The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jigawa

  • FG disburses N229.6m to 22,926 poor, vulnerable in Jigawa

    FG disburses N229.6m to 22,926 poor, vulnerable in Jigawa

    The Federal Government on Thursday said it had disbursed N229, 640,000 million to 22,962 women considered to be poor and vulnerable in Jigawa, under its Conditional Cash Transfer ( CCT ).

    Malam Nura Sani, the Head of Media and Publicly, Jigawa office of the Federal Government’s Special Intervention Program ( SIP ), said this in Dutse.

    Sani said that the fund was disbursed to the beneficiaries in nine local government areas of the state: Auyo, Guri, Gwiwa, Jahun, Kaugama, Kiyawa Miga, Roni and Taura.

    He explained that the beneficiaries were selected from three political wards of the benefiting local government areas, considered to be the poorest of the poor.

    According to him the nine councils represent the first batch for the take-off of the programme being 30 per cent of the 27 local government areas of the state.

    According to him, 15 more councils would also benefit from the programme.

    CCT scheme was introduced by the Federal Government to tackle poverty among Nigerians.

    CCT programmes are aimed at reducing poverty by making welfare programmes conditional upon the receivers’ actions.

    In the programme, the government transfers the money to persons who meet certain criteria, include enrolling children into public schools, getting regular check-ups at the doctor’s office.

    CCTs seek to break the cycle of poverty in the country through the development of human capital.

    NAN

  • Reps want FRSC officers to bear arms

    Reps want FRSC officers to bear arms

    THE House of Representatives said yesterday that officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission ( FRSC ) should bear arms in a bid to effectively carry out their responsibilities of saving lives.

    The Green Chamber noted the increasing cases of violent attacks, harassment and intimidation of personnel and officers of the FRSC by highly placed individuals, motorists and hoodlums across the country, particularly in Zamfara, Jigawa, Abia and Lagos states.

    The members noted that from 2015 to date, there have been 149 cases of attacks on personnel and 201 cases of damage to properties and equipment of the commission.

    They, therefore, urged the Federal Government to facilitate the procurement of arms and ammunitions for FRSC officers.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion by Hon. Solomon Maren titled: “Need to Curb Incessant Attacks on Personnel of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)”.

    Maren while moving the motion noted that despite Section 19 of the FRSC (Establishment) Act, 2007, which stipulates that personnel of the commission who are exposed to high risk in the enforcement of the provisions of this Act, shall have same powers, authorities and privileges, including power to bear arms, as are granted by law to members of the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Government has not provided road safety officers with arms to enable them protect themselves in the course of performing their duties.

    When he Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a vote on the motion, it was passed without dissent.

    The House subsequently mandated the Committee on Federal Road Safety Commission to investigate cases of attacks on personnel of the FRSC and also ensure implementation of the resolution to arm the officials.

    The committee is to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

  • Court adjourns Sule Lamido ’s trial until Nov. 15

    Court adjourns Sule Lamido ’s trial until Nov. 15

    Justice Babatunde Quadri of Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned trial of former Governor of Jigawa, Sule Lamido, until Nov. 15.

    Lamido is being prosecuted alongside his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, and two others by  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) on 27-count charge bordering on abuse of office and money laundering.

    At the resumed hearing, counsel to the defendants, Kanu Agabi (SAN), informed the court of his appearance in the matter for the first time.

    Agabi said “I am coming here for the first time in this case and I am pleading with the court to give me time to familiarise with the case.

    “I know this is a court of justice and the court is interested in speedy trial but I am pleading for time to get to know about the case.”

    The senior advocate took over from Joe Agi (SAN), who was the defendants counsel.

    The prosecuting counsel, Chile Okoroma, who did not oppose the defence counsel’s plea, told the court that he had assembled his witnesses and they were ready to go on with the trial.

    He said he would not oppose the defendants’ right to adequate defence representation in the interest of justice.

    Consequently, Justice Quadri adjourned the matter until Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 for continuation of trial.

