The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nasarawa State

  • AEDC presents N1.5m relief materials in IDPs camp

    The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) on Thursday presented  relief materials worth N1.5 million to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Aso Gurku camp, Nasarawa State.

    It will also sponsor the immunisation of 400 children in the camp to demonstrate  its love and care  for  the less privileged in the society.

    AEDC’s  Managing Director, Mr Ernest Mupwaya, made the presentation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 1,300 displaced persons from the North East are currently resident in the Gurku inter-faith based camp, with women and children under-12 constituting a higher number of the population.

    The exercise was part of programme AEDC ‘s activities  to celebrate the World Immunization Week, celebrated every  last week of April annually.

    The immunization week is aimed at promoting the use of vaccines to protect  people of all ages against diseases.

    Mupwaya, represented by the Head of Corporate Communication, AEDC, Mr Oyebode Fadipe, said that the gesturee was part of AEDC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

    He said that the IDP camp was chosen to futher actualise the commitment and mandate of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

    “By this exercise, the management of AEDC further demonstrates its commitment to the belief that strengthening the healthy systems is key to breaking the cycle of extreme poverty and disease.“

    He said that the process was also designed to promote health, productivity and prosperity among the less privileged.

    Mupwaya thanked the traditional ruler of the community for providing a space for the IDPs in his kingdom.

    Responding, the Ese of Gurku, Mai Kasuwa Darbmir who spoke through an interpreter, expressed gratitude to AEDC for the gesture.

    According to him, members of his community are living  in peace with the IDPs.

    The Chairman of the camp, Mr Yohanna  Zidico exprssed happiness over the exercise, adding that a committee had already been set up to distribute the items equitably.

    He called on the government to provide more assistance, especially immunization to the camp, adding that over 600 children required the service.

    Items presented to the camp included food stuffs like bags of rice and nodules.

  • Emir lauds IGP for curbing crime, criminality

    Emir lauds IGP for curbing crime, criminality

    The Emir of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Alhaji Isah Mustapha-Agwai 1, has commended the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun-Idris, for tackling crime and criminality in the country.

    He said the appointment of Idris as IGP has drastically reduced criminal activities in the country in recent times.

    The emir, who is also the Chairman, state Council of Chiefs, said this when Shuaibu Lawal-Gambo, a DIG in charge of (Finance and Administration), paid him a visit as part of his sensitisation tour of North-Central.

    The first class traditional ruler noted that there had been a great significant reduction of crimes across the nation while appealing for its sustenance.

    He said the enviable efforts of Kpotun-Idris as a dogged, pious, patriotic and committed crime buster, was being noticed.

    “We commend his achievements in returning the country to its normalcy of a peaceful nation, through discipline and enforcement.

    “I wish to commend the police under Idris-Kpotun’s watch for the dedication, commitment and complementary role to the presidency in the fight against electoral fraud, insurgency, kidnapping and terrorism,” he said.

    He said the officers and men of the police should continue to remain resolute and firm in the discharge of their duties.

    “I am aware that the maintenance of peace and orderliness is never an easy task in any society; it is my fervent prayers that Almighty Allah will give you the sound health, wisdom and knowledge for peace and crime free society,’’ the emir said.

    Speaking earlier, the DIG underscored the role of traditional institutions in complementing the effort of security operatives in crime control.

    He said the IG-P directed the DIG’s in the six geo-political zones to go and sensitise their people on the unity, harmonious and peaceful coexistence as well as educate the people on the importance of community policing.

    He said the role of traditional institutions in sustaining peace and unity in the country would remain relevant in community policing.

    According to him, traditional rulers in the country have in no small measure supported and cooperated with the police and other security agencies, which resulted in the high-level success recorded in curbing criminal activities.

    Lawal-Gambo, however, appealed to adherents of the two major religions in the country to assist security agents to overcome some security challenges bedevilling the nation.

  • Court dissolves 5-year-old marriage over threat to life

    Court dissolves 5-year-old marriage over threat to life

    A Maraba Grade 1 Area Court, Nasarawa State, has dissolved the five-year- old marriage between Hawawu Isa and her husband Nuhu Isa, over threat to life and frequent beating.

    President of the court, Owuna Musa, who dissolved the marriage, said he was convinced that the couple could no longer live together as husband and wife.

    Musa said in spite several attempts to reconcile them, the petitioner insisted on divorce.

    “The court has no choice than to dissolve the union, in spite of the fact that the husband still claims he loves his wife, the petitioner insists on getting a divorce.

    “Both parties are no longer husband and wife, as the marriage has broken down totally, they are free to go their separate ways,” the judge ruled.

    Hawawu, 28, a housewife, filed a suit to end her marriage over her husband’s frequent beating and threat to her life.

    “I married my husband sometime in 2012, but we have not been blessed with a child.

    “My husband does not take his responsibilities as a man serious, he does not provides food or pay medical bills for me.

