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World Anti-corruption Day: Kano agency tasks advocates on corruption crusade

By Aisha Ahmed
Anti-corruption
Kano, Dec. 9, 2019 (NAN) The Chairman of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corrutption Commission, Mr Muhyi Magaji, has urged justice advocates to engage in rigorous anti-corruption crusade for development of the country.

Magaji gave the task while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Monday as part of activities marking this year’s World Anti–corruption Day.

He noted that many dramas taking place in courts for people charged with corruption cases were pioneered by advocates.

He decried that corruption had seriously affected the justice system as well as as other segments of the Nigerian society.

“The rate of corruption in the country has affected the non-implementation of many laws, for example the Nigerian Disability Act.

“So, I call on my fellow advocates, to involve fully in the corruption crusade in order to collectively revive our country,” he said.

The chairman further appealed to other state governments to emulate Kano State by establishing similar anti-corruption agencies.

NAN reports that the International Anti-Corruption Day is observed annually on Dec. 9, since the passage of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption on Oct. 31, 2003, to raise public awareness for anti-corruption.

The theme for this year’s day “united against corruption,’ would focus on corruption as one of the biggest obstacles to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to the United Nations’ website. (NAN)
AAA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Assembly, Agency collaborate to boost quality healthcare delivery in Nasarawa

Assembly, Agency collaborate to boost quality healthcare delivery in Nasarawa
By Mohammed Baba Busu
Healthcare
Lafia, July 24, 2019 (NAN) The Nasarawa House of Assembly says it will continue to collaborate with the state Primary Healthcare Development Agency to boost quality healthcare services in the state.
Alhaji Mohammed Alkali (APC-Lafia North), the Chairman of the ad hoc Investigation Committee on Local Government funds, made this known on Wednesday when the management of the agency appeared before the committee in Lafia.
He said that the importance of healthcare delivery to the socio-economic development of the society cannot be overemphasised, hence the need for the assembly’s commitment in that direction.
While noting that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation, he said the support any effort at boosting healthcare service delivery.
Alkali noted that the committee have been receiving inputs from relevant stakeholders to find lasting solution to the issue of local government salary in order to improve the system.
“Our discussion with the management of the state Primary Healthcare Development Agency is fruitful.
“The work of the committee is not to witch hunt anybody, but to make sure that the right things are done to find lasting solution to issues affecting local government system in the state.
“We are happy that the agency is one of the best agencies in the country, committed to the health and wellbeing of the people of the state,” he said.
Alkali assured the people of the state of the assembly’s continued commitment to do the needful in order to come out with positive solutions to issues affecting the local government system.
Dr Usman Addis, the Executive Chairman of the agency, lauded the assembly members for their role in ensuring quality healthcare service delivery in the state.
He said the agency had put in place measures to checkmate truancy and encourage hard work to boost effective service delivery.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that he Speaker of State House of Assembly, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, on July 16 set up the six-man committee to investigate the finances of the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The committee is to investigate the non-payment of June salary of local government workers and other ‘unnecessary’ deductions from the council funds in the state. (NAN)
BAB/CEO/MST
Edited by Chidi Opara/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Kano health agency registers over 30,000 workers

Kano health agency registers over 30,000 workers
By Aisha Ahmed
Healthcare
Kano, Nov. 17, 2018 (NAN) Dr Halima Mijinyawa, the Executive Secretary, Kano State Contributory Health Care Agency, says more than 30,000 workers have been registered under the scheme.
Mijinyawa disclosed this on Saturday at a two-day sensitisation meeting organised for secondary health facilities desk officers in Kano.
She said that the agency had engaged about 262 private and public health facilities to render quality healthcare services to the workers.
The scribe explained that the meeting was organised to create better understanding of the scheme between primary and secondary health facilities.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabiru Getso, tasked the desk officers to support government’s commitment in delivering quality healthcare.
“Healthcare provision is a team work as such there is need for all and sundry to participate towards improving the system from the grassroots,’’ Getso said.
NAN recalls that the Ganduje administration in the state had six months ago introduced the Contributory Health Scheme to provide easy access to quality healthcare services. (NAN)
AAA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

