The newly inaugurated chairmen of local government councils in Adamawa State have elected officers to lead their association.
The chairmen who are to relate collectively as the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, picked their officials on Monday, hours after they were sworn in at a ceremony in the state capital, Yola.
The new officials include Suleiman Ahmed Gangkuba, chairman of Toungo Council who became chairman of ALGON,
Danbiyu Paul Tumba of Michika Council, who was elected the vice chairman, and Idris Yahaya of Song Council, who became the secretary of the association.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who has congratulated the new ALGON officials, charged them to ensure transparency and accountability in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The governor told them that under him, council chairmen had enjoyed autonomy to run their various councils, stressing that his administration had allowed them the autonomy that the Supreme Court declared only last week.
“Utilise this independence to build on what your predecessors have achieved and serve your communities effectively,” he told the chairmen and their new leaders.
Adamawa council chairmen elect officers
Adamawa council chairmen elect officers
Nigeria will only succeed when we support the President
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said that Nigeria will only succeed when the citizens support the President and ”that if Nigeria fails, everybody fails. The sub-nationals, like Rivers State, and any other state will also fail.”
This comes as he called for speedy investigation of suspects arrested for crime and taken through the unimpeded process of legal trials to ensure that they did not eventually get dumped in the correctional centres unduly on the awaiting trial list.
This, he said, will place more demand on the Nigeria Police Force and the Judiciary to rise to the challenge of ensuring that their institutions truly function effectively towards achieving the desired successes of decongesting correctional centres and dispensing justice.
Fubara insisted that such an approach will contribute largely to solving the incidences of overcrowded correctional centres with awaiting trial inmates across the country, including the attendant financial burden required for their upkeep.
The governor gave the charge when he received the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions, led by its Chairman, Chinedu Ogah, on a courtesy visit to the Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chukwudi, and sent to newsmen.
The Governor said: “I know that the State Government, from time to time, I mean, through the Chief Judge, had visited the Correctional Centres, and after evaluation, and I have seen a few letters he has written about what he saw on his visit, and having confirmed, and accessed a few of the inmates, he had granted them either bail or pardon.
“But this issue goes back to one major thing: institutions that we call the Police Force and the Judiciary. Most of these issues that we are talking about; overcrowding of the Correctional Centres, might be due to delay in the trial of their cases. That is the truth.
“The other aspect is that you arrest somebody wrongfully or whatever, and the process of investigation takes two, three, four years. So, we need to make sure that our institutions are functioning effectively. If they are functioning effectively, I strongly believe that most of these issues of over-crowding of the Correctional Centres won’t be there.”
Fubara added, “But, this is where we are, and we will continue to encourage our system to do it better. Maybe, if we had made these complaints earlier, some of the corrections would have been done.
“So, now that we are saying it, I believe they are hearing, and they will expedite action to make sure that some of these things are put to check.”
The governor said his administration is focused on the needs of Rivers people, adding that while addressing those needs, it is also mindful of the importance of properly integrating ex-convicts into the society.
Fubara, however, advised, “We also need to ensure that proper evaluations are done to ensure that we are not endangering our people.
“It is not just to say we need to reintegrate them. We also need to do the proper thing to make sure that when they leave the centres, they can fit into society.
“I think even in the Correctional Centres, they have vocational activities there. Some of them have the opportunity of running academic programmes online.
“So, first of all, they should also show this commitment that they want to change, that they want to be part of the system, coming back to the society, and we as a government, will do all we can make it possible.”
The Governor expressed delight that issues of the correctional centres attracted the attention of the National Assembly, which means that the government is alive and up to its responsibility.
Fubara also thanked members of the committee for the visit, and acknowledged the modest achievements of his administration so far, particularly in ensuring a reduction of crime in the State compared to what was inherited.
He said, “It goes to say just one thing: we know what the problem is, and we are tackling the problem from the root cause.
“What is the problem associated with crime: unemployment, insecurity. This insecurity is economic insecurity and that is what causes crime.
“It is a global issue, though but as a State, we will continue to do our best to see to it that our youths are engaged meaningfully, and are discouraged from associating with anything that will bring a bad image to our State.”
Fubara explained that his administration has continued to support the Controller of the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre with monthly subvention to assist in the day-to-day running of his office as well as other levels of assistance.
The Governor noted that most of the correctional centres were built over 80 years ago when nobody envisaged that the number of inmates would increase astronomically as witnessed now.
But he said that what the Federal Government is doing in the state by building new facilities to house inmates and the plan to relocate correctional centres in the city centre will be something to support.
