The ICT ONLINE TEAM – UnicornDivine Technologies, BSI
- Erena, BS; S. Rumala, Ph.D; F. Haruna, BSc.
NIGER - The Power State of Nigeria.
Transparency, Accountability, Integrity
Apr 08, 2008
Such was the level of personal involvement by the leadership in routine matters of their time. The Sardauna was down-to-earth, accessible and humane. He was a devout Moslem, but all the Northern schools practised freedom of worship and students were encouraged to pursue the religion of their parents as indicated in their admission forms. We had a mosque in Barewa, but the school hall was available for Christian worship services; a piano was provided there. I have gone to this length relating my school days experience to illustrate the essence of purposeful leadership. In the North, it was “one North, one people, one destiny.”
Apr 07, 2008
Seven persons were arrested by the police for allegedly trying to disrupt the conduct of local council polls in some parts of Niger.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Oguche Richard, told newsmen in Minna that five persons were arrested in Kuta, Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA), and two in Pandogari in Rafi LGA.
Apr 01, 2008
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been declared winner in last Saturday local government election in Niger State, just as the ANPP described the exercise as a mockery of democracy. Announcing the result of the election in Minna yesterday, chairman of the state Independent Electoral Commission, Alh. Abubakar Mohammed Bosso, said the PDP won all the 25 chairmanship seats in the state.
Bosso explained that the PDP also won 250 councillorship seats while the ANPP won eight.
Apr 09, 2008
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu says Senate President David Mark has brought honour and respect to the National Assembly.
In a message to mark his 60th birthday Ekweremadu said the senate president had set standards of accountability and humility in public service. “Under your leadership, the red chambers has become truly the fountain of wisdom from where state craft and popularity flows.
“You have discharged your responsibilities to the satisfaction of all of us and the admiration of the entire public. “You are indeed a role model to the younger generation for whom you have provided copious and profound road maps for their future in all your endeavour,” he said. He recalled Mark’s role in bringing about the era of mobile telephony in Nigeria when he was the communication minister. “We also recall the sense of unity and patriotism you left behind in Niger State as military administrator. “Your incisive contributions as a member of the armed forces ruling council and your introduction of servant leadership as a concept in Senate administration,” he said. “You decorated this 60 years with bright lights in different spheres of life,” he said.
Apr 07, 2008
Niger State government has concluded arrangements to raise N6 billion bond from the capital market to support infrastructural development in the state. The state commissioner for finance Alhaji Aminu Yusuf who disclosed this in Minna at the weekend while giving an analysis of the 2008 budget, said the bond will be channeled to road construction, water supply, urban and rural development, education and health. Yusuf explained that the N6billion bond is part of the revenue sources contained in the N55.4billion budget estimate approved by the state assembly for 2008 fiscal year.
Apr 06, 2008
Governor Ibrahim Idris yesterday mounted the saddle of leadership of Kogi State with a promise to consolidate the records of his past achievements. The governor ,who took the oath of office around 12.25pm along with his deputy, Chief Philip Salawu ,said that his return would be used to concretise the laudable achievements he recorded before the annulment of his election, stressing that the period of his absence in office was a period of stock taking, which he said had availed him the opportunity to assess his past records. The ceremony was graced by the wife of the Vice President, Mrs Patience Jonathan, Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Aliu Babangida, deputy governors of Kaduna and Plateau states, as well as other dignitaries.
Apr 02, 2008
Elections in Niger State have always been generally peaceful because the people usually put all their eggs in one basket by voting for one political party. This situation has, therefore, made the security agents and even the electoral bodies to have little or nothing to do apart from the police allegedly apprehending overzealous party men who engage in electoral malpractices like multiple voting and stuffing of ballot. Even this might be difficult to prove as the state does not have any record of people convicted for engaging in any electoral offence.
Apr 22, 2008
Preventing Fraud In Niger State
Events in recent years unfold complex nature of modern economics and social political activities. The corporate and public sectors of every economy around the world increasingly demand qualified leaders who are versatile in the business of detection and deterrence of fraud and fraud related matters. As a profession in the centre of attraction and constantly in the mainstream of economic well-being, the unparalleled contributions of anti-fraud education have become necessary for any economy to reach its peak of its fame and glory.
To think of sustained economic and social political growth in Niger State without the skilled contribution of experience administrators like Dr. Muazu Aliyu Babangida, the chief servant and his powerful team, is like building a castle without the services of quality control personnel. The chief servant of Niger State, in his attempt to detect and curtail fraud in the state, he should select a team that manage public expenditure in line with budget very well.
Another area of fraud prevention and control is the state budget implementation and price intelligence unit otherwise known as "Due Process" headed by economist (Shehu Tinau Mohd) who specialise in detecting financial fraud. The judicial commission of enquiry was not left behind in that it was set up to track down those involved in economic and financial fraud as regards budget implementation and award of contracts in the state. This will also go along way in curtailing fraud in the long run. Transparency is another area which is given prominent attention by the chief servant of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu.