    It would be recalled that Justice Babatunde Quadri had on July 7 dismissed an application by the former governor requesting that the trial be returned to former trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola.

    Justice Ibrahim Auta, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, assigned the case to Justice Quadri when Justice Ademola went on suspension following corruption charge against him and his wife.

    But following judgment exonerating Ademola and wife, Agi requested that the Chief Judge
    return the case to him.

    NAN

  • Buhari, state governors meet in Aso Rock

    Buhari, state governors meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari is meeting with some state governors inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The governors who are attending the meeting includes; Zamfara, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kebbi, Ondo and Kwara States.

    Details later…

  • Police interrogate men over theft at state secretariat in jigawa

    Police interrogate men over theft at state secretariat in jigawa

    The Police Command in Jigawa said it was interrogating two men (names withheld) over report of incessant thefts at the Jigawa State Secretariat.

    The command’s Spokesman, DSP Abdu Jinjiri, confirmed this  in Dutse.

    Jinjiri said that the two men aged 30 each, were invited after the command received a report on the thefts at the secretariat.

    He, however, declined to comment on the nature of the thefts.

    “Yes, we have invited two men for interrogation after we received a report of rampant stealing at Jigawa state secretariat.

    “But I am not saying we are interrogating them on any particular case,” he said.

     That from late 2016 to date, there have been several reports of thefts of laptop and desk top computers, plasma TVs and motorcycles at the premises of the secretariat.

    It was also alleged that on Sept. 6, two computers were stolen from the State Ministry of Finance.

    NAN

  • Hisbah Board in Kano arrests 55 beggars in September

    Hisbah Board in Kano arrests 55 beggars in September

    No fewer than 55 beggars were arrested in September by Kano State Hisbah Board for allegedly violating the law banning street begging.

    Malam Dahiru Muhammed of the board’s Anti-Begging Unit in the state on Friday said that 17 of those arrested were children, while 38 were adults.

    According to him, 33 of them are from the state while 22 are from Abia, Bauchi, Jigawa and Katsina States.

    Muhammed said that the arrests were carried out around Bata, France Road, Hadejia Road, Kwara and Katsina Road, all in Kano metropolis.

    He said that the board released beggars that were first offenders and those suffering from mental disorder, while others from neighbouring states were taken back to their respective local government areas.

    NAN

  • Jigawa inaugurates health coordinating units in 27 LGAs

    Jigawa inaugurates health coordinating units in 27 LGAs

    Jigawa Ministry of Health has inaugurated Logistics Management Coordinating Units in 27 local government areas of the state.

    The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Abba Zakari, disclosed this in an interview in Dutse on Thursday.

    Zakari said the idea was to ensure close monitoring and utilisation of health commodities in health facilities in the 27 local government areas in appropriate manner.

    He explained that the units would ensure that the management do the right thing in a right manner in terms of drug storage, distribution, data collection, validation, analysis and to report to authority any problem for necessary action.

    The commissioner also said that the establishment of the units was in line with the directive from Federal Ministry of Health to ensure accountability and transparency in public health sector.

    He urged members of the units to be proactive and cooperate with one another toward achieving the desired results.

    He assured the members and management of heath facilities of the ministry’s support in the discharge of their duties.

    NAN

  • Lamido canvasses free, credible convention for PDP

    Lamido canvasses free, credible convention for PDP

    A former governor of Jigawa, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has called the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) to ensure that the party’s December national convention would be free and fair.

    Lamido made the call when he met with ex-PDP Speakers of States Houses of Assembly forum on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said that anybody that emerged as PDP chairman would enjoy the required support from all party’s members.

    Commenting on Gov. Ayo Fayose’s declaration for presidency in 2018, Lamido said that it was the constitutional right of the governor to contest like every other Nigerians.

    He said that Fayose had the right to contest even though, the party had zone the 2019 presidential ticket to the North.

    He also advised PDP members to be courageous in the face of what he described as “persecution”.

    “We need people to be courageous.”

