The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Aminu Tambuwal

  • Tambuwal appoints three new Perm Secs

    Tambuwal appoints three new Perm Secs

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto on Friday approved the appointment of three new permanent secretaries in the state’s civil service.

    This development followed the appointment of Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Alhaji Bello Ambarura, as commissioner and the recent vacuum created due to retirement of some permanent secretaries from service.

    A statement by the governor’s spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, said all the appointees are qualified senior officers, who possess wealth of experience and discipline required to hold senior positions in the civil service.

    According to Imam, the officers appointed as permanent secretaries include Alhaji Dadi Adare, Alhaji Haruna Ahmad and Alhaji Muhammad Audu.

    Imam added that Tambuwal had approved the appointment of Alhaji Kasimu Yabo as the Managing Director, Sokoto Environmental Protection Agency.

    He said: “This followed the subsequent appointment of the Managing Director, Alhaji Ahmad Ibrahim as Director-General, deployed to Sokoto Central Market.”

    He added that until his appointment, Yabo served as the Director, Environmental Conservation of the Agency.

    NAN

  • 11 die in 533 fire incidents in Sokoto

    11 die in 533 fire incidents in Sokoto

    The Sokoto State Fire Service said on Thursday that it recorded 11 deaths and saved 77 lives in 533 fire incidents it responded to in the state  in 2017.

    Alhaji Murtala Muhammad, the Director-General of the State Fire Service, gave the figures  in an interview with our reporter in Sokoto.

    He said six persons were rescued while properties valued at N3.1 billion were lost, with the agency being  able to save N4.2 billion worth of properties during the period under review.

    Muhammad blamed the fire incidents on electrical sparks and  negligence, urging residents  to be vigilant and embrace safety measures.

    He said the organization has  18 functional fire-fighting vehicles and 13 operational fire stations  equipped with modern fire-fighting tools within Sokoto metropolis.

    According to him, the Aminu Tambuwal-led administration bought 10 new vehicles, refurbished the existing ones and constructed eight fire stations.

    He said the administration also drilled two boreholes and provided two water tankers as back-up to facilitate the agency’s activities.

    Muhammad also lauded the state government for the prompt supply of chemicals used in putting out fires as well as the provision rain boots and jackets.

    “ At present, the organisation has 142 workers whose salaries are being paid regularly  and also enjoying shift  and hazard allowances,’’ the fire chief said.

    He, however, appealed to the state government to provide the organisation with an ambulance  to complement its  services to  victims without waiting for responses from hospitals which may delay emergency services.

    Read Also: Search Sokoto IMN leader, Kasimu dies, laid to rest at residence in Mabera, Sokoto

    The director-general also requested for the employment of additional 300 or  400 workers to effectively man the vehicles  as 24 personnel were needed to handle each fire-fighting  vehicle  in the three shifts.

    Muhammad, who noted that each of the 23 local government areas in the state has  a fire-fighting vehicle, urged  the government to promptly deploy them equitably after refurbishment.

    He commended the cordial working relationship existing between the organisation and other security agencies such as  the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    The fire chief, who noted that  the state government was the sole financier of the agency, pointed out  that it was also not accessing  support from national and international bodies.

    He, however, said  that assistance on manpower training, advocacy and equipment would enhance the agency’s  operations.

    The director-general said that Gov. Aminu Tambuwal’s efforts on  fire prevention and safety of  lives and properties  fetched him a  prestigious fire safety award.

  • CCNN Sokoto donates uniforms to 290 primary school pupils

    CCNN Sokoto donates uniforms to 290 primary school pupils

    The Cement Company of Northern Nigeria ( CCNN ) on Monday distributed 580 sets of school uniforms to 290 pupils of Sabongarin-Alu primary school in Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

    The company, trading under brand name of Sokoto Cement, built the school, which is close to the company, for the community as part of its corporate social responsibility.

    Presenting the items, the company’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Alhaji Sada Suleiman, said the gesture was part of the company’s support package aimed at complementing the efforts of Sokoto State Government to develop education.

    Sada said the company was also assisting the state through portable water supply, electrification, rural roads, health-care, women and youth empowerment.

    He said the company had also awarded scholarships to 50 indigent students in tertiary institutions, adding that more support programmes to be executed by the company were on progress.

    “The uniforms and educational materials are mainly for primary schools, basic and secondary education for enrolment sustenance,” Sada said.

    Read also: CCNN grows net profit by 182% to N2.04b in Q3

    He said 150 girls and 140 boys had benefitted from the gesture, noting that each pupil would get two sets of uniform.

    The Manager promised that the gesture would continue and pledged to also partner with the state’s Ministry of Education to identify areas of need for more assistance.

