Yobe keeps mute on new minimum wage, as Borno constitutes committee

Gov. Mai Mala Buni

Despite plea by the APC National Chairman, comrade Adams Oshomole that all APC governor should pay the new minimum wage, Yobe State Government workers are anxiously expecting to hear from the state.

The Borno State government has however complied with the directives as the state has set up a committee for the consequential salary adjustment committee headed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state.

Gov. Mai Mala had during his inauguration on May 29, 2019 promised to comply with any arrangement reached on the minimum wage and implement it hundred percent.

The State Accountant General, Alhaji Usman Bura had  earlier disclosed in an interview with journalists  that "Yobe State is in a very healthy financial state to pay the new minimum wage".

But the question on the lips of civil servants in the State is when will the implementation begin.

“The question we are asking is when will the state government begin the payment of the new minimum wage in the state. We have seeing Borno constitute a committee. We don’t even know what Labour in our state is doing. I think somebody need to say something,” Adamu Gwuyo, a civil servant asked.

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Yobe female Hockey team to represent Nigeria, departs for Egypt

The Female Hockey team

The Yobe Hockey team, Yobe Desert  Queens have left Damaturu for Egypt via Abuja  for  the African Hockey Championship holding in Egypt.

The Yobe Desert  Queens will join, Kaduna and Niger States to represent Nigeria at the African Cup for Club Championship (ACCC)  in Ismailia, Egypt. The tournament is organised by the African Hockey Federation.

Addressing the athletes, the Director of Sports, Yobe State, Dr. Abu Abdulrahman ago told the team to go for the ultimate prize.

He advised them to be discipline and respect the culture of the people, adding that, you are not just ambassadors of Yobe State but Nigeria as a whole”.

The team captain, Ms Ajuma promised that her team mates will do the state and the country proud by winning the trophy.

“We are going to make the state proud the same way we did in Abuja in June this year. As you can see sir, the morale is high,” Ajuma said.

ImpactOnlineNigeria recalled that the team qualified for the Championship along with Kaduna and Niger States at the Super National league held in Abuja in June this year.

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Why Yobe’s 3,600 multi-billion naira housing project is yet to take-off - investigation

Gov. Buni during the foundation laying ceremony of the houses in sept.

After more than two months that Gov. Mai Mala Buni performed a grand-breaking foundation ceremony for the construction of 3,600 houses across the state at the cost of over N10 billion, none of the blocks is yet to be raised in any part of the state, ImpactOnlineNigeria  investigation has gathered.

The non-takeoff of the multi-billion-naira project has raised concern among people in the state as the sites of the projects remain deserted since after inauguration on September, 5^th, 2019.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive, Yobe State Housing and Property Corporation, Engr. Mohammed Jeni said his office cannot give any information on the status of the project except he gets clearance from the office of the Secretary to the State Government when he was contacted.

But the press secretary to the SSG, Shaiubu Abdullahi denied that his boss’ office has nothing to do with the project when this reporter made a similar request from him.

“The SSG office don’t award contracts. We don’t have engineers or experts in the office of the SGG that supervise construction. It is not within our purview. Please find out from the Ministry of Land and Housing, Shauibu advised.

When contacted, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Land and Housing Alhaji Dauda  Gwayo said he cannot give an accurate update on the project but directed this reporter to the Managing Director, Yobe Housing AND Property  Corporation.

“I cannot give details on the update concerning the project at the moment. The MD of the Housing Corporation is in a better position to do so because they are the ones handling the project directly.

“The little I know is that, Family Homes, the handlers of the project were in Damaturu last three weeks and we and their consultants went round all the seventeen local governments area of the state where the sites for the projects are located. I think they are sorting out  most of the things including the compensation of land owners and other things. Just find out from the MD for details,” the Permanent secretary advised.

The Executive Director Yobe State Network of Civil Society Organization, Abubakar Baba Shehu also expressed his surprised that the project is yet to take off considering the length of time it the foundation laying ceremony was laid.

He however promised to make contact with the government and get to the root of what might be causing the delay of the project.

The empty site 

Meanwhile an official of the Housing Corporation who spoke with our reporters on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak officially to the press explained that the delay had to do with the enormity of the money involved in the project and other legal and procedural  issues attached to the project.

“You know that the project is a loan. Being a domestic loan, the House OF assembly have to approved it. This was not done initially so the governor has to go to the assembly to rectify that error,” the source informed.

He added further that,  “the delay in the commencement of the construction of the houses has nothing to do with its funding, but the Corporation and the Consultants of the project have to work out some rigorous paper work and streamline certain technical issues regarding the project to avoid any failures against time and cost over-run, being a mega project”.

According to the source;  “issues surrounding verification, compensation of persons, groups or communities whose lands are acquired for the project has to be sorted and prepare all amount due for the compensations of lands, economic trees and any other development deem found on the lands.

