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Tag: Mohammed abubakar

  • FG to pay N2 billion Ecological fund each to 19 states, FCT

    FG to pay N2 billion Ecological fund each to 19 states, FCT

    …NEC to review Land Use Act

     

    The National Economic Council (NEC) next month may approve payment of N2 billion each from the Ecological Funds to 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the NEC meeting chaired by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, said that the disbursement is part of recommendations of his committee’s interim report submitted to NEC on Thursday.

    Stressing that the recommendation was to ensure fairness to states that were not given anything when former President Goodluck Jonathan shared N2 billion each to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) controlled states from the Ecological Funds.

    According to him, his 11-man committee, which comprised of governors, Minister of Finance and some permanent secretaries, will submit the final report during NEC meeting in June, where NEC will decide on the recommendation.

    The committee, he said, was asked to look at the operations and management of the one per cent which the Federal Government shares.

    He said “The committee established beyond all doubts that in 2013, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan gave N2 billion to certain states of the federation but excluded other states.

    “The states that got it were all PDP states and states of other parties that were sympathetic to the PDP like Labour Party in Ondo and APGA in Anambra State. 19 states and the FCT did not get the N2 billion from the Ecological Fund.

    “These states are Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Borno, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Kwara and Lagos.

    “Others are Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory

    “So essentially what President Goodluck Jonathan did was to take N2 billion each from the Ecological fund and give to some PDP states. Any PDP state that was not his friend like Kano and Kwara didn’t get. And all the other opposition party, like no ACN state got anything, no ANPP state got anything.

    “This, the committee of the council consider discriminatory and recommended that the 19 states and the FCT that did not get the N2 billion in 2013 be given N2 billion each to level the playing field.

    “Thereafter very clear criteria for accessing the fund will be recommended to the council for the consideration of the federal government,” he said.

    According to him, there is a Presidential directive that the Ecological Fund office must maintain a balance of N20 billion out of the present N33.6 billion in the Ecological Fund.

    This, he said, is to cater for any emergency or any natural disaster requiring intervention.

    From the total money in the fund, he said that the balance of about N13 billion will be available for distribution to the states that were discriminated against.

    “As I said, 19 states and the FCT making it 20, so it isn’t enough to give them N2 billion each.” he added

    He went on “So what we did was to give an interim report on how the entire ecological fund has been utilized from May 2010 till date. And we realize that a lot of the deployment of the funds was based on discretion of the President and there is need to establish very clear criteria for the use of the 65 per cent of the federal government share among the states of the federation.

    “But the committee recommended to make partial payment to these states that were discriminated against by President Jonathan. Council defied decision on that until we submit out final report which will be submitted to NEC in the meeting of June.

    “The council appreciated the enormous work the committee did and particularly appreciated the permanent secretary of the Ecological Fund office for providing detailed information about the operations of the Fund.” he stated

    He pointed out that the N2 billion each given to the states by the former President was purely on discretionary basis and not on any identified Ecological problem or any project request.

    According to him, it was given to favoured states not based on criteria or any request based on emergency.

    “It was just a handout to favoured states and other states that were not so favoured were discriminated against.

    “So our committee recommended that to level the playing field every state be treated equally, the federal government should give those states that did not get.

    “My state got because my state was governed by the PDP and was very friendly with Jonathan. In my state the amount was used to do some Ecological projects but in some states the money simply vanished. But in my state, it didn’t vanish. The projects were done, we are looking into those projects because the prices did not look right, the quality in one or two cases is not the best but some projects were done.

    “So we are saying in fairness the other states that did not get this N2 billion on discretionary basis should be done. This is why President Buhari is here to right the wrongs of the past,” he said.

    Bauchi Governor, Mohammed Abubakar said that the Council received the report of an Ad-Hoc committee set up by NEC to study the report of the Presidential Technical Committee of the Land Use Act regulations.

    He said “The presidential committee submitted its report on 26th of September last year. As a result of that the Nigeria Governors Forum set up its own committee comprising Surveyor General of the states of the federation of Nigeria to study that report of the presidential technical committee and come up with recommendations.

    “So when NEC received the report of the committee, an adhoc committee of six was set up with myself as chairman to study both the report of the technical committee and report of the Forum of Surveyor general of the federation and then compare the two reports and make recommendations to council.

    “The reason for setting up the technical committee at the onset was because of the encumbrances being faced in the interpretations given in the Land use Act over time from the time of promulgation in 1978 to date.

    “So the adhoc committee studied the two reports and made recommendations to council.

