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THE STATES

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Bauchi
A non-governmental organisation in Bauchi State,”Save
Bauchi State”, has donated assorted assorted drinks and beverages worth about N200,000 to  the family of Late Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
Delivering the items, chairman of the organization, Alhaji Zaharadeen Baba-Tako, said he and other members of the organisation were in the family house to pay homage.
He said that the late prime minister could not be easily forgotten considering the role he played both in the struggle for the nation’s independence and political development.
He said that the least the sons and daughters of Bauchi could do in appreciation, was to identify with the family of the deceased leader.
Borno
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has assured
that government would reconstruct structures damaged by Boko Haram terrorists in the liberated border community of Damsak to enable residents return to their normal lives.
He made the promise while addressing some residents in Damasak, headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area of the state.
The governor, who expressed sadness over the level of destruction by the terrorists, said “it is sad that the lunatics chose to engage in wanton destruction of lives and property in the guise of religion.
“We will strive hard to ensure that all the structures destroyed are reconstructed within our limited resources.”
He said government would conduct a census of the damaged structures to determine the actual figure before embarking on the reconstruction programme.

FCT
WaterAid, an International Organisation, has reiter
ated its commitment to partner government at all levels, especially the Local Government Areas to provide Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities for Nigerians.
WaterAid made the commitment in its five years strategic plan (2016-2021).
The report stated that the organisation planned to achieve access to WASH for everyone everywhere by 2030,
According to the report, WaterAid works in six focal states of Bauchi, Benue, Enugu, Ekiti, Jigawa and Plateau.
It quoted the organisation’s Country Director, Dr Michael Ojo, as describing the strategy as “ambitious and challenging”, but optimistic about the future.

Gombe
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said that Nigeria
and the North East would be at peace when the internally displaced persons returned to their homes.
Speaking at the 20th anniversary celebration of Gombe State in Gombe, Abubakar, who was also the chairman of the occasion, said that complete peace could only be achieved when the displaced persons returned to their homes, farms and businesses.
“There will be complete peace when hospitals and markets reopen. There will be complete peace when children and women are no longer malnourished or when people no longer in fear or traumatised,” he said.
He said that for peace to be sustained in the region, the unquestionable level of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment must be treated as a national emergency.

Kaduna
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Kaduna State
branch, said on Monday that it would embark on strike over non payment of entitlements to primary school teachers.
State Chairman of the union, Audu Amba, made this known in an interview with newsmen on the side line of the emergency meeting of the NUT National Executive Council, held in Kaduna.
Amba said the union had exhausted all areas of dialogue with the state government, without getting any positive response.
He said that the state government had failed to settle the Leave Transport Grant (LTG) of primary school teachers since 2015 even though it had been deducted from their salaries.
Kano
The Acting Director-General, Bureau of Public Enter
prises (BPE), Dr Vincent Onome, has commended the management of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) for the steps it has taken to reduce loss.
A statement by KEDCO said Onome was impressed by the minimal Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collections Loss (ATC&C).
The statement was signed by the Public Relations Officer of KEDCO, Mr Mohammed Kandi.
Onome, the statement said, also applauded the ongoing Geographic Information System (GIS) based customer enumeration exercise being carried out by the Company.
It added that the BPE boss, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Post-Privatisation Monitoring Department, Mr Balogun Omotunde, led the Bureau’s team on inspection exercise to Kano.

Kebbi
The Kebbi State Government has commended President
Muhammadu Buhari for curtailing insecurity in the North-East.
Governor Atiku Bagudu made the commendation in Birnin Kebbi in a statewide broadcast to mark the 56th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence.
Bagudu said this was the first time the nation was celebrating the anniversary devoid of fear and uncertainty.
He said the last six years were characterised by palpable fear and uncertainty due to instances of bomb blasts and explosion in the North-East.
He said determination, commitment, prayers and political will of present Nigeria’s leadership was the factor responsible for decimating the insurgents’ activities in the region.

Kwara

A medical expert in Ilorin, Dr Misbau Lawal,  has ad
vised people to imbibe the habit of regular hand washing to avoid contracting viral and bacterial infection of the eye currently spreading .
Our correspondent reports that the infection, known as ‘conjunctivitis’ in medical parlance and ‘appollo’ in local parlance, is inflammation of the conjunctiva, a thin, filmy membrane that covers the white portion of the eyes.
Lawal advised people to keep their hands away from the eyes and thoroughly wash hands before and after applying eye medications on infected children.

