14/10/2017
Saturday, 14 October 2017
ZAMFARA LABOUR FRACAS: THE INSIDE STORY (1)
14/10/2017
GOV YARI MOURNS SPECIAL ADVISER BALA UMAR MAHE KAURA NAMODA
GOVERNMENT HOUSE GUSAU
PRESS RELEASE
The Executive Governor of Zamfara State and Chairman Nigeria Governors' Forum, Hon Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, today Saturday, October 14th, 2017, mourns the passing on of one of his Special Advisers, Hon Bala Umar Mahe Kaura Namoda of the Directorate of Nomadic Education, who died yesterday Friday, 13th October, 2017, at Al- Hilal Hospital in Gusau, the state Capital, after brief illness.
Gov Yari described the late Special Adviser on Nomadic Education as a great man who spent his life meaningfully, serving Allah (SWT) and his community.
"The Former member of the House of Representatives and Chairman of Kaura Namoda Local Government Council, was a political Guru, whose grassroot politics has helped greatly in bridging gabs between the government and the governed." said Gov Yari.
He said Late Bala Umar Mahe was a complete gentleman of the highest order, highly responsible and committed politician who put the interest of his people first in everything he did before any other interest.
Gov Yari therefore urged other politicians in the state, his colleagues, friends and well wishers to emulate his wisdom and examplary leadership qualities to continue from where he stoped.
He prayed Allah (SWT) to grant the deceased Aljannah Firdausi and the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Signed
Mal Ibrahim Dosara
Hon Special Adviser to the Executive Governor
( Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications)
14/10/2017
Read also GOV YARI MOURNS LAWALI BALA YABAKAKO AND BELLO IMAM
AN ƘULLA YARJEJENIYA TSAKANIN UNICEF DA KAFAFEN YAƊA LABARAI A ZAMFARA
14/10/2017
Friday, 13 October 2017
EFFECTIVE HEALTHCARE AWARENESS: ZAMFARA TRADITIONAL LEADERS WANT WOMEN GROUP TO TAKE THE LEAD
By Alex Uangbaoje, Gusau
As part of efforts to make education, healthcare services delivery, awareness effective at the community level in Zamfara State so as to create more demands for the services in order to have better Heath practices, Traditional Leader in the state has proposed the formation of women forum, to be called “Women Royal Engagement Forum”.
This was part of resolutions reached at the just concluded Zamfara State Advocacy and Community Engagement Workshop, supported by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), held in Gusau.
The traditional leaders in a communique endorsed by all participants at workshop, observed that “there is a need to create a women forum with the title “Women Royal Engagement Forum” to comprise the wives of the traditional leaders in the state.”
They also proposed that the women forum initiate can facilitate the engagement of women on increasing demands for basic social service delivery at all levels in Zamfara State (especially at the community level).
Stakeholders at the meeting, after an intense deliberations agreed that there is need to intensify the engagement of communities in order to accelerate and increase positive healthy practices in Zamfara State.
They charged traditional leaders to increase and improve their role as the custodians of child right and protection in the State.
They equally called on the traditional rulers to intensify advocacy and enlightenment activities on child spacing in Zamfara State.
The workshop avails participants an opportunity to have better understanding of the roles of the religious leaders, traditional leaders and the media in community engagement for the improvement of maternal and child health, nutrition, education, water, sanitation and hygiene and child protection.
During the deliberations, participants provided immediate context information which will be used to improve the 5-year implementation action plan.
On the health workers, they want them to be consistently trained and supported with logistics for effective and sustainable service delivery.
They agreed that religious leaders should increase advocacy on adequate care of almajiris in State.
Though they agreed that access to sanitation in the State is improving, but they want the traditional rulers and religious leaders to push for the elimination of Open Defecation and improve environmental sanitation.
“Children and women are more vulnerable to diseases, lack of access to education, water and sanitation. Some of these challenges are due to taboos, mis-conceptions, superstitions etc.