    He reiterated his determination to remain in PDP, saying “no matter how hard I try, if I move to All Progressive Congress ( APC ), my soul will not follow me.”

    Lamido added that without the party members who joined the APC, the party would not have defeated the Peoples Democratic Party in the last general elections.

    The former Minister of Foreign Affairs said that 2019 would be a defining moment for Nigeria.

    The former Ogun State Governor, Mr Gbenga Daniel also met with the forum.

    NAN

  • PDP: Lamido canvasses free, credible convention

    PDP: Lamido canvasses free, credible convention

    A former governor of Jigawa, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has called the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ensure that the party’s December national convention would be free and fair.

    Lamido made the call when he met with ex-PDP Speakers of States Houses of Assembly forum on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said that anybody that emerged as PDP chairman would enjoy the required support from all party’s members.

    Commenting on Gov. Ayo Fayose’s declaration for presidency in 2018, Lamido said that it was the constitutional right of the governor to contest like every other Nigerians.

    He said that Fayose had the right to contest even though, the party had zone the 2019 presidential ticket to the North.

    He also advised PDP members to be courageous in the face of what he described as “persecution”.

    “We need people to be courageous.”

    He reiterated his determination to remain in PDP, saying “no matter how hard I try, if I move to All Progressive Congress (APC), my soul will not follow me.”

    Lamido added that without the PDP members who joined the APC, the party would not have defeated PDP in the last general elections.

    The former Minister of Foreign Affairs said that 2019 would be a defining moment for Nigeria.

    The News Agency Nigeria (NAN) former Ogun State Governor, Mr Gbenga Daniel also met with the forum.

  • Katsina, Kano, Jigawa support Nigeria’s unity

    Katsina, Kano, Jigawa support Nigeria’s unity

    Governments of Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states yesterday submitted their memoranda to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Committee on True Federalism, at a zonal public meeting in Kano.

    They reiterated their support for one and indivisible Nigeria.

    The states said the unity of the country was sacrosanct and non-negotiable, adding that it would not be in the interest of any part of the country for Nigeria to be balkanized.

    The states in Northwest zone advocated unity and strong federation units.

    They were unanimous on balanced economic development and spread of social growth across the country.

    However, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai was not only absent, he did not send a representative or submit a memorandum on behalf of the government.

    Presenting the stand of Kano State, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who affirmed the unity in diversity of the country, said: “True federalism should not be misconstrued for a weak, central government, but rather a federal government that should be seen as a strong, coordinating unit, which will be entrusted with equitable distribution of resources among federating units.”

    The governor, who said he supported equitable spread of infrastructure and balanced economic growth across the country, advocated a stronger, united nation.

    ”The agitation for restructuring of the country has raised dust of disunity, dissatisfaction and disaffection among Nigerians, against a nation built on unity, peaceful coexistence and religious and ethnic harmony. We want true federalism devoid of discountenance of our corporate entity,” Ganduje stressed.

    Jigawa State Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, represented by Secretary to State Government Alhaji Adamu AbdulKadir, clamoured for devolution of power.

    He said key issues, including education and agriculture, should be removed from the exclusive list, to enable states and local governments manage their affairs. Badaru said his administration supported true federalism, review of physical federation and federal allocation, as well as federal system of government.

    Jigawa State government, however, opposed creation of states.

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari regretted that the country found itself in trouble, following the flawed constitution inherited from the military.

    He aligned with the positions of states in the zone, saying Nigeria required true federalism.

    His words: ”Of course, there are challenges bedevilling our corporate existence, but agitation for restructuring is attracting dimensions and interpretations, which are not found in our constitution.

    “No doubt, there are fundamental issues that need to be reevaluated, but our major challenge is the constitution inherited from the military. Talking about restructuring, we must evaluate our constitution. Our elite must be ready to take the path of truth and sincerity. As far as we are concerned, we believe in a united and strong Nigeria.”

    The committee Chairman, Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, represented by ex-Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime, said issues deliberated on included devolution of power, physical federalism, local government autonomy, resource control, among others.