FCT

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO),
Traffina Foundation Community Health, said it had distributed over 4,000 delivery kits to women in 2014 to improve their reproductive health.
The Founder of the group, Mrs Chinomnso Peters, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen.
Peters tagged the initiative as “One Kit Saves 2’’ project.
Our correspondent  reports that the contents of the kits include: cord clamp, a piece of white cloth, pampers, mentholated spirit, pad for mothers, and chlorxy-G Gel for prevention of infection in newborn.
She said the contents of the kits would assist pregnant women who could not afford the required materials at the point of delivery.
She said that through the efforts, they had been able to save more than 10,000 lives.

Katsina

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) in Katsina State has decried the high rate of abuse of psychotropic substances among teenage girls and women in the state. The substances are: cough syrup with codeine, nail polish cleaner, lizard faeces and rubber solution.
The NDLEA Commandant in the state, Hajiya Maryam Sani, made the remark while speaking with newsmen in Katsina.
We are worried about the involvement of teenage girls and women in the abuse of psychotropic substances. This is disheartening. All stakeholders should join hands with the agency to bring an end to the menace,’’ Sani said.

Kebbi

The Birnin Kebbi Local Government Council in Kebbi
State has procured 2,500 additional water pumping machines worth N7.5 million for distribution to farmers in the area.
The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Musa Dan-Illela, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen  in Birnin Kebbi.
Dan-Illela explained that the machines would be distributed to registered farmers in electoral wards in the area.
According to him, the Agriculture Department had been mandated to ensure equitable distribution to beneficiaries. He said the machines would be distributed to farmers on soft loan to be repaid in two years; the measure would encourage commercial production of wheat, rice and vegetables.
The chairman said each machine was purchased at a cost of N30,000.

Lagos

The Lagos State Head of Service, Mrs Oluseyi Will
iams, has charged civil servants to renew their commitment to service in the New Year and work assiduously to move the state forward.
Williams gave the charge at the Inter-religious Thanksgiving Service organised by the state government in Ikeja to usher in the First Working Day of the year.
According to her, the workers can only justify the confidence reposed in them through more efficient service delivery and greater impact on the state and its people.
“In the New Year, you should work together more as a team. You should shun envy and other things that do not promote harmonious working relationship.
If anyone is doing well in your office, do not envy him, rather learn from him and let him be an inspiration to work harder. Envy is not good, it causes problems in the workplace,’’ she said.
Williams said the state government was committed to the welfare of workers and would continue to take steps to improve the lot of civil servants.

Nassarawa

The Association of Plateau Indigenes in the Diaspora
(PIDA) has  urged for support to Sen. Gyang Pwajok’s gubernatorial ambition to enable him win the 2015 governorship election in the state.
The National President of the association, Mr. Golu Moses, made the call while addressing newsmen after the National Executive meeting of the body in Lafia.
He stressed that the position was arrived at after wide consultations devoid of primordial sentiments to zoning, religion, ethnicity or partisanship.
He said: “The aim of our meeting was to discuss on ways forward and on how to achieve our association’s objectives for the overall development of the country.

Niger

Rev. Musa Dada, the Chairman, Niger Christian
Association of Nigeria(CAN), has called for one week universal prayers and fasting for peace in Nigeria.
Dada made the call in an interview with  newsmen  in Minna recently. He said “normally, CAN organises prayers and fasting every first week of the year to prepare Christians for the New Year and to seek God’s intervention for the country.  This year’s one week prayer and fasting will run from January 5 to January 11.
“We do this every first or second week of a new year to prepare people for the year and to ask for God’s guidance and protection.
“Christians across the state will be praying for peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general elections.

Ogun

Hon. Joseph Adegbesan, a member of the Ogun
State House of Assembly, has defected to the Labour Party.
The lawmaker told newsmen in Abeokuta that he had picked the Labour Party’s ticket to contest the House of Representatives election for Ijebu North, East and Ogun Waterside Constituency.
Adegbesan said he left the PDP after consultations with his supporters, adding that the move to the new party would enable him achieve his political dream.
“I left the PDP after consulting with my people and they gave me the go ahead.
“ I also want to let you know that more PDP lawmakers whose interests were not protected by the party will defect to other parties. As a politician, we need to do everything possible to bring the dividends of democracy to the door steps of our people.,” he said.

Oyo

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, has  ap
proved the appointment of 17 permanent secretaries, state Accountant-General, Auditor-General and that of the Auditor General of Local Government.
Ajimobi revealed the new appointment during the annual Inter- religious Service held at the Oyo State Goverment House, Agodi, Ibadan.
He said some retired senior directors were also considered in the new appointments.
He added that “the appointment is in line with the restoration agenda of the present administration to give adequate reward to dedicated civil servants in the state,” he said.
He said the aim of the present administration was to reposition the state civil service with a view to making it one of the best in the south west region in terms of renumeration and welfare package.

Sokoto

The Sokoto State Zakat Committee  said it had
spent about N927. 6 m on 7,000 physically challenged persons and other indigent persons across the state.
The Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Lawal Maidoki told newsmen in Sokoto that the money was released to the committee by the Sokoto State Government in 2014.
According to him, N549.6 million out of the amount was spent on the payment of monthly allowances to physically challenged persons in the 23 local governments of the state.
“There are nearly 7,000 physically challenged persons benefiting from the state government’s gesture, and they are each being given N6,500 monthly.

Taraba

The nationwide strike embarked upon by Judicial
Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has  halted court activities in Taraba. The judicial workers were demanding for financial autonomy and JUSUN had earlier gone on warning strike in July last year.
Mr Hamza Yahaya, the state Chairman of JUSUN, told journalists that the state chapter was simply complying with the directives from its national body.
Mr Boniface Iorkumbur, a lawyer, described the strike as unfortunate.
He said “it is unfortunate that this strike is happening.

From Left: Governor Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi State; Executive Secretary, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (nphcda), Dr Ado Mohammed and Chairman, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area, Alhaji Ibrahim Dan-illelah, at the presentation of the Unicef and Eu Medical Support Materials for Maternal and Child Health Care in Birnin Kebbi recently.