    “The main basis of the recommendation was the observance of true federalism. You know despite the various interpretations and comments made about the Land Use Act as a unitary law, actually the Land Use Act for the first time is one Act of the federal government that has made a categorical statement with respect to federalism by conferring control over land in the governors of the states and not a unitary system where the federal government will now control land. So this was what the adhoc committee had in mind when it was making its recommendations along with the presidential committee.

    “So at the end of the day all the recommendations that tended to temper with the powers of the governors over control of lands in the state were expunged from the report of the presidential technical committee.

    “Council finally received the report of the adhoc committee favourablly, in fact Council gave another assignment to that ad committee with a view to looking at areas of conflict in the Land Use Act and the minerals Act. There are situations whereby companies will come to Abuja to the Mining Casdastal and obtain license to prospect for minerals in the state. And the go and immediately commence prospecting without minding the fact that it been granted to some other people by governors who have control over land with certificates of occupancy. So this led to a lot of conflicts. So council has extended the life of this adhoc committee to look into this with a view to making recommendations.

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha said that the Council also reviewed many money issues as it affects the nation.

    He said “We were made to understand from the office of the Accountant General that the excess crude account as at May 24th stands at $2.3 billion. Council also reviewed the discrepancies in figures and we have said that the Accountant General will go to look at it and at the next meeting he will brief the council appropriately.

    “As regards the loan support what is called the budget support facility for states which is suppose to come to an end by the end of this month, council was concerned about the fact that we are gradually coming out of recession and if this budgetary support ceases at the end of May, it might create some lapses in our bid to stabilize the economy. So council resolved that the budgetary support be extended to enable states catch up with the economy challenges of the moment.

    “The good news is that we have been reliably informed that crude production at Forcados terminal will soon commence and this will in any small way help the  economy and the stabilization of the economy and for us to get out of recession as quickly as possible.

    “But the highlight of the whole discussion today’s was a special commendation that the Council made on the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who we have all resolved to call a systems stabilizer given the fact that Mr. President is on medical vacation, the system is still as smooth as it has always been. So, we commended the Acting President for a job well done.”

    He maintained that the Paris Club refund was not a free money, but money owed state governments.

     

  • Bauchi, UNESCO sign MoU to train 50,000 girls, women

    Bauchi, UNESCO sign MoU to train 50,000 girls, women

    Bauchi state government and UNESCO on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to train 50, 000 girls and women in basic education through the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT).

    Mr. Macaulay Olushola, National Professional Officer, Communication and Information Sector, UNESCO Abuja, said this in a statement.

    Olushola said that the MoU was signed during the courtesy visit of some UNESCO officials to Bauchi State Governor, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the empowerment programme would be the second phase of the project by UNESCO and product of Procter and Gamble, a Consumer Product company.

    The project in its first phase empowered 60,000 girls and women in the state.

    The statement quoted the governor as saying, “we must give the opportunity for those who lost the opportunity of education during their childhood.

    “This will enable the 50,000 girls and women have a second chance so that citizens of the state will enjoy basic education, which in turn will lead to better life for them.

    “Education opens all doors, health care delivery improves, when you have that, other social ills are attacked and settled,” the governor said.

    Also, Mr. Yao Ydo, the Director, Multi-Sectorial Regional office, Abuja, said the project would empower the girls and women in skills development through Information Communication Technology.

    According to Ydo, “School Meet the Learners Approach” would be deployed to implement the project that would last for two years.

    “The School Meet the Learners Approach project, is for the empowerment of girls and women in literacy and skills development through the use of ICT.

    “It is expected to improve the performance of the low performing Junior Secondary School Two (JSS 2) girls who have difficulties in some specific subjects in school.

    “It will also empower women on literacy and skills development through the use of ICT.

    “The signing of the MoU opens another window of opportunity in Bauchi State, prepares us to move together to empower 50,000 girls and women in the next two years of the project,” he said.

     

  • Bauchi to introduce whistle blowing policy

    Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, said the state government would introduce whistle blowing in the state to fight corruption in its local government councils.

    Abubkar made this known when he addressed workers at May Day celebration in Bauchi on Monday.

    He described corruption at the local government level as “endemic,” saying something must be done to check it.

    Abubakar said some top officials of councils in the state were still harbouring ghost workers despite several staff verifications conducted by his administration at the third-tier of government.

    “Any worker that reveals to me in secrecy how many ghost workers are being harboured by some top functionaries will be rewarded,” the governor said.

