PLATEAU EXCO APPROVES 3 BILLION BOND FOR PROJECTS, MOVES TO CREATE COOPERATIVE SOCIETY AGENCY
The Plateau State Executive Council has approved the sourcing of a 3 billion naira bond from the capital market to finance some capital projects.
This was one of the decisions taken during its maiden meeting for 2021 presided over by Governor Simon Bako Lalong at the Exco chambers of the new Government House Little Rayfield Jos.
Commissioner for Information and Communication Mr. Dan Manjang, Commissioner for Finance Dr. Mrs. Regina Soemlat, and the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Mr. Abe Aku gave highlights of the decisions taken at Council at a news briefing.
Commissioner for Information and communication Mr. Dan Manjang said Exco approved the bond as part of its drive to ensure that some of its ongoing projects are completed while other critical ones are introduced.
He said the shortfall in internally generated revenue and federal account allocation accruing to the State due to COVID-19 has necessitated the sourcing of alternative funds to execute critical projects.
Finance Commissioner Dr. Mrs. Regina Soemlat said the 3billion bond is part of the 30 billion naira earlier sourced for the Lalong Legacy projects which after rescoping stood at about 27 billion naira.
According to her, all funds needed to complete the legacy projects are available and work is going on in all the sites steadily.
Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Mr. Abe Aku said the Council approved the establishment of the Plateau State Cooperative Society Agency to register, regulate and monitor the operations of all cooperatives in the State and also strethen their contributions to economic development of the State.
He said a bill will be forwarded to the State House of Assembly which when passed will encourage people of the State to form coperatives to enable them access funds from various Federal Government interventions as well as international development and donor agencies.
On the Corona virus pandemic, the Commissioner for Information Dan Manjang said Council raised concerns over the increase in number of deaths which as at today stands at 53 and directed more testing and enforcement of protocols throughout the state.
The Council also frowned at the destruction of street lights in the capital city by motorists and directed that those who are involved should be arrested and made to pay for replacement.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State. 27th January 2021.
Chief Ayuba Burki Bags Award of Excellence from Advocacy Group.
27th January, 2021.
By D’yong Mangut
Director of the Beautiful Gate Handicapped People Center, Chief Ayuba Burki Gufwan has bagged an award from Advocacy for the Empowerment of Nigerian Women and Children Initiative for his selfless service to humanity.
According to Aisha Sa’ad Abubakar, Leader of the delegation, the awardee was meriteriously selected in recognition of his immense contributions to the development and empowerment of women and youths in Nigeria.
Chief Burki appreciated the organization for finding him worthy to be a recipient of their award. He assured the group of his support for the empowerment of women and youths in the society, the inclusion of women, youths, those with special needs and other vulnerable groups in the society into leadership positions and in policy making.
High point of the occassion was the presentation of the award and medal to Chief Burki by the group.
The Chairman of the Northern states and Plateau State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Letep Dabang said, the party has concluded all the necessary arrangements to register new and old members.
He called on those who wish to join the party to seize this opportunity and register.
Letep stated this in his welcome address when the Chairmen of the Northern states APC met in Jos to deliberate on how best to handle the registration exercise and to move the party forward.
Letep affirmed that the Party is poised for authentic membership data base that would enhance its victory in 2023.
“This assignment has been given to us so that an approved data of party members is enhanced, adding that this task is a serious affair in which we the leadership of the party have to ensure that members are properly mobilize and registered in their various locality and wards.”
He called on his fellow APC chairman to braced up and confront all challenges that might come their way with wisdom and tact because, the task before them is an enormous one, “if we handle it well, the party would stay well, but if we handle it wrongly, we might have ourselves to blame, he added
“Our party is set to welcome new members into our growing fold and this exercise will be done at the various poling units across the states,” he said
“All modalities have been put in place to ensure the registration exercise is hitch free.”
He reiterated that Nigerians have embraced the party and are always willing to support the party at all times, noting that there is a rising clamoring by Nigerians to join the party which necessitated the recent membership registration exercise to help coordinate the party properly before the party primaries next year.
Letep called on APC stakeholders and members to zealously help monitor the exercise to avoid the hijack of the process by enemies of the party for their selfish interest.
NORTHERN GOVERNORS WELCOME APPOINTMENT OF NEW SERVICE CHIEFS
The Northern Governors Forum has welcomed the appointment of new Service Chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari and also commended the outgone Service Chiefs for giving their best in the service of the nation.
Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State Simon Bako Lalong in a statement commended the President for taking the decision and asked the new Service Chiefs to put in their best not only to meet the expectations of the Commander-in-Chief, but also that of Nigerians who have high expectations for enhanced security and safety of lives and properties.
