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Over 5,000 members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers are expected to elect a new set of executives for the Society during an election to be conducted tomorrow in Kano, Daily Trust reports. Members of the society are to produce a new president, deputy president, three vice presidents, six national excos and other officers that would handle the affairs of the group.

Daily Trust gathered that three candidates namely; Engineer Tasiu Saad Gidiri, Engineer Joseph Olatunde Akinteye and Engineer Edith Yohanna Ishidi are aspiring for the post of deputy president of the Society. Ten candidates are aspiring for the position of vice president, 13 other members contesting for executive committee members and seven others for the statutory audit committee.

Daily Trust observed that two days ahead of the poll, candidates aspiring for various posts engaged in rigorous campaigns in their efforts to get votes. Electorates could be seen discussing about one candidate or the other during the conference, while candidates on their part, could be seen moving from one group of voters to the other in their quest to get their votes in tomorrow’s poll.

An NSE member, who preferred for anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to pressmen, told Daily Trust that arrangements had been concluded to conduct a hitch-free election tomorrow. He said, “everything has been put in place to ensure a hitch-free poll tomorrow. We have arranged with security men and supervisors that would monitor the election.

I am therefore, urging NSE members to conduct themselves during the poll so that other unions can emulate us during the conduct of their elections.” Our correspondent gathered that powerful delegations of engineers from Ghana, Sierra Leon and Kenya would join other engineers who would serve as observers during the poll. Members of the society converged on Kano on Sunday for the NSE’s National Engineering Conference and Annual General meeting tagged ‘Kano 2019’ scheduled to take place between 2nd and 6th December 2019.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nse-election-engineers-decide-tomorrow.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has said, to move Nigeria forward, it would require men and women who will continually refuse to engage in all forms of mediocrity and stick to their guns no matter the challenges. Addressing laureates of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) at the 12th Forum of Laureates of the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) in Abuja, the President said: “My years as President of this magnificent country has only succeeded in convincing me all the more that it would require men and women like these ones gathered here today, to move us to our next phase of being at the frontline of global restructuring and advancement.”

Represented by the Minister of Special Duties & Inter- Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, the president added, “These indeed are men and women who will continually refuse to engage in all forms of mediocrity and stick to their guns no matter the challenges confronting them. They are gathered here, to enlighten us and collaborate with like minds on policies that will move us, as a nation, forward.”

He said the laureates being celebrated were well-known for their productivity and intellectual might as they soar far above the hurdles of archaism and embrace fully, the gains of contemporary technology and refined art. Buhari said the main focus of the Forum of Laureates of the NNOM was to deliberate on salient issues of national interest, and as a result, create an enabling environment for the body of Laureates to channel views in policy making thereby contributing to national discourse. Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman, governor’s board of NNMA, Prof. Shekarau Yakubu, stated that the board has bestowed the award on 76 distinguished Nigerians from 1979 to date.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nigeria-needs-men-without-mediocrity-to-move-forward-buhari.html

The Police in Abia state on Tuesday gunned down a suspected notorious armed robber identified as Sampson Nwokocha, aka ‘Grave’ who has been terrorizing residents of Umuahia and its environs. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Ene Okon, who made this known to newsmen in Umuahia, said he was shot dead after a gun battle with his men following a tip-off.

He said that Nwokocha, who was recently released from prison, had been on the watch list of the command following his alleged numerous criminal activities.

He said, “It would be recalled that on Nov. 6 and 10, 2019, Nwokocha and his gang invaded a hotel and robbed staff and guests. “During the operation, one policeman on duty was shot dead and his rifle carted away. “Also on November 10, 2019, Nwokocha and his gang robbed attendants and customers of a filling station on Bank Road, Umuahia. “On different occasions, he led a gang that snatched vehicles from their owners within and outside of the capital city at gunpoint.

“He also robbed other locations and planned to attack the Correctional Service Centre (Prison) in Umuahia to liberate his mother and other inmates.” Okon warned criminals to desist from their nefarious activities or relocate as the command would not spare them. (NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/police-kill-notorious-armed-robbery-suspect-in-abia.html

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have discovered and busted a building where suspected internet fraudsters use as training outpost for potential cyber criminals on Essien Essien Street, Ikot Ibiok village, Eket Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. In statement signed by Head, Media and Publicity of the commission, Wilson Uwajaren about 23 suspected internet fraudsters were arrested during the operations which took place early hours of Thursday November 28, 2019.

