Category: News

(NAN) The Ogun House of Assembly on Tuesday during plenary passed four bills.

The bills included; Ogun State Audit Law, Ogun State Public Health Law, Ogun State Legislative Funds Management Law and Ogun State Judiciary Funds Management Law.

Musefiu Lamidi (APM -Ado Odo Ota 11) rendered the report of his committee on a bill for a law to provide for establishment of the Ogun State Audit Service Commission and office of the Auditor -General during plenary in Abeokuta.

Lamidi, Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, thereafter, moved motion for adoption of the report and was seconded by Mr Bashir Abdul (APC-Sagamu 1).

Mr Yusuf Sherif (APC – Ado Odo Ota 1), the Majority Leader, moved the motion for the third reading of the bill while it was seconded by Mrs Modupe Mujota (APM -Abeokuta North).

Also, Adegoke Adeyanju (ADC -Yewa North 1) rendered the report of his committee on a bill to repeal the Public Health Law, 2006 and enact Ogun Public Health Law 2020.

Adeyanju, House Committee Chairman on Health, moved motion for adoption of the report and was seconded by Atinuke Bello, Chief Whip (APC -Odogbolu).

Sherif moved the motion for the third reading of the bill and seconded by Oladunjoye.

On the third bill passed, Mr Olakunle Sobukanla (APC -Ikenne), also presented the report of his committee on a bill to make provision for the Ogun House of Assembly Legislative Funds Management.

Sobukanla moved the motion for adoption of the report and was seconded by Ganiyu Oyedeji (APM – Ifo 11), the Minority Leader.

Yusuf, the Majority Leader, also moved the motion for the third reading of the bill and was seconded by Jemili Akingbade (ADC -Imeko Afon).

Sobukanla, Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, also presented the report of his committee on a bill for a law to make provision for the Ogun State Judiciary Funds Management.

He moved the motion for the adoption of the report and seconded by Adeniran Ademola (APM -Sagamu 11).

Yusuf thereafter moved the motion for the third reading of the bill seconded by Sylvester Abiodun (PDP -Ijebu North 1).

Mr Deji Adeyemo, the Clerk of the Assembly, did the third reading of the four bills.

The Speaker, Mr Olakunle Oluomo (APC–Ifo1), directed that clean copy of the four bills be forwarded to Gov. Dapo Abiodun for his assent. (NAN)

(NAN) The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kogi Council,has commiserated with the Nigeria Police over the recent killing of their eight personnel including three women by armed robbers.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the robbers had on June 4 attacked the Isanlu Police Station in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi and killed five policemen and three policewomen on duty

The robbers, shortly after the attack, invaded and robbed a commercial bank in the town.

The NUJ in a condolence message to the Police, signed by the state Council Chairman and Secretary, Adeiza Momohjimoh,and Ademu Haruna,respectively and made available to newsmen in Lokoja commiserated with the Force and families of the deceased.

“We write on behalf of all working journalists in Kogi to commiserate with you over the unfortunate bandits attack on Isanlu Police Station which led to the death of eight officers of the Force.

“The action of the bandits is most barbaric, callous and reprehensible. It is sad that eight officers who were diligently serving their fatherland could be murdered in such a dastardly manner.

“Our hearts also go out to the families of the deceased officers, their colleagues in the Force and the entire country.

“We pray to Almighty God to forgive their shortcomings and repose their souls.”

The union,however, urged the Police not to be deterred by the “unfortunate” incident in the quest to fight crime and criminality in the state.(NAN)

Abuja, June 9, 2020(NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with government and people of Benue over the passing of an illustrious son, Abubakar Tsav, who was a former Lagos State Commissioner of Police.

The President’s condolence message was conveyed in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Tuesday.

President Buhari joined family members, friends and associates in mourning the retired police officer, ”whose years in service continue to resonate with the discipline and focus he brought into security operations, particularly in Lagos State.”

The President noted with sadness that the vociferous voice of Tsav would be sorely missed.

He also acknowledged Tsav’s wise counsels to leaders in his state and national level, especially on good governance, were most timely and impactful.

He said: “I feel very special about people like Tsav, who took great personal risks to defend me and my government in all situations and circumstances.’’