“In fact, in the actual sense, the project has commenced because, the secretariat has ever been active in paper work since the day of the foundation laying ceremony,” he said.

ImpactOnlineNigeria can also authoritatively report that one of such iconic, the Postiskum Trailer Park project which was equally flagged off on the 4/9/2019 to mark Gov. Buni's 100 days in office is also yet to take off.

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I will support Sports till my last breath – Yobe monarch

Mr. Sirawoo delivering his at the Emir of Bade's Palace at Gashua.

The Emir of Bade, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Suleiman has pledged his support for Sports development in the state and the country at large until his last day on earth.

The Emir who is also the Deputy Chairman of Yobe State Council of Chiefs

had equally observed that Sports remains one of the best unifying factors across the world, just as he called on countries and nations  to explore that unity through aggressive Sports development and policies.

The Yobe Monarch who played host to the National President of SWAN, Mr. Honour Sirawoo at his palace in Gashua, Yobe State underlined the role of Sports writers to the development of Sports throughout the world, stressing that, “you are the people that showcase to the world whatever is happening in the Sporting World. Your role in Sports development is therefore very crucial and cannot be wished away”.

The Emir, an active sportsman with strong affinity to  Badminton(a player) explained that Sports and exercising take a sizeable part of his life despite his Royal duties as an emir, adding that, “I will continue to support Sports until my last breath”.

The Royal father also took his time to preach the message of unity to members of SWAN in the State so as  to enable them execute their programs and activities without difficulties.

“You can only achieve your set goals in this association if you are united. Without unity, you cannot make any headway for anything that you want to do. I therefore urge all of you to be united in one voice to move the association forward.  On my part, I will always be available to support you  within my capacity any time you knock on my doors,” the Emir said.

Earlier in his address, Mr. Honour Sirawoo, the National President of SWAN expressed joy for being at the palace of one of the influential emirs in Yobe  state and Nigeria in general, saying, “the Emir whose Senate President Dr. Ahmed Lawan is his subject is not a small Emir”.

The number one Sports journalists explained that part of  his reasons of coming to Yobe is his nationwide agenda of rebranding the image of the association and strengthening all the state Chapters so as to add value and create a strong relationship between Sports administrators and the Sports Writers, who are the promoters.

Mr. Sirawoo noted that SWAN was proud to be associated with the Yobe monarch due to his humility, love and passion for Sports despite his “tight royal duties”.

Mr. Sirawoo inspecting facilities at August 27 Stadium, Damaturu

“Your Highness, I am very happy and proud to be in your palace today to show respect to you for associating with us as an association. I am also touched by your humility and simplicity to still participate in sporting competitions as I have learnt despite your tight royal duties.

“Your commitment to sports for us is exemplar and should be emulated by other traditional rulers. As you are aware, Sports has now become a money spinning venture rather than mere recreations. It is also a veritable tool to fighting youth restiveness. For  a state like Yobe that is recovering from the Boko Haram crisis,  what you are doing is already a counter-insurgency measure against the crisis.   With people like you and the love you have shown for sports, driving the process to create millionaires from the ruler areas will no longer be a difficult task. Government only needs to take advantage of people like you to drive the process,” Sirawoo said.

The SWAN National President announced the appointed of the Emir of Bade as a National Patron of the association. An award ceremony is expected to be held at a date to be announced.

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Yobe journalists adopt measures for aggressive health promotion, to embark on state wide measles campaign

Mohamed Babeh, Chairman SOMTEC, Moh'd Kado and Bulama from YPHMB

As part of their resolve to make health reportage in Yobe State more vibrant, some group of   journalists in the State have agreed to lunch an aggressive campaign in the promotion of health activities organized within the state .

The group which has special interest in reporting health issues has equally resolved to scale up reportage concerning health  matters in the state so as to create demand and generate interest among stakeholders especially in the area of primary healthcare delivery in the state.

The journalists which were hitherto operating under a nucleus name in the area of Polio (Journalist Against Polio) (JAP) as part of their resolutions also  agreed to widen the scope of their activities with a particular focus on Primary Healthcare Delivery in the state.

Consequently, the name of the group was amended from ‘Journalists Against Polio’(JAP) to ‘Yobe Journalists for Health Promotion’(YJ4HP).

The meeting which was chaired by the Director of Information in the Ministry of Information, Home Affairs and Culture, Mohammed Babeh also had in attendance  officials of the Yobe State Primary Health Care Management Board

The journalists resolved to fully participate in the forth-coming state-wide measles campaign.

According to the State Hygiene Promotion Manager, Mohammed Kado Abubakar, the campaign will begin in Yobe from 16^th November, 2019 to 21^st November, 2019.

