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Corruption: Tsav urges Buhari to attach spies to public office holders

By Emmanuel Amtswen
Spies
Makurdi, Aug. 10, 2019 (NAN) Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, a retired top police officer, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to attach spies to all public officers to mitigate corruption in Nigeria.

Tsav told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Makurdi that the Federal Government should urgently stop security personnel from working with public officers beyond two years.

He said the first way to fight corruption was to ensure regular redeployment of officers attached to public officers and attachment of spies to checkmate their activities.

Tsav, a former commissioner of police in Lagos and other states, said lengthy attachment of security personnel with public officers was greatly encouraging corruption and criminality in the country following their familiarity with them.

“Government should attach spies to all public officers. I remember many years back when we were still in the service when you are attached to any public officer to work with, you go there not only as a security personnel but also as a spy.

“When you see anything that is wrong you report to headquarters. But this time, I don’t know, but it looks like some of them are accomplices.

“Some of them join the conspiracy to commit crimes. This will reduce corruption and criminality in our country.” Tsav said.

The former Federal Public Complaint Commissioner also said organisers of “Revolution Now” had committed treasonable offense,  adding that they did not even have enough grounds to call for a revolution in the first place.

He said Nigerians needed to be very cautious of self acclaimed activists and liberation fighters to avoid leading the country into chaos.

“First of all, a revolution is an attempt to take over a government of the day by force and it is completely different from demonstration.

“When you embark on a revolution you want to change that government and that will entail loss of lives and property.

“I think there was not enough grounds for them to call for a revolution. Many other incidents have happened in this country in the past that would have easily invited a revolution but nobody raised a voice; corruption for example in the oil and gas sector.

“They are only using this revolution to destabilise and cause chaos in this country. As far as I am concerned and the established laws of this land, a revolution is a treasonable offence,” he said.

Tsav further said that with the posture of Buhari’s government and his desire to induct and update all ministers with his policies, the ministers would surely add value to the government.

He also said that despite  public outcry against some of the ministerial nominees over allegations of corruption. none was convicted so they remained innocent.

“Those who are lucky to be selected to be ministers by Buhari should please have a change of heart and try to serve this country and not themselves or their pockets. If they have long pockets they should cut them short so that they will have nowhere to keep stolen money.

“There are some allegations I personally made against some of these people but they are in there now so what can I say? With the posture of Buhari, I think they would have something to offer Nigeria.

“Sometimes when you have a criminal case against someone,  you use accomplices to establish your case. Maybe they are using this people as accomplices in the fight against corruption,” he added.

He said Nigerians needed attitudinal change to be able to successfully overcome security challenges in the country, adding that at moment, all insecurity and crimes were perceived to be committed by Fulani herdsmen.

“The issue of Fulani herdsmen did not come to the front burner before this time, now everything that happens it is regarded to be committed by herdsmen.

“If a Nigerian commits an offence in Ghana, Nigerians will say a herdsman is behind the crime. The whole thing is designed to destroy Buhari’s image. These people have left the substance to pursue shadows,” he regretted. (NAN)
AEB/CHOM/MST
Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Minimum wage: Clergy advocates slash in political office holders’ remuneration

