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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013
News Extra
Peace Ambassador extols FCT minister’s leadership traits By Stanley Onyekwere
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he Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Muhammad has been described as a detribalized Nigerian who represents the face of the paradigm shift in leadership of the country. A peace Ambassador and public
analyst, Abdulrahman Sade who made this remark at a town hall meeting organized by a non-political pressure group, the Abuja Professionals, to mark the 55th birthday of the minister of FCT, added that Bala has worked so hard to make Abuja a model capital city in Africa and the world at large. He said the all-inclusive style of the
minister in running the affairs of the FCT stands him out as the best appointed since the creation of Abuja as a Federal territory; adding that it is only in the cabinet of Bala Muhammad that you find Yoruba’s Igbo’s and other ethnic group as his aides. The Peace Ambassador added that the minister is a leader who is not afraid
of constructive criticisms aimed at moving the FCT forward. Similarly, the leader of Abuja Professionals, Dr. Musa Aliyu Wada poured encomiums on the minister of the FCT describing him as a beacon of hope for residents of FCT; saying “they would always rally round and support him now and in future.”
BRIEFS
NLC commends leadership of NASU
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he Non- Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU), has been commended for the bold step, to resume participation in all organs meetings and activities of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) including payment of affiliation dues to the Congress. In a statement to NASU, signed by the General Secretary, NUTGTWN Vice President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Issa Aremu mni, the NEC of NLC said, “We commend in particular, leadership of your great union led by the President, Comrade Ladi Iliya and your Comrade General Secretary for providing the necessary good leadership that gave rise to your NEC’s resolution.” Adding, that the singular decision serves the interest of Nigeria’s working people who, undoubtedly will benefit from the progressive contribution of a public sector union like NASU. By Agaju Madugba
CSEA hosts roundtable on boosting girl-child education
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entre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), is organising a roundtable to discuss ways to improve girl- child education in Nigeria. The event slated for Friday 11th, October in Abuja, is part of activities to mark this year’s International Day of Girl Child, which focuses on innovating for girls’ education. A statement issued Tuesday, in Abuja, by the organisation’s executive Director, Dr. Ebele Eneze, said the occasion will provide a platform for senior policymakers, civil society organisations, donor agencies, the academia and the media to dialogue on the challenges facing education of the girl child in the country. Discussions at the event will focus on the findings of a research project carried out by CSEA titled ‘Policy Simulation exercise of Educational Assistance Programmes for Girls in Nigeria’ which will be presented to stakeholders at the roundtable. By Maryam Garba Hassan
Some members of the Taraba state Marshal Corps, during their passing out parade, recently at Jolly Nyame Stadium, in Jalingo.
Dankwambo donates N15m to corps members From David Hassan, Gombe
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overnor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe state yesterday donated N15million to 2012 batch C of corps members that served in the state. Dankwambo announced the donation during the passing out
parade of the 2012 batch C corps members held at the Abubakar Umar stadium in Gombe. The governor also awarded automatic employment to 15 corps members who served effectively for the development of the state while, the overall best corps member, Miss Olubukun Olufemi went home
with N500,000. While congratulating the 720 corps members who passed out in the state, Dankwambo called on them to take advantage of government’s programmes to be self reliant instead of searching for white collar jobs. He reiterated government’s commitment to support corps
members whenever they excel in their duties by contributing positively to the development of the state. The Governor commended the Corps members for the projects executed in communities which, he said, they will always be remembered for by the state government.
Solomon Lar, rare political leader- Suswam From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
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enue state Governor, Gabriel Suswam, has described the late elder statesman, and former Governor of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Lar as a rare political icon of the nation, especially in the North Central geo- political zone. Governor Suswam, in a condolence statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Dr. Cletus
Akwaya, also added that he was a great patriot and bridge-builder. He said the departure of Chief Solomon Lar, the pioneer Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in a London hospital, has created a big leadership vacuum in the politics of Nigeria that would be difficult to fill. Suswam further recalled that the late PDP chieftain sacrificed his entire life to the service of the people and offered selfless service
in all the political positions he occupied as member of the House of Representatives, Governor of Plateau state, Minister of Police Affairs, or as pioneer National Chairman of the PDP. “The former Governor of Plateau state was a rare leader whose interest in politics was always to fight for the cause of the less privileged and the down trodden, hence he was referred to as the Emancipator”, he stated.
The Governor condoled with the Lar family, the government and people of Plateau state and members of the PDP across the nation over the sad incident and prayed God to grant the soul of the departed eternal rest. He urged the current generation of Nigerian politicians to imbibe leadership attributes of the departed leader such as selflessness, humility, consensus building and commitment to national unity.