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Palliative: Zulum gives NLC N2 billion soft loan to Borno workers

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Palliative: Zulum gives NLC N2 billion soft loan to Borno workers

… Raises gratuity pay to N2.4 billion annually, allocates 30 buses for easy transportation

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum on Tuesday presented a cheque of N2 billion to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Borno State to disburse to eligible workers in the state as interest-free loans with a repayment period of 24 months to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

The presentation took place after a meeting between the governor and officials of the NLC led by the labour chairman in the state, Comrade Yusuf Inuwa.

At the meeting which took place at the council chambers of the Government House in Maiduguri, Zulum asked the NLC to complete talks with state’s ministry of finance to determine the category of workers to be entitled to the loans as well as the loan recovery through monthly deductions of not more than one third of salaries.

The governor also announced 100% increase in monthly releases for payment of gratuities backlog.

The payment was increased from N100 million monthly which equals N1.2 billion annually to N200 million monthly which will amount to N2.4 billion.

The gratuities are lump sums paid workers who retired from service, even as they become entitled to monthly pensions.

For many years, retired workers in Borno State are owed gratuities for which Governor Zulum has released about N20 billion to drastically reduce the backlog even though more workers retire every year, making more of them to be owed gratuities.

Although many are owed gratuities, Zulum
has since introduced a policy of automatic migration of retired workers from salaries to pensions. Before the policy, it took retired workers months to complete documentation before getting monthly pension while they wait for gratuities which takes longer waiting time.

Also as part of outcome from his meeting with the NLC, Zulum lannounced the allocation of 30 buses to be dedicated to conveying workers in the metropolis at subsidized fares.

READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/national-chairmanship-why-apc-needs-modu-sheriff-at-the-helm-of-affairs/

The buses are to be managed by the Borno Express Transport Corporation but to be deployed at pick up points along major routes to move workers to the Musa Usman secretariat in the morning and return them by evening from the secretariat to where they were picked up in the morning.

The governor Zulum has also directed the state’s ministry of finance to clear backlogs of promotional benefits owed workers whose names where omitted during earlier payments.

The workers were those still being owed 2016, 2017 and 2018 promotional benefits after their names where omitted during payments approved by Governor Zulum in 2019.

Zulum directed that workers owed 2019 and 2020 promotional benefits should all be paid while those owed from 2021 to date are to be paid based on outcome of a recent promotional exam which they participated in.

The NLC Chairman in Borno State, Comrade Yusuf Inuwa had tabled some demands, top of which the governor approved.

He revealed that the NLC demanded loans for workers who may want to go into agriculture and other businesses or acquire some assets.

He also said the NLC demanded allocation of buses and clearing of promotional benefits.

Inuwa also said labour demanded increase in the monthly allocation for payment of pensions.

The NLC chairman thanked Governor Zulum for meeting top of their demands, hoping that labour will continue engaging the government for more demands to be addressed for the welfare of workers at the state and local government levels

Palliative: Zulum gives NLC N2 billion soft loan to Borno workers

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Crime

Boko Haram attack kills vigilante in Yobe

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Boko Haram attack kills vigilante in Yobe

By: Zagazola Makama

A vigilante member was shot dead on Wednesday during an attack by suspected Boko Haram fighters at a vigilante camp in Kanamma town, Yusufari Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Zagazola learnt that the incident occurred at about 1839 hours when the assailants stormed the camp, opening fire on the victims.

The deceased, identified as Dauda Bamai, 35, of Kanamma, was pronounced dead by a medical doctor in Kanamma.

Security forces have intensified monitoring and patrols in the area to track down the attackers.

Boko Haram attack kills vigilante in Yobe

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Zulum sponsors youths for degrees in Piloting, Aeronautical Engineering, others

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Zulum sponsors youths for degrees in Piloting, Aeronautical Engineering, others

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has directed immediate selection and sponsorship of indigent youths for degree programmes in high-value fields, including Piloting, Aeronautical Engineering and related disciplines.

He gave the directive on Tuesday during a meeting at the Government House in Maiduguri when he received Mr Issac Balami, the founder of Issac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM).

According to Zulum, the selection process will prioritise indigent youths who demonstrate academic potential but lack the financial means to pursue such expensive courses of study.

The governor stated, “On our part, as the government of Borno State, we will do everything possible to support this university within our reach.

“I want to most sincerely thank you for the offers you have given to the government and people of Borno State for the training of a sizable number of aircraft planners and aircraft technicians.

“Deliberately, I invited the Commissioner for Education and the Executive Secretary of the scholarship board; they will liaise with you to see how candidates will be sent to your university.

“The Commissioner for Education and your team, you will identify the most vulnerable in the population who can benefit from this scheme: those who cannot afford, nor can their parents, to undertake those aeronautics courses. I don’t want anyone close to the governor, the deputy governor or the commissioner to be selected. Purely on merit! Mind you, I have to vet the list after the selection process.”

Earlier in his address, Balami announced that his institution would provide free training to an initial batch of Borno indigenes in Aircraft Planning and Aircraft Technology. 

He said the gesture was an act of giving back to the society, inspired by a scholarship he received years ago from the Borno State Government which paved the way for his own career in aeronautics.

He stated that one person from each of the 27 local governments in Borno would be trained as aircraft planners and aircraft technicians.

Zulum sponsors youths for degrees in Piloting, Aeronautical Engineering, others

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Community leaders’ engagement and intelligence gathering are key to the security situation. – Governor Bini

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Community leaders’ engagement and intelligence gathering are key to the security situation. – Governor Bini

By: Yahaya Wakili

Yobe State Governor Hon. Dr. Mai Mala Buni CON has said that the security challenges in the nation need to involve community leaders and individuals for intelligence gathering so as to cut off sources of illegal arms supply in the country.

He said by involving the community leaders and individuals for intelligence gathering, it will arrest the sponsors in order to restore peace and stability to Nigerians.

Governor Buni disclosed this today when he received members of the forest guards training and evaluation committee at the Government House, Damaturu.

Ably represented by his Deputy, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana (Wazirin Fune). He urged Nigerians to emulate the sacrifices made by our forefathers to end security challenges and build a better Nigeria.

The governor assured that recently the service chiefs have given assurance that they will do everything possible within their reach to bring to an end the current insecurity, especially in Northern Nigeria.

He informed the delegation that the Yobe state government has been working tirelessly to improve the security situation in the state.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation, Major General H. I. Mabeokwu, told the governor that they were in Yobe State to brief the governor on the ongoing training of 865 forest guards in the state.

According to Major General Mabeokwu, the committee had earlier visited the Yobe state camp to monitor the ongoing training and inquired about the needs of the trainees and the standards set for the training.

“Your Excellency, we have made significant strides in not only training those forest guards but also raising their awareness about the importance of forest conservation.” Major General Mabeokwu said.

He commended the governor for his generosity in terms of welfare for the instructors and trainees as well as relocation and renovation of the training camp and facilities used to enhance the training.

The committee members comprise the Nigerian Army, Navy, DSS, NNSBS, and NPS across the security agencies.

Community leaders’ engagement and intelligence gathering are key to the security situation. – Governor Bini

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