The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sokoto State

  • Tambuwal restates commitment to recruit more workers, improve welfare

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Tuesday said that the state government would embark on recruitment of more workers to facilitate improve manpower in state and local services.

    Tambuwal stated this at 2018 Workers Day celebration in Sokoto, saying that 2, 500 primary and secondary teachers had already been recruited between 2017 and 2018 in the state.

    He described workers as `catalyst in channelling state resources’ to productive means aimed at improving the living condition of people.

    Tambuwal added that health workers and others would be recruited to enhance effective service delivery.

    He disclosed that no fewer than 200 students have been sponsored to study medicine abroad and come back to work in states’ hospitals.

    The governor added that his administration had conducted computer training programme for all categories of workers besides sponsoring workshops to enhance their productivity.

    According to him, the present administration had ensure steady and prompt payment of salaries and pension stressing that more than N4 billion gratuity had been settled from 2016 to date while others were under way.

    He said in view of the importance the government attached to workers Welfare, it had commenced the sale of government houses to workers besides many other Nigerians welfare packages.

    Tambuwal reiterated that government would continue to execute viable programmes toward improving workers welfare and assured continuous harmonious working relationship.

    Read Also: Tinubu condoles with Ajimobi, Tambuwal

    The Federal Controller of Labour in Sokoto State, Mr Sa’idu Muhammad, said the event was being conducted to review achievements, challenges and others for improved service delivery.

    In his address, Mr Aminu Umar, the State Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress ( NLC ), lauded governor’s efforts on workers welfare in the state.

    Umar acknowledged that about 10, 000 workers were recruited since his election as state governor despite prompt payment of entitlements and others packages.

    The labour leader assured that workers would continue to live up to the expectation to reciprocate the commitment and urged workers to support leaderships at all levels.

    The newsmen reports that special prayer led by Comrade Hassan Abdullahi, was offered for late governor’s Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, who died last week.

    The newsmen also reports that no fewer than 80 unions participated in the rally held at the occasion.

    NAN

  • Lai Mohammed mourns Oyo speaker, Tambuwal’s aide

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described as untimely and shocking the death of the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Adeyemo.

    Mohammed also expressed shock and sadness over the sudden death of Mr Imam Imam, the Special Adviser on Media to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.

    In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the minister said  death had cut short the rising profile of Adeyemo in the nation’s political scene.

    While expressing his condolences to the people and government of Oyo State, he prayed that God will grant repose to the soul of the departed and comfort the late Speaker’s family.

    Mohammed also  paid tribute to Imam, whom he said he had cause to interact with many times in his lifetime, describing him as “a quintessential journalist and a valuable aide of his principal.’’

    He expressed his condolences to Tambuwal whom  he said  had suffered a personal loss with the demise of his long-time aide.

    The minister prayed that God will take Imam to his bosom and also give his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

    NAN

  • Zakkat commission disburses N2m to needy in Sokoto

    The Sokoto State Zakkat and Endowment Commission on Saturday disbursed N2 million Zakkat ( alms ) to 50 less-privileged persons in the state.

    Malam Lawal Maidoki, the chairman of the commission who disclosed this while speaking to newsmen, said that the amount came through donations from individuals.

    He said that beneficiaries would get the sum of N 40,000, each, with a mandate to be invested in any business of their choices.

    He added that the commission would also distribute 100 bags of wheat to diabetespatients across the state.

    He said that each of the diabetes patients would be supported with one bag of wheat and N10,000 to buy beans as well as other necessary utensils.

    Maidoki said that the gesture was part of the state government’s efforts to support the healthcare of the citizens.

    He said that the commission would remain committed to supporting the healthcare delivery of the less-privileged in the society.

    Read Also: Sokoto: PCN seals off 360 erring medicine stores, pharmacies

    “We will continue in our core mandate to assist the needy and less privileged in the society,” Maidoki said.

    He said said that four people would benefit from Zakkat of some animals donated to the commission by Sen. Aliyu Wamakko. He said that the animals to be disbursed included three cows and a sheep.

    He added that the beneficiaries of the cows would get transport fares of N5,000 each, while the beneficiary of the sheep got additional cash of N20, 000.

