The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kogi State

  • IGR: Kogi deploy new technology

    IGR: Kogi deploy new technology

    To broaden the pool of tax payers in Kogi state, the state Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) in collaboration with Teasy Limited have devised the use of new technology to ease collection.

    The initiative which was launched yesterday at the Kogi State Revenue House in Lokoja, targets people in the informal sector who are always faced with the challenges of making prompt tax payments.

    According to the Director, Tax Drive and Collection, Mr John Salisu, Teasy International Company has devised an application which makes easy to stagger tax payments in a span of a month.

    He said with the innovation, artisans in the informal sector will be connected with the formal sector through credible data base generated, a situation he averred would be handy for government policy makers.

    Speaking further on the importance of the electronic form of tax collection, the Director of Information Communication Technology (ICT) of the company, Mr. Ademola Fazaz hinted that when fully operational, the innovation would bring convenience in the approach taxes are paid.

    According to him: “The technology works on mobile devices through application and the first thing it does is to capture the data of the tax payer in the informal sector. They will subsequently pay their tax at convenience bit by bit based on the agreed amount. When you finish payment, you will be issued with a tax clearance certificate”.

    Mr Obadofin Emmanuel Kayode collaborated the chairman, saying Governor Yahaya Bello is a technological-friendly leader who is ready to accept any idea that will boost the revenue drive of the state.

    While giving catalogue of infrastructural achievements of the Governor, Mr Kayode noted that the state needed to explore possible means of tax collection to complement the ever dwindling allocation from the federation account.

  • Kogi: JAC suspends over four months strike

    Kogi: JAC suspends over four months strike

    The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Trade Unions of Tertiary Institutions owned by the Kogi State, Wednesday announced the immediate suspension of the over four months that has paralyzed activities in the schools.

    The strike, said the JAC will be suspended for an initial one month, to allow for the resolution of other outstanding issues with the state government.

    Addressing a joint press conference yesterday at the premises of ministry of education, Lokoja, Comrade Moses Balogun of the JAC, called on the staff of the various institutions to resume work from Thursday.

    At the meeting were the state Commissioner of education, Dr Tolorunleke Sunday, representatives from the Governing Councils of Tertiary Institutions Owned by Kogi State and leadership of the JAC in the state.

    Tertiary institutions in the state, including the Kogi State University Ayingba, the Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja have remained under lock since on 31st of January, when the JAC declared its industrial action over some issues with the Governor Yahaya Bello-led administration.

    The JAC’s Balogun who addressed pressmen at the end of their session, commended Governor Yahaya Bello for some of the steps so far taken, including the constitution of credible governing councils, which according him led to the suspension of the strike.

    He added: “We have agreed to suspend the strike for four weeks, to allow issues that have not been fully addressed to be addressed. We have consideration because 80 per cent cleared staff have been paid, and we agreed that the rest will be paid in the next two weeks.

    “We have agreed because government has put in place governing councils for the institutions, except for one. We agreed because of the regard we have for the commissioner of education, who has worked tirelessly over the past months to see to the resolution of the issues.

    “We appreciate Governor Yahaya Bello for constituting credible governing councils, who are not politically appointed, but from universities from across the country, and are very reputable, and pray that God almighty will continue to sustain him.”

    They appealed to government to not allow for a drawback on the agreement so far reached, and that, no staff of any of the state-owned tertiary institutions be victimized as a result of the strike.

  • 188,580 Kogi West electorates signs to recall Melaye

    188,580 Kogi West electorates signs to recall Melaye

    Indication appeared Monday that 188, 580 electorates from Kogi West have signed the recall register form to oust Senator Dino Melaye from the National Assembly.

    The returning officer for the recall of the lawmaker, Adamu Yusuf claimed that out of 360,098 of the total registered voters from the seven local government areas that make up the senatorial district: Yagba, Mopa-Muro, Kabba Bunu, Yagba East, Koton Karfe, Lokoja and Ijumu, 188, 588, signed the recall register constituting 52.3 per cent of the voters in the district.

    He stated that the breakdown of the recall exercise for Yagba East – out of 35,331 registered voters, 18, 374 (52 per cent) signed the recall register.

