Board Chairman Nigeria Rialway Corporation, Alhaji (Dr) Bamanga Tukur (right) with Executive Governor Abia State, Theodor Orji duirng official commissioning of Nigeria Rialway Corporation at Port Harcourt recently. Photo: Egberi Sampson

Benue

Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has de
nied embezzling salaries of workers in the state.
Suswam made the denial at the inauguration of the renovated Kwande Local Government Education Authority building in Kwande local government area.
He blamed his administration’s inability to pay salaries of some workers on the poor budgetary allocations being received by the state from the Federal Government.He explained that the poor budgetary allocation was caused by the falling price of oil in the international market.
“I do not embezzle workers salaries. You are suffering and there is no way I will temper with your monthly entitlements. I am not taking any kobo from workers salaries in the state.

FCT
The low turnout of political parties for the town hall
meeting held recently had generated a lot of reactions as the Vice Presidential debate was being arranged.
Some stakeholders who spoke to newsmen  in Abuja expressed disappointments and hoped that the Presidential and Vice Presidential debates would not go the same way. The Kowa Party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), United Progressive Party (UPP) and Citizens Popular Party (CPP) were the parties that have kept faith with the exercise so far. Mr Chambers Okorie, a member of the UPP, viewed his party’s participation as a national commitment to propagate the good intentions of the party.
He said “we consider this to be a great campaign platform to reach more Nigerians, so it is to our advantage that we took the opportunity.’’

Jigawa

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State,  said his
administration had executed developmental projects and transformed agriculture across the state.
Lamido made this known in Kirikasamma, Jigawa, during the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign. According to him, his administration had accorded priority to road development and executed various projects to enhance transportation in the state.
The governor listed some of the projects as Arawa-Baturiya-Abunabo-Kadira road, rehabilitation of various federal high ways and construction of township roads in the 27 local government areas. Lamido said the state government had also constructed access road to link villages with local council headquarters.
The projects are designed to open up rural communities and enhance transportation of farm produce,” he said.

Kano

The Kano State Government plans to produce one
million assorted seedlings this year, as part of renewed efforts to check desert encroachment in some parts of the state.
The state Afforestation Project Coordinator, Alhaji Ali Dauda, said this in an interview with newsmen  in Kano.
Dauda said the seedlings would be produced in designated nursery centres located across the state.
He said the inputs would be distributed free of charge to farmers and other interested individuals to plant in their respective farms and places of abode.
“The plan to produce this number of seedlings is aimed at checking desertification particularly in areas that are prone to threats of desert encroachment,” he said.

Lagos

A lecturer, Mr Frank Ogundano, has  urged the
National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to accelerate its accreditation processes in order to develop tourism education in polytechnics. Ogundano, who is the Head of Department, Leisure and Tourism Management, Lagos State Polytechnic, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen  in Lagos.
He said the intermittent disruption of academic programmes due to non-accreditation and inadequate enlightenment of prospective students had negatively affected the trend of enrolment and graduation in tourism-related courses. Ogundano said: “The course is a growing course but so far, we have graduated three sets in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and there is no time we graduated less than 25 students.
“We could not graduate students in 2013 because of accreditation issues with the NBTE; twice, they have prevented us from getting accreditation,” he said

Osun

The  Osun State Director, National Orientation
Agency (NOA), Dr Martins Lawrence said on Tuesday, that the agency had begun rural door- to -door sensitisation of the electorate on the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC). Lawrence told newsmen  in Osogbo that the agency was visiting villages, markets, palaces, churches, mosques as well as motor parks for the exercise. He said the agency adopted the approach so as to reach people at the grassroots directly.
“Majority of the people we are dealing with are at the grassroots because majority of the electorate reside in the rural areas. “And that is why we are going from door to door to sensitise the people.’’

Oyo

Ahead of February’s general elections, the Oyo
State Police Command, has assured candidates of political parties of their safety as they go about their political campaigns.  The spokesperson of the command, DSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, disclosed this  in an interview with  newsmen  in Ibadan.  He said that the command had solicited the cooperation of political parties by asking for their campaign itineraries.
“ We have the itineraries of the different candidates stating when and where they wish to have their campaigns.
“ With this information at our disposal, the command will always ensure the provision of adequate manpower to man venues of such rallies.

Plateau

The Plateau State chapter of the National Orienta
tion Agency (NOA), has entered into  partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sensitise its staff on the challenges of the 2015 general elections.
The NOA Plateau Director, Mr Bulus Dabit, told newsmen  in Jos that the agency’s staff would be sensitised on guidelines governing peaceful conduct of elections. According to him, it is the duty of NOA as a messenger in the electoral process to take critical information to orientate the right segment of the people to come out and vote in the general elections.
He said voters needed education on issues involving how to conduct themselves while exercising their franchise in general elections, slated to take place in February.

Taraba

The Social Democratic Party(SDP) governorship
candidate in Taraba State, Chief David Kente,  has pledged to upgrade the Jalingo Airport to international standard to attract more investors to the state, if elected.
Kente, who made the pledge in Lau at his campaign rally, said upgrading the airport would also boost the revenue profile of the state and attract tourists.
He decried the situation whereby travellers from the state had to connect flight from Yola in Adamawa, saying things must change so that the state would also derive economic benefits of having an airport.
In his remark,  the State SDP Chairman, Mr Peter Achagwa, urged the people of Lau to vote for the party for justice and prosperity.

Yobe

Ahead of the February general elections, an inter
faith mitigation and regional centre has been inaugurated  in Damaturu, to promote peaceful coexistence and build trust among groups. The Executive Director of the centre, Dr Nureedin Ashafa, said the center comprised 25 religious, traditional and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
“These organisations will work closely with security agencies to enhance peaceful co-existence among various ethno-religious and cultural groups in the state,” he said. He said the council would also work toward building trust among the various groups and strengthen early warnings and responses. Ashafa said the council would focus on working with youth, women groups and security agencies to promote violence-free elections in Yobe and other states in the country.