Abuja (Nigeria) — A media NGO, Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) in collaboration with NextMerge, on Tuesday in Nigeria’s northern city of Kaduna, unveiled an online application which citizens can use to share news worthy information with journalists.
The application, Scoop News (ScoopNews.Info), one of the first news apps developed in northern Nigeria, provides an avenue for citizens to reach directly to journalists who are registered on the platform.
The person providing the information does not need to register to share the information, and they have an option to either share the news with all journalists on the platform, or choose a particular journalist to send the information to.
The information provider has an option of filling in their details, or submit the information as an anonymous person.
The journalists on the other hand are expected to follow up on the information provided, having verified it through the use of journalistic yardstick and standards before publishing them.
AMDF coordinator Sekyen Dadik said, by introduction of the application, the organisation seeks to promote in-depth and investigative reporting, as journalists begin to dig deeper into issues highlighted by individuals providing the information.
“We want journalists to take it from the point of the supplied information, to go deeper and get to the roots of matters raised by citizens,” she said.
Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Kaduna, Adamu Yusuf, expressed joy and encouraged journalists to maximise the opportunity provided by the online platform.
He appreciated AMDF for supporting journalists through training, saying the introduction of the application will go a long way in encouraging investigative journalism in the state.
Stanley Odior of NextMerge, who unveiled the application said, the platform is an interface between journalists and members of the public.
“The application is for people to share information with journalists to follow up,” he said.
He further explained that the app gives news sources the liberty to decide who to share their information with on the platform
To have access to the application visit www.scoopnews.info
Kaduna (Nigeria) — Nigeria’s anti graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have sealed off 6 houses in northern city of Kaduna, allegedly belonging to the embattled former chairman of the Presidential Pension Reform Task team, Abdulrasheed Maina.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday ordered the immediate disengagement from service of Maina, who was declared wanted by the EFCC in 2012 for embezzling pension funds. Since then Maina ran away, but he however returned and was reinstated last week in an unclear circumstance.
According to the EFCC spokesman in Kaduna, Ibrahim Kamal, “the property sealed include a two storey shopping plaza located at number 2C Ibrahim Taiwo road, one storey residential bungalow on Katuru road and 4 residential bungalow houses located in Kano road of Kawo new extension,” he said.
One of Maina’s property sealed by EFCC in Kaduna
He said the operation started on Monday, and it is expected that more property belonging to the embattled Maina may be discovered and confiscated.
“We will continue the investigation, as there is no terminal point for investigation,” he said
The sealed buildings were marked “EFCC Keep Off’, Subject of Investigation’.
Kaduna (Nigeria) — Kogi East Elders Council in north central Nigeria has frowned at the lingering crises between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kogi State University Chapter, and the state government, leading to the termination of the appointment of 135 academic staff.
Consequently, the Council wants the Government to review the action by granting an unconditional pardon to the affected staff to create conducive environment for teaching, learning and research.
A communiqué issued at the end of the Council’s emergency meeting in Abuja signed by the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, Senator Ahmadu Ali and Chief Gabriel Aduku described the termination as unhealthy and inimical to the progress and orderly development of the Institution.
The communiqué noted that the proscription of the University Chapter of ASUU was hasty, as it would aggravate than solve the labour crises and advised the government to rescind its decision.
It expressed fears that unless urgent steps are taken, the University stands to risk of losing the accreditation of many of its current academic programmes, as well as the positions of the FIRST among State Universities, and SEVENTH overall during the 2011 Institutional Accreditation conducted by the National University Commission (NUC).
The communiqué also expressed worry over security challenges plaguing the entire state as well as the tortuous staff screening exercise over salaries owed workers running to over one year inspite of several bailout funds received by Kogi State.
The Council therefore called on the Federal Government to prevail on the Kogi State Government to tow the path of industrial peace and harmony to enhance delivery of good governance in the State.
However, the Kogi State Government, in its response lauded the Elders Council’s position, but said the Government was forced to do what it did “in order to bring much needed succor to the Institution.”
Here under is the full text of the communiqué of the Kogi East Elders’ Council and the response from the Kogi State Government.
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY KOGI EAST ELDERS’ COUNCIL (KEEC) AFTER AN EMERGENCY MEETING ON THE CRISIS BEDEVELLING KOGI STATE.