    NAN

  • Kwara Speaker mourns Oyo State counterpart

    The Speaker of the Kwara House of Assemby, Dr. Ali Ahmad, has described the demise of his Oyo state counterpart, Mr Michael Adeyemo, as a ”rude shock and utter disbelief’’.

    Ahmad stated this in llorin on Friday in a condolence message signed by his special Assistant on Media, Shuaib AbdulKadir.

    The Oyo state Speaker died at the early hours of Friday.

    The Kwara Speaker, in his condolence message, described his late colleague’s death as “a bitter pill that is difficult to swallow for other Speakers and entire Nigerians’’.

    Ahmad said Adeyemo, while alive, was a prominent and active member of the Conference of Speakers’ Forum, who at all times brought to bear his legislative and political experiences into the scheme of things, to achieve results.

    He noted that the late speaker always earned his respect for being a colleague in the lawmaking business and more importantly, having served the forum together in various capacities.

    The speaker said, “without doubt, his death has dealt a huge blow to Oyo State, especially the State Assembly, where he presided over as the Speaker and functioned effectively.

    Read Also: Kwara health workers to begin strike May 2

    Ahmad stated that the deceased lawmaker believed in the tenets of democracy and legislative independence.

    He urged his other colleagues in the state Houses of Assembly to sustain his good legacies as a way of immortalising him for what he stood for.

    The speaker commiserated with Oyo State Government, members and staff of the Oyo state House of Assembly Assembly, people of his constituency, as well as his immediate family, over the loss.

    In the same vein, the Speaker commiserated with the Sokoto State Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, on the sudden death of his Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs, Imam Imam.

    He prayed that Allah, in his infinite mercies, would sustain the deceased’s family, as well as provide them the fortitude to bear their loss.

    NAN

  • Retirement: AG’s absence stalls ex-Sokoto State Auditor-General’s suit

    The National Industrial Court sitting in Sokoto, on Friday  adjourned a suit challenging an alleged wrongful termination of appointment of former Sokoto State Auditor General, Sambo Nawawi, to May 11, for hearing.

    The case was adjourned following the absence of Sokoto State Attorney General, Mr Suleiman Usman, SAN, who represented the state government.

    At Friday’s sitting, a letter seeking for adjournment from Counsel to Sokoto State Government, Mr Usman, was read on the ground that he was attending a conference.

    A Counsel, Mr Ibrahim Nata’ala, who represented Counsel to plaintiff, conceded to the adjournment.

    The Judge, Justice Kiyashot Damlak, adjourned the case to May 11  for hearing.

    The plaintiff, Nawawi, through his counsel, Dr Nasir Aliyu, had filed the suit arguing that his appointment was wrongly terminated before he reached the stipulated 60 years of age contained in Auditor-General’s appointment rules.

    Read Also: Sokoto: PCN seals off 360 erring medicine stores, pharmacies

    He prayed the court to reinstate him as he was retired at the age of 52, arguing that the general civil service rules are not applicable to Auditors-General position.

    He said there was an existing law governing the AGs services.

    Counsel to Sokoto State, Usman had argued that the laid down procedures were adhered to as the law provided that civil servants should reach 60 years of age or 35 years in service.

    He argued that the civil service rules were general and binding on all civil servants.

    Usman, who is the state Commissioner for Justice, said the law mentioned by the plaintiff was old as new ones had been formulated in 1999.

    NAN

  • Sokoto: PCN seals off 360 erring medicine stores, pharmacies

    The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria ( PCN ), has sealed off 352 patent medicine stores and eight unregistered pharmacies for various offences in Sokoto State.

    Mrs Anthonia Aruya, the PCN Director, Inspection and Monitoring, who addressed a news conference on Friday, said their offences included operating without registration and failure to renew premises licence.

    Aruwa listed other offences as dispensing ethical products without supervision of a pharmacist, poor sanitary conditions among others.

    She explained that the PCN is a Federal Government’s agency charged with the responsibility of controlling education, training and practice of pharmacy in all aspects.

    “The core mandate is to ensure rational distribution and dispensing of medicines that are safe, effective and of good quality to the public.

