council of tertiary institutions

    Gov.Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has approved the dissolution of the governing council of the three state owned tertiary institutions.

    Mohammed Abdullahi, the Secretary to the State Government, announced this on Friday in Lafia.

    He listed the affected institutions as College of Education, Akwanga, College of Agriculture, Lafia and Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia.

    Abdullahi thanked the chairmen and members of the councils for their services and wished them well in their future endeavours.

    He said that the dissolution of the councils took immediate effect.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the institutions are currently on indefinite strike to press home their demands for better welfare packages.

     

  • Tertiary institutions begin indefinite strike in Nasarawa

    State-owned tertiary institutions in Nasarawa have embarked on an indefinite strike, citing government’s refusal to address welfare-related issues.

    Institutions involved in the action included the College of Education, Akwanga, College of Agriculture, Lafia and the Nasarawa State, Polytechnic, Lafia.

    The workers, under the aegis of the Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions (JUTI), told newsmen on Wednesday in Lafia that they had exhausted avenues toward an amicable resolution of the dispute and were left with no alternative.

    According to Mr Samuel Bashayi, chairman of the state’s chapter of JUTI, the workers resolved to shut down the institutions at a meeting held at the State Polytechnic, Lafia, on Tuesday, April 4.

    He said that the state government had been “very insensitive” to the plight of the workers and had equally failed to address issues impeding effective service delivery.

    “The government has also failed to implement agreements reached between the workers and the government, through the Governing Councils of the institutions,” he added.

    He regretted that the union’s repeated notices were ignored, and listed key areas of concern to include promotion, annual increment, arrears, among others.

    “Instead of paying our allowances, government has chosen to dare us by removing even the allowances we used to take for granted,” he said.

    Bashayi advised workers to remain at home and await further directives.

    Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who went round the three affected institutions, met the gates locked in full compliance.

     

  • NDLEA impounds truck with N15m Indian hemp

    NDLEA impounds truck with N15m Indian hemp

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency  (NDLEA) on Friday said it impounded a truck loaded with Indian hemp worth over N15 million in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.

    Mr Saidu Salihu, the NDLEA Area Commander in charge of Akwanga and Kokona Local Government Areas, disclosed this to newsmen in Akwanga.

    Salihu said that the truck was impounded after knocking down and killing three street hawkers at Alushi Village, near Akwanga.

    According to him, the occupants of the vehicle fled the scene after the accident.

    “The villagers later got there and discovered that the truck was loaded with hard drugs and contacted the agency.

    “The occupants of the vehicle left their mobile phones and other valuables in the truck and that is what we are using to track them down,’’ Salihu said.

    He said that the impounded vehicle had been deposited at the Akwanga Police Station while investigation was on going to arrest and prosecute the suspected traffickers.

    The commander vowed that the agency was poised to rid the state of drug traffickers and peddlers.

    He, however, solicited the support of members of the public in order for the agency to achieve its goal.