The Nation Newspaper

Tag: KOGI

  • NGO to complement FG effort on peace building

    The Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace and Security in West Africa and the Sahel (WGWYPS-WAS) is set to commence its peace building campaign in some states in Nigeria.

    Mrs Bridget Affiah, Co-state representative of WGWYPS-WAS NG in Delta, said this on Tuesday during the official inauguration of the #Workingroupng4peace Campaign in Warri.

    Affiah said the campaign would be conducted in 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that the objective of the NGO was to propagate peace, particularly in  violence prone states.

    She listed the states to include; Abia, Benue, Borno, Delta, Enugu, Gombe and Kaduna,.

    She said the others were Kano, Lagos, Kogi, Osun, Rivers, Plateau, Yobe and the FCT.

    According to her, the campaign was to further ensure increased awareness on the need to reduce violence especially against the vulnerable populations like the youth, women, children and the physically challenged persons.

    “WGWYPS-WAS was set up in April 2009 with the support of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) across 15 West African Countries and the Sahel.

    “WGWYPS-WAS NG with the hash tag, #workingroupng4peace was inaugurated in  December 2016 in Nigeria.

    “It is an all inclusive platform for experience sharing, analysis and participatory evaluation within the West African Region and the Sahel.

    ” It is also for the promotion and implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and related ones on women and youth participation, conflict prevention mechanism and peace building,”she said.

    Affiah said the group recognised states where violence, hate speeches, conflicts and insecurity were prevalent, adding that there could be no meaningful development in a conflict situation.

    “We will try and see what we can do to achieve sustainable peace for sustainable development.

    ” We are going to be working with the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in Delta,” she said.

    Read Also:Breaking: INEC declares Benue guber election inconclusive

    Another Co-state representative, Mrs Rachael Ruppee, said other objectives of the NGO was to strengthen the capacity of members and bring skills together to achieve good result.

    “The aim is also to enhance information and knowledge sharing in peace, conflict and violence resolutions,” she said.

    One of the guests, Dr Agboro Andrew, said that peace and security was the collective responsibility of everyone.

    “There are a lot of issues right now in Delta, post political issues, cult issues and without peace the communities will be under developed.

    “A lot of companies are leaving the state as a result of issues related to conflict,” he said.

  • Lagos, Kwara, Kogi, others get new police chiefs    

    NEW Commissioners are to take charge of Police Commands in Lagos, Kwara, Kogi and some other states.

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the appointment and deployment of 37 Command Commissioners of Police in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    They are to resume in their new commands immediately, the PSC said. Also deployed were Assistant Inspector-General (AIGs).

    Their deployment followed the recommendation of Acting Inspector-General (IG) of Police Mohammed Adamu to the Commission.

    The PSC, which approved the posting of new Commissioners of Police to Lagos, Kwara, Kogi and other states, revalidated the appointment of others, including the FCT and Borno.

    With the approval, CP Mu’azu Zubairu will take over from Edgal Imohimi in Lagos State as CP.

    The details of the approval and deployment are contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the Commission’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani.

    The commissioners and their new ciommand posts are: Buba Sanusi (Katsina); Mohammed Wakili (Kano); Rabiu Ladodo (Jigawa); Ahmed Iliyasu (Ogun); Mu’azu Zubairu (Lagos); Ibrahim Sabo (Niger); Alkassam Sanusi (Taraba); Garba M. Mukaddas (Adamawa); Omololu Bishi (Benue); Bola Longe (Nassarawa) and Isaac Akinmoyede (Plateau).

    Others are: Odumosu Hakeem (Edo); Olushola David (Bayelsa); Adeleke Yinka (Delta); Austin Iwero Agbonlahor (Cross River); Bashir Makama (Akwa Ibom); Awosola Awotunde (Ebonyi); Belel Usman (Rivers); Bello Makwashi (Gombe); Abdulrahman Ahmed (Kaduna); Bala Ciroma (FCT); Egbetokun Kayode (Kwara State); Hakeem Busari (Kogi); Asuquo Amba (Ekiti); Galadanchi Dasuki (Imo); Suleiman Balarabe (Enugu) and Dandaura Mustapha (Anambra).

    There are also: Etim Ene Okon (Abia); Ibrahim Kaoje (Sokoto); Celestine Okoye (Zamfara); Garba Danjuma (Kebbi); Abiodun Ige (Osun); Undie Adie (Ondo); Olukolu Shina (Oyo); Ali Janga (Bauchi); Damian Chukwu (Borno) and Sumonu Abdulmalik (Yobe).

