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Buni: Another Year of Employment, Empowerment and Exemplary Initiatives

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Buni: Another Year of Employment, Empowerment and Exemplary Initiatives

By: Abdulmumin Kolo Gulani

Governor Mai Mala Buni’s pace-setting of 2,670 youth employment into Yobe State Government which comprises of 15 people from each political ward across the state is something to be proud of in second term of his one year in office.

Apart from the aforementioned employees, there are several doctors, nurses, midwives and lab attendants recuited in Yobe State University Teaching Hospital. Again, there are 225 candidates that were appointed in Yobe State University as replacement, Umar Suleiman College of Education Gashua and other institutions, agencies that are numerous to mention.

On the issue of empowerment, His Excellency Hon. Mai Mala Buni has created a Ministry for Wealth Creation, Empowerment and Employment Opportunity, headed by Hon. Aji Yerima Bularafa. Through the Ministry, Gov. Buni has empowered thousands of youth in Yobe through various initiative that are numerous to mention.

Recently, through his Domestic Personal Assistant, Hassan Shettima, Governor Mai Mala Buni CON has empowered more than 200 people with bags of rice, mats, blankets and grinding machines.

Others are; generators, Computers, GSM repair equipments, weaving machines and cash as capitals for the beneficiaries.

In the same vein, Yobe Microfinance Bank PLC is always at the forefront in empowering youths in the state. The Managing Director of the Bank, Dr. Sheriff Almuhajir is always initiating programs that will aid the masses.

On his exemplary leadership initiative, Yobe state is quite different as the state government takes measures against hoarding, bulk purchase, and transportation of grains and other food items to curb hunger and starvation in the state.

Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state has earlier presided over an emergency meeting on the issue of food security in the state where he expressed deep concern over the hoarding of grains and other essential commodities, creating artificial scarcity with more hardships to the people.

His spokesperson, Mamman Mohammed, said that government would roll out concrete measures to cushion the effects of the rising cost of foodstuff and other commodities.

It’s also on record that Yobe is among the best states that distributed a large quantity of food items to its people through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

Yobe SEMA is always unique in terms of proper distribution to the deserving people, especially the needy. According to the Executive Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Goje, SEMA has distributed food items to over 165,000 beneficiaries across the state. This is a great testimony of a man with human feelings.

On the other hand through the State Coordinator of North East Development Commission (NEDC), Dr. Ali Ibrahim Abbas, the distribution of food items in Yobe State from the commission is second to none.

Indeed, there is the dire need for other governors to emulate Buni as we all know the best quality of a politician is honesty, God-fearing and empathy. A faithful and effective politician is trustworthy and reliable. He must capture the essence of truth, display sincerity, candour and practice what he preaches. He makes decisions and accepts responsibility for his actions and inactions.

The same is true in his dealing with his people. He makes promises and keeps those promises, somebody people can rely on. He should love people with all his heart, might, mind, soul and strive to help them as a true mark of a responsible leader. And, of course, Governor Buni possesses these qualities.

There’s no doubt the benefits of pity and its impact are numerous to mention In Islam but it’s noted that whoever adorns himself with it has adorned himself with a quality of the Messenger of Allah and those of that quality have been specially promised Allah’s mercy because they have shown others mercy and pity. And It is a great pillar upon which a strong, cohesive Muslim society should be built; with affection and pity for one another. It is a reason to gain Allah’s forgiveness, blessed and exalted, and the ennoblement of His pardon. Just as its opposite is a reason for His wrath and anger.

May Allah continue to guide our leaders on the right path.

Congratulations Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON on your one year in office as second term Governor of Yobe State.

*Abdulmumin Kolo Gulani writes from Damaturu, Yobe State

Buni: Another Year of Employment, Empowerment and Exemplary Initiatives

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Army officer dies after being set ablaze by wife in Akwa Ibom

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Army officer dies after being set ablaze by wife in Akwa Ibom

By: Zagazola Makama

A Nigerian Army officer, Lt. Samson Haruna, has died after sustaining severe burns when his wife allegedly set him ablaze during a domestic dispute at Wellington Bassey Barracks, Ibagwa, Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the tragic incident occurred on Sept. 22, 2025.

The source said the officer, who was also a medical doctor attached to the 6 Battalion Regimental Medical Officer (RMO), had a heated argument with his wife, Mrs. Samson Haruna, which resulted in her dousing him with petrol (PMS) and setting him on fire.

“The officer sustained severe burns and was immediately stabilised at the Military Reference Section (MRS) in the barracks before being evacuated to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital for further management,” the source said.

The officer, however, succumbed to his injuries despite efforts by medical personnel to save his life.