He charged them to build on the successes of their predecessors and also learn from their challenges in order to address the lingering problems of terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes that the nation has been battling to contain.
Lalong assured the Service Chiefs of the support and collaboration of the Northern Governors Forum in addressing insecurity in the region and the nation as a whole in order to enable the citizens pursue their legitimate businesses without any hindrance.
He appealed to Nigerians to support and pray for the new Service Chiefs as they provide leadership for the patriotic officers and men of the Armed Forces to put up a final onslaught against protracted security challenges.
Governor Lalong also thanked the former Service Chiefs for their courage, sacrifices and commitment to protecting Nigeria’s territotial integrity and dealing with internal threats during their stewardship, and wished them well in their future endeavours.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State and Chairman Northern Governor’s Forum. 27th January 2020.
President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs, and their retirement from service. Those involved are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar. President Buhari thanks the outgoing Service Chiefs for what he calls their “overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country,” wishing them well in their future endeavours. The new Service Chiefs are: Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff. The President congratulates the new Service Chiefs, and urges them to be loyal and dedicated in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Femi Adesina Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) January 26, 2021
President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs, and their retirement from service. Those involved are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
The President thanked the outgoing Service Chiefs for what he calls their “overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country,” wishing them well in their future endeavours. The new Service Chiefs are: Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President congratulates the new Service Chiefs, and urges them to be loyal and dedicated in the discharge of their responsibilities.
MUCH ADO ABOUT TETFUND PROJECTS AT PLATEAU STATE UNIVERSITY BOKKOS
By Makut Simon Macham
Recently when the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Plateau State University Bokkos Chapter, declared a strike just when students were preparing to resume after spending months at home due to the national ASUU strike, many parents, students and concerned citizens were taken aback by this unfortunate development. Of course the lecturers had their grievances which informed their decision to embark on the strike action as enunciated by the Chairman of ASUU in the institution, Dr. Bentse Pamson who briefed newsmen in Jos. The lecturers according to Pamson were unhappy over insecurity within the University environment which has resulted in threat to lives and properties of staff and students; delay in the reconstitution of the Governing Council for the University; lack of payment of earned academic allowances totaling over N215 million; underfunding of the institution with only a monthly subvention of about N90m which is grossly inadequate as against about N200 million it expects; inadequate manpower as well as lack of funds for training and capacity building. Perhaps, one of the reasons given for the strike which has generated so many comments in the social media and elsewhere was when the ASUU Chairman said “For instance, if you come to the University, you will not discover any capital project being funded by the State Government except the ones being undertaken under TetFund. This is totally strange and unacceptable”. For many, particularly those who are looking for reasons to crucify the Plateau State Government under the leadership of Governor Simon Lalong for non-performance, this accusation has been exploited to its limits. However, for those who want to be objective, read in between the lines, and look beyond political sentiments or playing to the gallery, the assertion by ASUU was not only unfortunate, but disingenuous. The Governor who was personally at the University to inspect ongoing and completed projects was equally surprised by the position of the lecturers and expressed his disappointment during an interaction with the Management of the institution. Lalong who has always conceded to the right of labour unions to seek better welfare of their members, said some of the concerns raised by the ASUU such as the appointment of a Governing Council for the Institution and the need for more funding and enhanced security for the institution were not out of place and in fact already being addressed. What he could not come to terms with was why the lecturers will embark on strike simply because TetFund is carrying out many projects in the school. Some of the projects inspected by the Governor during the visit include the new Senate Building, Faculties of Law, Environmental Sciences, Health Sciences, Social sciences, Advancement and Linkages building, Staff offices and classrooms complex, E-Library and assorted volumes of books in the central library building, 600- capacity Lecture theatre, School of postgraduate Studies building complex, University Health Centre building and medical equipment, Street light project, Wire fencing of female hostel and PLASU Security System/ CCTV cameras project, sports complex among others. While interacting with the University management, the Governor said, “I am very happy with the tremendous transformation of the University which is as a result of the joint partnership between the State and Federal Governments through TetFund. However, I am at a loss as to what the ASUU is imputing or wants to achieve by insinuating that the State Government has not done projects at the Plateau State University. This is preposterous and difficult to understand. How can you say the proprietor of a University does not have any capital projects in it? “ He said “it is very unfortunate for people to play politics with everything including education. I was part of the founding of this institution when I was Speaker. Everyone including members of PLASU-ASUU will remember that when I came into office as Governor, the University was shut down and they were not going to work. We did everything possible to reopen the school and today, it has blossomed and is fast growing. It has been described as a success by those who oversee tertiary education in the country considering that it started on a virgin site without inheriting any infrastructure like some of its counterparts in some States. It is therefore very sad and untrue for this insinuation to come from people who should know better. This is nothing but pure mischief. Are lecturers in PLASU unhappy that the school is getting Tetfund intervention? Which State will reject such assistance when the Governments at all levels including the Federal Government which directly oversees Tetfund are