Gombe (Nigeria) – Fadama III, Additional Financing 2 (AF2), says it will spend about 335 million naira on infrastructure in 67 communities hosting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Gombe State northeast Nigeria, under the North-East Food Security and Livelihood Emergency Support Project.
Fadama III AF Infrastructure Engineer, Yahaya Mohammed disclosed this to Newsmen in Gombe on Wednesday.
According to him, each community would benefit with project worth 5 million naira, adding that some communities may get more than one project, depending on the type of project they requested for.
Mohammed said, infrastructure under the project include roads, lock up shops, culverts, boreholes, solar pumps Livestock shade, Veterinary clinics, and Earth dams, among others.
He said the decision to embark on infrastructure projects was informed by the influx of IDPs in to the host communities.
“This is because the population of the communities increased and the facilities in the communities have been overstretched hence the need for addition” he explained.
According to him, the team was in Gombe to check the level of implementation of community action plan by Gombe Fadama office.
He said, so far, they were impressed by what was on ground urging the host communities to utilize the means of livelihood earlier given to them by Fadama.
He emphasized on the need for record keeping of projects executed so far, for the purpose of accountability.
Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria, says, the 21-day ultimatum given to the state government by the state NLC to implement minimum wage for local government employees and promotion of some primary school teachers in the state is immature, irrational and astonishing.
The state NLC on Monday, as published by Nigerian dailies had given a 21-day ultimatum to the state government to implement minimum wage for local government employees and promotion of some primary school teachers in the state.
“In fact and indeed, the letter came to us as a surprise, knowing fully the agreement reached between His Excellency the Executive Governor of Zamfara state and Chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum Hon Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, Shattiman Zamfara, on same issues,” spokesman to governor Abdulaziz Yari, Ibrahim Dosara, said in a statement.
He added that, “The Executive Governor told the NLC officials during a meeting preceding may day, that he had no problems in the implementation of the local government workers’ minimum wage and was ready to pay.
“However, the reports of several committees set up by the government to verify the actual workforce in the local government service showed that the actual figure was quadrupled,” the
It explained, “An agreement was reached between the Executive Governor and the NLC to take over the verification exercise and get the actual figure, then summit for the implementation of minimum wage at the local level.
“Up to the time I was writing this reaction, there was no positive response from the NLC to this regard, only for the Governor to see the ultimatum on the pages of newspapers.
“This is not only immature of the NLC, but also irrational and astonishing.
“To let the public know, and understand the magnitude of the matter properly before passing unjust judgment on the person of His Excellency and his government, let me quickly recall what happened.
“A total figure of 36, 000 workers was presented to the Governor, being the figure of the staff working in the state local government service, as at the time he wanted to commence the implementation of the minimum wage at the local level. However, after thorough investigations, it was discovered that this figure was not only outrageous, but also unacceptable to the Government, as the figure consisted of married women who were not going to work, babies and children who have not even gone to primary school, retired personnel and ghost workers, all presented as active local government service workers.
“No Governor would at this material time accepts risking himself in using the meager public funds to pay into pockets of some few individuals at the expense of the bulk majority innocent citizens of his State.
“The Governor therefore challenges the NLC to bring the actual figure of the workers who are genuinely verified and honestly ascertained, he will commence the implementation.”
On the part of payment of retirees, the statement added, Zamfara State government under Hon Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar (Shattiman Zamfara) was operating first come – first serve policy, stressing that it was due to the huge liability inherited by the administration.
To fast track payment of retirees their entitlements as and when due, it said, the government of Hon Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar releases the sum of one Hundred Million Naira ( #100,000,000) every month for payment of pensions.
The statement observed, “On the issue of implementing promotion of local government workers, how can a sensible, reasonable and responsible government implement promotion of workers with such high percentage of ghosts and unqualified staff at this material time of bringing value for every kobo policy.
“So, let the Labour do honestly, what it was asked to do and come forward for the implementation. The doors of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Zamfara state Hon Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar is widely open for anybody who is willing to help Zamfara state grow and develop.”
The statement explained that the government of Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar had never failed to pay workers their monthly salary for a month, adding, “Since it’s inception in 2011 consistently, even before the release of bailout money by the federal government.”
Gombe (Nigeria) — Chief Judge Justice of Gombe state in northeast Nigeria, Justice Hakila Heman, has tasked newly appointed Area Court and Upper Court judges to be knowledgeable with provisions of constitution of Nigeria, evidence Act, Area Court Law, Civil Procedure rules, Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code.
