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Tag: Salihu Maidaji

  • Tambuwal assents to Sokoto’s N220.5b 2018 budget

    Tambuwal assents to Sokoto’s N220.5b 2018 budget

    Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal Wednesday signed into law, the Sokoto 2018 budget which was recently passed by the State House of Assembly.

    Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the Government House in Sokoto, Tambuwal said the of N220.5 billion document will be implemented optimally for the benefit of the citizenry.

    He despite despite challenges in meeting revenue targets in the past years, the government is hopeful of performing to expectation in the implementation of the 2018 fiscal document.

    “We are aware that the legislature has not tinkered with the overall budget size even though they have reallocated some resources to different sub heads, we are happy with that.

    “We believe it is within the purview of your rights as legislators to do what you have done and we will implement the as passed,” the Governor added.

    While commending the lawmakers for a thorough job on the budget document, Tabuwal msaid it is gratifying to note that the relationship between the executive and the legislature in Sokoto has continued to blossom.

    Read Also: Tambuwal  effects major cabinet reshuffle

    “This has helped in strengthening democracy in the state. The people should know that our relationship is not a master-servant relationship, but one based on mutual trust and respect for the two arms of government,” he stated.

    In his remarks, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Salihu Maidaji, said the legislature is satisfied with the performance of the state budget in 2017.

    He urged the state government to strenghten the internal revenue board by providing logistics for enhanced performance.

    He said the the Assembly will work with the executive to repeal obsolete revenue laws hampering drive at effective revenue mobilisation in the state.

    Highlights of the budget include the setting aside of 69.9 percent, orN152.8, for capital expenditure whilethe sum of N67.6 billion, representing over 30 percent, was set aside for recurrent expenditure.

    And for the third year running, Education sector got the highest allocation with 26.1 percent of the total budget sum, followed by Health sector which got the sum of N20.932 billion, Agriculture got the third highest allocation with N16.535 billion.

    Similarly, the sum N14.255 billion allocated to Works and Transport whileLands, Housing and Survey got the sum of N11.560 billion

  • Sokoto Assembly suspends two members

    Sokoto Assembly suspends two members

    The Sokoto State House of Assembly on Tuesday suspended two of its members, Sani Yakubu (APC- Gudu) and Malami Galadanchi (APC- Sokoto North I).

    The two lawmakers were suspended for unethical conduct.

    The assembly had set up a special committee to investigate the conduct of the two members during the recent impeachment of the Deputy House Leader, Kabiru Ibrahim.

    The Committee, headed by Habibu Modachi (APC- Isa), in its report, said the two members had pleaded guilty to the charges against them.

    According to the report, the conduct of the members on Aug. 15 in the legislative chamber was “unethical” and contravened the house standing rules.

    Subsequently, the assembly accepted the report and suspended Yakubu for 40 legislative days while Galadanchi was suspended for 30 legislative days.

    The two were also told to submit separate letters of apology to the Assembly.

    The Speaker, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji, presided over the House sitting.

    NAN

  • Sokoto House of Assembly impeaches Deputy Leader

    Sokoto House of Assembly impeaches Deputy Leader

    The Sokoto State House of Assembly says it has impeached its Deputy Leader, Alhaji Kabiru Ibrahim (APC- Kware), following a no-confidence vote passed by members.

    The Speaker, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji, announced the decision of the House at a plenary on Tuesday that the removal was endorsed by the 21 members.

    “I have received a letter of vote of no confidence in the Deputy House Leader duly signed by 21 members of the Assembly in accordance with Order Six, Section 11, subsection (3) of the Standing Orders of Sokoto State House of Assembly 2014 as amended.

    “The signatures of the 21 members that passed the votes of no confidence in Kabiru Ibrahim, member representing Kware as Deputy House Leader are hereby accepted.

    “Consequently, we replace him with Alhaji Ibrahim Sarki as the new Deputy House Leader (APC- Sokoto North II),” he said.

    In an interview with newsmen after the impeachment, the House Leader, Alhaji Garba Bello (APC- Yabo), noted that the vote of no confidence followed constitutional breaches by Ibrahim.

    He accused Ibrahim of engaging in some political activities ahead of the 2019 General Elections in violation of INEC guidelines.

    “Ibrahim arranged a delegation with other members to mobilise in support of a governorship aspirant and as such he breached our Standing Orders.”

  • Sokoto House of Assembly loses Clerk

    Sokoto House of Assembly loses Clerk

    The Clerk of Sokoto State House of Assembly, Alhaji Suleiman Muhammad, died in the early hours of Tuesday at the age of  53, a statement from the assembly said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Muhammad died at the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, after a brief illness.

    His remains were buried in Sokoto after a funeral prayer at the Sultan Muhammadu Maccido Jumaat Mosque, Sokoto, attended by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal.

    Also at the funeral were the state Deputy Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, Speaker of the Assembly, Salihu Maidaji and his deputy, Abubakar Magaji, among others.

    The deceased, who was seconded from the state civil service, assumed the position after the retirement of the erstwhile clerk in 2016.

    Muhammad is survived by his aged parents, three wives and 13 children.

  • Ghost workers: Sokoto recovers N278m from LG payrolls – Tambuwal

    Ghost workers: Sokoto recovers N278m from LG payrolls – Tambuwal

    Sokoto State Government says it has recovered over N278 million paid to ghost workers on the payrolls of local governments in the past four months.

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal disclosed this on Sunday during a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Gwadabawa Local Government Area.

    Tambuwal said the money was paid to the ghost workers’ bank accounts but was not claimed from the various banks.

    “This was sequel to the centralisation of the payment of the salaries of workers of the local governments.

    “About two weeks ago, some banks alerted the Commissioner of Local Governments about the existence of the unclaimed money,” the governor said.

    He said the recent verification of council staff was aimed at ascertaining genuine workers.

    “The exercise was not aimed at witch hunting anyone but to ascertain the actual workforce and monthly wage bill of the local governments,” Tambuwal said.

    He said many farmers in the state were defaulting in repayment of agricultural loans obtained from commercial banks and assured the banks of the government’s support in recovering the money.

    “The money belongs to the Central Bank of Nigeria and we will support any action to recover it.

    “This is to enable other farmers to benefit from the gesture as the money is not a bonanza.’’

    Tambuwal called on the people to continue to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari as well as for sustained peace and unity of Nigeria.

    Also speaking, Sen. Ibrahim Gobir (APC-Sokoto) and Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji, called on party members to obtain their permanent voter cards.

  • Sokoto Assembly approves N2bn loan for UBE, agric, environment

    The Sokoto State House of Assembly has approved the state government’s request to obtain a loan of over N2.07 billion from Zenith Bank.

    Part of the money would be used as counterpart fund for the Universal Basic Education(UBE).

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this followed the adoption of a motion moved by the Assembly’s Leader, Alhaji Garba Bello (APC- Yabo).

    NAN also reports that the motion followed a letter from Gov. Aminu Tambuwal which was presented to the floor of the Assembly on Thursday by the Speaker, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji.

    It read: “I am pleased to inform the state Assembly that Zenith Bank Nigeria Plc has offered the state government a term loan facility of N1,042,027,027.02.

    “This is to enable the payment of counterpart funding for the state universal basic education, 2016.

    “The facility attracts an interest rate of 19.5 per cent, one per cent management fee, one per cent commitment fee.

    “Repayment would be done through an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) at N 96,278,477.30, per month for a duration of 12 months”.

    The letter also indicated that the bank had also offered a term loan of N1,033,044,900.00 to enable the payment of counterpart funding for Nigeria Erosion and Water Shed Management project.

    “Moreover, the facility attracts an interest rate of 19 per cent, one per cent management fee, one per cent commitment fee and repayment through ISPO at N52,074,364.92 per month for a duration of 24 months,” it said.

    The letter said that the government was seeking the Assembly’s consideration of the offer to enable it benefit from the facility so as to access the counterpart funding projects.

    Bello said that the facilities would enable the government to improve the standard of education and agricultural development for the overall development of the state.

    After the members unanimously accepted the motion, the Speaker said: “the Assembly will allow the state government to obtain the required loan facility to enable the payment of the counterpart funding”.