The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed

  • Kwara elongates retirement age of magistrates, counsel to 65 years

    Kwara elongates retirement age of magistrates, counsel to 65 years

    The Kwara state government Monday said it has elongated the retirement age of magistrates and state counsel to 65 years as against the initial 35 years in service.

    The state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) said this in Ilorin, the state capital during a national sensitisation workshop on the National Policy on Justice. The two days’ workshop is jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice and
    the state government.

    Alhaji Ajibade said “this was done to ensure that officers’ deep wealth of experience does not go down the drain at a time the services of the officers are at the peak and productive. It would also enhance the quality of justice dispensed in the state.”

    The commissioner added that “an executive bill in respect with the administration of criminal justice is presently before the state House of Assembly for consideration and passage into law.”

    Said he: “Despite the challenges we face as a nation, we have great hope that we will get things right. We are equally optimistic that Nigeria will excel in the administration of justice sector.

    “We are glad that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari has approved series of programmes and activities to enhance quick dispensation of Justice in Nigeria and recently the Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Onnoghen also constituted Judiciary Monitoring Committee to enhance quick dispensation of justice in corruption related cases. We are optimistic that this time around, the impact will be felt.

    “The success of the justice sector reform will go a long way in determining Nigeria’s place in the entire world.”

    Earlier, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) represented by Mrs. Ifunanya Nwajagu said the national policy on justice “provides a blueprine which outlines the various reforms desirable in the justice sector to engender smooth, fair, just and transparent administration of justice in the country.”

    Declaring the workshop open, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed represented by the Secretary to the state Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold appreciated the contributions and support of the respected members of the justice sector team and the unwavering cordiality existing between the organs of justice sector to our administration.

    “I also seize this opportunity to appeal to the stakeholders in the justice sector to continue to support this administration to the achievement of its laudable and people’s oriented programmes as it relates to bringing justice to the doorsteps of the populace.

    “Permit me to say that the justice sector is targeted upon as a forum where opinions and ideas about positive development, promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law, observance of good governance and administration of justice are being adumbrated and common being advanced. To that extent, the forum is expected to be partners in progress with government in providing enabling environment for the vital needs of the society in justice related matters,” the governor added.

  • Osinbajo condemns importation of artisans into Nigeria

    Osinbajo condemns importation of artisans into Nigeria

    Vice president Prof Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday condemned the importation of skilled artisans from neighbouring West African countries into Nigeria.

    He said that Nigeria has a high number of talented youth with an aggressive mind to succeed in trade, commerce and entrepreneurship.

    Prof Osinbajo said this at the commissioning of international Vocational. Technical and Entrepreneurship college (IVTEC) in Ajase Ipo, Kwara state.

    The Vice President, therefore, called for the establishment of technical centres at are tailored around aggressive talents of Nigerian youth and existing needs of the country.

    Prof Osinbajo said that the country had, before now, lacked technical centres tailored around existing talents of Nigerian youth and needs of the country.

    He said that the federal government would see to it that the college was replicated across states in the country, adding that the vision for establishment of the college tallied with the agenda of the Buhari administration of producing all we consume in the country.

    He added that Nigeria needed an industrial base to maximise potential and talents of the youth for optimal local production, adding that Nigeria should tap into the potential of Nigerian youth for greater change in the country.

    Prof Osinbajo, who described the IVTEC as one of the major important projects any government could undertake, said that the college was tailored around exact needs of the society, particularly with partnership with notable international organizations like the City & Guilds, London, Alfred State College of Technology, US, University of Wolverhampton and Praxis Atlantis among others.

    “The vision of the college to give the right type of skill and international certificate that will enable graduates to work in any part of the world is commendable. The partnership with international organizations will also make graduates saleable to the benefit of the country,” he said.

    He urged other states of the federation to emulate Kwara state on the project, pledged assistance of the federal government to ensure that the college was replicated in all parts of the country.

    Earlier, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said that the college was established to equip youths with skills for self-reliance, tackle unemployment, and easy access to vocational training of international standard for students from a variety of skills and educational backgrounds.

