…..Hails Operation Safe Haven For Prompt Response to The Area

Tackles Atyap Community Leader For Allegedly Peddling Falsehood Against Security Agencies

Passes Vote Of Confidence on OPSH for Professionalism

By Freelance Reporters, Jos



Some indigenous Southern Kaduna peace advocacy groups have called out the president of Atyap Community Development Association, Dr Samuel Ache, for allegedly spreading falsehood thus misleading the public on the recent attack in Takanai Village of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area by some criminal elements.

The peace-building organizations which confirmed that six persons were gruesomely killed in the attack, condemned the action of the perpetrators, describing it as senseless, barbaric, and inhuman.

The groups operating under the aegis of the Southern Kaduna Peace Practitioners Network (SOKIPEP) and Conference of Southern Kaduna Peace Ambassadors (CSKPA), respectively, commended security agencies for prompt response to the area following the dastardly act, thus averting deterioration.

While they insisted that security agencies, especially Operation Safe Haven’s immediate response to the area prevented what could have resulted in an unimaginable number of casualties and reprisals, the group tackled Dr. Ache for peddling falsehood thereby misleading the public to cause public hatred against security agencies.

In a joint statement on Thursday, signed by Rev. Dauda Fadia, National Coordinator of SOKIPEP, and Dr. Mathew Kure, National Coordinator of CSKPA, the groups while hailing security agencies for leaving up to expectations of the people of Southern Kaduna, particularly passed a vote of confidence on Operation Safe Haven.

The statement read: “We, the undersigned peace practitioners in Southern Kaduna, wish to condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless killing of six innocent people in Takanai Village of Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

“Also, our attention has been drawn to an unfortunate and misleading press interview credited to the president of Atyap Community Development Association, Dr Samuel Ache yesterday 27/09/2023, on Channel Television news over the attack by suspected herdsmen on Takanai 1 and Takanai 2 of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, which led to the unfortunate death of six persons in cold blood.

“In the interview, our respected president ought to have known better or made proper consultation with key stakeholders in the community before responding to a press interview. Instead, he went to the press to dance naked in the marketplace by portraying a picture of officers and men of Operation Safe Haven, the military outfit saddled with security in the area, of negligence and misconduct, when in the actual sense the troops were the second savior of our people after God.

“Our investigation revealed that the troops did not only respond to the distress calls within 20 minutes, they also dominated the entire villages, repelled the attacks, and arrested two of the attackers with weapons and life ammunition from the scene.

“The unfortunate casualties recorded were a result of the gorilla nature of the attacks which is difficult to predict.

“If not for the prompt actions of the troops of Operation Safe Haven, Takanai 1 and Takanai 2 would have been burnt down completely due to the sophisticated and well-coordinated nature of the attack.

“How then can our community president make such terrible and misleading remarks about the troops who saved our people from massive casualties? “

According to the peace advocacy groups, “it is demoralizing and a sign of ingratitude for the community leader to have made the unfortunate remarks about the security outfit.”

“If not for the prompt actions of the troops, we would have recorded many casualties and properties to the attack.

“We are saddened by the statement coming from the president of Atyap Community Development Association hence the need to correct the misleading information in the public domain so that gullible members of the public won’t fall prey to it,” the statement said.

The groups insisted their assessment as indigenous peace-building organizations proved that security agencies, especially Operation Safe Haven, have performed their duties to the satisfaction of the Southern Kaduna people.

“It is therefore our settled opinion as peace workers on the ground in Southern Kaduna, based on empirical evidence that the troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), have performed professionally and gallantly in Southern Kaduna. We, therefore, pass a vote of confidence on the military outfit”, they reiterated in the statement.

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KEEP KANAM CLEAN INITIATIVE (KKCI) CELEBRATE 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
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The idea of Keep Kanam clean initiative was born out of our passion in rendering humanitarian based services and of course, our desire in having a clean and healthy environment for all.

