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Tag: Niger Government

  • Niger confirms N5.7bn pension fund missing

    Niger confirms N5.7bn pension fund missing

    Niger State government on Tuesday confirmed that a pension fund totaling N5.77 billion is missing.

    The money is 7.5 per cent employer/employee Contributory Pension Scheme deduction made on behalf of the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and local government councils in the state from 2007 to 2015.

    However, the state government has put in place a committee to ensure that the stolen funds are recovered and returned to government coffers.

    The Niger State Acting Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Ketso, disclosed these in Minna at the opening of a sensitization workshop on Effective Pension Management and Administration in Niger State.

    According to him, N5.779 billion and not N6.2 billion was the funds not remitted to the Pension Board during the period.

    Ketso added that the discovery followed the forensic audit of the pension scheme transactions carried out by the state government.

    He said the government has set up a committee to ensure that the stolen funds are recovered and returned to the government’s coffers.

    He said: “Let me reassure our pension contributors and all Nigerlites that we will ensure that every amount of money deducted as employers/employees contributions since the introduction of the contributory pension scheme in 2007 till date will be accounted for and applied judiciously in accordance with the law for the benefit of the workers who have worked hard and saved for their retirement.”

     

     

     

     

  • Niger sets up task force against indiscriminate felling of trees

    The Niger Government has set up a task force to prevent indiscriminate felling of economic trees in the state.

    Gov. Abubakar Bello, who made this known on Friday during a tour of Agaie Local Government Area of the state, warned that anybody caught would be arrest and prosecuted.

    ‘‘We have set up a taskforce that will swing into action next week and anyone caught felling economic trees would be arrested.

    ‘‘We must guard against such practices because the future of our dear state is at stake here,’’ he said.

    Bello explained that the task force became necessary so as to protect the soil from gully and sheet erosion, with its negative effects on agricultural production.

    He advised traditional rulers to educate their subjects on the dangers of indiscriminate felling of trees.

    The governor, who visited some schools in Agaie, decried their dilapidated condition, adding that education was a collective responsibility of government and the public.

    He said the rehabilitation of nine schools across the state was ongoing under the whole school approach, adding that more schools would be renovated in due course.

    The governor also inspected the General Hospital, Agaie and some ongoing road projects which, he said the state was committed to completing.

    He said the tour of local governments was important as it afforded him the opportunity to meet with the people directly and know what they want.

    The governor gave assurance that future budgets would provide for the people what they need and not what the government thinks they desire.

    NAN reports that the Gov. Bello donated N30 million to the local government to be used in addressing some of its developmental challenges.

  • Niger spends N39m to combat Meningitis ‎‎  

     

    Niger Government says it has spent N39 million to combat the outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in the state.
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    The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Mustapha Jibril, told newsmen on Friday in Mina that the state recorded 33 deaths out of its 123 CSM cases.

    Jubril said that a total of 4,100 tablets of Ciprofloxacin were distributed to contacts of suspected cases in the affected areas, including health workers.

     

    According to the commissioner, represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr Muhammed Usman, 12 local government areas were affected by the epidemic.

    “Magama LGA had 70 cases and recorded 31 deaths; in Rijau, 17 cases were recorded with one death; Kontagora had a record of 19 cases with one death.

    “The remaining nine LGAs are Suleja with six cases; Agwara, two cases; Paikoro, one case; Mashegu one case; Tafa, one case; Mariga, one case; Lapai one;  Beji, one; and Bosso Local Government, one case without any death.‎

    “Thirty-three lives were lost in three of the affected local governments,’’ the commissioner said.
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    J‎ibril said that Outbreak Response Centres had been activated to help curtail the spread of the disease.

    He warned Niger residents against sleeping in crowded rooms and to report persistent headache and neck pain to the nearest hospital.

    He advised‎ the public to protect themselves from people with cough and flu as the bacteria causing meningitis could spread from person-to-person through coughing and sneezing‎.
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    He said that the state was collaborating with the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and Doctors without Borders to respond to the outbreak.
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    Meningitis is a relatively rare but contagious and deadly infection that affects the delicate membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.

    Bacterial Meningitis can be deadly among people in close contact, while Viral Meningitis‎ tends to be less severe, with most people recovering completely without specific therapy.
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    Fungal meningitis is a rare form of meningitis and generally occurs only in people with weakened immune systems.

     

  • Niger to recruit 267 health personnel

    The Niger Government on Wednesday said it had concluded arrangements to employ 267 healthcare workers as part of efforts to boost the health sector in the state.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Makun Sidi, disclosed this when he led the state’s Health Care Financing Technical Working Committee on an advocacy visit to the state’s House of Assembly.

    He said: “Last year, we had approval to engage 110 health workers, out of which, 30 were doctors.