It was further gathered that the suspect has been arrested and is currently in custody while an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Army officer dies after being set ablaze by wife in Akwa Ibom

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Pay us all our dues or prepare for indefinite strike…. ASUU to the federal government

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Pay us all our dues or prepare for indefinite strike…. ASUU to the federal government

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has decried the federal government’s failure to remit third-party deductions, such as cooperative contributions and pension funds belonging to its members.

Chair of unimaid branch Dr Habu Mshelia in a recent interview described the action of the federal government as a serious breach of legal and ethical obligations to it’s members and called for it’s immediate reversal.

Dr Mshelia regretted that this systemic sabotage which started with the introduction of the integrated payroll and personnel information system (IPPIS) not only erodes trust but also jeopardizes the future retirement benefits of those who have faithfully contributed to these schemes.

“ASUU demands immediate rectification of this injustice and full restoration of financial integrity across all remittance channels.” He warned.

Mshelia maintained during the parley that ” These deductions, taken from members’ salaries, have not reached the appropriate bodies, crippling welfare schemes and jeopardizing future retirement benefits.

He added that: “This injustice must be urgently addressed to restore financial integrity and protect the economic well-being of our members.

“Since the adoption of IPPIS, these remittances have been withheld, crippling welfare schemes and threatening the financial security of our members. Worse still, the government’s actions appear to deliberately undermine the GIFMIS platform under the guise of salary vetting by IPPIS.

“This has led to consistent delays in salary payments, often by one to two weeks, causing unnecessary hardship and anxiety among academic staff.” Said the chairman.

Mshelia who briefed newsmen recently in Maiduguri said their lingering campaign against the wrong doings of the federal government was not a mere statement but a call to conscience. “A reaffirmation of their unwavering commitment to the defence of quality education, academic integrity, University autonomy and the dignity of university staff across the country.

“We speak today not only for ourselves, but for the future of Nigeria’s youth, for the sanctity of our institutions, and for the soul of a nation that must choose between progress and decay.

“Let it be known: ASUU will not remain silent while the foundations of our universities are eroded. We will not stand idle as agreements are dishonoured and our members are subjected to economic hardship and institutional disrespect.

The union leaders then called for the completion of certain unfinished businesses which they believe will bring harmony between them.

On the desperate need to renegotiate the 2009 agreement, Mshelia warned that
“The government’s refusal to sign the renegotiated agreement continues a troubling pattern of broken promises. Sixteen years after the original agreement, meant to address chronic underfunding, poor infrastructure, and inadequate remuneration, most of its provisions remain unfulfilled.”

Dr Mshelia regretted that certain reports like the 2012 Needs Assessment and pledges (MOU & MOA) made in 2017 and 2020 have all been ignored by the Federal government adding that “The Yayale Ahmed Committee Report now joins this list of abandoned commitments; Nemi Briggs Committee report; Professor Munzali Jubril committee report; the Babalakin led committee report.

He stressed that : “This persistent sabotage of Collective Bargaining condemns lecturers to poverty amid rising inflation and unbearable living costs. ASUU rejects this economic injustice and will resist any attempt to erode the integrity of Nigeria’s university system. Enough is enough.”

On payment of withheld salaries and arrears, the chairman regretted that “many of our members continue to suffer from unpaid salary arrears amounting to but not limited to 25–35% wage award. Promotion arrears, legally due to academics who earned them through merit, remain unpaid in many institutions including ours for over four years.

“Additionally, the punitive withholding of three and a half months’ salaries during the 2022 ASUU strike persists as an act of victimization. Immediate settlement of most of these arrears is essential to restore fairness, boost morale, and maintain industrial harmony within the academic community.

Speaking on terminal benefits of retired members, Mshelia lamented that members of the union were treated as trash instead of given the dignity of an emeritus professor.

“How on earth do you pay a professor 150k as pension after his selfless service to the nation? AProfessors who have dedicated over four decades to educating generations retire on a meagre ₦150,000 under the Contributory Pension Scheme, while inflation exceeds 21%. This is not just a labour issue; it is a national disgrace.

Assault on University Autonomy

“The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Maiduguri Chapter, unequivocally condemns the recent unilateral decision to rename the University of Maiduguri as Muhammadu Buhari University. This action is not only provocative, it is a blatant violation of the principle of university autonomy and a grave affront to the values of academic freedom, institutional integrity, and democratic governance.

“Universities are not political ornaments to be rebranded at the whim of power. They are intellectual sanctuaries, built on decades of scholarship, sacrifice, and service. The name University of Maiduguri is deeply rooted in the cultural, historical, and academic identity of the region. It reflects the aspirations of generations and the legacy of a community that has nurtured knowledge in the face of adversity.