crying over lack of funds due to COVID-19 and the economic recession?” He went down memory lane to remind the lecturers about the status of the Plateau State University before his coming into office in 2015. It is common knowledge that before the advent of the Lalong Rescue Administration, the University was in a state of coma having been neglected for years by the immediate past administration of Governor David Jang for reasons many citizens of the State are yet to be fathom. Many have not forgotten how students who were already offered admission into the various courses of the university at different levels and had started lectures were stranded and had to start scampering all over the place to seek admissions into other Universities. Accreditation of courses was therefore not obtained as ongoing processes were aborted and abandoned while the lecturers and other staff were idle and redundant. But with the coming of the Lalong administration, the vision of the founding fathers of PLASU was revived with full vigour and determination. Lalong who was Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly when the idea was conceived and did everything possible to pass the law establishing the University, vowed never to allow this dream suffocate again under his watch as Governor. Apart from the fact that the Plateau State Government over time has invested huge sums of money to develop classroom infrastructure, offices, laboratories, hostels and staff housing in the University, the Lalong administration has since coming into office carried out various projects such as the construction of roads and street lights within the University campus to facilitate smooth academic activities. This is in addition to releasing about 300 million naira which facilitated the accreditation of 14 programmes in the University. It is to the credit of Governor Lalong that the first ever Convocation Ceremony of the University was held in 2017 because of his concerted efforts in reviving the institution. Because of COVID-19, the 3rd, 4th & 5th combined Convocation Ceremony of the University was held virtually in August 2020 to enable the graduands participate in the NYSC. In addition, through concerted efforts, three new faculties have been approved including Law, Health Sciences and Environmental Science with the fourth, Agriculture soon to be introduced. While the State Government also approved funds for the remodeling of multi-purpose hall to serve as Law Auditorium, work on the construction of Teaching Hospital for the new faculty of health sciences is ongoing in Shendam, all funded by the State Government. To hear the ASUU bemoan the fact that Tetfund is executing many projects in the institution and advance it as one of the reasons for its strike has indeed surprised many. The fact that the State Governor has been able to use his influence and goodwill to lobby and attract Tetfund projects including the Special High Impact Intervention Projects which only go to six Universities in the country annually should call for commendation and not condemnation. Just what difference does it really make if the structures are constructed by Tetfund, State Government, Corporate Organisations, Donor agencies, Parent Teacher Association, or even Community Development Associations? If one may ask further, besides the primary objective of pursuing and protecting welfare issues of members, in modern times of constructive unionism, unions are seen as part of the progressives engaged in advocacy, lobby and attracting partnership, infrastructural developments etc, in their domains for the common good. How much of this in a young and fledgling institution like PLASU? After all, ASUU has severally been credited for being the brain behind the establishment of Tetfund to do exactly what it is doing at the Plateau State University. What then is the fuss about? Or, will the students reject to sit in the facilities to learn or will the lecturers and non-teaching staff suffer any losses when they sit in the offices to work? Even if the Tetfund changes its mind later, it is unfathomable that they will uproot the structures and take them to other States or to a federal facility. There is certainly no justification for the hue and cry that this allegation has generated. Indeed, it is a storm in a tea cup which to concerned citizens is politically meant to ridicule the State Government and paint it in bad light. Gladly enough, this does not seem to have been achieved despite the twisting of facts by political interests that have latched on it to make a feast in the social media. Members of the public may not be aware that since Plateau State started implementing the Treasury Single Account, Tertiary Institutions including PLASU have been exempted from the scheme as they retain 100 percent of their internally generated revenue to fund their activities. This does not happen with Federal Universities who adhere strictly to the TSA system. Despite this, the State Government gives monthly subvention to the University as well as pays all its staff salaries and emoluments promptly and up to date. At a time when the State treasury is suffering lack of funds as a result of drop in IGR and Federal Allocation worsened by the corona virus pandemic, there is no point in vilifying the Government for some of the shortcomings as enumerated by PLASU-ASUU who are very well aware of other commitments of the Government such as the implementation of the new minimum wage which has started in Plateau State among others. Simply put, in the face of concerned parents, the public and stakeholders, the timing and some reasons advanced for the strike action are not strategic enough to attract public sympathy at all. The good news is that Governor Lalong, who is labour friendly and has a listening ear with unequalled passion for education does not want students to suffer any longer. He has set up a 7-man committee to address the issue raised by the PLASU-ASUU with a view to resolving them. Already, consultations have commenced and there is every hope that they will resolve the matters sooner than later. While that is going on, the Governor is unrepentant about attracting more Tetfund projects to the University as he insists that the State Government is entitled to draw from the Tetfund just like other States, Federal Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and other institutions. After all, Tetfund monies belong to the Federal and State Governments, being commonwealth funds in the form of tax on every Nigerian citizen from north, south, east and west, aggregated in a common pool and shared equitably. While appreciating PLASU-ASUU’s patriotic zeal, as bastion of intellectualism in the ivory tower, this is perhaps the best moment for deeper reflection and exercise of restraint in criticism in order to set the right examples that will not erode subsequent goodwill from the State in its future quest for more intervention by well-meaning entities such as Tetfund. Governor Lalong remains determined not to rest until PLASU attains its potentials and glory, which is very much on course and all hands, including the union(s) must be on deck.
