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Tag: kwara

  • Business school to train Kwara civil servants

    Business school to train Kwara civil servants

    Newly established Goshen International Business School has expressed its intention to train Kwara State  civil servants.

    The training, if consummated, will be in the areas of human capital development, transformation of the state civil service through our training programmes, socio-economic research, environmental Conservation activities; partnering with state government in its economic transformation programme and social awakening of the citizens of the state.

    Others are offering genuine advice to the state government on its socio-economic activities and advice on security to the state government, the Chairman, Governing Council of the school, Bayo Atoyebi has said.

    Mr. Atoyebi, a lawyer, said this at the commissioning of the school in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    He added that “it is with this in mind that the school’s management has taken a decision to partner the state government to help develop the civil service by way of bringing the civil servants up to date in terms of the required knowledge to translate government policies into economic development.

    “We intend to contribute to the extension of the frontier of knowledge of the civil servants in terms of Management training in key areas. This we hope would empower them to effectively transform and translate the state’s economic policies into real development to the benefit of all.”

    He said that a well equipped civil service will facilitate rapid economic transformation efforts of the government.

    The governing council chair stated that no amount of salary paid to civil servants could make them as effective as the knowledge of economic transformation/policies that “we are ready to provide not only for this state but for the states around Kwara in the first two years of our operation in Ilorin.”

    Said he: “It becomes imperative here to highlight the strategic importance of the state as the gateway between the southern and northern parts of the country. It is also one of the middle-belt states which make it accessible to the two divides of the northern and southern states of the federation.

    “Its accessibility is not in doubt considering the avalanche of routes open to would-be visitors and tourists to the state. The state is accessible by Rail through the main trunk from Lagos to Kano, it is a nodal city considering the road transport, it can be accessed through the International Airport situated in the Capital City, Ilorin which also host an Aviation College. There is no gainsaying the fact that Ilorin presents the best location ever possible to site the school, and which we have done.

    ”Equally important is the fact that the proponents of the school are stakeholders in the state who are willing to contribute to the socio-economic development of the state.

    “We therefore appeal to His Excellency to consider this school as one of your achievements in the state during your tenure particularly when measured against the huge potentials it has, to help build a solid human capital base for the state.

    We offer to train the entire civil service staff in batches at a discounted rate as part of the school’s contribution to the state government.

    “We wish to appeal to you to avail this school the opportunity to train the entire civil servants of the state in phases such that in a spate of one-year, the bulk of the service would have been translated from mere ‘worker’ to human capital – an essential ingredient for accelerated socio-economic development of the state.”

    He said that the school has designed retreat/Workshop for state executive council members; retreat/Workshop for members of the House of Assembly; facilitating local and overseas training for senior civil servants; skill acquisition for all categories of civil servants.

    Commissioning the project, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed represented by his deputy Peter Kisra said that his administration would not allow the current financial challenges in the country affect the training of its civil servants.

    He added that the school is in a position to contribute to the economic activities in the state as its students and faculty would patronize business across the state.

    Governor Ahmed said: “I find it remarkable that Goshen Business School is focusing on strategic areas that are of priority interest to my administration of particular interest are human capital development, Training of civil servants, environmental conservation and security.  I assure you that the state government stands ready to collaborate with you in these and other areas of mutual interest to uplift our state and create a better life for our people.

    “We are particularly interested in human capital development especially through the expansion to access to quality health and provision of functional education.  In line with this commitment, this administration intends to extend our hospital remodeling project to an additional five general hospitals in the state in our quest to ensure that more of our people can access affordable quality health care wherever the live in the state.

    “The establishment of additional comprehensive and primary health care centres will also complement our efforts in this key sector. Additional, we will boost educational reforms and ensure that our youths receive functional education that will prepare them for entrepreneurship and instead of searching for increasing competitive and shrinking positions in the public and private sector.

  • One killed in Kwara unions clash

    A fracas between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Offa, Offa local government area of Kwara state on Sunday allegedly claimed one life.
    Dangerous weapons like cutlasses and machetes were freely used as scores of vehicles were vandalized. It was gathered that in the process, the secretariat of one of the unions was torched by the angry union members.
    Others were said to have sustained injuries through machetes’ cuts.
    The state had in 2013 proscribed Offa and Erin-Ile branches of NURTW and RTEAN over communal clashes between the two communities.
    The latest clash was allegedly caused by a disagreement between the two unions on how to convey students of Kwara state College of Health Technology, Offa going on internship to Ondo, Ekiti and other neighbouring states.
    Spokesperson of the state police command, Ajayi Okasanmi (ASP) confirmed that one person who received deep machetes’ cut in the neck had died.
    Mr. Okasanmi added that the police had arrested ten persons, adding that they are assisting the police in their investigations.
    A member of the state House of Assembly Alhaji Hassan Oyeleke described the incident as unfortunate, saying Offa community is reputed for its spirit of fraternity and brotherhood.
    “We are just recovering from the 2013 communal clashes which were triggered by the same unions. We are tasking every one member of the community in order to rebuild the over 200 shops in Owode Market destroyed during those clashes. What is in a union?” he asked.