“I will mandate the Secretary to the State Government to go and access what is going on there, and liaise with the appropriate authorities and see where we can come in to complete it so that this issue of having these Correctional Centres in the centre of the city which is not a good idea, at least, we can solve that problem once and for all.”
Fubara charged the committee to play its part effectively by making the requisite laws and securing the legislative backing that can eventually correct the mistakes that have been noticed.
He explained, “It shouldn’t be something we just put in our Constitution. It should be given all the strength of implementation or execution of those laws. So, you should help us do it right, and we will take it from there on the part of execution which is the duty of the Executive.”
Speaking further, Fubara said: “Let me thank you, more especially for coming to see us. Let me on behalf of the Government and the good people of Rivers State, assure you that you have not made any mistake.
“You have done the right thing, and you have taken the right step. I believe that by the end of your visit, you are going to come up with recommendations that are going to help us solve some of these problems.
“But in all, we all have to put hands together to support this administration of our President. Nigeria is a very big and complex society; with different ideologies, multi-cultural beliefs, and social differences, but we are all here as one because of the flag of Nigeria.
“So, what we need to do is to ensure that we work as one, on one common interest to make sure that we sustain this entity called Nigeria. If Nigeria succeeds, we all succeed. And Nigeria will only succeed when we support the President.
“If Nigeria fails, everybody fails. The sub-nationals, like Rivers State, and any other state will also fail. You can’t succeed just as a state. Your success must be extended to the centre,” he added.
In his speech, the leader of the delegation and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, explained that they are in Rivers State to oversight all the Correctional Institutions domiciled in the State.
Ogah noted the gross neglect that the Correctional Service has suffered in the country, particularly in the aspect of security.
He listed four Correctional Service centres in Rivers State including Port Harcourt, Ahoada, Degema and the Farm Settlement; with each housing about 4,000 inmates, adding that 91 per cent of such inmates are awaiting trial.
Ogah said, “And most of these people are not yet convicted, and some of them are not being justified: what the case is all about. The major issue, the negligence aspect of the security, is that they don’t care how to reintegrate, reform, and bring them back into society so they cannot indulge in crime.
“If we look into it, we find out that, that is the only way we can ensure the security of lives and property in this country, by making sure that those we feel have already committed crimes are reformed and reintegrated into the society by giving them skills and opportunity so that they can have something to feed, and not go back to crime.
“And Your Excellency, from our records, we found out that since you assumed office, there has been a reduction in crime rate in Rivers State because of what you have done by empowering the youths in all the local governments economically, in all the wards by giving them a sense of belonging too. We have to commend you for that.”
Ogah said further: “Rivers State is one of the places where the construction of 3,000-capacity centres is ongoing in Bori, and this construction has gotten up to 60 per cent.
“But Your Excellency, you know the truth: Federal Government cannot do it alone, and as a Governor who knows the problems of the people, that is our essence of coming to you to partner with the Committee on Reformatory Institutions to know what we can do together to relocate that correctional service centre.”
He, therefore, solicited the support of the State Government to make the initiative of the Federal Government succeed for the peace and development of Rivers State and Nigeria.
Constitutional amendment: We are focused on state creation, police – House of Reps
Philip Agbese, the Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, has stated that the constitutional review process focuses on state creation, state police, and other key issues.
During an interview on Arise TV, Agbese lauded the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, for his exceptional leadership and innovative approach to constitutional review.
He noted that the Kalu-led committee has adopted a citizen-driven approach, engaging various stakeholders and soliciting input from Nigerians nationwide.
Agbese noted that these efforts have not only enhanced the review process but also fostered a sense of ownership and inclusivity among Nigerians.
“We consequently identified critical stakeholders in various sectors to interface with us, provide their insight and guide us through the process. These efforts have not only enhanced the review process but also fostered a sense of ownership and inclusivity among Nigerians.
“The committee has set a timeline for themselves and is aggressively working on areas of concern to Nigerians, such as state creation, state police, local government autonomy, and contradictions in local government election and autonomy and funding for the judiciary,” he said.
Agbese assured that the committee will keep its promise of concluding the process before December 2025.
“We are trying to amend the constitution and not create further problems for the nation.
“We want a constitution that is as flexible as possible and would strengthen our institutions. We strongly believe that we can have a constitution that will not only unite us but will also give a sense of nationhood to our citizens,” he said.
Constitutional amendment: We are focused on state creation, police – House of Reps
Jaiz Bank targets N70bn capital base December
Jaiz Bank is set to increase its capital base to N70 billion by the end of 2024.
