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Tag: Council

  • Council tasks Jonathan, NASS on PHCN, Sokoto govt feud

    Council tasks Jonathan, NASS on PHCN, Sokoto govt feud

    The Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, Sokoto State chapter, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in the current feud between Governor Aliyu Wamakko and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

    The News Agency of Nigeria quoted the chairman of the Council, Alhaji Ahmed Tangaza, as making the call at a news conference in Sokoto on Saturday.

    PHCN has been at logger heads with Wamakko over the alleged assault of one of its staff by the governor.

    Tangaza also appealed to the Senate, the House of Representatives, the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Minister of Mines and Power to help resolve the matter.

    “Our attention has been drawn to the act of lawlessness and provocation against the law abiding people of the state by PHCN staff operating under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees over a matter that is subjudice.

    “They should intervene and mitigate the unwarranted suffering of the people of Sokoto state by calling PHCN staff to order,’’ Tangaza said.

    He alleged that PHCN had cut off electricity supply to the state on an “unsubstantiated allegation against the governor.”

    “The council hereby condemned this act of lawlessness and urge PHCN to, within 24 hours, restore normal electricity supply to the state.

    “Otherwise, we would be left with no option than going to court to seek redress / compensation,” Tangaza said.

    The council chairman lamented that there were in-patients who were on life support machines in various health centres in the state.

    “Our returning pilgrims are currently using the Sultan Abubakar III international airport for landing.

    “Water supply is currently being hampered and PHCN should not be unmindful of the grave consequences of their actions to the provision of essential services,” Tangaza said.

     

  • Council continues sensitisation on flood

    Council continues sensitisation on flood

    The sensitisation campaign mounted by the Abaji Area Council has continued  after its inauguration by the council chief, Hon Yahaya Musa Mohammed.

    The campaign which was launched as a precautionary measure against flood which ravaged some parts of the FCT and displaced millions of Nigerians. Residents of Abaji were educated on how to keep flood away from their houses.

    The experts, who were going from house to house educating the residents, urged them to stop dumping refuse in the drains because if they are blocked, water would find its way into their houses.

    They were also told to ensure the drains are sanitised regularly.

  • Council canvasses cleaner environment

    Council canvasses cleaner environment

    The Chairman, Care-taker Committee of Ibadan North Local Government, Hon. Babatunde Idris Lapade has praised Governor Abiola Ajimobi for providing purposeful and vision-driven leadership in the state.

    The council chief made the commendation while inaugurating the Skip Bins at the premises of the council secretariat.They were provided for the residents to keep the area clean.

    Lapade said he was following Governor Ajimobi’s example to see that the lives of the residents are positively touched.

    He said:“Skip Bins are made available so that refuse would not be disposed indiscriminately as these skip bins are placed in all strategic places in the council area of coverage.

    “It would be an offence for anyone to dump refuse on the road in the local government area and that whoever flaunts the law would be prosecuted by environmental health officers.

    “Before the present administration came on board, Oyo State ranked number one among the dirty states in Nigeria but with the effort of this government, the state is now among the neatest.

    “The credit can only be given to the governor and that is what we are also working to achieve in our local government. I want to implore the entire people of the state to support the governor in his effort to make Oyo State great again.

    Lapade also use the occasion to call on the state government to assist the council in evacuating the heaps of refuse at the Bodija market.

    Speaking at the event, the state Commissioner for Environment and Habitat, Hon.Wasiu Dauda and Chairman, Oyo State Waste Management Authority, Engr Adebisi Adesina praised Hon. Lapade for his effort to keep the environment clean than ever before.

    They called on other chairmen in the state to emulate Lapade in his quest to develop the council in every sector. They submitted that Hon. Lapade has continued to perform as a true disciple of Governor Abiola Ajimobi by following religiously his footsteps in the responsibilities of the restoration agenda of the Oyo State government.

  • Council visits Emir

    In its determination to strengthen the gown/town relationship, the Governing Council of IBBUL has visited the Emir of Lapai, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Umaru Bago III.

