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June 12: ‘We’ll Work hard to end of hardship – Gov Bala
By: Ajiya Ayuba, Bauchi
The governor of Bauchi state, Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir has said that his administration will continue to work hard to bring to an end hardship in the state.
Abdulkadir made this known in a statement signed and issued to newsmen by his adviser on media and publicity, Mukhtar Mohammed Gidado on Wednesday.
He said that “I would like to appeal for your continued understanding and cooperation as we strive to salvage the situation.
He said that “The current economic hardship being experienced occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy is noa national problem that has been receiving the attention of both the Federal and state Governments.
“Accordingly, the Bauchi State Government in collaboration with relevant Federal Government Agencies have been taking appropriate measures by providing palliatives in form of food and non food items to bring succor to the people”
Adding that “We are today celebrating the 25th Democracy Day is a testimony to the fact that democratic governance has not only been firmly rooted but has also come to stay in Nigeria. There is no better alternative to democracy as a form of government that gives the people the right to choose who to govern them and how they want to be governed.
“It is now one year since I was re-elected to serve the good people of Bauchi State for another four years. My re-election is a testimony of the confidence reposed in our Administration by the good people of Bauchi State.
“A blueprint we had developed even before our election in 2019. In order to improve on our performance during our first term, a technical committee was constituted to review the blueprint with a view to assessing the level of delivery of dividends of democracy and recommend how to address any grey areas and the way forward”
The governor, senator Bala said that his second tenure is witnessing aggressive execution of life touching projects across the State. While completing all ongoing projects, new ones have been embarked upon.
Adding that Infrastructural development in the areas of road construction, construction and rehabilitation of educational and health facilities, water supply, agricultural inputs and machineries would continue to receive the desired attention.
“Priority would also be given to human capital development through economic empowerment, especially of our teeming youth. Security is also on our priority list. We would therefore, continue to collaborate with and support security agencies to rid the State of crime and criminal elements”
“Bauchi State Government depends almost entirely on funds from the Federation Account as its source of revenue. Due to uncertainty in the global oil market, there is the need for us to look inwards to diversify our economy. This will entail boosting agriculture through provision of adequate inputs, encouragement of farm mechanization and deployment of extension workers to guide our farmers for improved crop production and animal husbandry”he stated
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Group calls for overhauling of EFCC, says it’s an institution operating on illegalities
By Mark Akudu, Kogi
A group, Movement for true federalism has called for the scrapping of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC) claiming the institution was founded on illegality and for long being used to legally fight illegality.
Spokesperson of the group, Abdullahi Sanusi in a statement on Friday noted that the anti-graft agency has been operating on illegality since the agency was established in 2004 with the aim to mitigate corruption.
He recalled that the EFCC which is an act was enacted pursuant to a treaty known as United Nations convention against corruption ( UNCAC) which was brought into force by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 58/4 of 31st of October, 2003.
Sanusi, who has vast knowledge of the Nigeria Constitution asserted that Kofi Anan the then United Nations Secretary General at the said convention noted that the convention introduces a comprehensive set of standards, measures and rules that all countries can apply in order to strengthen their legal and regulatory regime to fight corruption.
Making reference to the constitution, Sanusi said “Section 12 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended which is the Apex Law of the land provides; No treaty between the Federation and any other country shall have the force of the law except to the extent to which any such treaty has been enacted into law by the National Assembly.
” Section 12 (2) states that the National Assembly may make laws for the Federation or any part thereof with respect to matters not included in the Exclusive Legislative List for the purpose of implementing a treaty.
“SECTION 12 (3)A bill for an Act of the National Assembly passed pursuant to the provision of subsection (2) of this section shall not be presented to the President for assent and shall not be enacted unless it is ratified by a majority of all the Houses of Assembly in the Federation,Our emphasis here is subsection (3) as underlined.
“I have carried a background check and have consulted various statute books and gazette and have not found where and when the majority of all the Houses of Assembly ratified the ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (ESTABLISHMENT BILL) prior to when same was presented to the President who signed same into law as EFCC Act, 2004 within the contemplation and intendment Section 12 (3) of the Constitution.
“If my finding is true and correct, which I reasonably believed to be true and correct, then it’s high time our judiciary rose up to the occasion to scrap and disband EFCC now and save this nation a sure to happen National embarrassment or disaster in the future”.