The statement noted that the suspects between the ages of 19 and 35 years confessed that they were undergoing training in various aspects of cyber criminality such as; Love Scam, Online Trading Scam, Identity theft, etc.

The statement also disclosed that during questioning, the suspects narrated how they were recruited into the ‘Academy’ to be trained in cyber crimes, hence, while on training, they all carryout various functions such as Cooks, Duty master, ICT manager, etc, in the regimented premises to ensure a smooth running of the Academy.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/efcc-busts-yahoo-academy-in-akwa-ibom.html

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President Muhammadu Buhari has described the death of Kano businessman, Alhaji Tijjani Rabiu, the immediate younger brother of the late tycoonAlhaji Isyaku Rabiu, as “the fall of another star in the galaxy of commerce and trade in Northern Nigeria.” President Buhari, who was reacting to the death of Tijjani yesterday, said “the deceased belonged to a business dynasty that has become famous since the birth of modern Nigeria and who achieved business successes through sheer hard work and determination.”

The president, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, lauded Tijjani for “following the enviable path of his older brother, Isyaku Rabiu, who remained relevant in a tough, competitive environment despite the passage of time.”

president extended his condolences to Abdulsamad Rabiu, Chairman of Bua Group of Companies and other members of the family as well as to the government and people of Kano State over the passing away of Tijjani Rabiu.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-mourns-kano-businessman-tijjani-rabiu-2.html

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Gov’t officials justify foreign trips through MoUs – Expert Plans by the Federal Government over the years to fix its ageing refineries have not materialised despite signing several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to fix them, Daily Trust reports. In the last four years, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria signed MoUs with China,…

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nigerias-refineries-in-ruins-despite-mous-with-china-india-others.html

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The European Union (EU) has said that agriculture is the best way for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty. Ambassador-Designate of the EU delegation in Nigeria, Ketel Karlsen stated this in Kaduna at the weekend during the launch of Nigeria Competitiveness Project (NICOP) for Ginger, Tomatoes and Pepper.

He said, “We are here to launch a new competitiveness programme funded by European Union and our German counterpart. The programme combine amounts to 11million Euros.

“We are trying to promote some of those amazing produce that you have from the agriculture sector in Nigeria and Kaduna in particular. “And here we have spotted Tomato production that we know can be of quality that is compared to none and also pepper that is also of very good quality and Ginger I must say in particular that has a world class texture and quality coming from Kaduna state.” He added, “European Union has humble programmes in Nigeria, amounting to some 700 million Euros over the last five to six years. We are working in different sectors particularly aimed at supporting where we can generate significant employment for youths. “Agriculture is part of that solution.

We have seen it throughout the country. It may be that, the oil is dominating the export market, but when you look at the internal market of Nigeria, the internal economy and of course, the scope for development as well, I am sure that agriculture should be part of the solution. “This is why we are now identifying different value chains. Our leaders of Europe have put Africa at the very top of their agenda.

A new leadership has taken office and the first discussion they want to have as they resume work is a new strategy for Africa. Reinfigurating alliance for Africa, making sure that, there would be more investment from Europe to Africa, creating jobs.” He maintained that there will be mutual interest at the end of the day, considering the population growth, particularly in Nigeria. “It will be a win-win situation for all. Today, we are taking a very small but important step here in Kaduna, with these wonderful projects I have seen,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, organisers of the event, Aliyu Abubakar said, the project aims at improving competitiveness in ginger, tomatoes/chili, leather and garment value chains with focus in Abia, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, Kano and Plateau states. “For Kaduna state, focus is on ginger, tomatoes and chili. NICOP is implemented by GIZ under the supervision of FMITI and Ministry of Budget and National Planning. It is funded by the European Union and co-funded by the German BMZ (German Development Cooperation). “The overall objective of the programme is to strengthen Competitiveness of West Africa, and enhance the countries integration into the regional and international trade system,” he said.

Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of Kaduna state who was represented at the event by the Executive Secretary of Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA), Umma Aboki, said the programme was a welcome development and assured of the state government’s support.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/eu-to-buhari-use-agriculture-to-lift-100m-nigerians-out-of-poverty.html

Residents of Zamfara State, especially workers, have thrown their weight behind the decision of Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle to repeal the law backing jumbo allowances for former governors, their deputies, speakers and their deputies. Some of them who spoke to Daily Trust on Sunday said there was no moral justification for past political officeholders to allocate mindboggling allowances to themselves when pensioners in the state were owed billion of naira.