This was as the bank restated its commitment to become the centre of Islamic banking in Africa.
This disclosure was made by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mustapha Bintube, during a send-off ceremony held in Abuja for 11 retired board members, including the bank’s pioneer chairman, Alhaji Umar Abdul Mutallab.
Jaiz Bank operating since 2012 is a pioneering non-interest bank in Nigeria, providing ethical services to individuals, and corporate and government entities.
In a statement on Monday, Bintube highlighted the bank’s financial performance and its new banking system, offering people alternatives in banking operations.
He noted that Jaiz Bank achieved a profit of N11 billion in 2023.
He revealed that as of June 30, 2024, the bank had already surpassed this profit figure, indicating robust growth and operational success.
With the recapitalisation exercise, We have banks sourcing funds, but today Jaiz already met up that minimum recapitalisation and we plan to hit N70bn capital base by year-end.”
Jaiz Bank and other non-interest banks hoping to achieve national status have till 31st March, 2026 to record N20bn capital base as directed by the Central Bank of Nigeria under its ongoing banking system recapitalisation.
However, the bank currently has a paid-up capital base of N18.6bn which falls short by N1.4bn.
Bintube also revealed the bank’s expansion plans from its initial three branches in Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano to a current total of 54 branches, with plans to reach 60 branches by year-end.
“Our major dream is to expand our presence globally,” Bintube stated, reflecting on the bank’s humble beginnings in 2012 with an initial capital of N6bn.
He attributed the bank’s success to its dedicated team and strategic partnerships, which have enabled it to grow and thrive in the competitive financial sector.
Former Chairman Dr. Umar Abdul Mutallab, in his address, expressed his pride in Jaiz Bank’s achievements as Nigeria’s first non-interest Islamic bank. He commended the efforts of various institutions, particularly the Islamic Development Bank, which played a crucial role in the bank’s establishment.
Dr Mutallab recounted the challenging early days when Jaiz Bank’s promoters had only N4 billion, and it was the timely intervention of Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who provided N1bn to meet the N5bn required for registration, that saved the venture from collapse.
Dr. Mutallab also praised the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, for his encouragement and support in realizing the dream of Jaiz Bank.
He took the occasion to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of other individuals and institutions, both living and deceased, who have supported the bank’s journey.
“Jaiz Bank sees itself as a major Islamic bank in Nigeria,” Mutallab asserted, urging the current management to continue striving for excellence and expansion. He expressed confidence in the bank’s future, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and strategic vision in achieving its goals.
“Jaiz Bank’s commitment to non-interest banking principles and its focus on ethical financial services have positioned it as a trailblazer in Nigeria’s banking sector.
“As the bank looks forward to reaching new heights, it remains dedicated to serving its customers with integrity and innovation,” the statement concluded.
Hardship: Southeast youths will not protest against Tinubu – Gov Uzodinma
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has assured that Southeast youths will shun the intending national protest against President Bola Tinubu.
Uzodinma said those behind the planned protest are enemies of Nigeria who wants to destabilise the national government.
He spoke in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State during the grand finale of the campaign for local government election by the All Progressive Congress, APC.
According to Uzodinma: “To the youths of Southeast, because we are on the path of growth, our enemies are trying to disorganise national government.
“This government is our government, the government of President Bola Tinubu is our government. So nobody from Southeast will protest. We are not aggrieved, we have hope.
“Whatever they say, this government is barely one year in office. Yes, we are aware of the hardship, we are aware things are hard, but I promise you that the president is working so hard to release money to the people, to deliver infrastructure to the people and to release and increase food security to the people. Follow your leaders, work with your leaders.”
Hardship: Southeast youths will not protest against Tinubu – Gov Uzodinma
NLC making itself a meddlesome interloper
The Labour Party, on Monday, warned the Nigeria Labour Congress to desist from dragging the party and its leadership in the mud to appease their alleged sponsors.
This was even as the opposition party reiterated that former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and Julius Abure, remain their presidential flagbearer and national chairman, respectively.
The warning was issued in Abuja by the Director General of the LP Directorate on Mobilisation and Integration, Marcel Ngogbehei.
Ngogbehei was reacting to a statement credited to the NLC National Transition Committee, which allegedly referred to Abure as a former LP national chairman.
The statement further directed party stakeholders to boycott the planned congress by the LP in Anambra, Imo, Delta and the Federal Capital Territory.
