The Kwara State government has approved the promotion of 1,323 civil servants.
Chairman of Civil Service Commission Salman Adelodun said over 1,400 workers applied for the promotion.
“Of the over 1,400 workers between Grade Levels 7 to 17, who applied for the promotion, 1,400 sat for the examination, which started in June.”
Adelodun added that the government will commit more N5.5 million monthly for salaries, following the promotion.
Tag: kwara
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Kwara government promotes 1,323 workers
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Kwara to renovate 420 schools
The Kwara State government is to renovate 420 classrooms across the 16 councils, it was learnt yesterday.
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed stated this while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the monthly stakeholders meeting held at the Banquet Hall in Ilorin, the state capital.
According to him, the schools have been selected and will be given a face-lift to make the environment conducive for teaching and learning.
Ahmed promised to complete all ongoing projects as part of his efforts at providing quality and necessary infrastructure in the state.
He assured the party stalwarts that the government would continue to pay contractors through the Kwara Infrastructure Fund (IF-K) with a view to completing the projects on schedule.
State Chairman of the APC, Ishola Balogun-Fulani, lauded Ahmed for sustaining the monthly interactive session, which, according to him, had kept Kwarans informed of development in the state and Nigeria as a whole.
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Kwara gets N5b loan refund
The Kwara State government yesterday said it received N5 billion from the Federal Government as its share of London and Paris Clubs’ loan refunds.
Following the refund, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved release of N892,482,648.38 to state-owned tertiary institutions to clear backlog of salary owed workers.
Commissioner for Finance Demola Banu, who spoke in a statement in Ilorin, said the money would be disbursed in monthly instalments, stressing that the money is besides monthly subvention received by the colleges.
Beneficiary institutions include Kwara State colleges of Education in Oro, Ilorin and Lafiagi; College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies (CAILS), Ilorin, and Kwara State School of Nursing, Oke-Ode.
The commissioner hoped with the release, the institutions would clear arrears and ensure regular payment of salaries.
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‘Substance abuse on the rise in Kwara’
The National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Kwara State government have said substance abuse was on the rise in the state, but they have also resolved to stamp it out.
Speaking at a-one day seminar in Ilorin, the state capital, Head, Drugs Demand Reduction Unit of the agency, Friday Oluwi described drug and substance abuse in the state as worrisome.
He said, “Drug abuse situation in Kwara state is worrisome, people abuse different kinds of drugs. There are so many substances that are being abused. There are some illicit drugs. These drugs are for normal treatment of ailments but people now use them for abuse sake just to get high, for purposes the drugs are not meant for. And producers are selling, people are dying.”
Mr. Oluwi, who said that the agency had entered into agreement with the state government to tackle the menace, said the agency has been rehabilitating clients.
“We appeal, lecture and sensitise people to know the danger inherent in drug abuse and consequences of abusing drugs. We appeal. We don’t see abusers as criminals, rather we see them as victims that need help. If they continued in that way and we don’t bring them back in love they may never recover. So we do what we call counselling, treatment and rehabilitation. And we carry out public enlightenment campaign.
“As at today, the federal government brought manpower. The states are supposed to use us. So, if the states can come in to assist it will bring better result.
“Our success rate is 80 per cent in Kwara State. And by UN assessment, we top the chart. Why is it so? For every 10 person discharged, we expect two back. Why would they come back? The nature of the drug the person was abusing. The nature of his system or the way the person is made up, facilities available for the rehabilitation, then level of cooperation of the family. Most families, when they are recovering, don’t want to take them back. They don’t trust them any longer.
“Currently, there are 25 clients with us on rehabilitation. We have discharged about 32 persons. Age range is between 20 and 45 and recently someone of 53 years came, but since rehabilitation move is not by force, he said he does not belong there. He told his people that he couldn’t stay. The opinion of person coming for rehabilitation is always considered.”
Mr. Oluwi added, saying, “For those who have never used drugs, let them not use it, while those in it should retrace their steps. But rehabilitation is not cheap. The minimum period you will be with us in NDLEA is three months. For the 90 days, the parents will have to be responsible for the feeding and the medication.
“Most parents, when they come around, discover that they have to play that role and sometimes they live with their problems. So in other states, the assistance like feeding of clients is being provided by state governments. But we have not received such as at now. The commissioner for health has just invited me to see him for possible intervention. We hope something would come out of that.”
In a remark, a sociologist and convener of the programme, Queen Nimat Siaka said her encounter with robbery gangs twice who were predominantly youths prompted her get involved in the project to tackle the menace.
“They are frustrated and they get involved in drugs. They engage in drugs to commit dastardly crimes. So, we mobilise and sensitise youths against drug abuse. We take the campaign across states. We also refer clients to rehabilitation centres. Despite challenges encountered we keep on,” she said.
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Kwara to penalise indicted workers in recruitment racket
The five civil servants indicted for alleged illegal recruitment of 971 workers into the Kwara State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) will face disciplinary action, it was learnt.
Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development Musa Yeketi, who addressed reporters after the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, said the culprits recruited more workers than approved by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.