Nasarawa Govt establishes electricity power agency

Nasarawa Govt establishes electricity power agency
NAN-H-53
Power
By Awayi Kuje
Lafia, Feb. 14, 2018 (NAN) The Nasarawa State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill for the establishment of the State Electricity Power Agency (NAEPA) to provide constant power supply in the state.
Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, the Speaker of the House, announced the passage of the bill when the Majority Leader, Alhaji Tanko Tunga (APC-Awe North) moved a motion for the passage during plenary in Lafia.
The speaker said that when the agency was established, it would go a long way to boost power supply in the state, adding that the problem of poor power supply in the state will be addressed permanently.
He underscored the importance of electricity to the socio-economic development of the society and the need to pass the executive bill sent by Gov. Tanko Al-Makura.
Balarabe-Abdullahi commended the governor for the initiative and his colleagues for giving adequate attention to the bill.
He urged members not to relent in their efforts towards passing resolutions and making laws that have direct bearing on the lives of the people.
“This bill is an executive bill sent to the house by Gov. Al-Makura as part of his unwavering commitment to bridge the gap in power supply in the state.
“Today, we have passed the bill after the bill had gone through various legislative procedures and public hearing was conducted where stakeholders overwhelmingly supported the move by the governor to establish the agency,” the speaker said.
He directed the Clerk to the house to make clean copy of the bill to the governor for further action.
Earlier, Tunga, while moving a motion for the passage of the bill called on his colleagues to support him in the interest of development.
Mr Peter Mbucho (PDP-Akwanga North), the Minority Leader of the house, seconded the motion.
The house passed bill unanimously without much ado. (NAN)
AKW/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Ganduje renews commitment to independence of anti-graft agency

Ganduje renews commitment to independence of anti-graft agency

NAN-H-60

Independence

By Mohammed Nur

Kano, May 4, 2017 (NAN)‎ Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State on Thursday renewed his commitment to uphold independence of the state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission to enable it discharge its duties efficiently.

‎The governor said this on Thursday during the unveiling of NIPOST anti-corruption stamps.‎‎

Ganduje‎ said the state government would ensure that the anti-graft agency remained totally independent to enable it discharge its duties without interference from any quarters.

‎According to him, the state government had established offices in all the 44 local government areas of the state for rural people to lodge their complaints.

Ganduje said the government would provide computers and Internet facilities to the local government offices to make them operate effectively.‎

‎‎The governor reiterated that fighting corruption would not be won by the singular effort of an agency but through collective efforts ‎and partnership.‎

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts in the war against corruption.‎

‎Ganduje also ‎commended NIPOST for creating more awareness for the anti-corruption crusade.

However, he called for more synergy among the anti-graft agencies and Nigerians to combat corruption. ‎(NAN)

MNT/DS/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Kano anti-graft agency receives 3,000 complaints in 2 years – Chairman

Kano anti-graft agency receives over 3,000 complaints in 2 years – Chairman

NAN-H-38

By Muntari Tukur
Kano, May 4, 2017 (NAN) The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission says it received more than 3,000 complaints from members of the public in the last two two years.

The Chairman of the commission, Mr Muhuyi Rimingado, disclosed this at the unveiling of the NIPOST anti-corruption stamp at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano, on Thursday.

According to him, the anti-graft agency is able to resolve a number of the complaints while effort is being made to ensure diligent investigation and prosecution of pending cases.

He called on other state governments to establish similar commissions to complement and sustain Federal Government efforts at fighting the war against corruption.

Rimingado said establishing similar commission in all the states of the federation would deepen the federal government’s effort in the anti-corruption crusade.

“His Excellency has always been given his support to this noble course of the fight against the scourge of corruption in Kano State and the country at large,’’ he said.

He commended the leadership of the Nigerian Postal Service for their commitment towards complementing the efforts of all the anti-graft agencies in the country.

“This occasion is quite another unique and bold step in the national campaign against corruption by the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari,’’ he said.

He urged other government agencies and parastatals to emulate this brilliant and bold initiative with a view to supporting, complementing and accelerating the federal government’s efforts towards stamping the evil of corruption from the socio-economic and political spheres of Nigeria.

The chairman noted that the fight against corruption is a collective one, pointing out that the objective can be achieved by adhering to the overall principles and wisdom of the change mantra.