    “This year, we would recruit 267, out of which, five would be consultants.

    “Suffice to say that today, Niger has 18 consultants in different areas of specialisation as against few years ago when we had four or five.”

    The permanent secretary, who noted that the remuneration of health workers in the state was poor, appealed for improvement in that regard.

    According to him, the General Hospital, Minna, records 600 child deliveries monthly.

    Sidi said the executive would send a bill seeking to domesticate the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the state.

    The Health Care Financing Technical Working Committee then appointed the Speaker of the House, Alhaji Ahmed Marafa, as champion of the State Health Insurance Scheme.

    In his remarks, the Speaker assured that the bill would be passed into law in record time when it was presented to the House.

    Marafa maintained that the domestication of the NHIS had become necessary, as health issues were capital intensive.

    NAN

  • Niger approves N576m for pension payments

    The Niger government has approved N576 million for the payment of 413 pensioners in the state.

    The Director-General of the state’s Pension Board, Alhaji Tinau Mohammed, told newsmen on Wednesday in Minna that Gov. Abubakar Bello gave the approval on March 3.

    He said that the money would be used to pay pensions of eight retired permanent secretaries, one head of service and civil servants in five Local Government Areas of the state.

    The Local Governments include, Lapai, Chanchaga, Lavun, Shiroro and Agaie.

    Mohammed explained that a committee headed by Alhaji Munde Lapai, the former Head of Service was constituted by the State Government to investigate the payment of pensions in the past.

    “Investigation by the committee revealed that N112 million was released for the payment of 953 pensioners under the old pension scheme.

    “The payment was divided into three batches– in the first batch, 14 Local Governments qualified and N630 million was released for payment of 549 pensioners.

    “In the second batch, six Local Governments qualified and N490 million was paid to 404 pensioners.

    “Now in the third batch, 413 pensioners will be paid N576 million,’’ he said.

    The director-general said that the same committee had been mandated to evaluate retirees under the new Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) for prompt payment.

    He said the evaluation revealed that 3,880 retired civil servants were under the CPS and that they were valued to be paid N7.5 billion.

    Mohammed assured that the government was committed to the welfare of retired civil servants by ensuring prompt payment of their pensions and gratuity.

     

  • Drug Abuse: Niger to partner NDLEA

    The Niger Government says it will partner with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to curtail incessant drug abuse among youths in the state.

    Hajiya Mairam Kolo, Director-General of the Niger State Child’s Rights Agency, disclosed this when she visited the State Command of the NDLEA in Minna on Wednesday.

    She said that the agency was established by Gov. Abubakar Bello to protect the rights of children and treat child abuse related issues.

    “The partnership will enable both agencies to curtail and minimise the use of drugs among young people.

    “The high rate of rape and child abuse in the state is condemnable and most of these children are being abused by parents, guardians or neighbours.

    “Also, majority of the pregnant girls brought to the agency are engaged in drug abuse and such cases require special attention,’’ she said.

    The State Commandant of NDLEA, Mr Iweajunwa Joseph, advised the agency to extend its coverage to the 25 local government areas of the state to monitor children who were being abused on daily basis.

    He blamed child abuse on parents who did not live up to the responsibilities of taking care of their children, thereby leaving them exposed to all forms of abuses.

    Joseph appealed to the state government to assist in the rehabilitation of inmates by enrolling them in schools to complete their education.

     

  • Niger to train 5,000 youths to acquire skills

    Niger Government says it is ready to train and empower 5,000 youths to acquire skills under its Youth Development Schemes to make them self-reliant.

    Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger disclosed this when he issued N50,000 grant and certificates of merit to the 1,000 youths trained in interlocking and block laying in Minna on Thursday.

    He said the 5000 youths would be selected across the 25 local government areas of the state.

    Bello said the administration was committed to their empowerment so as to reduce youth restiveness in the state.

    “It is our responsibility to engage our youths in various skills so that they can equip themselves with different entrepreneurial skills to reduce the pressure on government.

    “We are giving special attention to our youths in the 2017 budget. We have designed various programmes that will assist us actualise our target under the Youth Development and Empowerment Scheme.

    “Aside from those issued with certificate of merit today, 250 youths are being given the opportunity to learn different skills.

    “Another set of 1,500 youths has been selected across the state to commence skill acquisition after the current batch.

    “I think we are we are making progress. Hopefully before the end of this year, 5,000 youths would have been engaged”, he said.

    The governor commended the youths for embracing the skills acquisition programmes and their commitment to key into the programmes designed to empower them.

    He advised the beneficiaries to exhibit the skills they have acquired to better their lots.

    Alhaji Nma Kolo, Project Coordinator of the State Youth Skill Acquisition Scheme thanked government for ensuring that youths in the state were fully empowered.

