The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kaduna state

NUT writes El-Rufai over sack of 21,780 teachers

…gives Governor 2 weeks ultimatum to rescind decision

Primary and secondary school teachers in Kaduna State, under the auspices of Nigeria Union of Teachers ( NUT ) have issued a two weeks ultimatum to Governor Nasir El-Rufai to rescind his government’s decision to sack 21,780 primary teachers.

NUT said, it has concluded arrangements to embark on an indefinite strike and shutdown schools if the Governor fails to shelve his sack plan by the end of the two weeks ultimatum.

The umbrella union of primary and secondary school teachers at a press conference in Kaduna on Monday said, El-Rufai shifted the goal-post in the middle of the game.

Chairman of the union, Comrade Audu Titus Amba who read their open letter to Governor El-Rufai before newsmen said, it was initially agreed by all stakeholders in the education sector that the pass mark for the competency test be pegged at 60 per cent, while those who are unable to score up to 60 per cent be retrained.

According to the open letter signed by NUT Assistant Secretary General, Comrade Adamu Ango, “That, the NUT, Kaduna State Wing as a responsible stakeholder in the educational sector even though aware of the position of the law as it relates to the body statutorily empowered to regulate the teaching profession cooperated with the Kaduna State government under the mistaken believe that the intention of the state government was altruistic, in the sense that it is aimed at enhancing state. However, with the benefit of hindsight we now know better.

“That it is agreed by all stakeholders in the educational sector that the pass mark for the competency test be pegged at 60 per cent while those who are unable to score up to 60 per cent be retrained.

“However, in a classical display of bad faith which started as a rumour, the Kaduna State government unilaterally and arbitrarily pegged the pass mark for the competency test at an unprecedented 75 per cent.

“Your Excellency, while hosting a delegation of World Bank officials, you announced to the whole world that 21,780 teachers will be disengaged in Kaduna State Public primary and secondary schools for not scoring up to 75 per cent in the competency test, while 25,000 will be recruited in their stead.

“That, the NUT, Kaduna State Wing wrote a letter to you, appealing to your conscience to rescind the decision above, but as usual, you ignored the letter and went ahead with your avowed determination to impose your will against the consensus of bonafide stakeholders in the educational sector.

“The NUT subsequently as a last resort and in the spirit of constitutional democracy, rule of law, due process decided to approach the National Industrial Court, Kaduna division to adjudicate on the issue of whether the Kaduna State government has the statutory power to conduct the competency test and which Court processes have been served on you and the office of the Attorney General.

“However, contrary to all standards of decency in a democratic setting and in spite of the service of Court process on the Kaduna State government, you have gone ahead to publish on your tweeter handle, a list of teachers who purportedly passed the competency test by scoring 75 per cent and above.

“All the above, leaves the Kaduna State Wing of the NUT with no option other than to serve the instant notice in compliance with the wishes of its members expressed at the meeting of the state wing executive council held on the 6th November, 2017“, the letter read.

November 6, 2017
El-Rufai warns IPMAN members against unruly behaviour

Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State has urged members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria ( IPMAN ) in the state to end the bickering among them and live in peace.

The governor said in Kaduna when he received newly elected officials of the association who paid him a courtesy visit that the government would not condone any breach of the peace.

According to him, it is mandatory for members of the association to be given the opportunity to elect their leaders, saying those not satisfied with the election should seek redress in court.

“Those who are not satisfied with the election should to go to court instead of causing chaos in the state,’’ the governor said.

El-Rufai stressed that peace was vital for the progress of the association and assured of the government support to the new leadership.

Earlier, the new state IPMAN Chairman, Alhaji Bala Usman acknowledged that the association was unable to hold election for a long time due to internal crisis.

He however said with the elections held on Oct. 21, the association was now poised to contribute more meaningfully to the state economy.

Usman expressed gratitude to the governor for ensuring that the election was peaceful, and pledged that the association would henceforth pay its annual ground rent to government without delay.

The chairman pleaded with the governor to intervene on their behalf, for the reopening of their secretariat sealed by the management of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, due to the prolonged crisis in the association.

Other officials elected include Alhaji Garba Jega as Vice Chairman and Mr Solomon Ehizogie as Secretary.

NAN

November 3, 2017
Our diverse cultures, symbol of unity – El-Rufai

Gov. Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State on Tuesday said the diverse cultures of Nigerians should be seen as symbol of unity and must be used to foster peace and development in the country.

He stated this at the opening of the 30th National Festival of Arts and Culture ( NAFEST ) in Kaduna.

According to him, Nigeria can become an international tourist destination if it harnesses its cultural heritage.

The governor, who assured participants of warm reception in Kaduna State, said the festival, had been avenue to foster unity, tolerance and peace among Nigerians since inception in 1970.

The festival started with a cultural march past by states.