    “To rid the councils of corruption, we must stand up since the staff verification has failed to yield fruits while millions of naira is being siphoned through dubious act.

    “Workers who reveal such shady deals will be rewarded with money and immediate promotion.”

    Abubakar said his administration had set up a committee to review the 60-year-old state civil service rules and other regulations on labour.

    He said the state government was committed to prompt payment of salaries and other entitlements to workers in the state.

    He assured that hardworking workers would be rewarded while indolent ones would be punished, saying the government was committed to workers’ welfare.

    The governor urged the workers to rededicate themselves to the services of the state and promised to introduce innovations that would better the life of workers in the state.

    NAN

     

  • Corruption: Bauchi to introduce whistle-blowing

    Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State said the state government would introduce whistleblowing in the state to fight corruption in its local government councils.

    Abubkar made this known when he addressed workers at May Day celebration in Bauchi on Monday.

    He described corruption at the local government level as “endemic”, and said that something must be done to check it.

    Abubakar said that some top officials of councils in the state were still harbouring ghost workers in spite of several staff verifications conducted by his administration at the third-tier of government.

    “Any worker that reveals to me in secrecy how many ghost workers are being harboured by some top functionaries will be rewarded.

    “To rid the councils of corruption, we must stand up since the staff verification has failed to yield fruits while millions of naira is being siphoned through dubious act.

    “Workers who reveal such shady deals will be rewarded with money and immediate promotion,” he said.

    Abubakar said that his administration had set up a committee to review the 60-year-old state civil service rules and other regulations on labour.

    He said that his administration was committed to prompt payment of salaries and other entitlements to workers in the state.

    He assured that hardworking workers would be rewarded while indolent ones would be punished, saying that the government was committed to workers’ welfare.

    The governor urged the workers to rededicate themselves to the services of the state and promised to introduce innovations that would better the life of workers in the state.

    Earlier in his address, Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Mr. Hashimu Gital, had called on the Federal Government to hasten the approval of a new minimum wage.

    Gital said that the N18, 000 National Minimum Wage achieved through tripartite committee in 2011 was no longer tenable because of prevailing recession.

    He said that the purchasing power of Nigerian workers was greatly diminishing due to high inflation.

    Gital, therefore, urged the National Committee on New Minimum Wage to hasten its work and ensure that it was guided by current economic realities in its recommendation.

    He called on the state government to settle over N15 billion gratuity arrears owed public service, including local government, retirees in the state.

    The chairman also called on the state government to restore other charges to agencies and leave transport grant for the benefit of the workers.

    He commended the state government for settling the salary arrears of workers in the state.

  • Teenager bags three years imprisonment

    A Mararaba Upper Area Court, Nasarawa State, on Wednesday sentenced an 18-year-old boy, Mohammed Abubakar, to three years imprisonment for stealing items valued at N337, 000.

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    The judge, Ibrahim Shekarau, however, gave the convict an option of N18, 000 fine and warned him to desist from committing crime.

    He also ordered him to pay N337, 000 to the complainant.

    The defendant, who claims to be a student and resides at Aunty Mararaba, is facing a count charge of theft.
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    The prosecutor, Sgt. Steve Kwaza, had told the court that one Bilkisu Musa of the same address reported the matter at ‘A’ Division Police Station, Mararaba on April 7.
    ‎
    “The complainant said that on the same date, the accused person stole some of her valuable items worth N337, 000.

    “Some of the stolen items are- kitchen equipment, valued at N150, 000, flat screen television, valued at N70, 000, one battery, valued at N40, 000 and two stabilizers, valued at N18, 000.

    “Others are, two DVD player, mini home theater, one decoder, blanket and bed sheet, all valued at N59, 000.

    “When the defendant was traced and arrested, he admitted to the crime,” Kwaza said.

    Kwaza said that the offence contravened Section 287 of the Penal Code.

    The convict had pleaded guilty and begged for leniency.

     

  • Police parade former DSS personnel, others for robbery, kidnapping

    Police parade former DSS personnel, others for robbery, kidnapping

    • Police say arrested DSS was dismissed over N310million scandal

    The Police yesterday in Abuja paraded a former personnel of Department of State Service and ten others for their alleged involvement in a kidnapping and armed robbery.

    The suspects were arrested after they kidnapped one Alhaji Isa Salami Former GM PAN, MD Nigeria Paper Mills Jebba and Chairman Gateway Insurance.

    The victim was rescued from the kidnappers hideout, a two bedroom house rented by the kidnappers in remote side of Suleja Town of Niger State.

