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Lagos Speaker submits report of Constituency meetings to Gov. Ambode

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Constituency
Lagos, Oct. 16, 2016 (NAN) Mr Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, (LAHA) has submitted report of the constituency stakeholders’ meetings organised by the House to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for implementation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the constituency stakeholders’ meetings, second in the series, took place simultaneously in all the 40 constituencies.

The speaker made this known in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Mr Musbau Rasak, on Sunday in Lagos.

He said the reports contained the requests and recommendations of the people of the state spread across the 40 constituencies on how the state should continue to achieve development and growth.

NAN recalls that on Friday Oct. 14 during the Executive-Legislative Parley organised by the state government, the speaker urged the Governor to ensure quick implementation.

“We decided to feel the pulse of our people through the constituency stakeholders’ meeting and what I am presenting to you today is their aggregate demands.

“These are the recommendations collated by our field officers who worked in the 40 constituencies,’’ the Speaker said.

Gov. Ambode was quoted to have assured that the contents of the reports would form major components of the 2017 budget.

“These are the wishes of Lagos residents and these will help us greatly in preparing the 2017 budget.

“These reports will save time because they are the direct requests of the people so we have something to work on,’’ Ambode said.

The governor commended the state Assembly for the initiative, saying that the initiative complements the efforts of the government to bring dividends of democracy to the people. (NAN)
AKA/COO/AFA
Edited by Cecilia Odey/Felix Ajide
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Anti-corruption: Bishop advocates 6-year single term for elected politicians
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Church
Omu-Aran (Kwara) Oct. 16, 2016 (NAN) A cleric, Rt. Rev. Philip Adeyemo said on Sunday that the adoption of a 6-year single term for elected political office holders will help to reduce corrupt tendencies and strengthen democracy.

Adeyemo, who is the Bishop in-charge of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Omu-Aran, made the call in his charge delivered to the First Session of the Third Synod in Omu-Aran, Kwara.

The cleric noted that past experience has revealed that most politicians don’t perform to expectation during their second term in office.

“They are more of self than serving the people who voted them into office.

“They allow the fear of unknown to catch them unaware.

“We hereby suggest one term of six years for the president and his vice, the governors and their deputies, senator and legislators,” he said.

Adeyemo stressed the need for discipline, trust, integrity and fear of God among the leaders.

He urged Nigerian politicians to close ranks and put the interest of the nation above other personal interest to achieve the desired change.

“Let there be unity between the executive, judiciary and legislative arms of government, and together they should wage war against corruption to a standstill.

“Let the APC put its house in order: MK 3:23 says “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand,” he said.

Adeyemo urged the Federal Government to urgently address the food insufficient challenges, poverty, and unemployment confronting the nation.

The man of God also called on the state government to channel resources toward payment of teachers, local government staff and pension arrears of salaries in the state.

The Chairman of the occasion, Dr Mike Omotosho, in a remark, stressed the need for a solid foundation in order to achieve a successive anti-corruption crusade.

“There should be guiding principles, especially the adoption of the four-way test to get it right.

“First is the process truthful, is it fare to all concern, will it build goodwill and better result and lastly will it be beneficial to all concern,” he said.

Omotosho donated 500 books to the church’s school library and also promised to intervene in the renovation of the school for improved academic performance.

The Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Charles Ibitoye, in a goodwill message, solicited for assistance toward completion of the church’s ongoing projects. (NAN)
ISHO/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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NAN-H-44

Expulsion

By Chinyere Nwachukwu

Lagos, Oct. 16, 2016 (NAN) Authorities of the University of Lagos have expelled 125 students and rusticated 198 others for various offences, including examination malpractices during last academic session.

The lists of the affected students were published on the university’s website on Sunday.

The institution’s Deputy Registrar (Information), Mr Toyin Adebule, confirmed the expulsion and estimation to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday,

Adebule told NAN that the university “will soon publish and display the names and photographs of the students in the media’’.

He said that the action was in line with the university’s zero tolerance on malpractices and other vices in campus.

“Yes we have published some names on our website and these students will be punished in various degrees, depending on the severity.

“Last session, a number of students were caught in various forms of malpractices during their examinations.

“Some were found cheating during the examination with “micro sheets” while others were hired as surrogates to write papers for others.

“Others were caught smoking weeds (Marijuana) right in their halls of residence by their colleagues and reported to the university authorities.

“For those who were caught impersonating, writing examinations for others, they will face outright expulsion,’’ Adebule said.

Adebule said the other categories of students, such as those caught with micro sheets and the smokers, would face suspension ranging from two to four semesters.

“In other to get the desired effect of their various punishments, we are planning to publish all their names as well as display their photographs all over the campus in the next one week.

“We shall carry out this measure in all the departments and faculties in the institution.

“This is to help the university ensure that the affected students will have nowhere to hibernate on campus.

“By doing this, the affected students would know that the university want to ensure total compliance to the sanction and would not want to be seen anywhere around the campus,’’ he said.

Adebule said that before every examination, the university normally make available the rules and regulations for the students to abide by.

He said that such rules and regulations were usually accompanied by various sanctions for defaulters.

According to him, the university will continue to do all it can to sustain set standards and best practices as obtained in other top universities around the world.

Adebule, however, clarified that the development had nothing to do with those involved in the recent students’ riot. (NAN)

CCN/AIB/OFN

Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde//Felix Nwadioha

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Recession

By Lizzy Agbaji

Abuja, Oct. 16, 2016 (NAN) Mr Oluwatoyin Jokosenumi, the Vice Chairman, Anniversary Committee of Foursquare Gospel Church, Asokoro, said on Sunday that Jesus Christ is the only solution to the country’s economic recession.

Jokosenumi told newsmen in Abuja that the forthcoming 14th anniversary of the church would begin from Oct. 20 to Oct. 22 with the theme: ‘The Church and Economic Recession’.

He said that considering the present situation in the country, the topic was a good choice to contribute to the efforts at finding solution to the problem and how Christians could go through it without the pains.

According to him, those who believe in Jesus Christ are not affected by the recession because their supplies come from God.

“The church turns 14 years old on Oct. 20; This anniversary is therefore a milestone; we intend to celebrate it, being our year of double divine accomplishment.

“An anniversary lecture on the topic; ‘The Church and Economic Recession’, is to be delivered by Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain Assembly at the church auditorium on Saturday’’.

Jokosenumi added that the church was born out of a missionary vision, which was one of the 1,000 new churches, established by the Foursquare Movement in Nigeria under the Barley Harvest Project in 2,000.

He said that the Senior Pastor, Babajide Olowodola, was assigned to handle the Omega 2 project, which was designed to provide the structure, support and the encouragement for missionaries to propagate the gospel.

According to him, no fewer than 350 missionaries in 45 countries of the world have benefited from the Omega 2 project. (NAN)

LIZ/COO/YEMI

Edited by Cecilia Odey

Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju

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Polio
By Abdulfatai Beki.
Ilorin, Oct. 16, 2016 (NAN) Rotary International and the Bill Gates Foundation  have raised $99 million to completely eradicate the polio virus in Nigeria.

The District Governor 9125 of Rotary International, Clement Bisi-Adegoke, disclosed this on Sunday in Ilorin while speaking with newsmen.

Rotary International, he said, raised $33 million while Bill Gates donated $66 million.

According to Bisi-Adegoke, the Bill Gates Foundation is the global partner of Rotary International and remains committed to the idea of raising the fund to tackle the last outbreak of polio in the country.

He further urged Nigerians to reflect on the future of the country as it clocked 56 years of independence.

Bisi-Adegoke warned Nigerians against undermining the capacity of leaders to lead while canvassing that agriculture and emphasis on entrepreneurship would help tackle the current recession.

He noted that America also experienced a recession before President Barack Obama took the country out of it.

Bisi-Adegoke also said Rotary was committed to peace and conflict resolution, adding that the group had provided foodstuff and other relief materials to distressed persons, particularly those in IDP camps in the North East Zone.

He urged the Federal Government to urgently address the challenge of infrastructural decay in the education sector by providing equipment, water, toilets and teaching facilities in institutions of learning. (NAN)
BEKI/OJO
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(Edited and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-26

Anniversary

By Muhammad Nasir Bello

Sokoto Oct. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Da’awa Coordination Council of Nigeria, said on Sunday in Sokoto that it would organise a seminar to appraise the performance of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III.

Malam Lawal Maidoki, National President of the group said that the event was to mark Abubakar’s 10th anniversary as Sultan.

He said after a meeting with various Islamic organizations in Sokoto State, that the focus would be on the journey so far and challenges ahead.

“We all believe that, the basis on which the entire Sultanate was built upon was based on knowledge and Da’awa.

“So, we as representatives of Da’awa, therefore, felt that we are the most appropriate group to look into what the Sultan has done over the last 10 years.

“We will look at the challenges encountered, proper solutions and advises on areas that needed improvement.

“Basically, we will make suggestions on how to move the Ummah and the country forward,” the president said.

Maidoki noted that the Sultan had taken solid steps so far in all areas of development, including “the unity of Muslim Ummah, education and openness, as well as respect for other members of the society.”

The News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] reports that the Sultan was installed on November 2, 2006 as the 20th Sultan of Sokoto Caliphate.(NAN)

MNB/BRM/MZA
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Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

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Weather
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Oct. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy weather conditions over the central states of the country on Monday with prospects of early morning isolated thunderstorms over Jalingo, Makurdi and Mambilla.

NiMet made the predictions in its Weather Outlook issued by the Central Forecast Office (CFO) on Sunday in Abuja.

It added that localised thundery/showers were expected over Abuja, Lokoja, Minna, Jos and Bida during the afternoon and evening hours with maximum temperatures of 29 to 33 degrees Celsius.

The agency also predicted that the southern states would experience increased cloudiness in the morning with probability of localised rains over Port Harcourt, Calabar and Owerri.

It predicted chances of localised thunderstorms/rain showers over Lagos, Warri, Yenago, Benin, Akure, Ibadan, Enugu and Awka during afternoon and evening hours with maximum temperatures of 29 to 33 degrees Celsius.

NiMet predicted that northern states would experience partly cloudy to sunny situations in the morning with possibility of localised thundery activities over Yelwa, Kano, Gusau and Kaduna during the evening period.

It added that the region would have maximum day time temperatures in the range of 32 to 38 degrees Celsius.

“Relatively stable weather condition is anticipated over the extreme north while there are chances of localised thunderstorms and rains across the south and central cities in the next 24 hours,’’ it said. (NAN)
OYS/AMY
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Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-33

Zakkat

By Muhammad Nasir Bello

Sokoto, Oct. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Sokoto State Zakkat and Endowment Committee on Sunday disbursed N10 million as monthly medical support to various hospitals and pharmaceutical shops in the state.

The Chairman of the committee, Malam Lawal Maidoki, announced this at the commencement of the distribution exercise in Sokoto.

“The gesture has always become a norm that the state government had inherited from the past administration to give out the money every month to the Committee.

“This is for onward transmission through various Hospitals and Pharmaceutical shops to both the physically challenged, the needy and the sick in the society.

“Thus, even at this time of economic constraints, the government has given out the N10 million to be distributed.

” N8 million was given directly to the hospitals and pharmaceutical shops, while N2 million will be for special cases referred to hospitals, within and outside Sokoto State,” Maidoki said.

The chairman thanked the state government for sustaining the programme and called on wealthy individuals to complement government efforts by contributing to the fund.

The chairman also commended the managements of the hospitals and pharmaceutical shops for supporting the programme. (NAN)

MNB/BRM/IS/AMY

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Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

NAN-H-30
Suspension
By Kola Adeyemi
Lokoja, Oct. 16, 2016 ( NAN) Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Sunday suspended Alhaji Sadiq Rabiu, the Chairman of the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, over an allegation of fraud during the just concluded Hajj.

The Director-General, Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, who disclosed this in a statement in Lokoja, said Rabiu had been handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for investigation and possible prosecution.

Fanwo said that the governor was also not happy with the dehumanising treatment of pilgrims from the state during the 2016 Hajj.

“ The travails of the chairman stemmed from allegations of corruption, nepotism and blatant disregard to the welfare of the state’s contingent to this year’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia,” he said.

He said that the suspension of the chairman followed the outcome of an investigative panel into the allegations of corruption, nepotism and dehumanising treatment of pilgrims in spite of adequate provisions made by government.

Fanwo said that the administration was poised to address the issue of corruption with “absolute seriousness in order to checkmate the effect of corruption on the development of the state.” (NAN)
KKA/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Govt. imposes 24-hour curfew on Kafanchan

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Curfew

Kafanchan (Kaduna State) A 24-hour curfew has been imposed in Kafanchan, Kaduna State after youths set up road blocks and burnt vehicles on Kafanchan-Kagoro road, in retaliation of an attack on Saturday in which 20 people died in Godogodo Chiefdom..

Saturday’s attack was believed to have been carried out by herdsmen who for two months had engaged the locals in series of attacks and counter attacks.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that several people had been killed during the period and properties worth millions of naira destroyed on both sides.

Dr Bege Katuka, Interim Chairman of Jema’a Local Government told NAN in Kafanchan that the curfew would remain in force until nomalcy return to the area.

Katuka said the measure was to further check breaches of the law by youths who were setting up illegal road blocks.

“We have received reports that youths had barricaded Kafanchan-Kagoro road along Garaje area and have burnt cars belonging to innocent persons,’’ he said.

He said the tension was fuelled by the attack on Saturday at Godogodo when suspected herdsmen attempted to lay siege on the village.

Katuka said the gunmen stormed the village and shot at innocent persons, but were repelled by the Joint Military Task Force deployed to the area..

“What is most paramount now is the security of lives and property of the people, the security will not relent in its effort to repel the attackers,’’ he said.

The council chairman, therefore, urged residents to remain calm and not to take the law into their hands.

He also advised them to remain in-doors, explaining that the curfew was to allow the security agents carry out operations to restore peace. (NAN)

MGK/COO/MZA
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Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed