25052018 - BENUE KILLINGS: ETHNIC CLEANSING OR JIHAD? Soyinka, Northern leaders tango

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2018—35
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Katsina varsity expells 16 for indecent dressing, forgery, others
By Bashir Bello
NO fewer than 16
students of Al-Qalam
University, Katsina, have
been expelled over alleged
gross misconduct, ranging
from forgery, examination
malpractice, indecent
dressing, immoral
behaviour and rudeness
contrary to the rules and
DISCOURSE: From left— President, Nigeria Shareholder Solidarity, Matthew Akintade;
MD, Fixson Nigeria Plc, Dr. Fidelis Ayebae; National Coordinator, Pragmatic Shareholders Association
of Nigeria, Mrs. Bisi Bakare; representative of Director General, Securities and Exchange
Commission, SEC, Adedeji Falomo, and Director, SEC, Abuja, Efiok Ekpenyong, at the maiden
one-day discourse organised by Pragmatic Shareholders Association in Lagos.
Jonah Jang released on N300m
bail after a week in detention
By Marie-Therese
Nanlong
JOS—A Plateau High
Court, yesterday,
granted N300 million bail
to the immediate past
governor of Plateau State,
Senator Jonah Jang and
N150 million bail to the
former cashier in the office
of the Secretary to the State
Government, Mr. Yusuf
Bail.
One of the sureties for
Jang must be a First Class
traditional ruler resident
By Victor
Ahiuma-Young
ASSOCIATION
of
Senior Civil Servants
of Nigeria, ASCSN,
yesterday, pleaded with the
Federal Government to
take advantage of ongoing
process of reviewing
upward the national
minimum wage to beef up
the salaries and allowances
of core civil servants to be
at par with other segments
of the public service.
This came as ASCSN
commended Head of the
Civil Service of the
Federation, HOS, Ms
Winifred Oyo-Ita, for
keying into the demand of
the union for salary increase
in the core civil service.
Reacting to comments
credited to the HOS at a
sensitisation workshop on
regulations governing the
institution.
The institution’s Head of
Public Affairs Unit, Akilu
Atiku, who confirmed the
development in a
statement, said
the institution’s Senate
approved the expulsion of
the students following a
report submitted by the
Academic Misconduct and
within the jurisdiction of the
court, while one of the
sureties for Bail must be a
Permanent Secretary in the
civil service or anybody of
that rank.
Justice Daniel Longji of
High Court 5, who had
earlier reserved ruling on
the bail application by
counsel to the accused
persons, Robert Clarke
(SAN), yesterday granted
the application, saying the
prosecution’s submission
that the accused would
jump bail and interfere with
the 2017-2020 Federal Civil
Service Strategy and
Implementation Plan,
FCSSIP, Abuja, to the effect
that the emoluments of
80,000 civil servants who
are the engine room of the
government should be
increased, since currently
they are the least paid.
The union, in a statement
by its President, Mr. Bobboi
Bala-Kaigama and
Disciplinary Committee.
According to him, “at its
48th meeting held on
Thursday, April 5, the
Senate ratified the
committee’s report
containing 65 cases. Apart
from the 16 students who
were expelled, nine other
students were asked to
proceed on suspension
for a period of two
investigations was a mere
speculation and without
proof.
The judge said he would
not act on speculations to
deny the accused bail and
admitted Jang to bail of
N100 million and two
sureties in like sum, while
his co-accused got bail in
the sum of N50 million and
two sureties in like sum.
They were also directed
to submit their international
passports to the Chief
Registrar of the court and
the judge adjourned the
Secretary-General, Mr.
Alade Lawal, recalled that
in 2015 it presented a
memorandum to the Joint
National Public Service
Negotiating Council,
JNPSNC, demanding
upward salary review for
core civil servants.
It said: “The current pay
structure in operation in the
civil service has become
unrealistic and inadequate
semesters.
“The Senate also
directed 29 to repeat two
semesters, while two
others received warning
letters for minor offences.
“Cases against nine
students could not be
established and the
Senate exonerated them
for lack of evidence to
warrant any sanction.”
matter to July 17, 18 and
19 for definite and
accelerated hearing.
The conditions were met
and the accused released,
sending their supporters
into jubilation.
Chieftains of the state
chapter of Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP,
former House of
Assembly members,
former council chairmen
and political appointees,
who served during Jang’s
tenure, were among the
supporters present.