    “He has inflicted so much injury on me, there was a time he beat me till I fainted and rushed to the hospital by our neighbours.

    “He threatened to kill me on several occasions, and I have lost interest in the marriage.

    “There is no love between us. I urge the court to grant my plea and divorce us,” Hawawu said.

    She described her husband as “an irresponsible man’’ who does nothing other than beating her for no reason and without any provocation.

    The respondent, however, denied all the allegations.

    He pleaded with the court not to grant his wife’s request for the dissolution of their marriage.

    “I am still in love with her,” Isa said.

     

  • Nasarawa tertiary institutions suspend strikeNasarawa tertiary institutions suspend strike

     

    The Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions in Nasarawa State has suspended its two weeks indefinite strike.

    The state’s Chairman of the union, Mr Ariks Bashayi, announced the suspension on Wednesday in Lafia, shortly after the union’s emergency meeting.

    According to him, the suspension of the strike is due to the commitment shown by the State Government through the authorities of the three tertiary institutions owned by the state.

    “Though all our demands were not met, the union has shifted ground for now.

    “The State Government and other stakeholders appealed to the union to call-off the strike to pave way for further negotiations.”

    Bashayi said that the government had agreed to grant 75 per cent of the union’s demands, resulting to the suspension of the strike.

    The chairman called on members of the union to resume work immediately, pending further directives from the union.

    On April 5, the union embarked on an indefinite strike, citing government’s refusal to address welfare-related issues.

    The institutions involved in the strike are the College of Education, Akwanga, College of Agriculture, Lafia and the Nassarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia.

  • Nasarawa tertiary institutions suspend strike

    The Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions in Nasarawa State has suspended its two weeks indefinite strike.

    The state’s Chairman of the union, Mr Ariks Bashayi, announced the suspension on Wednesday in Lafia, shortly after the union’s emergency meeting.

    According to him, the suspension of the strike is due to the commitment shown by the State Government through the authorities of the three tertiary institutions owned by the state.

    “Though all our demands were not met, the union has shifted ground for now.

    “The State Government and other stakeholders appealed to the union to call-off the strike to pave way for further negotiations.”

    Bashayi said that the government had agreed to grant 75 per cent of the union’s demands, resulting to the suspension of the strike.

    The chairman called on members of the union to resume work immediately, pending further directives from the union.

    On April 5, the union embarked on an indefinite strike, citing government’s refusal to address welfare-related issues.

    The institutions involved in the strike are the College of Education, Akwanga, College of Agriculture, Lafia and the Nassarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia.

     

  • Students seek truce between labour unions, Nasarawa govt. to end strike

    Students of tertiary institutions in Nasarawa State have called for truce between the state government and labour unions of the three higher institutions currently on strike.

    Some of the students told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Keffi on Wednesday that both sides must take step to end the strike in the interest of the students.

    NAN reports that the Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions had embarked on an indefinite strike on April 5, demanding for promotion, payment of their annual increment and other entitlements.

    The institutions involved in the strike include the College of Education, Akwanga, College of Agriculture, Lafia and Nasarawa State, Polytechnic, Lafia.

    The students called for understanding between the state government and the union in resolving the industrial action, so that it would not have adverse effect on the education sector.

    Mr Thomas Bulus, a student of Computer Science at the state Polytechnic in Lafia, said the strike was a set back to education.

    “The ongoing higher institutions workers strike has affected our education negatively as academic activities had stopped in these institutions.

    “The strike is unfortunate. No student will be comfortable staying at home, That is why, I want to use this medium to appeal to the state government and the organised labour to dialogue in order to end the strike in our interest.”

    Another student, Sarah Ali of College of Education, Akwanga, also appealed to the government and union to dialogue so as to end the strike.

    She noted that the strike had not only crippled economic activities but also affected the education sector negatively.

    “No nation could achieve speedy development without sound education; the strike has affected the state socio-economic development and our education negatively,” she said.

    Ali reminded the government and the union that the future of the state and the country at large lied on the proper education given to the youths.

    Mr Haruna Mohammed of College of Agriculture, Lafia said “we are still at home because of the strike and this is not fair.

    ‘‘Government should do something about it and the union should also have understanding with the government in order to end the strike,” he said.

  • Nasarawa NLC decries salaries delay, lack of promotion

    The Nasarawa State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has decried the “unnecessary delays” in the payment of salaries to civil servants in the state.

    The NLC also expressed disgust that no worker had been promoted “in the last six years”.

    Mr Abdullahi Adeka, NLC Chairman in the state, voiced the workers’ concerns at the 4th Quadrennial State Delegates Conference of Nasarawa State Chapter of the Association of Senior Civil Servant of Nigeria (ASCSN), in Lafia.

    The NLC Chairman, who was represented by Yusuf Sarki-Iya, the Treasurer, said that such delays had subjected workers to lots of hardship.

    “The situation is appalling; government will just deliberately delay salaries for up to four months before they pay for one month.