    Said he: “On our part, we have invested approximately N3.2 billion on campus construction, furniture, fittings, partnerships, basic training equipment and tools here at IVTEC.

    “An additional N13b is however required to cover IVTEC’s expansion plans in the next 5 years. We, therefore, seek the partnerships from local, national and internal bodies so that we can upscale IVTEC to the level envisaged as its establishment.

    “Globally, Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training has been identified as critical to growth, especially industrialization. As you are aware, Nigeria’s previous experimentation with technical education has faulted in the face of neglect and an expanding gap between the schools’ curricula and the needs of the economy.

    “Indeed, we are already partnering with the World Bank to train 17,000 youths identified as vulnerable in the state, starting with an initial 80 students.

    “To adequately prepare students for their vocation, graduating IVTEC students will be further trained at five incubation centres across the three senatorial districts of the state where they will be exposed to mentorship and real-life business situations.

    “They will thereafter be clustered into vocation-specific cooperatives and provided access to affordable credit to start or expand existing businesses under our Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) scheme.

    “On graduation, students will also be designated as Master Artisans and be in the vanguard on our determination to reverse the trend where carpenters, painters and builders and other tradesmen are imported from neighbouring countries instead of engaging people locally.

    “This is even more alarming in view of the high rates of youth unemployment in the country.

    “Determined to reverse this trend, IVTEC’s curriculum was designed in partnership with the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA) to ensure that the skills taught here are those required in the local and national economy.

    “In consonance, our resolve is to make Kwara State a net exporter of vocational and technical skills once local needs have been met and thus make our country the hub of vocational skills in West Africa.

    “Already, the college is leveraging on global partnerships with companies, universities and international organizations to ensure sustained operations and insulation from fluctuations in government priorities.”

  • Kwara records 64% pass in WASSCE

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said that 55 percent and 64 percent of candidates who sat for the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) in 2016 and 64 percent of those who sat in 2017 in the state had five credits.

    The results include English language and Mathematics, the governor added.

    Ahmed who was represented by his Special Adviser on Agriculture, Anu Ibiwoye said this at the 50th anniversary of Government Secondary School (GSS), Omu-Aran, Irepodun local government area of the state.

    The governor who was represented by his Special Adviser of Agriculture,

    He spoke of the state’s efforts to revamp facilities in the education sector.

    “We are set to begin the rehabilitation of an initial 30 secondary schools to bring them to global standard in terms of facilities and quality of teaching.

    “The renovation will also include the overhaul of school libraries thereby ensuring our children develop good reading habits, improve their vocabulary and writing skills.

    “At the Primary level, the state government will soon commence the rehabilitation of classrooms across the state once it pays counterpart funding to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

    “This will encourage more teachers to teach in the rural areas and boost educational development in the state,” he said.

    Earlier, Principal of GSS Olusegun Abifarin said the school had a pupil population of 838 comprising of 457 and 381 senior and junior secondary.

    However, he lamented that the school lacked requisite teachers.

    “The school is still faced with paucity of teachers in the core subject areas of English language and mathematics, further mathematics, ICT, commerce and trades,” he said.

  • Kwara: Parents withdraw students over rumoured vaccination

    Kwara: Parents withdraw students over rumoured vaccination

    There was fear in Kwara communities of Omu-Aran, Ilofa, Irepodun and Oke-Ero local government areas of the state after scores of parents withdrew their wards.

    The parents action was based on the fear of deadly vaccination in the communities.

    The parents in Omu-Aran, had besieged both private and public schools in the area as early as 9:00 am following the wild spread rumour of the presence of the said vaccine injection team allegedly accompanied by soldiers in the town.

    Some of the parents, mostly traders and commercial motorcyclists had to abandon their businesses in a bid to withdraw their wards from schools to prevent them from being injected with the alleged vaccines.

    The Nation gathered that some schools put their gates in lock and key to prevent the parents from gaining entrance.

    Some schools were also forced to engage the service of security personnel when the development degenerated into confrontation between the parents and school authorities.