    PSC Chairman Alhaji Musiliu Smith urged them to quickly settle at their new posts and ensure that the forthcoming general elections are peaceful, free, fair and transparent.

    The one-time IG said the country could not afford any disruption of the elections anywhere as the world was looking up to Nigeria for a proof that its democracy has continued to mature.

    The Commission said its approval had been conveyed to the acting IG for implementation.

    The AIG’s deployment came after they were decorated in Abuja by the IG.

    A statement by ACP Mba showed the identities of the deployed AIGs and their formations.

    The former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) boss Ibrahim Lamorde will head the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB); Wilson A. Inalegwu (Zone 9, Umuahia); Abdul Dahiru Danwawo (Maritime); Adeyemi O. Ogunjemilusi (Directing Staff NIPPS); Maurice A. Yusuf (Research & Planning); Murtala Mani (Force CID) and Tijani Baba (Zone 7, Abuja).

    Others are: Dibal Yakadi (Zone 5, Benin);

    Haruna Huzi Mshelia (Zone 3, Yola); Mohammed Mustapha  (Zone 10, Sokoto); Musa A. Kimo (Zone 6, Calabar); Adeleye Olusola Oyebade (Zone 11, Osogbo); Basen Dapiya Gwana (Zone 12, Bauchi); Karma Hosea Hassan (Staff College, Jos); Folawiyo David (Training & Development); Zana Ibrahim (Commandant, POLAC, Kano); Chris Ezike  (Zone 4, Makurdi) and Moses A. Jitiboh (Investment, FHQ).

    The IG charged the officers to diligently and professionally discharge their duties according to the laws, rules and regulations of the country.

  • Kogi approves immediate recruitment of doctors

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi has granted express approval to the Governing Boards of Kogi State Hospitals Management Board (KSHMB) and Kogi Specialist Hospital, Lokoja (KSSH) to employ more doctors.

    Dr Haruna Saka, Kogi Commissioner for Health, disclosed this on Friday in Lokoja while reacting to the exit of some doctors from the state’s civil service over the past three years.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) on Monday called on the governor to reverse the ‘current internal drift’ of doctors and other healthcare workers in the state.

    The Kogi NMA Chairman, Dr Kabiru Zubair, said over 88 medical doctors had left the state public service under the current administration.

    The commissioner however said that the doctors left because they secured Post Graduate training in Federal Government’s teaching hospitals, adding that the bulk of them were those recently employed by the state.

    “Majority of them had passed the primary examination of the National Postgraduate Medical College and West African Postgraduate College.

    “So ab initio, we never expected them to stay for long before commencing their training.

    “It has been a recurring trend to see doctors leave state public service once federal government opportunity presents itself such as lift of ban on employment of resident doctors.

    “Doctors who have intention of undergoing postgraduate training usually migrate towards federal service because till date, only very few states have the capacity to train resident doctors.

    “To make working condition conducive for doctors in Kogi, the government has taken further measures by giving approval to the state specialist hospital to commence internship training for doctors.

    “The specialist hospital will also acquire capacity to train Resident Doctors with immediate effect,” Saka said.

    The commissioner added that the governor had also approved welfare packages for new doctors, including interest free loan facilities to help them acclimatise when they come in.

    He further said that the governor had approved an arrangement for doctors in federal institutions in Kogi to also provide services in state health facilities that were understaffed.

  • Kogi: Uproar over killing of septuagenarian by suspected herdsmen

    The killing of a seventy-year-old woman and mother of five, by suspected herdsmen, in Jege, Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State, on Wednesday, has sparked uproar within the community and its environs.

    The people of the area said that the killing of the woman, Mrs Eunice Omoshola Komolafe, was the latest in a series of such dastardly acts against the people of the community by the suspected herdsmen.

    The deceased according to a community leader and National President, Jege Development Association, Engr. (Dr) Folorunsho Foline Olayemi, was murdered while on her way to the farm.

    The people of the community which shares boundary with Ekiti State, and serves as a junction town, are accusing both the state and federal government of turning blind eye to the issue of security, particularly in Jege.

    They alleged that while areas Kabba have police and soldiers in places, they on the other hand look towards neighbouring Ekiti, when in distress.

    They called on the Kogi State Commissioner for Police and State Commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to post personnel to man the two buildings constructed by the community for security, and government to consider military presence in the Yagba South East axis.

    According to Olayemi: “This is not the first time such atrocity is being perpetrated. She (Mrs Komolafe) went to the farm to give food to people on her farm, and when they didn’t see her, they traced her and found her lifeless; butchered, along the way to the farm.