But in its reaction on Monday, the LP directorate on mobilisation described the circular as childish, malicious and misleading, stressing that the NLC has no authority to set up any transition committee for any party in Nigeria.
Ngogbehei further urged the NLC to act responsibly by respecting the reconciliation move initiated by Obi or seek legal redress if they feel the need to do so.
He said, “The transition committee has become a destructive agent, seemingly working for the government to eliminate any perceived opposition structures in the country. The citizens are groaning under government policies that have left the Nigerian workers poorer.
“Rather than the current NLC to learn from Oshiomhole’s years of courageous leadership and engage the government to protect the interests of Nigerian workers and the citizens at large, they are busy meddling into political party affairs, attempting to de-market the only true opposition party in the country.
“To the discerning minds, the NLC is making itself a meddlesome interloper and has no place in law. If they do, it’s more responsible to approach the court than carry out destructive actions that would benefit the current government.”
Court dismisses Imasuagbon’s suit challenging Akpata’s candidacy
The Federal High Court sitting in Benin, the Edo State capital, on Monday, dismissed a lawsuit filed by Kenneth Imasuagbon challenging the candidacy of the Labour Party’s governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata for the 2024 governorship race in the state.
Justice Babatunde Quadri ruled that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit which lacked merit and was based on speculation.
The court also claimed that Imasuagbon failed to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanisms within the Labour Party before seeking legal action.
The court further held that Imasuagbon’s claim of Akpata not signing the indemnity form was statute-barred and, therefore, lacked jurisdiction.
In its judgment, the court also declared the lawsuit as premature and without substantial evidence to support its claims.
The judge said, “This court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit. It lacks merit and it is based on speculation. The claimant failed to exhaust the internal dispute resolution of the party before seeking legal action hence robbing the court of jurisdiction.
“The claim that Akpata did not sign the indemnity form is status-barred and, therefore, the court lacks jurisdiction.”
The ruling, therefore, upheld Akpata as the LP candidate in the forthcoming state governorship election.
Before now, Imasuangbon had approached the FHC in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, challenging Akpata’s nomination as the party’s candidate because the LP did not follow the electoral guidelines in the primaries, among other grounds.
He also alleged that the conduct of the LP primaries was marred with over voting which is contrary to the party’s constitution.
Akpata was declared winner of the primary election conducted by the Julius Abure faction of the LP, after he defeated Imasuagbon and four others on February 23.
However, the Lamidi Apapa faction had on February 22, 2024, written to the Independent National Electoral Commission that Anderson Asemota and Monday Mawah were the LP governorship candidate and running mate respectively in the state.
Taraba gov unveils advisory committee on LG autonomy
Taraba Governor, Agbu Kefas on Monday, inaugurated an advisory committee to guide the state government on the implementation of the Supreme Court’s judgement affirming financial autonomy for local government councils in the country.
Inaugurating the committee at the Exco chambers of the Taraba Government House in Jalingo, Kefas tasked the committee to come up with a roadmap for the implementation of the judgement.
Kefas noted that the event marked a milestone in the journey towards a more democratic, accountable and efficient governance system in the state, adding that the judgement aligns with his commitment to decentralisation and local empowerment.
The governor said he had since in April told the state Bureau for Local Government, Traditional and Chieftaincy Affairs that local government chairpersons should take full responsibility for the management of the joint account and other administrative affairs of their areas.
“This directive is not just a policy change. It is a profound shift towards true autonomy and self-governance for our local governments. It also empowers them to make decisions that directly affect the welfare of our constituents, ensuring that resources are utilised efficiently and effectively to meet local demands.
“The establishment of this advisory committee is a clear demonstration of our determined commitment to strengthening local governments in Taraba State.
“I have no doubt that with the combined effort of this committee, the Bureau for Local Government, Traditional and Chieftaincy Affairs and all stakeholders, we will achieve our vision of decentralised, empowered and prosperous Taraba,” he said.
A former Speaker of the State House of Assembly and present Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Abel Diah is to chair the committee, with Ezekiel Polycarp as secretary.
Other members are the Secretary to the Government of the State, Timothy Kataps, the state chairperson of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Hassan Aminu, the State attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Yakubu Maikasuwa, Lilian Jonathan and Bala Hussein.
Oyebanji orders integrity test on Ekiti NYSC camp buildings
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has directed the state’s Bureau of Special Projects to conduct an integrity test on all buildings in the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camp at Ise/Orun Emure Ekiti.