The secretary of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners in the state, Alhaji Abba Muhammad Dankande, said the abolishment of the law allowing for such packages for past political leaders was good for not only the pensioners but other citizens of the state too. “The annulment of the law is in order. We are totally in support of the decision. The pensioners in the state have been struggling to get their entitlements. Some have even died in the efforts to get their benefits. We are calling on the state government to offset the outstanding pension payments in the state,’’ Dankande said. A former deputy governor of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Wakkala, also told Daily Trust on Sunday that he was in support of anything that would stop the pillaging of the meagre resources of the state to the detriment of the public. “Former Governor Abdulaziz Yari deliberately withheld my entitlements as deputy governor. This happened when we were in office.

But he wrote a letter demanding for his so-called allowances. I can tell you that that money would have been used in mobilising politicians,’’ he alleged. Also, Usman Aminu said ordinary citizens of the state would have suffered for many years had the law not been repealed. He said the former Governor Yari administration was not sensitive to the needs of the poor in the state. “It means that, had the All Progressives Congress (APC) scaled through, 12 persons would have been pocketing N700 million yearly. And no one would know this because it would have been the former governor’s stooge in power. From this N700m, each of the 14 local government areas would have N50m yearly.

Imagine what N50m can do in a local government area,’’ he said. A retired civil servant, Alhaji Sani Kabiru, said it took him more than five years to get his retirement benefit during the past administration. He added that even when the benefit came, it was nothing to write home about. Aliyu Isah, a civil servant also said, “It is sheer wickedness for someone to corner N120m annually in an environment where some workers are still being paid N7,000. I am on grade level 10, but my salary is hovering around N37,000. “Workers tried hard to get pay increase, but to no avail. Look at how our leaders are allocating money to themselves. Had the state assembly not intervened, the state would have fleeced to the point of collapse; and it would have been very dangerous.’’

However, Umar Abdullahi said he did not see anything wrong in paying the huge allowances to the former governors and their deputies. He said people should not look at the amount of money but the enormous responsibilities of the past leaders. “If you look at the weight of the responsibilities they shoulder, even after leaving office, you would understand that the money is nothing. They are not ordinary citizens like you and I. They have domestic aides and a very large family to cater for. What is N10m? I see nothing wrong in this,’’ he said. From 1999 till date, Zamfara State has had three governors, three deputies, three assembly speakers and three deputy speakers, making a total of 12 so far.

After the amendment of the pension law in March this year, every month, each former governor would have N10m as upkeep allowance, deputies N5m each, former speakers N3m, while their deputies would get N1.5 each. A breakdown of the allowances showed that the three former governors of the state, Ahmad Sani Yarima, Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi and Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar would have been taking a whooping sum of N360m annually while the three former deputy governors would have been getting N180m. Also, the three former speakers would have gotten N108m while their deputies would have pocketed N54m annually had the law on the jumbo packages for them not been repealed.

The repealed law, among other things, also provided that a former governor was entitled to a monthly pension equivalent to the salary he was receiving while in office. Again, two vehicles would be bought by the state government, which would be replaced every four years. There would also be free medical treatment for a former governor and his immediate family, as well as a 30-day vacation within Nigeria or overseas. This was in addition to a five-bedroom house in any location of choice of the former governor within the country.

The law also extended similar largesse to former deputy governors, speakers of the state assembly and former deputy speakers. It is estimated that it would cost the state the sum of N702m every year to settle the upkeep allowances of the beneficiaries of the repealed law. Governor Matawalle had, on Wednesday assented to the bill stopping jumbo allowances for former governors, deputies, speakers and their deputies. The abolishment of the law came barely 48 hours after a letter by former Governor Yari to the Zamfara State Government, demanding the payment of his upkeep allowances.

The letter generated a heated debate within and outside the state. While assenting to the bill, Matawalle alleged that former Governor Yari paid himself N360m from the state pension funds, shortly before he left office. He also paid selected permanent secretaries. “If you remember, former Governor Yari sent a letter to me, demanding that his N10m monthly upkeep allowances be paid. He was even threatening to take me to court should I fail to pay the money.

