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Tag: Keffi

  • Jail break: Keffi Prison too congested, says Sule

    Jail break: Keffi Prison too congested, says Sule

    Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule says the Keffi Prison is too congested for the inmates as their number keeps expanding without speedy trials.

    He therefore expressed the desire of the state government to partner the relevant authorities in the FCT to fast-track the inmates awaiting trial at the Keffi Medium Correctional Centre.

    Sule stated this yesterday visited after a reported jail break the previous day where 16 inmates escaped.

    While interacting with officials and later inmates at the centre, he noted that most of the inmates awaiting trial and kept in the facility are those whose cases are before the courts in the FCT.

    Read Also: First Lady commissions Renewed Hope Resettlement City in Keffi

    While addressing the inmates, the governor charged them to be of good behaviour and law abiding. He promised that the government will explore means to fast track trials of accused persons to reduce congestion in the facility.

    He noted that many of the inmates were sitting on bare floor and directed that 500 mattresses be supplied to the centre by the state government to improve the living conditions of the inmates.

    He commended officers and men of the service as well other security agencies for the re-arrest of some of the escapees.

    The governor also charged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious persons to security agencies.

  • Workers allege sale of hospital property

    Workers of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Keffi, Nasarawa State, have accused the hospital management of high handedness and unauthorised sale of hospital property.

    The workers accused the Medical Director (MD) Dr. Yaya Adamu of taking some decisions inimical to the hospital’s interest.

    They alleged an 100 per cent hike in delivery fee from N30,000 to N60,000, saying the increase was not in the interest of patients.

    The hospital, they alleged, was witnessing a drop in patronage which may not be unconnected with the price hike.

    According to one of them, Mallam Isiak Abdullahi, patients are forced to make compulsory deposits before treatment.

    They alleged that the MD had jettisoned social services, noting that workers and the public were no longer happy.

    The board, they claimed, had raised a query over the sale of the hospital’s properties, some of which include ambulances and vehicles purportedly claimed to be scrap.

    They said: “Two trailer-loads of equipment were taken out without clearance by an aide of a top officer, who claimed they belonged to an emir, but the emir refuted ownership. An ad hoc committee asked that the items be returned.”

    Read Also: Lagos to train 825 health workers

    But the management denied the allegations, saying it “runs an all-inclusive administration”.

    Adamu said he ran an open administration.

    He said: “Thanks for your interest in our institution. As far as I am aware, there’s no such thing as high-handedness in FMC Keffi. As per sale of hospital property, I’m not aware of any hospital property that was sold, or being planned to be sold.

    “There hasn’t been an increase in delivery fees. You may take statistics of the cost of delivery in similar government hospitals around us and see if the allegation can be substantiated.”

  • Old boys donate 50 mattresses to Government College, Keffi

    The 1981 set of Keffi Old Boys’ Association of Government College, Keffi, Nasarawa state has donated 50 mattresses to the college to improve the living standard of living of the students of the college.

    Alhaji Aliyu Mairiga, a member of set presented the mattresses to the management of the college, during  the annual meeting of the association in Keffi.

    He said that the gesture was also part of the association`s contribution toward complementing the state government effort in enhancing provision of facilities to and the development of the college.

    “The provision of these mattresses is part of our contribution to the development of the school.

    “We hope and believe that these mattresses will improve the standard of living of the students, thereby creating an enabling environment for learning,” he said.

    The set, on Nov.6, 2017, donated 91 mattresses to the institution.

    According to him, the assistance will alleviate the plight of the students and encourage them to learn effectively.

    He called on other members of the association and wealthy individuals to donate to the development of the education sector.

    Mairiga also called on other members of the association to remain steadfast in rendering assistance to the college in the interest of development of the institution, stressing that education remained the best legacy parents and government must leave for the children.

    “The importance of this association to the development of the school cannot be over-emphasized.“

    Mairiga called on the college authority to ensure judicial use of the materials to improve the standard of education in the state.

    He also advised the students to take their studies with seriousness to excel in their academic pursuits and for the overall development of the state.

    Also speaking, Mr Sam Israel, the State Chairman of the association commended the set for the donation and called for the judicious use of the materials.

    Responding, Mr Ibrahim Shehu, the school Vice-Principal (Academics), who received the mattresses on behalf of the school commended the set for the donation and called for its sustenance.

    He promised to ensure judicious use of the materials.