He said the successes being recorded by the anti-graft agencies in the country is a clear indication that the federal government was winning the war against corruption.

“The present administration is still recording unprecedented achievements in the fight against corruption, safeguarding citizen’s fundamental rights, ensuring transparency and accountability as well as complementing the efforts of the Federal Government in anti-corruption crusade.

“This is as a result of the tremendous support of His Excellency and the complete independence which the Commission enjoys as provided under the State Law that established it. Kano State Government has actually set the pace for other jurisdictions to follow.

“We must remain steadfast, fearless and committed in the fight against this scourge. This is because the scourge or cancer known as corruption and its agents have a sinister way of fighting back and truncating our development aspirations.

“We must therefore abide and continue to be guided by the rule of law and overall national interest in order to defeat corruption and uplift our status in the comity of nations,’’ Muhuyi said.

The Postmaster General of the federation, Dr Bisi Adegbuyi, said NIPOST had designed and launched a set of special anti-corruption postage stamps.

Represented by the Director, Human Resources, Alhaji Aliyu Mahmud, he said the unveiling of the stamp was historic in view of the fact Kano State was the only state in the country that established an anti-corruption agency.

He said the NIPOST initiative was borne out of the agency’s effort to drive the anti-corruption campaign to its height and spread its reach to all strata of Nigerian populace.

NAN also reports that the special anti-corruption postage stamps were of N50 denominations depicting “No To Bribery, fraud, bunkering and theft. (NAN)
MTM/JEY/MST

Edited by Johnson Eyiangho/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

Ganduje pledges to ensure independence of state anti-graft agency

Ganduje pledges to ensure independence of state anti-graft agency

NAN-H-36

Independence

By Muntari Tukur

Kano, April 12, 2017 (NAN) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has pledged to ensure the independence of the state Public Complains and Anti-Corruption Commission to enable it discharge its responsibilities effectively.

Ganduje made the promise when he hosted some visiting journalists in Kano.

“We have instituted an anti-corruption bureau which is working very well.

“We made it independent. In fact, one of our commissioners has lost his job along other three permanent secretaries and some directors after being indicted by the anti-graft body,’’ he said.

The governor said the state government would continue to ensure that the anti-graft agency remained independent so as to enable it discharge its duties without interference.

He commended the anti-graft commission for discharging its responsibilities as expected, promising to give it all the necessary support and cooperation to ensure effective service delivery.

He said the agency had a synergy with EFCC and ICPC in the area of training of its staff, pointing out that the EFCC recently chose Kano to launch the anti-corruption day.

According to him, the state government had established offices in all the 44 local government areas for people to lodge their complaints for diligent investigation, prosecution and recovery.

Ganduje said the decision to establish the offices was in line with the state government’s desire and resolve to decentralise its activities and ensure adequate coverage of the state.

“We enacted a law forming the due process bureau ‎and we advertise all our contracts. We are precise on our specifications of our contracts.

“Our due process is a very strong outfit that allows people to check very well. That has assisted us in trying to find best prices for our projects,’’ he said.

On inflation, Ganduje said: “We always battle with the contractors to avoid reviewing the contracts. That itself is a kind of control.

“Even though sometimes it becomes inevitable even when the change is so abrupt, if you press hard, you still maintain the highest price because they will have to tap them up in order to succeed,’’ said the governor. (NAN)

MTM/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Meningitis: Agency sets up response team in FCT

Meningitis: Agency sets up response team in FCT

NAN-HG-5

Committee

By Mustapha Sumaila

Abuja, April 4, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care Development Board says it has constituted a Rapid Respond Team to tackle the outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in Abuja.

The Executive Secretary of the board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Abuja on Tuesday.

NAN reports that six people had died of suspected CSM in Abuja Municipal and Bwari Area Councils of FCT last week.

Mohammed explained that the team had been given the tasks to plan and coordinate surveillance and epidemic response activities as well as mobilisation of resources.

He said that the committee was also charged with responsibility to monitor and evaluate response interventions during outbreaks including dissemination of information to the public.

According to him, the team would coordinate post epidemic evaluation, review response plans and provide feedbacks through monthly review meeting.

The scibe noted that the 18-man committee would be headed by Mrs Odey Alice-Achu, the Acting Secretary, Health and Human Services.