Minimum wage: Clergy advocates slash in political office holders’ remuneration
By Mohammed Lawal
Message
Zaria (Kaduna State), Dec. 25, 2018 (NAN) Rev. Isaac Gbadero, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Sabongari, Zaria, Kaduna State, on Tuesday advocated a slash in political office holders’ remuneration to comfortably accommodate the N30,000 minimum wage demanded by organised labour.
He made the call in a message to the Christian faithful in commemoration of the 2018 Christmas, shortly after Christmas Church Service in Zaria.
Gbadero said the appeal became extremely critical in view of the importance of workers not only to national growth and development but also to sustainable democracy.
The clergyman expressed serious concern over the meager amount being given to Nigerian civil servants as monthly salary, advising that government must holistically give the issue a firsthand treatment.
“See how much they are paying themselves in the House of Representatives and the Senate (National Assembly) and see the chicken change they are giving as basic salary.
“Look at the current argument now, some governors are saying it is hard to get, what is wrong for them to slash their own salary, what is wrong for the president to reduce his own money, what is wrong for the senators and reps to reduce their own salary.
“Let them slash their salaries and give us what belongs to us, have they come to lead people who are suffering? If not, why can’t they sacrifice for the sake of the nation?
“If they desire good things for themselves they should also desire good things for Nigerians too. People should know, those who are not leading us well, we can change them at the polling booth, therefore, there is no need to make trouble.”
He stressed the need for Nigerians to tolerate, accommodate and embrace one another irrespective of religious, tribal or ethnic affiliation.
“Let’s come together, there is no need to fight ourselves, whether you are a Muslim, Christian, Pagan, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Kanuri, Ibibio or Calabaree, we go to the same market.
“But these people don’t come to market, they use our tax money to buy all what they want, why can’t we get wiser day-by-day, let them stop using us to kill ourselves, let’s come together and elect credible people who care for us.
“Wherever I go, I use to tell people don’t vote people by party but vote people you know they can work for you based on what they have done before, not politicians who deceive us by doing things when elections draw closer.”
Gbadero cautioned Nigerians against money politics, saying collecting money or any form of bribe for vote is just like mortgaging the lives of unborn children.
He encouraged Nigerians to purify their hearts and pray for successful and peaceful conduct of 2019 elections.
The clergyman, however, said prayer was not everything but Nigerians should collectively desire peace in their hearts.
He sad: “For me, I have a principle, yes, I am a Clergyman, but yet, I tell people, prayer alone is not everything, if you pray and you don’t act, even Jesus Christ tells us: “Watch and pray”.
“If you pray for the conduct of peaceful elections and you don’t have peace in your heart, you don’t desire peace, all you go to the polling booth for is to make trouble, then what is your prayer for? It means such prayer is useless.
“We, as Nigerians must all decide and understand that these politicians that give us money to make trouble, they sit at home, their children are not there, when they will come to the polling booth they come with security escorts.”
On Christmas, the clergy said the birth of Jesus was meant to correct certain things in the world, adding that part of the things he came to correct is the issue of leadership.
According to him, from Adam, it was discovered that men messed-up leadership, because God gave man leadership to dominate the earth.
Taking his text from Genesis chapter 1:28c, “Dominate and Rule”, Gbadero however said in Genesis chapter 4, what man used his leadership to do from Ken and Abel, for example was to kill and to destroy.
“And God had made us not to destroy but to build, so, Jesus Christ came, according Luke chapter 2, when the Angels were announcing, the Bible made us to understand from verse 10, it says peace to all men.
“Therefore, leaders must seek for peace for all the people they lead and that’s part of the things that Jesus Christ came to bring to us.
“In verse 12 he said he brought joy, so, leaders must look for ways to give joy to the people, but the question is, the leader cannot give what he doesn’t have, it is what you have that you can give.
“So, if the leader doesn’t have peace, he doesn’t have joy in his heart, he can’t have all these to pass on to the people and the leader is supposed to protect because Christ has come to protect us, to save us from evil and from people who have oppressed us,” he admonished. (NAN)

KLM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NAPTIP trains officers on intelligence, security

NAPTIP trains officers on intelligence, security
By Mustapha Sumaila
Graduation
Abuja, July 30, 2018 (NAN) The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has graduated its first set of 97 officers from Basic Intelligence and Security Course.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Dr Julie Okah-Donli, disclosed this on Monday while addressing newsmen to mark the 2018 World Day Against Human Trafficking in Abuja.
The United Nations in 2013 adopted a resolution that every July 30, should be marked as the World Day Against Human Trafficking to raise awareness on the situation of victims and for the promotion and protection of their right.
Okah-Donli said that the officers were trained in the Staff Development Centre of the State Service in Kaduna to widen the scope of surveillance, intelligence gathering and enforcement on trafficking in persons in the country.
She said that the agency was in the process of deploying them to identified endemic areas within the country, mostly along routes known for human trafficking and irregular migration.
According to her, some of the newly trained officers will also be assigned to the various IDP camps in order to forestall any act of exploitation in the camps.
“In the years ahead, Nigerians should look forward to a reloaded NAPTIP with renewed strategies and proactive service delivery in the areas of combating human trafficking.
“We shall intensify advocacy to relevant stakeholders with a view to enhancing a clear understanding of issues and the enormity of human trafficking,” she said.
She said that the agency would spread to the hinterlands, settlements and other locations reputed for human trafficking with comprehensible enlightenment messages to reduce their vulnerability.
“We shall design our surveillance apparatus with special attention on those suspected orphanage operators, travel and tour agents as well as other service providers with nefarious intentions to protect our children from trafficking,” the NAPTIP boss said.
According to her, the uttermost desire of the agency is to protect Nigerians from all forms of human trafficking and with the support of all stakeholders in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that director-general also launched an app for the agency, known as “NAPTIP ireport App”, to enhance seamless and prompt reportage of issues relating to human trafficking. (NAN)
MS/JIE/MST
Edited by Julius Enehi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Officers need new knowledge for efficient service delivery – NAFDAC