    In 2017, set 74 of the college donated 111 mattresses as part of their contribution to the development of the institution.

     

    NAN

  • ‘We are not recruiting’, FMC Keffi warns public

    Alhaji Sadiq Sule-Iko, the Chairman, Governing Board, Federal Medical Centre ( FMC ), Keffi, Nasarawa State, has advised the general public to disregard rumours that the hospital is recruiting workers.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Malam Jamil Nagogo, the Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the centre, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Keffi.

    The statement said Sule-Iko gave the advice when he led the Medical Director of the centre, Dr Yahaya Adamu, and other management team on a courtesy visit to the Emir of Keffi, Dr Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, in Keffi.

    It explained that the visit was informed by the strength of speculations gaining ground in and around Keffi to the effect that the management of the centre had recently recruited new employees.

    According to the statement, the board chairman dismissed the rumour, assuring that the governing board will investigate and get to the root of the matter.

    It said the chairman warned the general public against spreading rumours inimical to the peace and progress of the society.

    “His Royal Highness, the centre is not recruiting, I want to debunk the rumours going around that the centre is recruiting,” the statement quoted Sule-Iko saying.

    It stated that the board would not embark on such exercise without informing the traditional ruler and host community.
    “The Board Chairman assured the Emir of the board’s readiness to consult him for fatherly advice, guidance and support at all times in order to move the centre to greater height,’’ it said.

    The statement added that the chairman expressed appreciation to the Emir for his continued support and assistance to the management of the centre and called for its sustenance.

    Read Also: 10% of school age girls out of schools in Kebbi – NGO

    Responding, Yamusa III commended the team for the visit and prayed God to give them the wisdom and courage to pilot the affairs of the hospital creditably.

    The Emir, however, confirmed to the board chairman that there was indeed tension in Keffi regarding the alleged recruitment.
    The first class traditional ruler assured that as the chief custodian of his people, he would not watch tension rising in his domain without intervening and subduing it.

    The emir advised the management to always follow due process in running the affairs of the centre so as to ensure sanity in the system in the interest and progress of the centre and the country at large.

  • NANS convention: Between fact and fiction

    Genuine students have really been pained that, over the years, some so-called stakeholders (non students) took it upon themselves to always choose or select the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) for students. This had been the culture for many years. Bonafide students never had a say in who became the NANS president and other officers.

    The just-concluded convention was tailored to toe a similar path. For the avoidance of doubt, before the convention proper, some of the members of the convention were bribed and they sent their thugs after Gideon Obande, a top contender from the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), and he sustained injury on his face for no reason.

    It is worrisome that the election that was to be conducted on Saturday July 7, 2018, was delayed by some already compromised convention members until Tuesday July 10, 2018. By then, most of the real delegates (presidents of the Students’ Unions Government) that were to vote at the convention faced logistics challenges and needed to return to their respective school.

    Gideon was left at the mercy of a compromised convention organising body that was mostly populated by non-students of  higher institutions in Nigeria. When the convention reconvened, the organising body accredited 272 delegates for voting. After the election, the votes turned itself to 275. Where did they get the additional three votes?

    In fact, some of the people accredited were not worthy to be called students based on the fact that they were thugs imported to rig the election. This made Gideon and members of his camp to pull out of the convention. Then, the legitimate delegates who found him worthy elected him as NANS president.

    It was when students at the convention were probing the additional votes and shouting “we no go gree” that Gideon pulled out of the election where the legitimate students voted him as their leader.

    It is very unfortunate that there were a lot of electoral frauds and irregularities on the just concluded convention. Gideon had no any other option than to pull out of the convention because there was no provision for taking any issues to the court of competent jurisdiction by the aggrieved parties based on the fact that NANS is not a registered organisation with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). It is just a pressure group that cannot sue and be sued.

    The outgoing Senate President of NANS, Comrade Taiwo Bamigbade from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) who had benefitted from a free, fair and credible election equally pulled out of the convention. He was the one who organised a fresh election where Gideon emerged as NANS president.

    We are aware that the so-called stakeholders will never allow NANS to have just one president because of their selfish interest. That was why they declared one Bamidele Danielson as their president.

    However, as a member of the Convention Planning Committee, I can authoritatively announce that students’ community in Nigeria has spoken with one voice. They have elected Gideon Obande as NANS president and nothing will change this fact. Whoever is parading himself as NANS president other than Gideon is an impostor who is being pushed by a group of discredited stakeholders who are using the name of NANS to curry political favour.