Mohammed said that FCT had recorded six deaths out of eight suspected cases of CSM reported in Abuja since the outbreak last week.

He said that 70,000 doses of vaccines had so far been used to immunise some residents of Abuja within one to 29 years of age.

The executive secretary decried inadequate vaccines to immunise residents within the age of vaccination against meningitis.

He disclosed that the little additional vaccines he received would be used to vaccinate the most risk places like inmates in the prison, IDPs and some boarding students in the FCT. (NAN)

MS/HS/MST

Edited by Halima Sheji/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

Kano State anti-graft agency to induct 120 workers

Kano State anti-graft agency to induct 120 workers

NAN-H-34

Training

By Muntari Tukur

Kano, April 3, 2017 (NAN) The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission says it will conduct an induction course for its 120 newly recruited staff.

Mr Muhiyi Rimingado, the Chairman of the commission, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Monday.

Rimingado explained that the training which would be conducted by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) would focus on basic investigation and anti-corruption skills.

“Arrangement has almost been completed to conduct induction course for the 120 newly employed staff of the agency to be conducted by the ICPC,” he said.

He said the training was designed to prepare the minds of the newly recruited staff to discharge their duties effectively and respond positively to the demands of the duty as expected by the commission.

He said after the training, the newly employed staff would be deployed to the various offices of the commission across the 44 local government areas of the state.

“This is part of our resolve to decentralise the activities of the commission and ensure effective coverage of the state,” said Rimingado.

According to him, no fewer than 45 staff of the commission attended a course on investigation skills at the Kano State Police Command as part of effort to sharpen their skills.

He said the staff, who had completed the training, would support the commission in investigation of its various cases.

“The affected staff were trained on identifying key crime management areas, managing crime scenes and goals of improved investigations,’’ he said.

The chairman said other areas include developing effective communication skills, styles of questioning, witness interviewing, recording witness statements and suspects interview as well as court skills.

Rimingado expressed optimism that the training would ensure effective service delivery at the commission to improve staff confidence. (NAN) MTM/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

CSM: Agency begins immunisation of 3,000 FCT residents

CSM: Agency begins immunisation of 3,000 FCT residents

NAN-HG-7

Vaccination

By Mustapha Sumaila

Abuja, March 30, 2017 (NAN) The FCT Primary Health Care Development Board on Thursday began the immunisation of 3,000 residents of Dakwa village against Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM).

The Executive Secretary of the board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the measure was in quick response to the death of two persons from an outbreak of the disease in the area.

NAN recalls that one Abigail Tumo, 22, and a six-year-old child were reported to have died of complications from the disease last Friday in Dakwa village, Bwari Area Council of the FCT.

Mohammed said the two deaths in Dakwa had brought the death toll from the outbreak to six in FCT.

According to him, the board is doing everything possible to prevent further spread of the disease in the village and other parts of the FCT.

He urged residents of Abuja not to panic over the development as the board was adequately equipped to immunise residents and prevent further loss of lives.

“So far we have five deaths from suspected cases and one confirmed case of meningitis in Abuja.

“There were four deaths recorded from suspected cases in Durumi, Abuja Municipal Area Council, and out of two recorded in Dakwa, one was confirmed while the other one was a mere suspected case,” he said.

Earlier at the palace of Sarkin Dakwa, Alhaji Alhassan Babachukuri, the traditional ruler described the outbreak that claimed the lives of two people in his domain as unfortunate.

Babachukuri appealed to his subjects to come out en-mass for the ongoing vaccination against CSM.

NAN reports that officials of the FCT Primary Health Care Development Board, Bwari Area Council and the World Health Organisation (WHO) visited the deceased (Abigail Tumo)’s house to condole with the family.

The father of the deceased, Mr Sunday Tumo, described the death of his daughter as sad, saying the bereaved members of the family had taken it in good faith as Christians.

However, Tumo, a retired Deputy Director with the National Orientation Agency, expressed happiness over the awareness the death of his daughter from the disease had created in the area and other parts of FCT.

He commended government for the immediate response to prevent the spread of the disease to other parts of the FCT and the country at large. (NAN)

MS/DOR/MST

Edited by Nyisom Dore/Muhammad Suleiman Tola