Among those participating at the week-long festival tagged ”Nigeria Peace and Unity… Our pride” are Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, among others

The Zazzau Emirate culture was on display on Tuesday as a durbar was staged for visitors.

The Durbar was led by Wazirin Zazzau team, followed by the Emir’s mounted Troop and foot soldiers.

The 23 local government areas of Kaduna State also took turn to showcase their cultures.

Earlier in an opening remark, the Director General, National Council of Arts and Culture, Olusegun Runsewe, said “the festival showed that the country was one.”

He added that participants from all over the country showed the unity of the country.

“There cannot be Nigeria without the different nationalities that make up the country, that is why we must all work together to keep the country as one,” he added.

NAN

November 1, 2017
Gov. Lalong imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew on Bassa LG

Worried by incessant attacks on communities on Bassa Local Government, Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the area.

A statement by Mr Emmanuel Nanle, Director of Press Affairs, said that the decision became necessary “in view of recurring incidences of attack in the area”.

The curfew will run from 6 am to 6 pm daily, it said.

“There are recurring incidences of attacks on Irigwe chiefdom and neighbouring areas around Bassa; there are also attacks on communities on the borders of the local government, especially around Vom in Jos South and Manchok in Kaduna State.

“To guarantee effective security operation toward protecting life and property, the governor has approved the imposition of a dusk-to-dawn curfew, which takes effect immediately,” the statement said.

A security source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Jos that the governor’s decision followed reports of the burning of houses by unknown men that invaded some villages in Irigwe chiefdom on Friday.

Mr Terna Tyopev, spokesman of the Plateau Police Command, who confirmed the burning of the houses, however, declined further details.

NAN reports that the Friday attack on Bassa Local Government is the third in three weeks, after two other violent invasions claimed 28 lives in Ncha and Jebu-Miango semi-urban settlements. (NAN)

October 13, 2017
El-Rufai presents budget of N216.5bn for 2018

Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Thursday presented an Appropriation bill of N216.5 billion for the 2018 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly.

El-Rufai, in the budget tagged, “Budget of Consolidation”, explained that N131 billion was earmarked as capital expenditure, representing 60.5 per cent, while N85 billion was set aside for recurrent expenditure, representing 39.4 per cent.

According to him, capital expenditure is allocated 60 per cent because of the administration’s resolve to spend more and invest in the people.

“Under capital expenditure, the Social Sector received the largest chunk of N51.4 billion; Economic Sector, N38 billion; General Administration, N26 billion; and Real Sector, 14 billion.”

He said that the Social Sector, comprising education, health and social development took the lion share of 39.2 per cent of the budget so as to promote social justice through human capital development.

“We envisage starting the year with an opening balance of N10 billion with internally generated revenue of over N42 billion and statutory allocation from Federation Account of over N34 billion.

“The recurrent expenditure estimate for 2018 are projected to be broken down as, public desk charges, that is payment of loans and other facilities estimated at over N4 billion with consolidated revenue fund charges at over N1 billion.

“Others include, personnel cost, N40 billion; overhead cost, N44 billion; and 10 per cent statutory transfers from the state to local government areas, totaling over N85 billion.

“The breakdown of the capital account for 2018 as projected would be transfers from the recurrent budget surplus of over N2 billion and over N13 billion from value added tax.

“Others are over N800 million as internal loans as well as N89 billion as external loans, internal grant at over N9 billion while external grant stands at over N4 billion.”

He added that the state would raise over N11 billion from sales of government quarters.

Receiving the budget estimates, the Speaker of the assembly, Alhaji Aminu Shagali, assured of the assembly’s commitment to diligently scrutinise the document for the benefits of the people of the state.

Shagali said that legislative arm would support the executive in ensuring peace and social justice in the state.

He added that the House would ensure that the budget meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

The government had earlier proposed N201 billion as 2018 budget, but N15 billion was added after receiving inputs from citizens during a town hall meeting.

NAN

October 13, 2017
El-Rufai present N216bn budget to Kaduna assembly for 2018

Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has on Thursday presented 2018 budget estimates of N216.55bn to the State House of Assembly for accelerated passage into law.

Presenting the budget, El-Rufai who described it as a ‘Budget of Consolidation’ said the budget is structured to complete the many projects the government is undertaking.

The governor said in keeping with the tradition of the government, the budget maintains a priority for capital projects with a vote of N131.bn is 60.54%,while the recurrent expenditure is N85,440,998,051.95. (39.46%).

El-Rufai said that the capital to recurrent ratio is “consistent with our agenda to spend more on the people than on running government”.

The proposed budget has expanded beyond the initial size of N201bn that was presented to Kaduna citizens last week in a town hall meeting for input from the public which informed the rejig of the budget.