The Kogi East Elders’ Council (KEEC) as the apex socio-political and cultural group in Kogi East Senatorial District made up of nine Local Government Areas had an emergency meeting on 29th September 2017 and issued the following communiqué:
1. The KEEC frowns at the lingering crisis between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kogi State University chapter and the Government of kogi state
2. The Council believes that the termination of the appointment of 135 academic staff of the university is unhealthy and inimical to progress and orderly development of the institution.
3. The Council requests that the Kogi State Government review this action by granting an unconditional pardon to the affected staff as a demonstration of magnanimity in order to create conducive environment for teaching, learning and research.
4. Council is of the opinion that the proscription of the Kogi State University chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was hasty as it would rather aggravate than solve the labor crisis and advises the Government to rescind its decision.
5. Council expressed its fears that unless steps are urgently taken, the Kogi State University, Anyigba stands the risk of losing accreditation of many of its current academic programmes as well as the positions of the FIRST among State Universities and SEVENTH overall during the 2011 Institutional Accreditation conducted by the National Universities Commission.
6. Council calls for a speedy conclusion of the tortuous staff screening exercise that appears to be the longest in the history of this country. Consequently, many civil servants are owed salaries of one year and one year plus in spite of several bailout funds received by Kogi State
7. The Kogi East Elders Council is dissatisfied with the current state administration’s handling of the security challenges plaguing the entire state. Political thuggery appears to be on the rise tacitly and implicitly orchestrated by the style of administration.
8. The KEEC call on the Federal and State Government to look into the current indefinite strike action embarked upon by the Nigeria Labor Congress Kogi State Chapter.
9. Finally, Council calls on the APC-led Federal Government to prevail on the Kogi State Government to tow the path of industrial peace and harmony to enhance delivery of good governance in Kogi State.
DATED IN ABUJA THIS 29TH DAY OF SEPTEMER, 2017.
SEN .DR AA ALI, fss; CON,GCON OCHADATA’GALA CHAIRMAN
CHIEF ARCH GABRIEL Y.ADUKU , OON AMANA OGOHI DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
Sir RE: COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY KOGI EAST ELDERS’ COUNCIL (KEEC) AFTER AN EMERGENCY MEETING ON THE CRISES BEDEVILING KOGI STATE.
I have been directed by His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the 4th Executive Governor of Kogi State to acknowledge receipt of your above communiqué dated the 29th day of September, 2017 and to thank the Kogi East Elders Forum (KEEF) on behalf of the Kogi State Government for the timely show of concern for our dear state and her people.
I am to inform you that Government has taken an honest look at all the points raised in the communiqué, and wishes to respond as follows:-
1. That an industrial crisis did indeed engulf the Kogi State University (KSU), Anyigba which saw ASUU members refuse to teach for 7 months while Government remained obligated to pay, and did pay, them salaries for the duration.
2. That the plight of the stranded students of KSU degenerated to a point at which Government was ultimately forced to proscribe activities of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in KSU in order to bring much needed succour to the Institution.
3. That academic staff of KSU who failed to resume normal duties after the proscription came into effect were disengaged by Government and the process of replacing them with other qualified persons is almost concluded.
4. That Government assures KEEF and all Kogites that KSU can only come out of this process stronger and better positioned to retain her primacy among functional tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
5. That Government did indeed venture into a routine Staff Screening and Verification Exercise upon assumption of Office only to have it turn into what became perhaps the most difficult of such exercises any Administration has ever been confronted with anywhere in Nigeria due to the deeply embedded corruption which blighted the Kogi State Civil Service.
6. That Government was shocked to discover the bottomless depths of wickedness perpetrated by politically exposed persons and senior civil servants against the common patrimony of alt Kogites through the Kogi State Civil Service, and mainly through the twin scourges of ghost-workers and unintended beneficiaries.
7. That the Staff Screening and Verification Exercise has since ended, inevitable human errors are being rectified as they are Found, Government has being paying salaries while the process of reintegration for staff found to have broken the Public Service. Rules hut pardoned by Government on compassionate grounds is ongoing.
8. That Government has always carried Organized Labour along in all her reforms, and remains open to dialogue over the current partial industrial action in the state.
9. That Government however insists that certain technologies designed to eliminate systemic fraud in Civil Services and which have become international best practices, particularly those deployed to monitor productivity and manage efficient payrolls, remain inevitable.
Government wishes that KEEF had afforded her fair hearing before publication of her communiqué, however she invites KEEF for to a meeting with the Governor and key officials of the Administration, at KEEFs earliest convenience in Government House.
