NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

Tag council

General news

N6bn Kano Emirate Council probe: 80% completed, but.., says Anti-graft agency

N6bn Kano Emirate Council probe: 80% completed, but.., says Anti-graft agency

NAN-H-61
Investigation
By Muhammad Suleiman Tola
Abuja, May 15, 2017 (NAN) Mr Muhuyi Magaji, the Chairman, Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, says the agency has achieved 80 per cent success into the investigation of alleged misapplication of N6 billion by the Kano Emirate Council.

Magaji told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that the commission has also recorded a “water tight case against the emirate council’’ over the allegations of financial misappropriation.

“We have also identified our primary suspect in the course of the investigation,’’ he said, but declined to name the suspect.

However, he said that the commission suspended the probe to avoid a “crisis of concurrent investigation with the state House of Assembly and possible litigation by interested parties’’.

The chairman explained that the state legislature has taken over the case by constituting an eight-man committee to conduct a similar probe when the commission was on top of the situation.

According to him, Section 16 of the law establishing the commission barred it from conducting further investigation into any matter pending before the state House of Assembly and the courts.

Magaji cited the case of Rabiu Salisu and others before the Federal Court of Appeal in suit No: K/37/2016, and suit No: K/M/728/2015, involving Rabiu Ibrahim & Co financial institutions Vs the anti-graft agency to buttress the need for the suspension.

He added that the commission had found out that “all the monies allegedly spent were not appropriated for contrary to the Kano State Emirate Council Law 2004’’.

The law required the council to prepare annual budgets and submit same for appropriation by the legislature.

“But our findings from the Ministry of Budget and Planning confirmed that the Emirate Council has an annual overhead of N15 million and no capital allocation even under Emir Sanusi,’’ said the chairman.

Meanwhile, he said that the commission had written the House of Assembly on the matter and would stay further action pending the response of the legislature.

He, therefore, urged the public to appreciate the legal and extraneous constraints of the commission in suspending investigation into the alleged financial irregularities committed by the emirate council. (NAN)
MST/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide

Education

Council earmarks N10m to boost education sector 

Council earmarks N10m to boost education sector 

NAN-H-48

Education

By Awayi Kuje

Gadabuke (Nasarawa State), Feb. 23, 2017 (NAN) The Gadabuke Development Area of Nasarawa State says it has earmarked N10 million to improve the standard of education in the area.

The council’s overseer, Alhaji Alhassan Liman, said on Thursday that the money would address the deplorable state of education facilities in the area.

Liman made this known during the inauguration ceremony for the building of a permanent office for the Education Authority in Gadabuke.

He said that when the project would go a long way to addressing the deficiencies that had plagued the education staff for a long time, when completed.

According to him, the project will also improve productivity among the staff of the council for the overall development of the education sector.

He disclosed that the council would construct a permanent secretariat with standard facilities to enable the education staff move from its present rented offices for effective service delivery.

“It is in view of this, I want to urge the education staff, teachers and other council staff to be dedicated to duty while discharging their responsibility so as to improve on the standard of education in the area and the state at large,” he said.

However, he advised parents to educate and instill proper moral upbringing in their children for a better society.

“Education is the bedrock of every society, hence the need for parents to make it a top priority for their children.

“The development of any society is dependent on the quality of education given to children.

“It is also the lead way to success in life and a route to escape from poverty,” he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ceremony was attended by religious and community leaders as well as politicians from the area. (NAN)

AKW/NNO/MST

Edited by Julius Enehikhuere/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Food Export: Council calls for improved standards for global markets

Food Export: Council calls for improved standards for global markets

NAN-H-53

Exporters

By Esenvosa Izah

Lagos, Feb. 8, 2017 (NAN) The Executive Director, Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Mr Olusegun Awolowo, has urged exporters of food products to key into international standards in order to scale up local standards for the global market.

Represented by Mr Abdullahi Sidi-Aliyu, Director, Policy and Strategy in the council, made the call at the 1st Nigeria Food Safety and Investment Forum held on Wednesday in Lagos.

He spoke during a panel discussion on Nigerian Value Chain Improvement.

“We need to comply with the best practices and other food safety conditions that are necessary to launch us into the global market otherwise we will continue to import foods.