In his budget speech, El-Rufai explained that: “the 2018 revenue and expenditure estimates are based on a robust medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) which assumes a $42 benchmark price for oil at production levels of 1.8 million barrels per day, 17.5% inflation, 1.9% projected real GDP growth and an exchange rate of N305 to a Dollar”.

At N51.4bn, Education, Health and Social Development take 39.2% of the N131.1bn capital budget. Education takes 25% at N33bn, while Health takes N17bn (12%) of capital”

El-Rufai said, fixing the inherited dilapidated schools would require about N60bn, and that the album of decayed schools the government produced has helped them to show the development partners the scale of investments required.

The governor disclosed that it was that discussion that led to the decision of the World Bank to grant Kaduna State a budget support facility of $350m.

He said that the state will begin accessing the funds once the National Assembly approves the Federal Government’s 2017 borrowing plan.

According to the Governor, the 2018 budget prioritises the completion of projects started in the 2017 budget:“We shall be prioritising completion of these projects in the coming year. We are in a time of consolidation, and the budget reflects this thrust. Development is a continuum, and we are firmly building on the foundations we have laid in the preceding years”

“As at mid-2017, there were 443km of township roads and 16 intercity roads with a distance of 414.8km at various stages of completion. In addition, 17 rural feeder roads with distance of 172 km are being constructed. We campaigned vigorously against the poor state of public schools.

“There are many schools being rebuilt, hospitals being upgraded and equipped, water works being refitted, rehabilitation centres being fixed. We are very proud to have initiated these projects in the interest of our people. And we have been clearheaded enough to take on inherited projects that we consider feasible and viable!

“The Kaduna State Government will stay focused on delivering on our promises. We shall not relent in promoting development and progress for the people who have invested their hope in us.” El-Rufai said.

In his remarks, Speaker Kaduna State House of Assembly, Aminu Shagali, commended governor Nasir El-Rufai for his timely presentation of the annual budgets,saying the assembly members will quickly scrutinize the draft budget and pass it into law.

October 12, 2017
No state can control its resources 100 per cent, says El Rufai

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Committee on True Federalism, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, said Wednesday that demanding equal states for all the geopolitical zones is injustice to others because it will amount to trying to make “the unequal equal”

The governor also said that it will be difficult for states agitating for resource control to achieve 100 per cent control of resources in their states.

To him, because states without oil are more, those with oil might not get the required vote in the National Assembly for their wish.

The governor who spoke at an interactive session with Nigerian Youths in Abuja also said he was prepared to open the books for those willing to audit his security votes.

According to him, his security vote is being controlled by the Secretary to the State Government.

The governor who was responding to questions and suggestions raised by some of the youths said rather that make suggestions that will not stand the test of time, the youths should find a way of engaging the process after learning from history.

He said: There is absolutely no way in the Nigeria of today that a state that has oil will have 100 per cent of the revenue. That is not possible because to get that document through, you have to pass it through the National Assembly and in the National Assembly, there are more states that have no oil than those that have oil and so, they will vote it down.

“So, you better start proposing something that works for the entire country and not just you. Otherwise, it will not help. The greatest injustice you can do is to try to make the unequal equal or the equal unequal.

“You cannot come here and say we should create nine states in each zone. Nigeria is not equal in terms of land mass, population, resources etc. so, you can’t do that. It is injustice trying to make the unequal equal because there is nowhere in the world.”

He said those agitating for the scrapping of the Senate should realize that no member of the senate will vote to scrap the chamber, saying “Whatever you learn with some knowledge of history is incomplete. Unfortunately, in this country, history is not a subject in our schools. We started with a parliamentary system of government with the Queen as our leader, then, we became a Republic in 1963. You should not trace history without learning from the mistakes of the past or make recommendations without some sense of history.

“When you make “recommendation that you want to abolish the senate, you should know that the senate cannot be abolished unless the Senate votes to abolish the senate. Who is going to vote to make himself unemployed?

“We have a political process and so, we are not over throwing the government and starting afresh. So, we have to work with what we have in a sensible and pragmatic manner and reform what need to be reformed.

“When you say create states on the one hand and on the other hand you say cost of governance is too high, you are contradicting yourself. For every state you create, you are adding to the budget of the country. So, you cannot be saying that the cost of governance is too high and yet ask for more states.

“We must think for once what will be of interest to the country. We must think of what will be of interest to Nigeria because what will work in one part of the country may not work in another. If we don’t think first of what is of interest to all of us before the individuals, we will only have series of conflicting argument without consensus.

Speaking on security vote and its legality, the governor said there were a lot of misconception about security votes, saying security votes was not unconstitutional.

He said “Go and read your constitution. The state House of Assembly has the power to appropriate anything and security vote is a line charge in the budget and so. It is not illegal. But it is how it is used is the issue.