While describing the media as a critical partner, Mr. Kado however observed that statistics of media engagement in their activities was discovered to be very low hence the need for the meeting to iron out the issues.

He noted that the meeting was intended to identify positive ways of engaging the media so as to achieve set goals and objectives for the campaign, stressing that “the media plays a crucial role in the dissemination of information far and wide”.

The group also resolved to work closely with the State Primary Healthcare Management Board to give adequate publicity for health activities and programs in the state.

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UPDATES ON YOBE COMMISSIONERS SCREENING : Yobe commissioner nominees expect smooth screening as Assembly releases screening timetable

Yobe Speaker, Ahmed Mirwa

Yobe State House of Assembly yesterday at plenary officially announced the names of the twenty commissioner nominees sent to the House by Gov. Mai Mala last week.

The State Assembly has also released the schedule of screening for the twenty-man list.

But  there are indications that the House will not over-stretch the nominees with rigorous questioning during the screening sessions  because the entire State Assembly  except one member is from the opposition PDP while the remaining 23 members are from the ruling APC.

Additionally, five of the commissioner nominees are expected to ‘take a bow and leave’ as it is the tradition of the House not to subject ex law makers to questioning when found on the other side of the divide.

Those in the category of take a bow include former Senator Alkali  Abdulkadir Jajare, Hon. Goni Bukar, Hon Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa, and Hon. Abdullahi Kukuwa who were members of the House of Representatives in the state at different times and Yerima Lawan Mahmud, a former Member of the State House of Assembly.

The Director Information at the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Kolle Shittima told journalists at the Assembly complex yesterday that the screening will commence today, Wednesday 6^th November, 2019 and terminates at November 13^th, 2019 with every member expected to appear in persons.

A breakdown of the screening schedule indicates as follows:

Batch A’ Wednesday 6th November, 2019

1. Hon. Abdullahi Usman Kukuwa. Gulani local government.
2. Hon. Goni Bukar Lawan. Bursari local government.
3. Hon. Yarima Lawan Muhmud. Yunusari local government.
4. Hon. Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa.Karasuwa local government.
5. Sen. Alkali Abdulkadir Jajere. Fune local government.

Batch B’ Thursday 7th November, 2019.

1. Abubakar Garba Iliya. Gujba local government.
2. Hon. Muhammad Alamin. Damaturu local government.
3. *Alhaji Musa Mustapha. Damaturu local government.
4. Hon. Mala Musti. Tarmuwa local government.
5. Hon. Bukar Dauda. Gaidam local government.

Batch C’ Tuesday 12th November, 2019.

1. Muhammad Gagiyo Garba. Bade local government.
2. Dr. Muhammad Lawan Gana. Yusufari local government.
3. Dr. Muhammad Sani Idriss. Nguru local government.
4. Hon. Barma Shettima. Machina local government.
5. *Hon. Abdullahi Bego. Jakusko local government.

Batch D’ Wednesday 13th November, 2019.

1. *Dr. Mrs Mairo A. Amshi. Jakusko local government.
2. *Engr. Umaru Wakil Duddaye. Nangere local government.
3. *Sale Samanja. Potiskum local government.
4. *Prof. Muhammad Munkaila. Potiskum local government.
5. *Hajiya Hauwa Ba Abubakar. Fika local government.

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Yobe Assembly releases screening timetable for commissioner nominees

Yobe State House of Assembly today at plenary officially announced the names of the twenty commissioner nominees sent to the House by Gov. Mai Mala last week.

The State Assembly equally has released the schedule of screening for the twenty man list.

The Director Information at the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Kolle Shittima told journalists at the Assembly complex that the screening will commence tomorrow, Wednesday 6^th November, 2019 and terminates at November 13^th, 2019 with every member expected to appear in persons.

A break down of the screening schedule indicates as follows:

Batch A’ Wednesday 6th November, 2019

1. Hon. Abdullahi Usman Kukuwa. Gulani local government.
2. Hon. Goni Bukar Lawan. Bursari local government.
3. Hon. Yarima Lawan Muhmud. Yunusa local government.
4. Hon. Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa.karasuwa local government.
5. Sen. Alkali Abdulkadir Jajere. Fune local government.

Batch B’ Thursday 7th November, 2019.

1. Abubakar Garba Iliya. Gujba local government.
2. Hon. Muhammad Alamin. Damaturu local government.
3. *Alhaji Musa Mustapha. Damaturu local government.
4. Hon. Mala Musti. Tarmuwa local government.
5. Hon. Bukar Dauda. Gaidam local government.

Batch C’ Tuesday 12th November, 2019.

