16:49 20/06/2015
Kano - Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State on Saturday
announced a 50 per cent cut in the salaries and allowances of all
political officer holders in the state.
Ganduje made the announcement in Kano during the swearing in ceremony of 13 new commissioners for the state.
"I hereby announce that the salaries and allowances of all political office holders are reduced by 50 per cent.
"We
shall pursue an aggressive internal revenue generation in view of the
dwindling oil revenue from the federation account as business will no
longer be as usual,'' he said.
The
governor disclosed that the new administration had also introduced new
reforms including reduction in the number of ministries from 19 to 14,
to cut cost of governance.
He said that the commissioners were selected on merit and urged them to deploy their expertise to the service of the state.
Ganduje
added that they must discharge their responsibilities with utmost sense
of accountability, transparency and fear of Allah.
The new
commissioners include the immediate past NUJ President, Malam Mohammed
Garba as Commissioner of Information, Youth and Culture, Alhaji Murtala
Garo, Local Government and Community Development and Haruna Falali,
Justice.
Others are Dr Kabir Getso, Health, Alhaji Usman Ririwai,
Water Resources and Rural Development, Professor Kabir Dandago, Finance,
Hajiya Zubaida Sharif, Women Affairs, Alhaji Ali Makoda, Environment
and Alhaji Rabi’u Bako, Commerce.
The rest include Hajiya Aisha
Mohammed-Bello, Planning and Budget, Garba Lambu, Works and Housing,
Alhaji Faruk BB Faruk, Lands and Physical Planning while the Deputy
Governor, Professor Hafiz Abubakar will oversee the Ministry of
Education, Science and Technology.
News, Events, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Fashion, Beauty, Inspiration and yes... Gossip! *Wink*
Saturday, 20 June 2015
Chad to round up beggars, foreigners after Boko Haram attack
19:48 19/06/2015
N'djamena - Chad said on Friday it planned to round up beggars and some foreigners as part of a security clamp-down, days after two suicide attacks on its capital blamed on Boko Haram Islamist militants from neighbouring Nigeria.
The apparently coordinated blasts in two police offices on Monday killed 34 people and injured dozens in the largest attack of its kind in the Central African nation.
Chad's Prime Minister Kalzeube Pahimi Deubet said on Friday the detained beggars and foreigners would be held in a centre in Baga Sola, a town near Lake Chad, close to the Nigerian border. He did not go into further detail on how the round-up would improve security or the nationality of the foreigners.
Deubet also said that boating and fishing would be banned on parts of the River Chari that flows into the Lake Chad. Boko Haram militants have launched several deadly attacks around the lake, often arriving in motorised canoes from Nigeria.
Chad has played a leading role in helping Nigerian forces win back territory from Boko Haram, which has mounted a six-year insurgency to carve out an Islamist caliphate in Nigeria's northeast and attacked that region's other neighbours - Niger and Cameroon.
Chad, whose capital is a command centre for a regional anti-Boko Haram task force, has already made at least five arrests. It banned religious head-to-toe burqas earlier this week on the grounds that they might be used as camouflage by militants, though residents say people on the streets of N'Djamena have continued wearing them.
Chad has also said it retaliated with air strikes against Boko Haram positions soon after the attacks, though a military spokesman in Nigeria denied this.
N'djamena - Chad said on Friday it planned to round up beggars and some foreigners as part of a security clamp-down, days after two suicide attacks on its capital blamed on Boko Haram Islamist militants from neighbouring Nigeria.
The apparently coordinated blasts in two police offices on Monday killed 34 people and injured dozens in the largest attack of its kind in the Central African nation.
Chad's Prime Minister Kalzeube Pahimi Deubet said on Friday the detained beggars and foreigners would be held in a centre in Baga Sola, a town near Lake Chad, close to the Nigerian border. He did not go into further detail on how the round-up would improve security or the nationality of the foreigners.
Deubet also said that boating and fishing would be banned on parts of the River Chari that flows into the Lake Chad. Boko Haram militants have launched several deadly attacks around the lake, often arriving in motorised canoes from Nigeria.
Chad has played a leading role in helping Nigerian forces win back territory from Boko Haram, which has mounted a six-year insurgency to carve out an Islamist caliphate in Nigeria's northeast and attacked that region's other neighbours - Niger and Cameroon.
Chad, whose capital is a command centre for a regional anti-Boko Haram task force, has already made at least five arrests. It banned religious head-to-toe burqas earlier this week on the grounds that they might be used as camouflage by militants, though residents say people on the streets of N'Djamena have continued wearing them.