“I called my deputy, the state assembly speaker and his deputy and asked whether they needed such mindboggling allowances and they all answered in negative. Then we decided to repeal the law backing the payment and I have assented to it. “Our successors will not find it easy to come up with such obnoxious law to pillage the little resources of the state in the future. There is no reason whatsoever the state should pay past leaders a whopping sum of N702m annually, to the detriment of dying pensioners in the state. “

It is on record that the backlog of pension and gratuity for local government workers and primary school teachers left behind by the Abdulaziz Yari administration stands at N3billion while that of the state government retired civil servants also stands at N3b,” Governor Matawalle said. The chairman of the publicity committee of the APC in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad Birnin Magaji, did not return multiple calls to him at the time of filing this report.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/zamfara-residents-react-to-past-leaders-jumbo-allowances.html

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The Nigerian Army says it has rescued 20 people including a medical team from the Boko Haram terrorists after a ‘fierce battle’ in Yobe State. A Nigerian Army spokesman, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, in a statement on Saturday said the operation took place at Babban Gida in Tarmuwa local government area on Nov. 27.

He disclosed that the troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE and elements of Yobe State Vigilantes supported by Air Task Force Operation, thwarted the attempt by some of the insurgents to infiltrate the town.

According to him, after a fierce battle that lasted about one hour, the terrorists withdrew with one of them killed while one Rocket Propelled Gun 7 (RPG 7) bomb was also recovered from them. “It is gratifying to note that all 20 abductees of the criminal insurgents including a team of medical personnel comprising one Musa Bulama (a medical doctor), Gana Yelwa (a Nurse) and Malam Bala Musa (Yobe State Primary Healthcare Ambulance driver) have been successfully rescued by the troops.

“Additionally, a Toyota SUV Ambulance belonging to the Yobe State Primary Healthcare Board earlier snatched by the insurgents was equally recovered by the gallant troops. “Others equally rescued are Adamu Madugu, Tukur Abdulkarim, Ibrahim Sulaiman and 14 males who are teenagers of between 13 years and 16 years,” he said. (NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/yobe-nigerian-army-rescues-medical-team-17-others-after-fierce-battle.html

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday stopped the production of 17 sachet water companies in Kaduna, over various offences. Mr Natim Mullah-Dadi, State Coordinator of the agency, made the disclosure during its routine inspection to such companies as part of efforts at ending the production of substandard packaged water.

According to him, the affected companies committed various offences bordering on illegal production, relocating without the agency’s approval, expired licenses and observing poor manufacturing practices.

“We did not shut down the companies due to other activities in the compound, but we put them on hold in order to stop production till they comply with the agency’s guidelines,” he said. Mullah-Dadi said after the raid, the agency was alarmed at the unhygienic state under which some illegal sachet water producers in the state operate.

He disclosed that loosed parts of water packaging machines, packaged water samples and a generator set were confiscated during the exercise to ensure compliance. He warned illegal sachet water producers to desist from producing unhygienic and unregistered packaged water that could endanger public health.

The coordinator urged residents not to patronise any packaged water without the NAFDAC number and the date of production clearly displayed on it. He revealed that all packaged water remained fit for consumption only within two months of production. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the raids were carried out within the metropolis in collaboration with the Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Force. (NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nafdac-suspends-production-in-17-sachet-water-companies-in-kaduna.html

Minister of State for Science and Technology, Barr Mohammed Abdullahi on Friday said the bulk of policies of president Mohammadu Buhari initiated by the Ministry were aimed at putting Nigeria on the track of sustainable development. He stated this at the opening ceremony of the 17th meeting of the National Council on Science and Technology held in Awka, Anambra state capital. The theme of the meeting “Moving Nigeria from Import dependent to Sustainable Self-reliant and exporting Nation through Science, Technology and Innovation.”

The minister described the theme as apt in view of the numerous challenges facing the country including security and rampant cases of smuggling across the borders. He said, “President Buhari administration had initiated guided reforms for the growth, development and well being of the citizens” he stated. He said, Buhari led administration meant well for the citizens, advising that Nigerians to always patronise local products to fast tract the development drive of the government. He said ministry is working hard to synergise the organized private sector for research and development.

Earlier the commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Anambra state, Prof. Theresa Nkechi Obikezie, said the National council on Science and Technology was aimed at promoting the Scientific development and technological modernization of Nigeria through developing high level of human resources, promoting and maintaining Scientific research projects as well as disseminating Scientific and technological Information.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-reforms-designed-to-fast-track-growth-minister.html

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The Zamfara state House of Assembly on Tuesday outrightly repealed the law that allows jumbo payment of pension and other allowances to former governors, their deputies, Speakers and their deputies in the state. The abolishment of the law came barely 48 hours after a letter written by a former governor, Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, to Zamfara State Government demanding for the payment of his upkeep allowances running into millions of Naira leaked into the public. The letter generated heated debates within and outside the state.

