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Tag: commissioner

  • Vandals are public enemies, says commissioner

    Nigerians have been advised to protect public infrastructure.

    Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef gave this charge at the third Pre-Ramadan Lecture organised by Ojodu Muslim Council in collaboration with Al-Wajud Mosque in Ojodu, Lagos on Saturday.

    Delivering a lecture titled Muslim character: Expectations in a corrupt society, AbdulLateef said the world was perfected for man to live in.

    He said the presence of natural resources, such as gas, ocean, and crude oil, were to add value to the living standard, if well used.

    “The presence of numerous natural resources in Nigeria is a plus because there are many countries that lack the resources endowed in this nation. Nigerians should be grateful by not abusing it,” he said.

    The commissioner, who condemned the vandalism of oil facilities by Niger Delta Avengers, said the heinous act would further reduce oil production and revenue generation.

    “Nigerians should rise up against those who claim to be Niger Delta Avengers. The destruction of oil pipelines will further bring hardship to the masses,” he said.

  • Casualisation is modern slavery, says commissioner

    Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs Dr Abdulhakeem Abdullateef has described casualisation as modern slavery and despicable.

    In a statement issued yesterday to mark May Day, he said casualisation exposes Nigerians to exploitation by employers.

    Casual workers in most establishments, he noted, are denied some benefits, such as career progression and access to soft loans.

    “It is worrisome to see companies and establishments owned by foreigners and Nigerians engaging people as casual workers. They are overworked yet underpaid and denied benefits that would enhance their safety at work place,” he said.

    The commissioner called for the promotion of dignity in labour to achieve efficient performance and higher productivity among workers.

    Nigerian workers Abdullateef said, were critical partners that deserve better treatment in changing the country’s image.

    He said: “Workers should not be treated like animals, they are God’s creatures. Their children deserve better education. Employers alone cannot grow their businesses, they need workers input as well. So treat them well and respect their rights as citizens for optimal productivity.

    “When workers are treated well, you are helping them to build responsible homes. Members of such homes will in their own way also contribute to the growth of the country rather than becoming a nuisance and burden to the larger society.

    “As we mark Workers Day, I urge employers to prioritise safety of their workforce because life is sacred and should be treated as such. The inability of some states to pay workers salary is a pointer to the fact that Nigeria needs to take proactive measures at diversifying the economy.

    “The agricultural sector is capable to address increasing cases of unemployment if promoted and made attractive to the youth. Acquisition of trades and vocational skills among youths should also be encouraged. However, prudence in government spending, blockage of leakages and promotion of 24 hours economy would also go a long way in addressing the challenges of unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria.

    “It is also not out of place if employers introduce ‘hazard allowances’ or pay back scheme to appreciate doggedness and commitment of essential workers like security operatives, medical practitioners and journalists among others who are at their duty posts during festivals and public holidays when others are resting in their various homes.

    “Safety principles and hazard preventive strategies must also not be toyed with to enhance greater productivity at workplaces.”

  • Lawmakers summon commissioner over fee hike

    The Benue State House of Assembly has summoned the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Denis Ityavyar, and the Vice Chancellor of the Benue State University, Prof. Msugh Kembe to appear before it to explain the recent fee hike at the institution.

    Though the summons was for last Wednesday, the duo is yet to appear because they travelled.

    When he finally appears, the Commissioner is to explain why he  allegedly justified the recent increment in the amount paid as ‘conditional charges’ by students of the university; while the Vice Chancellor, who is to appear alongside his principal officers, is expected to explain why he increased the charge despite the harsh economic climate.

    Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange, handed the resolutions of the House after a debate on a motion of Urgent Public Importance moved by the member for Gboko West Constituency, Mr. Terhemba Chabo, who drew attention of the House to the hike.

    Chabo noted that while the Assembly was not against increasing rates, the increment was ill-timed and unjustifiable, calling on the lawmakers to intervene to avert crisis at the institutions.

    The Majority Leader, Benjamin Adanyi, and others, Dr. Adoga Onah ( Oju I), Mr. James Gbande (Kwande East), Mr. Stephen Tyochir (Gwer), and the Minority Leader, Alhaji Audu Sule, stressed the need for the institution to take the plight of parents into consideration before effecting the increment.

  • Commissioner to pilgrims’ commissions: respect federalism

    Lagos State Government yesterday urged the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to allow States’ Pilgrims’ Boards to perform their constitutional duties.

    Commissioner for Home Affairs Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, who made this call when he received members of the State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, in his Ikeja office, said the federal enactment establishing the NCPC and NAHCON empowers the commission to license, regulate and supervise state’s boards and other agencies.

    He urged the NCPC to concentrate on its primary roles and leave the domestic and sundry functions for state’s boards.

    He said: “For instance, the screening of pilgrims is an exclusive preserve of the boards and dabbling into such duties by the federal commission is alien to federalism.

    “These state boards were created by Houses of Assembly and assented to by the governor; hence, the Federal Government should rather regulate and play a supervisory role.