Senior civil servants seek review of pay package
RETIRED Director and
Secretary, Civil
Defence, Fire, Immigration
and Prisons Board,
CDFIPB, Chief Sunday
Ogu; Mayor of Yenagoa
and Chairman of Yenagoa
Local Government,
Bayelsa State, Oboku
Oforji, as well as the
Managing Director of Bajaj
Nigeria Company Limited,
Firdous Baba, will be
among distinguished
persons to be conferred with
an honorary doctorate
degrees by the European-
American University of the
Commonwealth of
Dominica on June 30.
The investiture to be held
in Benin Republic, will be
as workers can no longer
meet their basic needs, a
scenario that is impacting
negatively on their morale.
“ASCSN expresses hope
that the statement of the
HOS will galvanise
government to do the
needful by beefing up the
salaries of core civil
servants to be at par with
that of other segments of
the public service.”
attended by personalities of
diverse nations.
Former Minister of State
for Education and Faculty
member of the University,
Professor Jerry Agada, will
be one of the presiding
officers at the convocation.
Special guests of honour
at the event include Dr.
Okwun Omeaku, Public
War against corruption
not over, says Federal Govt
By Boluwaji
Obahopo
L OKOJA—THE
F e d e r a l
Government, yesterday,
said though the war
against corruption was
yielding positive results,
the battle was not yet
over.
Secretary to the
Government of the
Federation, Boss
Mustapha, who stated
this in Lokoja, said the
introduction of Bank
Verification Number,
BVN, and observation of
other principles, which
had help the anticorruption
war, would be
sustained.
Mustapha, who was
represented by Dr.
Habitat Lawal, spoke at
the 6th quarterly
meeting of All
Progressives Congress,
APC, and Secretary to
Government of States,
SGSs, held in Lokoja,
Kogi State capital.
He noted that
government had not
rested on its oars in
addressing issues of food
Ogu, Abonsizibe, Bajaj boss, Baba, others get doctorate degrees
Relation Officer of the
University of Nigeria,
Nsukka; Professor
Solomon Badejo, a retired
Executive Director Forestry
Research Institute of
Nigeria; and Professor
Kim Agemerien.
International Partner and
Nigerian coordinator of the
university, Dr. Luke
security, as it had shifted
its economic policy from
mono oil sector to
agriculture to diversify the
economy of the country.
Mustapha said: “The
focus on agriculture has
led to reduction in the
importation of some food
items from other
countries.
“The new policy of
agriculture has, therefore,
improved production of
many agricultural
products, especially rice at
home. The Federal
Government has made
provision of infrastructure
as its cardinal principle.
“Such efforts have
increased power supply
across the nation. Without
power small and medium
business cannot thrive.”
Governor Yahaya
Bello, who was
represented by his
deputy, Elder Simeon
Achuba, urged the SGSs
to look into the issue of
agriculture,
industrialisation and
insecurity in some part of
the country and create a
policy frame work to
addressed them.
Longrich at LFTZ: Ambode
assures investors of
security, infrastructure
By Agbonkhese
Oboh
G OVERNOR
Akinwunmi
Ambode of Lagos State
has assured investors of
the state’s commitment to
infrastructure
development and
provision of security in
the Lekki Free Trade
Zone, LFTZ.
Governor Ambode,
represented by the
Commissioner for
Commerce and Industry
and Cooperatives, Mrs.
Olayinka Oladunjoye,
gave the assurance at the
foundation laying
ceremony of Longrich’s
$20 million Research
Institute Factory at LFTZ.
Ambode promised to
support with good roads
and standard railway
that will facilitate better
trade and commerce,
adding “we appreciate
you for choosing Nigeria,
and Lagos in particular, as
the first place in Africa to
set up your factory.”
Earlier, the GMD of
Longrich International,
Africa, Alex Jia, said their
LFTZ production factory
will be built on 400,000
square metres and is the
first overseas factory for the
production of healthcare
products, cosmetics and
detergents, forming a
comprehensive supply
chain and customers
clearance support in
Nigeria and the whole of
Africa.
He added that in five
years, Longrich will
achieve full coverage in
Nigeria, across Africa and
65 countries along the
One-Belt-One-Road map
with marketing and export.
Okojie, made this known at
a briefing.
Others to be honoured are
Folashade Oloruntola,
Group Chief Operation
Officer of Adrons Homes
and Properties Limited,
Lagos; and Abbati Bako,
MD/CEO of ABCO
Business Management
Nigeria Limited, Kano.