“I know of a former governor who used to collect N1.5 billion in cash as security votes and come to Abuja. It has been subject of abuse and that is not how it should be. The idea of security vote is for the governor to have discretionary funds to deal with emergency situations because you don’t know when you will have security challenges and you need money to be able to respond to these challenges.

“Sometimes, you need money to pay for information and sometimes, you can’t imagine the type of people you pay as informant because armed robbers patronize a lot of places and you need to know what they are planning next. Another use of security vote is to support security agents in the states.”

October 11, 2017
NUT urges KDSG to pay backlog of salary arrears

As teachers celebrate World Teachers’ Day, the Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers ( NUT ), has urged the state government to pay salary arrears owed its members.

“Some teachers in Kaduna State are owed up to 11 months salary arrears; we think this is unfair,” Mr Audu Amba, the NUT chairman in the state, said on Thursday in Kaduna, at an event organised to mark the day.

Amba equally decried the consistent delay in the payment of local government teachers’ salaries.

“Sometimes, teachers are paid two or three weeks after other workers have received their salaries. We find this disappointing,” he said.

The chairman also urged government to pay teachers the balance of 2015 leave grant, as well as the 2016 leave grant that was still being awaited.

“Ten per cent of teachers’ salary is deducted monthly and paid to them as their leave grant at the end of the year; paying the grant should actually be a right and not a privilege,” he said.

Amba called for more training and re-training of teachers, especially those in primary schools, so as to boost the quality of service delivery.

He said that the theme of the 2017 teachers day, “Teaching in Freedom: Empowering Teachers”, was to emphasise the need for a free teaching atmosphere.

“Teaching in freedom will encourage teachers to discharge their primary responsibilities of imparting knowledge, skills and character on the younger generation,” he explained.

Amba, nonetheless, commended the state government for the the massive rehabilitation and furnishing of public schools, and also lauded the unprecedented budgetary allocation of more than 33 per cent to the education sector.

“That huge budgetary allocation far exceeds the UNESCO recommendation of 26 percent,” he noted.

NAN

October 6, 2017
Late Mohammed: I have lost a colleague in war and peace – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep pain and sorrow over the death of the former Military Administrator of Kaduna State, retired Air Vice Marshal Mukhtar Mohammed.

The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said the president made his feelings known in a letter he wrote to the governments of Jigawa and Kano States.

He said the letter was handed to Gov. Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa by a Federal Government delegation on Thursday.

In the letter, President Buhari revealed the intimate nature of the relationship between him and the deceased military top brass, saying he had lost a friend in peace and in war.

“The delegation, which was led by the Chief of Staff in the Presidency, Abba Kyari with four ministers and three presidential aides, was in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital where a similar letter of condolence signed by the President was handed over to the Emir, Dr Muhammadu Sunusi,’’ the statement said.

The presidential aide said the team was also in Kano where they met both the Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje and the Emir Muhammadu Sunusi II before participating in the funeral prayers which took place at night due to the late arrival of the body from United Kingdom.

President Buhari’s condolence letter said, “Late Mukhtar was my friend in war and in peace. He was a brilliant Air Force officer, a good administrator and a patriot.

“All those who came in contact with him have recognized him as a brave man of vision and energy. These qualities he brought to bear in his service to Nigeria.

““In politics, he was dogged and determined to enthrone a good government, to clean up government business and establish democracy and rule of law.

“The late Waziri was a highly intelligent person and very brave in the face of challenges. He was prepared, and did leave his post on a point of honor and principle. He was a worthy and a true son of Nigeria.’’

The two state Governors and the Emirs praised the the exemplary qualities the late military officer and thanked the President for standing by their people in their hour of trial.

The federal government delegation included the Ministers of Interior, retired Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau; Defence, retired Brig. Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali; Education, Adamu Adamu and the Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika.

Others were the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar Sadiq, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Garba Shehu, that of Special Duties, Ya’u Darazo, Sha’aban Sharada and Musa Daura, a nephew of the President.

Late Muhammad, who was the Wazirin Dutse in Jigawa, died on Sunday in a London hospital after a protracted illness.

NAN

October 5, 2017
Former military governor of Kaduna, Mohammed, dies at 73

Erstwhile Military Governor of defunct Kaduna State, retired AVM Mukhtar Mohammed is dead.

Mohammed died on Sunday night at the age 73 years at a hospital in London following a protracted illness.

A family source, Alhaji Lawal Musa, who confirmed the death to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano, said the remains of the deceased would be flown to Nigeria for burial.

The deceased was a one-time Minister of Housing and Urban Development and was a member of the Supreme Military Council.

The deceased was a member to the National Constitutional Conference in 2014.

He was Military Governor of Kaduna State from 1978 to 1979.

The late Mohammed was a Chieftain of the Arewa Consultative Forum.

He was also the Chairman, Board of Directors of Freedom Radio, Kano.

He is survived by a wife and six children.

October 2, 2017