The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Umaru Tanko Almakura

  • Nasarawa donates 50 hectares of land for EFCC training academy

    The Nasarawa State Government has donated 50 hectares of land to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to establish a training academy  within Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital .
    Speaking to the press after taking the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu  to the vast expanse of land along Kwadere road, Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura  disclosed  that the gesture  was in line with the commissions desire to establish an academy  which has long been in the pipeline, noting that the state government has secured the land and donated it or this purpose.
    Gov. Almakura disclosed that the EFCC Chairman had come to see it for  himself with a view to commence work on the project, stating that in line with his administration’s desire and commitment  to key  with the EFCC  in ensuring accountability, transparency and fighting corruption, it could not but support the EFCC with the land  and also to ensure the fast tracking of  all the approvals  for all the plans they intend to execute.

    Read Also: Three health workers abducted in Nasarawa

    The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, on his part disclosed that the commission had  been trying to secure a land for about 2 years now, stating that since he assumed office on the 11th of November 2015,  one of his top priorities was to get a permanent site  for the EFCC academy because what the commission has at Karu  was  not sufficient.
    Mr. Magu said he was happy with the gesture  of the Nasarawa government by giving the academy a befitting permanent site, assuring that very soon they would start construction.
    The EFCC Boss stated that the gesture shows the commitment of the governor to adding value to President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption.
    He called on Nigerians to join the fight against corruption  stating: “I always say that in the fight against corruption, we have to join hands together, together we can kill corruption, I appreciate what he (Almakura) has done and I want to encourage everybody  and call on all to join in the fight against corruption.”

  • Nasarawa APC settles for indirect primaries

    The All Progressives Congress in Nasarawa State has joined league of states opting for indirect primaries to choose candidates for all elections in the state.

    The decision was arrived at during a high profile stakeholders meeting held at the Government House, Lafia, which had state party officials, persons elected on the ticket of the party, governorship aspirants, senatorial aspirants and House of Representative aspirants in attendance.

    Speaking at the meeting, Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura commended the stakeholders for their sense of followership, loyalty to the party and appreciated the peace being enjoyed and for unanimously opting for indirect primaries as a way to select the party flag bearers for the 2019 elections.

    He admonished the governorship aspirants not to have doubt in the indirect mode of the primaries, saying as believer in the spirit of oneness, justice and fairness, there would be a level playing ground for all and sundry.

    Read Also: 2019: Plateau APC adopts indirect primaries

    The governor who applauded the stakeholders particularly the governorship aspirant for their good conduct and understanding at the meeting, however warned them against listening to speculations concerning their aspirations.

    One of the governorship aspirants interviewed after the meeting, Aliyu Ahmed Wadada said that he fully subscribed and aligned himself with the decision by stakeholders opting for indirect primaries for the party in the state .

    He argued that indirect primaries was the best mode of selecting credible aspirants to fly the ticket of the party and expressed confidence that he would win the governorship ticket of the party if it is conducted in a free and fair atmosphere.

     

  • ‘2019: Three PDP governors to defect to APC’

    The National Vice Chairman, North Central, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Suleiman Ahmed Wambai, has stated that that in the next three days about three PDP governors from the south east will join APC.

    Wambai stated this on Thursday at the government house Lafia, during a party stakeholders meeting  where party members reaffirmed their commitment to the party in the state to ensure the return of president Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

    Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura, in his remarks urged the supporters of the party in the state to remain focused, assuring that come 2019 general election the APC in the state will lead other states in the country to ensure victory for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Those in attendance include Senator Abdullahi Adamu and all the members of the National Assembly of APC from the state, all governorship aspirants under the APC, all members of the state assembly of APC and top government officials.

    Read Also: PDP welcomes Tambuwal, Kano deputy governor

    He appreciated members of the party in the state and at the national assembly for standing by President Buhari despite the many challenges.

    In their various remarks they all vowed to stand by President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure he is re-elected in 2019, adding that the APC will deliver Buhari in the north central Nigeria despite the exit of Benue and Kwara states from the party.

    Also speaking, Senator Abdullahi Adamu said those who defected from the party have seen their failures in the party, adding that the APC is battle ready for them.

  • Al-Makura rejects call to enact anti-grazing law

    Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa State has stated that his government has no plans to enact anti-grazing law, but assured that efforts would be intensified towards  ensuring lasting peace between herders and farmers in the state.

    Almakura disclosed this when he received the participants of Defense Intelligence College at the government house in Lafia who were in the state as part of their national tour focusing on the theme: “Aniti-grazinig laws as panacea for incessant herdsmen attacks in Nigeria”.

    Regretting the dimension the farmers/herders clashes has assumed over the years, Governor Almakura explained that his administration had evolved measures that have put the situation in check.

    He attributed the farmers/herders clashes to the absence of grazing routes and the activities of bandits and rustlers.

    The governor noted that the home grown Community Based Conflict Resolution mechanism which allows for communities to settle problems on their own without outsiders or middle men who are not from the area or understand the root of their problems has proved effective since 2013 when it was put in place.

    He said the Nasarawa State Youth Empowerment Scheme (NAYES) which has employed over 5000 youths has reduced problems associated with youth restiveness.

    Speaking earlier, the team leader and Commandant of the Defense Intelligence College, Air Commodore E. O Jaiyeola, said the team was in the state to get firsthand information on the problems associated with anti-grazing law and see how to arrive at long term solutions.

    He explained that they were on a mission to look into the issues if ranching, grazing routes and the effect the laws has had, stating that by speaking to the people  they would get a better grasp of the issues at hand.

     

  • Al-Makura restructures revenue board, pegs N10bn as annual target

    Following the inauguration of the newly appointed chairman and members of the Nasarawa state board of internal revenue service, Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura has restructured the board and streamlined its activities for better service delivery.

    Inaugurating the new management of the board in Lafia on Thursday, Almakura said government was aware that part of the challenge in the management structure of the Nasarawa state board of internal revenue service is the absence of daily supervision.

    “Hence government has decided to streamline the structure of the board to ensure that members assist the Chairman in the daily operations of the agency for efficiency and accountability” he said. said

    Accordingly, the governor stated that the six directorates in the board have also been streamlined to be supervised by a member under the general direction and control of the Executive Chairman.

    In this regard, the Governor said the member I, Sabo Usman, shall be in charge of support services, assessment and collection; while member II, Emmanuel Zakariya, shall be in charge of motor vehicle administration, research and  statistics. Member III, Ali Mohammed, shall be in charge of compliance, enforcement and legal matters.

    Government has also pegged an annual revenue target of ten billion Naira for the first year which is expected to rise to twenty billion Naira in the long run.

    In this vein, I urge you to synergise with appropriate Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) such as; Ministries of Lands and Physical Planning, Commerce, Industry and Co-operatives, Agriculture, Urban Development Board and other agencies to explore available options for revenue generation. In this direction, the following areas are pertinent:

    In his remarks, Governor Almakura charged the board to explore areas such as signage, Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE), withholding tax, capital gain tax and direct assessment. Others include: road taxes, stamp duties, development levy and motor/vehicle and licenses, amongothers.

    Three non-permanent members shall be drawn from the ministries of justice, finance and commerce, industries and cooperative.