    However, most of the schools had to succumb to the pressure from the parents by releasing the students as the schools are now deserted as at the time of writing this report.

    But the state government denied the rumours.

    In a statement the Special Adviser to Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Security, Alhaji Amusa Bello advised members of the public to ignore the rumour as neither the Nigerian army nor any other security agency is currently undertaking a vaccination exercise or any other health campaign in any part of the state.

    The state government also called on parents not to panic and to refrain from withdrawing their wards from schools based on this ‘unfounded rumour’.

  • Jubilation in Ilorin as CCT acquits Saraki

    Jubilation in Ilorin as CCT acquits Saraki

    Scores of Kwara All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts, supporters, loyalists and party members on Wednesday went on a wild jubilation in Ilorin over the discharge and acquittal of Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    Amidst drumming, singing and dancing at the APC secretariat in the state capital, the jubilant crowd women wore multicoloured customised T-shirts to celebrate the moment.Addressing reporters the state

    Addressing reporters the state chairman of the APC, Alhaji Isola Balogun Fulani, expressed happiness, saying the ability that the allegations were politically motivated.

    “The entire APC members and all peace loving people of Kwara State are very happy. We knew that this is a politically motivated charge, but God has vindicated us, and it is a plus to democracy. This also allows us to have confidence in the judiciary of Nigeria.

    “We are very happy. We thank everybody and well-meaning Nigerians who had supported us from the first time this thing (trial) started up to the end of this case. We are very happy and that is why you see us
    rejoicing.

    “We are going to the Emir of Ilorin to rejoice with him and thank him for supporting our leader, the Senate President. From there, we will move to the Governor of Kwara State to thank him for his support from the onset up to the end of this time and to also pray for him that with him in the helm of affairs,
    Kwara State is progressing and we hope that Insha Allah with the end of this case, Kwara State will continue to progress.

    We are very happy and words cannot express our happiness,” he added. The APC chair said that the Senator Saraki’s victory would spur for more performance in office.

    “Even without settled mind, he has been performing credibly. We are sure that with his settled mind he will do more and perform credibly to the interest of all Nigerians at large,” he said.Also speaking, former APC women leader and

    Also speaking, former APC women leader and chairperson, Kwara state local government service commission, Alhaja Sarat Adebayo, said the judgement was a welcome development.

    “We appreciate President Buhari for doing justice to the whole issue. The judgement is a welcome development to Kwarans as a whole. We appreciate everyone that stood by us when the case lasted.

    ‘We appreciate particularly the NASS, the executive and judiciary arms as well as Nigerians for standing by us during our time of trial. We believe that justice has been done today. We salute everyone, we are confident that with the judgement tremendous achievements would be achieved in the remaining two years ahead,” she said.

    ‎The ABS Mandate Constituency office of Dr. Bukola Saraki also expressed gratitude to God and humanity for the outcome of the CCT judgement which discharged and acquitted the President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki of the 18 count charge against him as lacking in proof and evidence.

    ‎A statement issued by Hon. Kayode Omotose on behalf of the Director General ABS Abdulwahab Oladimeji paid glowing tribute to the Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and members of the state executive council, the  Speaker Kwara House of Assembly Dr Ali Ahmad  and members of the legislature, the Emir of Ilorin Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu – Gambari and all traditional rulers, the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Chairman of
    the Christian Association Nigeria and all clerics and clergymen, the State Chairman of APC Hon. Ishola Balogun Fulani and members of the party.

    While calling for continuous prayer in the task ahead, the ABS mandate office assured Kwarans that the
    President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki shall remain focused in the development of every nook and cranny of the state

  • New Kwara LG boss pledges to prioritise staff welfare

    Alhaji Kazeem Adekanye, the newly sworn-in Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) Chairman for Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, has promised to make staff welfare his priority.

    Adekanye made the promise at the inauguration of the council’s TIC members at the council headquarters in Omu-Aran.

    Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed had constituted a four-man committee to run the affairs of each of the 16 local councils.

