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Tag: Zamfara State

  • Gov Lawal doles out car gifts to newly elected LG chairmen, deputies

    Gov Lawal doles out car gifts to newly elected LG chairmen, deputies

    Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has presented official vehicles to the newly elected local government chairmen and their deputies in the State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the council chairmen were elected during the Saturday council poll conducted by the Zamfara State Independent Electoral Commission.

    Governor Lawal tasked the newly elected chairmen of the 14 local government areas in the State on transparency and accountability.

    Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony, Lawal urged them the council chairmen to consider their election as a call to service and  to deliver dividends of democracy to their respective communities.
    Lawal stressed that the ultimate goal of the local government system in Nigeria is to bring the government closer to the people at the grassroots.

    “This is especially crucial at this time, as local government councils, as the third tier of government, are vital in complementing the initiatives of the present administration to rescue the state from socio-economic issues and the security challenges affecting all parts of the state.

    “Therefore, there is a need for synergy between the State and Local Government Councils to accelerate development at the grassroots levels, which, in turn, will place the entire State on the trajectory of growth and prosperity.

    “I urge you to see your election as a call to service by prioritizing the welfare of your people and ensuring equity and fairness in the distribution of development projects.

    ”This should be achieved by leveraging various social investment programs and other laudable initiatives introduced by the present administration to create employment opportunities for our teeming youths, make them productive, and curb the incessant crimes bedevilling the state.

    ”This can only be achieved when you embrace transparency, accountability, and prudence in managing public resources.

    “You must collaborate with the State Government, especially in light of the provisions of the 1999 constitution (as amended). The State Government will continue to collaborate with your councils to achieve our shared goals and build synergy for the development of our dear state.”

    Governor Lawal further urged the elected chairmen to engage with their communities actively.

    “You should establish effective channels of communication, which are essential in understanding the needs of the people you serve.

    “Your leadership should embody compassion and inclusivity by ensuring that no segment of society is left behind. Particular attention should be given to the most vulnerable – women, children, people with special needs, and older people.

    He commended security agencies, traditional and religious leaders as well as the  general public for making the election atmosphere peaceful.

    The council chairmen are Bashar Musa for Anka, Saidu Danbala for Bakura, Abdulhakim Ahmad for Birnin Magaji, Abubakar Umar for Bukkuyum, Nura Abdullahi for Bungudu, Aminu Falale for Gummi and Abubakar Imam for  Gusau Local Government.

    Others are  Manir Haidara for KauraNamoda, Sanusi Ahmed for Maradun, Bello Jabaka for Maru, Ibrahim Musa for Shinkafi, Yahayya Yari for  Talata Mafara, Garba Shehu for Tsafe and Samaila Husaini for Zurmi Local Government.

    Speaking on behalf others, the chairman of KauraNamoda Local Government Alhaji Manir Haidara, promised to run a transparent and inclusive administration.

    “We know the challenges of our respective councils and we are determined to bring positive change in our local government areas.

    “We thank the electorate, the party and the Zamfara State Independent Electoral Commission  for this opportunity to serve humanity.

  • Observers rate conduct of Zamfara LG election

    Observers rate conduct of Zamfara LG election

    The election observers delegation for Saturday’s local government councils election in Zamfara State has commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

    The leader of the delegation, Dr Larazus Nwachukwu, who spoke to newsmen in Gusau on Sunday said that the election was largely peaceful, free and fair. 18 political parties participated in the election.

    The State Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC) had declared PDP candidates winners of all the 14 Chairmanship and 147 Councillorship positions across the state.

    Nwachukwu said that the election observers team made up of 47 accredited NGOs and CSOs observed the election. He said that the observers were divided into three teams, which covered the three Senatorial Districts of the state.

    “Our teams visited all the 14 local government areas of the state. Based on the reports gathered, the exercise was generally peaceful as the electorate filed out in their numbers to exercise their constitutional rights. The election was largely peaceful and credible across the state,” he added.

