THE STATES

Ekiti

 The Ekiti State judicial workers say they will commence a five- day warning strike today to protest against the  government’s failure to  improve their  welfare.

The workers, who spoke under the aegis of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Ekiti State chapter, made this known in a letter  dated January 10, 2011 and  addressed to Governor Kayode Fayemi.

A copy of the letter, which was made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, was jointly signed by Comrade Ibiyemi Michael and Comrade Owolabi Tayo, the Chairman and Secretary of the union respectively.

The union accused the state government of not implementing the 156 percent increase in the allowances and fringe benefits approved by the Federal Government for judicial workers.

Besides, the union lamented the government’s refusal  to pay  its members the 20 percent year 2010 Christmas Bonus approved by  the governor.

FCT

Four Presidential aspirants on the platform of ANPP on Saturday promised Nigerians to reform the country, if voted into power in the April general elections.

The aspirants, who addressed over 5,000 delegates at the Eagles Square, venue of the ANPP National Convention in Abuja, were Governor Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State, Chief Harry Akande, Alhaji Bashir Tofa and Alhaji Dauda Birmah.

Addressing the convention, Shekarau said the occasion was “a day of great history, a great moment of change for ANPP and for Nigeria as a whole’’.

Shekarau, who broke the jinx of second term as Governor of the state, said the expected change in Nigeria would come with the election of a credible and experienced leader to midwife the much needed change.

Plateau

Bank customers in Jos have complained about the continued closure of banks in the city, in spite of the return of peace to the troubled city.

Banks in Jos have shut their doors to customers since the past five days, following the recurring spate of killings in the city.

Sources in some of the banks told newsmen that the closure was as a result of the precarious security situation in the city.

Mr Gwotbit David, a customer waiting at the Secretariat Branch of First Bank at Hwolshe, appealed to the banks to consider the suffering of the people.

He urged the banks to consider devising ways of attending to customers on skeletal basis.

Kaduna

The Kaduna State Branch of the Nigerian Medical Association(NMA) yesterday suspended its planned strike over the non-payment of  the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure(CONMESS) by the State Government.

The Tide’s source reports that the suspension, followed the acceptance of the State Government to implement the policy 100 per cent

The state’s branch Chairman of the association, Dr Solomon Avidime, confirmed the development to newsmen in Kaduna, after an emergency meeting held with representatives of the State Government.

Avidime said that members of the association had wanted to embark on an indefinite industrial action from today, to press their demand, but noted that the government’s action had averted the planned action. 

Katsina

The Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir, has advised leaders to win people’s confidence by prioritising their needs. 

Kabir gave the advice yesterday in Katsina when the state’s Committee on the Payment of Cumulative Gratuities to Local Government Pensioners, paid him a courtesy call at his palace.

He said the payment of the cumulative gratuities to the beneficiaries had come at the right time when government was paying more attention to issues relating to the welfare of citizens.

He urged the committee to justify the confidence reposed in it by the government.

According to him, the emirate is willing to offer useful advice to leaders who are open to ideas and suggestions.

Kebbi

The Kebbi Government has donated N1 million to the state’s chapter of the Nigerian Legion to improve the welfare of its members.

Governor Saidu Dakingari, made the donation on Friday in Birnin Kebbi at the launching of an appeal fund as part of activities to mark the annual Armed Forces Remembrance Week.

Dakingari, who was represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Alhaji Shehu Sambawa, said that further support would be provided to the legion.

He said that members of the legion had played vital roles in attaining peace and unity of the country.

The Chairman of the state’s chapter of the legion, Jibo Dabai, commended the state’s authorities for sustaining its support to members of the legion.

“We will not relent in seeking further support in the implementation of policies and programmes that will help in developing the society,” he said.

Lagos

The Federal Government has been urged to terminate the services of MEAVIS Ltd, a concessionaire charged with the mandate to generate revenue for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).  

The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) made the call at a news conference yesterday in Ikeja in Lagos State.

The President of ATSSSAN, Mr Benjamin Okewu, told journalists that FAAN had not been able to maintain airports in the country because of non-remittance of funds from MEAVIS.  

Okewu alleged that the FAAN/MEAVIS agreement had not in anyway impacted positively on the nation’s airports.

He claimed that FAAN was generating enough money to maintain its airports in the country before MAEVIS came on board.

 Ogun

Senator Ibikunle Amosun on Friday in Abeokuta emerged the gubernatorial candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Ogun.

The Tide’s source reports that Amosun, an accountant, emerged the candidate out of 10 other contestants in a consensus arrangement adopted by the party.

Amosun was the gubernatorial candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the 2007 general elections in Ogun.

Presenting Amosun to jubilant supporters at the party’s Secretariat in Abeokuta, the State Chairman of ACN, Alhaji Tajudeen Bello, described the consensus process as rigorous.

He said that at the end of the day, Amosun emerged, based on the approval of the other 10 governorship aspirants. 

Osun

The Director, Osun Action Committee on AIDS (SACA) , Dr Funso Ajao, says the prevalence of  HIV and AIDS in the state still stands at 1.2 per cent.

Ajao told newsmen in Osogbo on Friday that the committee would continue to create awareness through sustained campaigns on Radio and Television programmes on the virus. 

Ajao said that the committee would continue to carry out counselling and testing at various centres as a means of further reducing the prevalence of the scourge.

He said that awareness creation was a major strategy of controlling the spread of the virus and that through testing, people could know their status. 

The Director, however, did not disclose the actual figure of people, who tested positive to the virus, saying that he needed time to collate the figures from the various counselling and testing centres.

Sokoto

Alhaji Abdulkadir Jalani, Chairman of Sabon-Birni Local Government in Sokoto state, has called on Nigerians to always pray for God’s intervention in political activities of the country.

Jalani told The Tide’s source in Sokoto that the nation was in dire need of prayers to ensure peaceful conduct of the forth coming general elections.

He said that prayers were vital in ensuring the success of the elections.