Officers need new knowledge for efficient service delivery – NAFDAC
By Maureen Ojinaka
Service
Enugu, July 1, 2018 (NAN) The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it will continue to build the capacity of its regulatory officers with new skills to efficiently carry out the duties of the agency.
Mrs Olajumoke Ojetokun, the South East Zonal Director of NAFDAC, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Sunday.
“To always acquire new knowledge will guarantee quality service, that is why training of staff in this agency is essential, and training and re-training will continue to go on for all our officers especially the regulatory officers of the agency in all the states in the South-East.
“If you do not train your officers, no new knowledge will be acquired, it will be zero in zero out, therefore, there is need for training and re-training,” she said.
The director further explained that the acquisition of new knowledge was a good idea so as to make everyone to come up in his or her responsibility.
She added that with the acquisition of new knowledge which involved training and re-training, the society would be sure of consuming quality products, as it was the responsibility of NAFDAC to ensure the production and consumption of quality products.
Ojotokun said that with the help of the training as often as possible, every regulatory staff will remain useful to the agency.
She added that inculcation of new knowledge on the staff would go a long way to make them carry out the duties of the agency effectively. (NAN)
OJI/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Emir Sanusi wants public officers undergo drug test

Emir Sanusi wants public officers undergo drug test
NAN-HG-1
Law
By Tukur Muntari
Kano, Dec. 18, 2017 (NAN) The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has called for a law that would compel public officers and traditional rulers to undergo drug test in the country.
He made the call at the Senate Roundtable on drug abuse held in Kano on Monday.
NAN reports that the event is organised by the Senate in order to address drug abuse epidemic in the country.
He said the call was necessary in order to ensure that anybody was not allowed to hold political office and traditional leadership positions.
“I am ready to submit myself for the drug test.
“I suggest that ministers, governors and traditional rulers should go for drug test because when youths understand that they cannot be governors, ministers or senators if they are drug addicts, they will be into their senses.
“The country is facing a great danger because the fight against drug abuse has to be taken seriously if we are to succeed,’’ he said.
While calling for effective implementation of the laws against drug abuse in the country, the first class traditional ruler also urged the Senate to ensure proper funding of all agencies charged with the responsibility to enforce the laws.
“We are deceiving ourselves if we don’t believe that we are part of the problem,’’ Sanusi said.
Besides, the emir called for the establishment of modern rehabilitation centres for victims of drug abuse in the six geo-political zones of the country.
He said when established, the centres should be equipped with necessary facilities and personnel to enable them take care of the teeming numbers of victims of the drug abuse.
He said the measure was necessary in order to ensure that those addicts were rehabilitated and trained in various skills to enable them be reintegrated into the society.
He, however, called for adequate funding of the centres to enable them operate effectively and serve the purpose for which they are established. NAN)
MTM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Defence/Security

Police promises prompt payment of dead officers’ benefits

Police promises prompt payment of dead officers’ benefits

NAN-H-33

Welfare

Lagos, March 29, 2017 (NAN) The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, on Wednesday assured quick payment of benefits to families of fallen officers.

Owoseni gave the assurance while speaking on a marine accident in which an officer, DSP Yomi Amao, attached to the Marine Police Unit, Elegbata in Apapa area of Lagos, died.

The commissioner also said that serving policemen would continue to get improved welfare packages.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that three police officers were on patrol in a boat on Tuesday when they ran into an object and the boat capsized.

The accident left Amao dead while two other officers sustained injuries.

“The Inspector General of Police, I-GP Ibrahim Idris, had shown desired interest in the welfare of officers and men of the force.

“We have several packages like Group Life Assurance, Death Benefits, Burial Benefits and our families know this,’’ the commissioner said.

According to him, the Lagos State Government, in addition to what the Nigeria Police is doing, has also increased the allowance given to officers who died on active service.

He added that the Police has scholarship scheme for children of the deceased policemen and there was provision of houses for them.

“Police officers retire in a place of their choice.

“These are some of the things the Police is doing and it can only get better.’’

He said that the Nigeria Police was experiencing challenges of inadequate information on family of deceased officers, which he said, sometimes delay payment of their benefits.

“The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has however, addressed this and will continue to do so,’’ he said.

Owoseni, while sharing the sad news of the death of the Marine Police officer, said that the Police Marine Unit was one of the professional units of the force.

“We have well trained officers and they have recorded so much successes.

“Every job has its hazards; everything needed for safety were on that boat and that is why it is called accident,’’ Owoseni said. (NAN)

BOM/MIO/AIB/MST

Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Muhammad Suleiman Tola