The Chief Judge made the call Tuesday in in Gombe, at the swearing-in of 19 Area Court and 7 Upper Court Judges.
He said those that are to administer Islamic Law; Sharia were to be knowledgeable in the Holy Quran, Hadith Buhari and Muslim, among other Islamic books to enable them apply the relevant law books.
Heman urged them to always administer justice to people without fear or favour and to shun corruption in and outside the court.
“As literate and trained, you are expected to record your proceedings yourselves, you should also have full control of your courts, guide and direct your staff particularly the registrar in the day to day running of the courts”, he said.
The chief Judge directed the judges to send their quarterly report at the end of each quarter for assessment and evaluation of their performances.
The Saudi Government has apologized to two Nigerian pilgrims who were maltreated by security personnel at the Madina Airport.
According to a report by PRNigeria, the Deputy Governor of Madina region, Sheikh Mohammad Albijawi tendered the apology when he visited the victims in their hotel.
While assuring that the security officials will be sanctioned for the maltreatment, he urged Nigerian pilgrims to be of good conduct and perform the annual spiritual pilgrimage based on the religious guidelines and instructions.
He further disclosed that the Saudi authorities have put facilities in place to ensure a hitch free Hajj this year.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Umaru Salisu Zainabu also commended the Saudi Arabia authorities for a swift response to the incident.
National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) had recently announced that 79,000 intending Pilgrims were going to perform this year’s Hajj.
The first airlift from Nigeria took off from the Abuja International Airport on July 30, 2017 and would be concluded by August 26, 2017 when the Jeddah International Airport will be closed.
Members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and fans of President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday embarked on a peaceful rally in Kaduna state, northwest Nigeria to celebrate the safe return of President Muhammadu Buhari from his medical vacation in London.
The protesters commenced their rally form Murtala square, where they marched on major roads within the state metropolis to the government house.
Security operatives were positioned at strategic locations to ensure peaceful rally. The protesters carried posters and banners with various inscriptions such as “we love you Baba”, “Baba oyoyo” and his pictures among others.
While addressing the protesters at the Government house, Governor Nasiru El-rufai and his deputy Barnabas Bantex, prayed God to give the President good health and long live to lead the country, saying the people of Kaduna are strongly behind him.
After addressing the crowd, the governor and his deputy joined in the rally back to Murtala Square to continue the celebration.
The PA foreign minister asserted that the “united Arab position” was that “there will be no peace without the establishment of a Palestinian state within the ’67 borders,” while his Jordanian counterpart said the Americans must understand that “we are not coming up with a new proposal.”
As a high-level negotiating team headed by US President Donald Trump’s senior adviser Jared Kushner heads to the Middle East this week, Palestinian and Arab leaders have underlined that they will not consider any solutions that deviate from the 2002 Saudi-backed peace initiative — which calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, with eastern Jerusalem as its capital.
Kushner will arrive in the region on Thursday accompanied by Jason Greenblatt, the administration’s special envoy for international negotiations, and Deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell.
The team will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, before heading to further meetings in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt.
In a joint declaration in advance of the American visit, the Palestinian, Egyptian and Jordanian foreign ministers, meeting in Cairo, welcomed US involvement in advancing the peace process, but implicitly warned against any flirtation with political solutions that do not involve a separate Palestinian state.
Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki asserted that the “united Arab position” was that “there will be no peace without the establishment of a Palestinian state within the ’67 borders,” while his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman al-Safadi, said the Americans needed to understand that “we are not coming up with a new proposal.”
Palestinians Disillusioned with Kushner
Behind the scenes, however, Palestinian leaders are said to be increasingly disillusioned with Kushner and his team. In part, this is because of the Trump administration’s tougher stance on the PA’s policy of paying monthly salaries to convicted terrorists and their families — a practice widely regarded as incentivizing terror, at an annual cost of $300 million.
After his last meeting with Kushner on June 23, Abbas was reported to have been furious at an American demand that the PA cut the payments to the families of 600 Palestinian terrorists serving life imprisonment sentences in Israeli prisons.
Should the forthcoming session of Congress pass the Taylor Force Act — which would severely restrict US aid to the PA until the State Department certifies that it is no longer inciting and funding terrorist violence – the PA’s relationship with Kushner and his team is likely to be further strained.