  • Kwara, UNILORIN resolve differences over mini-campus

    The Kwara State government and the authorities of the University of Ilorin, have resolved the controversy surrounding the temporary relocation of an agency of the state government to the university’s mini-campus.

    At a meeting with the management of the university, a delegation of the government led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold, explained that the relocation was a temporary measure expected to last not more than three months.

    Gold, who regretted the inconveniences and controversies generated by the development, assured UNILORIN authorities that the government holds the university and other federal agencies in the state in high esteem and would never strain the relationship.

    Responding on behalf of the university, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, expressed optimism that the status quo subsists pending the 90-day request by the government.

    Ambali thanked the government for the promptness with which it handled the matter and seized the opportunity of the meeting to invite Kwara State Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed, to the university’s upcoming 40th anniversary.

  • Kwara disburses N1.2b to MSMEs

    Kwara disburses N1.2b to MSMEs

    Kwara State  has disbursed over N1.2b to traders, farmers, as well as artisans under its empowerment programme, the Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, has said.

    Ahmed who stated this at the opening of Brightway Microfinance Bank in Ilorin, said the money was disbursed through 10 Microfinance Banks across the state.

    He said the scheme has  enhanced inclusive banking, adding that financial services have been extended “to more than 50,000 individuals and 2,500 cooperatives who would otherwise have been excluded from banking services.”

    Ahmed said arrangements have also been completed to inject additional funds into the program so that more entrepreneurs and youths would start or expand their business, development, he explained that would create  employment for more people in the State.

    The governor advised commercial and microfinance banks “to design services and products that are suitable and affordable to MSMEs.

    He added that such services should include affordable microfinance facilities with low interest rates that would be appealing to entrepreneurs.

  • Kwara council workers seek stakeholders’ intervention

    The striking local government workers in Kwara State have urged stakeholders to intervene by appealing to the government to pay their five-month salary arrears.

    The National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) last Thursday embarked on strike over unpaid salaries.

    NULGE Secretary, Comrade Abayomi Afolabi, who was a guest on a programme at a private radio station in Ilorin yesterday, said members had suffered, following unpaid salaries.

    He said most members had withdrawn their children from schools, as they could not afford school fees, adding that they were indebted to food sellers and landlords.

    The President, Kwara State College of Education Multipurpose Cooperative Union, Alhaji Ayinla Jimoh, said the cooperative spent N5million to buy food items for members, to cushion the effect of non-payment of salary.

  • Chinese investors to stake $54m in Kwara

    Agroup of Chinese businessmen have planned to invest about $54m in the Kwara State industrial sector.

    The team led by Shi Zengchao, made this known  yesterday at a meetingt with Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in Ilorin, the state capital.

    In a statement, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, quoted Zengchao as saying that about $15 million would be invested in the next one year in order to ensure commencement of operations as early as possible.

    Zengcha said the group found Kwara state investment friendly due to the prevalence of peace in the state, as well as the investment drive of the state government.

    He added that when the efforts of the group finally take off, more Chinese investors will set up factories and other investments in all the sectors of the state’s economy.

    Responding, Ahmed said the policies of his administration were premised on human capital development and industrial growth in a peaceful environment across the state.

    Ahmed said the state’s International Vocational Centre in Ajasse-Ipo in Irepodun local government area of the state is designed to train qualified machinists who will fit perfectly into the developing industrial sector of the State.

    “We have a large army of employable youths; school leavers that require very little training and they will fit into the industry you are investing in.

    Your proposed investment is very attractive. There are a lot of idle hands that can be employed; indeed, if you want 50,000 people we can get you 50,000 people to work”, the governor said.

  • N270m lifeline for Kwara transport firm

    N270m lifeline for Kwara transport firm

    The 30-year-old Kwara State Transport Corporation, Kwara Express, has been turned around, ditching its old name and acquiring a new one, Harmony Transport Service. It is also under a new management, the aim being to make it efficient and effective.

    The new owners are Harmony Holdings Limited, supervisors of the state business entities.

    Before its takeover in 2012, the then Kwara Express was foundering.

    Little wonder, with the support of Sterling and Infrastructure banks, Harmony Holdings Ltd recently injected 42 new buses at the cost of N270.6 million into the company’s fleet.

    At the commissioning of the buses in Ilorin, the state capital, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said that “establishing Harmony Transport Services Limited reflects how we intend to run government business henceforth: Through innovative approaches, prudent management, and targeted diversification.”

    He added that the commissioning was therefore a strong pointer to the better future that awaits Kwarans through better management of public resources.

    Said he: “The acquisition of these buses is indicative of Harmony Holdings’ capacity to steer the transport company towards growth and profitability. It is worthy of note that while unveiling Harmony Holdings Limited in March 2013, I charged its management to turn around the fortunes of troubled entities established by successive administrations in the State.

    These companies were struggling to turn a profit and instead constituted a drainpipe on the state government’s resources.

    “As you are all aware, these changes have generated concerns in certain quarters. Understandably, the dissolution of Kwara State Transport Corporation, for example, has created apprehension about the fate of its staff. Let me state clearly that no staff of the defunct corporation will lose their job on account of its takeover.

    “You have a choice to remain in Harmony Transport Services Limited or seek redeployment back to the core civil service. Either way, your jobs are safe.

    It is also imperative to put our decision to abrogate the company in perspective by recalling the events preceding it.

    “When Kwara Express was established, government envisioned an efficient transport corporation that guarantees excellent services to customers and profits for its owners

    Regrettably, more than 30 years later, the corporation was struggling to realise its huge potential in terms of service and profits. While it had substantially delivered in certain areas (especially safety), its overall performance remained poor.

    “By the time Harmony Holdings Limited took over its management in 2012, the Corporation was nearly comatose. As a result, Harmony Holdings Limited re-engineered the corporation, made it profitable and refocused its operations, culminating in today’s event.

    “Let me therefore commend Harmony Holdings Limited for the resilience exhibited in the face of daunting challenges encountered in the process of rescuing Kwara Express and other government concerns.

    “To the management and staff of Harmony Transport Services Limited, I ask you to see the acquisition of these buses as a passport to a new beginning.

    Be advised that the era of impunity, and careless usage of Government properties is over. These new buses and the old ones in the fleet should be deployed efficiently and professionally to ensure their optimal use.

    “However, the Kwara State of our dream still requires hard work and sacrifice by every one of us. We must seize the current economic situation as an opportunity to diversify our economy and eliminate wastage.

    “In doing so, we will better fund our development by reforming the revenue generation and collection process. This will reduce our reliance on federally allocated revenue. In line with this reality, we will also streamline ministries and appointments to reduce the cost of governance.

    “Some of you may find the reforms we are implementing difficult. I admit that change is often hard to accept and challenging to achieve. But I assure you: Kwara State will come out better and stronger.”

    Painting a sordid picture of the transport company before the acquisition, Group Managing Director of Harmony Holdings Ltd, Tope Daramola “said that apart from the critical issue of ageing vehicles which dominated the fleet, the Infrastructure Bank (formerly known as Urban Development Bank)-creditors to the company, was about recalling operational vehicles acquired under a lease arrangement from the bank. This was due to accumulated backlog of unpaid rentals. The company was four months in arrears than.”

    Mr. Daramola added that “morale among staff of the company was at its lowest ebb due to salaries owed by preceding management. There was the issue of accumulated unpaid leave allowances and cooperative contributions dating back to 2008.

    “Administratively, internal control structures were weak, compromised or non-existence, thus leading to incapacity to identify evaluate and resolve control breaches. Performance monitoring and management processes were nil. The ticketing processes were manual and prone to errors and fraud.”

    Daramola said given this unsavoury picture, the entity had recorded massive operational losses for several years back.

    He said that procurement of the buses being commissioned was the culmination of preparatory steps which the supervising company implemented.

    He listed those steps as paying of outstanding debt owed to Infrastructure Bank, Diamond Bank and debts due to partners by the Kwara Express in the region of N169.8 million; payment of the arrears of salaries, leave bonuses and cooperative contribution of staff to the tune of N17.5 million owed by past management; implementation of the minimum wage policy in staff salary from July 2013; institutionalisation of sound corporate governance principles which has led to an improvement in staff productivity and performance; automation of the ticketing process at the company with the attendant result of minimising incidence of fraud and improved accountability and activation of the fuel pump which was abandoned since 2008.

  • APC suspends ex-SSG, 17 others

    APC suspends ex-SSG, 17 others

    All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has suspended a former secretary to state government, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Saka Cook Olododo‎ from the party for anti party activities.

    His suspension will last for the duration of one year.

    The APC also suspended a chieftain of the party, Alhaji Tunde Saad for another one year.

    Other members whose suspension spans six months are Mashood Dauda, Oba Sulaiman Asude‎, Mr Lukman Adeloyin, Alhaji Wahab Tobe and Mr Sa’ad Yero.

    Others are; Mr Iyanda Olori, Alhaji Amuda Bembe, Alhaji Amuda Musbau, Mr Zafi Saka Adanla, Alhaji AbdulRaheem Adanla, Alhaji Abdrahaman Sa’ad, Alhaji Saliman Rasak, Raimi Akanji, Alhaji Baba Alata, Alhaji Raufu Asude‎ and Fatai Olodo‎.