    The Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal on Corporate and Social Responsibility, Alhaji Faruk Suwidi, described the support as strategic because of the importance of instructional materials to students.

    Suwidi said the gesture was the first of its kind from any corporate body in the state, noting that it would significantly reduce the burden on parents.

    He therefore, urged parents and guardians to reciprocate the gesture by ensuring that their children and wards attended school regularly.

    He further appealed to other corporate organizations and wealthy individuals to take a cue from the company.

    Alhaji Bello Buba and Alhaji Abubakar Ahmadu, Chairman and District Head of Wamakko LGA respectively, expressed the community’s appreciation and thanked the company for impacting so much on the community.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlight of the event was songs presentation by pupils.

    NAN

  • Sokoto Assembly confirms four commissioner nominees

    Sokoto Assembly confirms four commissioner nominees

    The Sokoto State House of Assembly on Wednesday confirmed four commissioner nominees sent to the House by Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

    The nominees are – ‎Prof. Aisha Madawaki, Alhaji Ahmed Barade, Alhaji Garba Tsitse and Alhaji Bello Ambarura.

    The nominees were confirmed after the screening exercise held during the House plenary presided over by Speaker Salihu Maidaji.

     

  • Sokoto Assembly confirms four new Commissioners

    Sokoto Assembly confirms four new Commissioners

    Sokoto State House of Assembly on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of four new commissioners forwarded to it by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal.

    Reports say that the confirmation followed a motion moved by the House Leader, Alhaji Garba Bello, after the screening of the nominees by the committee of the whole.

    Bello said: “the persons so recommended for the appointment are persons of proven integrity and dedication and had served the state and the nation in various capacities.

    Read also: Sokoto lifts less privileged, physically challenged

    “The nominees would assist the state Governor in discharging his statutory responsibility and serve as members of the executive council to support the government achieve its desired goal.”

    He said the confirmation was in line with the provision of Section 14, subsection 4 of the 1999 Constitution.

    The Speaker Alhaji Salihu Maidaji, who presided over the plenary session, subjected the motion to voting, and was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers.

    The commissioners-designate are: Prof. Aisha Madawaki, Alhaji Ahmad Barade, Alhaji Garba Tsitse and Alhaji Bello Ambarura.

    NAN

  • Presidency indicts Mark, Tambuwal, others over poor oversight

    Presidency indicts Mark, Tambuwal, others over poor oversight

    The Presidency on Tuesday indicted the leadership of the seventh National Assembly over alleged failure to conduct effective oversight on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    The Presidency claimed that the failure of the seventh National Assembly to carry out proper oversight on MDAs was responsible for massive corruption and stealing of public funds which it said was the hallmark of the‎ administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Recall that Senator David Mark was the President of the Seventh Senate, while Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, current governor of Sokoto State, was the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 7th National Assembly.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, told reporters that the failure of the lawmakers to properly oversee was responsible for the alleged syphoning of the security votes in the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and other agencies of government under President Jonathan.

    The Presidential aide also said that the former minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Allison Madueke, allegedly ran the petroleum sector single-handedly because the National Assembly does not do its oversight functions.

    Enang who was also a member of the Seventh Senate served as chairman of Rules and Business committee.

    He “If the committees in the 7th National Assembly were doing their work, by checking what was happening in the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Petroleum Ministry, we will not have had Diezanigate and all the other gates.

    “We will not have had all the probes and investigation. The legislature concentrated less that is why we are having the spill that the 8th Assembly is having. I feel guilty and I want to apologise. If the legislature did its duty like it is doing now, I think we will not have this situation.

    “This year you will have are going to have a robust executive, legislature relationship, you will not have uncommon compromises. You will have an engaging relationship.

    “The Senate has in two years doubled what the 7th Senate passed. The President has said that he will do his work as the president, the legislature will do its work and the judiciary will do its work. There will be no interference.

    “What is prevailing is the best executive, legislature relationship in the last 18 years.”

    On alleged budget padding, Enany dismissed it insisting that it does not exist.

    He explained that the National Assembly has the right to add or remove anything in the budget during budget consideration just like the executive can make amends before the budget is passed.

    Enang said: “In all my legislative years, padding is a new word in the legislative lexicon. So we have to define it as a new matter. In my opinion, padding is an illegal or unlawful insertion by a person who is not expected to do it in a legal, legislative document.

    “Therefore, unless a bill has been passed and forwarded to Mr President for assent, there can be no padding. If the bill had been forwarded to the president and something is inserted into that before it is assented to by any person and something is added different from what is in the votes and proceedings of the Senate and House of Representatives, that is what constitutes padding.”

    Enang also dismissed the insinuation that the 2017 budget was poorly implemented.

