Cross section of federal civil servants in Rivers State during an interactive session in Port Harcourt last.
Photo: NAN

Benue

A Makurdi High Court has sentenced Jacob Atongo,
a 100-level Sociology student of Benue State University, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
In his judgment, Justice Adam Onum, held that he was satisfied with the confession of the accused to the charges and therefore, found him guilty.
Onum sentenced the accused to death by hanging, insisting that the sentence prescribed under the law for the offence must be followed.
Atongo conspired with two others and robbed Stephen Akuma, and several others at gun point on June 26, 2012.

FCT

The Federal Government has been urged to set up
Inter-Ministerial ICT project clearance desk to address duplication of projects and programmes among Ministries, Department and Agencies in the country.
The President, Abuja Chapter, Information System Audit and Control Association (ISACA), Mr Ikani Yunusa, made the call at the 5th Annual International Conference in Abuja  recently.
Yunusa said the desk was important to eliminate duplication of projects, waste of public funds and unnecessary financial burden on the tax payers.
“I was worried when I learnt of the Federal Road Safety Commission and the Nigeria Police Force competing for who should set up a central Database for Vehicle registration for the country. That shouldn’t be.

Kaduna

Kaduna State Government says it will train 7,600
youths and women in various skills under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).
Governor Mukhtar Yero, who stated this at the beginning of the training in Kaduna, explained that the programme would improve the welfare of Nigerians via the provision of infrastructure, jobs and wealth creation.
“We have a total of 7,600 youths and women drawn from the 23 local government areas of the state. 1,500 will be trained under women empowerment, 2,300 under youth development and 2,300 under agriculture,’’ he said.
Yero said that the youth empowerment training would cost the government N42.9 million, while its women empowerment component would cost N39.9 million.

Kano

Kano State Commissioner for Special Duties Mr Idris
Dambazau, says government has completed the construction of 1,500 houses for flood victims in 2012.
Dambazau told newsmen in Kano that the figure was out of the 3,000 houses it was building for victims in three local government areas.
He said the houses were constructed at the cost of N2.4 billion in Warawa, Kunci and Makoda local government areas.
Dambazau said the state government found it necessary to construct the houses so as to relocate the victims from the river banks and other flood prone areas.

Katsina

Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, has
approved the appointment of Alhaji Aminu Danbaba, as Executive Chairman of the state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
This is contained in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary, Special Services, Alhaji Rabi’u Rumah, in Katsina.
Until his appointment, Danbaba was the executive director of the state Pilgrims Welfare Board.
He replaces Dr Suleman Dikko, who was recently appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan as the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

Kwara

The Fadama III Project has empowered more than
50,000 farmers in Kwara State, the Project’s Coordinator in the state, Mr Yusuf Agbabiaka, said.
Agbabiaka told newsmen in Ilorin that about 1, 228 Fadama user groups had been  registered under the project in the state.
He said the beneficiaries had benefited from various agricultural support facilities at subsidised rate, including assorted agricultural inputs.
“They (Fadama user groups) have benefited so much in terms of access to fertiliser, agro chemicals, improved seeds, agric equipment and implements, among others.

Lagos

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in
Lagos  recently organised a retreat for its officers with the aim of reviewing road safety strategies for improved performance.
The commission organised the one-day retreat for its officers in Zone 2, comprising Lagos and Ogun.
The commission used the opportunity to review the zone’s performance in the third quarter of this year.
The Zonal Commander, Mr Ademola Lawal, charged the officers to be determined to drastically reduce road accidents at the end of the year.

Ondo

Ekiti State Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi,   has
advised the youth, especially those who were unemployed, to embrace entrepreneurial skills that would make them to become self-reliant.
The governor gave the advice in Ise-Ekiti at the closing ceremony of the Batch “C’’ NYSC Orientation Programme in the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp.
Fayemi said that the youth, particularly corps members, should take advantage of available training and skills development programmes that would make them productive.
“I urge you to take advantage of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme of the NYSC and prepare for your future.

Osun

The Osun State Government has approved N4.5
billion as car refurbishing loan for the  9,435 workers in the state civil service, the Commissioner for Finance, Dr Wale Bolorunduro, has said.
Bolorunduro, who made the disclosure in Osogbo at a press conference, said that officials of labour unions in the civil service would determine the number of workers that would benefit from the loan.
He said the officials would also manage the account where the loan is domiciled and its disbursement.
Bolorunduro said that N1.2 billion would be needed to pay the first batch of beneficiaries of the loan adding that N1.4 billion had been reserved for payment of the second batch of beneficiaries.

Oyo

The Court of Appeal in Ibadan has adjourned the
case between the Oyo Government and Alhaji Lateef Akinsola, the  ex-chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), to January 15, 2014.
The government had filed an appeal against the judgment of a federal high court to reinstate Akinsola, also known as “Tokyo’’, as the union’s chairman.
Mr M.A. Ganiyu, counsel to the state government, told the court that he had filed and served an application, dated November 26, just before the court commenced sitting.
“The application, which was filed today, is for an extension of time to appeal,” he said.
However, Mr Abiodun Amole, counsel to Akinsola, did not raise any objection.

Zamfara

The Zamfara State Police Command has confirmed
the stealing of 20 camels by suspected gunmen at Kawaye village of Anka local government area of the state.
The command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Lawal Abdullahi, said this in Gusau while addressing newsmen in Gusau.
He said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the area had been instructed to arrest the suspects.
The police spokesman gave assurance that the police would continue to ensure the continuous protection of persons and their property.