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Tag: Aminu Tambuwal

  • Lalong, Tambuwal laud Catholic Church for its contributions to national development

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau and Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State have commended the Catholic Church for its contributions to the religious, educational, medical and infrastructure development of Nigeria.

    The governors made the commendations on Thursday at the 50th anniversary celebration of St. Augustine Major Seminary, Jos.

    Lalong said that the impact of the church on the lives of Nigerians could not be quantified.

    He said that Plateau was blessed with numerous Christian institutions that had accounted for the training, character and spiritual formation of many citizens of the state.

    “The 50 years of existence of St. Augustine’s Major Seminary is no doubt worthy of celebration.

    “For a school that has produced 20 bishops and scores of priests, religious and laity that are in the service of the Lord at home and abroad, it is indeed worthy of our attention and support.

    “This seminary remains a real asset to the universal Church because as a spiritual hob for the training of ministers of the gospel, it is a vehicle through which ministers are thoroughly prepared to holistically address the spiritual and physical well- being of Nigerians in the Catholic Church and beyond,” he said.

    Gov Tambuwal also highlighted the contributions of the Church and promised to work with other state governors and friends to support the seminary, particularly in the rehabilitation of its infrastructure.

    He said that the seminary had contributed significantly to character moulding and morality.

    “We appreciate the contribution of this great institution and we pray God Almighty to strengthen the leadership and membership so that they will continue deliver on the good deeds.

    “I commend the Catholic Church for its contributions to the development of this country as the history of the development of Nigeria will not be complete without a chapter dedicated to the Church.

    “I am aware not only of the age of the institution but the ageing infrastructure, and we (governors) have agreed to contact our friends to assist the seminary handsomely,” he said.

    The Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Mathew Kukah, in an address, said that the Church had many priests working outside Nigeria and promoting the image of the country.

    Kukah said that there were more than 1,500 priests and nuns  working and promoting the image of Nigeria abroad, including in places that Nigeria had yet to establish diplomatic missions.

    The bishop said that the Church had been involved in human capital development even before the emergence of the country  and urged the Federal Government to take the Catholic Church serious for its contributions to national development.

  • NLC wants N25, 000 minimum pension

    The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC), has demanded a review of pension to a minimum of N25,000, per month, in Sokoto State, as against the four thousand naira being paid for the past twelve years.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the chairman of the congress in the state, Mr Aminu Umar, made this demand in Sokoto on Monday at the 2017 May Day celebration.

    Umar also called for the implementation of the government circular of December 2014, on the payment of gratuity and pension to staff and medical workers in the Local Government service, as their counterparts in the state service.

    The chairman, however, lauded the State Government for the payment of arrears of gratuities of more than four billion to retired civil servants at the State and Local Government service.

    He also noted the regular payment of salary and pension “at a time when some workers in some states are being owed arrears of salary and pension”.

    “Regular training and retraining of civil servants, priority given to education, agriculture and commerce.

    “Increased food production and security, creation of job opportunities, as well as increased revenue generation, among others”.

    Umar promised that workers in the state would continue to be hard working, honest and dedicated to duty, in order to move the state forward.

    In a message, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, promised to continue to accord priority to the welfare of civil servants, as well as the generality of the citizens.

    Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba, the governor promised to motivate and encourage the civil servants to become robust, disciplined and productive.

  • Court to reopen hearing case against Tambuwal on May 23

    Court to reopen hearing case against Tambuwal on May 23

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja has agreed to reopen hearing in the case seeking the removal of Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal.

    Justice Kolawole took the decision Wednesday after dismissing the counter arguments by lawyers to Tambuwal and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) and Sunday Ameh (SAN).

    The judge Fixed May 23 for hearing in the case originally filed in January 2015 by two former aspirants for the governorship position of Sokoto State on the platform of the APC – Umaru Dahiru and Abubakar Sanyinna

    The plaintiff’s filed the suit in January 2015 challenging the December 2014 APC’s governorship primaries which produced Tambuwal as the candidate of the party for the main election which later held on April 11, 2015.

    The plaintiffs, who queried the outcome of the primary that produced Tambuwal as the party’s candidate, want the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting primary’s outcome because of alleged irregularities that characterised the exercise.

    The case suffered delays as decision of the Federal High Court on the preliminary issue of jurisdiction went up to the Supreme Court until the apex court, in a December 9, 2016 judgment ordered the trial court to assume jurisdiction and hear it on the merit.

    But, on March 10, 2017, Justice Kolawole, to who the case was reassigned, struck out the “case file” following the wrong numbering of the suit by the court’s Registry.

    Justice Kolawole noted the number in the suit before him was different from the one remitted to the Federal High Court for hearing by the Supreme Court.

    Shortly after Justice Kolwale’s March 10 ruling, striking out the file, the plaintiffs went before the court’s Registry to rectify the error in numbering, following which the case was resent to Justice Kolawole for hearing.

    When the case came up Wednesday, Roland Otaru (SAN) announced appearance for the plaintiffs and said he was holding the brief of Awa Kalu (SAN).

    He told the court that he was ready for hearing in line with the Supreme Court’s directive of expeditious hearing of the case.

    But, Okutepa and Ameh objected to Otaru’s appearance in the case and faulted the further affidavit filed on behalf of the plaintiffs.

    They noted that the motion newly filed for change of the plaintiffs’ address of service was tantamount to an application seeking to replace Otaru with Kalu as the lead lawyer for the plaintiff.

    They argued that the motion which according to them was by implication seeking a change of the plaintiffs’ counsel, was incompetent because it was filed without leave of court and therefore in breach of Orders 9(35) and (36) of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009.

    They also said the further affidavit filed by the plaintiffs was in breach of the court’s rules as it was filed without being directed by the court.

    Okutepa said he only filed his own written address accompanying his counter-affidvait out of abundance of caution.

    Ameh said the case cannot proceed to hearing because he has not filed a written address in support of his counter-affidavit to the suit.

    He said he was relying on the court’s rules which required a directive of court for such to be filed.

    Lawyer to INEC, I.S Mohammed appealed for time to enable him confirm whether the documents (originating process) newly filed by the plaintiffs have been served on his office.

    Mohammed also said he needed time to study the new further affidavit to know if there were fresh issues which would require the commission’s response.

    Responding, Otaru said the objection by the two defence lawyers was “misplaced and vexatious”.

    He opted to withdraw the application for change of the plaintiffs’ address of service, but stressed that the application was different from one seeking change of counsel.

    Otaru told the court that Kalu was still the plaintiffs’ lead counsel and that he only held his (Kalu’s) brief.

    He said none of the defence counsel had been able to show that he did not have Kalu’s instruction to appear in the case.

    Ruling, Justice Kolawole said everything must be done to ensure that the directive of the Supreme Court, for prompt hearing of the case, was adhered to prevent the situation where the case will be rendered mere academic exercise.

    The judge agreed to give opportunity to Tambuwal’s lawyer to file his client’s written address within 7 days

    He said the plaintiffs, when served with the written address, if so desired must file a reply on point of law within seven days thereafter.

    Justice Kolawole adjourned to May 23 for hearing of the suit and the preliminary objection filed by the defence

     

  • Tambuwal, El-Rufa’i renew commitment to tackle Meningitis

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State and his Sokoto State counterpart, Aminu Tambuwal on Tuesday pledged total support to end the spread of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM).

    The two governors made the commitment during an emergency meeting with members of Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Health Care, in Kaduna.

    Rufa’i expressed sadness over the recorded number of deaths across the country, saying the state has recorded 17 cases in 11 local government areas from January to date.

    According to him, only one confirmed case of type C meningitis and one death were recorded in the state.

    “The State Government have intensified surveillance and engage the media on public enlightenment on meningitis.

    “While repositioning appropriate medicine and medical supply in our hospitals for free, active case management of suspected meningitis and prevention is going on.

    “We acknowledge the role of the World Health Organization in providing technical and logistic support and also thank the Federal Government for its quick intervention in the fight against the disease,’’ he said.

    He noted that early awareness and intervention has slowed down the spread of the disease.

    “We hope that the royal fathers will take up the battle like that of polio to curtail further spread.

    “We are confident that same success will be achieved and prevent future reoccurrence,’’ el-Rufa’i added.

    On his part, Tambuwal said Sokoto state had developed active  collaboration with traditional leaders to address various health challenges.

    According to him, the state have recorded no fewer than 1000 cases in seven local governments.

    “The state government and traditional leaders are collaborating to create awareness on how to increase ventilation and decongest homes.

    “The Federal Ministry of Health has supported the state with over 20,000 doses of vaccines, but our target is to have two million vaccines for those eligible to receive the vaccination,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, the representative of the Department for International Development (DFID), Dr Salma Kolo expressed the organisation’s concern over the CSM spread.

    According to her, since the outbreak of the epidemic, DFID has contributed 800,000 doses of vaccines through WHO.

    “It is part of our activities to ensure that cases of meningitis were treated using all available resource within our limit to support government and use existing platform to create awareness.

