Founder of Daar Communications Plc and AIT, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi (left) and former, Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, at the inauguration of PDP Special Committee for the coming National Convention in Abuja on Tuesday.

Bauchi

The Bauchi State Government has completed the
payment of N365 million compensation to 290 farmers whose farmlands it acquired for the construction of an Air Force Base in Bauchi.
Our correspondent  recalls that the government had earlier promised to pay the affected farmers in four installments and directed them to vacate the places before the end of April.
Chairman of the compensation committee, Alhaji Abubakar Gabi,  while addressing the beneficiaries before the disbursement of the  cheques, urged them to be prudent in the management of their entitlements.
Gabi, who is also the state’s Accountant-General, commended  the government for fulfilling its promise to pay the farmers.

Benue

The Chairman, Benue State House of Assembly Com
mittee on Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Ngunan Addingi (APC-Buruku),  has advised the state’s Ministry of Education to improve on monitoring and supervision of schools and other agencies under its purview.
Addingi gave the advice during the ministry’s budget defence at the assembly complex in Makurdi.
She said that the lack of supervision was responsible for the drop in the standard of education in the state and urged the ministry to buckle up in order to lift the standard of education and bring back its lost glory.
Mr Ianna Jato (PDP-Katsina/Ala) also urged the ministry to ensure that it blocked all revenue leakages for the overall benefit of the state.

Jigawa

The Jigawa Government said it had improved security
in all its hospitals across the state, following the theft of a new born baby at the General Hospital in Dutse, last month.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Abba Zakari, disclosed this in Dutse while reacting to the incident, in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.
Our correspondent reports that a day-old baby was stolen from the mother by an unknown woman, last month, after she went through a Caesarean operation at the General Hospital in Dutse.
Zakari said that the state government had taken necessary measures to boost security in government health institutions, to prevent a recurrence of such incidents in hospitals in the state.

Kaduna

The Federal Universities Pensioners’ Association
(FUPA) has kicked against the stance of Pension Transition Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) directing it to remit its members’ check-off dues to the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP).
The pensioners’ position is contained in a statement signed by its national president, Dr Ayuba Audu-Kura, and made available to newsmen in Zaria.
It described the move as “illegal, unconstitutional and a violation of the Trade Union Act”.
The statement said that FUPA, as a registered association of pensioners under federal universities, has the right to freedom of association as guaranteed by Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Kano

Kano State Commissioner for Local Government, Alhaji Murtala Sule-Garo,  has called on self-help development associations in the state to embark on drainage clearance before the arrival of rainy season.
This is contained in a statement signed by Uba Abdullahi, Public Relations Officer of the ministry which was made available to newsmen in Kano.
The statement said the commissioner made the call at a meeting with the Director, Community Development and Central Working Committee on development associations in the ministry.
Katsina

The Katsina State Government in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has commenced the training of no fewer than 1,500 female teachers to be posted to their individual villages.
The Permanent Secretary, (PS), in the state Ministry of Education, Alhaji Sagir Ibrahim, disclosed this at the inauguration of a one-day meeting for female teachers training scholarship scheme.
He said that the state government was committed to the scheme which would produce female teachers to be posted to their individual villages.
Earlier, the UNICEF’s coordinator of training in the state, Alhaji Ahimed Garba, said that the organisation would provide scholarships for female students to obtain the National Certificate of Education (NCE) certificate.
Garba said each female student from rural area studying under the scheme at Isah Kaita College of Education would be awarded a scholarship worth N50, 000.00 annually to boost their morale.

Kebbi

Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State has extolled
the District Head of Illo, Alhaji Muhammad Wankwai, for maintaining peaceful coexistence in his 40 years reign.
Bagudu, represented by Alhaji Muhammad Samaila, a member of the state Assembly, representing Bagudo East, commended the traditional ruler during the celebration of Wankwai’s 40th anniversary recently.
He praised the traditional leader for exemplary conduct, stressing that the institution was relevant in the promotion of democracy, good governance and equity.
He used the occasion to call on traditional, religious and community leaders to be custodians of peace, unity and mutual understanding among the people in the state.
He also enjoined youths in the state to embrace dry season farming with a view of promoting food in the state.

Kwara

The Kwara Commissioner for Information and Com
munications, Mr Mahmud Ajeigbe, says the state government has begun the repositioning of its three media organisations for efficient performance.
Ajeigbe disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin.
He listed the media outfits to include the Kwara State Broadcasting Corporation (Radio Kwara), the Kwara State Television Authority (KWTV) and the Kwara State Publishing and Printing Corporation (The Herald).
Ajeigbe explained that infrastructural renovations had begun at the Radio Kwara and the State’s Television Authority and is expected to be completed in six weeks.
He said other activities, which would follow soon, were staff recruitment and training.
Lagos

Governor  Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State said his
administration would continue to add value to the quality of education in tertiary institutions owned by the state to make graduates wealth creators.
Ambode, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, made the pledge at the 24th Convocation Ceremony of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu.
He said the government was aware of the challenges hindering the growth of young entrepreneurs, which prompted the establishment of the Employment Trust Fund.
“The fund is to assist graduates and help them generate wealth for themselves, as well as create job opportunities for others.”

Nasarawa

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Ser
vice (NIS), Mr Martin Abeshe, has called for improved funding and modern equipment for the service to enable it secure the nation’s borders.
Abeshe made the call at the opening of the 2016 Comptroller-General of Immigration’s Annual Conference and Stakeholders Interactive Forum.
He said that the service was contending with myriad of challenges which was affecting its operations.
Abeshe noted that more prominent among those challenges were inadequate funding, understaffing and lack of modern gadgets, especially at the borders.
“Like most government agencies, the NIS is grossly underfunded.

Ogun

Following the increasing spate of criminal activities in Ogun, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Abdul Majid Ali, has deployed 30 patrol teams to flashpoints to boost security.
Speaking during an official visit to the Igbeba Police Area Command in Ijebu-Ode, Ali called for more awareness and discipline among the officers.
He urged the deployed teams to be vigilante while discharging their duties as he would not tolerate any act of corruption or incivility to members of the public.
The police boss urged them to brace up for the challenges ahead, adding that they should be seen to be protecting the image of the force always.

Plateau

Mr Stephen Jings, Chairman of Pankshin Local Govern
ment Management Committee in Plateau, said the council had identified 138 boreholes for rehabilitation as part of its efforts to provide potable water to the people.
Jings made the disclosure in Pankshin when the management staff of Plateau Water Board paid him a visit.
“This administration is so concerned about the well being of the people and has decided to provide clean and safe drinking water to them.
“We have, therefore, penciled down 138 boreholes for rehabilitation across the council within this year alone, ’’ he said.