Chad has also said it retaliated with air strikes against Boko Haram positions soon after the attacks, though a military spokesman in Nigeria denied this.
Saraki loyalists hit back at Kwankwaso
16:22 19/06/2015
Abuja - Senators loyal to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki has hit back at one of their colleagues, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso for attacking Saraki, reports Leadership.
The senators, under the aegis of the Like Minds, expressed shock over the uncouth language of Kwankwaso on the President of the Senate.
Dino Melaye, the spokesperson for the Like Minds, accused Kwankwao, who was the immediate past governor of Kano State, of pursuing a personal agenda with his hate campaign and vile language against Saraki.
Melayo noted that Kwankwaso should not allow his unrealisable dreams of contesting the 2019 presidential election distort his reasoning in 2015.
Kwankwaso had in an interview described the emergence of Saraki as Senate President as a dangerous signal to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Read more at Leadership.
Abuja - Senators loyal to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki has hit back at one of their colleagues, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso for attacking Saraki, reports Leadership.
The senators, under the aegis of the Like Minds, expressed shock over the uncouth language of Kwankwaso on the President of the Senate.
Dino Melaye, the spokesperson for the Like Minds, accused Kwankwao, who was the immediate past governor of Kano State, of pursuing a personal agenda with his hate campaign and vile language against Saraki.
Melayo noted that Kwankwaso should not allow his unrealisable dreams of contesting the 2019 presidential election distort his reasoning in 2015.
Kwankwaso had in an interview described the emergence of Saraki as Senate President as a dangerous signal to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Read more at Leadership.
Nigerians should accept democracy as lifestyle, not government system says Buhari
17:29 19/06/2015
Daura - President Muhammadu Buhari said on Friday that Nigerians should be patient and accept democracy not as a system of government but as a lifestyle in order to ensure development of the country.
The president said this when he paid homage to the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar, after attending the Juma’at prayer at the Lowcost Mosque, in Daura, Katsina State.
"If Nigerians continuously follow the tenets of democracy the country will always be at peace since democracy on its own with its institutions has the mechanism for resolving conflicts peacefully,’’ he said.
The President, who delivered his speech in Hausa, urged those who were aggrieved after the 2015 elections to seek redress through democratic means and institutions.
Buhari noted that Nigeria was adopting democracy from the western nations and learning fast by avoiding mistakes made when studying the weaknesses and strengths of those nations.
According to him, if Nigerians decide to be hasty, some avoidable mistakes can be made.
Buhari urged that elections at all levels must be conducted based on democratic principles.
He urged those interested in elective positions to look for a political platform of their choice, declare their interests and the party would support them.
The President said that in 2002 when he joined politics, many people did not give him a chance because they knew his antecedents as a military officer.
He added that the 2015 polls had clearly shown that it is God that chooses who becomes a leader.
"It is not by power, it is not by wealth but by the Grace of God that I won the election,’’ the president said.
Buhari said that he decided to contest elections because of his commitment to serve the people and not to be served or to amass wealth.
He added that he had served the nation in different capacities in the past and had not had so much money in the banks either locally or abroad or anywhere in the world.
He said all he had over time "is integrity and commitment to serve the people’’ and said that he would fulfill his promises to the people.
Earlier, the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar, said he had known Buhari for his consistency which had become the hallmark of his integrity.
He said he was happy that Buhari was eventually elected as the President of the country after some trials.
The Emir observed that the President was not new in government and wherever he had served he always distinguished himself with integrity and in all he had returned home without a Kobo.
The Emir urged Nigerians to be patient with the administration so that they could allow Buhari to deliver on his promises.
He also urged Nigerians to support the administration with prayers in its new responsibility.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that earlier, President Buhari had attended the Juma’at prayer with his kinsmen at the Lowcost Mosque in Daura where the Chief Imam, Alhaji Musa Mansir, prayed for peace and development in the country.
The cleric also urged Nigerians to pray for their leaders at all times.
He also spoke on the benefit of Ramadan and urged all to extend the hands of fellowship to others as well as give support to the less privileged persons in the society.
Many residents of Daura thronged both the mosque and the Emir’s palace to have a glimpse of the President.
Daura - President Muhammadu Buhari said on Friday that Nigerians should be patient and accept democracy not as a system of government but as a lifestyle in order to ensure development of the country.
The president said this when he paid homage to the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar, after attending the Juma’at prayer at the Lowcost Mosque, in Daura, Katsina State.
"If Nigerians continuously follow the tenets of democracy the country will always be at peace since democracy on its own with its institutions has the mechanism for resolving conflicts peacefully,’’ he said.