According to the letter, the monthly upkeep allowances for an ex-governor in the state is N10million and backed by law which was amended and assented to on the 23rd of March, 2019. Presenting the bill before the House, the House leader, Hon. Faruk Musa Dosara (PDP Maradun 1) urged his collogues to as a matter of urgency consider the abolishment of the law which provides the jumbo pay for the former political leaders of the state at the detriment of the retired civil servants who have not been paid their entitlements over the years. According to Hon Dosara, these category of past leaders are collecting over N700 million annually which he said the present state economy could not accommodate.

Seconding the motion, Hon. Tukur Jekada Birnin Tudu (PDP, Bakura), said the abolishment of the law was highly necessary as it is detrimental to the socio-economic well being of the citizens of the state. After serious deliberations and contributions by the house members, the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Nasiru Mu’azu Magarya, ordered the Clerk of the House to give the bill first and second reading. The bill which was later sent to the house committee which met during the plenary, went for a third reading as the House passed the bill into law and sent it to the governor for his assent.

With this development, according to the spokesperson of the state assembly, Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, all past political leaders in Zamfara state would no longer enjoy the jumbo allowances unless those prescribed by the National Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission. Earlier in today’s sitting, the Speaker sworn-in the new Clerk to the House, Alhaji Shehu Saidu. He officially assumed duty immediately.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/zamfara-assembly-repeals-law-backing-jumbo-allowances-for-ex-governors-deputies-others.html

The committee constituted by the Bauchi State government to investigate the non-possession of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) by civil servants has discovered eight workers using one BVN in the state civil service. Chairman of the committee, Senator Adamu Ibrahim Ibrahim Gumba, who gave an update on the exercise to newsmen yesterday in Bauchi, said, “we found in other cases where six people are employed by two different organizations. They are taking salary from the state government and taking salary from other institutions outside the government circle. We are making inroads into these kinds of cases and God willing we will tackle them.

“There are instances where we have eight persons, using one BVN. We don’t know how it happened but we have to find out it,” he said. He said the committee had conducted physical verification of 5,238 staff from the state’s civil service and out of the figure, 4,654 were cleared while 583 failed to show up.

The chairman said the committee also recommended the immediate payment of October salary of verified workers and that those who failed to participate in the exercise are excluded from any payment until further investigations on their status are carried out. He also disclosed that the committee has commenced the physical verification of 14,623 from local government education authorities and primary healthcare departments.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/verification-cttee-discovers-8-workers-using-1-bvn-in-bauchi.html

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad yesterday expressed the need for the judiciary to examine itself. He spoke in Abuja at the 2019 Biennial All Nigeria Judges Conference of Superior Courts with theme‘Sustaining Democracy through Effective Administration of Justice’ held at National Judicial Institute (NJI).

Justice Muhammad, bemoaning the alleged corruption cases against some members of the bench,said a corrupt judge was not only a disgrace to the bench but also a disaster to the nation. The CJN, who said the judiciary needed to “examine itself”, urged the participants at the conference to eschew all acts of misconduct and utilize the forum to address perceived shortcomings. Hesaid the conference was organised to discuss common problems and provide opportunity for constructive engagement. But speaking at the conference, President Muhammadu Buhari called on judicial officers to work towards the creation of special crimes courts to assist in the speedy administration and dispensation of justice in the country. Buhari, who declared the conference open, sought the support of the judiciary to sustain foreign investment drive, the fight against corruption and insecurity, a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said.

“I will advise that the conference should, in its deliberations, consider how to create an efficient structure for the proposed special crimes courts or the urgent designation of existing courts as special courts with competent and credible judicial officers in order to remove administrative bottlenecks in the judicial process,” he said.

The president, who said he had had discussions with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammad in order to address the challenges facing the judiciary, stated that his administration was committed to the economic revival of the country, especially by attracting foreign investment as well as fighting corruption and insecurity. “The government has been committed to a number of justice sector reforms such as review of extant laws and enactment of new laws that will improve the lives of Nigerians,’’ he said.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/judiciary-needs-self-examination-cjn.html

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