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Tag: Yobe

  • Workers shun directive in Kaduna, Yobe

    Government offices remained open yesterday in Kaduna and Yobe states in spite of the nationwide strike began by the Organised Labour.

     

    Kaduna civil servants at duty posts

     

    A visit round public offices in Kaduna, the state capital, showed that workers were at their duty posts, including Obasanjo House, the state government Secretariat.

    Also opened were schools, some banks including the Central Bank of Nigeria, hospitals and other public sector offices in the state capital.

    A nurse at the Barau Dikko Hospital, which witnessed high number of patients, told NAN in confidence that there has been no formal notice from the state labour unions to begin the strike.

    “We only heard of the strike order in the media, there has been no formal notice yet either from the Nigeria Labour Congress or our union, the nurses’ union, but we are waiting,” she said.

    Normal activities went on at the state High Court, although local union officials there said they would meet to agree on whether to join the nationwide strike.

    At the secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress, officials were in a meeting on ways to enforce compliance to the strike.

    Civil servants, business operators, parents condemn strike in Yobe

     

    Civil servants, the business community and parents in Damaturu, Yobe, have condemned the Nigeria Labour Congress  (NLC) warning strike which began yesterday,  describing it as grossly unnecessary and counter-productive.

    A cross-section of the respondents, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), noted that  schools and other public institutions in the state were still providing services in spite of the directive by the NLC for workers to embark on warning strike.

    Abdullahi Musa, a civil servant, said: “Time has come for the trade unions to be decentralised for every state to face its peculiar problems, to avoid holding the country to ransom of unnecessary strike.

    “Some state and local government workers have not been paid salaries for several months, NLC has never intervened but they drag every state into problems affecting federal civil servants; that is gross injustice.

    “Similarly, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) does not fight for the staff of state owned universities but pull state universities into affairs of federal-owned universities, it shouldn’t be so.”

    Alhaji Bukar Kaku, a businessman, said strikes had always been an exercise in futility, warning that it would affect the economy badly.

    Hajara Umar, a mother of five, said the strike would only have negative impact on the lives of the poor.

  • FG sets up group to monitor rights abuses in detention centres

    The practice where detained suspects are subjected to inhuman treatment and kept in unhealthy environment may soon be an offence as a committee has been set up to monitor detention centres nationwide to ensure that detainees’ rights are protected.

    The Chairman, Presidential Committee on Prisons De-congestion and Reform (PCPDR), Justice Ishaq Bello disclose this in Abuja on Thursday while inaugurating a working group to monitor the implementation of Section 34 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

    Section 34 of the ACJA requires a Chief Magistrate to, among others, pay periodic visits to detention facilities to ascertain the state of detainees and the conditions under which they are detained.

    Bello, who is also the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said: “We are concerned about the way detainees are treated and the condition under which they are kept.”

    He said the challenge of lack of access to legal representation by the poor detainees also contributes to congestion in prisons.

    Read Also: Human rights abuses remain unreported, says Centre

    Bello noted that the problem was prevalent in states like Kebbi, Yobe and Sokoto states where many detainees are unable to procure the services of lawyers. He urged the Legal Aid Council (LAC) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to provide pro bono (free legal services to the poor detainees.

    He added: “As a country we have to continue to try to measure up to international standard and best practices. It is my hope that the inauguration of the working group births the change we want to see in the observance of human rights of persons in police stations and other detention centres.

    “Police stations and detention centres across states should be ACJA compliant. This working group will also act as a monitoring mechanism and also enhance transparency on what goes on in these detention centres.

    “Finally, this working group is being tasked to come up with strategies for the effective implementation of this project. The proposed police stations visit will provide a platform to introduce a Legal Advice Scheme to ensure that suspects and victims have access to free legal advice, and that they are kept in humane conditions as the ACJA anticipates,” Bello said.

  • Power supply dips to 2006mw

    …as transmission line trips North East to blackout

     

    The power supply from the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) at the weekend dropped to 83,570.30mwh (2006mw), according to the Independent System Operator (ISO) of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

    Its operational report of Sunday showed that the industry recorded a peak generation of 4,452mw and lowest generation of 3,041mw on the previous day.

    The report also noted that “energy recorded on 22/09/2018 was 83,570.30MWH.” It however added that the generation at 06:00hour on Sunday was 3,340mw.

    The TCN however explained in a press statement that due to the tripping on fault of the Jos-Gombe 330kV Transmission Line, which had just undergone Annual Scheduled Maintenance, the North Eastern States including Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa Borno, Yobe and Taraba are currently out of power supply.

    Its General Manager Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, who issued the statement, noted that the line tripping occurred on 19:09 hour Saturday after it was re-energized.

    All efforts are being made by the company’s line engineering crew to resolve the problem and restore the transmission line accordingly.

    The statement added that the company took advantage of the outage to undertake the Annual Scheduled Maintenance of the 330kV transmission line from Jos to Gombe.

    Read Also: Power supply dips to 2006mw

    After the maintenance work has been completed by the combined engineering maintenance crew from Gombe and Jos Transmission Substations, the transmission line was re closed and energized at about 15:09 hours Saturday at 19:09 hours however, the line tripped due to fault on the line. TCN quickly initiated the patrol of the transmission line to detect and rectify the fault.

    The release noted that as at 18:30 pm, on Sunday the line engineering crew patrolling the Jos part of the 330kV transmission line has completed investigations on that part of the line, while the Gombe part of the transmission line trace is still ongoing. The entire line cannot be energized until both ends of the line trace have been concluded. Once completed, the findings would be analyzed and faults cleared, TCN will then re-energized the transmission line.

    Mbah said that the “TCN sincerely regrets inconveniences caused by the outage and also apologizes to the Government and people of the six North Eastern states affected by the outage, while assuring that efforts are ongoing to ensure a speedy completion of the transmission line trace and faults clearance in other to re close and energize the 330kV transmission line. Please bear with us.”

  • Yobe: Aspirants query stakeholders’ option

    APART from the indirect primary option adopted by the Yobe State Chapter of the APC, which does not auger well with some stakeholders of the party in the state, the critical stakeholders meeting also adopted a motion moved by Hon. Yau Galadima, a member House of Representatives, mandating Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam to single handedly anoint a candidate that will succeed him as governor.

    That decision has obviously drawn a battle line between other aspirants vying for the governorship position with the awaiting successor that will be anointed by Gaidam.

    Sen. Bukar Bukar Abba described the outcome of the meeting as illegal as he was more disposed to the direct primary elections option, boasting that he will slug it out with the governor at the primary election.

    Those that have publicly shown interest in the governorship seat and have even purchased their forms  include; Hon. Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa, current member House Representative,  Dr. Aji Kolo, a retired Permanent Secretary in the state and Alh.  Ibrahim Bomoi, popularly called Bala Bursar, a retired treasurer with the FCDA. The trio have also viewed the decision at the meeting as a step towards preventing them from engaging in fair contest.

    If the meeting decides on indirect primaries and consensus, why will they still say the governor should chose a candidate for the party? This is undemocratic,” one of the aspirants said.

  • Yobe governor names APC Secretary as successor

    Though the announcement has not been officially made, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe state  who attended the meeting of the party have confirmed that the National Secretary Mai Mala Buni has been picked to succeed Governor Ibrahim Gaidam.
    The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning Idi Barde Gubana was name his deputy.
     
    The State APC at a meeting on Friday mandated Governor Gaidam to pick his successor  and present him to the party.
     
    This choice of Buni has foreclosed the ambition of other aspirants like Hon. Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa, Dr. Aji Kolo and Ibrahim Bomoi who have already purchased their forms for the same seat.
     
    It was also gathered that Gaidam also nominated his media aide, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego for the Bade/Jakusko House of representatives seat .

  • Yobe APC mandates Gaidam to anoint his successor

    The Yobe State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has mandated Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam to anoint his successor for the 2019 election.

    Gov. Gaidam will be serving out his mandatory second term as governor having taken over from Late Mamman Ali and elected twice as governor.

    The decision was taken at an extended critical stakeholders meeting at the WAWA Hall of government House Damaturu.

    The meeting also endorsed Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam as candidate for the Yobe East Senatorial district for the coming election as well as President Mohamadu Buhari as the presidential candidate of the party.

    This decision has pinched Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam against former Gov. Bukar Abba Ibrahim who is currently occupying the seat from the same political party, the APC.

    Read Also: Niger approves N60m relief package for flood victims

    In the communiqué signed by the Chairman of the Meeting, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu who is also the Deputy Governor of the state and the Secretary Idi Barde Gubana resolved as follow:

    Ø Unanimously adopts President Muhamadu Buhari(GCFR) as our party candidate in the forthcoming 2019 Presidential Election in Nigeria

    Ø The meeting also resolve to adopt consensus and where necessary indirect mode of nominating candidates to all elective positions under our great party(APC) in Yobe State

    Ø The meeting further resolves that a discretion is given to HE Alh. (Dr.) Ibrahim Gaidam to present a competent and acceptable person as the Gubernatorial Flag bearer of our great party(APC) in the forthcoming 2019 general elections for our dear state

    Ø The stakeholders from Yobe East Senatorial District equally, unanimously resolves that H.E Alh. (Dr.) Ibrahim Gaidam be the senatorial Candidate for the 2019 senatorial election.

    The meeting was attended by members of Commissioners and other members of the state executive council, members of the National Assembly from the state including the senate leader, Dr. Ahmed Lawan, Hon. Goni Bukar, Hon. Abdu Gulani, Hon. Samaila Gadaka.

    The Minister of State foreign Affairs and wife of former governor and current senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Hon. Khadija Abba Ibrahim was also in attendance.

    Sen. Bukar Abba Ibrahim and Hon. Yakubu Sidi Karasuwa were however absent at the meeting.

  • ‘Gaidam ‘ll defeat Ibrahim for Yobe senatorial ticket’

    Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam will take the Yobe East Senatorial ticket from Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, his spokesman Abdulahi Bego, said at the weekend.

    According to Bego, “Gaidam remains popular enough to get the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket because of his performance.”

    Besides, he added that the people in the constituency have decided to retire the three-time senator and former governor.

    Bego was reacting to claims that Senator Ibrahim a three-time governor is Governor Gaidam’s “godfather” and “mentor.”

    The spokesman said Senator Ibrahim “has never been a political godfather for the Yobe State governor” adding that Gaidam would run and easily defeat the senator.

    He said: “Anyone even remotely familiar with Yobe politics knows that Governor Gaidam does not have a political godfather. Bukar Abba cannot be a mentor for Gaidam.  Governor Gaidam is a grassroots politician who was overwhelmingly voted to power for two terms to the consternation of people like Bukar Abba.”

    Bego added that the contest between Gaidam and Bukar would not even be close. “It’s not even close. Gaidam will defeat Bukar Abba easily should Bukar decide to run for the election. But if he is a man of his words, I do not expect him to run again because he has said on record that he is not going to run if Gaidam is running.

    “Although I agree that the electorate in Yobe East have not recalled Bukar Abba from the Senate so far, it is common knowledge that people are not impressed with his presence and performance in the red chamber considering that he has not done any meaningful constituency projects for the people of Yobe East.

    “I am sure the people are waiting to retire him from the national assembly in 2019 as they prepare to vote for Governor Gaidam, who has track record of serving them.”

  • Yobe farmers optimistic of bumper harvests

    Some farmers in Yobe have expressed optimism about the probability of recording bumper harvests this year.

    They made their feelings known in an interview with a Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria in Damaturu on Monday, just as they commence harvesting of their produce.

    Malam Abba Umar, a farmer in Damaturu, said that he had started harvesting, alongside other farmers at Sindiri village in the state.

    “Some of us who commenced planting earlier than others are now harvesting, while those who planted late will wait a little while.

    “The yields from the ongoing harvests are quite promising and unlike what happened last year, we are all celebrating,” he said.

    Modu Mustapha, a civil servant who engages in subsistence farming in Katarko village, Yobe, said that the rains had been steady and good for the crops.

    “The rain this year has been steady, unlike last year when most farms dried up because it stopped abruptly without the grains maturing.

    “Last year, it was very bad for beans and groundnut farmers, as they recorded poor yield, but the signs are better this year,” he said.

    Mustapha, however, appealed to the state government to provide farm inputs to farmers in good time, to boost production.

    Kolo Gaji, another farmer based in Dapchi town of Bursari Local Government Area of the state, said that the steady rains had protected the crops from the menace of pests and insects.

    “When the rain is low, as was the case last year, the pests fed on the crops and this resulted in poor harvests, but the steady rain this year has kept the pests away, and we are expecting very good harvests,” he said.

    NAN reports that millet, sorghum, rice, beans, groundnut and sesame seeds are the common crops cultivated across the state.

  • Eid-el Kabir: Gaidam urges unity between Muslims and other religions

    … rechoes PVCs collection

    Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has called on Muslims to uphold ties that bind them with followers of other religion and humanity in general.

    The governor at his Eid-el Kabir message to the people of the state also called on Muslim faithful and all people in the state to be their brothers’ keepers

    He urged the people to especially concentrate on doing good to their neighbours, orphans, the poor and needy in society.

    “We must make sacrifices in order to strengthen our collective endeavour for the attainment and sustenance of a hamornious, peaceful, disciplined, fair, just and cohesive society. We should also make sacrifices to uphold the ties that bind the Muslims, followers of other religions and indeed all fellow human beings by showing natural inclinations through respect, kindness, love, generousity and truthfulness,” Gov. Gaidam admonished.

    He added That, “The acts of sacrifice we make in this festive period symbolize our willingness to give up on things and bounties that are of benefit to us for the sake of others. We should learn to make sacrifices and strive for the attainment of a happy society where we all live as our brothers’ keepers. We should share the good things we have with our neighbours, the poor and the needy among us in the spirit of brotherhood”, the governor said.

    Gov. Gaidam also stressed that the symbolism of sacrifice during El-el Kabir underlines the need for “respect, kindness, love, generosity and faithfulness” among Muslims and between Muslims and followers of other religions.

    The governor promised to continue his service delivery through the execution and implementation of his administration programs and policies untill his last day in office.

    Read Also: Eid-el-Kabir: Masari felicitates with Muslims

    “I wish to seize the opportunity provided by this solemn occasion to reassure all our citizens that, in spite of all challenges that we have to contend with as a state, our administration shall continue to remain focused and committed to the sustainability of our developmental programmes aimed at making life more meaningful to the citizenry.

    “Let me stress that as we are approaching the last lap of our administration, our focus shall continue to be geared towards consolidating the improved security situation in the state, completion of all ongoing projects and giving attention to the task of post-insurgency resettlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction through effective and efficient collaboration with our development partners and other stakeholders”, he said.

    The governor also used the occasion to appeal to the people of the state who have not collected their Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) to do so before the closing date of August 31st, 2018, stressing that, “This is the surest way of empowering our people to make the right choice of electing responsible leaders who will effectively use the powers of representation to make good decisions in accordance with their yearnings and aspirations”.

    The governor also stressed the importance of the national ID card to national planning, urging people in the state to register with the National Identity Management Commission and get their national ID cards.

    The governor also called not to take their security for granted but continue to be vigilant within their neighbourhood.

    The Nation observes that this Eid-el-Kabir will be the last one Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam will be celebrating an executive governor as his second constitional term in office terminates by May, 29, 2019.

  • Sallah: Yobe Govt. places 12-hour ban on vehicular movements

    The Yobe government has placed a 12-hour restriction order on movement of vehicles across the state during the Eid prayer, for security reasons.

    A statement issued by Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, Director General, Press Affairs to Yobe governor, announced this on Monday.

    He said, “Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam has approved the placement of a 12-hour restriction of vehicular movement across the state as part of preparations for a peaceful and hitch-free Eid-el Kabir prayers on Tuesday, 21st August.

    “The restriction begins from 10.00p.m tonight (Monday), to 10.00a.m tomorrow (Tuesday).

    “The public is kindly advised that no vehicle will be allowed within or near Eid praying grounds except those on special duties,” he said.

    He noted that the restriction order followed the outcome of security meeting between the governor and security chiefs in the state.

    Bego urged the members of the public to cooperate with security agencies throughout the sallah period and beyond.(NAN)