    “There is a big (commercial) farm in the community, where these headsmen kidnapped some people and collected ransom before they were released. This was around October, last year. In November, I had a report of one of them (headsman), who robbed some Tiv people on the farm… they took them to the police, but within a Short time, the police released them.

    “The other time, they entered into that farm, uprooted cassava for their cows to eat, and also destroyed the plantation, and now, the one of yesterday.

    “There have been a series of farms’ destruction, and even the people cannot go to the farm again, because of the fear for their lives.

    “The community tried to see to how we can improve the security; we built a place for the police and the civil defense, but for them to even send their personnel, is a problem. There is nobody to man these places.

    “Even though the state and federal government are trying within the state, they have not extended the security presence to our axis.”

    All efforts made to speak with the police proved abortive, as at the time of filing this report, as the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, William Aya, could not be reached.

  • 88 doctors quit civil service – NMA

    The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has called on Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi to reverse the ‘current internal drift’ of doctors and other healthcare workers in the state.

    The association made the appeal in a statement issued to newsmen in Lokoja on Monday by the state NMA Chairman, Dr Kabiru Zubair.

    This followed the exit of 88 medical doctors from the state public service.

    The association however felicitated with the governor on the celebration of his third year anniversary in office and for making healthcare one of his five thematic areas.

    According to Zubair, “Under this administration, a total of 88 doctors have left the Kogi Civil Service; previously, 79 doctors left plus another nine who had succeeded in securing new employment recently.

    “Doctors and other healthcare workers remained the drivers of healthcare delivery anywhere in the world.
    “Steps such as the payment of outstanding salary arrears of doctors and other healthcare workers, implementation of the corrected CONMESS, promotion and annual step increment, among others, are needed to reverse this unfortunate trend.

    Read Also: LASUTH resident doctors begin warning strike Jan 28

    “As you commence your fourth year in office, the NMA as the custodian of the health of the people is ready and willing to partner with state government to improve the health sector in Kogi.’’

    Zubair said that the association equally felicitated with the Deputy Governor, the SSG, the Chief of Staff, Commissioner for Health, Special Adviser on Health Matters and the entire cabinet members for sustaining the progress made thus far.

    NAN recalls that Bello was sworn-in as the fourth civilian governor of Kogi by the satte Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah, on Jan. 27, 2016.

    Zubair, however, commended the state government and Bello for some positive steps the government had taken in repositioning the health sector in the state.

  • EFCC, ICPC should investigate 2016 audit report – CSO

    A civic organization, Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) on Wednesday called on the anti-graft agencies the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission to investigate the 2016 Audit Report.

    The organization stated that N2.97 billion meant for 30 critical projects in the country was unaccounted for as stated in the report.

    Executive Director of PLSI, Olusegun Elemo, stated these at the launch of its Independent Findings of priority projects captured in the 2016 audit report.

    Elomo stated that the organization monitored 19 priority projects in 12 states captured under the report this year and found out that most of them have been abandoned.

    According to him, ten out of the projects have been abandoned even when monies have been paid for them.

    He noted that only one out of the 19 projects had been completed when PLSI visited the states this month.

    The monitored states by PLSI include; Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Adamawa, Imo and Enugu.

    Some of the abandoned projects include; construction of mini-water scheme phase two, contract for the construction of small earth dam, rehabilitation of two-township water supply schemes, improvement of Olode water supply scheme under the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority.

    Others are construction of Weru bridge fencing of Okene water works among others which was supposed to be implemented by the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests six suspected internet fraudsters

    Projects abandoned under the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing include the rehabilitation of Ikorodu road with about N112.8million unaccounted for, also the rehabilitation of 24km Akungba-Ikare-Omuo-Kabba road among others.

    Elomo said: “We visited 12 states over the last six months and monitored 19 out of the 30 priority projects highlighted in this report. While one of the projects had been completed, two were not executed, 10 abandoned, three poorly implemented, another two currently ongoing and one now provided for in the 2018 Appropriation Act.

    “The major issue for us is how procurement laws and financial regulations are flagrantly disregarded at the risk of public funds and the negative effect on Nigerians, many of which are in rural areas in terms of access to clean portable water, access roads, quality health facilities.

    “A total of N2.97 billion is said to be unaccounted for by different contractors on these 30 projects and we are calling on the anti-corruption agencies to quickly investigate these cases in order to ensure deserved value for money is achieved.”

    Also, Project Director, TrustAfrica, Chinedu Nwagu, called on the National Assembly to carry out a review of the 2016 report.

    He said it is only when a review of the report is done and recommendations forwarded to the Executive arm of government that the anomalies found in the report could be corrected.