    I use this medium to say congratulations to Gideon Obande – the number-one student of Nigeria.

    • Ibrahim is the secretary of NANS Convention Planning Committee and a Post-graduate Building student, ABU, Zaria.

  • Nasarawa approves five-year single tenure for varsity VC

    Nasarawa House of Assembly on Tuesday approved a five-year single tenure for Vice-Chancellor for the state-owned University, Keffi and other principal officers of the institution.

    The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Balarabe Abdullahi, announced this in Lafia while announcing the passage of  a Bill for a Law to Amend the Nasarawa State University Law 2001,” during the House proceeding.

    He commended the sponsor of the bill, Mr Daniel Ogah Ogazi, (APC-Kokona East) and his colleagues for ensuring that the bill saw the light of the day.

    The sponsor, who is also the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, had moved a motion for the passage of the bill and seconded by Alhaji Mohammed Okpoku (APC-Udege/Loko).

    Ogazi commended the speaker and his colleagues for giving adequate attention to the passage of the bill.

    According to the speaker, said that when the bill is passed into law by the governor, the Vice-Chancellor of the university shall hold office for a single term of five years.

    He added that the vice-chancellor shall no longer be eligible for appointment until 10 years, after leaving office.

    “Within a period of 90 days and not later than 60 days to the expiration of the tenure of the existing Vice-Chancellor, the successor to the Vice-Chancellor shall be appointed.

    “The Registrar shall hold office for a single term of five years except when his tenure is expiring the same time with the Vice-Chancellor, that his tenure shall be extended for one year only and no more, “the bill stated.

    The bill further stipulated that the directorates in the university were to be headed by Directors and shall hold office for a single term of five years only.

    “Directors of Works and Maintenance, Physical Planning, Health Services and Information, Communication and Technology shall hold office for a single term of five years only, the bill also stipulated.

    “Also, there shall be Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) and DeputyVice-Chancellor (Administration) in the office of the Vice-Chancellor whose tenure shall be two years, subject to renewal for another two years, “it stated.

    The speaker, therefore, directed the Clerk of the House to produce a clean copy of the bill for governor‘s assent.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill will be called “Nasarawa State University, Keffi Amendment Law 2018, when signed into law by the governor.

     

  • “Okrika”dealers in Nasarawa express worries over quit notice

    Fairly Used Clothes a.k.a Òkrika traders Association, in Mararaba, a commercial hub along Abuja-Keffi road, have expressed worries over the quit notice issued by the Nasarawa State Government.

    Mr Stanley Buba, Chairman of the Task Force on relocation, issued the notification on April 30 in Karu, during a meeting with officials of the Traders and Marketers Association and the National Union of Road Transport Workers.

    Mr Suleiman Hassan, Chairman of the Association, told the News men on Monday that the state government through a special task force had directed that they vacate the area before May 15.

    He added that the directive was hinged on government’s efforts to free the road of the usual traffic gridlock on that axis, partly caused by trading activities along the busy road.

    He, however, noted that many of the traders, who sell their wares along the road-side market, were not happy with the directive, alleging that it was sudden and without a proper alternative.

    Read Also: Nasarawa State to probe MDAs – Commissioner

    “They have asked us to relocate to the newly commissioned Muhammdu Buhari International Market, Karu, Nasarawa; but the areas assigned to us is not properly developed the way it ought to be for convenient trading.

    “The allocated place is an opened ground without structures, no shops or packing stores where we can keep our goods and will not be accessible by customers, meaning we cannot make sales there.

    “The raining season is here, and when it starts raining we do not have a place to take refuge and keep our goods for safety since they are clothing,”he said.

    Hassan appealed to the state government to extend the ultimatum to allow relevant authorities in charge of the management of the new market to make it suitable for the traders.

    The affected traders are to be relocated to the Muhammadu Buhari International Market, Karu.

    NAN

  • Buhari’s visit: Security beefed up in Nasarawa

    Buhari’s visit: Security beefed up in Nasarawa

    Security measures have been beefed up in in Lafia and environs as security personnel have been deployed in strategic locations ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Nasarawa on Tuesday.

    A correspondent, who went round the state capital on Tuesday, reported that officers and men of the Nigeria Police, Civil Defence and other security agencies were stationed at all nooks and crannies.

