The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mohammed Wada

  • APC candidate optimistic of winning Keffi East constituency re-run

    Mohammed Wada, the APC candidate for Keffi East constituency seat in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, says he is optimistic of clinching the seat after the ongoing supplementary poll.

    Wada stated this on Saturday, while speaking in an interview with newsmen in Keffi.

    He also commended the electorate for their peaceful conduct during the exercise.

    “I want to call on my supporters to remain calm and be law abiding because

    I am sure of victory,” he said.

    Also speaking, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim, APC member-elect for Keffi West constituency, expressed optimism that Wada would win the seat.

    Makera polling unit at Angwan Rimi ward of Keffi, is the only voting point where the rerun was being held.

    On March 10, INEC declared the result of Keffi east state constituency inconclusive.

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP), candidate, Abdullazi Sule, is leading APC’s Wada with 97 votes, while 1052 votes were canceled and are being contested in the ongoing rerun.

    Sule scored 7234 votes, while Wada had 7137 in the result earlier collated by INEC.

  • Al-Makura assures corps members of safety in Nasarawa

    Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has assured the NYSC members posted to the state of their safety, while serving in the state.

    The governor gave the assurance during the swearing in ceremony of 2018 Batch A, Stream One, corps members posted to the state at the Dan Yamusa Orientation camp in Keffi Local Government Area of the state.

    Recent clashes between farmers and herdsmen had led to some deaths in some parts of the state.

    Al-Makura, represented by Engr. Mohammed Wada, Commissioner of Works, Transport and Housing, said despite the recent clashes, adequate efforts had been put in place to protect lives and property, including those of corps members deployed to the state.

    He urged the corps members not to panic, but carry out their national duty with vigour and patriotism, while enjoying the hospitality of their host communities.

    “Let me use the liberty of this occasion to reiterate and assure you that Nasarawa State is safe, peaceful and hospitable.

    “It is pertinent to admit that the state, in the recent past, had to contend with the spillover of clashes between herdsmen and farmers resulting from anti-grazing law enacted by a neighbouring state.

    “Despite that, government and security agencies in the state have designed strategies to ensure lives and properties are well protected. So I assure you that your safety in the state is guaranteed,” he said.

    The governor also urged the corps members to participate fully in all camp activities so as to be acquainted with the culture, values, occupation and traditions of the people of the state.

    “The three weeks exercise will also provide the requisite platform for your physical, mental, emotional and psychological condition for the challenges of the service year ahead,” he added.

    Also speaking, Hajia Zainab Isah, Coordinator of the scheme in the state, said 2175 corps members were duly registered for the 2018 Batch A exercise, comprising of 1075 females and 1100 males.

    She revealed that some of the activities lined up for the three-week orientation exercise includes paramiltary drills; citizenship and leadership training; physical training; lectures; skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development training; among others.

    “I am glad to inform your excellency that since the commencement of the orientation course, we have not recorded any problem in the area of health or any act of indiscipline,” she said.

    NAN

  • Nasarawa commences census of own houses

    Nasarawa commences census of own houses

    The Nasarawa State Government on Thursday, commenced two-week census of its houses across the state, Mohammed Wada, Commissioner for Works and Transports has disclosed.

    Wada made the disclosure on Thursday in an interview in Lafia.

    He said the exercise became necessary because the state  government discovered that over the years, most occupants of such houses stayed in them illegally.

    The commissioner said due to the monetization police, government does not longer provide accommodation for civil servants.’

    “All GRAs, Six-man and Eight-Man Quarters, Low Cost, in Akwanga, KeffI, Lafia, Nasarawa and other local government areas are occupied by retired civil servants.

    “We are taking the census of all government houses to ascertain their occupants, their status and legality of allocation,” he said.

    The commissioner also said the state government was losing a lot of revenue due to the presence of illegal occupants of the houses who also failed to pay rent.

    He said the occupants were required to present their allocation papers during the exercise, warning that failure to do that would make them to vacate the houses.

    According to him, in the event that a lawful occupant is discovered to be defaulting in paying rent to the state government rent, he or she will be made to pay all outstanding rent.

    He also said that lawful occupants of such structures would be asked to renovate their houses while vacant houses at the end of the exercise would reallocate to interested persons.

    NAN

  • Fedpoly Bauchi ASUP embarks on indefinite strike

    Fedpoly Bauchi ASUP embarks on indefinite strike

    The Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi Chapter of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) on Tuesday embarked on an indefinite strike to press home some of their demands.

    Comrade Ahmed Mukaddas, Chairman of the union told newsmen in Bauchi that the decision to go on the strike was taken at the congress held on Tuesday in Bauchi.

    Mukaddas accused the Rector, Dr Shuiabu Musa, of non-payment of accumulated 27 months academic allowances.

    Others are non-implementation of the July 2014, 2015 and 2016 promotion; non-payment of enhancement arrears and arrears of short fall in their salary since 2016.

    The other demands include non-payment of CONTISS arrears for the lower cadre since 2013; the actual number of staff on the payroll of the institution; improved student’s welfare; unused personnel cost amounting to N24 billion between February 2017 and August 2017.

    The union also accused the Rector of not organising convocations in the last seven years.

    He also alleged that there were inadequate laboratories and workshops in the institution; illegal recruitment of staff; total collapse of the security system in the school and urged the management to stop the deduction of 7.5 per cent from staff salaries.

    The chairman said the union would not accept any attempt by the management to force them to call off the strike until their demands were met.

    The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mohammed Wada, told NAN that the management was in a meeting trying to see how they could address some of the demands by the union.

    “As I am talking to you, the entire members of the management are busy trying to see how best to tackle some of the demands made by the union,” Wada said.

  • Distribute pre-paid meters to electricity customers, says Nasarawa Govt

    Distribute pre-paid meters to electricity customers, says Nasarawa Govt

    The Nasarawa State Government on Saturday called on the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to distribute pre-paid meters to all electricity customers in the state.

    The State’s Deputy Governor, Mr Silas Agara, made the call at a Town Hall meeting organised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Lafia.

    Agara, represented by Mr Mohammed Wada, the Commissioner for Works and Transports, said that customers were short-changed through overbilling, estimated billing, among others.

    “The only way the customers will be satisfied is when they have pre-paid meters and sure that they only pay for electricity consumed.

    “The state government has donated land and offered to facilitate the installation of a 3000 KVA transformer in Lafia.

    “If the transformer is installed, it will go a long way in addressing the poor electricity supply in the state,’’ he said.

    Also, Moses Arigu, the NERC Commissioner in charge of Consumers Affairs, assured electricity consumers of the commission’s determination to ensure that distribution companies adhere to the operational guidelines.

    “The commission has concluded plans to open an office in Lafia for the consumers to channel their complaints for redress,’’ he said.

    In his remarks, Christian Chime, the Acting Regional Manager of AEDC, apologised to electricity customers, for the problems they were going through due to poor electricity supply.

    Chime said that the company had taken their complaints and would soon address them to ensure improved electricity supply.

    He said that the company would embark on massive instillation of pre-paid meters in the state, urging the customers not to pay for its installation.

    Some of the customers, who spoke at the event, had complained about poor electricity supply in the state and total absence of electricity for more than three months in some areas.