The emergency or birth of a concept called “Keep Kanam Clean” with a mission to educate our society on the hazardous negative impacts of dumping of refuses and to have indeed a community of people with the desire or foresight of having a clean and conducive environment hence, working round communities, places and areas in order to clean up all wastes dumped around depicted indiscriminately.

*Some Achievements;*
So far, so good, one cannot denied the fact that, the initiative has achieved some of its targeted goals in the span of this a year. In fact, one of which is cleaning up the environs around Dengi town and villages (we have done a phase.1 on 3rd Sept 2022 and phase.2 on 1st May 2023). These were achievements and part of our goals.


We have also been able to acquired some cleaning tools like Shovels, Brooms, Rakes, Manual knapsack Sprayers , Gloves Boots, Facemasks,some Disposable bins,and so also provision of written constitution to the Organization and registration with others relevant bodies or department.

*The Challenges;*
We are always happy that we go out to clean communities and find a great number of people coming out to help, but to our challenges just like any other organization or entity, ours are working tools to which are running short of.

This factor or plight most at time makes the work slow and in some time we left it unfinished due to this shortest and despite our the numbers.


It is also perturbing and constitute of course, part our challenges is vehicle or means of conveying wastes to a permanent dumping site. This is also our usual problem, seeing that the group doesn’t have a single truck to help out. At times we have no option than to hire like four or five local waste van to help in transporting the refuses to final disposal site. We mostly use hire vans which are adding more expenses on the Organization, and leading to higher cost of the whole thing to the initiative or Converner.

*Appreciation;*
It is with outmost joy that we write today to appreciate God Almighty, our Maker and Designer who have laid this initiative in our hearts, it is He who has also helped in giving us excellent individuals who have overtime keyed into the vision of this initiative.

We appreciate the relentless efforts of our convener, in person of Sanitarian Suleiman Pangkwal A.without whom this initiative would have just been a fiction.

We write today to express our gratitude to all members/those who have been participating in making sure this vision becomes a reality. We appreciate you all for using your effort, time, strength and resources.

You will also recall that the group in it’s quest to seeing that it does everything in order nominated board of Advisers and also Legal Advisers. We are full of gratitude to these nominated individuals for the tremendous support they have shown to make sure this initiative is achieved.

It is no doubt that without finances we wouldn’t have achieved much, as we need money to get our cleaning equipments. Therefore we wish to tender our gratitude to all those who have supported this initiative financially. May God replenish where you’ve removed from to help serve humanity.

We also write today to appreciate our media partners on the Plateau (Peace FM 90.5 and Jay FM 93.3) for always giving us time to reach out to the public. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to give the needed awareness and publication.

Lastly we write to appreciate the effort of the general public. Some have encouraged us through texts, calls and in the publicity of our programs on various social media handles.

We are not relenting, but rather, we have made a promise within ourselves to make sure we put smiles on the faces of our communities by providing them a clean and healthy environment. Our doors are always open to those who would want to key into our vision and will want to partner with us to seeing to a clean and healthy environment. Accept the assurances of our esteemed commitment and regards.


Thank you!

Yours Pankwal Suleiman,
For KKCI,
3rd Sept 2023.

SSANU LEADERSHIP CONGRATULATES NEW BURSAR AND PROVOST AT PLATEAU STATE COLLEGE OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY VOM.

The leadership of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian University (SSANU), University of Jos chapter, led by its Chairman, Mr. Anthony Timjul Joro, Senior Deputy Registrar (SDR) of the Examination and Record Unit, paid a courtesy call and congratulatory visit to the Bursary of the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Vom. They were there to congratulate Mr. Mabas Danladi Majiu, who is their member, on his appointment as the Bursar of the college, which had occurred five months prior.

Mr. Mabas led the team to the Provost’s office for familiarization. During this visit, the leader of the team also extended their congratulations to the Provost for his appointment and recent election as the Chairman of the Forum of Heads of Nursing Institutions in Nigeria.

He explained that the purpose of their visit to the college was to pay a courtesy and congratulatory visit to one of their own, Mr. Mabas Danladi Majiu, on his appointment as the Bursar of the college. He reiterated that Mr. Mabas’ appointment did not come as a surprise to them, given his track record of achievements. He urged Mr. Mabas to represent the union and the university well, acting as a worthy ambassador in the discharge of his duties. He also prayed for synergy among the principal officers to achieve their desired goals.

In response, the Provost Mr. Bako Danlami Sambo FWACN thanked the union for coming and expressed his delight in the University of Jos for producing an individual willing to share his wealth of experience with the college. This was evident through Mr. Mabas’ vital contributions and innovations in the Bursary Department since assuming office. He warmly welcomed them to the college and commended their spirit of unity, urging them to continue in that vein.

Mr. Majiu expressed his gratitude to his colleagues for their visit and took the time to explain the process of his appointment, attributing it to the work of God Almighty. He also listed the innovations he had introduced to the college and promised to be a good ambassador for the union and the university. Mr. Mabas emphasized the cordial working relationship with the management of the institutions, describing the Provost as a focused leader leading them towards achieving the college’s goals.

The highlight of the event included the presentation of a congratulatory message to the Bursar by the union and the taking of snapshots to commemorate the occasion.

Those in the entourage of the visit included Mr. Muplang Simon Kangpe, Principal Assistant Registrar (PAR) of the Registrar’s Office, who serves as the union Secretary, and Mr. Francis Nyab Agurb, Deputy Bursar of the Tetfund Unit, who is the union Treasurer.

Public Relations and Protocol Unit, Plateau State college of nursing and midwifery Vom.

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A group under the aegis of the Nigerians United Against Corruption (NUNAC) has described the accusation labeled against the Gagdi-led adhoc committee probing job racketeering in government agencies for allegedly extorting money from the agencies as the hand work of those who have benefited from the practice in the past.

The group in a press statement which was signed by its Executive Director, Mallam Mustapha Bello bemoaned the manner of the accusation, saying it was the case of corruption fighting back.

The statement described the work of the committee as an idea whose time has come, wondering why the 37-member committee will turn round to be engaged in extortion.

It was as a result of the envisaged quality of output the committee members led by Rt Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi will churn out that those who have benefited from the monstrous corrupt practice in the past are hell-bent on destroying the good reputation of members of the committee.

Mallam Bello said NUNAC was solidly behind the work of the adhoc committee, however described the distraction as unnecessary as it is tailored towards weakening the resolve of the House in sanitizing federal government agencies, parastatals, MDA’s and tertiary institutions of corrupt practices.

Nigerans United Against Corruption noted that already, Nigerians have an understanding of what has continued to transpire, ‘by denying children of nobody the opportunity to be employed, while those who have the wherewithal are given jobs without regard to the federal character spirit’.

Having been engaged in the fight to right the wrongs perpetrated by a selfish set of Nigerian government officials for several years running, the statement added ‘that rather than raise unfounded allegations against the committee, they deserve a pat on their backs’.

The statement further clarified, ‘if there was any evidence that could proof the allegation, it should be provided, rather than accuse all 37 members of extortion’.

By Freelance Reporters, Jos
__________________________________________


The Ad-hoc Committee of Nigeria’s House of Representatives investigating job racketeering in Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies has summoned all Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities to appear on Friday to provide documentary evidence on the allegation of bribery and extortion by a member of the Ad-hoc Committee.

The Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, issued the notice during the resumed investigative hearing of the committee, in Abuja.

Hon. Gagdi dismissed the allegation of the alleged extortion of some MDAs by members of the committee.

While arguing that the author of the online report titled: ‘Nigerian lawmakers probing job racketeering are extorting money from agencies,‘ was being unfair to tag all the 37 members of the Ad-hoc Committee as ‘corrupt’, Hon. Gagdi maintained that the Ad-hoc Committee will not be deterred by any form of sponsored blackmail from carrying out its statutory functions.

He maintained that though he is the chairman of the committee and was unaware of any members collecting money from MDAs.

Hon. Gagdi noted that if the author of the report and the Vice Chancellors have any information on any particular member, such report should be channelled towards the member rather than blackmailing all the members of the Ad-hoc Committee.

He said it would be difficult for such a report to blackmail the committee before Nigerians, noting that they had seen how the committee was attacking the agencies.

He said the author of the story who failed to use the word alleged, however, went ahead to indict the 37-member committee, saying that such would not happen even in a military regime.

“Regarding what we are hearing and what we are seeing is first to tell Nigerians that this Committee is not going to be deterred in discharging its responsibility. Nigerians have hope in this Committee from the way we are conducting the business of this Committee, everybody is seeing what we are doing. We will not compromise by hiding and aiding irregularities going on in the public service.

“No amount of statements accusing this Committee will deter us from doing our job.

“You may have your problem with a member of this Committee but don’t blackmail the entire Committee.

“I’m saying this because I am not being accused of doing anything, but you have issues that you want to make a publication about a member of this Committee, sort it out with him, don’t put anything at the faces of members of this Committee.

“We are determined to do justice to Nigerians in the course of this investigation.

“My only appeal to the members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm of the Press is that let us be credible Journalists. If you have anything to say about us be categorical. Don’t accuse my Members blindly. Tell us who is accusing who, instead of tagging this Committee as corrupt Committee.

“It’s unacceptable to us, we are not and we will never be. Nigerians have hope in us and this will be the first in the history of the National Assembly that you will see mind-blowing recommendations that are aimed and targeted at cleaning our public service.

“So, the statement is simple, we will not be deterred. But don’t bring an indicting headline in the name of selling your newspaper or agency. Please I’m saying this

“We will move forward, and we will do the needful, we are not going to surrender,” Gagdi assured.

While noting that the Ad-hoc Committee had no problem with the information the online platform had regarding one of the members or some of them, he maintained that: “From day one of this committee I told them that we are going to be fought, we are going to be chastised, we are going to be witch-hunted even though we are going to do this job to the best of our ability.

“I do not look like someone that needs N2 million from the head of an agency, but the quarrel we have with you is the way the report came out, which does not look balanced and professional.”

To this end, he directed the Clerk of the Ad-hoc Committee to write the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to ensure that all the Vice Chancellors appear before the Ad-hoc Committee on Friday to clarify the allegation.

“The meeting with Vice Chancellors was presided over by Wole Oke, from the report given to me, it was done publicly here, was that we will meet with them institution by institution sometime next week.

“But in view of certain developments, I think the Clerk should summon the Vice Chancellors to appear through the National Universities Commission on Friday. We have to sit on Friday.

“Let the letter reach the Commission today, I want to personally sign the letter so that some of these things will be done in the character of the committee publicly for us to ask questions on what particularly the members of the Press will want to hear. Clerk make sure you do that,” he said.

By Freelance Reporters, Jos
__________________________________________
The Chairman of House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating job racketeering in Ministries, Department and Agencies of government (MDAs), Yusuf Adamu Gagdi said on Tuesday, August 29, that the committee would not be intimidated by any act of blackmail against it by agencies of government.
The committee, however, summoned vice chancellors of all federal universities to appear before the committee on Friday, September 1, alongside the National Universities Commission (NUC) to make their presentations and defend their allegations.

Gagdi said the committee was determined to make a recommendation to the House that would reposition the nation’s public service, saying the committee would not be deterred by any act of blackmail.
Reacting to a report accusing the committee of extorting money from universities while negotiating same with Polytechnics and Colleges of Education to compromise their investigation, Gagdi said the committee was determined to do its job and would not compromise for anything.

He said the committee was not ready to betray the trust Nigerians have built in the committee because of the way it has gone about the investigation, adding that the committee will not hide any wrong doing in any agency in the public service.
He said: “we won’t be deterred by any act of blackmail. This committee has not asked any agency or money and we have not asked any member to demand for money on our behalf”.
While confirming that a meeting between the vice chancellors and a member of the committee took place, he said the aim of the meeting was work out the pattern their presentation will take.
He said: “the meeting with the vice chancellors was presided over by Hon Wole Oke at the end of the day, it was agreed that rather than take all of them together, they will be appear before the committee institution by institution next week.