1. Muhammad Gagiyo Garba. Bade local government.
2. Dr. Muhammad Lawan Gana. Yusufari local government.
3. Dr. Muhammad Sani Idriss. Nguru local government.
4. Hon. Barma Shettima. Machina local government.
5. *Hon. Abdullahi Bego. Jakusko local government.

Batch D’Wednesday 13th November, 2019.

1. *Dr. Mrs Mairo A. Amshi. Jakusko local government.
2. *Engr. Umaru Wakil Duddaye. Nangere local government.
3. *Sale Samanja. Potiskum local government.
4. *Prof. Muhammad Munkaila. Potiskum local government.
5. *Hajiya Hauwa Ba Abubakar. Fika local government.

There are indications that the House will not over-stretch the nominees with questions during the screening. Five of the commissioner nominees are expected to ‘take a bow and leave’.

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SECURITY: Gov. Buni lunches police rapid response squad in Yobe, donates 30 operational vehicles to police, …IGP asks governors to emulate governor Buni

The vehicles donated by Yobe State Government to Police 

Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni has launched a police rapid squad in Yobe State to respond quickly to emerging security threats in the state.

The Governor who played host to the Inspector general of Police, Mohammed Adamu Abubakar regretted that Yobe is still vulnerable insurgents attacks through the neighbouring states hence the need to clear those threats.

Named; Haba Maza, the squad is charged with checking the rising cases of criminality, banditry, rape, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other crimes in the state.

“As we all know, insurgents still periodically infiltrate from neighbouring states to carry out attacks against our people. Other criminals also commit other forms of crime, including armed robbery and cattle rustling.

“As we move to a post-insurgency era, we also face emergent and continuing security challenges, such as incidences of rape, kidnapping, homicide, and conflict between farmers and pastoralists.

“It is clear – we cannot make meaningful socio-economic progress while these security challenges persist. We have to confront them.

“It is for this reason that we thought it was necessary to work together with the Nigerian Police to set up a rapid response squad that could deploy anywhere in the state to tackle these challenges and threats.

Gov. Buni with IGP Mohammed Adamu, CP Yobe, DIG Operations, deputy gov. Idi Barde Guban and Speaker, Yobe House of Assemly in Damaturu

“We are naming this rapid response squad as ‘Haba Maza Squad’.

“We know that the officers and men of the Nigerian Police and other security agencies are gallant men and women who are working so hard. Haba Maza is a mantra that charges them to surge forward and to go after criminals relentlessly. Haba Maza is saying that the gallant officers and men would not allow any breathing space for criminals anywhere in our state”, the Gov. said.

Gov. Buni who also presented 30 brand new hilux operational vehicles worth N720 million to the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu Abubakar  said his administration will continue to support the police and other security agencies in the state for better policing of his people.

Gov. Buni also praised the security agencies for making sacrifices to secure the state called on the people of the state to give security agencies the maximum cooperation to do their work.

“Let me begin by saying this upfront: The officers and men of the Nigerian Police and other security agencies are making huge sacrifices on behalf of peace and security in our state and our nation.

“They continue to work so hard so that we could sleep with our eyes closed. And in moments of disaster or emergency, they are always the first to rush to the scene, working to save lives.

“The people of Yobe State are therefore the better for all the work that our uniformed men and women are doing on our behalf.

“I want to thank the Inspector-General, Muhammad Abubakar Adamu for your visit today and for the leadership that you provide for the Nigerian Police.  Under your leadership, the police have remained ever committed to the maintenance of law and order, crime detection and prevention, and the protection of people’s lives and property,” Gov. Buni said.

He requested the IGP to deploy more police and establish more police outpost in the state to enhance more security across the state.

In his response, IGP Adamu praised the intervention of the governor as exemplar while calling on other governors to emulate the contribution of the governor to policing.

The IGP who was particularly impressed by the provision of an office accommodation and residential accommodation for the rapid squad by the governor said the initiative is worth emulating by his colleagues.

According to IGP Adamu, both office and residential accommodation will enhance the police to operate optimally in the discharge of their duties.

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BREAKING: Gov. Buni forwards names of Commissioner nominees to State House of Assembly

Gov. Buni

Yobe State Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni has finally forwarded the names of commissioner nominees to the State House of Assembly.

This is coming five months after the governor was sworn-in in May.

A source at the House of Assembly who does not want to be mentioned informed that the list was forwarded to the Speaker at about 6.00pm yesterday.

It is still not clear who will make the list or who dd not make the list among the gladiators in the state.

Observers are however of the opinion that the list of the commissioners will be a strong indicator as to whether for Governor, Sen. Ibrahim Gaidam is still in-charge or Gov. Mai Mala Buni has extricated himself from the God father cobweb of Gov Gaidam.

There are however high speculations that former Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam has substantially authored or vetted the list before it was finally sent to the House of Assembly.

Follow ImpactOnlineNigeria for details as they unravel

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