    “The PCN cannot guarantee drugs sold in unregistered outlets, that have not complied with the statutory production and distribution laws,’’ Aruya said.

    At the end of the enforcement exercise in Sokoto, she said 513 premises comprising 26 pharmacies and 487 patent medicine shops were visited.

    She added that the PCN observed that many pharmaceutical premises began operations without fulfilling the minimum requirements for registration while many failed to renew their licences.

    Read Also: Sokoto: Lawmaker offers free medical treatment to 10,000 constituents

    “Some of these premises stored products in environments where the quality, safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products cannot be guaranteed.

    “They exposed public lives to serious danger, as many have no requisite knowledge or skills to handle ethical drugs and control medicines in their facility,’’ she added.

    She said the exercise was part of the measures to arrest the ugly trend, as similar exercises were conducted in other states of the federation.

    This, she noted, has prompted owners of such unregistered facilities to troop into the PCN office in Sokoto to regularise their operations, even as she lauded the activities of the state task force in this direction.

    Aruya said the National Assembly had directed the PCN to close down all illegal premises nationwide and called on the public to patronise only registered medicine stores or pharmacies.

    NAN

  • Group condemns actions against Senator Wamakko ‘s reputation

    Sokoto Youths and Students’ Leaders Forum ( SOKYOSLF ) which grouped under the auspices of  Concerned Youths and Students Leaders in Sokoto state has unanimously rejected and condemned what it described as actions of faceless group called ” Movement For the Liberation and  Emancipation of Sokoto State” whose motive is to draw cheap popularity from the teeming populace of Sokoto state and Nigeria against the reputation and credible image of the Senator representing Sokoto North senatorial District, Senator  Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.

    In a statement jointly signed and issued to reporters in SokotoTuesday evening by Comrades Suleiman Mahmud and Jabbi Tahir the group said it was ridiculous and misleading for the movement to hinge on unfounded ground to curry their faceless acts.

    The group however,  recalled that, there were recent publications in some Nigerian dailies, to blackmail the hard earned personality of Senator Wammako.

    In the same vein, they described the Chairman, Northern  Senators Forum ( NSF ) who also chairs Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education as a rare politician, with a rare reputation that is hard to find not only in Nigeria, but in Africa at large.

    While reacting further, the duo said ” We also want to remind the good people of sokoto state that, since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999 , there is no any elected politician that can match the unparalleled and tangible achievements of Senator Wammako in all ramifications.

    “It’s  also imperative to remind the faceless movement, that the good people of Sokoto State can not be deceived by the balderdash statements of the miscreants.

    “We therefore urge the public to disregard the so called cheap blackmail by the faceless movement. And we want to categorically state that Senator Wamakko is ahead of faceless political miscreants”, the group stressed.

  • NYSC DG lauds Tambuwal over N253m corps members allowances

    The Director-general of National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) Brig. Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, has lauded Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, for paying N253 million outstanding allowances of corps members.

    The letter was presented to the Governor during 2018 batch “A” Corps members’ swearing-in ceremony at Wamakko orientation camp Monday.

    Kazaure represented by Sokoto state Coordinator of NYSC, Alhaji Musa Abubakar, said the payment along with release of N43.5 million for provision of beds and mattresses at orientation camp was commendable.

    “NYSC management are overwhelmed with the efforts including institutionalising monthly payment of corps members allowances.

    “Approval of construction and renovation of corps members lodges alongside renovation of school facilities in the state.

    “These and other previous gestures demonstrated the governor’s commitment to the success of the NYSC scheme and serve as morale booster to corps members and managers, the director-general said.

    In his address, Tambuwal enjoined corp members to maximally use their God- given physical and intellectual endowments to pursue national unity and cohesion during the service year.

    Tambuwal, represented by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba, said the scheme had for years, being pivotal at ensuring national integration, social, cultural and physical development.

    He urged the corps members to strive to actualise the set norms enshrined in the scheme.

    He advised the corps members to promote discipline; tolerance and understanding among Nigerians as well as become change agents in solving problems and challenges facing the nation.

    Tambuwal further counseled corps members to continue with their good morals and values gained during training exercise.

