Nation

THE STATES

Published

11 years ago

January 13, 2014

Benue

Katsina-Ala Local Government Council says it has started
the construction of rural roads to boost the transportation of farm produce from the council to urban markets .
The Chairman of the council, Mr Martins Agir, made this known during the ongoing accountability briefing for local government councils in the state.
Agir said his administration considered the construction of rural roads a priority, owing to the agrarian nature of the council, and disclosed that an ultra-modern yam market had also been constructed to boost its production in the area.
Agir, who expressed concern over the weak revenue profile of the council, said he dissolved the existing market committees and reconstituted new ones for the purpose of enhancing revenue collection.

Borno

The Borno State Government last Thursday said it planned
to recruit 100 fresh graduates to beef up the state civil service. Governor Kashim Shettima made this known when he received a delegation of past labour leaders in the state at the Government House, Maiduguri.
Shettima explained that the objective was to fill the existing vacancies at the middle cadre level in the service due mainly to retirements and death of civil servants.
A onetime president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ali Chiroma, who led the delegation, commended the governor for his developmental projects in spite of the prevailing security challenges facing the state.

Ekiti

The Ekiti State House of Assembly last Thursday passed
three bills aimed at strengthening the judicial process in the state. The bills were the “Ekiti State Administration of Criminal Justice Bill 2014’, “Ekiti State Arbitration Bill 2014’ and “Ekiti State Law Reform Commission Bill 2014.
The Chairman, Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters, Mr Segun Erinle, presented the three reports of his committee on the bills before they were considered and passed.
Welcoming the lawmakers to the new year, the Speaker, Adewale Omirin, thanked them for their patriotism which he noted translated to making laws that brought dividends of democracy to Ekiti citizens.

FCT

Senate President, David Mark, has called for the adoption
of a global approach to tackle terrorism in order to end the menace threatening world peace.
Mark said in Abuja when he played host to the British Parliamentary under- Secretary for Justice, Mr Jeremy Wright said that world leaders must come together to work out a blueprint to fight terrorism.
He noted the growing trend and spread of terrorists across the globe and canvassed for collaborative efforts to end the menace.
Gombe

The National Population Commission (NPC) last Thurs
day said it had registered 102,140 births in Gombe State in 2013.
The NPC Commissioner in charge of the state, Alhaji Bala Magaji, said the enlightenment programme of the commission had helped in eliciting positive response as more now registered their newly born babies.
He said the commission was also issuing attestation certificates to support the declaration of age and birth certificates of people above 17 years.
“Attestation certificate is equally universally accepted and it attracts only N2, 000. It is important for everybody to obtain it,” he advised.
Kano

The Harmattan season has brought some measures of ru
ral life to the metropolitan Kano city as many residents now converge at fire hearth to fight cold.
Residents now use firewood and charcoal to make fire to warm themselves and boil water for bath.
In the early morning and evening at Sabongari, Nasarawa and Fagge areas of the Kano State metropolis, people squat in groups around fire at tea shops and courtyards as “Majalisa” and chat heartily.
Commenting on the development, Mohammed Bello, a Nigerien who sells tea at Fagge, Kofar Mata, said that business had improved because some people drink tea (shayi) while warming themselves.
Kaduna

The Kaduna State House of Assembly last Thursday sus
pended its member, Dr Shehu Adamu, for six months over allegation of N180 million bribe levelled against other members.
The decision followed a motion by Alhaji Muhammad Ali, (Kawo – PDP), who drew the attention of members to an interview granted by Adamu, (Maigana-APC), where he made the allegation.
Adamu had in an interview on September 23, 2013 in the electronic media and national dailies, accused members of collecting bribe of N10 million each to remove the former speaker, Usman Gangara and other principal officers.
On November 6, 2013 when the motion was moved by Ali, the assembly mandated its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate.gation.

Kwara

Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed of Kwara State has consti
tuted a committee on job creation.
Inaugurating the committee last Thursday in Ilorin, the governor said his administration had put ‘necessary machinery in motion’ to create jobs for youths in 2014, and said the committee would work out modalities for the establishment of job intervention initiative tagged “QuickWin’’ programme.
Ahmed said his administration was determined to get more young people into employment this year, noting that government would also facilitate the training of some youths and offer credit facilities to others who might wish to start their own business.
Lagos

Lagos State President of the Environmental Health Offic
ers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN), Mr Akin Akingbehin, has advised operators of eatery houses to ensure that their staff are medically fit.
Akingbehin said last Thursday in Lagos that it was important to get the potential workers examined, to ascertain their health status before being employed by fast foods operators.
According to him, the potential workers must also meet certain requirements necessary to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases.
He advised eateries’ operators to adhere strictly to the stipulated laws guiding the operation and standard of eatery business and told them to be mindful of the impact of their waste generation on their immediate environment.