    “I want to appeal to state governors to put more effort in strengthening the health sector, especially the PHC

    “We in Northern Nigeria are not privileged, especially the vulnerable groups who are mainly women and children that are jobless and have no access to fund. Their care must be provided free,’’ she said.

  • Sokoto Assembly approves N2bn loan for UBE, agric, environment

    The Sokoto State House of Assembly has approved the state government’s request to obtain a loan of over N2.07 billion from Zenith Bank.

    Part of the money would be used as counterpart fund for the Universal Basic Education(UBE).

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this followed the adoption of a motion moved by the Assembly’s Leader, Alhaji Garba Bello (APC- Yabo).

    NAN also reports that the motion followed a letter from Gov. Aminu Tambuwal which was presented to the floor of the Assembly on Thursday by the Speaker, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji.

    It read: “I am pleased to inform the state Assembly that Zenith Bank Nigeria Plc has offered the state government a term loan facility of N1,042,027,027.02.

    “This is to enable the payment of counterpart funding for the state universal basic education, 2016.

    “The facility attracts an interest rate of 19.5 per cent, one per cent management fee, one per cent commitment fee.

    “Repayment would be done through an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) at N 96,278,477.30, per month for a duration of 12 months”.

    The letter also indicated that the bank had also offered a term loan of N1,033,044,900.00 to enable the payment of counterpart funding for Nigeria Erosion and Water Shed Management project.

    “Moreover, the facility attracts an interest rate of 19 per cent, one per cent management fee, one per cent commitment fee and repayment through ISPO at N52,074,364.92 per month for a duration of 24 months,” it said.

    The letter said that the government was seeking the Assembly’s consideration of the offer to enable it benefit from the facility so as to access the counterpart funding projects.

    Bello said that the facilities would enable the government to improve the standard of education and agricultural development for the overall development of the state.

    After the members unanimously accepted the motion, the Speaker said: “the Assembly will allow the state government to obtain the required loan facility to enable the payment of the counterpart funding”.

     

  • Sokoto to train 23,361 civil servants on computer literacy

    Sokoto to train 23,361 civil servants on computer literacy

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state says the state government plans to train 23,361 civil servants to enable them become computer literate.

    Malam Imam Imam, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the governor said this in a statement he issued in Sokoto on Sunday.

    Imam said that the governor’s disclosure followed the granting of approval to the Head of Service in the state, Dr Buhari Kware, for the commencement of the exercise to enhance the progression of the civil servants.

    The governor said: “We are embarking on this important project to increase efficiency in the civil service of the state.

    “In this age and time, no progress can be made without the knowledge of computer and by extension, information and communication technology (ICT).

    “The milestones achieved in the sector in the state as can be seen from award of best state in ICT from the Nigerian Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Abuja should be sustained and built upon.

    “We have involved the leadership of labour unions for easy mobilisation. We hope the workers, who are direct beneficiaries will show enough dedication and commitment to the training.”

    The governor’s aide further quoted Tambuwal as adding that the special computer training would be conducted in six centres situated at three state-owned tertiary institutions and the Sokoto Education Development Trust Fund.

    The institutions are: Sokoto State University, Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic and Shehu Shagari College of Education (SSCOE), Sokoto.

    “The Central Coordination for the training will be located at Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic, under the supervision of the Rector of the institution, Prof. Aminu Ibrahim, to be assisted by five others.

    “Already, Head of Service of Sokoto State has met with the coordinating team and the leadership of the organised labour in the state.

    “This is to ensure that all the stakeholders are carried along in ensuring that the 70-week training is a success.

    “Consequently, all civil servants are hereby enjoined to avail themselves with this golden opportunity provided by the government.”

  • Gov. Tambuwal approves N213m for scholarships

    Gov. Tambuwal approves N213m for scholarships

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has approved the release of N213 million for the payment of entitlements of Sokoto State students studying in Uganda, Sudan and Niger Republic.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Imam Imam, who announced the governor’s directive in a statement issued in Sokoto Wednesday, said the payment was to commence immediately.

    He said that the Governor had appointed a committee to verify and settle all issues related to payment of scholarship to Sokoto students in various institutions of higher learning across Nigeria.

    “The release of the funds is part of government’s continued commitment to provide quality education for its citizens at home and abroad.

    ” A breakdown of the figure shows that the sum of N163, 400,000 has been released for payment of students in Sudan.

    ”Those in Uganda will get the sum of N26, 840,000. For those in Niger Republic, the sum of N22, 676,700 has been released for their upkeep.

