Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

May 6, 2010

Adamawa

As the rainy season sets in, the Adamawa State Government has commenced the training of rural farmers’ groups and extension officers on commercial farming.

Malam Usman Pallam, the Director, Planning, in the state Ministry of Agriculture, disclosed this to newsmen in Mubi, one of the five training centres in the state.

Pallam said the training was part of measures to transform agricultural practice in the state.

“The present administration initiated this programme to change the present system of agriculture in the state which is subsistence to commercial.

“We are trying to do that by building the capacity of our farmers by imparting knowledge and skills in farming.

Bauchi

The Senate President, David Mark, has said that the internal crisis rocking the PDP would be amicably resolved.

Mark who was speaking on Sunday in Gamawa, Bauchi State, while receiving Sen. Nazif Gamawa, who defected to the PDP, said the current crisis would make the party stronger.

He said that efforts were going on to resolve the crisis amicably, adding that all the contending parties had demonstrated their interest in the well-being of the party.

According to him, most of those who left the party at local government, state and national levels are making efforts to return.

The Senate President also solicited support for a second term for Governor Isa Yuguda to enable him complete his developmental programmes.

Ekiti

The Ekiti State Government plans to establish an international market for plantain/banana at Ilawe-Ekiti, in Ekiti South West Local Government Area of the state.

Governor Segun Oni, who made this known at Ilawe-Ekiti, said the project is aimed at boosting the revenue base of the area.

Oni spoke during the handing-over ceremony of a Toyota bus to St. Peter’s, Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, Ilawe-Ekiti, and a Toyota Corolla car to Mr.Dayo Olugbade, the youth leader of the community.

The vehicles were donated by a philanthropist, Mr. Sina Awelewa, who also awarded a N60,000 scholarship to Mr. Gbenga Arisoyin, a law student from the community.

FCT

Mrs Justina Okoror, Chairperson of the Society of Women in Taxation (SWIT), the female body of the Chartered Institute of Taxation in Nigeria (CITN), has said that women are mostly affected by tax policies.

Okoror said this at a press briefing in Abuja to announce the forthcoming inauguration of SWIT and the investiture ceremony of its chairperson and other members.

“In the Nigerian society, those affected mostly by tax policies are women who are mostly at the lowest point of the economic ladder,’’ Okoror said.

“Indeed tax governance in Nigeria must be made to be friendlier towards the female gender. It is therefore important that they must have voice and be heard on issues that affect them in this sector.’’

She said some of the taxes affecting rural women included multiple taxation and extortion, among others.

Kaduna

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has solicited the support of the Methodist Church of Nigeria in curbing preventable communicable diseases.

The Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Dr Mohammed Pate, made the call in Kaduna on Monday during an advocacy visit to the Methodist Bishops’ Council of Nigeria.

Pate urged the Church to complement government efforts in addressing health issues, including the prevention and treatment of diseases.

He specifically appealed to the Church to offer special prayers for the eradication of diseases in the country.

Kebbi

The Kebbi Government said it spent N587.1 million between 2007 and 2008 on the provision of electricity to 72 rural communities.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Muazu, and made available to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.

The statement said the government spent the money on power projects because “it is one sector that could not be ignored for economic development.”

“Completed rural electrification projects have since been energised and linked to the national grid and only a few are yet to be commissioned,” it said.

Kwara

Ten residential buildings obstructing water mains in Ilorin metropolis would be demolished, the Kwara State Commissioner for Works, Dr Abubakar Kannike, said on Monday.

Kannike, who is also the Chairman of the Inter-ministerial Committee set up to fast track the delivery of water infrastructure in the state capital, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin.

He said the location of the buildings had hindered the speedy construction of the water mains.

He gave assurance that compensation would be paid to owners of property that might be affected by the ongoing construction work.

He, therefore, urged them to cooperate with the contractor as exercise was in the interest of all.

The commissioner advised property owners to adhere to the specified rules when building along the highways.

Lagos

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State said he is not interested in the 2011 Presidential race.

“Honestly before God Almighty I am not interested. I am too old for that kind of thing. It should be left for the next generation,’’ Lamido told newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed Airport before his departure for Jigawa.

On the zoning of the presidency to the Northern part of the country by the ruling PDP, Lamido said that although the zoning of the presidency is in the party’s constitution, the nation’s constitution is superior to that of any party.