Niger

Niger State Government said it spent over N477.6 million
on the settlement of WASCE and NABTEB registration fees for the final year students in public schools in the state last academic session.
The state’s Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Danladi Abdulhameed who, stated this in Minna last Thursday during an interactive session with newsmen said that under the state’s free education policy, the government pays one public examination fees for students in the state, while the parents pay for the other.
He said most parents preferred paying the National Examination Council (NECO) fees while the state government settled WASCE fees and other examinations.
Osun

The Director of the Centre for Distance Learning, Obafemi
Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Bode Asubiojo, has described distance learning education as a viable alternative.
Asubiojo said in an interview last Thursday in Osogbo that distance learning education was the only way to curb the desperation for admission into universities among school leavers.
The don cited the example of some prominent Nigerians who did not have university education through the conventional classrooms but became educated through distance learning.
He, however, stressed the need for operators of distance learning initiatives to adhere to international best practices in the delivery of programmes.

Oyo

Wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, has
received books worth N5 million from Heinemann publishers to complement her ‘Educate a Rural Child’ (ERC) project.
Senior Special Assistant on Social Welfare, Mrs Sandra Kolade, who received the books on her behalf, said that the books would be distributed to ERC intervention primary schools, as library resource materials.
She reiterated Ajimobi’s commitment to taking qualitative education to children in the rural areas and promised that all the books would get to the right places.
Chairman, Heinemann, Mr Ayo Ojeniyi, noted that books were indispensable tools to education, stating that primary education should be accorded priority as the foundation on which other phases of education rested.

Plateau

The Chairman of Plateau State Independent Electoral Com
mission (PLASIEC), Mr Peter Dalyop, last Thursday announced that six political parties had been cleared to contest the January 30 council elections.
Dalyop hinted the political parties as; All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) and All Progressives Congress (APC).
He told newsmen in Jos that he was satisfied with the screening and clearing of candidates of the political parties, adding that the candidates list would be released on Monday.
Taraba

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
lastThursday donated relief materials to victims of state of emergency in neighbouring Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, taking refuge in Taraba.
The Agency’s Director-General, Alhaji Muhammed Sidi, donated the materials in Jalingo, on behalf of the Federal Government.
Represented by the head of Gombe State Operations Office of the Agency, Mr Appolos Jediel, Sidi said the gesture was aimed at alleviating the sufferings of the victims, adding that the donation was in response to the request for assistance by the Taraba State acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar.

L-R: Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs Funso Ibikunle Amosun,Wife of Ogun State Commissioner for Local Government, Mrs Funke Oladipo,Wife of Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Mrs Funmi Adeyemi, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, at the funeral service of Prof. Wole Soyinka’s Daughter, Iyetade, last Friday. Photo: NAN

Nation

Party Chieftain Hails LG Boss’ Dev Strides

Published

7 days ago

February 7, 2025

The Tide

Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwuche has extolled the sterling leadership being provided by the Chairman of the council, Hon Iyeko Okporo, describing it as unprecedented.
Hon Chukwuemeka described the council chairman as God-sent, considering his achievements in just 100 days in office.
The PDP chieftain said the chairman has rekindled the hope and trust of the people in grassroots governance.
He expressed gratitude to the Governor for enabling his people to have his replica at Akinima.
He explained that the solar water project, the Late Eze Ekpeye Logbo 11 palace fencing, generator house rebuilding and town hall, all in Odiereke Ubie Community can best be described as the hallmark of true leadership.
He said the projects have direct bearing on the basic needs of the people who have suffered untold hardship and bad governance until the saviour came into office.
“ It is thunderous, as you can see the organic support and show of love to the performing chairman. Our people are overwhelmed seeing one of their own touching lives in a special way. As a community ,we have been in the past years without drinking water, but just two months in office, the chairman has provided not just drinking water, but a well-treated solar water project. Okporo is God-sent, no wonder he is nicknamed such. We have compared notes with other chairmen in the past and came to the conclusion that what he is doing in 100 days is overwhelming. Governor Fubara has made us proud by allowing a level playing field that necessitated the emergency of the chairman. You can see the women, men, youths and traditional rulers all saying one thing. God bless Governor Fubara for giving us our own. We owe him prayers and unwavering support,” he said.
In her welcome address, the Ward 9 councillor, Hon Catherine Uriah showered encomiums on the chairman for addressing the basic needs of the people in just 100 days in office.
Hon Uriah also thanked the Governor for allowing the will of the people to prevail in the just concluded local government elections which produced the God fearing chairman.
She said the people of Ward 9 as well as Ahoada West are pleased with the chairman because he is doing well.
She said the people will go to length to show support to him in his determination to redefine governance at the grassroots.