    Speaking during the visit, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council, Mallam Sulayman Abdul Ndanusa, stated that the world-class vision of the university would only be a mirage if a peaceful atmosphere is not provided by the host community.

    He disclosed that the authorities of the university would continue to collaborate with the host Emirate towards ensuring that the needed condusive environment for learning, teaching and research activities is guaranteed on the campus.

    Ndanusa expressed appreciation with the level of harmonious relationship that has been existing between the Emirate and university and called for its sustainability.

     

     

     

    The Pro-Chancellor, therefore, presented a Flexi-Roller Banner on the mandates, vision, mission and core values of the University to the Emir.

    Responding, the Emir of Lapai, Alhaji Umaru Bago III thanked the University Council members for the visit and applauded them for initiating policies and programmes that will enhance the development of the young institution.

    He pledged his full support to the growth and development of the University; assuring that the Emirate’s University/Host Community committee was ready for any effort that would promote the desired goal for lifting IBB University to greater heights.

     

  • Fashola’s wife, monarch praise council

    Fashola’s wife, monarch praise council

    Life of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola has praised the Chairman of Itire/Ikate Local Council Development Area, Hon. Hakeem Bamgbola on his efforts in education.

    Mrs Fashola, alongside Oba of Itire, Oba Lateef Dauda, inaugurated new classrooms constructed by the council boss at Akanji Primary school, Ikate and Odo-Olowu Primary School, Ijeshatedo.

    The event featured entertainment provided by pupils from the schools.

    After commissioning, the wife of governor signed the school’s register.

    An elated Mrs Fashola urged the council boss not to rest on his oars to ensure the community benefitted more from education-oriented programmes.

    “When our young ones are better educated, street urchins would be reduced in the society, then there energy will be channelled towards positive ways,” she said.

    She hailed Bamgbola for keying into the developmental programmes of the state government.

    Oba Dauda described Bamgbola as a blessing to the entire council.

    His administration, the monarch said, has introduced and implemented various people-oriented projects.

    He promised to ensure the community make judicious use of the infrastructure put in place by the council boss.

    He urged parents and guardians to ensure their wards do not go hawking while their mates are in school.

    “If truly, you want a better future for these children, then send them to school. You do not excuse now with these new structures put in place by the council chairman. Let’s not mortgage our tomorrow leaders’ future by asking them to sell on the streets during school hours,” Oba Dauda said.

    Bamgbola thanked the governor’s wife, the monarch and community leaders for their presence.

    The council boss said education top priority in the policy of his administration.

    Giving the reason for singling out the two schools, Bamgbola said the school did not accommodate the primary five and six pupils because of inadequate number of classrooms and dilapidated building.

    He stated that the council has embarked on computer training for teachers in all public primary school and some of the private schools.

    This, he said, is in line with the accomplishment of computer knowledge being a compulsory subject by 2013.

    He promised to donate another set of school materials comprising school bags, mathematical sets, note books and exercise books soonest.

    According to the council boss, the use of chalk has been completely abolished in the schools by replacing the black board with marker boards.

  • Why Abia council poll can’t hold in January, by Deputy Speaker

    The Abia State House of Assembly has said it rejected the proposal that a local government election be held next January because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not ready for it.

    The Assembly noted that INEC needs to put many things in place before it can conduct a credible council poll.

    Such things, it said, include the delineation of wards, holding of party primaries and putting in place other logistics.

    Deputy Speaker Allwell Asiforo Okere, who spoke in Umuahia, the state capital, explained that after examining what is involved in the conduct of a council election, the Assembly discovered that it would not be possible to hold the election next January.

    Okere, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Information, said after meeting with the state’s chairman of Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) and other members, the Assembly noted that the commission has nothing on the ground to hold the election.

    He said: “ABSIEC does not even have the funds. It has not done the delineation of political wards and the party primaries, which take about three or more months, have not been done with other logistics associated with such election. We then came up with the idea that the election will not hold.”

    The Deputy Speaker explained that the Assembly was not against the conduct of the poll.

    He added: “But we want the proper things to be done so that our politicians will not waste their money on a venture that will not hold.”