“Islam and Christianity support good health practices, sanitation, education, nutrition and child protection as parental responsibility complemented by community and collective obligation.
“The integration of the traditional and religious institutions with the media will improve and increase the awareness level of communities in Zamfara State on health, education, nutrition, water, sanitation and child protection information.
“Traditional and religious leaders have strong influence in every community to help enhance the adoption of best health practices, and in ensuring that children are enrolled in schools, children are registered at birth, children are protected, women attend antenatal clinic, and that, high nutrition and sanitation practices become prevalent among the people.” they added.
The workshop was an opportunity for the state government to launch the Faith-for-Life handbooks (Islam and Christianity version).
And an MoU was signed by the State Government, UNICEF and the Emir of Zamfaran Anka (Chairman, Council of Chiefs) for increasing demand for basic social services by the traditional institutions with support from the media, the religious institutions, UNICEF and the state government.
A Media Partnership Agreement (October 2017-December 2019) for the delivery of basic social services in Zamfara State was also signed by UNICEF, Ministry of Information Zamfara State and the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Zamfara State Chapter.
The aim of the workshop was to develop a 5-year Advocacy and Community Engagement Plan to enhance demand for services in maternal and child health, nutrition, education, water, sanitation and hygiene and child protection in Zamfara State to be implemented by the traditional and religious institutions, and the media.
Newsweb Express
13/10/2017
NLC KNOCKS KOGI, ZAMFARA GOVERNORS OVER BAILOUT
Wage, economists say, is the dignity of labour. But for some workers across the country, getting this all-important reward for labour is harder than having to pass the camel through the eye of a needle, let alone earning a living from hard earned wages.
Owing to failure of many state governments to pay workers’ salaries, the Buhari administration had released bailout funds to states across the country to reduce the hardship of workers.
But the utilisation of the bailout fund has sparked controversies in recent times as allegations of elephantine graft on the part of the governors trailed the released funds.
Anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for example, had alleged that Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state diverted N500m Paris club to repay his loan.
Also, operatives of the agency recently arrested the Ekiti state commissioner of finance, Toyin Ojo, as well as the state’s Attorney General, Oluyemisi Owolabi, over alleged misappropriation of bailout fund.
Worried by this development, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, had directed all state chapters with members that are owed more than three months’ salary arrears to declare industrial action,
stating that the body had promised to do same at a National Executive Council meeting of the Non Academic Staff Union education and associated institution held in
Lagos recently.
Wabba identified Ondo, Bayelsa, Benue, Ekiti, Osun, Zamfara and Kogi states as the worst case scenario of states that are owing backlog of salaries.
“We have three categories of workers in Kogi, where the government has 40 percent that are being paid up to date, 25 percent that have not been paid between eight to sixteen months –
and another 25 percent that have not been paid between eight to 21 months,” Wahab said, concluding that the governors have categorised the workers into three groups in all the sectors.
In the same vein, the General Secretary of the NLC, Peter Ozo-Esan, said on a breakfast programme broadcast in Lagos that the NLC do not direct EFCC and ICPC, “But we can call their attention to monitor the use of funds.
That is why we have directed our state councils to down tools if governors don’t do the right thing. “Two of the worst states you can think of are Zamfara and Kogi states. We have to make examples of governors that have refused to govern well so that other states can learn,’’ he said.
Reacting to the allegations of the misappropriation of bailout funds, Special adviser on Media and Communication to Zamfara state governor, Ibrahim Magaji, said the bailout funds released to the states had been judiciously utilised.
Magadi, in a statement, said contrary to reports, the state had been paying the N18,000 minimum wage, claiming that the issue of strike is politicised.
“Nonetheless, government will continue to work for the development of the state. The issue of strike in Nigeria is not only in Zamfara, ULC were on strike, ASUU was also on strike. The issue in Zamfara is overblown and politicised, portraying the state as the worst in the country,’’ he alleged.