Oyebanji gave the directive in Ado Ekiti on Monday, during a meeting with members of the Governing Council of the NYSC led by Ekiti State Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr Gold Adedayo.
The order, which followed the collapse of the wall of a bathroom which injured two corps members on Friday, is to determine how safe the buildings are for NYSC members.
Recall that following the collapse, the governor directed the construction of 45 units of toilets and bathrooms in the camp, which construction work began on Monday morning. Oyebanji also directed the state electricity board to provide solar-powered electricity at the camp.
The governor said, “The first thing we have to do is to conduct an integrity test on all the buildings in that camp. The outcome of the integrity test will guide the government’s further actions on the camp facilities in a bid to improve the overall living conditions within the camp.
“The integrity test would involve a thorough inspection of the camp’s structures to assess their durability and safety standard”.
Oyebanji highlighted the need for urgent improvement in the infrastructure of the NYSC camp, assuring the corps members of his administration’s continued support and recognition for their efforts.
He said, “My response to your request, there are some that we will do immediately, the issue of solar light, I will ask the people in charge of electricity to go there and see how we can put solar light, that will be done immediately”.
Earlier in his remark, the NYSC State Coordinator, Alhaji Riko Shuaibu, thanked the governor for his commitment to the safety and welfare of the youth corps and for the approval for the construction of 45 units of modern toilets and bathrooms.
Shuaibu said the purpose of the visit was to inform the governor of the challenges of the NYSC camp and solicit the state government’s intervention.
Embargo on Rivers account illegal joke taken too far – Pro-democracy group
A pro-democracy group, the People’s Congress (PC) has dismissed the resolution of the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers Assembly purportedly suspending all expenditures of Governor Siminalayi Fubara until he re-presents his budget before the factional House.
It could be recalled that the factional House of Assembly during a plenary on Monday, announced a shutdown of all expenditures until Governor Siminalayi Fubara presents his budget before the House.
But in a statement signed by its President, Dr Nicholas Udenta, made available to TVN on Monday, he said that the actions of the lawmakers were mere political grandstanding, lacking legal basis and legitimacy.
Udenta said according to the law, the lawmakers were no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, having defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
He further described the resolution as an “illegal joke,” stressing that Governor Fubara had in December 2023, signed the budget of N800 billion into law after presenting it before lawmakers led by the former speaker, Edison Ehie.
He emphasised that the purported resolution by Amaewhule and his colleagues is a “distractive joke” that should be disregarded.
He also noted that “the only recognised Rivers Assembly, according to law and the people of Rivers State, is the one led by Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo.”
“We are deeply disappointed at the resolution of Martin Amaewhule and his co-travellers, which purportedly suspends all expenditures of Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara until he re-presents his budget before the House.
“First and foremost, Martin Amaewhule and his colleagues have lost their membership of the Rivers Assembly, following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress on the 11th day of December 2023, as declared by the then speaker, Edison Ehie, on 13th December 2023.
“Therefore, Martin Amaewhule and his colleagues lack the locus standi to make such demands from a democratically elected governor. Their resolution is simply an illegal joke taken too far. We urge the Governor to completely ignore their distracting actions.
“Secondly, the 2024 Rivers State budget was signed into law in December 2023, after being presented and approved by lawmakers led by the former speaker, Edison Ehie. Most of the projects captured in the budget are either completed or nearing completion.
“Nowhere in the world is a budget presented twice, nor is there any state in Nigeria where a budget is presented to two Houses of Assembly. Most importantly, there’s only one House of Assembly in Rivers State, which is led by Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo.
“That’s the only one recognised by law and the people of Rivers State. The Martin Amaewhule-led faction passing anti-people resolutions doesn’t represent the interests of Rivers people but that of their paymasters.
“Their latest resolution is nothing but a comical display of illegality. They are committing political suicide by continuously seeking to sabotage the developmental efforts of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Rivers people are watching.
“We urge Governor Fubara to remain focused on his duties and not be swayed by this illegitimate group’s threats. Similarly, we advise the current speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, to ignore their distractions and continue to discharge his responsibilities with integrity.
“It is essential to recognise that the Amaewhule-led group’s actions are mere political grandstanding, lacking legal basis and legitimacy. We assure the good people of Rivers State that the authentic lawmakers are committed to serving their interests and ensuring the state’s progress.
“We warn the former lawmakers to desist from their illegal actions, as they are no longer recognised as members of the Rivers State Assembly. Their attempts to disrupt the state’s governance will not be tolerated,” he stated.
Embargo on Rivers account illegal joke taken too far – Pro-democracy group