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Author: Polycarp Auta

  • Sallah: NSCDC deploys 1,408 personnel in Plateau

    Deployment
    By Polycarp Auta
    Jos, June 15, 2024 (NAN) The Plateau Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 1,408 personnel ahead of Eid-el-Kabir festive period in the state.
    The command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ruth Rimvyok, disclosed this in a statement in Jos on Saturday.
    Rimvyok said that the state Corps Commandant, Mr Alexander Barunde, who approved the deployment, charged the personnel to ensure safety of lives and property.
    ”Our commandant has approved the immediate deployment of 1,408 personnel to beef up security in Plateau and its environs before, during and after the sallah season
    ”While briefing officers and men, Barunde ordered a complete beefing up of security across all the flashpoints and praying grounds across the 17 local government areas of the state.
    ”We are committed to protecting critical national assets and infrastructure, as well as life and property.”
    The PRO noted that the corps would leave no stone unturned in dealing decisively with all miscreants, criminal and vandals who would want to disrupt the relative peace in the state.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    AZA/ADA
    Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

  • Sallah: Rep donates 400 rams, N20 million to constituents 

    Sallah: Rep donates 400 rams, N20 million to constituents
    Rams
    By Polycarp Auta
    Dengi (Plateau), June 14, 2024 (NAN) Rep. Yusuf Gagdi (APC/Plateau), has donated 400 rams and N20 million to his constituents ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
    Gagdi, who represents Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau, presented the items on Friday in Dengi, Kanam Local Government Area.
    The lawmaker said that the gesture was to ensure that his constituents, particularly the less privileged ones, celebrate Sallah with ease.
    “It has been my tradition to distribute rams, food items and cash to my constituents during festive periods.
    ”The goal is to assist the less privileged members of my constituency to celebrate. It is a yearly ritual I have sustained since 2015.
    ”This year’s celebration came at a time prices of foodstuffs and animals have skyrocketed, hence the need for me to intervene. The 400 rams and N20 million will assist,” he said.
    The lawmaker advised his constituents to use the festival to pray for peace in Plateau and Nigeria, and assured his constituents of quality representation.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    AZA/ETS
    ========

  • Army sensitises personnel on drug abuse, PTSD

    Drug

    By Polycarp Auta

    Jos, June 13, 2024(NAN) The Nigerian Army has organised a sensitisation workshop for officers and men of its 3 Division, Rukuba, near Jos, on effect of drug abuse, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) management and Lesson Learned Process.

    Declaring the event open on Thursday in Jos, Lt.-Gen. Toareed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), described the exercise was apt.

    Represented by Maj.-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, the General Officer Commanding 3 division, the COAS said that the sensitisation was in line with his command’s philosophy.

    He explained that the exercise,  organised by its Department of Transformation and Innovation, aimed at enhancing performance among personnel.

    ”This sensitisation programme is one of the many measures emplaced to raise the necessary awareness in troops on the myriads of complex security challenges in Nigeria.

    ”The challenges impose enormous responsibility on the Nigerian army as well as the officers and men.

    ”In line with these expectations, the Nigerian army has continued to review its tactics, techniques and procedures in order to come up with both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to defeat these challenges.

    ”This programme is, therefore, premised on the need to improve the capacity of our personnel toward understanding the Nigerian army Lessons Leaned Process,” he said.

    Lagbaja said that exercise also sought to rekindle the critical thinking skill in all commanders through creativity as well as the responsibility of the men, in line with his command philosophy.

    He said it was aimed at transforming the Nigerian army into a well-trained, equipped and highly motivated force toward achieving its constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment.

    ”Also, to look at the prevailing incidents of drug and substance abuse, as well as PTSD, among troops deployed in theatres of operation is quite worrisome.

    ‘It will also look at troops’ awareness on the effects and management of drug/ substance abuse and PTSD- all in a bid to enhance combat effectiveness.

    ”Accordingly, commanders at all levels must continue to come up with innovative measures to upscale their approaches toward reducing battle fatigue, improve man-management and battle readiness.