“If we don’t succeed this time, all the options are Armaggedonist,” the PLO’s Washington representative, Husam Zomlot, told the Abu Dhabi newspaper The National last week.
“For the last three months we have done the talking, the microphone was with us, we explained in detail where we see things going, and now it’s time to listen,” Zomlot said. He added that the PA wants to now “hear the Trump administration publicly endorse a vision for a solution.”
Adamant that the “only final solution is the two states based on 1967 borders,” Zomlot demanded “crystal clarity from the US before we start the journey, on where we are going and how we will get there.”
But if the official line from the White House is anything to go by, such clarity will come ultimately from the negotiating parties themselves. On Monday, in advance of the Kushner team’s visit, a White House official stated:
While the regional talks will play an important role, the president reaffirms that peace between Israelis and Palestinians can only be negotiated directly between the two parties and that the United States will continue working closely with the parties to make progress towards that goal.”
Nigerian Police says the expansion of Area of scope for its ‘Operations Absolute Sanity’ beyond the Abuja – Kaduna Highway to tackle the gangs of Kidnappers that escaped arrest on the highway have yielded positive results.
The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris had ordered his men, effective from 14th of August, to cover Suleja – Lambata, Minna and Bida Roads, saying the gangs have left the Abuja – Kaduna Highway and relocated to some major roads within Niger State.
A statement by the police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood says, “In the operations that is still ongoing, five (5) different vicious and notorious Kidnap for Ransom gangs were dislodged and busted in their hideouts along Suleja –Lambata-Bida and Minna Roads in Niger State.
“A total number of Twenty – Six (26) suspected kidnappers were arrested in the operation. They all confessed to the offence and Admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crime. The arms and ammunition listed above and other properties belonging to some of their victims who were rescued from the gang were recovered from them.
The statement says, “Most of the suspects were identified by the victims for being responsible for their kidnap. Investigation is being intensified to arrest the other suspects at large. All the suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of Investigation.
It further says, “While the operation is being sustained, the Inspector-General of Police has directed the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in zones and commands across the country to beef up security in their Area of Responsibilities (AOR) and ensure massive deployment of Armed Police Personnel, Patrol Teams and undercover operatives to black spots, flash points and other vulnerable criminal spots to nip in the bud all forms of crimes and criminality nationwide and make sure that detection of crimes are prompt to serve as effective deterrent to who-will-be criminals. The ongoing raids on criminal hideouts will be sustained.”
The Police expressed appreciation to communities, towns and villages along Suleja, Lambata, Bida and Minna Road for supporting and assisting it with prompt information and complaints its officers deployed in the localities.
KING OF HOPE VISITS IDPS AT NEW KUCHINGORO IN ABUJA (SOURCE: PREMIUM TIMES)
KING OF HOPE VISITS IDPS AT NEW KUCHINGORO IN ABUJA (SOURCE: PREMIUM TIMES)
The use of children as human bombs in the north-eastern part of Nigeria has increased fourfold this year over the number for last year, a new report by the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has revealed.
The report, published on Monday, also revealed that most of the children used for the cruel acts are girls.
According to the report, 83 children have been used as human bombs this year. Of this number, 55 were girls, most often under 15 years old; 27 were boys, and one was a baby strapped to a girl.
Children, according to the report, have been used repeatedly in this way over the last few years and the number of children used is already four times higher than it was for all of last year.
The report further noted that the use of children in such attacks has had a further impact of creating suspicion and fear of children who have been released, rescued or escaped from Boko Haram.
“As a result, many children who have managed to get away from captivity face rejection when they try to reintegrate into their communities, compounding their suffering”, the report states.
UNICEF has, however, pledged to provide psychosocial support for children who have been held by Boko Haram and is also working with families and communities to foster the acceptance of children when they return.
This includes providing social and economic reintegration support to the children and their families.
There are 1.7 million people displaced by the insurgency in the north-east, 85 per cent of them in Borno State, where most of these attacks takes place.
North-east Nigeria is one of four countries and regions facing the spectre of famine, with up to 450,000 children at risk of severe acute malnutrition this year.
Gombe (Nigeria) – Fadama III, Additional Financing 2 (AF2), says it will spend about 335 million naira on infrastructure in 67 communities hosting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Gombe State northeast Nigeria, under the North-East Food Security and Livelihood Emergency Support Project.