    The lawmaker urged ABSIEC to educate the public on when the poll will hold since the January date is no longer visible.

    He noted that those who wish to participate in the poll would be better prepared.

     

  • Council gives loans to youths, women

    Faskari Local Government in Katsina State, says it has empowered 600 youths in the council with N10,000 interest-free loan each to set up micro businesses.

    The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council, Alhaji Isiyaku Faskari-Ahmed, disclosed this at a reception in honour of the council’s football team, Dandurami FC.

    The the club was honoured for emerging the champion of the just-concluded Senate President Soccer Youths Championship in Abuja by beating Paiko FC of Niger 4-2.

    Addressing the players, Faskari-Ahmed added that 300 women had also benefited from the scheme.

    He said the council had engaged auxiliary teachers and community health officers, who were being given monthly stipends to supplement existing manpower in the education and health sectors.

    “This is to supplement the existing manpower needed in education and health departments in the council and the state.

    “Many others were also assisted to attend vocational training schemes in bore hole drilling, mobile phone and electronics repairs, while some with certificates were fixed at various establishments to promote self reliance.”

    The chairman cautioned youths in the area against all forms of negative tendencies, advising them to engage in useful ventures.

    Faskari-Ahmed praised the club for its wonderful performance, saying they were a pride to the entire local government.

    He pledged the council’s continuous assistance to the team so as to attain more successes in other national competitions.

    Also speaking, the Chief Coach of the team, Bishir Ibrahim, expressed appreciation for the honour and said it would motivate the players to do more.

    Bishir assured that the team was ready to win more trophies and solicited for maximum support from individuals and the council.

    Umar Barau, the Team Manager, also praised the council for its support to the team and other youths in the area.

  • Anambra council cracks down on sand excavators

    Anambra council cracks down on sand excavators

    The Transition Committee Chairman, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Hon. Emeka Aforka has started a revolution in the council.

    The council boss has taken steps to end indiscriminate sand excavation in the area, a growing pastime in which notable figures, including traditional rulers and town presidents-general, are fingered.

    Henceforth, anyone caught in the act will be arrested and prosecuted, Newsextra learnt.

    Already, a man has been arrested and prosecuted over sand excavation, though he has been granted bail.

    The council, which consists of 16 communities, has been contending with erosion, a situation that is worsened by sand excavation.

    Hon Aforka gave the arrest order after due consultation with his council, which determined that community leaders were colluding with law breakers to aggravate soil erosion in the local government.

    In a letter to the District Police Officer in the council, Emeka, through Dr H. N. Ozokwere, also ordered the arrest of beach operators who are believed to be involved in the act.

    Part of the letter reads: “I am directed to refer to the management decision during the council meeting of 6th August, 2014 and hereby convey the mandate of the arrest of all beach owners in Orumba North Local Government Area, for the purposes of prosecution in matters relating to indiscriminate sand excavation  in the local government area.

    “Please recall that numerous prohibitions have been placed on this issue and that notwithstanding, some obnoxious individuals are recalcitrant because sand excavation is still going on as clearly observed on all beaches.

    “All impounded vehicles in the course of enforcing the ban on sand excavation shall be released only on payment of one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) in addition to the corresponding demurrage into the council’s bank account’’.

    The letter was copied to the State Security Service, among others.

    A transporter, Ofodile Emmanuel, has been arrested in connection with the act, while two of his tipper trucks were impounded. He was charged to court and granted bail under stringent conditions.

    Before his arrest, Aforka summoned a meeting of presidents-general and traditional leaders with the DPO to interrogate them on matters relating to sand excavation.

    Aforka said members of a task force committee on sand excavation were beaten up by certain residents, believed to be involved in the excavation.

    He said the war against excavation of sand in Orumba North is yielding positive results, adding that the arrest order will be duly carried out.

    Those who “open their beaches at night” will be arrested, he said, “because we can’t tolerate such sabotage. We are ordering their arrest because they connived…”

    On Ofodile’s trial, Emeka said “it is a good development because the court granted him bail under stringent conditions…I advise those who violate the laws on sand excavation to have a rethink.”