    ”Lessons must continually be identified and included in our day to day planning processes; these lessons can be derived from both mistakes and successes and thus, must be properly analysed and applied in order to reduce operational cost,’’ the COAS said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    AZA/CJ/

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    Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

  • Democracy day: Gov. Mutfwang frees 10 inmates

    Democracy day: Gov. Mutfwang frees  10  inmates
    Inmates
    By Polycarp Auta
    Jos, June 12, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, has directed  the release of  10 convicted inmates across custodial centres in the state.
    Mr Gyang Bere, the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the governor, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Jos.
    Mutfwang said that the gesture was in consonance with his constitutional powers and recommendations of the Plateau State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.
    He said three others had their  death sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
    “In exercise of the powers conferred on me under Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended and in consultation with the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, hereby exercise my power of Prerogative of Mercy on 13 inmates,”Bere quoted the governor as saying .
    The governor said the 10  released inmates were earlier sentenced to between eight months and five years imprisonment.
    The governor said that the beneficiaries were remorseful over the crimes committed, hence the recommendation by the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.
    Mutfwang, who described democracy as the best means of addressing national challenges, advised Nigerians to focus on dialogue and reconciliation toward a progressive and prosperous state.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    AZA/BHB
    Edited by Buhari Bolaji

  • PCRC elects new officials in Plateau

    PCRC gets new officials in Plateau
    Officials
    By Polycarp Auta
    Jos, June 11, 2024 (NAN) The Police Community Relation Committee (PCRC) in Plateau has elected new officials to run its affairs for the next four years.
    The election, which was held on Tuesday in Jos, produced Mr Musa Ashoms, the state’s  Commissioner for Information and Communication, as Chairman.
    Ashoms scored 67 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Dr Irene Piangtel, who secured 39 votes.
    The new chairman was elected alongside 20 other officials, who emerged unopposed.
    In a brief acceptance speech, Ashoms thanked members of PCRC in the state for the confidence reposed in him, promising  to operate within the tenets of the committee.
    He promised to use his network to support PCRC toward the actualisation of its mandate.
    ”We are going to synergise with the police and other security agencies toward stemming tide of insecurity in the state,”he said.
    Alhaji Magaji Olaniyi, the National Chairman of PCRC, commended the past officials for their efforts in placing the committee on the path of  growth.
    He also thanked delegatefor conducting themselves peacefully during the election and for voting credible persons into the different offices.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    AZA/BHB
    Edited by Buhari Bolaji

  • Plateau Govt. cultivates 6,000 hectares of land for displaced communities

    Plateau Govt. cultivates 6,000 hectares of land for displaced communities

    Farming
    By Polycarp Auta
    Mangu (Plateau), June 11, 2024 (NAN) The Plateau Government says it has commenced the cultivation of 6,000 hectares of land ahead of the upcoming farming season to help in resettling communities displaced by crisis.

    The Commissioner for Agriculture,
    Mr Samson Bugama, said this on Tuesday in Mangu during the official launch of cultivation for the year.

    According to him, the ”Mechanisation Service Provision Intervention” is targeted at communities affected by series of unrest.

    He further said that the move also aimed to provide seeds and similar services to cluster of farmers across the state.

    Bugama said that the effort would help to improve the state’s agricultural yield and reduce hunger to the barest minimum.

    “Today we will be engaging the field, you can see the tractors are ready and so also all the staff of the Agricultural Training Service Centre (ATSC) and Marketing Ltd are equally ready.

    “The strategy is to see how we can provide mechanisation services to communities that have been displaced in our quest to return people to their livelihoods that insecurity has denied them.

    “Gov. Caleb Mutfwang in his magnanimity has decided that we cultivate 6,000 hectares of land and we will see how we exceed this in the nearest future.

    “And we will be providing seeds for those places that have been cultivated so as to bring bumper harvest as we return people to their livelihoods,” he said.

    The commissioner also spoke about government’s measures to enaure the safety of the farmers and their crops.