The most objective of transparency is maximising the satisfaction of the beneficiaries of any given society. According to the chief servant, "leadership is about trust, responsibility and responsiveness. It is about holding a position of responsibility and exercising it responsibly, fairly, selflessly and conscientiously. Good or effective leadership yields positive, desirable and beneficial socio-economic development while bad leadership creates corruption, instability and mystery for the people.
Dr. Mohammed Kuta Yahaya, who is also the secretary to the state government Niger State can be seen equally as a class of well-equipped professional leader who will inspire public confidence in professional integrity, transparency, objectivity and accountability.
This team of highly qualified leaders should be able to transform Niger State within the medium term framework. Therefore, if economic progress is to prosper in Niger State, adequate attention should be given to public expenditure management as well as commitment to professionalism and diligence in the performance of governance.
Bala Abbas Banihashim,
Due Process Office, Minna
Apr 22, 2008
We have a lot of programmes for youths. When we begin to implement these programmes, the living conditions of youths will be enhanced. The PDP-controlled states have already set the ball rolling and by the time we come up with our own programmes, they will compliment what is on ground. I must use this forum to commend the PDP governors, especially Niger State governor, Dr. Muazu Aliyu, who has made youth empowerment the corner stone of his administration.
Apr 22, 2008
Niger State Director of Primary Health Care, Dr Mohammed Usman said 126 persons have died of measles in the state in the last three months
Apr 21, 2008
Chairman of the Northern Governor's Forum Gov-ernor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has expressed concern over the widening rate of education between the north and south. He also said the north must make some tough choices to re-address such an imbalance. One of such choices he said is to re-order the region's governments spending such that education could get extra budgetary allocation over the next couple of years to enable it provide qualitative free and compulsory education to the children.
Apr 18, 2008
Governors of the 19 Northern States of the Federation have resolved to set up their individual small scale electricity projects to compliment the efforts of the Federal Government in energy generation.
In a communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting at the Hassan Usman Katsina House, Kaduna yesterday, the governors agreed to constitute a technical committee that will coordinate the projects under the leadership of Kaduna State.
Apr 22, 2008
Niger State government, has put a machinery in motion to harmonise salaries of Magistrates and other judicial officers in the state.
Attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Barr. Adamu Usman disclosed this in Minna yesterday at the formal presentation of a 16- seater bus to Lawyers in the state ministry of justice. Usman explained that a committee which was set- up on the issue had submitted its report to the government for necessary action. He said once the issue is concluded at the state executive council, a draft bill will be sent to the state Assembly for approval to give the harmonised salary structure the required legal backing. According to him, the Babangida Aliyu administration is poised to improve on the welfare of judicial officers through enhanced salary package and improved working condition that would be comparable to any other state of the federation.
Apr 22, 2008
A contractor, Alhaji AbdulHammed Salihu Jantabo, has offered to refund N13 million into the coffers of the Niger state government due to his inability to fulfil his contractual obligation to the state government. Jantabo who is a younger brother to the immediate past governor of the state, told the state judicial commission of inquiry sitting in Minna, that the refund had become inevitable following his inability to supply three water Buses to the Niger State Transport Authority (NSTA).
Apr 17, 2008
Emir of Minna in Niger State, Dr. Umar Farouk Bahago, has summoned two ward heads in Minna for allowing their areas to be turned to a haven for consumption and sale of alcohol.
Apr 15, 2008
The Federal Ministry of Education, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) are collaborating to develop Strategic Education Sector Plan (SESP) and Strategic Education Sector Operational Plan (SESOP) in Bauchi, Jigawa and Niger States.
The Niger State Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Asma'u Yusuf Usman once led a team to visit some schools in the state.
Apr 15, 2008
Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State made the call in Minna recently during a courtesy call on him by the new INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner
Apr 14, 2008
The Federal Ministry of Education is collaborating with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the National Institute for Education Planning and Administration (NIEPA) to develop Strategic Education Sector Plan (SESP) and Strategic Educational Sector Operational Plan (SESOP) for Jigawa , Niger and Bauchi States.Speaking at an on-going sensitization workshop for education policy
Apr 13, 2008
Apr 28, 2008
Oyo and Kwara States governments have indicated interest to host the 2008 edition of the Public Service Games, even as the President of the Federation of the Public Service Games (FEPSGA), Sylvester Ikhuejamoye, said that the odds are against Kwara State, as Governor Alao Akala of Oyo State has shown more commitment and readiness to host the Federal Civil Servants in November. "We are going to look at the availability and readiness of infrastructure, how friendly and hospitable the people are, security, accommodation, transportation, feeding and the general comfort of the athletes and officials. The state government should be able to guarantee the funding of the games because we want to avoid the problems we encountered in Minna, Niger State, last year, when the federation was starved of funds and that resulted in many lapses during the games," He said.