    “Another issue of concern is that no worker in Nasarawa State has been promoted in the last six years.

    “Also, no worker has been given annual increment and there has been no attention to staff development in terms of training, in the last six years,” he added.

    He said that government was killing the civil service by categorising it into two – senior and junior civil servants – and explained that stagnation had stalled carrier progression, created a vacuum and wiped out the middle cadre.

    Adeka regretted that outstanding salaries, pensions and gratuities had not been paid in spite of the Paris Club Refund that came with a categorical instruction that the payments be effected.

    “Government recently released N300 million for the payment of gratuity of some retirees, but the money is grossly insufficient and certainly not up to half of the Paris Club Refund,” he said.

    Also speaking, Mr Gabriel Agbashi of the Trade Union Congress, rejected suggestions that Nasarawa was poor and lacked sufficient money to meet its obligations.

    “The only problem in Nasarawa State is that government does not consider workers’ welfare as its priority. We work in this state and have all records on how much is in the coffers of the state,” he said.

    He urged government to pay salaries promptly and also promote civil servants to avoid stagnation that had lowered morale.

    Responding, Mr Thomas Ogiri, Nasarawa State Head of Service, urged patience from the workers.

    “Government is working hard to improve workers’ welfare. The workers should just exercise some patience,” he said.

    He said that government had always carried NLC leaders along, saying that all actions were usually based on agreement reached with labour.

  • Nasarrawa: Students seek truce between labour unions, government to end strike

    Nasarrawa: Students seek truce between labour unions, government to end strike

     

    Students of tertiary institutions in Nasarawa State have called for truce between the state government and labour unions of the three higher institutions currently on strike.

    Some of the students told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Keffi on Wednesday that both sides must take step to end the strike in the interest of the students.

    NAN reports that the Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions had embarked on an indefinite strike on April 5, demanding for promotion, payment of their annual increment and other entitlements.

    The institutions involved in the strike include the College of Education, Akwanga, College of Agriculture, Lafia and Nasarawa State, Polytechnic, Lafia.

    The students called for understanding between the state government and the union in resolving the industrial action, so that it would not have adverse effect on the education sector.

    Mr Thomas Bulus, a student of Computer Science at the state Polytechnic in Lafia, said the strike was a set back to education.

    “The ongoing higher institutions workers strike has affected our education negatively as academic activities had stopped in these institutions.

    “The strike is unfortunate. No student will be comfortable staying at home, That is why, I want to use this medium to appeal to the state government and the organised labour to dialogue in order to end the strike in our interest.”

    Another student, Sarah Ali of College of Education, Akwanga, also appealed to the government and union to dialogue so as to end the strike.

    She noted that the strike had not only crippled economic activities but also affected the education sector negatively.

    “No nation could achieve speedy development without sound education; the strike has affected the state socio-economic development and our education negatively,” she said.

    Ali reminded the government and the union that the future of the state and the country at large lied on the proper education given to the youths.

    Mr Haruna Mohammed of College of Agriculture, Lafia said “we are still at home because of the strike and this is not fair.

    ‘‘Government should do something about it and the union should also have understanding with the government in order to end the strike,” he said.

     

  • Nasarawa to close unregistered private schools

     

    The Nasarawa State Government says he will shut private schools discovered to be operating without its approval.
    The Commissioner for Education, Mr Tijjani Ahmed, disclosed this on Monday to the correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia.
    Ahmed said the unregistered schools were discovered following a census conducted recently by the ministry.

    He added that the names of the affected schools would soon be made public.
    The commissioner also noted that some schools were operating within un-conducive environments where there were no spaces for pupils to recreate and others in uncompleted buildings.
    “All defaulting private schools that are yet to pay their yearly fees must do so before the end of April to avoid sanctions.
    “It is no longer going to be business-as-usual where some people will short-change government by not paying the charges due to it.
    “Proprietors of private schools should strictly adhere to the guidelines for the establishment and operation of such ventures as stipulated by the state government.
    “The ministry has already circulated a notice to owners of all the private schools in the state informing them of an upward review of the registration fees for new schools and renewal fees for existing ones.
    “We give all private schools up to April 30th to update their records and those operating illegally should come to the ministry for proper documentation and payment or face sanctions,” he said.
    Ahmed said that the ministry had constituted a taskforce to go round to enforce the directive.

     

  •  Al-Makura dissolves governing council of tertiary institutions

     Al-Makura dissolves governing council of tertiary institutions

    Gov.Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has approved the dissolution of the governing council of the three state owned tertiary institutions.

    Mohammed Abdullahi, the Secretary to the State Government, announced this on Friday in Lafia.

    He listed the affected institutions as College of Education, Akwanga, College of Agriculture, Lafia and Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia.

    Abdullahi thanked the chairmen and members of the councils for their services and wished them well in their future endeavours.

    He said that the dissolution of the councils took immediate effect.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the institutions are currently on indefinite strike to press home their demands for better welfare packages.