The President prayed for the repose of his soul, urging the family to find strength in his contributions to humanity.(NAN)

Ilorin, June 9_ 2020 (NAN) The Kwara House of Assembly on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Titus Ashaolu (SAN) as Chairman, state Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

The former attorney general was confirmed along with three others who will serve as members of the commission

The Speaker, Mr Yakubu Danladi, announced the confirmation of the four nominees sent to the legislature by Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq after their screening during Tuesday’s plenary.

Danladi said that other three nominees confirmed as members of the state JSC are Lawal Jimoh, Salihu Ajibola Ajia and Aliyu Mande Umar.

He directed the Clerk of the House, Mrs Halimah Jummai-Kparogi, to communicate the notice of confirmation to the governor.

Responding to questions from lawmakers during screening, Ashaolu
promised to ensure that staff of the Judiciary are trained and courtrooms refurbished to create conducive environment for justice dispensation.

He vowed to ensure independence of judiciary and avoid actions that could soil the image of the third arm of government.

The former attorney general also advocated capital punishment for culprits of rape to curb the menace in the country.

Meanwhile, during plenary, the house urged the state government to implement relevant Child Right Laws to stem the tide of incessant rape in the society.

This was part of the resolutions of the house after adopting a matter
of General Public Importance raised by Abubakar Ayilara (APC-llorin North West).

The resolution advocated public enlightenment against rape and called security agencies to be proactive in safeguarding lives and property.

Ayilara in his submission expressed worry over the prevalence of rape in the country and called for appropriate actions to be taken to arrest the situation.

Other members who contributed condemned the act and urged the state government to take drastic step to stem it. (NAN)

Bauchi, June 9, 2020 (NAN) The Bauchi State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed for second reading a Bill tagged Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP).

The bill will also provide maximum protection to victims and punishment for offenders.

Presenting the Bill on the floor of the House, the Speaker, Mr Suleiman Abubakar, said that it does not stop at domestic but extended to political violence.

“This is the time for representatives of the people to do something to provide adequate protection to vulnerable members of the society against violence.

“This bill does not stop at protecting against rape and other domestic violence, but also extend to political violence.

“Many ugly cases are happening within the state, unfortunately some of the culprits go unpunished,” Abubakar said.

Mr Tijjani Ahmed, representing Azare constituency, and Mr Bakoji Bobbo, representing Ciroma constituency in Misau Local Government Area, seconded the bill for the first and second reading,

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that members unanimously agreed that the bill be referred to the House Committee on Women Affairs and returned after two weeks for further action.

The VAPP state working group and Attah Sisters Helping Hand Foundation had earlier advocated and presented the draft of the bill to the speaker. (NAN)

Bauchi, June 9, 2020 (NAN) Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State on Tuesday inaugurated a 21-man Committee to look at the implications and implementation framework of the autonomy of the legislature and the judiciary as contained in the Presidential Executive Order 10.

Mohammed, while inaugurating the committee in Bauchi, said he was pleased with the Executive Order, describing it as a “welcome development”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that as part of efforts at making state legislature and judiciary more independent, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, May 22, signed an Executive Order which ensures finances of the two arms of government at the state level, get directly to them.

NAN reports that the new order is a brainchild of a Presidential Implementation Committee constituted to fashion out strategies and modalities for the implementation of financial autonomy for the states’ Legislature and Judiciary in compliance with section 121(3) of the Constitution.

The governor said that when implemented, the Presidential order would save him from “a lot of management problems”.

“We are here to inaugurate a committee that I have set up to look at the implications and implementation framework for the autonomy of the legislature and the judiciary, as contained in Presidential Order 10, signed by Mr President.

“This development has very serious implications and other insinuations that we need to bring to the public in terms of transparency and good governance.

“However, before I announce the inauguration, I must say that it is important for these two arms to have autonomy because, personally, I will be saved from a lot of management problems.

“I am not comfortable with the insistent visits to the government house or resort to the office of the Secretary to the State Government. I want them to have their autonomy and then I will have my peace.

“I want more responsibilities bestowed on the various heads like the Chief Justice and the Speaker of the House of Assembly,” Mohammed said.

The governor, who stressed that the legislature remained the most important arm of government, said that it was important to give them powers to deepen separation of powers.