    Nwachukwu attributed the success recorded in the election to the early distribution of election materials by the Zamfara Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC).

    ”The political parties’ agents were seen protecting the interest of their parties at the various polling units visited.

    “The election was credible and participatory across the state. We noticed that ZASIEC followed the due process and relevant electoral laws. Therefore, we are satisfied with all the election processes,” he explained.

  • BREAKING: PDP clears Zamfara State LG election

    BREAKING: PDP clears Zamfara State LG election

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has won all the 14 Local Government chairmanship and 147 councillor seats in the November 16 local government election in Zamfara State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports eighteen political parties participated in the election.

    Alhaji Bala Aliyu, the Chairman of the Zamfara Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC) disclosed this while announcing the winners of the election in Gusau on Sunday.

    “Based on the results announced by the Electoral and Returning Officers at different collation centres, at the end of the exercise, 14 candidates of the PDP won the chairmanship positions. The 147 candidates of the same party won all the councillorship positions in the state,” Aliyu said.

    According to him, the exercise was conducted peacefully and successful across the state.

    “We appreciate stakeholders, especially security agencies, media organisations, CSOs, NGOs as well as political parties,” he said. The commission’s chairman also lauded the electorate for orderliness and peaceful conduct during the exercise.

  • Zamfara opens up on payment of new minimum wage

    Zamfara opens up on payment of new minimum wage

    The Zamfara State Government says it will implement the N70,000 minimum wage very soon, the State Head of Service, Allhaji Ahmad Liman, has said.

    Liman, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Gusau on Wednesday reiterated Gov. Dauda Lawal administration’s commitment to promoting the welfare of the civil servants in the state.

    He said that Lawal has already promised to pay N70,000 minimum wage to the state civil servants.

    “You know the state government set up a committee for the civil servants verification and that of the implementation of the 70,000 minimum wage. The two committees have been working day and night to complete the exercise,” he said.

    Liman emphasised that the committee’s responsibility was to provide an accurate framework of civil servants data in the state for immediate implementation of the minimum wage.

    “The welfare of workers is a top priority for our administration, I am very confident that the implementation of the new minimum is the top priority agenda of Gov. Lawal.

    “The two committees conducting the ongoing exercises are expected to complete their work by the end of this month of November,” he stated.

    Liman said that as soon as the committees complete their work and present their report to the governor he would approve the new minimum wage.

    He said, “You know, the ongoing exercise is necessary to address various irregularities in the civil service sector inherited by the previous administration.”

    The head of service mentioned ghost workers and over payment among the irregularities discovered at the ongoing verification exercise.

    “We discovered a single general hospital in the state with 22 medical doctors receiving salary monthly, The ongoing exercise discovered only two doctors are real workers in that hospital, all the remaining 20 doctors were fake workers.

    “There was also an issue of a secondary school teacher receiving N140,000 as his monthly salary, but the committee discovered that he was receiving N700,000,” he explained.

    Liman further disclosed another issue of a medical doctor receiving N700,000 as his monthly salary but he was discovered by the committee receiving over N1 million.

    “There are a lot of issues related to the civil service sector in the state, I believe at the end of the ongoing exercise, the details of the findings of the committee will be made available to the public.

    “I am therefore appealing to the civil servants in the state to remain calm, the state government under Gov. Dauda Lawal is committed to their welfare,” he explained.

  • Ex-Rep dumps PDP in Zamfara

    Ex-Rep dumps PDP in Zamfara

    The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed the defection of a former member of the House of Representatives, Kabiru Classic, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to its fold.

    The State APC Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris, confirmed the former lawmaker’s defection to the APC while speaking to newsmen in Gusau on Thursday.

    Classic represented the Anka/Talata Mafara Federal Constituency between 2019 and 2023 on the platform of PDP.

    Idris said that Classic defected along with all the PDP executives in Talata Mafara Local Government Area and 10 out of the 11 PDP Ward Chairmen in the area.

