Author: Olusegun Oshin

resumption

By Abdullahi Shugaba

Birninkudu (Jigawa) June 1, 2018 (NAN) Members of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Birninkudu, Jigawa, are yet to resume work, in spite of the suspension of their 45-day-old strike on Friday.

When the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) visited the Centre on Friday, chairman of JOHESU in the hospital, Hamza Abdurrahman, and the Managing Director of the Centre, Prof. Idris Suleiman, were unavailable to comment on the situation.

The few members of staff on ground, who did not want their names not mentioned, said that they only got the directives to resume work on Thursday.

They however disclosed that since they started the strike about 45 days ago, their salary had not been paid.

They therefore appealed to the Industrial Court to mediate and facilitate the payment of their salary.

NAN reports that health workers serving in Jigawa state-owned health facilities, did not join the strike.(NAN)

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Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo

Master-plan

Abdullahi Shugaba

Dutse, May,29,2018 (NAN) The decision by Jigawa Government to develop Agriculture Master plan, with bias for private sector participation, has yielded the desired result, Gov. Muhammad Badaru said on Tuesday.

Addressing newsmen in Dutse as part of activities slated to mark ‘Democracy Day’, the governor said the measure had attracted the needed investment, resulting in the commencement of at least four mega investments in sugar, rice, livestock and poultry.

According to him, the measure has also resulted in the generation of at least 30,000 direct and indirect jobs for the teeming populace.

“We have also introduced cluster-farming and value-chain mapping, to unlock job opportunities across the cultivation cycle.

“We used small implement mechanization that culminated into better cultivation, which improves competitiveness and guaranteed markets for our local crops,” he said.

The governor pledged that agriculture would continue to get a boost, adding that the sector was one of the areas accorded priority.

He pledged that his administration would continue to support local farmers to produce more food for local consumption and commercial purposes. (NAN)

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Prayers

Abdullahi Shugaba
Dutse, May 29, 2018 (NAN) Gov Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa on Tuesday urged people of the state to devote a substantial part of their time at home today and pray for the progress of the state and the country.

Badaru, who made the call during a press conference to mark ‘Democracy Day,’ said the country and its leaders needed fervent prayers to surmount challenges.

He pledged that his administration would continue to bring more dividends of democracy to the people.

“I will continue to embark on projects that will impact positively on the lives of the citizens.

“Today has been declared public holidays to mark Democracy Day for the hard earned democracy, it is on this note that you have to look back and score us.

“I therefore urge everybody to use the holiday and pray for us to succeed under the democratic dispensation.

“I would like to use this opportunity to thank the people for their support, perseverance and most importantly, their prayers in the last three years.

“Their show of love and solidarity has provided the encouragement and energy that we put into steering the affairs of the government to date,” he said.

Badaru said that barely two weeks ago, he hosted President Muhammadu Buhari in the state,which gave him the opportunity to compile a concise and detailed achievements of his administration recorded in all key sectors of governance.

“We have asked for honest assessment of our score card and with recommendations where necessary, in our attempt to ensure participatory governance and carrying everyone along,” he said. (NAN)
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Edited by Chioma Ugboma

By Abdullahi Shugaba

Gov. Badaru flags off  building of 27 lodges for corps members.
Lodges

Dutse, May 29 2018 (NAN) Jigawa Governor Alhaji Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar  on Tuesday in Dutse  laid the foundation for  a  prototype  six-bedroom bungalow to accommodate  the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members posted to the state.

Governor Badaru is building 27 of the bungalows, which he called, Corps Members Lodge,  in the 27 local councils at a cost of N9.614million each. The total cost is N259.6 million.

Badaru said the gesture was meant to provide security and comfort for corps members posted to the state.

“We want to guarantee the safety of NYSC members posted to the state hence the need to construct the lodges.

“We want every corps member posted to the state to feel at home and be secured.

“I urged the contractors handling the projects to start and finish the work simultaneously in 27 local government areas and finish within three months.

“I cautioned the contractors handling the project to be transparent and the work must to be perfectly done.

Mr. Nuhu Kwage, Director Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development NYSC National Headquarters Abuja, who represented the Director General of the NYSC,  Brig-Gen Zakari Kazaure, said that the initiative by Jigawa government to build Youth Corps lodges in all local government areas was  the first of its kind in the country.

Kwage lauded the idea since  about 95 per cent of corps members are posted to rural areas for primary assignments.

He apologised for the absence of  the NYSC DG who is an indigene of Jigawa.

Kwage urged other  states to copy  Jigawa and build lodges for youth corps members.(NAN)
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Jigawa Govt. spends N28m on improved seeds

Seeds
By Abdullahi Shugaba
Dutse, May 23, 2018 (NAN) The Jigawa Government says it has spent the sum of N28million on the procurement of improved seeds for sale at subsidised rates to farmers, ahead of the 2018 farming season.
Alhaji Muhammad Lana, General Manager, Jigawa Agricultural Supply Company (JASCO), stated this during an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse, on Wednesday.
Lana explained the state desired to get rid of unimproved seeds to achieve maximum yield.
He said government had purchased certified seeds from various agricultural institutes in Zaria, Ibadan, and Maiduguri for sale to farmers at affordable rates.
“We henceforth want farmers across the state to plant only improved seeds on their farms.
“The improved seeds to be sold to farmers include- rice, sorghum, maize, beans, sesame, and groundnuts, among others,” Lana said.
He said the state government had also purchased 50 units of tractors to be loaned to large and small farmers across the 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Lana added that the gesture was aimed at boosting agricultural development and ensuring food security in the state. (NAN)
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Edited by Julius Toba Jegede/Ali Inuwa

Abdullahi Shugaba
Inputs
Dutse, May 22, 2018 (NAN) Jigawa government said it had procured agriculture  inputs worth N650 million for sale to farmers at subsidised rate during the 2018 farming season.