    Read also: Buhari wants Tinubu to reconcile aggrieved APC members

    Reports say that more security personnel had also been deployed in Akwanga, Keffi and Karu Local Government areas of the state.

    Mr Bello Ahmed, the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, had on Monday, said that over 4000 personnel had been deployed in strategic locations in the state.

    The commissioner said that police officers were collaborating with other security personnel to ensure hitch free visit by the President.

    President Buhari is paying a one-day visit to Nasarawa State where he will also inaugurate some projects of the state government.

    NAN

  • NSE pricing methodology has provided liquidity for inactive stocks–Experts

    NSE pricing methodology has provided liquidity for inactive stocks–Experts

    Some financial experts on Monday said that the Nigerian Stock Exchange ( NSE ) amended par-value and pricing methodology has provided liquidity for inactive stocks in the market.

    Dr Uche Uwaleke, Head of the Banking and Finance Department at the Nasarawa State University in Keffi, said that the amended par-value and pricing methodology had improved the liquidity of stocks that could not be sold below 50k before now.

    “Since Jan. 29, when it became effective, a number of stocks, including those of ABC Transport Plc. and some insurance companies, which were hitherto, inactive, have witnessed some transactions.”

    Uwaleke said the new stratification of price movements and price limits had narrowed spreads, “ensuring that only transactions that were material would result in price movements’’.

    He said that the market was now more efficient than before as result of the initiative.

    Similarly, Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Officer of InvestData Ltd., who commended the initiative, said that many companies would start to provide information for the investing public to ascertain the position of any company.

    Omordion said that companies would be compelled to submit their results timely for investors to make wise decisions.

    He said that the new methodology would enforce good corporate governance among quoted companies, in a bid to avoid drastic reduction in their share prices.

    “If you don’t want your stock price to move to 10k, you will get investors see reason why they buy or hold your stock by providing the needed information as and when due, apart from quarterly and full year earnings reports”, Omordion said.

    READ ALSO: 116 quoted companies to fall under one-kobo pricing rules

    The new pricing method started on Jan. 29.

    Mr Abimbola Babalola, NSE Head of Market Surveillance and Investigation, said the new method was “aimed at improving liquidity, narrowing spreads and ensuring that all price-improving transactions had material impact.”

    Babalola said the new rules would effectively remove the current rule which placed minimum allowable price for any stock to trade at its nominal value, irrespective of the market forces.

    According to him, it specifies that stock prices will be determined by market forces of demand and supply as prices can now fall below the initial price floor of 50k to one kobo.

    He said that as a result, stocks would be under new groupings and pricing rules and that price of every share listed on the NSE would be determined by market forces.

    According to him, Group A, shall consist of large-cap equities that are priced at N100 per share or above for at least four of the last six trading months, or new security listings that are priced at N100 or above.

    Group B, shall consist of medium-priced equities that are priced at N5 per share or above, but less than N100 per share for at least four of the last six months, or new security listings priced at N5 per share or above at the time of listing.

    Group C, where majority of listed companies fall, shall consist of equities that are priced at one kobo per share or above, but below N5 per share, or new security listings priced at one kobo at the time of listing on the NSE.

    NAN

  • Nasarawa commences census of own houses

    Nasarawa commences census of own houses

    The Nasarawa State Government on Thursday, commenced two-week census of its houses across the state, Mohammed Wada, Commissioner for Works and Transports has disclosed.

    Wada made the disclosure on Thursday in an interview in Lafia.

    He said the exercise became necessary because the state  government discovered that over the years, most occupants of such houses stayed in them illegally.

    The commissioner said due to the monetization police, government does not longer provide accommodation for civil servants.’

    “All GRAs, Six-man and Eight-Man Quarters, Low Cost, in Akwanga, KeffI, Lafia, Nasarawa and other local government areas are occupied by retired civil servants.

    “We are taking the census of all government houses to ascertain their occupants, their status and legality of allocation,” he said.

    The commissioner also said the state government was losing a lot of revenue due to the presence of illegal occupants of the houses who also failed to pay rent.

    He said the occupants were required to present their allocation papers during the exercise, warning that failure to do that would make them to vacate the houses.

    According to him, in the event that a lawful occupant is discovered to be defaulting in paying rent to the state government rent, he or she will be made to pay all outstanding rent.

    He also said that lawful occupants of such structures would be asked to renovate their houses while vacant houses at the end of the exercise would reallocate to interested persons.

    NAN