THE STATES

Adamawa

More than 70 per cent of the 226 councillors whose tenure expired two months ago are seeking re-election in the forthcoming local government election in Adamawa State.

The Chairman of the Councillors Forum, Alhaji Usman Maulud made this known in an interview in Yola.

Maulud said the councillors who had obtained nomination forms were seeking re-election on the platform of PDP.

He, however, said that five of the councillors including himself, who served as speakers of their respective local government legislatures, were going for the chairmanship position.

“We were encourage and supported by our people based on our performance and commitment to youth development in our areas to contest”, he said.

Bauchi

The Conditional Cash Transfer Programme of the Bauchi State Government for girl-child education,  has gulped N50 million within the last five years.

The Chief Coordinator of the Programme, Alhaji Karijo Buba made this known on Tuesday in Giade.

The programme is being undertaken in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) .

Buba made the disclosure while distributing letters of invitation to participate in the programme to some selected girls in Darazo, Dambam, Giade, Kirfi, Zaki and Dass local government areas of the state. Buba said that the programme commenced in 2007 with 260 schools in the six local government areas as a pilot programme.

Benue

Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State last  Saturday pledged that his administration would not interfere with the independence of the judiciary.

The governor, who gave the pledge in Makurdi at a ceremony organised to mark the beginning of the 2011/2012 legal year, said that his administration would always strive to ensure a smooth dispensation of justice.

Suswam, who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Chive Kaave, noted that the state’s judiciary was one of the best in the country.

In his address, the Chief Judge, Justice Iorhemen Hwande, commended Suswam for his support to the judiciary.

FCT

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has appealed to people of goodwill to eschew violence and follow the path of justice, peace, unity and stability for the progress of Nigeria.

In a message of condolence to the family of the slain Babakura Fugu, son of the deceased Fugu in Maiduguri, Obasanjo said that while out of the country, he received the sad news of the killing of Babakura.

In the message, last  Sunday, Obasanjo said “Babakura who joined others to receive me in the demolished compound of his late father, was genuinely working for justice and peace.

“He should not be hated for that let alone being killed.

Jigawa

Malam Adamu Jigawa-sada, a physically challenged lawmaker representing Dutse Constituency in Jigawa State House of Assembly, has pledged to bring the dividends of democracy to his people.

Jigawa-sada, who made the pledge on Saturday in Dutse in an interview with newsmen  said his election was an inspiration to all the physically challenged persons in Nigeria.

Jigawa-sada said that since his election two villages in his constituency that had been in total darkness for years had started enjoying steady power supply.

Kaduna

The Tiv community in Zaria, Kaduna State, has expressed happiness over the decision of the Zazzau Emirate to co-opt it into the annual Eid-El-Fitr celebration.

In a statement signed by the Tyoor-elect of the community in Zaria, Mr Denis Akaayar in Zaria last Saturday,the union said the gesture would enhance national unity.

It specifically described the 2011 Eid-El-Fitr celebration as a memorable event for the Tivs in Zaria in particular,and Kaduna State in general.

Kano

Dr  Ahmad Suleiman, the Imam of Tudun Murtala Central Mosque in Kano, has enjoined Muslims to emulate Prophet Muhammad by exhibiting good character.

In his sermon, Suleiman said that during his life time Prophet Muhammad advised his followers to be God-fearing in all their undertakings.

He also stressed the need for the Muslim Ummah to shun hypocrisy in all its form.

The Islamic scholar also called on parents to give their children good education that would make them useful citizens of the country.

He implored Muslims to propagate the message of Islam and the teachings of the holy Prophet Muhammad.

Suleiman,who described life on earth as transient, enjoined Muslim faithful to always pray for peace in the state in particular and the country in general.

Lagos

Mr Abdul-Lateef Owoyemi, the former President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), says Nigerian leaders should show more commitment in efforts to tackle insecurity, corruption, poverty and joblessness in the country.

He gave the advice in Lagos  last Saturday, while speaking at the 2nd Annual Seminar of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC.

Owoyemi said that Nigeria would remain relevant in the comity of nations, if its citizens were more disciplined and focused.

He, however, noted that some unscrupulous politicians had been creating fears and mutual suspicions among the citizenry, while making the country polarised and unstable.

“No nation can be relevant globally without first becoming relevant domestically.

“We are relevant in terms of world energy supply and when peacekeeping activities on the global stage are being discussed.

Niger

The All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools, has advocated the establishment of more examination bodies in the country to improve the standard of secondary school leaving certificate examinations.

This was contained in a communiqué issued last Saturday at the end of the conference’s national executive council meeting in Minna.

The communique noted that the establishment of the National Examination Council (NECO) had compelled the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to improve on its standard in the bid to maintain its position.

It expressed concern over the moral decadence in the country, which it said was characterised by insincerity, corruption and sexual abuse among others.

Ondo

Mr Banji Okunomo, the Chairman of Ilaje local government in Ondo State, said the council had awarded contract for the dualisation of some roads in the area.

Okunomo told newsmen last Sunday that the contract was awarded to a construction firm, adding that the people of the community had also called for the repair of link roads in the area.

He declined to name the construction firm involved and the contract sum.

He said that the reconstruction of Igbokoda market into an international market was in the pipeline as well as provision of other essential developmental amenities.

He said council had resolved to implement programmes that would impact positively on the people, and improve on the work of the previous administration.

Plateau

The Federal Government has pledged to pay the medical bills of persons who sustained injuries during the crisis that rocked some parts of Plateau State.

Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), gave the undertaking in Jos last Saturday when he visited the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, where some of the injured victims were receiving treatment.

Sani-Sidi, who commiserated with the victims, said that the Federal Government had directed that the medical bills of the injured persons should be defrayed.

He also expressed the government’s willingness to support the victims and urged the hospital authorities to submit their bills to the zonal office of NEMA for necessary action.

Sokoto

Senator Abubakar Gada, says he will contest the March 10, 2012 governorship election in Sokoto State.

“I intend to contest the post and this is unequivocal, categorical and unambiguous,’’ he said last Saturday in Sokoto.

Gada said he would contest the election to enable him bring the needed change in the socio-economic development of the state.

He was reacting to a recent statement credited to the National Vice-Chairman of the PDP in charge of the North-West Zone, Amb. Ibrahim Kazaure, while on a working visit to the state.

Zamfara

Alhaji Murtala Aliyu, the Chairman of Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board, has directed education secretaries to remove all ghost teachers from their payrolls ahead of planned statewide audit.

Aliyu,who was appointed recently as SUBEB chairman, gave the directives during a  meeting with the secretaries in Gusau at the weekend.

He said records had shown that there were scores of ghost teachers in the payrolls of all the 14 local education authorities and that salaries of such teachers were fraudulently paid into the pockets of some individuals.