He called on the Federal Government led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu to leave the above board and do the needful to put an end to what he described as national embarrassment occasioned by the operation of EFCC without a constitutional validity for over 20 years .
“I am fortified by this clarion call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to either overhaul, scrap and or disband EFCC by the extant principle of Nigeria Constitutional jurisprudence that all laws must take its validity from the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.
He added that ” corruption and crime are not on the exclusive legislative list and as such the majority of the house of assemblies should have been made to back the EFCC bill before it’s enactment by the National Assembly in line with section 12 of the constitution a process not done making establishment of EFCC , a moral institution to be founded on illegality to chase illegality “
The spokesperson of the group also went further to state that since the constitution backs the House of Assembly to make laws regarding taxations, charges and finances of all states , the assemblies also should have superior power regarding investigation, conviction and punishment of diversion of such funds.
He urged the House of Assembly across the Country to rise up to their legislative duties to avoid duplication of functions by the EFCC.
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Ebonyi: Go back to site, support gov Nwifuru by delivering quality jobs – Obichukwu tells contractors
By Uchenna Okeh, Abakaliki
Ebonyi state commissioner for aviation and transport technology, Mrs. Ngozi Obichukwu has tasked contractors handling various projects at the Chuba Okadigbo international airport to go back to site, and should support governor Francis Nwifuru’s administration by delivering quality projects in the state.
The Nations News Nigeria reports that the commissioner, Obichukwu inaugurated a 5-man committee led by the permanent secretary, Mrs. Linda Alo to inspect and scrutinize the quality of work done by the contractors at the airport.
Obichukwu who spoke to newsmen shortly after a close door meeting with the contractors at her office located at the Chuba Okadigbo Airport, Onueke Ezza South LGA, however gave ultimatum of 30th October, 2024
for all contractors to submit a letter/proof of award of contract to them by the state government.
She further urged the contractors to be patient and should give maximum support to the governor, Nwifuru, to succeed in his administration, just as she assured them of the government’s readiness to pay them funds owed to them by the previous administration.
According to her: “Airport management is not like other transport services, there are aspects of it that will last many years. Some of the contractors had an agreement with the state government that will last for five to ten years.
“And now that Chuba Okadigbo airport is ready, we wait for the approval to commence flight operation. We invited the contractors we engaged, and we want them to go back to site and complete what they had a contextual agreement with the state government to complete, especially the airfield lightning to enable flight to land at night. We want them to complete the air-condition installation, solar panel installation, and others.
Obichukwu however reiterated the committed efforts of the governor, Nwifuru to complete and put the Chuba Okadigbo airport in perfect use; “The governor, Francis Nwifuru wants the Airport to be of good international standard, and so, we are pleading with the contractors to go back to site, and complete what they had an agreement with the former governor to complete. They will equally be paid the balances owed to them by the previous administration.
She noted further: “the fear that the governor may terminate their jobs, this is one year and four months, the governor will not terminate their jobs, he is equally interested in them to complete their jobs. But they have to show proof that contracts were actually awarded to them, and that they are real contractors that should be trusted. They should work hard at the same pace as the governor, who wants all the jobs to be done perfectly well” she stressed.
Earlier in an acceptance speech, the permanent secretary, Mrs Linda Alo vowed not to leave any stone unturned in ensuring that quality jobs are done at the airport by the contractors.
According to her: “we were charged to come up with a reason and need to pay the contractors balances who did different projects at the Chuba Okadigbo’s airport.
“We are going to interface with the contractors and they have to bring all the necessary documents beginning from the bill of quantity, stages of payments etc, and we will represent the governor to ensure that quality of work is delivered by the contractors at the airport” she said.
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Crisis: Olumba Obu assures Gov Fubara of peace in Rivers State
From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
Following the sociopolitical crises that have bedeviled Rivers State in recent times, the spiritual leader of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu has assured Governor Sim Fubara of protection, restoration of peace and success of his administration.
To this end, the spiritual leader has ordered his teeming faithful to converge in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State for what he described as Peace and Unity Feast, which one week activity commenced last Monday in the state.
It is billed to climax on Saturday 12 October 2024 with a 3-hour procession round the city centre with prayers to avert further untoward developments.
It is learnt that the spiritual leader despatched a delegation from the headquarters of his organisation in Calabar led by Patriarch Amah William’s who is spokesman of the organisation as well as the administrator of the fold Rivers state, Archbishop Amaewhule Ogwutum to visit Governor Fubara
Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo received the delegation on behalf of the governor.