    He said that the former lawmaker and other defectors were received by the State APC Chairman, Alhaji Tukur Danfulani and the Chairman, Sen. Abdul’aziz Yari Political Organisation, Alhaji Lawal Liman.

    The publicity scribe quoted Danfulani as describing the former lawmaker as a seasoned politician with a long time experience of political development in the state.

    “This is a great development to our party, just recently the serving Rep. member, Sulaiman Abubakar-Gummi (Gummi/Bukkuyum Constituency) also moved to the APC over an alleged crisis in the state PDP chapter.

    “This is an indication that the PDP leadership in Zamfara has no internal democracy. On behalf of the entire APC members in Zamfara, we are happy and welcome Classic to our great party,”. Idris quoted Danfulani as adding.

    He said  that APC remained the party to beat with a good intention  and zeal to move Zamfara as well as Nigeria forward.

  • Zamfara announces date for LG election

    Zamfara announces date for LG election

    The Zamfara Independent Electoral Commission has fixed Nov. 16, for the conduct of Local Government elections in the State.

    The Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mr Bala Aliyu disclosed this at a press briefing in Gusau on Monday.

    Aliyu said sales of nomination forms for interested candidates would commence on Oct. 25, and to end on Nov. 1.

    He noted that all necessary arrangements had been made by the commission to ensure hitch-free local government polls.

    The chairman advised all government employees who have interest to contest in the elections to resign 30 days before the elections in line with the provision of the law.

  • Fire razes Zamfara Speaker’s residence

    Fire razes Zamfara Speaker’s residence

    An inferno has razed the residence of the Speaker, Zamfara House of Assembly, Alhaji Bilyaminu Moriki, in Gusau.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the house, Bello Madaro

    Madaro quoted the Clerk to the house, Mahmud Aliyu, as describing the disaster as tragic.

    Aliyu said that the inferno destroyed properties worth millions of Naira although no life was lost.

    He said, “The management of the Zamfara assembly was shocked over the fire incident which occurred on Sunday that razed down the speaker’s residence in Gusau.

    “On behalf of the lawmakers and entire staff of the house, I am expressing sympathy to the speaker and his family over

    the calamity,” Madaro quoted the clerk as saying.

    Aliyu urged the speaker and his family to consider the incident as a divine act destined by Allah.

    He prayed to Allah to avert the recurrence of the disaster, adding,

    “on behalf of the entire staff to the house, I extend sympathy over the ugly incident,” the clerk explained.

  • Why we disengaged 109 teachers in Zamfara – Board

    Why we disengaged 109 teachers in Zamfara – Board

    The Zamfara Teachers Service Board said the recent disengagement of the 109 contract teachers by the State government was not based on ethnic, tribal or religious reasons. Chairman of board, Alhaji Muhammad Aliyu-Anka, stated this while speaking to newsmen in Gusau on Friday.

    Recall that the State government recently announced the dismissal of 109 contracted teachers over failure to abide by the government contract policy.

    “You know, the disengagement of the teachers was not on ethnic, religious or tribal reasons, it was for the interest of the state. You know Gov. Dauda Lawal declared a state of emergency on the education sector of the state. The state government embarked on massive infrastructural investment on education across the state,” Aliyu-Anka said

    He said that the provision of qualified and regular teachers was necessary to achieve the government’s policy. He said that some of the teachers had abandoned their contracts and they were teaching at private schools while still collecting salaries from the government.

    Aliyu-Anka said, “The board recommended the termination of the contracts of teachers who did not abide by the rules and regulations of the state. Many of the disengaged teachers were not attending schools to teach, leaving volunteers to teach the pupils.”

    The chairman stated that the volunteer teachers were more qualified and they were not receiving salaries from the state government. He said, ”Considering the roles played by the volunteers in our schools, the state government plans to recruit 2000 teachers to fill the gaps by the disengaged teachers.”