    Nwagu said: “There is need for the National Assembly to do the needful by ensuring extensive review of the 2016 audit report of the federation. It is only when this is done and recommendations forwarded to the Executive Arm that these anomalies can be corrected.

    “Parliament should equally make effort in sending the new Audit Service Commission Bill 2018 to the president for assent. The new law will go a long way in preventing such illegality from occurring again,” he said.

  • APC campaigns in Kwara, Kogi today

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) will be in Kwara and Kogi states today to seek support for President Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of the ruling party.

    The train will move to Delta and Edo tomorrow and Kaduna on Friday.

    Niger and Plateau states will host the council on Saturday, while Borno and Yobe will take their turn next Monday.

    Read also: PEF introduces censor to monitor fuel consumption

    The PCC will hit Sokoto and Kebbi states on Tuesday, Enugu and Anambra on January 24, Oyo and Osun on January 26 and Kano on January 27.

    The council will move to Imo and Abia, Cross River and Ebonyi and Ogun states on January 29, 30 and 31.

     

  • 269,000 PVCs yet to be collected in Kogi, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) said on Thursday that 269,000 out of 1.6 million registered voters in Kogi State have yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    Mr Ahmed Biambo, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity in the state INEC office, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria in Lokoja.

    Biambo said that only Nigerians with permanent voter cards would be allowed to vote in the forthcoming general elections.

    He urged those that registered before and during the continuous voter registration exercise yet to collect their PVCs to go to their local government headquarters to collect them.

    Read Also: Bribe seeking cop shoots two drivers in Kogi

    He said that the INEC had also embarked on aggressive media campaign to educate the people on the need to collect their cards, noting that this would enable them to carry out their civic duties.

    “The INEC office in Kogi State has been holding meetings with security agencies in the state to ensure violence-free elections.

    “The commission is read to conduct free, fair and credible elections that will be acceptable by all contestants,” he said.

  • Kogi, labour disagree over unpaid salary

    The Kogi State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has alleged that workers in the state were still owed variants of five months, 10 months, 15-24 months by the state government.

    The state chairman of NLC, Comrade Enuh Edoka, said this on Tuesday in the Government House Lokoja, while presenting the workers’ demands during a protest for the actualization of N30,000 minimum wage.

    He said the workers passed through dire situations owing to irregular payment of salaries.

    According to him: “As we are protesting now, workers are being owed five months, 10 months while some suffered 15-24 months without receiving salaries.”

    He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the N30,000 new minimum wage without delay.

    He appealed to the president not to be distracted by some hiding under the guise of “Nigeria Governors Forum” to thwart the effort of the Federal Government.

    “We hereby reiterate our directive to Nigerian workers to vote out any politician or political party that refuse to pay the new national minimum wage of N30,000.

    “We shall continue to consolidate our efforts to strengthen already existing platforms and structures to give teeth to our firm resolve to remove from power anti-labour governors and political leaders in the forthcoming 2019 general election.

    “We urge government to desist from using the threat of mass sack or the barbaric policy of “no work… no pay” to break our resolve, as this would only calcify our position,” he added.

    Read Also: FG, Labour reach truce on minimum wage

    The Chief of Staff to the Kogi State Governor, Chief Edward Onoja, asserted that with workers at the local government level, salary payment has not gone below 50 percent.

    He said that the state government will collaborate with organised labour, to ensure that the minimum wage demand is given the maximum attention it deserves.

    The President, National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Kogi chapter, Comrade Tade Adeyemi, disagreed with some of the claims by government, saying workers have been receiving 25- 30 percent salaries in the last six months.

    “I want to on behalf of the entire local government workers, register our displeasure that despite our agreement, that no LGA should receive less than 54 percent, I want to point it to you that, majority of LGA workers are receiving 25-30 perceived salaries”, he said.

  • Kogi: Executive, Judiciary at loggerheads

    Correspondent JAMES AZANIA examines the frosty relationship between the executive and the judiciary in Kogi State, which has culminated into the plot to remove Chief Justice Nasir Ajanah from office.

    Crisis is brewing between Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and the Chief Judge, Nasir Ajanah.

    The feud culminated in last week’s court injunction restraining the two arms of government from interfering in the activities of the judiciary, particularly Justice Ajanah and  the Chief Registrar, Yahaya Adamu.

    The Koton-Karfe Division of the High Court of Kogi State restrained the Yahaya Bello-led administration and the House of Assembly from taking steps that will interfere in judicial duties.

    The order, which was obtained by the Chief Judge and the Chief Registrar came in the wake of the purported plan by the Assembly to investigate the judiciary, following a petition to  the Secretary to the Government (SSG), Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade, against the judiciary.