Dismissing allegations of diversion of funds, the media aide described Governor Yari as the hardest working governor in Nigeria.
“No governor in Nigeria has worked diligently like governor Yari has done. Whoever is accusing him should come to Zamfara state to see what the governor has done. This is a governor that is focused and sincere.’’
Defending the Kogi state government in a more profound manner, the DG (media and publicity, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, said the state had received N11b and N6b respectively in bailout funds.
“The state government had published how the bailout fund received was utilised in the national dailies. We discovered the civil service was the cesspit of corruption.
“Some were earning double salaries, so we embarked on a thorough screening exercise – and we have successfully brought the exercise to a conclusion: there was nothing like diversion. We published how we utilised the bailout funds in three national dailies,’’ he said.
While the fact remains that a great number of workers are yet to receive their long outstanding monies, the task before the EFCC is by no means an easy one.
It is hoped that all indicted governors will tamper governance with a human face and restore the dignity of labour for all the workers affected.
Daily Times Nigeria
13/10/2017
ZAMFARA IS ONE OF NIGERIA’S MOST VIABLE STATES – YARI
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, says all states in Nigeria are viable though yet to tap their full potentials. He justifies states’ plan to take over federal roads and jointly run them with the private sector. ABDULLAHI M. GULLOMA brings excerpts.
We have over 20 ginning companies all over Zamfara ginning cottons. We are the biggest cotton producing state in the country followed by Gombe. We have the human resources and the technology to improve and increase cotton production
How will you appraise President Buhari’s UN outing?
I can tell you that his outing was very successful. We all know that Mr. President was away on medical vacation for more than 100 days but on his return, he insisted on meeting with his colleagues on the global stage in order to interact and address outstanding issues affecting our country.
At the general debate where he highlighted the issues concerning Nigeria bothering on security, our economy, he frowned at so many decisions that have been taken that were not implemented by member states. At the bilateral meetings too he did not disappoint. He pushed for the Palestine State side by side the State of Israel. He recalled that the decision was taken in 1967 but has not been implemented.
The President also used the opportunity to thank world leaders and friends of Nigeria that have contributed immensely to the fight against Boko Haram, especially Niger, Chad, Cameroon for their support against terrorism. He also thanked United Kingdom, the United States, France, Germany and others for supporting the fight against terrorism by supplying intelligence, equipment, training the military among others.
He also called for more support from global leaders to bring Boko Haram to an end. The President also raised the alarm on the issue of Lake Chad Basin where over 30 million people along the Basin and Central Africa Republic are at risk if the Lake dries up. He said the economic activities of the people on that region are at risk. He said if the Lake is charged, it will boost the economic life of the people who are mainly farmers and fishermen.
The present administration has been accused of not doing much on the issue on infrastructure. What’s your reaction?
Most Nigerians, maybe due to lack of exposure or sheer ignorance of happenings on the global scene, are asking for things that are not even possible.
For instance, during our last National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, noted that Nigerians are looking for infrastructural development at a time the price of oil has nosedived, which was the case when oil was selling at above $100 per barrel. State governors are looking for bailout to pay salaries and to attend to other important state projects. Governors are asking for refund of money used to fix federal government roads and other federal infrastructures, all these at a time the nation’s resources are dwindling.
Oil price today is half of what it used to be and quite frankly we don’t have to play politics because what the current administration met on ground was not enough to even stabilize itself not to talk of addressing all these challenges facing us today.
The Buhari administration is not ready to lose focus on where it is going. It is bent on fighting corruption to a standstill, tackling insecurity and reviving the economy and making it attractive to global investors. So the government is doing its best.
Nigeria is just 57 years and so it is not possible for us to copy directly and replicate here what is happening in advanced democracies. Our culture is different. Government is the head and the people are the body and the people are meant to help the government which is the head succeed.