    The gang consists of the gang leader, the second in command, a former DSS personnel, driver, guards, and the supplier of registered sim cards which they use for their operation.

    Those paraded are; Kelvin Emeka, Ndubushi Prince Uzor, Abdulraheed Maigari, Sunday Travnor, Zayor Alfred, Avah Joseph, Gabriel Friday, Rajab Baba Ishiaka, Ali Sani, Nuhu Sule and Mohammed Abubakar.

    Items recovered from them included one AK 47 rifle, three AK 47 magazines, 90 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition, two pistols, 14 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and two bedroom flats at different locations in Suleja.

    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#ddab5f” bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]The Police disclosed that the arrested former DSS personnel had earlier been dismissed by the service for alleged involvement in a N310million foreign exchange scandal belonging to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki.[/quote]

    Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja at the Force headquarters, the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood said operatives of IGP Intelligence Response team IRT jointly with Anti-kidnap Squad of FCT Police Command swung into action following the kidnap of Alh. Isa Ozi Salami.

    Alhaji Salami was the former GM of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria PAN, MD Nigeria Paper Mills Jebba and Chairman Gateway Insurance.

    Highlighting the roles played by each member of the gang, he said: ” Kelvin EMEKA 28yrs overall gang leader, who was earlier Charged to Gwagwalada High Court in October 2016 with 3 others for Kidnapping and armed robbery of several people in Abuja.

    “The suspect and his gang members were released by the Court on 8/12/16 less than 8 weeks after been Charged for Kidnapping and Armed Robbery.”

    “Ndubisi Prince Ozor, the second in command was also charged to Court for Armed Robbery in November 2016 and was released by Court on 25/1/17.

    Continuing, Moshood said: “Abdulrasheed Maigari 35yrs native of Donga LGA Area Taraba State a 2006 Political Science graduate of Bayero University Kano recruited into DSS as a graduate Officer and was dismissed and charged to court for robbing N310million with some dismissed Army Personnel in Abuja.

    “He was also released by Court and he immediately joined the gang and became the Coordinator and also rented the two houses where victims were kept.”

    Others who were paraded are: “Sunday Tyavnor, he is the arms dealer who Sold the AK47 Rifle used for the kidnappings for four hundred and seventy thousand Naira (₦470,000) and the two (2) Pistols for sixty thousand Naira (₦60,000) each he was arrested in Nasarawa State.

    “Mohammed Abubakar 21yrs native of Mokwa LGA Niger State supplier of pre-registered Sim cards to the kidnappers.”

    Other members of the gang were guards responsible for guarding and securing the victim from escaping.

    The police added that the suspects were identified by the victims, adding that they also confessed to the crime admitting to the various roles they played in the commission of various kidnappings, armed robberies and other violent crimes linked to them.

    The police noted that they will be charged to court on completion of the investigation.

    The Inspector General of Police assured members of the public of adequate security and urged them to co-operate with the Police personnel deployed in their localities.

  • Insecurity: Buhari meets Benue, Bauchi, Jigawa governors

    Insecurity: Buhari meets Benue, Bauchi, Jigawa governors

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met separately with some state governors over insecurity in their state.

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, first met with the President before Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar and Jigawa State Governor, Mohammed Badaru together met with the President.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Ortom said that he was at the presidential villa to seek the President’s assistance towards addressing some security challenges in the state.

    According to him, the Benue government has been partnering with security agencies and have received support from the Federal Government to tackle the level of crime and clashes between herdsmen and farmers, which have been put under control.

    He said: “We have been having security challenges but thank God with the collaboration with some security agencies in my state and with the support of Mr. President, I can say that there is relatively calm.

    “Today, the issue of herdsmen and farmers we have been able to through dialogue agree to work together in a manner that there will be win-win,” he said

    He noted that one of the best ways to end clashes between farmers and Fulani herds men was to adopt the system of ranching.

    “I have always said this, if we can copy the presidential system from America why can we not copy ranching? But you see it is a gradual process and cannot be done overnight.

    “We are propagating ranching as the final and lasting solution to these issues of herdsmen and farmers clashes. But is something that cannot be done overnight. We need the collaboration of the states and the federation to agree on a formula, one for the nomads,” he added.

    He said that the state is also planning the construction of Cargo Airport in Markudi to assist in the export of the huge agricultural produce from the state to other parts of the country and abroad.

    The Airport project, he said, will be executed through 85 percent contribution from a consortium of private sector with Benue only putting in 15 percent.

