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NIGER - The Power State of Nigeria.
Transparency, Accountability, Integrity
August 06, 2008
As can be imagined, democracy like everything else is practised differently in Nigeria. Expectations of the electorate are that all elected government officials will go back to them, with physical and tangible goods as dividends of democracy. Hon. Abubakar Umar, representing Bida South in the Niger State House of Assembly, has in his first year in the legislative body kept the flag of the opposition, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) flying high with the kind of representation he has been giving his constituency. Unlike most lawmakers from the ruling PDP, both in the national and state assemblies, he has been one of the very few to open a constituency office give those he represents easy access to him.
August 06, 2008
Niger State government has resolved to pay the Teachers Salary Scale being demanded by the Nigerian Union of Teachers but added that only 15,000 out of the 22,000 on the pay role of government will benefit from the new scale.
August 06, 2008
Niger State government has gone into partnership with the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) towards boosting railway transportation in the country. Secretary to the state government, Dr, Mohammed Kuta Yahaya who disclosed this while receiving the report from the committee set up by the state government on revamping of rail transportation in the state said the role of railway in the economic and social development of the country in general and the state in particular cannot be over emphasized. He said if the state was going to achieve its drive towards making the state one of the top three best states economies in the country by the year 2020, there is the need to open all its gates and make them more accessible and friendly to investors. Dr. Yahaya observed that by taking a bold step towards revamping the routes hither to seen as economically viable to the state, the state will surely achieve its aims and objectives soon. Areas to be given priority according to him are the Minna, Kaduna route which is already being serviced trice a week but hope to go daily, Minna – Mokwa - Jebba and the Minna – Badeggi - Katch-Baro routes with the intention of opening the areas because of their agricultural potentials to investors. Chairman of the committee who is also the state commissioner of Investments, Commerce and Co-operatives, Alhaji Hassan Abdullahi while submitting the report said the committee embarked on a fact finding tour of railway facilities within and outside the state towards knowing where to really focus its attention on. He said the committee particularly went to Kaduna to understudy its intracity railway transportation with the aim of doing same in Niger . Alhaji Abdullahi said other areas visited are Katcha, Baro, Mokwa,Jebba, Sarkin pawa and Gwada railway stations where it was discovered that attention need to be given on the tracks, communications and other infrastructures to actualize the intention. He said already, the report has been submitted to both the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Railway Headquarters in Lagos.
August 06, 2008
One of the critical instructions I got as a learner driver, which I also passed on to my children when I taught them how to drive, was to look left, right, and left again before crossing any intersection. Failure to heed this instruction may prevent the driver from reaching his or her destination safely, if at all.
August 06, 2008
The Power Holding Company of Nigeria announced on Tuesday that it was changing the pattern of its 12-hour power rotation practice.
The company on July 4, 2008, at the heat of acute power shortage crisis, began to ration power nationwide on a 12-hourly basis.
August 06, 2008
A former Chief Accountant with the Niger State Ministry of Works, Mr. Attahiru Nagogo, has attributed his failure to keep records of financial transactions of the ministry during the immediate past administration, to the fear of losing his job through executive high-handedness. The administration led by Dr. Babangida Aliyu, had constituted a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the malpractices relating to the award and execution of contracts by the immediate past administration of Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure from May 1999 to May 2007. Testifying before the commission sitting in Minna, on Tuesday, Nagogo described Kure’s administration as dictatorial, admitting that orders for the release of funds were issued with executive fiat and he had no option but to obey for fear of losing his job.
The former chief accountant of the ministry was testifying on his failure to keep the record of the N7.2m allegedly collected by a former commissioner of the ministry, Alhaji Hussaini Darangi. He said various orders for the release of monies during the period came from the commissioner and the then permanent secretary who is now an emir in the state. According to him, “The regime under which I served was dictatorial, my two bosses-the commissioner and permanent secretary-always said they derived their authority from the then governor.
“I served under a period that I could not insist that things should be done according to financial rules for fear of losing my job.”
The Chairman of the commission, Justice Mohammed Maiyaki, advised the former chief accountant to be careful next time and always ensure that he kept records of every transaction or any money he paid out and even the purpose for such payments were kept.
He directed him to present his handover and takeover notes before the commission as well as the bank reconciliation statement and certified bank statement of account within the period he served. Maiyaki said that such documents would assist the commission to find out who actually retired the taxed deposit account of the ministry. In a related development, the commission at its sitting for the day, had also ordered the News Engineering Limited to pay the balance of tax and value added tax it underpaid the government on the Enagi-Kpaki rural electrification project.
