PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013
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News
2015: Power should shift in Kogi, by Ebira group By A’isha Biola Raji
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he Ebira Renaissance Group (ERG) has called for power shift in Kogistateasameansofaddressing what it describes as the poor socioeconomic development of the state since the return of democracy in 1999 and the continued political dominance of a section of the state over others. The group stated this during its official flag-off ceremony at the Federal College of Education, Okene. It also called on politicians from Kogi Central and Kogi West Senatorial Districts to bury their distrust and work together in 2015 towards “rescuing” the state from what it describes as continued state of underdevelopment, where marginalization has destroyed its prospects despite huge prospects of the state. The group’s coordinator, Pastor Joseph Suleiman (Manjoe) said the organizationshouldnotbemisconstrued as a political party as their interest is the developmentofEbiralandanditspeople, adding that the Group is willing to work with politicians, irrespective of party affiliation, as long as they share their vision and mission. He said, “The Ebiras of old were people of character, they never traded their integrity for bloodstained wealth. “These are the values that we intend to rediscover and rekindle for the good of all.” Pastor Suleiman said the Group will interface with stakeholders in the Ebira Project to bring about positive value reorientation among the people of Ebira Land.
Minister okays formal registration for participants By Etuka Sunday
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he Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo yesterday declared open the formal registration of all licensed participants in the nation’s electricity market. This was done at a seminar organized to mark the commencement of formal registration of all Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) licenced market participants in the Nigerian Electricity Market. Nebo who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Godknows Igali noted that about 70% of PHCN severance payment has been cleared as the workers await their pension scheme after six months, adding that the Transition Electricity Market (TEM) is the final lap of the reform process which has started already. He maintained that privatised electricity market will create jobs for many and boost the economy in 2020 following the success of a private led power sector. In his remarks, the Executive Director, Operations of the Nigerian Electricity Market (ONEM)/ Market Operator (MO), Bar. Evaristus Mogbo said that the power sector reform is moving from the pre transition stage to the three other stages which include, transition, post transition and long run market operations.
L-R: Chairman, Supervisory Board, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engineer Hamman Tukur, Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, Minister of State for Power, Hajiya Zainab Kuchi, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ambassador God knows Igali, during the inauguration of the Board of TCN, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo
Be patient with us, Annesty c’ttee urges Nigerians From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna he Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in Northern Nigeria has pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with it describing the process of negotiating with the Boko Haram sect as delicate. Speaking on Tuesday while on a visit to the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum
(ACF) in Kaduna, the committee’s Chairman, Tanimu Turaki, also noted that they have had to contend with the various factions of Boko Haram group. However, according to Turaki, the committee has already made considerable progress, having met with key leadership of the insurgent group in the North East. He solicited for support and prayers from all Nigerians for them to achieve their mandate of
From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau he Zamfara state acting governor, Alh Sanusi Garba Rikiji, has directed the state emergency management agency (ZEMA) to immediately relocate the people of Gutsura community in Gummi local government council whose houses were recently submerged and destroyed by the flood. Rikiji, stated this in gutsura village during an assessment visit to the village. The acting
governor, who was in company of some members of the state executive council and state Houses of Assembly said the officials of Zamfara state Emergency Management Agency (ZEMA) should as matter of emergency prepare a temporary camp to Accommodate the victims of the flood. He assured people of the area that, the state government has resolved to ensure their future safety, adding that, “as earlier
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restoring peace in the area. According to Turaki, “these insurgents are very intelligent and they are well organized. “We have been to frontline where this crisis occurred in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and North West, North Central. “We have dialogue with critical members of the leadership of this group and we also have dialogue with those outside. “We have made progress at this
direction and last week, we released a video clip of those people who sat in shura and analysed the issue of dialogue from Islamic perception. “They said that all followers of Muhammad Yusuf (late Boko Haram leader) have no option than to embrace the option of dialogue. He urged the ACF to support the committee because, “if we have your support, we know that deep down within us, the committee has succeeded 99 per cent.”
Zamfara tasks agency over flood victims
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stated in Shinkafi and TalataMafara, the state government will solicit the state house of assembly to enact a befitting legislation that will bring an end to the environmental challenges faced by the people in the State. The Executive Secretary to the ZEMA, Alhaji Atiku Sani Maradun, told newsmen that, the agency has already secured a primary school at Gyalange town prepared as temporary camp to relocate the victims, adding that, the
agency is doing its best to ensure the successful completion of the temporary settlement. For the final relocation of the people, the executive secretary noted that, the agency in conjunction with the Gummi local government and the Emirate council were battling hard to secure a land at a safer area. This the Agency said is in order that the people of the entire community can have a convenient place for settlement.
NASS lauds Dutse varsity over employment From Ahmed Abubakar,Dutse
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he House of Representatives Committee on Education yesterday commended the Federal University, Dutse, for its adherence to the principle of Federal Character in its employment policy. The House committee chairman, Hon. Aminu Suleiman made the commendation at the
end of the tour of the university’s temporary and permanent site by members of the house committee on oversight function in Dutse the Jigawa state capital. The House Committee chairman, who said that the oversight Visit began three weeks ago noted that the committee was impressed with the compliance of the University to the ederal character.in his words: “ I have
had to query some universities over the lopsided manner of their employment policies. At least in this university the employment reflected the six geographical zones” Suleiman stated that they were at the institution to access facilities and cross check facts to make sure that monies appropriated are properly utilized adding that they will do whatever is possible
to strengthen the new university to be able to discharge their responsibilities. The Vice- Chancellor in his welcome address commended the committee for their cooperation and understanding with the new Universities. He called on them to facilitate the release of funds for the training of academic staff in order to boost the capacity of the new universities.