Nation

Group Plans Pilot Farm Programme For 50 Schools

Published

7 days ago

February 7, 2025

The Tide

A community-based non-governmental organisation, The Peoples Encouragers Initiative, is planning a pilot farm project for 50 schools in both Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
Executive Director of the organisation, Chukwuma Abraham disclosed this at the recent International Human Rights Day celebration at Ahoada, headquarters of Ahoada East Local Government Area.
Abraham said the proposed programme which gulps the sum of N45million was intended to bring the youths back to the land and make them self-reliant.
“We hope to mobilise the factors of production inherent in all the schools through this programme to achieve two basic objectives of building self reliant youths and to create a viable and sustainable stream of income for our schools,” he said.
He said the programmme will also keep the youth busy and impact farming skills, stressing that each of the participating schools is expected to nominate at least two members of staff to coordinate and supervise the programme while10 students will be elected as executive members to administer the programmme on a day to day basis in their various schools.
“Every school has a sizeable portion of arable land to carry out the programme of establishing a functional farm in their chosen area of interest. We are hoping to mobilise an estimated N45 million to enable us set up the pilot farms across the 50 schools within Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas,” he said.
He said the celebration was to draw attention of both the Nigerian government and the international community to the issue of human rights violation, adding that findings by the organisation has shown that insecurity and youth unemployment worsened over the past few years as a result of the insecurity that engulfed the Orashi region of the State. We also found out that the high level of cultism and social unrest within our environment is mostly fuelled by the high use of illicit drugs among the youths. This programme will afford us the opportunity to take a tour through the universal declaration of human rights and reinforce on our youths the understanding that substance abuse can lead to crime, crime can lead to jail term and criminal record can blight their future dreams and life for ever,”he said.
Also speaking, the representative of the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Ikporo Freedom urged the students to shun all forms of anti-social behaviours especially during the holiday season.
He also warned them against joining bad groups and stressed the need for the organisation to include private schools in the programme.
The Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Council, Hon Ezu R .C . Hezekiah represented by his Deputy, Hon Ununuma Odoi pledged the support of the council to the programme.
He also urged other groups in the area to emulate The Peoples Encouragers Initiative by organizing programms that will impact on the lives of the people.

John Bibor

Nation

NCSU Flays Police Take Over Of Rivers PDP Secretariat

Published

7 days ago

February 7, 2025

The Tide

The Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has condemned the take over of the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Rivers State by the police, saying the action is against the tenets and principles of the rule of law.
This is even as the union has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to call to order the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike for allegedly orchestrating and instigating the crisis rocking the PDP in the State.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who made the condemnation in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the police have no right to take over the PDP secretariat, as a ploy to provide cover and protection for members of the state executive of the party loyal to Wike, who were recently sacked by a court of competent jurisdiction in the State.
According to him, the action of the police is in clear defiance of a court ruling sacking the party executives at all levels in the State, instead of taking steps to enforce same.
He regretted that the police have consistently been showing that they are not appreciative of the logistic support Governor SiminalayiFubara has been extending to them, by openly demonstrating their bias, loyalty and allegiance to Wike and his supporters, contrary to their rules of engagement, which uphold and recognise absolute neutrality.
He said the Minister is wasting his time if he thinks that he could destroy the State by orchestrating and instigating needless crisis that is capable of making the State ungovernable, and appealed to President Tinubu to call him and his supporters to order.
Commenting on the fate of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers in the State, who defected from the ruling PDP to the All Progressives Congress(APC), Osumah said their fate is apparently sealed, as the Supreme Court had already given judgment in a similar case, saying, Wike is merely wasting his time by using the lawmakers against Governor Fubara, and causing unnecessary problem in the State.
He said if the Minister and his supporters do not retrace their steps and give peace a chance, the NCSU would have no choice than to mobilise all civil servants in the State, to troop out to the streets and protest against them.
The labour leader stressed the need for the police to vacate the PDP secretariat along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, and respect the High Court ruling which declared the congresses of the party in the State null and void.
While reiterating the need for President Tinubu to call Wike to order, Osumah said the President cannot continue to fold his arms and watch the Minister continuously make frantic efforts to destroy his State.
He also carpeted those blaming Governor Fubara administration for the recent gruesome murder of a Chief Security Officer(CSO) and his son in Igwuruta Ali community, saying those making such insinuations and attributing the sad incident to security lapses on the part of the state government, are missing the point.
He noted that by empowering the police in the State with several operational vehicles and other logistics, it was expected that the police would reciprocate the gesture, by living up to their constitutional obligation of protecting lives and property in the State, contending that Governor Fubara has been playing his part of guaranteeing security in the State.

He said the State is generally peaceful and safe, and challenged those criticising the Governor to cast their minds and attention to what is happening in other parts of the country, where killings and other social vices have become the order of the day.
Osumah cited as an example the recent killings in Ebonyi State by Fulani herdsmen as well as incidences of kidnapping and banditry in several other States of the federation, and wondered if Governor Fubara could be held responsible for such anomalies.