    He said that the Angro Rangers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps would be deployed to provide security for the farmers and their farms.

    “As you can see, we have the Agro-Rangers with us, and in those communities they have self-help groups that they setup, which have been providing early warning signals and we are going to utilise them.

    “This time around, we are going to ensure that government’s intervention is not wasted, we are setting up a monitoring system.

    ”We will use modern technology to check incursions into such communities and we will see how we improve the system, moving forward.

    “But I must tell you that the governor is bent on ensuring that our people return to their livelihoods.

    Government is providing all these services and even the seeds for free,” Bugama said.

    Also speaking, the Managing Director of ATSC, Dr Susan Bentu, said that cluster groups, consisting women and youths, would be given top priority.

    “This intervention is also for farmers in clusters, like women groups, youth and religious bodies, among others, in the three Senatorial Districts of the state.

    “We are set to change the narrative where agriculture is concerned in the state.

    “For the senatorial zones, they have their areas of strength, we are going to be cultivating maize and potatoes in Central and Northern zones, rice and yam for the Southern zone.

    “ASTC is a company principally owned by the Plateau Government and we are here for the people of the state,” Bentu said.

    She further said that ATSC had been rendering services to the citizenry, not just in the area of mechanised farming during the rainy and dry seasons but other services attached to farmers.

    “The green houses we see at the backyards of many homes today are a fallout of ATSC, established over 13 years ago,” she said.

    She said that 300 tractors were available for cultivation of land in three centres, situated in each of the senatorial zones of the state. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    AZA/USO
    Edited by Sam Oditah

     

  • Gov Mutfwang inaugurates chairman, members of PLASIEC

     

    Inauguration
    By Polycarp Auta
    Jos, June 10, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, on Monday inaugurated Mr Plangji Chishak, as Chairman and six other members of the State Independent Election Commission (PLASIEC).
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor had on June 4, forwarded the names of the appointees  to the state House of Assembly for confirmation.
    Speaking at the event in Jos, Mutfwang said that the appointees were carefully selected based on their track records and experience in public service.
    ”This is very important and significant because today marks a new dawn in the annals of PLASIEC.
    ”The last two local government elections in the state were the most shameful, disgraceful and one that gave us a bad name.
    ”This is why we carefully selected this calibre of persons, particularly the chairman, who has been in the business of conducting election for years,”he said.
    The governor, who charged the appointees to uphold the tenets of democracy through free and fair elections, said his administration would not interfere in its activities.
    ”I am a firm believer in the efficacy and effectiveness of the local government administration and so, we will allow the people to elect those who they want to lead them.
    ”This is why since we came on board, we have not misused local government funds, because we believe in having a credible leadership at the local levels.
    ”I want to assure Plateau people that we will raise the bar of credible and reputable local government elections; we will ensure that true democracy takes place at the local levels.
    ”You are coming at a time when the commission has trust deficit, I therefore, charge you to conduct local government elections in concomitance with global best practice,”he said.
    Earlier, the chairman thanked the governor for finding them worthy of the appointments and promised to rebuild the confidence of Plateau residents on the commission.
    ”We receive these appointments with every sense of responsibility and humility.
    ”I want to assure you that by the special grace of God we will ensure credible elections in the local governments,”he said.
    Chishak also promised that the commission would be open, fair and transparent in all its dealings.
    NAN reports that members of the commission include, Theresa Kaze, Deborah Akanle, Waziri Kwande, and Ado Adare.
    Others members are Audu Dorzhi, Dr Longman Pensiwan and Pam Davou, the Secretary of the commission.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    AZA/IU
    ========
    Edited by Isaac Ukpoju

  • Investigate mass sack of CBN workers, group urges NASS

    Investigate mass sack of CBN workers, group urges NASS

    Sack

    By Polycarp Auta

    Jos, June 9, 2024 (NAN) The Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Communities Development Association (CONECDA), has urged the National Assembly to investigate the recent mass sack of some workers of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Mr. Paul Dekete, the North Central Coordinator of CONECDA Youth Wing, made the request in a statement on Sunday in Jos.