August 05, 2008
The Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Jibrin Ndajiwo has said that the much talked about independence of the Judiciary cannot be realized without being financially independent. In his address at the opening ceremony of the National Workshop for Court registrars, protocol officers and administrative staff going on in Minna Niger State, the Chief Judge noted that a situation where everybody, “high or low, rich or poor keeps on talking about the independence of the Judiciary without being financially independent cannot be complete.”
The Chief Judge who was point blank in his address declared. “I state here now and boldly too that a situation where the chief judge as Head of Court will have to go to the Executive begging for funds to carry out its functions is most unhealthy, humiliating and unconstitutional.” He drew the attention of all state governors to section 121(3) of the 1999 Constitution which provides that any amount meant for the judiciary in the consolidated revenue fund of the state should be paid directly to the heads of the courts concerned but declared that no governor, either retired or serving has ever complied with the provision which he said is making the functions of the Judiciary most difficult. Justice Ndajiwo pointed out that if the Judiciary has been given its due attention, the national strike embarked upon by the judiciary staff union and that of Nassarawa State would have been avoided. “I am therefore on my knees begging all the governors of the various states of this country to please obey the law, respect the constitution which they have taken the oath to uphold and dutifully, consciously and religiously implement the provision as stated in the constitution. A word as the saying goes is enough for the wise,”” the chief judge stressed. Niger State governor, Dr. Mu’’azu Babangida Aliyu who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Musa Ibeto said his administration has approved N100m to build fire residential quarters, renovate the exiting ones and also renovate the various chambers in the state in order to put residences and offices more conducive for the judicial staffs. He said the steps and others are part of the measures taken by the present administration to grant Independence to the Judiciary and promised that his administration will not deny it anything in order to make its functions smooth. The administrator, National Judicial Institute, Justice Umaru Eri who preached against corruption pointed out that most Nigerians now live in a society that puts less emphasis on integrity and more on immediate gratification. He said “our society has become glutted on affluence of ease and integrity is being none –– challantly pushed aside but added that the workshop will seize the opportunity to correct all these anomalies by drumming the importance of morality to the country’’s Judiciary.
August 05, 2008
August 05, 2008
Men of the Niger State police command have arrested six persons who attempted to defraud the state government of a princely sum of N150 million. The fraud, which was perpetrated by a principal executive officer of the state board of Internal Revenue (names withheld), was said to be part of the grant rents paid by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), to the state government.
August 04, 2008
The American Ambassador to Nigeria Mrs. Robin Sanders has said that arrangements have been concluded to open export link between Niger State cooperative farmers and business men in the United States to commence export trade on agricultural produce.
August 04, 2008
Former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawal Kaita has disowned the statement by the Northern socio-cultural group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), which descriced the people of the North as lazy and parasites. Kaita made the comment in an exclusive interview with Daily Sun, contending that the Northern people worked hard and tirelessly to keep Nigeria moving and that Nigerians were better off when agriculture was the mainstay of the nation’s economy. He added that oil money had left the country worse off.
August 02, 2008
August 02, 2008
The federal government said it would propagate the concept of servant-leadership as exemplified by Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State. President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua stated this while receiving a report of a national symposium on servant-leadership at the presidential villa, saying that a national campaign would be embarked on to make Nigerians understand the real essence of leadership.
August 02, 2008
August 02, 2008
August 02, 2008
The Bank of Industry has said it has disbursed N38.3bn for 342 projects this year under the Small and Medium Enterprises loan scheme.
August 02, 2008
The Northern governors are now focusing more attention on harnessing the agricultural potentials of the region to fight the sprawling hunger that had been tormenting the people. The resolve of the governors under the leadership of Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State to inject more resources to agriculture and commercialize the sector has triggered off a sort of agricultural revolution in the North.
August 02, 2008
Niger State government has concluded arrangements to relocate Minna Central Market from its present location to the outskirt of Minna by January next year.
August 02, 2008
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has stated that leadership is Nigeria's greatest problem , saying the concept has been misunderstood to mean the freedom to be arrogant, oppress others and misappropriate resources. The President stated this when he received the Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu who was at the State house to present the report of a one-day leadership symposium organized by the National Orientation Agency(NOA) in collaboration with the Niger State Government in Abuja yesterday. The President gave the assurance that he would launch a campaign to restore the virtues of good leadership in the country. "The opportunity to lead in whatever capacity on its own does not confer leadership; instead, leadership is earned after the discharge of the responsibility honestly, sacrificially, and to the best of oneís ability. Only then can those beneficiaries of the service selflessly rendered recognise such a person as a leader, the President said. President Yar'Adua also called for a serious national campaign on the concept of leadership and the futility of oppressors acquiring wealth through illegal means.
August 15, 2008
The Nigeria Railway Corporation said on Thursday in Kaduna, that it had the intention to link different parts of the country once again with its mass transit trains by partnering with the various state governments and corporate organisations.
August 13, 2008
GOVERNOR Babangida Aliyu of Niger has directed all the state’s public officers to publish their mobile numbers and e-mail addresses.
The governor disclosed this while speaking at the “Jema’a Forum” held for indigenes of the state resident in Abuja. He said that the state lawmakers and council chairmen had been sensitised to comply with the directive. He said that the move became inevitable in efforts to empower the people to hold the public officers directly accountable for their actions. He said that the new policy would also encourage the people to participate in agenda-setting processes for the state’s development through regular contacts.
August 15, 2008
National Association of the Blind, Niger State Branch has expressed its grievances for non-payment of the monthly allowances promised by the state government four months after they were banned from begging.
August 14, 2008
Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva has kicked against the statement that Northerners are parasites declaring that the Niger Delta region as a whole does not hold such opinion.
August 13, 2008
Why has ANPP in Niger State been in a state of crisis since after 2007 general elections?
August 13, 2008
Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State has embarked on various development projects worth over N74 million. The Chairman, Mr. Jacob Majin Gana, who disclosed this yesterday in an interview in Kutigi, said the projects were to improve the social- economic well being of the people.
August 13, 2008
A contractor, Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar, who had earlier claimed that he was being owed N10 million by the Niger State government, has admitted before the state judicial commission of inquiry that he made the claim in error.
August 13, 2008
August 12, 2008
Chairman of Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, Hon. Shuaibu Haruna Kulho, has said his priority was to ensure proper transformation of the council through the provision of basic infrastructure for his people.
August 10, 2008
Nigerian Mohammed Bello Abubakar, 84, has advised other men not to follow his example and marry 86 women. The former teacher and Muslim preacher, who lives in Niger State with his wives and at least 170 children, says he is able to cope only with the help of God
August 12, 2008
The invitations were handed out by retired Colonel Sani Bello who was unavoidably absent due to the death of an in-law. Apart from IBB, there was also the retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar, another former Head of State. There was General M. I. Wushishi, the former Army Chief in the Second Republic. The Emirs of Zuru (Sani Sami) and Suleja (Auwal Ibrahim) graced the occasion, as did the retired Generals Magoro, Garba Duba and Idris Garba. If the late General Mamman Vatsa were alive, he too would have been in attendance, as would the late Colonel Ibrahim Taiwo who was a victim of Dimka's coup. As I continued my survey of the personalities present, I also noticed the diminutive figure of Mohammed Haruna, the wordsmith and syndicated columnist, seated in his effervescent simplicity. What could possibly have united all these crafty Generals, custodians of our finest traditions, industrialists and commoners on such a wet and damp afternoon with such effortless ease even if it was for a few hours only? So, what did all these people have in common? They are all old boys of the Government College Bida
August 12, 2008
Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has taken the development plan of the state to the United Nations’ House, Abuja, asking development partners to co-fund vital projects with a view to deepening the socio-economic development of the state and its people.
August 10, 2008
The disbursement of the Federal Government’s N70bn textile fund aimed at resuscitating Nigeria’s ailing textile sector has hit a bureaucratic brickwall, the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Aliyu Babangida, has said.
August 11, 2008
August 10, 2008
Realising the enormity of the rot in the education sector in Niger State, Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu is taking some steps to address the situation
August 29, 2008
Recently, the entire Katsina emirate was thrown into bewilderment when news broke that some hoodlums had gained entry into the family house of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. The first family’s country home is not alone in the orgy of robberies that have enveloped Katsina in recent time, there are other sad tales in the city
August 29, 2008
August 29, 2008
August 28, 2008
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) has warned that Nigerians who engage in the use of domestic helps sourced from outside their family circles, risk seven years jail term.
August 28, 2008
Some staff members of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) headquarters in Abuja are now being investigated over the non-release of N280 million to the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board.
August 27, 2008
Niger State has called for a 13 per cent share of the derivation fund, accruable to States with mineral resources, which is deductible from the Federation Account.
August 27, 2008
The Secretary to the Niger State Government, Dr. Muhammed Kuta Yahaya, has said that leadership should be seen from the perspective of service based on transparency, accountability and service delivery to the people
August 27, 2008
August 27, 2008
August 26, 2008
Niger State government has earmarked N1.7 billion for the provision of healthcare services for women and children in the state. The governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu disclosed this in Minna, during a presentation by the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Alhaji Mohammed Bello Mahmud.
August 26, 2008
Niger State government has earmarked N1.7 billion for the provision of healthcare services for women and children in the state. The governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu disclosed this in Minna, during a presentation by the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Alhaji Mohammed Bello Mahmud.
August 26, 2008
August 26, 2008
Senate Jibril Aminu said in Abuja that a divine hand has been keeping the country intact since its independence and had saved it from the brink of collapse. ''God spends a lot of time on Nigeria. It always seems that we are entering the gutter, but God keeps saving us," he said.
August 26, 2008
August 25, 2008
Two local government areas in Niger state have been directed to take responsibility of four orphans whose parents were electrocuted at Kpakungu. Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu gave the directives when he paid a condolence visit to the relatives of the deceased couple last week at their residence in Minna, describing the death of the young couple as tragic
August 25, 2008
THE Niger State Board of Internal Revenue has lamented the refusal of many well to do Nigerlites to pay taxes and ground rent.
“It is saddening to note that about 80 percent defaulters of ground rents and taxes in the state are affluent people and this not helping us in our revenue generation,” the chairman, Niger State Board of Internal Revenue, Alhaji Mu’azu Mohammed Bawa has said.
August 25, 2008
Three staff members of the Niger State Board of Internal Revenue have been suspended over an alleged fraud involving about N5 million.
Also, about four officials of a first generation bank have reportedly lost their jobs as a result of their involvement in the alleged fraud.
August 23, 2008
The recent edition of the periodic interaction between the Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, and the people of the state was a war of sorts..To some of the participants at the forum held from 9p.m. –2a.m. at the Ladi Kwali Hall in Abuja, Madaki’s comments were a product of the military era, when it was felt that the people did not matter in policy formulation and implementation. Aliyu, while responding to Madaki’s comments, made an allusion to Abraham Lincoln’s definition of democracy as government of the people, for the people and by the people.
August 23, 2008
August 24, 2008
August 21, 2008
August 21, 2008
August 22, 2008
August 21, 2008
August 21, 2008
Niger State House of Assembly was yesterday embroiled over alleged tempering of a bill by its principal officers.
August 21, 2008
August 20, 2008
August 20, 2008
Governor Babngida Aliyu of Niger State has observed that climate change portend great danger to the existence of mankind and urged world leaders to unite and find lasting solution to the problem.
August 20, 2008
ABOUT 17 people were injured in a clash between two rival cult groups in Minna, the Niger State capital, last weekend. Nigerian Tribune learnt that most of the injured received of machete cuts in their heads and shoulders as members of the cult groups descended on one another with weapons.
August 19, 2008
The judicial commission of inquiry probing contracts awarded by the last administration in Niger State has been told that N168 million was paid to construction company for only two percent of the job done.
August 19, 2008
The people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and Minna in Niger State, can now make purchase of their desired Vitafoam products at the newly commissioned comfort centres in the 2 cities.
August 19, 2008
The first conjoined twins in the history of the Minna General Hospital in Niger State have died. The conjoined twins who were part of a triplet delivered by Safinatu Ogido died last Friday. According to the Nigerian Tribune findings, the twins died while arrangements were being made to convey them to the Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital Zaria where they would have undergone surgical operation for separation.
August 19, 2008
Participants at the just ended capacity building workshop for Niger State House of Assembly have suggested the establishment of budget office in state legislatures.
August 18, 2008
Scores of friends and admirers of former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, who visited his Minna, Niger State, home on Sunday to felicitate with him on his 67th birthday went home disappointed.
August 17, 2008
August 17, 2008
August 31, 2008
Niger state government has delared three days of mourning for three persons who lost their lives in a boat mishap on River Mariga while on the convoy of Governor Babangida Aliyu.
August 31, 2008
August 31, 2008
August 30, 2008
August 30, 2008