In view of this, why are governors clamouring for federal roads to be handed over to them to fix while equally asking for bailout?
The governors are not saying we are going to build the roads with our meager resources, but we want to go into collaboration with the private sector. Globally, things are done through collaboration. We are going to engage investors, who are ready to dualise the roads, toll it and recoup their monies from motorists plying those roads.
The federal government has seen reason in our suggestion and has agreed for us to sit down and draw up modalities on how we are going to go about it. Our roads are terrible. Even in the well established economies, you don’t find government building roads, whatever bridge or road you see there, it is in collaboration with private investors, which we also intend to do.
All the roads in Nigeria today are free of charge, even the largest economy in the world, which is the United States, roads are not free of charge. In the US, on every 100 kilometres people pay toll, nobody plies the road free, every cent you pay is used for maintenance of the roads.
So we are saying we can invite investors to come partner with us, fix our roads and recoup their investments through tolling, these are practical steps that will make providing of good roads possible. Government had a bad experience when it built road and wanted to put toll gates which was resisted, that is why we are where we are today. So this is what the state governors are saying.
Some Nigerians are concerned that most states in the country are not viable. What are the governors doing to change the situation?
There is no state that is not viable. We are blessed in this country. Let me tell you in Zamfara State, I’m even thinking that we should stop taking money from the federation account. Let’s face our internal economy and see what we can do, and I believe we can do it.
A state of over 4 million people, I can tell you authoritatively that less than one per cent of them are paying their taxes. If four million of us can pay our taxes or even two million of us because it is believed the four million includes women and children, you will see the difference.
We have relied so much on our oil and we thank God that the warning has been sent that in the next 10 years, oil is not going to be a commodity you can rely on, so we have to find alternative means of getting more monies to develop our states for the betterment of our people.
India has said by 2030 they will not used injector but calibrator vehicles, they will stop using fuel. They are sending us a signal that we are going to stop buying your oil. So if they stop buying our oil, what will we then do with it? Eventually it will be just for domestic consumption and no longer foreign currency earner. So, this is the time for us as a nation to live 100 per cent on the thousands of resources that God has blessed us with.
Using Zamfara as example what steps are you taking to improve your internally generated revenue?
In the early 60s Zamfara had commodities it was viable in. Eighty per cent of the tobacco exported out of this country is from Zamfara State, there is what is called Britain Cotton Gin (BCG). Right now, we have over 20 ginning companies all over Zamfara ginning cottons. We are the biggest cotton producing state in the country followed by Gombe. We have the human resources and the technology to improve and increase cotton production.
The Republic of Benin our next door neighbour’s total population is 7 million people. It is not up to that of Sokoto and Kebbi states, but what do they rely on? Cotton export! So, why shouldn’t we do the same?
Governors have been accused of spending the bailout funds on frivolous and irrelevant things. How do you react to this?
Even the President is being lashed at daily but does it mean the things they are saying about him are true? People keep referring to bailout funds, how much is it really? For instance, in Zamfara State, we got N10 billion and that of the Paris Club refund is about N15 billion. Why are people fixated on these two items?
Since I became a governor about N300 billion has come to the state. You cannot just come out of nowhere and accused governors are mismanaging funds. A person manages N3 billion monthly and sometimes N7 billion when things improve, how can such person mismanages funds? There are laws governing our management of funds. Any money that was approved by the state assembles you cannot say such funds were mismanaged and I don’t think governor that has spent money outside the budget.
Recently in Zamfara State, we awarded a contract for the dualisation of a road and the bypass and somebody started talking nonsense. According to him, that money should have been channelled into building a State University. That is his own opinion and he has the right and freedom to talk. But he is not considering the implications of building a university. The extra overhead charges of employing those who will manage the university who is going to bear the brunt? It’s not only about bringing the infrastructure down there is about sustainability. For me, I prioritize projects based on the needs of the people.