    “It is better for the Federal Government to play its oversight functions and leave the states to perform their duties.

    “We believe that this would strengthen the states’ boards to be able to take practical decisions that affect the welfare and safety of pilgrims.”

    Presenting the 2015 Christian Pilgrimage Reports, the board’s Chairman Bishop Olusola Ore, expressed joy over the cooperation received from the Home Affairs Ministry during the pilgrimage.

    “The Pilgrimage gives them practical evidences of several theoretical statements in the Bible and that goes a long way to stimulate and reinforce the growth and development of the minds of the pilgrims.

    “Pilgrimage enables pilgrims to visit holy sites; it also enables them to become prayer warriors,” Ore said.

    AbdulLateef said the board’s recommendations and observations would be considered in line with the government’s policy statement.

     

    He said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s efforts at coordinating the activities of Christianity and Islam speak volumes about his readiness to enhance religious harmony and peaceful coexistence in the state.

    “This year, the policy of the government is to coordinate the activities of the self-sponsored pilgrims and ensure their welfare and safety, with provision of adequate healthcare. We owe them a duty to safeguard them both at home and outside the state,” the commissioner said.

  • Anambra records 2000 cases of tuberculosis

     

     

     

    Anambra state has been hit by over 2000 cases of tuberculosis, says the state commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike.

     

    The commissioner said this on Monday in his office in Awka, while briefing reporters that the patients were receiving treatment at various Directly Observed Therapy Centres in the State.

     

    He hinted that Anambra State and 13 other states, including Federal Capital Territory (FCT), contributed to over 75 percent of the total TB burden in Nigeria.

     

    The theme of his briefing was “Find TB, Treat TB and work Together to Eliminate TB”.

     

    The Commissioner waved aside the belief that TB could be caused by voodoo.

     

    He said the disease was caused by a germ called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, adding that it was spread through the air when people who had active TB in their lungs sneeze, cough, spit, speak or sing.

     

    Akabuike added that people living with HIV were more vulnerable to TB infection, adding that the ailment could be cured when detected early.

     

    He therefore commended the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano for the prompt payment of salaries of health workers and provision of health facilities for the TB programme as well as signing of MoU with the global funds to contribute 20 percent of the funds by the donor to control TB in the State.

     

     

    Earlier, the State Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Officer, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Okolie and the Director Primary Health and Disease Control, Dr. Emmanuel Okoye  had stressed the need for people to go for diagnosis and treatment when detected, adding that diagnosis and treatment were free.

     

  • Ex-Ondo commissioner Aidi dead

    A former Ondo State Commissioner for Lands and Housing under the administration of the late Governor Adebayo Adefarati, Alhaji Abbas Aidi, is dead.

    Sources said the politician was hale and hearty yesterday morning when he drove himself to a cyber cafe in Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital, where he was said to have gone to print some letters.

    It was learnt that he slumped after collecting the letters.

    The former commissioner was said to have been rushed to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed dead.

    The late Aidi was born in Ikare. He worked as a banker for many years in Kaduna and Kano before joining politics.

    He vied for governor under the defunct United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP). In 1999,he moved to the Alliance for Democracy(AD) where he worked with the late Adefarati, who made him commissioner.

    He has been buried according to Islamic rites at Ikare-Akoko, his home town.

    At the ceremony were the Deputy Governor Lasisi Oluboyo, Ansar-ud-Deen National Organising Secretary Ibrahim Kilani, former House of Representatives member Ganny Dauda and other Muslim leaders.

  • Commissioner condemns ‘get-rich quick mentality’

    Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef has condemned the quest for fast buck among some Nigerians.

    In a statement marking the International Day of Happiness, he said such quest does not bring happiness because “it is elusive and illogical”.

    The commissioner advised Nigerians to be contented with what they have in order to be happy, saying: “Every living creature deserves to be happy. True happiness comes only when you are contented with what you have. However that doesn’t mean it is wrong to improve one’s standard of living but attaching one’s happiness to material things is the problem.

    “Many individuals have embraced unwholesome practices in the name of fame. They accumulate wealth illegally and became rich building skyscrapers to behold, yet they are not happy. Where then lies happiness?” he queried.

    Happiness, he noted, lay only in obeying God, who gives joy and happiness to whoever He wishes, urging the populace to embrace the rule of law, justice, fairness and equity to ensure peace in the world.

    “Nigerians should cultivate the habit of giving back to the society. Everyone should be a giver. When you pick harmful items away from the road, protect public infrastructure and even comply with the rules and regulations of the land, you are helping the society to grow,” he said.

    The commissioner said smiling, sharing, eating healthily; regular exercise and positive thinking were among practices that could generate happiness.

    He explained that spending quality time with family, friends,the less privileged and faithfulness to God guarantee joy and happiness.

  • Four women held for child theft in Jos

    2 men held for kidnapping

    The Plateau State Police command has paraded four women for allegedly stealing a one month-old child while the child was asleep.