Nasarawa
Governor Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa State has com
miserated with police authority over the death of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in the state, Mr Usman Sabo-Longlong.
In a condolence message signed on his behalf by his Special Assistant, Media, Tukur Ahmed, the governor described the death of the officer as ‘tragic’.
“The death of the late DCP, Operations, is a great loss, not only to the police family, but the people of the state and the country in general.
“Late police officer was a vibrant, committed and dedicated man, who has contributed immensely in ensuring the security and peaceful development of the state.
Niger
Niger Government has flagged off sales of N183 million
worth of grains at 50 per cent subsidy, to reduce people’s hardship in the current economic recession.
Our Correspodent reports that selling at the subsidised rate will be cheaper than the current market price of grains in the state.
Speaking at the occasion recently, Governor Sani Bello of Niger State, said that the intervention was coming against the persistent hike in prices of food items due to the economic situation in the country.
Bello said that the sales of staple food items at subsidised rates were palliative measures toward easing the high costs of foods across major markets in the state.
“Foods and shelter are considered to be very important things in life. A lot of people have problems in buying foods, especially during festive periods.
“`We feel the pains of our people and that is why we made it a priority to embark on the sale of grains across the 25 local government councils”.

Sokoto
Prof. Lawali Abubakar, Director Centre For Agriculture
and Pastoral Research of the Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto has called for the diversification of the economy through huge investment in agriculture and mining.
Abubakar told newsmen in Sokoto that diversification of the economy in the two sectors could tackle poverty and the economic challenges bedevilling the county.
He said that the Federal and state governments should make available farm inputs to farmers between April and June every year at affordable rates to enable them access the commodity in time.
He emphasised that this would prepare ground for farmers to plant various crops and ensure massive production with a view to enhancing food security in the country .
He also called for provision of seeds as well as retraining of agriculture extension workers by experts to properly educate farmers on the new methods and techniques of farming.
Taraba

Over 700 cases involving political parties and the Inde
pendent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are pending in various Nigerian courts.
The National Financial Secretary of Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), Alhaji Shuaibu Bobboi, made this known at a press conference in Jalingo.
According to Bobboi, the cases are between various political parties on one hand, and between the political parties and INEC on the other.
He said that IPAC was working assiduously to seek for out-of-court settlement on majority of the cases.
“ We are working to see that majority of these cases are resolved out-of-court for the sake of unity and democratic development,” he said.
Bobboi, who is also the Returning Officer in IPACs executive’s election in the state, said the organisation was playing a key role in achieving a “balanced relationship between political parties.”

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Group Honours DPO 

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A non- governmental organisation under the aegis of South South Media Association has presented an award to the Divisional Police Officer, Omoku ,CSP John Ladan.
The event which held recently in Omoku in Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, saw the attendance of top ranking officers and well wishers who gathered to celebrate an icon.
Presenting the award, the Chairman of the group, Kio Hopeson, said following the DPO’s selfless service to humanity, peace and development of the society, the group found him worthy to receive the award.
Hopeson  hinted that the award had long been overdue, as his posting to Omoku had brought about peace, social harmony and drastic reduction of crime, saying, his open door policy and ensuring that every stakeholder is carried along in the fight against crime, was a contributing factor.
He said their investigation revealed that the people were extremely pleased with the reduction of crime under his watch in the area, stressing that his effort to interface with everyone has boosted the cooperation between the police and the residents.
On his part, the recipient, CSP John Ladan thanked the group for the honour done him.
The DPO expressed his gratitude to God and the Commissioner of Police for the support given him to serve.
He urged the people to see the police as friends as their job is protection of lives and property.

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Rivers Begins Screening Of National Health Fellows