    Adekanye in his maiden official assignment said his administration would channel adequate resources toward offsetting the backlog of salary arrears and allowances owed the workers.

    He expressed his administration’s commitment to promoting the state government’s policy thrust of prioritising the welfare of workers as a catalyst for the socio-economic development of the state.

    Adekanye, who also pledged to run an open door administration, maintained that every stakeholder would be given equal opportunity in the efforts to transform the council.

    “I wish to state that I have been adequately briefed by the relevant officers on the prospects, problems and aspirations of the workers.

    “I want to assure you all that we shall work assiduously work with the available resources to make life more meaningful to the generality of the council’s staff.

    “Our priority will be in the area of staff welfare and well-being through regular payment of salaries and allowances, ” he said.

    The council boss charged the newly sworn-in officers to make honesty, transparency and accountability their watch words.

    He solicited the cooperation of party leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in building the desired solid foundation for the next elected council administration.

    Adekanye commended the governor and the state’s APC leader, Sen. Bukola Saraki, for the confidence reposed in the committee’s ability to turn the council around.

    Chief Bisi Owolabi, the Chairman of the party in the council area, urged the TIC members to see their appointments as a call to service.

    The inauguration was attended by party leaders and supporters across the 11 wards of the council area.

    Those sworn-in were Mrs Serifat Abdullahi, Supervisory Councillor for Finance; Olanrewaju Awotayo, Supervisory Councillor for Health and Education; and Lawal Tunde, Supervisory Councillor for Works and Agriculture.

  • Kwara to begin CPS with N145m monthly contribution

    Kwara to begin CPS with N145m monthly contribution

    Kwara State servants employed after 1987 will soon be migrated into the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) with about N145 million remitted monthly.

    The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication to Kwara State Governor, Dr Muyideen Oluwakorede told journalists that workers employed before 1987 will continue in the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

    The state pays pensioners under the old scheme monthly pension of about N443 million. The government has “tentatively” estimated about N1.6 billion to be paid as contribution into the CPS for all pension arrears.

    According to Oluwakorede, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed believes that allowing workers from 1987 to migrate to the CPS will ensure they have enough pension contribution remitted into their Retirement Savings Account (RSA).

    Ahmed said the state would have joined the CPS before now but it met a lot of resistance from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    He said: “What we plan to do is that anybody who was employed after 1987 will be migrated into the CPS. Anybody who was employed before that time will continue in the normal scheme. This is because if you take them earlier, their contributions will not be enough and that is why we are going back to 1987.

    “Presently, our current monthly pension under the DBS is about N443 million, which will continue on the side and then the monthly commitment that we will have to now do when we go into the CPS will be about N145 million. The state government is currently looking at all the figures that we have to pay altogether and be sure that the state can afford it.

    “We are looking at the cost implications on our finances, not forgetting that the state allocations dropped considerably in the past. Although the state allocation is starting to rise, it has not risen to what it used to be. Migrating the pensioners needs a lot of planning because they have already retired. We have calculated it and the state is trying to correct some paper works but it is certain that we will join the new scheme.”

    He said that pensioners and the workers refused to join the CPS.

    “We couldn’t compel them to join the scheme but we gradually made them understand reasons why the workers should join the new scheme. We made them understand that there are benefits for workers and the state as a whole to enjoy under the scheme like the pension fund, which the Federal Government has pulled resources from for infrastructure. We explained to them that states that are not under the scheme are not eligible to pull resources or borrow from the fund for infrastructure development. We have also started sensitising workers to let them know why we have to take this step now,” Ahmed added.

  • Kwara grows micro credit scheme to N1.2b

    Kwara grows micro credit scheme to N1.2b

    The Kwara State government yesterday said its Micro Credit Intervention Scheme (MCIS), launched in 2012 with a sum of N250 million has reached a cumulative of N1.2billion.

    The government added that no fewer than 50,000 small business owners have benefited from the scheme.

    Technical Adviser to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on MCIS Olusegun Soewu told reporters in Ilorin, the state capital assuring that more artisans would benefit from the revolving micro-credit scheme of the state government.