“However, in view of the recent development, the Clerk will write a letter through the National Universities Commission today asking them to appear before the committee on Friday. All stakeholders will be present and the media should be present too.”
Gagdi said it would be difficult for anyone to blackmail the committee before Nigerians, since they (Nigerians) have seen how the committee has been attacking the agencies, adding that the committee would not be deterred from discharging its responsibility, adding that Nigerian had hope in the committee.
He said: “We will not compromise by hiding irregularities in MDAs, and no amount of statement accusing this committee of compromise will stop us from discharging our duty. You may have a problem with any member of the committee, but don’t blackmail this committee. Don’t put anything at the faces of this committee.
My appeal to the press is that let us be credible journalists. If you have anything to say about us be categorical, don’t accuse members blindly, don’t tag this committee as a corrupt committee.
In this committee, you will see a mind blowing recommendations that has not been made in this House before aimed at repositioning the public service. Don’t bring an Indictment. We are not going to surrender

“From day one of this committee, I told them that we are going to be fought, we are going to be chastised, we are going to be witch-hunted. We are going to do this job to the best of our ability.

By Freelance Reporters, Jos

Former Governor of Taraba State Jolly Nyame has congratulated the new Minister of Labour and Employment Simon Bako Lalong over his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

During a visit to the Minister’s residence in Abuja, Nyame described the appointment of the former Plateau Governor as well-deserved giving the antecedents and record of performance of Simon Lalong.

He prayed God to grant him wisdom and knowledge to discharge his duties with integrity and honesty.

The former Deputy Inspector General of Police Habila Joshak was also at the residence of the Hon. Minister to rejoice with him over the appointment.

Forum of APC House of Assembly Candidates in Plateau State also came calling on the Honourable Minister whom they described as a worthy leader and performer.

Led by the former Majority leader of the State House of Assembly Naanlong Gapyil, the group pledged their loyalty and support to his leadership.

The Minister appreciated the visits and asked for prayers as he takes on the task of generating employment opportunities for Nigerians as well as sustaining industrial harmony.

By Prince Sekat,Jos

If you ever took the adhoc assignment presently being handled by the Chairman, House Committee on Navy, Rt Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi OON for granted, you would have succeeded in believing that job opportunities in Nigeria belong to the highest bider.

What it translates into is that the children of nobody could as well be forgotten so long as there is no one to fight for him to compete with those often given waivers in the same process.

As Chairman of the Adhoc Committee investigating Federal MDAs Parastatals, Ministries and Tertiary Institutions on the Management of Personnel Recruitment, Employment, Racketeering and Gross Mismanagement of the IPPIS, Nigerians have been inundated with myriads of things that go against the spirit of Federal Character.

Sadly it has become a calculated pastime for Nigerian MDAs to recruit staff into their service without notifying the public of the availability of such vacancies through advertisements and or considering the sons of Nigeria’s nobody.

As they do not reflect federal character in their employment, it has led to a curious situation where some states are given many slots, while unfortunately others are left with next to nothing to share.

The disparity is a huge gap, which the Gagdi-led committee seeks to address in order to give a sense of belonging to all and sundry.

The fact that wavers are sometimes given should not be a yardstick to continue. Even if it happens, should equity not come in to play in their consideration?

Nigerians should consider what the committee seeks to achieve: We’ll compel you to advertise those slots so that the son of nobody will have the opportunity to apply. Perhaps, you’ll see him with a 1st class, you’ll see his performance during his interview to be super and then, you’ll recruit him to have the best in those agencies.

Above is the remark by the Committee’s Chairman, Rt Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi OON in one of its settings last week that Nigerians must be happy about.

No Nigerian child of nobody deserves not to be given a chance. No state deserves to be short changed in any federal MDA’s, parastatals, ministries or tertiary institutions.

It is on this score that the Gagdi-led committee should be supported to come out clean. Nigerians who have no one to hold their hands are indeed praying for it success.

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August 23, 2023