    He also confirmed that some governors have put their grievances in writing over the lopsidedness in the President’s appointments including the recent Ambassadorial nomination list.

    The action, he recalled, was part of the agreement reached at an emergency meeting held between the APC governors and President Buhari last week Monday.

    He however pointed out that it was the prerogative of President Buhari to choose whoever he wants to serve in his government.

    He said: “It is the prerogative of Mr. President to do appointments but where there is need we always give support. We have written where we have reservations and it is being attended to.”

    On their visit to the President, Bauchi Governor said that he came with Jigawa Governor to confer with Mr President on common security issues affecting the two states.

    He said: “As you can see, I am here with the governor of Jigawa, as you know we share border with Jigawa, we have come to discuss some security concerns with the President to solicit for his support for us to effectively ensure security in the two states, this is basically what we have come to discuss.

    “We are concerned that the spate of kidnapping is increasing and anything that will touch on the security of our states is a matter of grave concern to us, that is why we have rushed here before it becomes endemic and we have conferred with the President and we have his support.

    “The military is conducting exercise in the area but what the exercise lacked before is coordination between the two states so there is a need for us to coordinate and for us to do that we require the seal of the C in C.

    On the Northern governors’ trip to the United States, he said that they were invited by the United States Peace Institute based in Washington.

    “It is an organisation set up by the government of the US, they have a great concern in the northern part of Nigeria and they believe whatever situation that exist in the northern part of Nigeria have a multiplier effect on the whole nation. So if you are able to solve the problem before it becomes a national problem, it will help, we have discussed with them the root causes of insurgency and illiteracy, poverty, lack of empowerment of youth and women and this are issues we have discussed and the issues of IDPs in Borno, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe.

    “They have indicated their concern for the humanitarian concern and with this hue and cry about the situation of Children in the IDP camp and we have solicited for their immediate support so that we can assist the children.”

    Governor of Jigawa said: “We have been fighting insurgency and criminal elements in our individual states but we believe we need a coordinated fight between Bauchi and Jigawa to finally drag them out of the forest and finally put rest to the problem there.”

    He said that the President is willing to assist the two states and more actions will be seen in the coming weeks.

  • Meeting with Buhari not designed to intervene in Saraki’s trial – Governor

    Meeting with Buhari not designed to intervene in Saraki’s trial – Governor

    Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, said on Wednesday that the All Progressive Congress (APC) governors’ meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari was not designed to intervene in the ongoing trial of Senate president, Bukola Saraki; his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and others over alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules.

    Abubakar also said the APC governors have raised a committee to look into the crisis and other problems confronting the party.

    He said while the governors will look into party issues in the National Assembly, they will not dabble into either the case in court or the present crisis in the legislature.

    Although he was silent on names, it was obvious that he was referring to the ongoing trial of Saraki and others for forgery of Senate rules.

    Abubakar, who made the submissions at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, said the APC Governors will not intervene in any criminal matter.

    He said: “The APC is a party that has come to power recently and it has come to power from an opposition political party and I must confess that we are experiencing teething problems in the APC because being in government is a new phenomenon for us.

    “I cannot say that things are going on smoothly and that is why yesterday (Tuesday) we paid a visit to Mr. President and we expressed the need for governors to be called upon to delve into the problems of the party with a view to reinvigorating the party so that it can continue performing the functions of a party in power. So we are trying to address this issue.”

    Asked on the extent to which the APC governors will intervene in the trial of some National Assembly leaders.

    Abubakar said: “The question of what aspect of the National Assembly matter we are delving into as APC governors, I assure you that we are not going to tamper with cases that are before courts or tribunals and we are not going to delve into the current issue at the moment.”

  • Bauchi governor appoints 15 new perm secs

    Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, on Tuesday appointed 15 new permanent secretaries as part of his administration`s ongoing civil service reform.

    A statement signed by Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Bello Illelah, said the appointment would reinvigorate the state civil service.

    Illelah said the appointment, which takes immediate effect, was aimed at better service delivery to the people of Bauchi.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new permanent secretaries are – Sa’idu Maikobi, Garba Magaji, Sani Ahmed and Dr. Bala Lukshi.

    Others are – Aliyu Jibo, Nasiru Yelwa, Musa Wadata, Ahmed Misau, Yahuza Adamu, Sa’idu Saleh, Mohammed Umar, Mukhtar Wadaji, Ibrahim Alashe, Aishatu Chibiyaye and Ahmed Zalanga.