THE STATES

Bauchi

The Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board
(SUBEB) has commenced a three-month training for 4,215 teachers in the 20 local government areas of the state.
The Executive Chairman of the board, Alhaji Abdullahi Dabo, said at the opening in Bauchi that the exercise was organised to enhance the teachers’ performance.
“Last year, UBEC supported the training of 2,385 teachers, supervisors and education managers using the Teachers Capacity Building Model (clusters schools approach).
“The 2014 programme will feature the training of 2,385 teachers, 1,600 school base management committee members, 100 Quality Assurance staff, 60 Special Education, 70 Early Childhood Care and Development Education teachers,’’ he said.

Benue
A senatorial aspirant on the platform of the APC
in Benue State, Mr Andrew Ayabam, says he is not bothered by the numerous threats against him by those opposed to his senatorial ambition.
Ayabam, a bank worker and immediate past Chairman of the state Board of Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) bared his mind yesterday in Makurdi while addressing newsmen.
The former BIRS boss left the office in August 2013 and was replaced by his deputy.
Ayabam, who has declared intention to run for the Benue North East senatoral seat, will meet strong opponents in the race.

Ekiti

Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State in Abuja said
that protracted poor power supply to the state was militating against the economic and social growth of the state.
Fayose made the call during a courtesy visit on the Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Sam Amadi.
He, therefore, appealed to the commission to liaise with Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) whose operations cover the state to help in restoring power supply to the state.
Fayose said that most parts of the state had been in blackout  over the past 10 months.
“Ekiti has been in blackout since I came in as governor. All that I want is a solution to the blackout that has persisted in the state,” he said.
Amadi said that the commission would not encourage indiscriminate disconnection of consumers from power by distribution companies.
He assured Fayose that the commission would meet with the management of the BEDC to proffer solution to the problem.
An official of the BEDC, who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, said that repair work on the transmission line to Ekiti state was in progress.

FCT

Mr Gabriel Johnson, a technician, yesterday
urged his colleagues and scientists to develop products that suit local needs and promote cultural heritage and history.
Johnson, who makes compact discs, told newsmen in Abuja that the role of technology in fostering cultural awareness among the young people could not be over emphasised.
He said that technology was a veritable tool to promote the country’s culture and heritage, adding that “children’s toys can be made with jingles taken from folklores.’’
“Even proverbs and parables that educate children on our cultural heritage and history can be relayed using this medium.
“We can also use them to teach our children moral values such as honesty, humility and contentment,” he added.
Kano

The Kano State Government yesterday closed its sec
ondary schools to enable students who attained the age of 18 years to partake in the Continous Voter Registration (CVR) by INEC.
Our correspondent reports that INEC in the state, had set aside between November 12 and November 17 for the registration of those who had not registered before but now reached 18 years of age.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Assistant Director of Information of the state Ministry of Education, Hajiya Hadiza Habib, and made available to newsmen.
According to the statement, the decison is necessary to allow students who are now eligible to exercise their civic responsibilities.
It directed parents whose children were in boarding schools to pick their wards and return them on November 19.

Lagos

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos yesterday re
manded in prison custody five men over allegations of armed robbery.
The Magistrate, Miss O.A. Akinde, ordered that the men be remanded in prison custody, pending legal advice from the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The accused — Taiwo Idowu, 32; Jamiu Jimoh, 23; Simon Joseph, 18; Wasiu Ebunoluwa, 22, and Adeyemi Fagnenro, 43;— all unemployed and without any fixed address, are each facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.
Earlier the prosecutor, Insp. Chinalu Uwadione, told the court that the accused attacked their victim, one Mr Hameed Balogun, on Nov. 1 at 9:00 p.m. at the Railway line, Iponri/Costain area in Lagos.
“They forcefully collected his gold necklace, wrist watch, cell phones, cash and wallet, all valued at N406,000,” Uwadione said.

Niger

Governor  Babangida Aliyu of Niger State said in Minna
that the success of the 2015 general elections would depend largely on solving the security challenge in the northeast.
Aliyu said this at the 4th International Literary Colloquium to mark his 59th birthday.
The colloquium had as its theme: “Leadership and National Development and Post Centenary Nigeria: New Literatures, New Leaders and New Nation.’’
“Recently, I told somebody that the legitimacy of our 2015 general elections depends on how we are able to solve the problems in the northeast.
“This is because the moment you cannot conduct elections in an area, you are already questioning the legitimacy of that election.
“I have just signed a Bill into law establishing Niger State Book Development Agency which will sustain the colloquium’’, he said.
Osun

The Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-
Tomori, said that the government would continue to encourage religion tolerance and unity in the state.
Laoye-Tomori stated this at the inauguration of the House of Assembly Christian Fellowship Chapel Complex in Osogbo.
The deputy governor said there was no time the government attempted to Islamise the state, stressing that the government would continue to create an enabling environment for religion tolerance.
She said the government believed in freedom of worship and would never discriminate against anyone based on religion belief.

Plateau

The residents of Plateau State, who turned out in
large numbers for the fresh voters’ registration have continued to groan over the slow pace of the process.
The fresh registration, which started lastWednesday, is to capture those who could not get the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) because they were not captured in the first exercise conducted in 2011.
Large queues of voters are gradually thinning out as more impatient voters leave out of frustration.
In most centres visited in Jos yesterday, very few voters had been registered in the exercise that had entered the second day.
One of the registrants, Anna Davou, complained that the process had been too slow.
“I was here yesterday and even came back very early today but there are no signs that the machine is working,’’ she said.

Sokoto
The Sokoto State House of Assembly yesterday con
firmed the appointment of the immediate past Head of the  Civil Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Wali, as a  member of the  State Judicial Service Commission.
Our correspondent reports that this was in compliance with a letter forwarded to the Assembly by Gov. Aliyu Wamakko, appointing  Wali as member of the  commission.
A motion moved by the House Leader, Alhaji Abubakar  Buda (APC- Dange/Shuni), said: “this
is in view of the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He said the appointment of a member of the  State Judicial Service Commission was provided for in section 198 of the Constitution.
The leader described Wali as a man of proven integrity and dedication who had contributed immensely to the development of the state in various capacities.

President Goodluck Jonathan (7th-left), Senate President David Mark (4th-left)in a group photograph with parents and some Chibok Girls during their visit to Presidential Villa in Abuja recently