    Others are Mopa-Moro, 18,356 voters (9,186 signed – 50.04 per cent), Kabba/Bunu 60,522, voters (28,277 – 46.7 per cent) and Yagba West, 35, 966 registered voters, 20,029 signed – 55.7 per cent.

    Lokoja LG, 63, 736 (54.8 per cent) out of 116, 296 registered voters.

    For Koton-Karfe 24,703 (52.77 per cent) and Ijumu, 46,819 registered voters, 24, 238 representing 51.8 per cent.

    He added: “Going by the above figures, it is important to let Nigerians know that we have met the constitutional requirements of 51.1 per cent. Senator Melaye has failed to represent Kogi West so we are calling him back home”.

    All the seven council administrators from Kogi West were present at the event which held at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat, Lokoja.

  • Gunmen abduct ex-Kogi director

    Gunmen abduct ex-Kogi director

    A former Director of Press in the Kogi State House of Assembly, David Ehimony, had been kidnapped by gunmen.

    A family member told journalists on Thursday that the ex-director was abducted on Ayere-Ikare road on Wednesday.

    The victim was going to Ikare, Ondo State, to pick his children from school when he was abducted.

    “He was taken away in his car along with his junior brother who drove the car,” the family member said.

    Ehimoni is the current Deputy Secretary of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON).

    NAN

  • Melaye not fit to be Senator – Bello

    Melaye not fit to be Senator – Bello

    Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello on Wednesday urged the Senate to ensure the red chamber is made up of men of high calibre, integrity and good character to retain its high esteem.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The governor claimed that Senator Dino Melaye, who is representing Kogi West, was not fit for the Senate.

    He said: “You see, I would rather admonished Nigerians that when a child lacks proper parental care and home upbringing, he constitutes social menace in the society. And if the society does not take steps to check and correct such a child, they can turn into criminal and take into criminality then it will be left to government to check such criminality. And if government does not, such a child can cause a serious embarrassment. That is what is happening in Kogi State.

    “Then talking of the Senate, let me rather admonish the Senate that that is an institution that is held in a very high esteem and I think the Senate and indeed the National Assembly is made up of men of high calibre and of high integrity and good character.

    “I think it is necessary that that wonderful House should as matter of urgency and as a matter of fact check any social deviant that exists within them before they could be adjudged birds of the same feather. I know they are not of the same feather.”

    But he said there is no crisis in the state, stressing that Kogi State is living in peace.

    “Projects are ongoing, we are all happy over there, salaries are being paid as at when due and we are making serious progress.” he said

    On the claim by Melaye that the governor has earmarked N1 billion to remove him, Bello said: “That is figment of his imagination. The good people of Okunland and indeed West Senatorial District have learnt from a bitter mistake of not taming and curbing that social deviant and they have decided to take lawful steps in recalling him.”

    He said he was in the Villa to brief the Acting President on the latest development in his state.

    “I came to brief the Acting President of development in my state. We all know Mr. President is taking a rest and the men at the helm of affairs needs to be periodically briefed. He is pleased with the development in Kogi State,” he stated.

  • Updated: Two feared dead in pro-Melaye protest in Kogi

    Updated: Two feared dead in pro-Melaye protest in Kogi

    No fewer than two persons were Monday confirmed dead during a pro-Senator Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi West) protest in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

    All appeared to be relatively peaceful at the protest rally as the lawmaker, who was mounted atop a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), from across the entrance in the Kogi State Polytechnic, on the Lokoja-Abuja highway, rounded up on his message, when commotion came from nowhere.

    Clashes would later erupt between the supporters of Senator Melaye and others believed to be pro-Governor Yahaha Bello, as some unknown gunmen alighted from a Sienna SUV, and moved to disrupt the protest.

    But while Senator Melaye escaped gunshots by the whiskers, others including some that stood close to where the Sienna SUV stood were caught by the flying bullets.

    Senator Melaye was in Lokoja to address his supporters on his planned recall which he alleged was being bankrolled by Governor Bello.

    Melaye arrived the gate of the state polytechnic; in Felele at around 11:00am to address the waiting youths when midway into the address, sporadic gunshots were heard from the NATACO end of the Okene/Abuja road.

    The exchange of gunfire lasted for an hour before a combined team of security personnel, including the Army and SSS operatives arrived the scene.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Air Commodore Jerry OModara (rtd.) and the state Commissioner of Police Wilson Inalegwu were both sighted on the scene.

    Melaye, however, said that three people were killed and several others injured by those he described as agents of the government.

  • INEC double registration: Group absolves Bello  

    INEC double registration: Group absolves Bello  

    The Coalition of INEC Accredited Observer Groups in Kogi State have come in stout defence of Governor Yahaya Bello, over his alleged INEC double registration.

    The group during a press  conference that addressed at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Tuesday in Lokoja, described the allegation as false.

    In a statement signed by the Team Leader, Romania Azubuike and the Secretary, they said that the allegation was borne out of envy.

    “Government House is never a registration centre, therefore the INEC officials that claimed to have taken the registration material/machines to Kogi State Government House should come out openly and explain to Nigerians and Kogi people why the commission moved the registration centre to Government House against the official and publicly known venue for registration which is at the LAG headquarters of INEC”, they said.

     

  • Gov Bello: INEC is probing the following issues

    Gov Bello: INEC is probing the following issues

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to investigate the alleged double registration of th Governor of Kogi State, Gov Yahaya Bello.first in Abuja in January 2011 and reregistered on May 23, 2017 at the Government House, Lokoja.

    Recall that the commission claimed that Gov Bello first registered in Abuja in January 2011 and re-registered on May 23, 2017 at the Government House, Lokoja.

    However, the governor on Friday said his ghost might have been registered by INEC because he was away in Dubai when he was said to have registered again.

    As INEC tried to ascertain the true position of the governor’s registration status, a fresh problem has cropped up.

    Thus, INEC is probing the following issues:

    • Was there any CVR on May 23 at the Government House, Lokoja?
    • Who was registered?
    • How did the INEC team come about the photograph of the registration showing the governor?
    • How was the name of the registrant (Yahaya Bello) de-listed from the INEC register? and
    • Who were those behind the de-listing?

    Certainly, it is now our words against the governor. This is a mystery we need to unravel. The governor said our team might have registered his ghost.  The onus is on us to present the evidence, including our register – INEC

    “But we got information before we issued an official statement on the governor’s double registration.

    “INEC is suspecting foul play by some of its staff. We hope they are not dragging the commission into the dirty politics of Kogi State again.

    “If we are able to establish any shady deals, those concerned will be sanctioned. They may be dismissed from service.”

    INEC, speaking through its National Commissioner and chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Prince Solomon Soyebi,   first raised the alarm over the governor’s alleged double registration.

    He said: “It has come to the attention of INEC that Governor Bello of Kogi State registered as a voter for the second time on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 in Government House, Lokoja, the state capital.

    “His first registration was on January 30, 2011, in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

    ”The governor’s double registration and doing so outside lNEC’s designated centres are both illegal.

    ”We wish to make it clear that no INEC staff was authorised by the commission to re-register him or any citizen or to do so outside our designated CVR centres.”

    Speaking after praying at the Presidential Villa mosque on Friday, Bello said: “I travelled on 19th to Dubai for a brief break and I saw the press release and I was taken aback, that I did double registration on 23rd.

    “Probably it is my ghost that has done the double registration.”

  • Why INEC delisted Gov Bello from voters’ register

    Why INEC delisted Gov Bello from voters’ register

    Agency probes alleged double registration 

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello’s name has disappeared from the voters’ register after being accused of double registration.

    Bello’s name has been delisted, but the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has a photograph showing how he was registered at the Government House, Lokoja.

    The commission has raised an investigative committee to unravel the “mystery surrounding the alleged double registration by the governor”.

    Heads may roll in the Kogi State office of INEC for the alleged “untoward activities of some of our staff”.

    INEC alleged that the governor first registered in Abuja in January 2011 and reregistered on May 23, 2017 at the Government House, Lokoja.

    But the governor on Friday said his ghost might have been registered by INEC because he was away in Dubai when he was said to have registered again.

    As INEC tried to ascertain the true position of the governor’s registration status, a fresh problem has cropped up.

    It was learned that INEC established that some of its staff were deployed in the Government House for Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) of the governor. The state has denied that it took place.

    It was gathered that although the commission had the photograph of the governor’s registration, it could not trace any Yahaya Bello on its CVR list for May 23, 2017.