  • NSCDC dismisses officer in Zamfara

    NSCDC dismisses officer in Zamfara

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Zamfara Command, has dismissed ASCII Maikano Sarkin-Tasha for alleged collaboration with bandits to supply hard drugs and ammunition.

    The State Commandant, Sani Mustapha, disclosed this on Saturday during a news briefing in Gusau.

    The police command in Zamfara on Friday paraded 17 suspected bandit collaborators, including Sarkin-Tasha.

    Mustapha said the command was shocked by the news of the arrest of its officer, allegedly for supplying ammunition and hard drugs to bandits in Zamfara.

    “According to our preliminary findings, the officer was arrested at a checkpoint, between Damba and Sabon Gida axis, while on transit to his hometown, Mada village of Gusau Local Government Area.

    “He was allegedly found with some elements suspected to be cannabis and other hard drugs in possession.

    ”Other items found on him were three armour of G3 rifles and one armour of anti-rocket launcher.

    “I wish to state that the Commandant-General of the Corps, Dr Ahmed Audi, who also received the news with shock and disappointment has condemned the alleged barbaric behaviour of the officer.

    “He has directed me to take necessary administrative actions, including immediate dismissal of the personnel from the Corps’ nominal roll.”

    Mustapha said that the command has zero-tolerance for indiscipline, corruption, criminality or any vices that were unbecoming of an officer of the corps.

    “Therefore, the action of the officer reflects only his own personality.

    ”It does not represent or reflect the image or character of officers and men of the Zamfara command or the Corps, nationwide.

    “In the spirit of inter-agency relationship and synergy, I will interface with the Commissioner of Police for further necessary actions.

    ”This is with the view to transferring the officer to the corps’ national headquarters, Abuja, for internal disciplinary action and prosecution,” he said

    Mustapha added that NSCDC was poised to work with other security agencies in the fight against crime and criminality in the state.

    According to him, it will not spare any action in enforcing discipline against any officer of the corps, no matter how highly placed.

    He pledged to pursue the case with utmost transparency,. saying, ”the corps does not condone any act of indiscipline, not to talk of banditry or terrorism allegations.

    “The corps shall keep the press and the public abreast of further developments in due course.”

  • APC to FG: Declare state of emergency on Zamfara

    APC to FG: Declare state of emergency on Zamfara

    The Zamfara Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the state considering the lingering security challenges facing it. This is contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Saturday by the State APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris.

    Idris said: “We are appealing to President Bola Tinubu to enforce a state of emergency in the state over insecurity. People of Zamfara have lost the confidence in the ability of the administration of Gov. Dauda Lawal to deal with the security situation in the state.

    “The Zamfara APC chapter commended the ongoing onslaught on bandits and terrorists in the state by the military in the North-Western states under the coordination and supervision of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello  Matawalle.”

    According to Idris, the ongoing military operations in the North-West as directed by Tinubu are certainly yielding unpredictable unprecedented results.

    He added, “Bandits’ leaders and their gangs have been subdued by the current development of the Federal Government’s fight against banditry. This is very impressive and needs to be sustained at all costs so that the region will be free from all forms of criminality.

    “As a party, we observe with dismay how the Zamfara Government is trying to sabotage the ongoing onslaught through his media campaigns. This is to distract the effort of the federal government under the coordination of the Minister of State for Defence.

    “We have observed that Lawal as the Governor of the state has never in anyway supported the military operations in the state in terms of logistics.”

    Idris recalled that the military had recently warned him to steer clear from their activities and efforts.

    ”Gov. Dauda is now bent on distracting the operation through media campaigns and propaganda. This is just as he is toying with the security of lives and properties of innocent Zamfara citizens for his political gains,” he opined.

    The publicity scribe said that calling on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on Zamfara was necessary so as to spoil the ‘mischievous plan’.

    Idris said, “This need is highly desirable so that the operation can go unhindered and the security operatives can go into the state without the governor and government of Zamfara politicizing the manhunt.

    ”This is as the state Governor, Dauda Lawal, has already begun by portraying himself as if he’s the sole sponsor of the operation, for which he has no hand.

    “Since he took over the mantle of leadership in the state as governor in May last year, Lawal has vehemently nurtured attacks on his predecessor, Matawalle.

    ”This included direct affront on the Minister’s property and baseless accusations, which always fell on deaf ears.

    “On many opportunities, Matawalle had offered himself both as Minister of State for Defence and as a citizen of Zamfara to partner with the governor in fighting the bandits.”

    According to him, he did so even before the situation escalated to when the acts of banditry, kidnappings for ransom and other heinous crimes became a daily affair, decrying, ” but the governor failed to comply.

    ”The president, concerned by the general outcry, directed Matawalle to lead the Defence Headquarters with the CDS to embark on full operation in fight against insecurity in the North-West.

    “The Minister and his fighters had effectively carried out the onerous task, decimating the criminals, their leaders and camps.

    ”They have been receiving accolades from all over the world except from Gov. Dauda Lawal and his team who are not happy with the onslaught being handled by Matawalle. The governor is now, as usual, turned to politicising and indirectly fighting Matawalle.”

    This, Idris claimed, was by revisiting his earlier accusations that Matawalle had embezzled Zamfara’s money. According to him, Lawal has been claiming that Matawalle left nothing for his administration.

    Idris added, ”As well as buying airtime at some media outlets to claim being the one coordinating the fight alongside the military without any recognition of the minister.

    “In his TV interviews, Gov. Lawal sarcastically asked, “who’s Matawalle, i am dealing with the Minister of Defence, Badaru, National Security Adviser and the President and I don’t need Matawalle.

    “When in reality, it’s Matawalle who was charged with the responsibility which saw the elimination of the most dangerous bandit, Haliru Sububu giving confidence to Nigerians that the others too will soon follow by meeting their Waterloo.

    “We are not surprised because a governor who can grant approval of over N1.3 billion  as alleged, to sponsor terrorism, denied the act.

    ”But he immediately redeployed all the Directors of the state Ministry of Finance, whom he believed were the ones who leaked the memo and still denied despite the redeployment letter in circulation, cannot be given public trust.”

    Idris alleged that it was the same  Lawal who budgeted over N19 billion for his wife’s kitchen, but kept recalling allegations against his predecessor, Matawalle.

    He added, ”When he cannot give account of the billions released to the state by the Federal Government in cash and grains as palliatives.

    ”These were distributed by the Governors of other states to their citizens but have remained a mirage in Zamfara.

    Idris added that the efforts of Matawalle in the fight against banditry when he was Governor in Zamfara were far ahead those of Lawal.

    ”This was because Matawalle had distributed 200 brand new Hilux vehicles to the security agencies in the state on the 8th July, 2020.

    “The well equipped vehicles were distributed amongst the Police, Nigerian Army, Air force, NSCDC, Immigration Service, FRSC, DSS, EFCC, NCoS, ZAROTA and HISBA Commission.

    “At the instance of the former Chief of Army  Staff (COAS), retired Lt.- Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, who was represented by GOC 3 Division, Maj.- Gen. Nuhu Angbazo and the then CP. Usman Nagogo.

    ”The vehicles were judiciously utilised and the desired result was achieved.

    “On the issue of the reconciliation and disarmament, the Matawalle administration executed it through the positive workable advice given by all the security agencies as against Lawal’s comments that it failed,” he added.

    According to Idris, all the Emirs, Islamic scholars and all major critical stakeholders in the state contributed immensely in all the meetings and strategies on how to end banditry.

    Also, they were highly accommodated for better results that were achieved at the end.

    When contacted, the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Haliru Andi, said the state leadership of the party was aware of the APC’s allegations.

    “We have seen the press release, we are making arrangements to react on the empty allegations against the PDP-led government in the state by the APC,” Andi explained.