    He encouraged them to interact freely and undertake viable community projects that improve the lives people living in their respective places of primary assignments.

    “The nation is faced with enormous challenges of development and meeting their needs, require collective efforts ’’ Tambuwal said.

    Speaking at the event, the Chairman NYSC governing board in Sokoto State, Alhaji Abubakar Ladan, urged corps members to demonstrate exemplary conducts during the orientation exercise.

    Ladan expressed the hope that they would carry good virtues to their respective places of primary assignments.

    He called on corps members to complement government efforts in its fight against corruption, drug abuse and other forms of vices in the country.

    He said hard working corps members would receive awards from state government and the Sulatan, but noted that sanction also awaits any person found wanting during the service year.

    Alhaji Musa Abubakar, the Sokoto State Coordinator of NYSC, said 2,200 corps members were posted to the state.

    Chief Judge of Sokoto State, Justice Bello Abbas, performed the swears-in and oath taking of the corps members.

    NAN

  • Sokoto: Lawmaker offers free medical treatment to 10,000 constituents

    Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki ( APC-Sokoto ) has commenced free medical treatment to 10,000 constituents in his efforts to uplift their wellbeing.

    The newsmen report that Dasuki, representing Tambuwal/Kebbe federal constituency of Sokoto state, is providing the healthcare service in collaboration with the Nigerian Medical Association ( NMA ).

    Alhaji Abubakar Danfuloti, the legislator’s contact person, told the newsmen that Dasuki sponsored the NMA’s 2018 first quarter free medical outreach.

    Danfuloti said the programme was part of his principal’s effort to ensure healthier and productive persons in the society.

    “Our commitment aimed at promoting productive individuals in the society by providing required healthcare services which is a priority in governance.

    “We will continue in such direction in order to assist the less privilege among the society who cannot afford medical finances.

    “Moreover, health is wealth as no any given society can develop educationally, socially or economically without good health.

    “As such the programme will be continues one to ensure more people are covered under the NMA free medical outreach,” he said.

    Read Also: Sokoto staff census captures 90% – Tambuwal

    Dasuki commended the Sokoto State Government commitment on its health projects and the NMA for sustaining the quarterly free medical outreach in the state.

    Speaking at the exercise in Sayyinna town, the state NMA Chairman, Dr Usman Malami, also hailed the lawmaker for collaborating with the association to support indigent persons.

    Malami said that the two-day free medical outreach would treat about 10,000 patients in Tambuwal and Kebbe local government areas of the state.

    He said the outreach is a free medical treatment as doctors consult patients on variety of illnesses, offer minor surgeries and make referrals based on the needs.

    “The treatment included dental care, surgery, medical specialist consultant, radiologist, consultant paediatrics and consultant surgeons, among others,” he said.

    He recommended the lawmaker’s contribution and passion toward ensuring the success of the programme to other political office holders.

  • Tambuwal swears in four new judges

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Wednesday swore in four new judges that would serve in the state High Court and the Sharia Court of Appeal.

    Tambuwal, at the ceremony, said that the judges’ appointments followed due process, and all those appointed were qualified legal representatives who merited their positions on the bench.

    He said that judicial officers in the state have shown great determination to ensure effective service delivery.

    The governor said that since inception of the present administration, he has not received any complaint against judicial officers directly or indirectly from the National Judicial Council ( NJC ) or the state Judicial Service Commission ( JSC ).

    “For about a decade now, there was no appointment of judges in Sokoto State.

    “So for us, today’s event is a milestone which will help in strengthening the judiciary.

    “I want to assure you and indeed the legislative arm of government of our continued support and cooperation.

    “This is essential if we hope to ensure rapid development of democracy in the country,” he said.

    While congratulating them, Tambuwal expressed confidence that they would handle their new position of responsibilities with due dignity, integrity and commitment.

    The High Court Judges were: Kabiru Ahmad and Isah Bargaja, while Kasimu Yusuf and Umar Liman Sifawa were sworn in as Khadis of the state Sharia Court of Appeal.

    The event was witnessed by Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji, Chief Judge, Justice Bello Abass and the Grand Khadi, Abdulkadir Saidu among other dignitaries.

    NAN