    Ayoade had requested from the chief judge the payroll of judicial workers as part of the recent ‘table payment’ by the government, in an ef effort to ascertain the workforce and prevent leakages.

    Ayoade is standing trial in High Court 1, presided over by the CJ, on charges proffered against her by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

    The ex-parte application filed by Yemi Muhammed, counsel to the applicants, prayed the court to restrain the defendants from threatening or interfering in the judicial activities, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    The defendants include the House of Assembly; the Speaker Mathew Kolawole; the Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee, Hassan Abdullahi; the governor and the Attorney-General.

    The ad hoc committee was set up to look into an alleged “impasse between the judiciary and the executive arms of government with a view to providing guidance and way forward.”

    It was gathered however, that the House of Assembly allegedly harboured a plan to ask the CJ to step aside while their work is ongoing.

    In his ruling, Justice Alaba Ajileye said: “I grant the application as prayed.”

    Governor Bello and CJ Ajanah, are from Ebira (Kogi Central). To observers, the right was anticipated.

    The reluctance of the CJ to pander to entreaties that Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) be remanded at the Federal Prisons Koton-Karfe, at the height of his arraignment in Lokoja, by the police, on alleged gun running and sundry other charges may have been the genesis. But, others insist that the crack predate the Melaye episode.

    The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Kingsley Fanwo, however debunked insinuations of rift between his principal and the CJ.

    Fanwo said: “There is no face off between the Governor and the Chief Judge of the state.

    The disagreement between the ‘Pay Parade Committee’ and the judiciary should not be misconstrued as a personality clash between the governor and the judiciary.

    “Governor Yahaya Bello has a deep respect for the judiciary and will continue to hold that sacred arm of government in high esteem.

    The Kogi State House of Assembly has invited the executive and the judiciary to dialogue on the impasse with judiciary staff. We have presented our case and we hope they too will take advantage of the peace window to address the issue. The pay parade system has helped us discover more ghost workers. Even the parliamentary staff presented themselves for the process and their data have been captured and they have been paid.

    “Judiciary staff should tow the same line to save the state from people who are receiving salaries without any contributions to the state.”

    Fanwo added: “The SSG did not make recommendation for the removal of the CJ.”

    Some of the reasons for the animosity may be subject of conjecture. But, the declaration of indefinite strike by the state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), against the backdrop of alleged accumulated salary arrears of about six months or the purported non release of judiciary payroll, on request by the office of the SSG may have been worsened the relationship.

    The state has been in the news in recent times over agitations by judiciary workers for payment of salaries and other emoluments by the government.

    Events took a different dimension when the government proposed a pay parade for civil servants in the state, which JUSUN declared unacceptable.

    The union insisted on financial autonomy of the judiciary, with the leadership of the union battling the state government on compliance with a 2014 Federal High Court judgment that mandated each state to respect Section 121(3) of the Constitution, stipulating financial independence of state judiciaries.

    According to Comrade Emmanuel Waniko, the chairman of JUSUN: “Members can no longer continue to bear the hardship as their families, particularly children, were being driven from schools for non payment of school fees, even as they are also contending with the problems of feeding and accommodation.”

    The union said it was wrong of the SSG to have petitioned the house of assembly over the matter relating to the non-payment of salary.

    According to Waniko, the SSG ought to have known that her action violated the principle of separation of power among arms of government.

    He described the petition by the SSG against the CJ (Nasir Ajanah) and the Chief Registrar (Yahaya Adamu), as diversionary.

    The chairman explained that the  crisis was as a result of the non-payment of the workers’ salary for five months due to the failure of the executive to release the subvention of the judiciary.

    The union reiterated its rejection of the table payment arrangement.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the leadership of JUSUN in Kogi State has been drawn to the petition by the Secretary to the Governmentvt of Kogi State, Mrs Folashade Ayoade, to the Kogi State House of Assembly upon which the later set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the Chief Judge and our Chief Registrar.

    “It must first be mentioned that this is an attempt by the executive arm of the state to draw the legislative arm into an industrial matter with a suspected ulterior motive to denigrate the temple of justice.

    “Secondly, we expect the SSG to be knowledgeable enough to know the principle of separation of powers between the three arms of government.  On the matter of pay parade or table payment, we wish to reiterate again that JUSUN would not fold its arms when an obvious attempt is being made to usurp the powers of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) through any disguise.

    “It is interesting to note that this development is coming up when parliamentary workers all over the country, including those of Kogi State, are celebrating President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent accent to the financial autonomy of the judiciary and the legislature.