    The party had last month suspended a former Senator Mohammed Ahmed and six others from Baruten local government area for anti party activities.

    In a statement, Spokesperson of APC in the state, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari said that the suspended APC members are from Ilorin East local government area of the state‎.

    He said that “the suspension followed the recommendations of an Investigative and Disciplinary Committee (IDC) chaired by Alhaji Dare Garba which probed the anti-party activities of the affected persons during the 2015 general election.”

  • Kwara, NGOs unite against childhood killer-diseases

    Kwara, NGOs unite against childhood killer-diseases

    Bothered by the rate at which children under the age of five die due to ailments from childhood killer diseases resulting from lack of immunisation, the Kwara State Government and Association of Civil Society in Malaria Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN) have had discussions on how to protect children from childhood killer diseases through immunisation. The event held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    It was in commemoration of this year’s celebration of World Immunisation Week whose theme was “Close the Immunisation Gap”

    The programme was sponsored by Global Alliance for Vaccines (GAVI).

    The state government revealed that the fall in accruals from Federal Government to states has affected all sectors, including the health sector.

    The state’s Immunisation Officer, Hajia Hajarat Suleiman said some immunisation health workers discharged their duties disinterestedly because of lack of financial motivation.

    She added that though the World Health Organisation (WHO) is the sponsor of the immunisation exercise, states complement through counterpart funding.

    She said: “Health workers in charge of immunisation carry out the job half-heartedly because they are not well motivated. It is not that they don’t know the job; they have been trained and retrained. The truth is that they are not being paid salary.

    “All of us are working towards the same goal. That is why many of the health workers have volunteered to be part of the immunisation exercises.

    “I am happy all of us are here because of our children. We want them to live and be protected from all the childhood killer diseases.

    “Truly it is the World Health Organisation (WHO) that is sponsoring the programme while every state government is expected to pay its counterpart funds. But the dwindling revenues accruing to the states, including Kwars, has affected the health sector.

    “It has been long the state released its counterpart funds due to the reason highlighted above. Before the end of this year, government would be able to support any of your programmes.”

    Contributing, Secretary of ACOMIN, Adewoye Oluwasesan said “World Immunisation Week provides global platform to strengthen our collective efforts to ensure vaccination for every child, whoever they are and wherever they live.

    “Immunisation is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases and immunisation is the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. It is estimated to avert between two and three million deaths each year.”

    He noted that civil society organisations (CSOs), in partnership with governments, are important actors in implementing immunisation programmes.

    Mr. Oluwasesan added that the partnership delivered up to 65 per cent of immunisation services in many developing countries; strengthening health systems and training health workers; supporting logistics and vaccine delivery.

    Other benefits of the partnership, according to him, include transparency and accountability by bridging the gap between governments or global health actors such as GAVI and communities; representing the voice of communities and the issues that affect them in area of vaccine preventable diseases; encouraging all stakeholders to be more accountable and transparent in their actions; influencing public policy and supporting resource mobilisation.

    In order to close the immunisation gap, Mr. Oluwasesan recommendation that CSOs should include “integrating immunisation with other health services, such as post-natal care for mothers and babies; strengthening health systems so that vaccines continue to be given even in times of crisis/communal clashes and ensuring that everyone could access vaccines and afford to pay for them.”

    He added that the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) envisions a world where everyone is free from vaccine preventable diseases by 2020.

  • No plans to impose fresh taxes on Kwarans – Ahmed

    No plans to impose fresh taxes on Kwarans – Ahmed

    Kwara state Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said that his administration has no plans to impose fresh taxes on the people of the state.

    He added though, that his administration would make all efforts towards efficient revenue collection to raise funds for the execution of people-oriented projects.

    These projects, according to him, include a 100 megawatt Independent Power Projects (IPP), 2000 new classrooms, the remodeling of an additional five general hospitals and the implementation of new water projects across the state.

    The governor also has signed for four bills into law with a pledge to redouble efforts to improve the welfare of the people despite the downturn in the national economy.

    The new laws are: A law to amend the Environmental Sanitation; law to Repeal the Kwara State Transport Corporation; law to Amend the Cooperative Societies, and a law to Amend The Kwara State Debt Securities Issuance.

    The governor in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr Muideen Akorede promised to initiate and implement new initiatives aimed at ensuring good governance and making life better for all residents in the state.

    Ahmed acknowledged the challenges confronting the state as a result of dwindling allocation from the federal government and assured that he will work harder to cushion the population from the impact of the economic downturn as much as possible.

    He urged the people to support his administration to rapidly develop the state, stressing that that all hands must be on deck to create a prosperous Kwara State for the benefit of all.