    “So far, government has paid more than N2.5 billion as scholarship since May 2015.

    “For State students of other foreign tertiary institutions, payment is being worked out by the Government,” he said

     

  • Sokoto: Govt. recruits 17 lawyers

    Sokoto State Government has recruited seventeen lawyers to facilitate the speedy dispensation of justice in the state.

    The Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission (CSC), Alhaji Bature Shinkafi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Monday.

    Shinkafi said that the recruitment was approved by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, saying that the new lawyers would be deployed to the Ministry of Justice.

    The chairman, a former Head of the Civil Service (HOS), also averred that the gesture would help in decongesting prisons in the state.

    “This is because justice delayed is justice denied and the state government is determined to ensure timely dispensation of justice,” he added.

    Shinkafi noted that the state government was employing various cadres of workers in spite of the economic recession to beef up its workforce.

    According to him, this is imperative as it helps in addressing the teeming unemployment among youths across the state.

    “This also will help in reducing unemployment, poverty and curb youth restiveness normally associated with idleness,” Shinkafi said.

    NAN recalls that the state government had in 2016 recruited no fewer than 500 graduates as part of efforts to reduce unemployment in the state.

     

  • 22 students bag first class as 13, 347 graduate from UNICAL

    22 students bag first class as 13, 347 graduate from UNICAL

    Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Zana Akpagu, on Thursday said 22 undergraduates would be awarded first class degrees during the 30th Convocation Ceremony of the institution on Saturday, March 11.

    Addressing reporters during a pre-convocation press conference in his office, Akpagu said 13, 347 would be graduating from the institution.

    He said 1, 437 would get post graduate certificates while 11, 910 would be getting their first degrees.

    He said the number was high because they put in place a mechanism to clear a backlog of students who seemed to remain in the school perpetually.

    Giving a further breakdown of the post graduate certificates, he said 300 would be getting their PhDs, 517 MSCs, 70 MAs, 130 MEds and 400 post graduate diplomas.

    For the first degree he said 7,400 were from the Humanities while 4,510 are from the Sciences.

    A further breakdown indicated that 22 got first class degrees, 2,408 got second class upper degrees, 5,890 got second class lower degrees, 2900 got third class degrees, and 1,000 got pass degrees.

    Akpagu said the institution would phase out pass degrees.

    He said the Convocation Ceremony would provide the opportunity to flag of their legacy project which would be an ultra modern medical centre for the school, which would be funded by internally generated revenue.

    He said honorary doctorate degrees (honoris causa) would be awarded to three prominent Nigerians for their contribution to the socio-economic growth of the country.

    Those to get the honorary degrees are Alhaji Umaru Kwabo, Sir Daniel Chukwudozie and Brig Gen Anthony Ukpo rtd.

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Dr Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal among dignitaries are expected to grace the Convocation Ceremony

     

  • Sokoto State University matriculates 1,367 students

    Sokoto State University matriculates 1,367 students

    The Sokoto State University, Sokoto, on Monday, matriculated the 1,367 students it admitted for the 2016/2017 academic session.

    The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Nuhu Yaqub, said at the 4th matriculation ceremony of the university that the new students were admitted out of over 13,000 candidates.

    He said “this shows that this university is gaining ground in becoming an institution where both parents and students want to come to pursue their educational career.

    “As a matter of fact, our second choice candidates were more than 12,000. This is an indication of the tremendous confidence they have in us.”

    Yaqub commended the state government “for efforts to provide adequate funds and facilities to the university.”

    The vice chancellor also commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), among others, “for the massive support to the institution.”

    He warned students against flouting the rules and regulations of the university and urged them to be honest, hardworking and dedicated to their studies.

    He also cautioned the students against acts capable of breaching the peaceful nature the university was known for.

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, the Visitor to the university, admonished the students to prepare mentally and physically for their academic sojourn in the institution.

    He said “you cannot attain victory without resolution and determination, as such; you should become more determined for success.

    “Sokoto State Government would continue to make the campus safe and secure for effective teaching and learning.

    “We will also remain committed to the welfare of students and staff and will meet all the requirements for the forthcoming accreditation by the NUC.

    “I am also happy that the university is reflecting federal character although it is wholly owned by Sokoto State Government.”

    The Commissioner for Higher Education, Alhaji Sahabi Gada, commended the state government for ensuring massive infrastructure development in the institution.

    Highlight of the ceremony was the inauguration of some projects executed by TETFUND, NUC, NCC and the state government.

    They included 750-seater and 500-seater lecture theatres, laboratories, ICT equipment and landscaping.