The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Usman Muhammad

  • Niger Pension Board receives N3bn to settle retired workers, others

    The Niger government has released N3 billion to the pension board to settle outstanding pensions, gratuities and death benefits owed relations of retirees, according to the board’s Director-General, Alhaji Usman Muhammad.
    Muhammad told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Saturday in Minna that N1.4 billion would be paid to relations of dead retirees, while N780 million would be sunk into the payment of retirement benefits.
    He, however, accused the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), of frustrating the payment of entitlements to pensioners under the Contributory Pensions Scheme.
    “There have been some observed delays on the part of PFAs. They are deliberately dragging the process of the payment of the refunds to beneficiaries.
    “Already, the board has written to the National Pension Commission to report these delays,” he said.
    Read Also: I’m Ready to Pay Any Amount Agreed Upon for Minimum Wage – Niger Gov
    He expressed confidence that the situation would soon improve so as to speed up the payment of monies due to the retired workers or relations of dead ones.
    Reacting to the development, Malam Ibrahim Abubakar, a retired civil servant, commended the state government for the gesture, and urged the board to speed up the process so as to ameliorate the suffering of the retirees.
    Another retiree, Hajiya Kande Ibrahim, advised workers, who are on the verge of retirement, to submit their documents to the board to ease the payment process.
    “We must support the board by submitting our documents promptly to enable its officials process our benefits without any hindrance “she said.
    Malam Musa Paiko, a retired messenger, commended the management of the board for introducing various reforms to ease payments of benefits to retirees.
    “I am happy that I have been screened and captured. The verification process was so smooth. I am only waiting for my payment,” he said.
    NAN

  • Dasuki wins Kebbe/Tambuwal federal constituency ticket

    Abdulsamad Dasuki, member representing Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency in Sokoto State, on Thursday clinched the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket to contest for the House of Representatives election in 2019.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dasuki, who is the current Chairman, House Committee on Navy, was returned unopposed through affirmative votes by 214 delegates drawn from Tambuwal and Kebbe local government areas.

    Read Also: PDP Primary: Abdulkarim wins Reps ticket

    The Returning Officer, Mr Usman Muhammad, declared Dasuki winner of the poll and commended delegates and party supporters for their orderliness and cooperation that facilitated the successful conduct of the exercise.

    In his post election remarks, Dasuki pledged to continue to ensure good legislation on agriculture, health, education and economic empowerment.

    He also promised continue to use his experience to sponsor bills that would uplift the lives of his constituents and other Nigerians.

    He appealed to party leaders and supporters to woo more supporters to ensure victory for the party in the coming general elections.

  • Boko Haram beheads six farmers in Borno

    Boko Haram beheads six farmers in Borno

    The Islamic Boko Haram group has beheaded six farmers at Dimge plantation in the Mafa Local Government Area of Borno.

    The killing is the latest in a string of attacks in the violence wracked North-East, where more than 20,000 people have been killed in nine years of insurgency.

    The killing occurred on Nov. 19, while the farmers worked on their farms in the plantation, an eye-witness, Jiddah Ahmad, told our correspondent in Jere town, near Maiduguri on Monday.

    Ahmad said that the insurgents abducted seven farmers as they worked on their farms and slaughtered six of them in a nearby bush.

    Ahmad, who is a younger brother to one of the slain farmers, said that two of the slain farmers were from Lawanti Gongulon Village in Jere.

    According to him, the remaining four are from Masu Community in the Mafa Local Government Area of the state.

    “My brother was working in the farm together with other farmers. They were accosted by the insurgents when they went to fetch water at a river.

    “The insurgents shot my brother before beheading him and beheaded another farmer on the same spot while an old farmer was set free,” Ahmad said.

    A member of the Civilian Joint Task Force, Usman Muhammad, also told our correspondent that the insurgents had earlier slaughtered four other farmers at the same plantation.

    Muhammad disclosed that the insurgents came to the farm on motorbikes and attacked the farmers.

    He said that the insurgents forced an aged farmer among the abductees to witness the brutal murder of other farmers, telling him to convey the message to families of the victims.

    “We are currently seeking clearance from the military authorities to enable us to evacuate the corpses for proper burial,” he said.

    The military and police authorities have yet to make statements on the latest killings.

    The military authorities have said that they have completely degraded Boko Haram but the group has continued to pack bloody punches on a regular basis.

    Nigeria’s North-East has remained the hotbed of the insurgency, although other areas of the country, including Abuja and Lokoja have not been spared.

    NAN

  • Retired Justice highlights genesis of Nigeria’s challenges

    Retired Justice highlights genesis of Nigeria’s challenges

    A retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Usman Muhammad, says neglect of history and the numerous lessons contained in it was the genesis of myriad of challenges plaguing Nigeria.

    Muhammad spoke in Sokoto at the opening of the second National Conference of the Faculty of Arts and Islamic Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that theme of the conference is: ”History, People, Religion and Culture of Kebbi (Kabi) Kingdom since 1515”.

    Muhammad, who was the chairman of the occasion said: ”This neglect covers nearly all levels of our educational system.

    “It is disheartening that History, in spite of its relevance to the life of individual and group and its contributions to national development, we learned, has been phased out of the school curricula.

    “If what we continue to hear about the fate of History in our schools is true, then, this is shocking news for the nation, as we are merely helping to either erode or erase our own identities.”

    In his remarks, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State announced a donation of N30 million as a grant to the institution by three states- Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara- for further researches into the defunct Kebbi, Gobir and Kabi Kingdoms.

    Tambuwal also challenged the nation’s universities to help in proffering possible solutions to the problems bedeviling the nation.

    His Kebbi State counterpart, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, called for urgent revival and imbibing of values and ethics that the nation’s forefathers used to build a solid foundation for it.

    ”They include honesty, dedication, patriotism, peaceful coexistence, respect for one another, piety and patience,” he said.

    The keynote speaker, Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi (APC-Kebbi North), called for a spirited fight against corruption, the revival of local industries and the training of youths in modern skills.

    ”We must dig deep into our history to bring forth our values and traditions in the task of tackling the major problems facing us today and building our future.

    ” These include knowledge and scholarship, selfless leadership and strength of character, as well as tenacity, sense of purpose, religious faith and multiculturalism, among others,’’ Abdullahi said.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, said that the contributions of ancestors of the defunct Kabi Kingdom and their successors in building a virile society for the last five centuries were unparalleled.

    Zuru promised the university’s resolve to continue to discharge its mandate of diligent teaching and learning, as well as helping to solve societal problems.

    Also, the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Mera, said any nation that does not know its history could hardly and accurately measure its progress and growth.