    Dekete, who faulted the manner in which the affected workers; largely directors, deputy and assistant directors, were dismissed, said that the process violated the bank’s established procedure.

    The coordinator also maintained that the move would grossly affect the operations of critical departments within the apex bank, adding that 16 departments were affected by the action.

    Dekete decried that the affected personnel were those with avalanche of experience and expertise in their various fields, needed to move the apex financial institution forward.

    ”This is why we are calling on the National Assembly to investigate the CBN to understand the rationale behind the mass sack of its staff and the criteria used.

    ”The National Assembly should ensure that CBN follows established procedures for staff reduction as laid out in its HR (Human Resource) manual and best practices worldwide.

    ”That the insensitive termination letters should be withdrawn and replaced with more appropriate documentation that reflects the employees’ work records.

    ”The National Assembly should ensure all the decisions are reviewed to ensure compliance with CBN HR policy and public service rules,” he said.

    Dekete also appealed to the lawmakers to ensure that employees, who were dismissed without proper justification, were reinstated.

    He said that the dismissed staff deserved fair compensation to mitigate the economic hardship caused by the management’s decision. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    AZA/TOA/DOR
    =============

    Edited by Taiye Agbaje/Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

  • APC forum seeks return to regional government

    APC forum seeks return to regional government

    Region

    By Polycarp Auta

    Jos, June 7, 2024 (NAN) The Forum of Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called for the return of Nigeria to a regional system of government.

    The North-Central chairman of the forum, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, made the call in an interview with newsmen on Friday in Jos.

    According to him, a regional system would enable the government to address the needs of the people using the natural endowments, political prowess and agricultural resources in the regions.

    He said that the regional system of government would address the  marginalisation of the north-central region, adding that the current system was not taking care of the people’s needs.

    Zazzaga said  that the north-central, in spite of its huge contributions to the nation, has suffered marginalisation on many fronts.

    ”Since the return of democracy in 1999, the region has contributed to the emergence of many national leaders as well as presidents, but it has been marginalised in terms of political appointments, among others.

    “After careful consideration the north-central APC forum is calling for the adoption of a regional system of government,“he said.

    He said that the regional system of government is a political framework where power is divided among constituent political units, such as regions or states.

    ”This will give the regions the opportunity to use their endowments to develop themselves without any fear of marginalization,“he said.

    He said the federal government will still be responsible for national security, foreign affairs and the regulation of inter-state or inter-region commerce.

    Zazzaga urges party leaders in other regions to support the move for the return to regional system of government in the country.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    AZA/JPE

    =======

    Edited by Joseph Edeh

  • Group builds 124 solar-powered boreholes in 1 year

    Group builds 124 solar-powered boreholes in 1yr

    Boreholes
    By Polycarp Auta
    Jos, June 6, 2024 (NAN) An NGO, called Transfer of Appropriate Sustainable Technology and Expertise (TASTE), says it has constructed 124 solar-powered boreholes in different communities in the country in 2023.

    The Country Director of the organisation, Mr Nuhu Yakubu, disclosed this in Jos on Thursday, when officials of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Plateau Council, visited him in his office.

    Yakubu also said that the NGO had resuscitated 300 malfunctional hand-pumps in different places from January to date.

    He said that communities in Plateau and Kaduna States constituted the majority of the beneficiaries of the gesture.

    He further said that the gesture aimed at providing quality and potable water to the people, particularly the less privileged, in rural areas.

    ”We are committed to providing access to quality and potable water to a large number of communities across the country.”

    ”Our aim is to ensure that the water collected by the people is safe for consumption at all times,” Yakubu said.

    He further disclosed TASTE’s plan to create waste management hub in Plateau, adding that the measure would go a long way toward tackling environmental degradation.

    He said that the organisation would go into aggressive sensitisation on tree planting and afforestation in Plateau.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the chapel, Mr Polycarp Auta, said that the visit was to seek partnership with the organisation toward projecting its programmes and activities. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    AZA/USO
    Edited by Sam Oditah