Blueprint
13/10/2017
Thursday, 12 October 2017
TARIHIN KASAR DANSADAU
A NIGERIAN, FAISAL HAS WON SAUDI QUR’ANIC RECITATION COMPETITION
Hafiz Faisal Muhammad Auwal Shinkafi from Zamfara, Nigeria has won the 2nd position at the just concluded qur’anic recitation competition in Saudi Arabia. Faisal has successfully won his position from the category of Recitation (reading) and Commentary (Tafsir).
The King Abdulaziz International Qur’nic Recitation Competition is an annual event that attract participants from all over the world. Its aimed at boosting the correct recitation and commentary of the glorious Qur’an among the Muslim ummah especially the youth.
The first position was clinched by a Saudi Arabian citizen while the third position went to an Egyptian.
My Zamfara Online
12/10/2017
MAN SENT TO PRISON FOR 'STEALING' 22 COWS
A middle-aged herdsman, Auwalu Idi, has been remanded in Katsina prison for allegedly stealing 22 cows and one sheep entrusted to his care.
The animals were allegedly stolen during an armed robbery attack by some hoodlums at a grazing camp in Zamfara State.
The police told a Katsina Senior Magistrates’ Court that Idi’s absence and movement during the robbery operation made him a prime suspect in the incident.
Idi was accused of three counts charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and armed robbery.
The offences, according to the police, were contrary to Section 97 (312) of the Penal Code and Section 1(a)(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special provisions) Act, Cap R11, LFN, 2004.
The police, however, said Idi was discovered to have sold the missing cows at Danmusa cattle market for N133,000, which he allegedly handed over to the cattle owner after interrogation.
Daily Post Nigeria
12/10/2017
10. TARIHIN DAULAR ZAMFARA
9. TARIHIN DAULAR ZAMFARA
8. TARIHIN DAULAR ZAMFARA
7. TARIHIN DAULAR ZAMFARA
6. TARIHIN DAULAR ZAMFARA
5. TARIHIN DAULAR ZAMFARA
4. TARIHIN DAULAR ZAMFARA
Popular Posts
-
A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) ‘’Save the Children International’’ Zamfara State office said Zamfara state is to develope its Food ...
-
Daga HON. Ibrahim Muhammad Danmadami (Kwamishinan Kasafin Kudi da Tsare-tsare na Jihar Zamfara) Karanta na hudu a nan > 4. T...
-
Daga HON. Ibrahim Muhammad Danmadami (Kwamishinan Kasafin Kudi da Tsare-tsare na Jihar Zamfara) Karanta na biyu a nan > 2. T...
-
By Ubaidullah Y. Kaura Ideally, a constructive opposition would emphasize more on discussion, ask more questions, resolution of problems ...
-
GOVERNMENT HOUSE GUSAU PRESS RELEASE The Executive Governor of Zamfara State and Chairman Nigeria Governors' Forum, Hon Abdulaziz Ya...
-
Daga HON. Ibrahim Muhammad Danmadami (Kwamishinan Kasafin Kudi da Tsare-tsare na Jihar Zamfara) Tarihin Daular Zamfara ya far...
-
Daga HON. Ibrahim Muhammad Danmadami (Kwamishinan Kasafin Kudi da Tsare-tsare na Jihar Zamfara) Karanta na farko a nan > 1. T...
-
Daga HON. Ibrahim Muhammad Danmadami (Kwamishinan Kasafin Kudi da Tsare-tsare na Jihar Zamfara) Karanta na bakwai a nan > 7....
-
Daga HON. Ibrahim Muhammad Danmadami (Kwamishinan Kasafin Kudi da Tsare-tsare na Jihar Zamfara) Karanta na uku a nan > 3. TA...
-
Daga HON. Ibrahim Muhammad Danmadamin Birnin Magaji (Kwamishinan kasafin kudi da tsare-tsare na jihar Zamfara) Garin sadau wan...