The President, who delivered his speech in Hausa, urged those who were aggrieved after the 2015 elections to seek redress through democratic means and institutions.
Buhari noted that Nigeria was adopting democracy from the western nations and learning fast by avoiding mistakes made when studying the weaknesses and strengths of those nations.
According to him, if Nigerians decide to be hasty, some avoidable mistakes can be made.
Buhari urged that elections at all levels must be conducted based on democratic principles.
He urged those interested in elective positions to look for a political platform of their choice, declare their interests and the party would support them.
The President said that in 2002 when he joined politics, many people did not give him a chance because they knew his antecedents as a military officer.
He added that the 2015 polls had clearly shown that it is God that chooses who becomes a leader.
"It is not by power, it is not by wealth but by the Grace of God that I won the election,’’ the president said.
Buhari said that he decided to contest elections because of his commitment to serve the people and not to be served or to amass wealth.
He added that he had served the nation in different capacities in the past and had not had so much money in the banks either locally or abroad or anywhere in the world.
He said all he had over time "is integrity and commitment to serve the people’’ and said that he would fulfill his promises to the people.
Earlier, the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar, said he had known Buhari for his consistency which had become the hallmark of his integrity.
He said he was happy that Buhari was eventually elected as the President of the country after some trials.
The Emir observed that the President was not new in government and wherever he had served he always distinguished himself with integrity and in all he had returned home without a Kobo.
The Emir urged Nigerians to be patient with the administration so that they could allow Buhari to deliver on his promises.
He also urged Nigerians to support the administration with prayers in its new responsibility.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that earlier, President Buhari had attended the Juma’at prayer with his kinsmen at the Lowcost Mosque in Daura where the Chief Imam, Alhaji Musa Mansir, prayed for peace and development in the country.
The cleric also urged Nigerians to pray for their leaders at all times.
He also spoke on the benefit of Ramadan and urged all to extend the hands of fellowship to others as well as give support to the less privileged persons in the society.
Many residents of Daura thronged both the mosque and the Emir’s palace to have a glimpse of the President.
Lagos PDP petition stalled at tribunal
19:48 19/06/2015
Lagos - The petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the declaration of Olamilekan Adeola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the March 28 National Assembly election in the Lagos West senatorial district was on Thursday stalled, reports Leadership.
At its resumed sitting, the tribunal led by Justice Sylvanus Oriji failed to open hearing in the case filed by the PDP’s candidate in the election, Segun Adewale.
APC counsel, Bayo Badmus told the court that the respondent was yet to file his reply on the point of law as ordered by the tribunal.
PDP counsel, Yemi Oke did not oppose the application.
Justice Oriji adjourned the matter to June 22 for hearing .
Read more at Leadership.
Lagos - The petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the declaration of Olamilekan Adeola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the March 28 National Assembly election in the Lagos West senatorial district was on Thursday stalled, reports Leadership.
At its resumed sitting, the tribunal led by Justice Sylvanus Oriji failed to open hearing in the case filed by the PDP’s candidate in the election, Segun Adewale.
APC counsel, Bayo Badmus told the court that the respondent was yet to file his reply on the point of law as ordered by the tribunal.
PDP counsel, Yemi Oke did not oppose the application.
Justice Oriji adjourned the matter to June 22 for hearing .
Read more at Leadership.
Some lawyers support relocation of election tribunals to Abuja
20:44 19/06/2015
Abuja - Some lawyers in the Federal Capital Territory on Friday said that the relocation of some Election Petition Tribunals from some states to Abuja was in order.
The lawyers said in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that security was paramount in the dispensation of justice.
They also said that for lawyers to give their best in a matter, they required an environment devoid of chaos and an atmosphere that would allow for full concentration.
Mr Mahmud Magaji (SAN) said he was in support of the movement of some election tribunals, particularly those of states with security challenges.
"Security is of paramount importance that cannot be compromised for money or for position.
"Before setting up the tribunals, peoples’ lives were already being threatened in those states.
"The extra cost and inconveniences the relocation may cause notwithstanding, the safety of the judges, lawyers, litigants and witnesses takes preference.
"So, I have seen no wrong in relocating any tribunal to a more secured place.’’
Speaking in the same vein, Anthony Ekuma, a counsel appearing before one the relocated tribunals, said the decision was in good faith.
He said "it is in the overriding public interest and safety that called for such decision to move some tribunals from the various states to Abuja.
"Lawyers involved in tribunal matters should also see this as a huge sacrifice and it is part of public patriotism.’’