He said two of them were retired, adding that the officials had been referred to the Office of the Head of Service (HoS) for punishment in accordance with civil service rules.
On the affected workers, Yeketi said the council directed that the approved 449 be regularised, while 971 be reviewed in line with the needs of the commission in Mathematics, English and other core science subjects.
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Light up project in Kwara
The Kwara State government is embarking on a N6 billion Light Up Kwara project, it was learnt yesterday.
A statement by Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed’s Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, said the Commissioner for Energy Idris Abubakar spoke when he addressed a news conference in Ilorin, the state capital.
The project, which is expected to cost about N6 billion, will light up every street at night to prevent hoodlums operating in the dark.
According to the commissioner, the project will be in two phases; the first will cover 78 kilometres within Ilorin, and phase II is to cover councils, such as Offa, Omu-Aran, Moro and Edu.
Abubakar said the project would be financed through Private Public Partnership (PPP) for 10 years, with the partners to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the project for the period before handing over to the government.
“Repayment will start when the government is sure all is well; the project is tested, reliable and efficiently serving its purpose”, Abubakar said.
Commissioner for Information Muhammad Ajeigbe hinted that the council approved the construction of Kwara State University (KWASU) campuses at Ilesha Baruba and Osi.
He said the contract was awarded at N2.8 billion on private public partnership to be repaid on agreed terms through IFK funding window.
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Kwara prison personnel put on alert
Officials of the Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) in Kwara State have been put on the red alert following alleged riot by inmates at two different prisons in the state.
At least six inmates were said to have died while about five are on danger list following injuries sustained in the melee.
The incidents, according to a prison source, occurred at Mandala Prisons on Ilorin-Alapa road and Oke-Kura prisons in Ilorin metropolis.
It was learnt the inmates, who were in the condemned inmates’ cell, protested the substandard quality of their food.
“It has become a culture of the condemned inmates to enact a riot scene yearly, especially when December is approaching, with the ulterior motive to cause a jail break,” the source said.
He added that while the Mandala prison scene was brought under control, the Oke-Kura episode recorded deaths.
Minna Zonal Comptroller Musa Maiyaki has visited the state for a firsthand information.
The source said while the comptroller was addressing prison operatives, inmates regrouped and attempted to cause trouble.
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Kwara House gets revised supplementary budget
Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has presented a revised supplementary budget of N103.7 billion to the House of Assembly.
The governor’s request, contained in a message to the House, was read by the Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad, at yesterday’s plenary.
According to the message, the supplementary 2016 budget passed by the House was N128 billion, which represented a 19 per cent decrease in the budget size.
The governor, however, said the figure affected the recurrent revenue and expenditure, thus the need for an upward review.
Ahmad, after reading the message, told lawmakers to study it.
The House urged the government to give attention to widows and the vulnerable, calling for a poverty alleviation office to cater for them.
A motion on promoting the welfare of widows was sponsored by Hajia Aishat Ibrahim (Ilorin East), Abdulrofiu Abdulrahman (Ilorin North West) and Ahmed Ibn Muhammed (Kaiama).
The House implored the Ministry of Women Affairs to re-introduce a sustainable widow’s day.
The motion urged the House to come up with a private bill to protect the interest of widows against harmful traditional practices.
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CNPP backs caretaker committees for Kwara councils
The Congress of Nigeria’s Political Parties (CNPP) in Kwara State has supported the state government’s decision to inaugurate caretaker committees in the 16 council areas.
A statement by the Chairman Adebayo Lawal and Secretary Prince Olufemi Adeleke, also lauded the Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed-led administration for the prompt payment of workers’ salaries. It advised the government to continue to prioritise workers’ salaries.
The congress maintained that interim committee was not new in Nigeria as it is being practised in many states.
The statement reads: “This is not a new thing as it had been practised in many states which had not even conducted out local government elections in the last three to four years.”
The congress called on the government to keep up the good record as one of the states holding local government elections on schedule. “When the wherewithal is available, the local government elections should be held as soon as practicable,” the statement added.
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Ahmed dissolves local councils in Kwara
The Kwara state Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Friday approved the dissolution of the of the 16 local government councils in the state.
The councils are Asa, Baruten, Edu, Ekiti, Ifelodun, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Ilorin South, Irepodun, Isin, Kaiama, Moro, Offa, Oke-Ero, Oyun and Pategi.
In a statement, Secretary to the state government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold said that the dissolution of the local government councils is contained in the Kwara State Legal Notices No.4-19 and is in exercise of the governor’s power conferred on him by section 18(5) (c) of the Kwara State Local Government Law (as amended) cap K33, Laws of Kwara State.Alhaji Gold said that “the dissolution of the councils is with effect from today, 4th Day of November, 2016. As a result, all the affected public office holders including the chairmen, vice chairmen, councillors, secretaries to the local government councils and supervisors shall immediately vacate their offices and handover to their respective directors of personnel management (DPMs).”
He added that “Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed appreciates the contributions and support of the affected officers towards the development of the state and wishes them success in their future endeavours.”
The tenure of the council chairmen expires November 10, 2016.