Addressing the governor, Amah Williams stressed the importance of global peace, particularly in the state and why all should sheath their swords, reminding that the spiritual leader had declared Port Harcourt as the port of peace.
He assured that the pronouncement still stands, emphasizing that Peace will certainly return.
He also assured that their organization as a development partner in peace-building and sustainable projects, will work to enthroned peace in the state.
Also speaking, the administrator of the organization in the state, Archbishop Amaewhule expressed gratitude for the governor’s warm reception.
He said the Peace and Unity feast is an annual event by the organisation but that this year’s celebration will bring about spiritual intervention in the State.
Secretary to the State Government, Danagogo regretted the unavoidable absence of the Governor and expressed gratitude for spiritual interventions of BCS in the state and assurances of peace and protection.
“The assurances of peace, unity and protection of the governor and safety in Rivers State are heart warming. The assurances from the influential spiritual leader are very important to the Governor at this moment in the State.” he stated.
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Kogi speaker,Umar speaks on boosting security in Assembly complex
By Mark Akudu, Kogi
The management of Dangote Cement Plant ,Obajana has handed over a Security House worth millions of Naira to Kogi State House of Assembly as a way to prevent insecurity in the area..
Speaking during the handing over of the Security House, the Speaker ,Kogi State House of Assembly, Yusuf Umar appreciated the gesture and described the fire incident that previously razed down the assembly complex as unfortunate.
The Speaker who stressed the importance of security to lives and properties , said the gesture would go down well in history, saying the company has written its name in gold in the anal of Kogi State.
While stating that the facility would go a long way to enhance the security of the assembly complex, he said the gesture would not be taken for granted.
Responding, the Plant Director of Dangote Cement Plant Obajana ,Hazard Nawabudeen who was represented by the General Manager Human Assets, Mr Adeniyi Azeez, described the gesture as one of the corporate/ social responsibilities of the company towards host communities.
He also stressed the importance of security, pointing out that interacting with a porous organisation is not safe .
Nawabudeen assured that this gesture was not the end as he assured of more cooperations and support for Kogi State and the state assembly in particular.
He added that this gesture would engender a robust relationship between the company and Kogi Assembly.
In a remark, the Clerk and Head of Legislative Service of Kogi Assembly, Alh Chogudo Sule Ahmed reiterated the appreciation of staff and management but requested for furniture and office facilities for the security house.
He said the requests were urgently needed , saying they are needed to enhance the jobs of the security men.
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Bauchi govt. Vows to fund Education, projects through taxes, other IGR
By: Ajiya Ayuba, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Mohammed Auwal Jatau has said that taxation is the backbone of the government’s ability to provide essential services, infrastructure, and support for citizens.
He noted further that it is through the revenue generated from taxes that the government can fund education, healthcare, and development projects that benefit all citizens in the country.
Jatau made this known during an interaction with FIRS officials from Bauchi office of the service who paid him an advocacy visit as part of the celebration of the 2024 FIRS Customer Service Week.
He noted that the advocacy visit is not only timely, but also crucial “as we work together to enhance tax compliance in our state,”
“We appreciate the efforts of the FIRS in improving customer service and simplifying tax processes. These initiatives not only ease the burden on taxpayers but also promote a sense of trust and accountability between the government and the governed. I assure you that the Bauchi State Government is prepared to support these initiatives and provide any necessary support to enhance tax compliance.”
He applauded the Federal Inland Revenue Service for initiating the Customer Service Week, saying it would serve as a reminder of the vital role that effective communication and customer service play in tax administration and, by extension, in the socio-economic development of Bauchi State.
Jatau assured the visitors that Governor Bala Mohammed is fully committed to fostering a culture of tax compliance among the citizens through working closely with the FIRS to ensure that citizens understand the importance of their contributions and the positive impact it has on the state’s economic growth.
The deputy governor of the state, Mohammed Auwal Jatau said that “As we celebrate Customer Service Week, let us remember that our mutual goal is to create a fair and efficient tax system that serves the interests of our citizens. I encourage us to engage with our communities, listen to their concerns, and to educate them on their rights and responsibilities regarding tax payments.”
In his part, Sani Dahiru who is the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) incharge of Bauchi, Borno and Yobe states expressed his appreciation to the state government for supporting the service to deliver on its assigned responsibilities effectively in the state.