    At the  Umunze Chief Magistrate Court presided over by His Lordship Mike I. Ogolo, the suspect Emmanuel Ofodile was granted bail with N200, 000 with a surety in like sum who is a civil servant, among other conditions.

    Addressing the suspect, the magistrate said: “If you love yourself, don’t go there again for excavation because there is a law against excavation sequel to the enormous erosion ravaging the state.”

    Ofodile and others at large were said to be excavating sand at Isi Akpu Beach, Awgbu, Orumba-South at night to avoid arrest.

    The defendant applied for bail but police prosecutor Jonas Ukwadi objected the application which was granted by His Lordship.

    The Orumba North Transition Committee Chairman equally led a team of task force personnel to enforce the removal from the road of over 700 blocks, six tippers of sand and six tippers of stone, said to belong to a builder.

    Emeka said the owner of the items, which have been confiscated, was blocking a road in spite of an order not to do so.

    He said people flouting the order to removal order for one purpose or the other will have themselves to blame as the order would be enforced.   “Any order given by the governor, Mr Peter Obi, must be complied with by the local government and we will deal with those flouting the order  decisively until they comply. We will arrest and prosecute no matter how highly placed and we will arrest more people.”

     

  • Council cracks down on sand excavators

    Council cracks down on sand excavators

    The Transition Committee Chairman, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Hon. Emeka Aforka has started a revolution in the council.

    The council boss has taken steps to end indiscriminate sand excavation in the area, a growing pastime in which notable figures, including traditional rulers and town presidents-general, are fingered.

    Henceforth, anyone caught in the act will be arrested and prosecuted, Newsextra learnt.

    Already, a man has been arrested and prosecuted over sand excavation, though he has been granted bail.

    The council, which consists of 16 communities, has been contending with erosion, a situation that is worsened by sand excavation.

    Hon Aforka gave the arrest order after due consultation with his council, which determined that community leaders were colluding with law breakers to aggravate soil erosion in the local government.

    In a letter to the District Police Officer in the council, Emeka, through Dr H. N. Ozokwere, also ordered the arrest of beach operators who are believed to be involved in the act.

    Part of the letter reads: “I am directed to refer to the management decision during the council meeting of 6th August, 2014 and hereby convey the mandate of the arrest of all beach owners in Orumba North Local Government Area, for the purposes of prosecution in matters relating to indiscriminate sand excavation  in the local government area.

    “Please recall that numerous prohibitions have been placed on this issue and that notwithstanding, some obnoxious individuals are recalcitrant because sand excavation is still going on as clearly observed on all beaches.

    “All impounded vehicles in the course of enforcing the ban on sand excavation shall be released only on payment of one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) in addition to the corresponding demurrage into the council’s bank account’’.

    The letter was copied to the State Security Service, among others.

    A transporter, Ofodile Emmanuel, has been arrested in connection with the act, while two of his tipper trucks were impounded. He was charged to court and granted bail under stringent conditions.

    Before his arrest, Aforka summoned a meeting of presidents-general and traditional leaders with the DPO to interrogate them on matters relating to sand excavation.

    Aforka said members of a task force committee on sand excavation were beaten up by certain residents, believed to be involved in the excavation.

    He said the war against excavation of sand in Orumba North is yielding positive results, adding that the arrest order will be duly carried out.

    Those who “open their beaches at night” will be arrested, he said, “because we can’t tolerate such sabotage. We are ordering their arrest because they connived…”

    On Ofodile’s trial, Emeka said “it is a good development because the court granted him bail under stringent conditions…I advise those who violate the laws on sand excavation to have a rethink.”

    At the  Umunze Chief Magistrate Court presided over by His Lordship Mike I. Ogolo, the suspect Emmanuel Ofodile was granted bail with N200, 000 with a surety in like sum who is a civil servant, among other conditions.

    Addressing the suspect, the magistrate said: “If you love yourself, don’t go there again for excavation because there is a law against excavation sequel to the enormous erosion ravaging the state.”

    Ofodile and others at large were said to be excavating sand at Isi Akpu Beach, Awgbu, Orumba-South at night to avoid arrest.