At the meeting, we hope to take your concerns relating to government policies, programs, the general state of the polity, the states incomes, including the Paris Club refund and Bailout Funds as well as any other matter and address them truthfully, with documentary and other evidence where possible.
His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, further directs me to give KEEF the assurances of his high regards always.
Kaduna (Nigeria) — Kaduna State University (KASU) in north west Nigeria is to host the 1st Annual Kaduna Cooperative Societies Conference with a theme, “Advancing the frontiers of cooperative societies in Kaduna State,”
It is billed for Wednesday, 25th October, 2017 at the Enterpreneurship Hall, Kaduna State University.
Organized by Partakers Consulting Limited in collaboration with Enterpreneurship Research Development Centre, of the Institution, the conference will train officials of cooperative societies in the state.
Briefing newsmen in Kaduna on the programme, organizing committee chairman, Isaiah Bulus said about 40 officials of cooperative societies in the state are expected to participate in the training programme, stressing that it would go a long way to enhance their performance and operations.
Kaduna (Nigeria) — Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the immediate disengagement from service of Abdullahi Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms.
In a statement, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina explained that the President equally demanded a full report of the circumstances of Maina’s recall and posting to the Ministry of Interior.
The report, according to the statement should be submitted to the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, before the end of work Monday, October 23, 2017.
Indications emerged on Monday that the former head of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on corruption charges, was reinstated based on the advice of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
This was contained in two separate letters by the Federal Civil Service Commission addressed to Maina and the Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita.
The letters also indicated that Maina was reinstated into the service with effect from Febuary 21, 2013, being the date he was earlier dismissed from service.
Both letters also indicated that the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), approved Maina to sit for the next promotion examination for the post of Director (administration) Grade level.
Kaduna (Nigeria) — President Muhammadu Buhari has explained that his administration’s achievements since inception is base on facts that are available for all Nigerians to see.
Speaking through the minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, at the opening of the two-day Nigeria Governors’ Forum Conference for Media Handlers of States’ Chief Executives in Abuja, Buhari refuted claims in some quarters that the Administration is running on propaganda and lies.
Segun Adeyemi, Special Adviser to the minister of Information and Culture in a statement said, “For our Administration, our achievements are there for all to see.We are delivering in the broad areas that formed the plank of our policies: Security, fight against corruption and the economy, which includes the massive provision of infrastructure, ease of doing business and agriculture, just to mention a few.”
The President explained that the administration’s achievements in ending subsidy and yet ensuring the availability of petroleum products; in raising power generation, transmission and distribution, in the massive provision of infrastructure; in tackling insecurity and making a success of the agriculture revolution, among others.
“Those who accused this Administration of ‘propaganda and lies’ in the fuel supply sector, for example, did not tell Nigerians that whereas they paid between 800 billion and 1.3 trillion Naira as ‘subsidy’ yearly in their time, without making the products available even at regulated prices, this Administration is not paying any subsidy, yet all products are currently available at competitive prices and fuel queues are now history. In their time, they paid subsidy of 3.7 billion Naira daily in 2011; 2.2 billion Naira daily in 2012 and 2013, and 2.5 billion Naira daily in 2014, all for products that were never available.
“Those who accused this government of ‘propaganda and lies’ also said we have not achieved anything in the power sector. Comment is free, facts are sacred, as they say. When this Administration assumed office on 29 May 2015, available power on the grid totalled 2,690MW, transmission capacity was around 5,000MW and distribution capacity was 4,000MW.
“As at 4 September 2017, the available power that can be put on the grid was 6,619MW; the transmission capacity was simulated at 6,700 MW (up from 5,000 MW in 2015) but the distribution capacity was 4,600 MW, which was what was put on the grid. On September 12, 2017, production of power reached an all-time level of 7,001MW,” he said
President Buhari said it is an irony that those who presided over a budget of 18 billion Naira for roads, 5 billion Naira for power and 1.8 billion Naira for Housing in 2015 are now accusing those who spent 198.25 billion Naira on roads, 91.2 billion Naira on power and 71.559 billion Naira on housing in the following year of non-achievement?
“Because of the increased spending in these areas, the massive debts owed to contractors are being settled so they can recall workers who were laid off and re-open closed work sites. As a matter of fact, during the implementation of the 2016 budget, we paid 103 construction companies executing 192 projects, and they, in turn, employed 17,749 people directly and 52,000 people indirectly in works.