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As part of efforts towards enrolment into the National Health Fellows programm of the Federal Government, the Rivers State Government in partnership with the World Health Organisation, (WHO) and other development partners has started the process of interviews for the selection of   health professionals to be enrolled into the  programme.
The National Health Fellows Programme is an interventionist  initiative by the Federal and State Governments following the declaration of a state-of-emergency on the health sector by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023.
The initiative is aimed at reducing the physical and financial burdens on health-seeking Nigerians.
Briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt, the Acting Director, Research and Planning, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Juliane Nwoke, who spoke on behalf of the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh  said the programme is expected to enrol 774 persons representing each of the local government areas in the country.
In Rivers State, she said 23 persons are expected to emerge from the 69 shortlisted candidates, adding that already, nine persons have been interviewed, adding that the successful candidates would be engaged by the Federal Government for a period of one year to support the provision of healthcare services especially public health at both local, state and national levels.
She explained that core areas of competencies  of shortlisted candidates includes public health, proficiency in Information and Communication Technology and data management.
“We have interviewed already, about nine candidates and by the end of today, we’ll be interviewing about 29 candidates.
“The interviews will end officially today for Rivers State because we are expected to interview 69 candidates.
“Specific competencies were considered in the selection process with interest on competencies in public health, ICT and data management, so we received the shortlist of candidates which we expect are based on these competencies.
“As you may know, there is a global and local shortage of manpower, so the 23 who qualifies in this round will add to the skilled manpower that is needed to drive healthcare delivery.
“As per impact, this fellows would be engaged directly by the Federal Government for a period of one year to support healthcare delivery and population health management at the local government, state and perhaps national levels, working directly from their LGAs,” she stated.
Dr. Nwoke assured shortlisted candidates of fairness in the screening process, maintaining that only the best will emerge at the end of the exercise.

John Bibor

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NCSU Rejects Supreme Court Judgments …Says Nigeria Drifting To Banana Republic 

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The Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has described as unacceptable, callous, wicked and cruel the judgments and pronouncements of the Supreme Court last Friday, concerning Rivers State political crisis, saying they are nothing to write home about.
This is even as the union has said Nigeria is fast drifting to a Banana Republic, where the rule of law is not upheld but thrown overboard.
The union equally took to the cleaners the Justices, who gave the judgments and pronouncements, for allegedly mortgaging their consciences, and urged Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara not to obey the judgments until such a time that the case bordering on the defection of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers, pending at the Court of Appeal is dispensed with.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who canvassed this position in an interview in Port Harcourt, particularly described the judgment ordering the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation not to release the Federal Allocations of Rivers State as not only callous and wicked but cruel and self-serving.
He said civil servants in the State in particular reject the judgements and pronouncements of the apex court in their totality, and enjoined them to rise up against all plots and machinations to unseat the Governor, as a demonstration of their love, support and solidarity for him, contending that folding their arms and watching the plots to succeed, would amount to giving the enemies of the State a free rein to overrun the State.
He said the workers firmly believe that those fighting Governor Fubara, are not only fighting him but the people of the State, and enjoined them to rally round the Governor, who he noted has put smiles on their faces within the short period he has been in office.
Osumah noted that the Supreme Court judgments and pronouncements are an attempt by enemies of the State to pull the hands of the clock backwards, considering the monumental achievements of the Fubara administration so far.
He said it is unfortunate that the Justices who handed down the judgments and pronouncements, have through their actions and inaction, desecrated the sacred temple of justice, and by so doing making the judiciary a laughing stock in the eyes of the world, instead of elevating it in such a way that it becomes the much-acclaimed last hope of the masses and the common people in the country.
He decried a situation where the country’s judiciary has rather degenerated to a level where the highest bidders have held it hostage, at the expense of the ordinary people, saying it is a strong indication that the country is fast drifting to a Banana Republic, where the rule of law is bastardised and thrown overboard.
According to him, the judgements and pronouncements portend grave danger for the State and the people, as they are a recipe for chaos, confusion and unabated crises.
Osumah further lamented a situation where the case bordering on the defection of the Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers is relegated to the background while other contending issues are given undue preference and preeminence, saying the defection case is rather the kernel and pivot on which every other matters concerning the political crisis in the State gravitate.
The labour leader, therefore, stressed the need for the execution of the Supreme Court judgments and pronouncements to wait, pending the final determination of the defection suit, describing as hasty and preposterous the issuance of a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Fubara by the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers, to present before them the 2025 Budget of the State.
Osumah equally reminded civil servants in the State that the time has come for them to boldly rise up and defend one of their own, and never allow the shenanigans of the old order to overwhelm and subject them once more to the throes and pangs of penury, poverty and needless suffering and hardship.
He recalled with glee that Governor Fubara has wiped away their tears, by not only providing a conducive environment for them to operate but also making sure that their welfare needs are given top priority, thereby restoring and providing all that the enemies of the State had denied them in the past.
While reiterating that the entire workforce in the State vehemently reject the judgments and pronouncements of the Supreme Court, Osumah said the apex court has through such judgements and pronouncements, declared war against the State and her people.

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