Meanwhile, some of the litigants at the tribunals complained about the huge cost of prosecuting their cases as a result of the relocation.
Mr Livinus Ugwu, a Secretary at one of the tribunals, complained of difficulties associated with serving court orders issued in Abuja to those in the affected states.
NAN reports that elections tribunals for Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Taraba states are sitting in Abuja.
Abuja - Some lawyers in the Federal Capital Territory on Friday said that the relocation of some Election Petition Tribunals from some states to Abuja was in order.
The lawyers said in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that security was paramount in the dispensation of justice.
They also said that for lawyers to give their best in a matter, they required an environment devoid of chaos and an atmosphere that would allow for full concentration.
Mr Mahmud Magaji (SAN) said he was in support of the movement of some election tribunals, particularly those of states with security challenges.
"Security is of paramount importance that cannot be compromised for money or for position.
"Before setting up the tribunals, peoples’ lives were already being threatened in those states.
"The extra cost and inconveniences the relocation may cause notwithstanding, the safety of the judges, lawyers, litigants and witnesses takes preference.
"So, I have seen no wrong in relocating any tribunal to a more secured place.’’
Speaking in the same vein, Anthony Ekuma, a counsel appearing before one the relocated tribunals, said the decision was in good faith.
He said "it is in the overriding public interest and safety that called for such decision to move some tribunals from the various states to Abuja.
"Lawyers involved in tribunal matters should also see this as a huge sacrifice and it is part of public patriotism.’’
Meanwhile, some of the litigants at the tribunals complained about the huge cost of prosecuting their cases as a result of the relocation.
Mr Livinus Ugwu, a Secretary at one of the tribunals, complained of difficulties associated with serving court orders issued in Abuja to those in the affected states.
NAN reports that elections tribunals for Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Taraba states are sitting in Abuja.
Gov Wike inaugurates panel to probe Amaechi's administration
21:42 19/06/2015
Port Harcourt - Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Friday inaugurated a seven-man Judicial Commission of Inquiry (JCI), to investigate the immediate past administration of Mr Chibuike Amaechi.
Wike said at the inauguration that the probe was in conformity with section 2 (1) of the Commission of Inquiry law of Rivers.
He charged the commission to ascertain the sale of valued assets of Rivers and other related matters with a view to finding out the legality of such transactions.
It was also charged to investigate the sale of Omoku 150 MW Gas Turbine; Afam 360 MW Gas Turbine; Trans-Amadi 136 Gas Turbine and Eleme 75 MW gas Turbine.
The panel is also to investigate the withdrawal and expenditure of the accrued N96 billion from the Rivers Reserve fund without compliance with Rivers State Reserve Fund Law N0. 2 of 2008.
The governor, who restated his administration’s commitment to due process, also asked the panel to investigate the non-execution of some contracts major part of which had been paid for.
The commission is also to investigate the non-execution of the contract for the construction of Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital after the payment of $39,200,000 to the contractor.
Chairman of the commission, Justice George Emereji, promised to ensure that the truth prevailed as they would pursue their terms of reference with firmness and sincerity.
He called for supports of the people to enable them to achieve the desired result in their investigations.
The commission was given one month to conclude its assignment and submit its report to the governor.
Port Harcourt - Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Friday inaugurated a seven-man Judicial Commission of Inquiry (JCI), to investigate the immediate past administration of Mr Chibuike Amaechi.
Wike said at the inauguration that the probe was in conformity with section 2 (1) of the Commission of Inquiry law of Rivers.
He charged the commission to ascertain the sale of valued assets of Rivers and other related matters with a view to finding out the legality of such transactions.
It was also charged to investigate the sale of Omoku 150 MW Gas Turbine; Afam 360 MW Gas Turbine; Trans-Amadi 136 Gas Turbine and Eleme 75 MW gas Turbine.
The panel is also to investigate the withdrawal and expenditure of the accrued N96 billion from the Rivers Reserve fund without compliance with Rivers State Reserve Fund Law N0. 2 of 2008.
The governor, who restated his administration’s commitment to due process, also asked the panel to investigate the non-execution of some contracts major part of which had been paid for.
The commission is also to investigate the non-execution of the contract for the construction of Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital after the payment of $39,200,000 to the contractor.
Chairman of the commission, Justice George Emereji, promised to ensure that the truth prevailed as they would pursue their terms of reference with firmness and sincerity.
He called for supports of the people to enable them to achieve the desired result in their investigations.
The commission was given one month to conclude its assignment and submit its report to the governor.
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