“To erase that legacy without consultation is to insult the very soul of the institution. The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu policy statement, imposed without engagement with the university community, governing council, or stakeholders, sets a dangerous precedence. It signals a shift toward the politicization of our universities, where decisions are made not in the interest of education, but in pursuit of personal glorification. If allowed to stand, it will erode the credibility of our institutions and undermine the autonomy that is essential to their survival.

“ASUU stands as the unwavering voice of academic integrity and institutional independence. We do not respond with emotion, we respond with facts, with principle, and with resolve. The widespread rejection of this renaming, from alumni, students, staff, and civil society, is both justified and necessary.

“We call on all members of the Union, and indeed all Nigerians who value education, to continue their clear-eyed perspectives and decisive pronouncements. These have always guided our deliberations as we chart a path forward. Let it be known: We reject this ill-conceived and deeply offensive decision. We demand its immediate reversal. We reaffirm that the identity of a university must reflect its heritage, not serve as a monument to political power.

“The legacy of UNIMAID—painstakingly built over five decades—will not be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency. ASUU will not relent, will not surrender, and will not allow the autonomy of our universities to be trampled in silence.”

” We call on the Federal Government to honour its commitments. Parents, students, and the Nigerian public to see this as a fight for the future. NANS and student bodies to demand their right to quality education. Civil society, labour unions, religious and traditional leaders to intervene before another shutdown”. He concluded.

Pay us all our dues or prepare for indefinite strike…. ASUU to the federal government

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Jos FM radio confirms release of reporters by DSS

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Jos FM radio confirms release of reporters by DSS

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Two Jos Fm (Jfm) radio reporters abducted yesterday by overzealous state security operatives have been released from detention.

A statement signed by the Managing Director of the radio station, Clinton Garuba stated that after mounted pressure on the management of the secret service agency, the two reporters were allowed to go home.

In a statement released Sunday morning by the jos based radio station, Garuba noted that “further to our earlier statement regarding the arrest of our staff, Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang, who were assigned to cover the burial rites of the late mother of the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, at the COCIN headquarters Church, we wish to inform you that they have been released.”

It went further to state that ” upon confirming that the DSS was holding them, frantic efforts were made to secure their release. Although our efforts were initially rebuffed, they were eventually released.

“This event has once again prompted us to draw attention to the disturbing issues of press freedom violations, human rights abuses, and the erosion of the rule of law by security agencies.

“We want to reiterate that as professionals, our staff did what journalists are trained and ethically mandated to do: they documented an incident on video for public record and accountability.

“We call on the DSS to note that: Their actions in abducting and detaining them are illegal, undemocratic, and unacceptable.

“They represent a blatant violation of the fundamental rights to freedom of the press, freedom of expression, and personal liberty as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and various international conventions to which our nation is a signatory.

” The press is not an enemy of the state.
Journalism is a public service profession. Our duty is to inform, educate, and hold power accountable, not to serve as mouthpieces of authority. To criminalise this duty is to criminalise truth itself.

“The DSS must act with civility and restraint. We remind the agency that this nation is under civilian rule, not military dictatorship. Security agencies exist to protect citizens, not to intimidate or abduct them.

“Power must always be exercised within the bounds of the law and in accordance with respect for democratic norms.”

The statement further warned that this pattern of intimidation and repression must stop because it sends a chilling message to journalists that telling the truth may lead to persecution.

Such conduct, the statement noted, undermines the very fabric of democracy and fosters a climate of fear and impunity.

“We reaffirm that Jay 101.9 FM will not be intimidated or silenced. Our commitment to truth, objectivity, and the democratic ideal remains unwavering.

“To those who wield power, we remind you that the freedom of the press is the lifeblood of democracy. When journalists are silenced, democracy dies in darkness.

“We call on all citizens, the media fraternity, and the international community to stand in solidarity with us in demanding respect for the rule of law, freedom of the press, and for journalists to carry out their statutory duties without fear or hindrance, as well as respect for human rights.” The statement noted

This reporter recalls that the President of the Church of Christ in Nations COCIN Dr Amos Mohzo was about entering the headquarters building to prepare for the officiating of the service of the late mother of the national chair of the APC when some recalcitrant operatives of the DSS stopped him, his Assistant Secretary General and his Vice President.

They were wrongly stopped from entering the church even after proper identification at a time when the expected visitor President Bola Tinubu had not even taken off from Abuja.

Several efforts by Rev Mohzo and his management team to get into the church was turned down and it was so embarrassing that the young operatives stuck to their guns by refusing the COCIN President from going into the building where he was the landlord and number one Pastor in charge.

Jos FM radio confirms release of reporters by DSS

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