General Manager of Jigawa Agricultural Supply Company (JASCO), Alhaji Mohammed Lana stated this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Tuesday.

He explained that the inputs included assorted fertilizer, farm chemicals, made up of herbicides, pesticides and fungicides.

According to him,N550 million was spent on the procurement of 500 metric tons of while 6000 litres of farm chemicals gulped N100 million.

Lana said that the inputs had been kept at JASCO stores across the 27 Local Government areas of the state for farmers to buy.

“Each bag of NPK fertiliser costs N7,500 in the open market but the state government sells to farmers at N5,500 only, indicating a  subsidy of N2000.

“The aim of the present administration in the state is to encourage farmers to produce more food for local commercial and commercial purposes,” he said. (NAN)
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re-election
Dutse, May 19 2018 (NAN) Members of the All Progressives Party Congress (APC) in Jigawa on Saturday re-elected all their state officials for another term through consensus.

Speaking after the exercise, Chairman, Committee for the Congress in the state, Alhaji Ahmed Umar, announced the return of all the 35 officials unopposed.

In his post-election speech, the re-elected chairman of the party, Alhaji Sani Kiri, promised that they would not betray the confidence reposed in them.

He said the gesture was an indication that the party was well organised in the state, and therefore expressed optimism that APC would sweep the polls during the 2019 general elections.

Also commenting on the exercise, Gov Muhammad Badaru of the state commended the delegates for re-electing their leaders.

He expressed confidence in the leaders, urging them to discharge their responsibilities diligently.

Badaru also urged all party members to remain loyal and united to enable the party achieve its desired goals. (NAN)

AIS/MNB/ASH

Commendation
By Abdullahi Shugaba
Policy Dutse, May 15, 2018 (NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari has commended Gov. Mohammed Badaru of Jigawa for keying into the Federal Government’s agricultural programmes.

The Buhari gave the commendation in Dutse on Tuesday during his two-day visit to the state.

He said that he was happy that Badaru adopted the agricultural policies and programmes of the Federal Government.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agricultural programmes of the Badaru-administration include goat loans to women as well as mass production of rice, wheat, sesame and groundnuts, among others.

Besides, Buhari lauded the governor for embarking on solar power projects which, he said, were aimed at improving power supply to the people.

He also commended Badaru for the water supply schemes across the state and the provision of other critical infrastructure in efforts to improve the wellbeing of the people.

He assured the governor that the Federal Government would continue to assist the state in the provision of water and other basic facilities.

Buhari, who urged the people to continue to support the Badaru-administration, pledged the Federal Government’s commitment towards making life more meaningful for the citizens. (NAN)
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Dayo Komolafe

Project
By Abdullahi Shugaba
Dutse, May 15, 2018 (NAN) The Jigawa Forum has appealed to the Federal Government to complete and expand the Hadejia Valley Irrigation Project (HVIP) so as to boost agriculture and ensure the country’s food security.

The Chairman of Jigawa Forum, Prof. Muhammed Tabiu, made the appeal in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Tuesday, while commenting on the two-day visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the state.
Tabiu, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), recalled that the HVIP started in Auyo, headquarters of Auyo Local Government Area, about 30 years ago.

He said that in spite of the current efforts of the Federal Government to rehabilitate the HVIP, the project was still in its first phase, which represented only 20 per cent of the planned project.

Tabiu stressed that the project had huge economic potential and benefits for the state and the country at large.

He also appealed to the Federal Government to rehabilitate the three federal roads in the state so as to facilitate the movement of goods and services across the state.

Tabiu listed the roads as the Gaya-Kafin Hausa road, the Kwanar Dumawa-Kanya Babba-Babura road, the Kano-Gumel-Maigatari road; saying that all the roads were in a derelict state.

NAN reports that Jigawa Forum is a non-governmental and non-partisan platform for discourse and partnerships over development issues relating to the state and its membership cuts across all strata of the society.

Members of the Forum include academics, civil servants, entrepreneurs, religious leaders and traditional rulers, among others. (NAN)
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Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Dayo Komolafe

Support
Abdullahi Shugaba

Dutse, May 15, 2018 (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa says its members will continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari.

It’s Chairman, Alhaji Ado Kiri, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the president’s visit to Dutse on Tuesday.

He said that APC members in Jigawa did not have any presidential candidate for the 2019 presidential election other than Buhari.

“We are with Buhari and we will continue to be with him. We are satisfied with his war against corruption, terrorism, insurgency and other vices,” he said.

According to him, the measures taken had in handling the problems, have brought relief to the people of the country.

“We are also happy with the policies and programmes of the Federal Government in the economic and agriculture sectors, which made life meaningful for the people,” he added.

The chairman also expressed satisfaction with the Social Intervention Programme (SIP) of the Buhari government, popularly known as ‘N-Power’ which he said provided employment opportunities for many youth in Nigeria.

Kiri commended Buhari for visiting Jigawa, in spite of his tight schedules.

“With this, we are elated; this demonstrates his love for us and we also love him like he loves us,” the APC chairman said. (NAN)
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