Adamawa

The Bauchi State Accountability Mechanism for Ma
ternal, Child and New Born Health (BaSAM-MCNH) has urged stakeholders in the health sector to establish one-on-one dialogue with family members of pregnant women to reduce maternal mortality.
The Chairperson, Advocacy Committee on the Mechanism, Hajiya Yagana Gidado made the call at a meeting with stakeholders in Bauchi.
She said those who had a stake in the health sector must scale-up maternal health campaigns by discussing with heads of families of pregnant women so as to educate them on the assistance pregnant women require to reduce their burden.

Bauchi

Governor  Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State has dissolved
the boards of 20 parastatals agencies and equally disengaged 33 directors-general, a statement said.
According to the statement, the affected establishments are the state’s Muslim and Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Sharia Consultative Council, Bauchi Radio Corporation, Bauchi State Television and Bauchi State Water Board.
Also on the list are Bauchi Development Board, Bauchi State Library Board, Bauchi State Agricultural Supply Company, Bauchi State Tourism Board, Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency and Bauchi State Hotels Board.
Others are Yankari Transport Corporation, Bauchi State Sports Council, Poverty Alleviation Agency, Bauchi Fertiliser Company, Bauchi Meat Factory and Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi.

Benue

A 29-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Kator Zapke,
yesterday  appeared in a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court over alleged theft of a Bajaj motorcycle valued at N136,000.
Zapke, who lives opposite Baptist Secondary School, Achusa, Makurdi, is facing a three-count charge of criminal breach of trust, negligence and theft.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Omaye Ujata told the court that one Mr Jarius Ochong, the complainant, reported the incident at the “C’’ Division Police Headquarters in Makurdi.
Ujata said that Ochong entrusted his red, Bajaj motorcycle with registration number MKD 733 US to the accused who later claimed that it was stolen.
According to the prosecutor, the complainant sold the motorcycle on hire purchase to Zapke at a cost of N200,000 to be paid in 10 months.
She said that the agreement was for the accused to remit N5,000 to the complainant at the end of every week for 10 months to off set the cost.

FCT

The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon
Arase, has directed IGP Teams on Monitoring of Police performance to immediately begin monitoring activities/conducts of personnel on highways, police stations and formations nationwide.
The directive, according to a statement by the force Spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu, is aimed at enforcing of the police Anti-Corruption initiative recently launched by the I-G.
It will be recalled that at a recent meeting with senior officers, Arase expressed resolve to rid the force of corruption, and warned officers and men to desist from corrupt practices.
The statement urged the team to be mindful of the constitutional rights of the citizenry, while performing their statutory duties.
It also warned them against excessive use of force and unjustifiable application of lethal weapons contrary to standing rules of engagement.
According to the statement, the police will not hesitate to punish indicted officers.
It, however, commended the public for their understanding, cooperation and support for the force in the face of the current security challenges.

Gombe

A coalition of civil society has called on the Gombe
State Government to increase its budgetary allocation to the health sector.
The coalition, Maternal, New-Born and Child Health Coalition (MNCHC) and Media Platform, made the appeal in a statement issued on Wednesday after a budget analysis of the state’s health allocation between 2010 and 2014.
It urged for increased funding especially as it concerns polio immunization and nutrition activities in the state.
The coalition observed that the state government allocation to the health sector was inadequate compared to the growing population in the state, which is put at 3.2 per cent rate.
According to the statement, though there is budget on nutrition, such allocations are grossly inadequate.

Kebbi

The National Commission for Refugees has donated
26 houses to 136 Internally Displaced Persons in Kebbi.
According to sources, the refugees were displaced by the crisis in Borno and Yobe State.
The North West Zonal Coordinator of the commission Miss Alao Moridiyat presented the houses to the beneficiaries recenyly at Sabon Birnin Turaki village in Augie local government area of the state.
She called on them to settle down peacefully in their new environment and engage in communal activities.
The zonal coordinator said that the local government provided the land for the refugees while the commission spent N13 million to construct the houses.
Moridiyat said that the commission also donated N450, 000 to some households, as well as clothing materials, foodstuff and utensils to the victims.

The Kwara State  House of Assembly in IIorin has passed
a bill seeking an amendment to a law guiding the opertions of cooperative societies in the state.
The bill seeks to among other things ensure greater accountability in the operations of cooperative societies and provide stiffer penalties for violations of the law.
The bill was passed after the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Commerce, Cooperatives, Industries and Women Affairs.
The Speaker, Mr. Razak Atunwa, directed the Clerk, Mr. Oyetunde Oyeniyi, to read the bill for third time and it was consequently passed.
Atunwa said the bill was passed because it had satisfied the constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria and the Rules of the House.
He also mandated the Clerk to produce a clean copy of the bill for governor’s assent.

Oyo

The police have dragged 70-years-old Tijani Osuolale
before an Iyaganku Senior Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly failing to produce an accused he stood surety for at the police station.
Osuolale was arraigned on a one-count charge of failing to produce an accused.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Sunday Ojeleye told the court that Osuolale allegedly stood as surety for one Saidi Lafiku.
Lafiku was accused of obtaining N300,000 under false pretence, by a complainant who reported the matter at Iyaganku Police Station, Ibadan.

Plateau
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church
(RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has advised ministers of God to practise the sermons they preach at home because their children are watching.
Adeboye gave the advice in Jos at RCCG’s Ministers and Workers conference, which had the theme: “In Christ Alone.’’
“We must tidy up our acts as ministers of God. Be careful what you do in the presence of the children,’’ he admonished.
Adeboye said that the church would organise a meeting with children of ministers in the north, just as it had done in the south and some other parts of the World such as Europe and  the U. S.

Sokoto

The Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko, has
pledged to complete and inaugurate the N5.6 billion ongoing water expansion project in Sokoto before handing over on May 29.
Wamakko made the pledge when he inspected the water expansion projects at Gagi, Mana, More, Tamaje, old Airport and Rinjin Sambo areas, Sokoto.
The governor expressed satisfaction with the level of work at the water expansion projects in Sokoto township, costing the state government over N5.6 billion.
He disclosed that the projects would produce 40 million gallons of water daily and would be inaugurated before May 29.
Yobe

The Yobe State Agency for Control of HIV/AIDS com
menced HIV/AIDS screening for over 4,000 Nigerian returnees from Niger Republic, who fled at the wake of insurgency.
Executive Director of the agency, Hajiya Farida Mamudo, said in Giedam that the agency found it necessary to establish returnees HIV status to check the spread of the virus.
Sources said that over 6,000 Nigerians, mostly inhabitants of Lake Chad, have returned to the country to pave way for military operations against insurgency.

L-R: Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sagir Saleh and the first son of the Governor, Alhaji Idris Yuguda, during the 7th Day Prayers for repose of the soul of the governor’s mother Goggo Hauwa Yuguda, at Ramat House in Bauchi last Wednesday.