Nasarawa

A new book entitled “Leadership Issues” has been launched in Mararaba near Abuja.

Making the presentation on Monday, Pastor Dan Asukwo of Deeper Life Bible Church, called on Nigerians to imbibe the habit of reading intellectual publications to enhance their knowledge in various areas.

He lauded the ingenuity of the author, Pastor Charles Nelson, for his courage in writing the book, and urged the audience to purchase the book as he was “proud to present it to the public”.

The chairperson at the event, Mrs Constance Udeh, Head, Department of Languages, G.D.S.S. Karu, Abuja, stressed the importance of leadership.

Leadership, accrding to her, starts from home, in the church, places of work, in government, and all other organised places in the society.

Ondo

More than 25,000 PDP members in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Akure announced their defection to the ruling Labour Party (LP).

The defection comes barely one week after thousands of PDP, Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Action Congress (AC) supporters in Akoko SouthWest/NorthEast Federal constituency joined the party.

Addressing a news conference, the spokesman of the group, Mr Gbenga Edema, hinged their decision to quit PDP on activities of some “hawks who have hijacked the affairs and soul of the party”.

Osun

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun Council, has called on media owners in the country to embark on upward review of welfare package for journalists.

This was contained in a statement in commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day, signed by the assistant secretary of the council, Goke Butika and made available to newsmen in Osogbo.

The council advised media organisations to institute insurance scheme that would indemnify journalists against the hazards of the profession.

It further stated that nothing short of a good remuneration would further enhance the practice of journalism in the country.

Oyo

The Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, has said that Oke-Ogun Community in Oyo State would give total support to Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala in the 2011 general elections.

Ojerinde, who is a native of the community, made the statement at Okaka in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of the state while speaking in an interview with newsmen.

“Our support is based on physical development of the area, because the governor has constructed roads which no other administrations has done in the history of Oyo State,” Ojerinde said.

The Registrar called on the National Assembly to quicken the process of amending the constitution for the creation of new states for the socio-economic development of the country.

Sokoto

Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Muktar Shagari has charged politicians to learn to deliver on their campaign promises.

Shagari, who gave the charge recently in Sokoto when the Peer Review team of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) Secretariat visited him, said that was the only way they could secure re-election.

The team was in the state in continuation of its project inspection and peer review exercise, an initiative of the 36 governors and National Economic Council.

Zamfara

The Federal Government has urged states and local government councils in the country to intensify effort toward environmental conservation to safeguard lives.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Suleman Bello, made the call on Sunday in Dangaladima in the Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara, where the second wild polio-virus was reported in the country.

Bello said that the call had become necessary because “the greatest challenge of our time, is the issue of climate change that has direct bearing on human life.

“I therefore call on you to assist the government in the area of environmental conservation, by taking measures that would curb indiscriminate felling of trees, pollution and improve environmental sanitation,” Bello said.

Nation

JAMB Decries Use Of Fake Results For Admission

Published

5 days ago

March 22, 2023

The Tide

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has decried the high level of forgery of A Level certificates used for the registration.
JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, who raised the alarm, recalled that the Board had commenced the 2023 Direct Entry registration on Monday, 20th February but immediately suspended it following the discovery of the plethora of devices and machinations to circumvent and compromise the standard of A ‘level qualifications required from DE candidates.
He disclosed that out of 148 candidates verified by Bayero University Kano (BUK), only 6 were found to be genuine.
“By implication 142 of the results were forged. Oloyede said. Bayero University, Kano (BUK) has also consistently brought to the fore the high rate of forgery of A’Level qualifications for DE.
“It was discovered that in previous years, some candidates used unacceptable and forged A’ level certificates/ qualifications to register for Direct Entry and eventually got admitted. For example out of 148 candidates verified by BUK, only 6 were found to be genuine. By implication 142 of the results were forged.
“The Board, concerned stakeholders and institutions are working assiduously to detect such and the ones already found are being dealt with according to the provisions of the law.
“In order to further checkmate the anomaly and to also prevent recurrence of such irregularity, the Board has decided that the 2023 DE registrations will not only be restricted to JAMB (Professional Test Centres (PTCs) but will also be done under strict supervision,” Oloyode said.
“The Board has provided additional guidelines to all DE registration outlets (JAMB-owned centres), Officers of the Board and candidates on the 2023 Direct Entry registration exercise:
“At the point of registration, all candidates must fill in Registration/Matriculation Number of the previous school attended where the qualification was obtained; Subject(s) of qualification; Awarding Institution; Institution actually attended”, he said.