Makut Simon Macham, Ph.D., is the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State.
The once prestigious Plateau Club 1921 has been closed down not as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic but as a result of a brewing threat to peace and security in the Club between a few members of the Club and the members of Board of Trustees.
Situation came to near crisis point today 24th January,2021 when some individuals insisted on holding an Emergency General Meeting to oust the Caretaker Committee which was duly constituted by the Board of Trustees. Sensing the possible crisis that could arise between the against the Board of Trustees and the the general members that are supportive of the Board of Trustees, the Caretaker committee drafted security men to keep surveillance over the Club.
Following our further investigations, it was discovered that while one of the two conflicting factions planned to hold an Emergency General Meeting in defiance of the Board of Trustees, the other faction was against it as according to them, it was an affront against the Board of Trustees who had earlier set up a Caretaker Committee to oversee the activities of the Club as the Bored is the apex decision making organ of the Club.
Following this threat to peace, the Chairman of the Board of the Board of Trustees Arch Pam Dung Gyang after due consultations with the Board decided to temporarily close the Club pending the resolution of all pending legal matters against the Club.
The Board cited the impending legal matter against the Club, the recent demise of a member of the Board of Trustees, and the bitter rancor between the different factions in the Club as a reason for the Closure.
According to the chairman the Club will only be reopened when all legal matters against the Club and rancor in the club are resolved.
It will be recalled that recently the properties of the Club were carted away by Court bailiffs as a result of debts owed to the former President of the Club Mr Chris Hassan.
A 36-year-old man, Nura Walwala Magaji is now a proud father of 13, haven been blessed with four additional kids from his four wives within three weeks. While Magaji’s wives now prefer to have more female children, the woodworker whose childhood dream is to father 40 has no gender preference. Haruna Mohammed reports.
Although having a large family is not alien to the traditional African society, the pattern has its social-economic implications. In some cultures, large family is considered a testament of affluence on the side of the man , while in a few others, it is simply to fulfill some religious dictates.
But to Nura Walwala Magaji, a carpenter and a resident of Zango ward, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis, a large family is also to keep to a tradition already existing in his family. However, he has his target on breaking a record; to father at least 40 children, a life ambition he hopes to achieve.
Nura’s recent marital trajectory saw his four wives putting to bed within a space of three weeks. His family now has additional three boys and a girl.
The elated Nura in a chat with LEADERSHIP Sunday said, “I thank God for this precious gifts because it is not everyone who desires to have children are blessed with them ; while some have mixed genders, others are given boys exclusively or girls.”
Although managing four wives at a period of dwindling economic atmosphere for many households isn’t easy, Nura insisted that with fortune from his carpentry works, he would successfully and comfortably carter for his wives and children.
The carpenter expressed happiness and sang praises to Allah for expanding his coast with th blessing of four children within three weeks from his four wives who all live in the same compound
He said, “Babies are a gift from Allah and I am happy that my four wives gave birth to three bouncing boys and a girl within just three weeks. ”
The 36-year – old carpenter who acknowledged that :”sometimes, in the hustle of taking care of these kids that are supposed to be a gift to parents, they can feel more like a heavy burden said, ” I am aware that caring for kids can feel like draining work. If we don’t find a proper balance between caretaking of our family and investing in our own self-care it can be easy to miss out on the daily joys of a childhood unfolding before your eyes, family-life, and the legacy that you have the honour of passing to your children”
According to Nura, his family received the gift as a blessing and will continue to work tirelessly to raise them with the little money he makes from his carpentry business as well as the proceeds from the petty trade his wives are engaged in.