    The suspect criminals, Rukaya Abdulahi, Nancy Ezekiel, Tongret Amos and Jeniffer Sati Sabo were among 26 other criminals paraded at the Jos police headquaters on Monday by the State Commissioner  Mr. Adekunle Oladunjoye.

    According to the commissioner, “One Talatu Abdulahi of new Abuja, Dadin Kowa Jos left her one month-old baby on bed in her room and left to visit a neighbor. The mother of the baby returned to the room in ten minutes to discover her baby had disappeared from her room.

    “The mother promptly reported the missing baby to the police and the police immediately sprung into action in a short while and recovered the baby from the suspects” he said

    While explaining her involvement in the crime, One of the suspects, Nancy Ezekiel, who trades in palm oil between Jos and Imo claimed that she took the baby after the mother of the baby agreed to sell the baby.

    According to Nancy Ezekiel “We both agreed to carry out the deal, we also vowed never to disclosed the deal to anyone while the baby remains with me. I was shocked to hear the mother report her baby was stolen after she agreed to sell the baby.

    However, mother of the stolen baby Talatu Abdullahi who earlier reported the alleged missing child to the Police denied any agreement to sell her baby. She however said, “I decided to sell the child because my father threatened to kill me if have a child out of wedlock.” The police commissioner said the suspects will be taken to court as soon as the processes are completed.

    The command also paraded suspected kidnappers who lured a 3 year old boy from Jos and took him to Bauchi from where the criminals called the family to demand N250,000 ransom.

    According to the police boss, “the 3 year old boy, Ahmed Hanif Abubakar was sent on errand by his mother when he was abducted by the suspect Umar Isa. The suspect took the boy to Bauchi, hid him in costudy of one Islamic teacher and returned to Jos.

    “The same suspect sent a phone number to the parents of the boy asking them to call the phone if they want to know the whereabouts of their son. He also directed the parents to go and pay the demanded ransom in Zaria.

    The parents of the boy however negotiated the ransom down to N150,000.00 which the suspect agreed to collect in a bush along Kaduna road, but unknown to the suspect, the police laid ambush near the point where the payment was to be made. The suspect was apprehended while trying to pick the money from the point it was dropped.

    The suspect led the police to arrest the Islamic teacher Jibrin Musa from Soro village in Bauchi state where the abducted boy was eventually rescued. The boy has been returned to his parent while the police prepare to arraign the suspects in court.

    The police commissioner, Mr. Adekunle maintained that the landmark successes recorded within the first quarter of the year by the Command is as a result of the  security mechanism and robust strategies put in place against criminal elements in the state.

    He appealed to citizens to be vigilant and report any criminal elements aimed at causing mischief in the state.

  • Commissioner decries violence against women

    Commissioner decries violence against women

    Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef has condemned women abuse.

    AbdulLateef said it was wrong for people to abuse women, imploring women to see themselves as commissioners in their homes.

    He urged women to rededicate themselves to their primary responsibility.

    “A society starts from the home, to have a good home, women must rise up to their responsibilities,” he said.

    Attributing the increasing cases of social vices to poor parental care, he said women’s role was fundamental to proper child upbringing.

    The commissioner urged women to demonstrate good examples to promote societal value.

    “Women should develop more interest in their children. Today, many women especially nursing mother will leave their homes at dawn and will not come back until dusk”, he said.

    AbdulLateef said women should not be used as chattels, but celebrated.

    According to the commissioner, no one has celebrated women like Allah, who dedicated a chapter of the Quran, Suratul Nisai, to them.

    “Women are the children incubating factory. When you trained a girl-child, you have train the world. Women today are fighting for women liberation; this should not be their focus. Their focus should be how to take good care of the future leaders of this country. Focus on how the young ones will become professionals in different fields irrespective of the gender. Women should dress in a very modest manner and not in a seductive way that influences men negatively,” he stressed.

    AbdulLateef warned the public against thinking that it is not good to educate the girl-child, emphasising that no child should be denied education for any reason.

    “Women are not in any way inferior to men. It is unfortunate that women are used wrongly. Women are used to advertise tyres, bicycles and even men’s wears. Women should fight back to regain their lost glory and value system,” he added.

  • Commissioner inspects road projects

    Commissioner inspects road projects

    Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Honourable Musiliu Folami has urged contractors working on two of the 114 state’s roads project in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA) to ensure that the work done meets the required standard.

    Folami, who was accompanied by some top officials from the ministry, including the Permanent Secretary, Mr Jafar Sannuth; Director of Technical Service Atitebi and the Director of Public Affairs Mrs Bisi Olufuwa, was received by the council’s Executive Secretary Mrs Fausat Hassan-Olajoku.

    Former Ojokoro LCDA chairman now Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce, Hon Benjamin Olabinjo also joined the team to inspect to roads.

    The two major on-going road construction projects financed by the state at Biodun and Ademola Abiola streets in the LCDA were inspected.

    Folami expressed satisfaction at the level of work done by the contractors, urging them to ensure early completion within the stipulated time.

    Mrs Hassan-Olajoku thanked Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for embarking on the road projects, which she said would boost the socio-economic development of the council when completed.