“We need more investment, both private and public on how to provide safety for the movement of agricultural goods and services from the farm gates to the exit market.

“We should move toward the improvement of the quality of our products and ensure the conformity to the international standards.

“Otherwise we will continue to consume what we produce and remain a closed economy,’’ he said.

The director-general said that there was high demand for the country’s food products from Nigerians in diaspora.

He said, however, supply of food products was a challenge, therefore the need to find ways to address it.

“The population of Nigerians in diaspora is estimated to be about five to 15 million all over the world with the largest in the UK, US, South Africa and even Sudan.

“We need to open up; if we are talking about globalisation and you want to participate in the global system, you have to adopt the good agricultural practices,’’ Awolowo said. (NAN)

EEI/ENN/MST

Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Council boss cautions motorists against indiscriminate parking on the road

NAN-H-9
Parking
By Temitope Salami
Ijebu-Ode (Ogun), Jan. 11, 2017 (NAN) Alhaji Olalekan Adebanjo, Chairman, Ijebu-Ode South Local Council Development Area (LCDA), has warned motorists in the town against indiscriminate parking on the road particularly at market places.

Adebanjo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ijebu-Ode that indiscriminate parking could endanger human lives and disrupt free flow of traffic.

He advised motorists to always make use of designated parking spaces in the market to ensure sanity on the roads.

The council boss restated the resolve of his administration to leave no stone unturned at ensuring that road transport remained the best in terms of safety and compliance to traffic regulations.

He said: “since coming on board, we have adopted an efficient transport management system for safe motoring, hence our drive to make the roads safe for motorists and pedestrians alike.

“Our motorists should always resist the urge to park indiscriminately by adopting the safety first rule in consideration for other road users.

“Indiscriminate parking is an act capable of disrupting free flow of traffic; it could also endanger human lives.

“We have noticed this is more pertinent at market places.

“Just as with indiscriminate parking, traders have no business using road sidewalk for trading activities. Anyone caught will face the law and be penalised.

“The time has come to adopt the habit of using designated parking spaces on the roads and the markets to maintain sanity in our traffic system.

“I want to assure the people that we remain committed to efficient transport management for safe motoring and efficient waste disposal to keep our streets and environs clean.”

Adebanjo urged the people of the state to continue to support the Gov. Ibikunle Amosun led-administration to enjoy more dividends of democracy.

He thanked members of staff and residents of the council for their support even as he urged them to brace up to challenges ahead to ensure success in the New Year. (NAN)
TDS/AEA/AEA
===========

General news

Council boss urges diligence, sincerity among staff

NAN-H-15

Workers

By Temitope Salami

Sagamu (Ogun ), Jan. 8, 2017 (NAN) Workers of Sagamu Local Government, Ogun State, have been tasked to make diligence, sincerity and unity their guiding principles in the new  year.

The Chairman, Sagamu Local Government, Hon. Femi Kafaru gave the advice  on Sunday during the interdenominational service held at the council premises to usher the year.

Kafaru expressed appreciation to God for seeing the workers through 2016 while thanking God for the opportunity to see another year.

He urged the workers to continue to maintain existing cordial relationships amongst themselves in order to foster unity and progress at the council.

“Where there is unity, people record great achievements while carrying out their tasks. Team effort promotes rapid growth and successes.

“We must continue to support the leadership of the council and the state government in general to take Ogun State to greater heights.

“The bulk of the mission to rebuild the state starts with you and I and everyone’s support,” Kafaru said.

In his sermon, Pastor Wole Onajimi, the Presiding Pastor, Fountain of Hope International, advised the workers to do away with acts capable of jeopardising their integrity in their dealings with the public.

Onajimi further urged the workers to contribute their quota to the development of the council by maintaining the fear of God in their actions and decision making.

The cleric also urged Nigerians to shun ethnic, political and religious differences and continue to work towards building a safe and better nation.

In his remarks, Mr Willie Olugbebi, the Sagamu Head of Local Government Administration, enjoined the workers to make punctuality and hard work their watchwords in the new year to attain their goals.

Olugbebi advised them to shun corruption and all acts that could jeopardise the image of the council, urging them to always put God first in all they do. (NAN)
(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere)