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Tag: Nasarawa

  • Fake appointments: Nasarawa Assembly suspends Director, others

    Fake appointments: Nasarawa Assembly suspends Director, others

    The Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Science and Technology, has directed the state Commissioner for Finance, Mr Haruna Ogbole, to suspend Mr Sulley Daheer, the Director of Salaries Bureau.

    The committee has also called for the suspension of all members of staff of the salaries department with immediate effect.

    The suspension subsists pending the outcome of ongoing investigations into the fake employments of 38 secondary school teachers in the state.

    Mr Daniel Ogazi, the Chairman of the Committee, gave the directive when the management of the Ministries of Finance, Education as well as the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC), appeared before it in Lafia on Monday.

    He further directed for the sealing of the office of the state salaries Bureau pending the conclusion of investigations into the matter.

    “We hereby direct the Commissioner for Finance to suspend the Director, Salaries Bureau, and all the staff of the salaries department, pending the outcome of our investigation.

    “We have invited you to know how the names of the purported and fake 38 secondary school teachers had got into the pay roll of the state government.

    “We are going to report our findings at the end of the investigation to the assembly for necessary action,” he said.

    Ogazi urged both the Commissioners of Finance and Education to put their Houses in order to avoid wastage of government resources, as well as know in dept what is happening in their ministries.

    “You have a lot of duties, responsibilities in your ministries in order to check and ensure that the right things are done at all times and that Nasarawa State government did not waste its money or resources,” he added.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Haruna Ogbole, and his Education counterpart, Hajiya Fati Sabo, denied knowledge of the purported employments of the teachers, as well as the directive for their inclusion into the payroll of the state government.

    On his part, Mr Sulley Daheer, the Director, Salaries Bureau, said that he has not received any memorandum and has not given any directive for the inclusion of the 38 secondary school teachers into the pay roll of the state government.

    He said that he did not know what was happening in his department as the head.

    Mr Anthony Ladan, a senior Accountant in the Salaries Bureau, admitted including the names of 38 teachers into the pay roll of the state government without the directive from the Commissioner of Finance and Director, Salaries Bureau.

    He said that he received a letter for the inclusion of the teachers’ names into the pay roll from Mr John Nuhu whom he knows as a staff of the Teacher Service Commission (TSC).

    Ladan added that he did not know that John Nuhu has left the TSC when he brought the letter containing the 38 names which he claimed was from the ministry of education, through the commissioner for finance without knowing that the documents were fake.

  • Nasarawa Govt denies losing N100m to robbers

    Nasarawa Govt denies losing N100m to robbers

    The Nasarawa State Government has debunked the reports that N100 million meant for payment of casual workers of its ministry of finance was carted away by armed robbers.
    A statement by Commissioner For Information , Culture and Tourism , Mr Dogo Shammah, on Friday in Lafia, however, confirmed that N 11. 7 million was carted away by robbers at the state’s Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning.
    Shammah said the stolen money was meant to host a team from the Revenue, Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, which was due to visit the state .
    He said part of the money was also meant for furnishing and refurbishing of some offices and vehicles.
    Shammah said the N100 million which was erroneously reported to be carted away by robbers was meant for payment of salaries for casual workers in the state.
    Narrating how the N11.7 million was stolen by the robbers, Shammah said the gunmen trailed the official who went to the bank to make the withdrawal.
    ” The gunmen trailed officials of the state Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning after making withdrawal at a second generation bank along Lafia-Jos road.
    ” They shot sporadically on getting to the ministry’s premises and took the money away,” he said.
    Shammah, however, said that the incidence had been reported to security agencies and investigation had commenced.
  • Gunmen waylay Nasarawa Finance Ministry officials, cart away millions

    Gunmen waylay Nasarawa Finance Ministry officials, cart away millions

    Gunmen on Thursday carted away an undisclosed amount of money from the Nasarawa State Ministry of Finance, budget and planning.

    The gunmen were said to have trailed two staff from the bank to the Ministry in Lafia and seized the money at gunmen point after shooting sporadically in the air.

    The State Commissioner of Finance, Haruna Ogbole, said the money was worth millions, but did not disclose the exact amount.

    Ogbole added that the incident was being investigated.

    Meanwhile, the cashier is undergoing treatment after sustaining bullet wounds.

  • APC suspends serving commissioner in Nasarawa

    APC suspends serving commissioner in Nasarawa

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area of Nasarawa State has suspended the state Commissioner for Land and Survey, Dr Salihu Alizaga, over alleged insurbordination to the party leadership.

    Mr Malle Moses, the Chairman, Caretaker Committee, announced the suspension while inaugurating a 7-man committee to investigate the allegation level against the commissioner by the APC officials in the area.

    He said that the suspension of Alizaga was to pave way for thorough investigation into his alleged insurbordination to party leadership in his ward.

    “As you can see, we have received formal complaint/petition against Hon. (Dr) Ahmed Salihu Alizaga from the APC leadership of Nassarawa Eggon/Alizaga ward, that is his ward.

    “We have decided to constitute a seven man committee to investigate the allegation levelled against the commissioner by the party leadership of his ward.

    “It is in view of this that we (the leadership of the party) at the local government level decided to suspend the commissioner pending the outcome of the investigation on his alleged insurbordination,” he said.

    Moses urged the committee to do a thorough job in the interest of the party and for the overall development of the country.

    He urged stakeholders of the party in the area to work in unity in order to take the party to greater height.

    Earlier, Mr Umar Dahiru, the Secretary, APC, Nassarawa Eggon local government, while reading the formal complaint/petition against the commissioner, alleged that Alizaga has being interfering in the affairs of the party in his ward without the permission of the party.

    The petition was read by the secretary through Mr Danjuma Haruna, the Assistant Youth Leader, APC, Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area.

    The letter read thus: “Sir, it is on record that we severally invited Dr Salihu Ahmed Alizaga, the Hon. Commissioner for Land and Survey, for party meetings at ward level (Nassarawa Eggon/Alizaga ward) and he never attended one of our invitation.

    “When we approached him for not coming to the party meeting, he will always say ‘as far I am concerned, I am the leader of the party from ward to the local government level being the Hon. Commissioner representing the good people of Nassarawa Eggon LGA’.

    “The last incident happened which necessitated us to write this complain is within your knowledge.

    “On Saturday, the 17th day of July, 2021, the critical stakeholders of our great party (APC) at the Local Government level summoned a meeting in Nassarawa Eggon under your leadership to see how to agree on a consensus candidate at the forthcoming local government election.

    “The Hon. Commissioner whom he claimed to be party leader in Nassarawa Eggon Local Government with other stakeholders he mentioned in media were also invited to the meeting, but they refused to attend the meeting.

    “We, therefore, humbly wish to place on record that the conduct/ actions of the Hon. Commissioner is not only wrong but totally illegal, unconstitutional for our great party and it is therefore unacceptable.”

    Responding, Mr Bala Moses, the Secretary of the investigative committee, promised to discharge their assignment without fear of favour.

    Moses however urged members of the party to avail the committee with useful information that would enable them do a thorough job.

  • NDLEA uncovers drug cartels in Kogi, Nasarawa, Benue states

    NDLEA uncovers drug cartels in Kogi, Nasarawa, Benue states

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has discovered three drug cartels allegedly supplying illicit substances to some states.
    The agency also recovered skunk and cocaine weighing more than 843 kilogrammes.
    NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy Femi Babafemi announced the discovery in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
    Babafemi said that the operatives also arrested no fewer than seven of the drug kingpins behind the syndicates in separate raids in Kogi, Nasarawa State and Benue.
    He said that the arrest was made as the offenders attempted to evade the frequent road interdiction efforts by officers of the Kogi command of the agency.
    He also said that the cartels were intercepted on July 12 at a jetty in Idah, Kogi, in a car marked Lagos SMK 345 CG, loaded with 487 kilogrammes of cannabis.
    “In Nasarawa State, a team of NDLEA operatives had on July 8 raided one of the most hostile drug joints in the state capital.
    “More than 356 kilogrammes of cannabis and various psychotropic substances were recovered.
    “This is addition to the arrest of four major drug dealers, including the most notorious drug kingpin in Nasarawa State.
    “His drug distribution tentacles cut across Kano State, Plateau, Benue and parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
    “Curiously, some quantities of cocaine were intercepted in Benue on July 8, July 9 and July 13.
    “Indeed, the supplier was arrested with 29.17 grammes of crack cocaine.
    “In another raid on July 13, the Benue command also seized some quantities of cocaine,” he said.
    Babafemi quoted the Chairman, NDLEA, retired Brig.-Brig Buba Marwa, as commending the commanders, officers and men of Kogi, Nasarawa State and Benue commands of the agency.
    He said Marwa charged them not to relent but remain resolute in their commitment to rid every community of illicit drug peddling.
  • NLC declares indefinite strike in Nasarawa

    NLC declares indefinite strike in Nasarawa

    The Organised Labour in Nasarawa State has declared an indefinite strike to begin Tuesday, June 15.

    The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Yusuf Iya made the announcement on Tuesday at the Labour House in Lafia, the state capital.

    He said the decision to embark on the indefinite strike was reached after a meeting of the state executive council held on Tuesday.

    The labour unions are demanding implementation of promotions which they say have lingered for over a decade, implementation of annual increments, training among others.

    “You would recall that after the 21-day and seven-day ultimatums we issued elapsed on Wednesday, June 9 2021 and we are supposed to commence three days warning strike, but stayed action due to the intervention of the traditional rulers.

    “In view of that, the Organised Labour held an emergency meeting today Monday, 14th June 2021 and resolved that, since all the necessary protocols were followed in order to pursue our legitimate demands from the government to see the need to pay the last tranche of August 2016, implement our promotions of over a decade and conclude the national minimum wage negotiation, but which turns futile,” Iya said while addressing journalists on Tuesday.

    The Organize Labour therefore enjoined all workers to proceed on indefinite strike action as from Tuesday 15th June, 2021 immediately until an amicable resolution is reached with the Government on our demands”

    The state governor Abdullahi Sule in reaction said he is willing to pay all legitimate remunerations once the state financial capacity improves.

    The governor made the remarks when he received his coordinators recently at the government house.

    He said,” As long as we have the money, without being asked, we will address it and pay”

    “All my life, I have been promoted. I went through promotion from a simple Engineer, to Engineer I, Engineer II, to Senior Engineer, Principal Engineer, to Assist Engineer, Engineer and then I became Managing Director.

    “How could I then deny any worker the right to be promoted?”

  • Gunmen kill six in fresh attack in Nasarawa

    Gunmen kill six in fresh attack in Nasarawa

    Gunmen suspected to be herders have killed six farmers in a Tiv settlement in Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

    President, Tiv Development Association (TIDA) Nasarawa State, Comrade Peter Ahemba, who confirmed the incident, told newsmen the gunmen invaded Tse-Jimin village, Aloshi kingdom of Keana LGA at about 9:45pm Friday.

    Ahemba said those killed include Batholomi Yahaya, Mnena Gideon, Ityokugh Yakubu, Timothy Aye, Ababi Tsavbee and Blessing Oliver.

    “My call on the government of Nasarawa State is to strengthen the security of lives and properties of the citizens including that of the Tiv people of Nasarawa State; this attack is unprovoked,” he said.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Nasarawa State Command, ASP Nansel Ranham, was unreachable as at the time this report was filed.

  • BREAKING: Gunmen kidnap Nasarawa Assembly member, demand N100m

    BREAKING: Gunmen kidnap Nasarawa Assembly member, demand N100m

    A member of the Nasarawa State House Assembly (NSHA) representing Nasarawa Central State Constituency, Hon. Ismail Danbaba, has been kidnapped by gunmen.

    The kidnappers have demanded for N100million as ransom.

    An eyewitness said Danbaba was kidnapped on Saturday evening while traveling to Jos, Plateau State, to attend an official function.

    Danbaba reportedly alighted from his vehicle to ease himself around a forest area on the Nasarawa-Jos road, when the kidnappers descended on him and whisked him away.

    Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Mohammed Adamu Omadefu, who confirmed the development, said the incident happened in Sanga local government area of Kaduna State.

    He explained that the kidnapped lawmaker had passed Andaha in Akwanga local government area of Nasarawa State heading to the forest area in Kaduna State when the kidnappers ambushed him and whisked him away.

  • Gunmen Kill driver, kidnap 13 passengers in Nasarawa

    Gunmen Kill driver, kidnap 13 passengers in Nasarawa

    Kidnappers have killed a driver identified as Adamu Usman and abducted 13 passengers along Shafa-Abakpa -Umaisha road in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

    According to reports, the deceased, who was shot thrice on the abdomen, died while being treated at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, on Tuesday night.

    Ibrahim Saidu, a driver, who narrowly escaped the attack, said the incident happened around 5pm.

    He said the kidnappers in their larger numbers emerged from the bush and attacked four vehicles coming from Ugya village.

    He said the vehicles were conveying passengers from Ugya to Abaji and Toto town when they were attacked.

    Saidu said the kidnappers surrounded the vehicles after the driver lost control and whisked away 13 passengers, including a middle-aged woman, into the bush.

    “In fact, I was driving behind the four vehicles in front of me, but it was God that saved when I stopped at one of the village to pick a passenger. As I was coming, I heard gunshot and immediately made a U-turn,” he said.

    While commenting on the incident, the Ohimegye of Opanda-Umaisha, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Usman Abdullahi, said bandits hiding in forest along the axis have been terrorising travellers.

    “There are some remnants of bandits that are terrorising our people along this axis, which I am appealing to the state government to collaborate with federal government to see how these bandits are flushed out completely,” he said.

    Two weeks ago, nine travellers who were returning from Ugya market along the axis, were abducted.

    A total of N9 million was said to have paid before they regained freedom.

  • Gunmen kidnap Nasarawa lawmaker’s brother, demand N10 million

    Gunmen kidnap Nasarawa lawmaker’s brother, demand N10 million

    The Councilor representing Agbashi Electoral Ward in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Mr. Jibrin Ede, has allegedly been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

    Member of the State House of Assembly representing Doma South Constituency, Hon. John Osewu, who is also an elder brother to the victim, made the revelation while speaking with newsmen on Saturday in Lafia.

    Hon. Osewu said that the victim was abducted in the early hours of Saturday when he was on his way to Okpata community in Doma LGA to see a friend.

    “My younger brother was kidnapped this morning when he was going to see his friend in the Okpata community. Now the kidnappers are demanding N10 million and I don’t know how to get such an amount of money.

    “When I spoke with the victim, he was crying and complained that his legs are swollen up because of the distance he trekked with the kidnappers into the forest,” he said.

    When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ranham Nansel, said the Command was yet to get an official report on the matter.