Bauchi

Bauchi State Government, Thursday had warned leaders and elders of communities in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Government Area to desist from destroying the peace they have all agreed upon to reign in the state.

The warning was contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Abdu Aliyu Ilelah on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibahim Dandija.

The statement revealed that government was taking steps to avoid frequent crisis in the two councils pointing out that security operatives and representatives of elders would tour the councils to recover animals either stolen or lost during the crisis.

It said the government would soon rebuild the palace of the District Head of Lere in Tafawa Balewa Local Government, which was destroyed during the crisis and urged those who fled the area to return and assist in the building.

The statement further warned that anybody who obstructs the building team in the area would be punished and called on the people of the area to partner with the government in bringing lasting peace to the area.

Ekiti

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State had assured its citizenry that the state government would raise money from the capital market to subsidize its low revenue base.

The governor gave the assurance last Friday during the hosting of the Managing Director, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc, Ladi Balogun and other members of the bank’s management in his office in Ado-Ekiti.

Governor Fayemi said his administration would go to the capital market to raise bonds in view of what he called the ‘precarious financial situation’ of the state.

Fayemi noted that his administration was poised to develop sectors such as agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, health, education, urban renewal initiative and job creation, maintaining that it would build an enduring, long-term and mutually benefiting relationships with financial institutions in the country to strengthen the state’s economy.

On its part, the MD, FCMB, Ladi Balogun said his bank was interested in helping Ekiti raise the intended bond as one of the issuing houses.

Balogun revealed that civil servants in the state could also benefit from the direct credit system being operated by FCMB which he said would help them obtain loans within 24 hours even when they do not operate accounts with the bank.

FCT

Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to improve the lot of Nigerian children.

The MoU was endorsed by the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. Bukola Saraki and signed at the forum’s secretariat, Abuja by Mr. Asishana Okauru, on behalf of the governors and Suomi Sukai, the country representative of UNICEF.

Saraki revealed that the Mou was aimed at promoting child-friendly government systems and values, exploration of opportunities of leverage resources and translation of politics into results for children.

The partnership he said would also ensure the recognition and realization of children’s rights in the country as part of efforts at achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Saraki maintained that the signing marks another milestone for he governors’ forum, pointing out that it had earlier successfully partnerships with the Bill and Belinda Gates Foundation, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, UNDP and  DFID.

“The initiative are in furtherance of NGF’s mission of fostering national unity and development” he said.

Jos

Mushin Women in Jos, the Plateau State capital, have appealed to warring factions in the state go put an end to the killings and destruction of properties in the state.

The Mushim women leader, Hajiya Khadjat Gambo Hawaja made the appeal in a peaceful protest against the recent killings in the state.

Clad in white, the women said the protest became necessary following the sufferings of women and children in the state.

Hajiya Hawaja said “we have lost our husbands and children. Some of them are  in prison for the reason having being arrested in their homes.”

She appealed that the Special Task Force (STF), Operation Safe Haven and other security agencies to remain in the state to prevent further violence.

Receiving the protesting women at the Jos Central Mosque, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ibrahim Baba Hassan promised to deliver the women’s letter to governor Jonah David Jang.

While nothing that lawmakers have done all they could to stop the violence, Jang said “it is all about carrying everybody along. We cannot live in isolation. We must co-exist, Muslims, Christians, Hausas, Berom, Afizeres and Anagutas.”

no

Kano State Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has inaugurated a multi-million information and technology centre built and equipped by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for Rumfa College, Kano.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Alhaji Abdulkareem Hassan, Sheharau expressed appreciation to Shell for the gigantic project expressing hopes that it would be maximally utilized for the benefit of the students by making them computer literate which is the global phenomenon.

According to him, the project was the first of its kind in the state, urging he school to ensure that they provide maximum protection of the ICT facilities.

The project he stated was an important one, which he believes would impact positively on the acquisition of computer skills by the students of the college in meeting up with the Millennium Development Goals.

Also speaking, the Managing Director, Shell Exploration and Production Company, Mr. Chike Onyejekwe, explained that the donation of the ICT centre was part of the oil firm’s corporate responsibility in contributing to the development of computer literacy among secondary and tertiary institutions in the state.

Kogi

The governorship candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Kogi State, Alhaji Usman Idris Maiyanga had threatened to sue the party if it decided to substitute him.

Maiyanga who wont he CPC’s governorship primary in the state alleged that the national leadership of the party was making moves to replace him with an unpopular candidate.

Describing the purported moves as a departure from the party’s rules Maiyanga stated that he would contest the substitution even in court.

 He said “I have worked and sponsored this party with my money. The entire congresses held in the state were sponsored by me. I don’t understand why the party would want to repay me this way.”

Maiyanga urged the party leadership at the state and national levels to concentrate on the party’s victory instead of going contrary to its rules.

Lagos

The Lagos State government, had announced a new salary structure for public servants under it employ, effective from January 1, 2011.

Addressing newsmen last Thursday, at the Government House, Lagos, the Commissioner for Establishment, Pension and Training, Mr. Jide Sanwo-Olu, said the decision was reached during a special session by the State Executive Council.

Sanwo-Olu stated that workers of the state government would be paid one month salary arrears.

While noting that the state government was yet to reveal the details of the package, the commissioner said however, that details will come before the end of this week.

He said “details will come by next week. We don’t want to do it all by ourselves but will allow the union members to see it before announcing it.”

Sanwo-Olu further urged all civil servants in the state to double their efforts in the discharge of their duties in order for their efforts to commensurate with the new salary structure adding that the government would not condone any laxity in the state civil service.

Oyo

Doctors in Oyo State have lamented what they called the ‘progressive decline of healthcare services’ in the state owned hospitals.

They said their strike would subsist until their demand are met by the government.

The chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Millicent Obajimi, who spoke with reporters in Ibadan said the NMA was demanding the implementation of CONMESS and the recruitment of more doctors in the state and local government hospitals across the state.

Obajimi said the 30-year-old Adeoye Maternity Hospital, which is the largest state hospital was a shadow of itself due to insufficient doctors.

She said “the Department of Surgery alone in this hospital used to boost of four general surgeons, three orthopaedic surgeons two plastic surgeons, two urologists  among others but now had only one elderly and retired general surgeon employed on contact as the only one serving the whole of Oyo State.

Obajimi also revealed that the department of Internal Medicine which used to have at least four specialist physicians, no longer have any adding that it is now being runned by young medical officers.

Osun

The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) have been called upon to intervene in the crisis between Osun and Oyo States over the ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho.

The Osun State governor, Rauf  Aregbesola made the call last Friday while receiving he YCE members led by it national chairman, Major General Adeyinka Adebayo in his office.

Aregbesola who expressed concern over the huge toll which the crisis has taken on the university said Yoruba people have a traditional norm which guides joint ownership of property and stressed the need for the Oyo State government to take such consideration to allow peace to resign.

He commended the YCE for its maintenance of peace and unity among Yoruba communities and appealed to the council to be in the vanguard of social re-orientation, which he said his administration was embarking upon.

Zamfara

The Zamfara State Government had launched concerted efforts towards the improvement of Agriculture and Agro business in the state.

Through the Zamfara State Comprehensive Agricultural Revolution Programme (ZACAREP), farmers have been registered and given incentives in terms of Agricultural imput such as fertilizers, agro chemicals, pesticides, tractors and other mechanized farm implements, as well as improved seedlings.

Addressing Zamfara State Government House correspondent on the state of agriculture in the state, Governor Shinkafi disclosed that the state government had offered free tractor services to the farmers as a pragmatic approach to promoting mechanized agriculture and increasing agricultural yields in the state.

He stated that apart from providing incentives to the farmers, it had also put in place a policy to buy excess agricultural produce from farmers during harvest seasons at good prices in order to give the farmers value for their labour.

In is words “the state is also producing about 10,000 tones of cash crops such as ground nuts, cotton, soyabeans among others each year in recent years.”