    The defendant applied for bail but police prosecutor Jonas Ukwadi objected the application which was granted by His Lordship.

    The Orumba North Transition Committee Chairman equally led a team of task force personnel to enforce the removal from the road of over 700 blocks, six tippers of sand and six tippers of stone, said to belong to a builder.

    Emeka said the owner of the items, which have been confiscated, was blocking a road in spite of an order not to do so.

    He said people flouting the order to removal order for one purpose or the other will have themselves to blame as the order would be enforced.

    “Any order given by the governor, Mr Peter Obi, must be complied with by the local government and we will deal with those flouting the order  decisively until they comply. We will arrest and prosecute no matter how highly placed and we will arrest more people.”

     

  • Lagos ACN to appeal ruling on council poll

    The Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has restated its decision to appeal the judgment of the Lagos State Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal on the Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

    It assured its members and supporters that there was no cause for alarm. Last week, the Justice Dolapo Akinsanya-led tribunal nullified the election of Mr. Adewale Adeniji of the ACN on the grounds that the election result in some units were not collated and declared Mr. Babajide Obanikoro of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner.

    In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, ACN said its lawyers are studying the judgment in readiness for an appeal.

    The party said even though it does not accept the judgment, it has exposed the hypocrisy of those who claimed there was no council election in Lagos.

    ACN said the judgment is “no big deal”.

    It said: “In a democratic dispensation, it is natural for disputes to arise after elections, and that is why the judiciary is there to sieve the grains from the chaff.

    “In the case of Ikoyi/Obalende LCDA, we saw the desperate efforts to claim the LCDA by every means possible. We expected to contest against other parties and as such, we expected to either win or lose elections.

    “After what we believe was a free and fair election, our opponents, who had planned another strategy, knowing their strength, went on an extensive campaign to tarnish the election and went to the extent of mobilising thugs to cause breach of the peace in Lagos. They denied that any election took place and in another breath claimed they won the election.

    “While we felt the election was free and fair, we advised those who felt otherwise to approach the court. Thank God they did so after seeing the futility of resorting to self help and thank God that the judgment they are now celebrating was gotten through the same system they desperately tried to rubbish.

    “Thank God what they presented as obtained in the same election they were desperately trying to deny is the basis of the present judgment, but we seriously object to this.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    “We are pleased that the process in Lagos is giving room for the opposition to canvass for and win local councils, contrary to what obtains in PDP states, where the party merely awards itself all available local council seats in the name of election and where the courts have been made annexes of PDP head offices and approve whatever the party desires.

    “We have no doubt about the capacity of Lagos to midwife a free and fair democratic process in the face of the deliberate efforts of the PDP to rubbish the local councils and its electoral system for its selfish benefits.

    “The present judgment, even in its flawed nature, is proof of the credibility of the electoral system in Lagos. We had 60 cases arising from the election and, so far, we have won 46 and lost six, including two ordered re-runs. We have won one of the re-runs and are awaiting the other.

    “Lagos ACN has appealed the cases we lost at the tribunal, so it is an on going process that has not been concluded. We challenge the PDP and its allies to allow for such credible process in the states they govern.

    “A situation where it is only in Lagos that a different party from the one that controls the state can lay claim to victory and go to the tribunal to have such claim affirmed should worry the PDP, which delights in closing the democratic space in all states it control through foul means and striving to employ all means to control local government councils in states it does not control.

    “We want them to learn immensely from the Lagos State process and give other parties a fair chance of contesting and winning elections in the states they control. We equally believe that the margin of victory in the Lagos council elections should worry the PDP, which delights to award 99.9 per cent of registered voters to itself, as we saw in the 2011 presidential election.

    “Our lawyers are studying the judgment in readiness for appeal at the Appeal Tribunal, so we urge our members and supporters to remain calm and law abiding as the judicial system runs its full course.

    “We want them to know that this is a democratic contest and we entered into it to win or lose. We acknowledge that we may not win it all and that if we eventually lose the case at the appeal, it is no big deal to lose one of 57 LCDAs. We urge our members to remain firm and steadfast in their support for our great party.”