    For him, the level of implementation of the 2017 budget is “very high”, especially when about N1.3 trillion has been released in two quarters.

  • Sokoto to distribute 3, 500 pasta-making machines to women

    Sokoto to distribute 3, 500 pasta-making machines to women

    The Sokoto State Government on Monday says it will distribute 3,500 pasta-making machines to women as part of its poverty alleviation programme.

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal said in a statement issued by his media aide, Imam Imam in Sokoto that the beneficiaries would be drawn from across the state.

    According to the governor, the administration has pursued the poverty alleviation programme consistently through the introduction of vocational skills for women and youths in the state.

    He said that the state had made a name for itself as centre for social welfare interventions.

    “This is aimed at transforming the lives of the less-privileged and also reducing dependency on handouts.

    Read also: Sokoto distributes 22 boats to enhance transportation

    “The underlying theme behind government’s poverty eradication strategy is to create job opportunities and sustainable means of livelihood for the vast majority of the populace.

    “This principle has guided government’s policy since it came on board over two years ago,” the governor said.

    According to him, the government will procure thousands of units of sewing machines, grinding machines and additional 400 units of tricycles for disbursement in all the 23 local government areas.

    Tambuwal added that the government would reactivate existing cottage industries this year to train youth on various youth empowerment programmes.

    NAN

  • Tambuwal expresses sadness over Kaita ’s death

    Tambuwal expresses sadness over Kaita ’s death

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal has expressed sadness over the death of elder statesman and former Governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawal Kaita.

    In a statement issued by his Spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, the governor said Kaita made invaluable contributions to the development of the country.

    “He was an acclaimed pacesetter who, along with other patriotic Nigerians of his generation, fought for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria at the turn of the century.

    Read also: Ex-Kaduna governor, Lawal Kaita, dies at 85

    “His life is an example of dedication and commitment to democratic norms and values.

    “Nigeria will remember the deceased as a man who gave his best years toward the development of multi-party politics.

    “His contributions enriched governance process at both state and federal levels,’’ Tambuwal said.

    While praying to Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest and his family the fortitude to bear the loss, the governor appealed to both Kaduna and Katsina State Governments to immortalise the deceased.

    NAN

  • The governor-general, the chair and the beautiful bride (Is it true?)

    The governor-general, the chair and the beautiful bride (Is it true?)

    Three governors. Gesticulating and smiling. What could these helmsmen be discussing at the Presidential Villa yesterday just before the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting?

    One of them is Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos) (right) the “governor-general”, a title conferred on him by a brother-governor for his outstanding performance.

    Another is chairman of the Forum of Governors, Abdulaziz Yari, who is the governor of Zamfara State. Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal (left) completes the trio. He was speaker of the House of Representatives before defecting at the last minute in 2015 from the PDP to the APC.

    Tambuwal has been reported to be on the “shopping list” of the PDP in its quest for a return to power in 2019.

    The opposition party is looking for a “clean guy” from the North to battle President Muhammadu Buhari for the top job.

    On Wednesday, Tambuwal was in Asaba, the Delta State capital, in the company of PDP men – Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor Nyesom Wike and former Governor James Ibori. They held a meeting. Could they have been discussing Tambuwal’s return to the PDP ahead of 2019?

    Is the “governor-general” asking “the beautiful bride”,  (with the chairman as witness), “are we still together?”; “Is it true?”

    We may never know, until 2019.

    Yes. After all some politicians are masters of surprises —and inconsistency. They often change like the weather.

  • Pensioners urge Tambuwal to seek re-election in 2019

    Pensioners urge Tambuwal to seek re-election in 2019

    Members of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners ( NUP ), Sokoto state chapter have urged the Governor of the state, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, to seek re-election in 2019.

    Alhaji Umaru Abubakar, the state Chairman of the union gave the advice on Monday in Sokoto while speaking with journalists during the 2017 pensioners’ day.

    He said the decision of the union was based on the fact that Tambuwal had been able to pay N4 billion accumulated and inherited gratuities and pensions to state and local government retirees in two years.

    Abubakar said the present administration in the state achieved the feat in spite its current financial crisis.

    Read also: Tambuwal commends FG on economic diversification

    He also said the union had resolved to purchase nomination form for the governor in appreciation of his efforts toward uplifting the living standard of pensioners in the state.

    “The regular payment of our entitlements and the payment of our arrears have made Sokoto one of the states that gives priority to the welfare of pensioners in the country.

    “The members of the union have resolved to ask Tambuwal to seek for a second term in view of his commitment to our welfare in Sokoto,’’ he said.

    The state chairman called on all well-meaning people of the state to support the state government to ensure its continuity beyond 2019.

    “This is because of the present administration’s outstanding achievements in the education and health sector.”

    NAN