    There was suspicion last night that the list of voters registered on May 23 might have been tampered with by some INEC employees.

    A source, who spoke in confidence said: “The INEC management has raised an investigative team to look at the controversy over the allegation of double registration by the governor.

    “It is, however, curious that the investigation has assumed a new dimension. The commission has the photograph of the registration of the governor but his name is not on the list of the CVR for that day in question. The name has disappeared.”

    INEC is probing the following issues:

    • Was there any CVR on May 23 at the Government House, Lokoja?
    • Who was registered?
    • How did the INEC team come about the photograph of the registration showing the governor?
    • How was the name of the registrant (Yahaya Bello) de-listed from the INEC register? and
    • Who were those behind the de-listing?

    “Certainly, it is now our words against the governor. This is a mystery we need to unravel. The governor said our team might have registered his ghost.  The onus is on us to present the evidence, including our register,” the source said, adding:

    “But we got information before we issued an official statement on the governor’s double registration.

    “INEC is suspecting foul play by some of its staff. We hope they are not dragging the commission into the dirty politics of Kogi State again.

    “If we are able to establish any shady deals, those concerned will be sanctioned. They may be dismissed from service.”

    INEC, speaking through its National Commissioner and chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Prince Solomon Soyebi,   first raised the alarm over the governor’s alleged double registration.

    He said: “It has come to the attention of INEC that Governor Bello of Kogi State registered as a voter for the second time on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 in Government House, Lokoja, the state capital.

    ”His first registration was on January 30, 2011 in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

    ”The governor’s double registration and doing so outside lNEC’s designated centres are both illegal.

    ”We wish to make it clear that no INEC staff was authorised by the commission to re-register him or any citizen or to do so outside our designated CVR centres.”

    Speaking after praying at the Presidential Villa mosque on Friday, Bello said: “I travelled on 19th to Dubai for a brief break and I saw the press release and I was taken aback, that I did double registration on 23rd.

    “Probably it is my ghost that has done the double registration.”

  • Tennis training programme to be named after Wada Idris

    Tennis training programme to be named after Wada Idris

    .As former Governor  secures Nduka Odizor tennis project for Lokoja

    Former governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, has secured the endorsement of Nigeria’s  tennis player, Nduka  Odizor to set up a tennis training centre in Lokoja, the state capital.

    The Lokoja training programme which will be named after the former governor is the third of the six that the former tennis prodigy promised to set upp before the end of 2018. He had earlier visited Akure (Ondo state) and Asaba (Delta State).

    Speaking during a reception for the Nigeria Sports Development Fund Inc (NSDFI) in his Abuja home, on Tuesday morning, the former governor said, “I want to give hope and a guaranteed future to children in our state. Partnering with you is one great opportunity and I had to tap into it.”

    “I have been monitoring your vision for years. I am so happy that your team are doing this outside the government. Every Nigerian needs to rise and support this team. By the grace of God I will personally support your team with all that is required.

    In his remarks, Mr Odizor said, we shall be delivering this training in partnership with my foundation, the Duke Odizor International Tennis (Do it) alongside my other partners and former international brands.

    Odizor reminded his host that the first tennis club in Nigeria was actually in Lokoja. We are recreating history and I am happy I am a part of this resurgent effort.

    We shall like we did in Akure and Asaba make available some training equipment in Lokoja like balls, rackets, nets, etc

    In his presentation, the Executive Director (Technical), Chief Mary Onyali thanked the former governor for identifying with us in the quest to develop new set of kids who will be bigger and better than the Duke.

    The former African record holder said, “after the first nine months of training, the children will be put into the 10 clubs where they will start to play in our league. We have worked out a comprehensive modality that will assure them a grand future.”

    This is a community project. The tennis sector is only named after the former governor for initiating this link but members of the community will drive, own, deliver and grow the project. 

    Captain Idris Wada however signed the celebrity endorsement card and signed into the Team Odizor brand.

    Three zones are to make up the six centres Mr Odizor promised to start in the country, they are the north east, north west and the south east. As soon as states in those regions show interest, we shall commence full implementation plans under the Do It Foundation structure,” Onyali said.

    Nduka Odizor presented the governor with a tennis racket in appreciation for the initiative to secure for his state one of the six centres.