“So far this year, 47.169 billion Naira has been paid to 62 contractors working on 149 projects to continue work on roads and bridges and keep people at work. Similar payments are being made to supervising consultants and to contractors in Housing and Power Sectors of the Ministry,” he said.
The President also highlighted the achievements that have been recorded by his Administration in the area of the Economy, wondering whether it is ‘propaganda and lies’ that headline Inflation has now fallen for the eighth consecutive month; that foreign exchange reserves are up to $32 billion, from $24 billion a year ago: that oil production is at nearly 2 million barrels per day and that Home-grown School Feeding Programme now being implemented in 17 States is benefiting more than 3 million public primary school children and more than 30,000 cooks across 20,000 schools.
He said close to 200,000 youths are now benefiting from the N-Power Programme, which recruits unemployed graduates to work as teachers, agricultural extension workers, and health extension workers; that the Government Enterprise & Empowerment Programme (GEEP), which provides micro-credit to farmers, traders, and artisans, now has in excess of 1 million beneficiaries, with women accounting for 56% of that number, and that at about $1.8 billion, the capital inflows in the second quarter of 2017 were almost double the $908 million in the first quarter.
“If our achievements are based on ‘propaganda and lies’, as they claim, why is our agricultural revolution achieving so much success: We have commissioned the 120,000 MT per annum WACOT Rice Mill in Argungu, Kebbi State. We have commissioned the 60,000 MT per annum Edo State Fertilizer Company Limited. What about the commissioning of OLAM’s 750,000 MT per annum Integrated Poultry Facility in Kaduna State? Do you know that 15 moribund Fertilizer Blending Plants have now been revived and in operation across Nigeria, under the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative, creating 50,000 direct jobs and 70,000 indirect jobs?” the President asked.
He said when the Administration assumed office in 2015, Boko Haram was active in at least 10 states, could stroll into Abuja at a time and target of their own choosing to cause maximum havoc, in addition to holding territories and collecting taxes.
“Today, Boko Haram has been so degraded that it lacks the capacity to carry out any organized attack, while also increasingly losing the capacity to even attack soft targets. Importantly, Boko Haram no longer holds any territory. The same vigour is being used to address the herdsmen-farmers’ clash, kidnapping for ransom and other crimes,” the President said.
He said the biggest challenge facing government information managers is how to project the achievements of their principals against the background of worsening cases of disinformation and fake news, adding that the best way to tackle the problem is to remain focused, refuse to be distracted or intimidated and also to use facts and figures to counter the purveyors of disinformation and fake news.
Kaduna (Nigeria) — The Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Debt and Senator representing Kaduna Central,North west Nigeria Shehu Sani, has vowed not to be party to a situation that will plunge Kaduna State into debt that the unborn generation will suffer for.
He explained that no amount of politics, protests or pressure will make him to compromise on anything that does not follow the due process.
Addressing newsmen in Kaduna Monday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Centre, he said with the situation Kaduna State found itself, if the loan is eventually approved, saying that in the next three to five decades, the state may not be able to pay the loan.
“It is not a matter of Senator Shehu Sani been a blocking stone to the loan, but as a Senator representing my people at the Senate, I have a duty to ensure that things are done the way they ought to be done and that the next generation should not come and meet debt they cannot pay.
“If we borrow such amount of money and the money is not use according to what the money is meant for, the danger is that people may not trace the name of those who sought the loan but my name as the Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debt that will appear on the file as the person who append his signature on the file,” he explained.
Shehu Sani added, “If the senate must sign the loan, the senate must be satisfied beyond any reasonable doubt that the loan must reflect the projects.
“Even if my committee approved the loan, it will still come back to the floor of the Senate for final approval. Passing a loan request required a lot of processes and all these processes will be done in public and not behind a closed door.”
Senator Shehu Sani cautioned that people should not be brainwashed by going on the streets of Kaduna to stage a protest on the issue regarding the loan, saying he is a symbol of protest in Kaduna State without been paid for by anybody.
“I am a symbol of protests especially in Kaduna State without anybody paying me to do so, so whoever is doing protest in Kaduna is learning from me,” he said.
He explained further that out of the twenty two states seeking the loan, thirteen of them have been approved while nine states including Kaduna are awaiting approval..
By Iliya Kure 