    Malam Aliyu Bala, Leader of the interlocking training scheme, thanked government for engaging youths in skills acquisition programmes.

    He said the programme would make them self-employed, rather than job-seekers and contribute their quota to the development of the society.

     

  • Niger signs N300 m contract to digitise Radio

    Niger signs N300 m contract to digitise Radio

    The acting General Manager, Radio Niger, Mr Andrew Achanya, has said that the state government had signed N300 million contract to ensure the digitilisation of the station.

    Achanya disclosed this on Monday, in commemoration of ‎World Radio Day with the theme for 2017 edition, “Radio is You”‎.

    He also said that the state government had sent two staff of the station to Italy for two-week training on the job, to enable them manage the digitisation when in operation.

    According to him, the effort is also due to the premium government places government on broadcasting and the need to transit from analogue to dititilisation of the radio.

    “The state government has, however, promised to train more of our staff to enable us manage the machines on ground.

    “The training will virtually go round, those we cannot train abroad we would train them at the National Broadcasting Academy,(NBA), Lagos”, he said.
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    ‎He said that the AM and FM station would continue to operate together until March ‎when the station would have been completely digitised.

    “Between now and April, when we are digitised completely, ‎we are going to be global, and Radio Niger will be heard everywhere around the world”.

    Achanya identified fluctuation in power supply as one of the challenges affecting the operations of the station.

    “We are usually on plant, we use diesel throughout the 18 hours that we transmit.

    “We buy diesel for N270 per litre and we use almost 200 litres daily and that brings it to N54, 000 on a typical day.‎”

    The World Radio Day is an annual event usually marked on Feb. 13 to celebrate radio as a medium to improve international cooperation amongst broadcasters and to spur other networks.

    Radio broadcasting started in Nigeria in 1933 by the British colonial government, named the Radio Diffusion Service (RDS) which gave birth to the Nigerian Broadcasting Service with radio stations in Lagos, Kaduna, Enugu, Ibadan, and Kano, April 1950.

    The development allowed the public to hear British Broadcasting Corporation’s foreign radio service broadcasts in certain public locations over loudspeakers.

    The service was later reorganized into the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) on April 1, 1957, by act of parliament, to “provide, as a public service, independent and impartial broadcasting services”.

    There are at least, 315 radio stations, both public and private, in the country as at 2017 across the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, nation’s capital.

     

  • Niger Govt. threatens to sack Tornadoes technical adviser

     

    The Niger Government has threatened to sack the technical adviser of Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna over poor performance of the club in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    Malam Mamman Musa, the state commissioner for Youth Affairs and Sports Development, made the threat on Tuesday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.

    He said that the government would sack the adviser if the team would not win its next two matches in the ongoing 2016/2017 NPFL.

    “We are not comfortable with the performance of Niger Tornadoes in the ongoing league.

    “The bottom of the NPFL table is not meant for us, and we don’t have any reason to be there.

    “We thought we had a brilliant technical management team, but from the current performance of the club, it is not so.

    “The best we can do in the interest of the club now is to give the technical adviser the benefit of doubt to win the next two matches for the team or quit,’’ he said.

    Musa said that the state government gave the club’s technical crew free hands to operate but did get positive results.

    He explained that, of the three matches played by the club so far in the current league, it lost two and drew one.

    The official said that the poor performance was not acceptable.

    “We are not saying that Tornadoes should top the league for now, but to be on the bottom of the league table with minus four goals is not acceptable.’’

    Responding, the Technical Adviser, Coach Abubakar Bala, appealed for more time.

    Bala said that many of the club’s players were new and needed time to blend.

    “We need to perform together for some time before we can make headway; I am sure that, with time, we will do well.

    “We want the government and other supporters to be patient with us; we will get better,’’ he said.

    The Media Officer of the club, George Daniya, told NAN that the club would play Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi on Wednesday in Lokoja.

    He added that defending champions, Rangers International of Enugu FC, would play host to Tornadoes on Sunday in Enugu.

    Daniya said that Tornadoes was currently on 20th position on the league table.

    NAN reports that Bala took over from Coach Abdullahi Biffo as Tornadoes Technical Manager on June 1, 2016, after the latter was accused of anti-club activities.

  • Kure to be buried Wednesday

    Former Niger State governor, Engr. Abdulkadir Kure, will be buried on Wednesday in Minna, the state capital.

    Niger State government, who announced the date on Monday, said the Janaiza prayer will hold by 12noon at Minna Eid-praying ground.

    The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, said the date was reached at a meeting between Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and the deceased’s family.

    The commissioner added that Governor Bello has declared Wednesday a work free day to enable people of the state accord the former governor a befitting burial.