Apr 27, 2008
LeadershipNigeria - Abuja,FCT,Nigeria
Niger State governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu has approved the construction of a brand new stadium for the state's clubside, Niger Tornadoes.
Apr 27, 2008
LeadershipNigeria - Abuja,FCT,Nigeria
As the ownership of the Mungo Park Cenotaph in Jebba continues to generate controversy, Niger State government may drag the Post-master General to court
Apr 24, 2008
The Niger State Government has released N1 billion for the rehabilitation of the two water plants in Minna. The General Manager of Niger State Water Board, Alhaji Abdulrahman Baba, told newsmen Monday in Minna that the money would be used to repair and install power generating sets, transformers and expand the plants. He noted that the water scarcity in Minna came up because of the erratic electricity supply to the plants, spanning over one month and forcing the Board to reduce its water supply.
Apr 28, 2008
The Niger State Judicial Commission of Inquiry has ordered the arrest of former Permanent Secretary in the state's Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Abdulkadir Katuka Marafa, for failing to appear before it despite many summons served on him.
The Chairman of the Commission, Justice Aliyu Mayaki, issued the warrant of arrest on the former permanent secretary on Friday following the submission by the lead counsel to the commission, Ndagi Usman Wali. He said Marafa, a principal witness in the failed contracts awarded by the ministry, went into hiding and refused to honour several summons served him through his counsel. Marafa has now become the second permanent secretary declared wanted by the commission in recent days as it earlier issued a warrant of arrest on the former gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the state, Alhaji Alhassan Bala Guna. Guna had handed over as the permanent secretary of the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs to Marafa, having resigned in 2007 to contest the state's governorship election on the platform of the PDP. The two former permanent secretaries are now on the wanted list of the commission to clear the air on their roles in the payment of some failed contracts awarded by the ministry during their tenure and as accounting officers of the ministry.
Apr 28, 2008
"The National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) was established in 1898 during the colonial administration of Alfred Maloney. Around 1915, Lord Lugard renamed it the Federal Agricultural Research Station." How will it strike you to hear that Nigerians eat rice in deficit of two million tonnes yearly in contrast to the quantity they must produce to enable them eat enough of it? This is the fact, according to the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badegi, Niger state.
Apr 28, 2008
Former Commissioner of Agriculture in the past administration of Engineer Abdulkadir Kure in Niger State, Alhaji Mohammed Nga and the younger brother of former governor, Abdulhammed Jantabo, have offered to refund over N34 million to the state treasury having confirmed that they did not execute the contracts for which they were paid. Nga and Jantabo were brought before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry instituted to probe the failed contracts awarded by the past administration of the state between 1999 and 2007.
Apr 30, 2008
How did the journey to Niger State Government House began? I was interested in contesting for the governorship post as far back as 1999, then it was zoned out of my zone. I kept quiet in 2003. Maybe for some reasons of performance, there were hues and cries. People tried to cry out for a better bargain. My mind was concentrated on my job as a civil servant. My prayers started from then up till 2007, asking God to make me Head of Service of the Federation. After the elections of 2003, we met with the political leader of our state in Mecca. I asked whether I would be in the plan for succession. He informed me that his plans did not include me. So, I kept off.
Apr 30, 2008
At least 20 members of the Niger State House of Assembly have signed an impeachment notice against its Speaker, Mohammed Alkali Mohammed and two other principal officers of the House. The House has in the past one week been engulfed in crises of confidence following alleged misconduct by the speaker, his deputy, Abdullahi Lokogoma and the majority leader, Haruna Labaran Kagara. They are being accused of being a sell out to the executive arm of government.
Apr 30, 2008
Apparently disappointed with last week's ruling of the Organising and Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football League (NFL), the aftermath of the Kwara Vs Tornadoes abandoned match in Ilorin that resulted in a mayhem, Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu has said if that is how football is run in Nigeria, he may withdraw his support to the game's development and face other sports.
Apr 28, 2008
Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC) Dr. Dayo Olagunju, is unhappy when people confuse non-formal education with informal education, or education with schooling. In this interview by Bukola Olatunji, he took time to differentiate between them, even as he insists that adult education and mass literacy must receive equal attention with basic education for the fight against illiteracy to be won
Apr 28, 2008
In northern Nigeria, MSF teams, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health (MoH), have vaccinated 46,000 people against meningitis. The vaccination campaign started on April 19 in several districts of Kebi state. Thousands of people are also affected by a measles outbreak in Niger state, where MSF teams have performed 6,000 consultations for measles since February. Teams in mobile clinics near the city of Kontagora, Niger state, are also seeing 1,000 patients a week, although the number of measles patients admitted to the hospital in Kontangora has been declining in the past week