“The legislature is the most important arm of government under democracy and under military rule. All other arms are always there but the legislature is absent when the military is in power.

“So, to give them some sort of powers in terms of deepening separation of power is very important,” the governor said. (NAN)

Lafia, May 9, 2020 (NAN) Resident doctors and other health workers at the Daltatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH), Lafia on Tuesday embarked on a seven-day warning strike to press for adequate  provision of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) and improved welfare.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the striking health workers included the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), among others.

Mr Alizi Maga, chairman of NANNM at the hospital, who spoke on behalf of the various unions told newsmen in Lafia that the strike became necessary following the expiration of a  seven-day ultimatum given to the state government.

Maga explained that their demands included provision of adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), implementation of COVID-19 hazard allowances as well as insurance scheme for their members fighting the pandemic.

He added the unions also want the implementation of their pending  promotion  for 13 years, among others.

Maga said that the  unions would embark on an indefinite industrial  action  after the  Seven-day warning strike  if the state government failed to meet their demands.

Collaborating Maga’s position, Dr Idoko Peter, Chairman of ARD in DASH, said the alleged negligence by the government had led to their members being infected with coronavirus.

Peter said that due to lack PPEs, 21 health workers in the state  had been infected with COVID-19 while carrying out their  duties.

He urged the state government to address the issues raised to avoid a shutdown of the hospital.

Reacting to the development, Dr Hassan Ikrama, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital said the health workers were negotiating with the state government to address their concerns.

When contacted, Ahmed Yahaya, Commissioner for Health, appealed to the workers to consider the plight of patients in the facility and suspend the strike.

He gave assurances that the state government was working toward meeting their demands soon. (NAN)

Abuja, June 9, 2020(NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the death of President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, saying Nkurunziza was a true patriot that steered the country through turbulent times with wisdom and foresight.

In a condolence message by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Tuesday, the Nigerian leader condoled with the family, government and people of Burundi

He said: “It is with profound grief and sadness that we received the news of the death of President Pierre Nkurunziza.

”President Nkurunziza was a true patriot that steered the country through turbulent times with wisdom and foresight.

“At this time of great pain and loss, the government and people of Nigeria as well as myself, express our deepest condolences to the government and people of Burundi. Our thoughts and prayers also go out to the family of the President.

”May God grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Nkurunziza, aged 55, died after suffering from a heart attack on Monday.(NAN)

Abuja, June 9, 2020 (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated screening and appeal committees for the June 22, Edo governorship primaries.
APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, performed the ceremony on Tuesday at the party National Secretariat in Abuja.
Oshiomhole urged the committees to do a thorough job.
“I want to encourage you to take this exercise very seriously. I’m sure you can only imagine how we felt as a party after we won an election in Bayelsa.
“There were no questions, in fact, best election ever conducted in Bayelsa .
“There was no violence, people voted but we lost it because the deputy governor according to the Supreme Court had contradiction in his document and we lost it.
“So, the screening is not a formality and we expect you to be very meticulous in every material in particular to protect our party so that let it not be said that we did not learn anything from Bayelsa.
“As you know, sometimes, when things go wrong, everybody sees it that the National Working Committee (NWC) did not do a thorough job,” Oshiomhole said.
According to him, the leadership takes the blame if anything go wrong.
“For me, the important lesson is that we take steps to correct any mistakes we may have made in the past.
“So, we will give you copies of our party Constitution. This constitution is the basis of our action. We will make it available to you.
“We will also make the guidelines available to you, that have been developed for the purpose of conducting primaries.
“So, I trust that giving your calibre, that you will help the party to do a thorough job, so as to protect us as an institution from any possible judicial reversal of anything arising from the process,” he said.
The screening committee headed by Prof. Jonathan Ayuba would screen the six governorship aspirants of the party before the primaries, while the appeal committee headed by Prof. Abubakar Fari, was expected to handle appeals or disagreements arising from the primaries.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the screening of the aspirants will take place at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja between June 10 and June 11, while the appeal committee will begin sitting on June 12.
The aspirants included -Godwin Obaseki, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Mr Osaro Obaz, Dr Pius Odubu, Mr Matthew Iduoriyekemwe and Mr Chris Ogiemwonyi.(NAN)