The proud father of 13 who could not hide his joy said, ” Two among my four wives gave birth within 48 hours; “and the interval between the third delivery and the fourth was just 21 days.
“We organised a sizable naming ceremony within our means where we ate and drank with family members, friends and well-wishers. Only one of them delivered at home, the other three delivered in the hospital”, he explained.
Nura who boasted of inheriting polygamy said he was not bothered about what people around his neighbourhood were saying; “because to me, polygamy is runs in my blood. In fact, we inherited it from both our maternal and paternal grandparents.
“My mother’s father married four wives , likewise my dad’s father . Yes , it might sound funny but am so proud of this achievement. Growing up as a child, I used to pray to Allah to bless me with 40 children and people laughed at me
“You know everybody has their idealogy and you cannot force a particular ideology on someone. Haven said this, bearing family responsibility is not solely in our hands as husbands , rather, it is in the hands of our Creator.
“Look, Allah commanded us to start by marrying two wives, then proceed to three wives , then four wives and He said if you cannot be just among them, go for one wife”, Nura added..
Interestingly, Nura who is opposed to the idea of family planning, prefers child spacing to achieve total births limiting.
Hear him,“It is wrong for an individual to subscribe to the idea of family planning because of fear of poverty. It is rather better to space between one child and another to give both the mother and the baby required care and attention before bringing another one. I have 13 children now; 10 boys and three girls” .
The proud father said, “when my adorable wives conceived, all of them were praying to have girls. Even my older children backed their mothers as earnestly desired having more sisters. As Allah would have it, the first wife gave birth to a baby boy.
“I only listened to them, laughed them off; and say to myself, whichever is the best for me, let Allah give me because I love children of both sexes.” I ensured that all my wives attended antenatal sessionsand adhered to all.medical advise
Malam Nura Walwala Magaji pledged his unalloyed determination to sponsor his children through both Western and Islamic education to make them useful to the family and the society at large.
“Nine out of the 13 children are enrolled in formal schools and just as you can see, an Alaramma is around teaching them how to memorise Qur’an.”
His first wife, Nuwaira Muhammad Saminu, 25, said attending the weekly antenatal session helped her and her baby boy to achieve good health condition.
Also speaking to LEADERSHIP Sunday, Baraka Murtala Ladan, 23, his second wife, commended her husband’s ability to carter for them and ensurepeaceful coexistence among them.
Baraka said, “Whenever gets angry with one of us, we normally rally around her to comfort and support her, after which we take a stand not to tolerate him when he comes around until things are sorted out.
Sadiya Abdullahi, 20, the third wife, applauded her co-wives and particularly, expressed joy at the unity existing between their children. She said, the older kids serve as nannies to the newly born kids.
Speaking on why she prayed constantly for a baby girl, the fourth wife, Hajara Isah, 21, said girls are reliable confidants and also very helpful with house chores.
The conversation concerning the unity of the north is still on.
A former governor of Plateau state, Senator Jonah David Jang says the north is not one
The former PDP presidential aspirant stated that the middle belt needs to be on its own and not regarded as the north.
Former governor of Plateau state, Senator Jonah Jang has lamented that northern Christians are being oppressed in the north, adding that the people want to be separated from the Hausa-Fulani.
According to him, the northern Christians want to be under a different regional identity known as the middle belt.
Speaking to Daily Sun in an interview published on Saturday, January 23, Jang, who was a presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019, said the ethnic minority from the middle belt should be given the opportunity to produce the president in 2023.
Jang has stated that the Middle Belt don’t want to be part of the core north.
He kicked against the rotation of the presidency between the north and the south and instead advocated that the middle belt should be included among the regions to benefit from the rotation of the nation’s number one job. His words:
When I was running for the presidency in 2019, I went to see one of the top leaders in this country and you know the presidency has always been rotated between the major tribes except for Jonathan that got it because of the death of President Yar’Adua, I call it by accident.
“You remember, just to allow him to act before the death of President Yar’Adua, it was war. What was I told by that leader?
He said as good as I may be, he cannot see how a Christian minority will win an election in Nigeria, this is the first time I am saying this out.
“It has come to a time that we have to start talking out. So if there is going to be a rotation of the presidency, then it has to be between the north, the Middle Belt, and the north otherwise, no Middle Belter can be president, I didn’t hear it as a rumour, I was told face to face.
“He stated that the northwest is the biggest beneficiary of the rotation, adding that politicians from the region are already gearing up towards 2023.
He advocated for the major political parties in the country to review their rotation policy to accommodate the Middle Belt.
Freelance Reporters 