Nation

‘Nigerians Have Lost Confidence, Trust In INEC’

Published

5 days ago

March 22, 2023

The Tide

As post-election crisis gathers momentum, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Nigeria’s 2023 general elections has declared that Nigerians have lost confidence and trust in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) owing to lack of transparency and operational failures.
The EU EOM Chief Observer, Barry Andrews, made the assertion at a Media Briefing to present the Mission’s second preliminary reports, in Abuja, Monday.
Andrews noted that although Nigerians had great appetite for democracy and keen to engage in various civic activities, their expectations were dashed.
According to him, the apathy recorded at the governorship and states House of Assembly elections conducted last Saturday was a clear consequence of failures by political elites and “unfortunately, INEC.”
Andrews said: “Obstruction and organised violence limited the free expression of the will of the voters, despite efforts by civil society to promote democratic standards.
“Throughout the Mission, we saw that Nigerians have a great appetite for democracy and are keen to engage in various civic activities. However, in many parts of the country, their expectations were not met.
“Many were disappointed and we witnessed voter apathy that is in part, a clear consequence of failures by political elites, and unfortunately, also by INEC.
“Positively, INEC introduced some corrective measures ahead of Saturday’s polls, allowing a timely delivery of sensitive materials and improved use of election technologies, yet, the institution continued to lack transparency.”
The Mission also observed that voting started early with INEC ad-hoc officials present and ready to serve voters, but the exercise was unfortunately, disrupted by “multiple incidents of thuggery and intimidation of voters, polling officials, observers, and journalists”.
The Mission noted that Lagos, Kano, and other States in the Southern, Northern and Central parts of the country were mostly affected, adding that the election was equally characterised by casualties, fatalities, as well as vote-buying, which according to the observers, further detracted from an appropriate conduct of elections.
“EU EOM observers also saw misuse of administrative resources, including through various financial and in-kind inducements to voters, giving an undue advantage to the party in power.
“Furthermore, the protracted deadlines for candidacy disputes created uncertainty for voters and electoral contestants alike, while clear underrepresentation of women as candidates demonstrated a stark lack of internal party policies to support constitutionally prescribed inclusion

Nation

‘Youths To Benefit From Climate Change Innovation Hub’

Published

5 days ago

March 22, 2023

The Tide

The Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Sani Tambuwal, has expressed optimism that the recently established National Climate Change Innovation Hub would help in harnessing the potential among Nigerian youths towards addressing climate issues.
The CNA stated this during the commemoration of the 2023 Commonwealth Day with the theme ‘Forging A Sustainable And Peaceful Common Future’ held at the instance of National Assembly management, in Abuja, Monday.
Represented by the Deputy Clerk, National Assembly (DCNA), Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana, Tambuwal observed that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and other climate issues in the world if not properly managed, would posed great danger to world peace and a sustainable future.
He assured that Federal Government had put measures in place to address some issues on climate change through the establishment of youth climate change hub to harness their ideas and include them in decision-making process as well as develop long-term vision for zero gas emissions.
In her presentation, Mrs. Rabi Audu stressed the need for concerted efforts from all stakeholders towards forging a sustainable and peaceful environment.
Audu also urged the youths to engage in activities and programmes that would promoter innovations and inclusivity for all.
According to her, governments and parliaments have to increase opportunities for schools across the Commonwealth countries, adopt higher education partnerships and development programmes that would lead to economic growth, social inclusion and environmental conservation.
While noting that the establishment of more programmes like the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) would aid the attainment of these, Audu further stressed the need for Commonwealth member countries to establish technical and vocational education that would help in gainfully equipping the youths with skills to further tackle high rate of youth unemployment.
Some of the students who participated in the programme tasked parliaments across Commonwealth member States on the need to hold their governments to account particularly on the areas of public spending, international crisis, investment sustainability and promotion of the benefits of inclusive and diverse representation in truly open societies.