    Mr. Soewu added that the state government has set up a new entrepreneurial scheme tagged “Kwara’s Next Entrepreneur” entrepreneurship and competitiveness in the state’s informal sector. The scheme allows existing and new medium scale enterprises to bid for funds to establish or expand existing businesses in the state.

    To this end, a sum of N150million has been earmarked and deposited at the Bank of Industry (BoI) for the scheme.

    He said that a crop of successful businessmen had been engaged as managers and captains to scrutinise business plans of interested individuals.

    The technical adviser said “the panel of captains include, Mr. Kunle Oyinloye, Managing Director, Infrastructure Bank, The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Esuwoye II, successful businessman and agro entrepreneur, Mr. Shuaib Ottan, accomplished banker, Vice Admiral Samuel Afolayan (rtd): former Chief of Naval Staff and successful agro-Entrepreneur, Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Alli, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Lanre Sagaya, an engineering consultant. Others are Mr. Waheed Olagunju, Executive Director, Bank of Industry, Chief Tajudeen Owoyemi, Chairman, Avalon Hotel, Offa, and Mr. Gabriel Adewumi, consummate businessman.”

    On the duration of the scheme, Soewu said the competition will be held twice a year to ensure that as a many qualifying small businesses as possible benefit from the scheme.

  • Ahmed gets nomination form

    Ahmed gets nomination form

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed got yesterday the nomination form of the All Progressives Congress Party (APC) to contest the 2015 governorship election.

    He is seeking a second term.

    APC State Chairman Ishola Balogun-Fulani led some party chieftains to present the nomination form to the governor at the Government House in Ilorin, the state capital.

    Abdulfatah expressed appreciation to the people for the success of his second term declaration rally last week.

    The governor attributed the success of his administration to team work and the collective efforts in the party’s internal structure.

    He said the structure “is as a result of the indefatigable and resourceful leadership of the party leader, Senator Bukola Saraki”.

    According to him, Saraki’s display of unity would play a pivotal role in next year’s elections.

    Ahmed hoped that APC would sustain the tempo to enable it win all elective posts in 2015.

    Balogun-Fulani said the party had not anointed any candidate for any elective office ahead of the 2015 elections.

    The chairman dispelled the rumour that the party’s leadership had selected some candidates for elective offices through a consensus arrangement.

    He told reporters that regardless of any internal mechanism for screening aspirants, they would all participate in the primaries.

    Balogun-Fulani said the sale of nominations forms for elective office aspirants was still in progress, adding that party members interested in elective position were free to buy their forms.

    The chairman noted that although the state APC was not against the emergence of a consensus candidate, the electoral process for their emergence would be adhered to.

    He said a local screening committee had been put in place in the local governments to ensure that credible candidates emerged.

    According to him, such aspirants would still have to take part in the party’s congress.

    Balogun-Fulani said a screening committee from APC national secretariat would arrive in the state on November 15 to screen aspirants who would have scaled through the local screening committee.

    He said the party’s congresses had been postponed indefinitely, adding that a new date would be announced by the national leadership.

     

     

     

  • Kwara United gets full payments

    Kwara United gets full payments

    The Kwara State Government has released funds to clear all outstanding entitlements of players and officials of Kwara United FC of Ilorin, kickOffNigeria.com reports.

    This disclosure was made by the state’s Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Prince Saheed Popoola, who said Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved the payment of the remaining 30 per cent of the sign-on fees for the 2013/13 season as well as payment of the 2013/2014 sign-on fee and clearance fee for the team.

    The Commissioner stated that the governor is fully committed to the welfare of the team and sports generally in the state and charged the players and management of the team to reciprocate by getting promotion to the Premier League next season.

    The General Manager of the club, Alhaji Haruna Maigidasanma, while commenting on the development said the governor is a sport lover, who remained the first governor to pay a hundred percent sign-on fee.

    He said the payment had come at a right time for the team which is currently in second position on the Nigeria National League table.