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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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News

Crisis brews in Gombe SDP as Yakubu emerges acting chairman

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Crisis brews in Gombe SDP as Yakubu emerges acting chairman

The Gombe State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has appointed a new chairman, Aaron Yakubu to serve in acting capacity following the suspension of its state chairman, Comrade Adamu Abubakar Modibbo, over allegations of mismanagement, lack of transparency, and misuse of party resources.

His suspension was announced at a news conference held in Gombe on Saturday by the party’s Welfare Secretary, Usman Yahaya, on behalf of concerned members of the state executive.

Reading the statement, Yahaya said there were countless complaints against the now suspended chairman, whom he said had side-lined party stakeholders and running the party like his personal property.

“Since Comrade Modibbo assumed office, the party has experienced no meaningful progress. Instead, the leadership claims he has used his position to witch-hunt loyal stakeholders and frustrated committed party members for his personal gain.”

He accused Modibbo of systematically “caging” the party’s executive members and aspirants, depriving over 90% of both returning and newly acting executive members of access to official SDP membership cards.

He further alleged that the selection of party candidates has been done without due process or consultation, with names being announced solely via national platforms involving prominent figures like Malam Nasir El-Rufai, thereby side-lining the state executive.
Yahaya also accused the suspended chairman of allegedly using his personal residence as the de facto party office.

This, the executives say, violates proper procedures and comes despite funds being made available to renovate the official state party office and rent offices across the local government areas.

“As it stands, the SDP in Gombe State does not have a functional or recognised operational office,”

In the light of the above weighty and numerous allegations against Modibbo, the Welfare Secretary said that the Gombe State chapter of the party has taken decisive action by suspending Comrade Adamu Abubakar Modibbo as chairman with immediate effect.

“In this regard, we hereby announce that the current State Secretary of the party, Mr. Aaron Yakubu, will now serve as the Acting State Chairman of the SDP in Gombe.

“Similarly, Ambassador Lukman Adamu Elkanem, previously serving as the Acting Assistant Public Relations Officer, has now been appointed as the Acting State Secretary of the party.”

Yahaya, on behalf of the state chapter of the SDP, appealed for intervention from the national body of the party to look into the allegations against the former chairman and to restore discipline, accountability, and credible leadership to the Gombe chapter of the party.

Speaking shortly in an interview, Yakubu said he would work to build inclusiveness in the party and ensure all party members were carried along in line with the constitution of the party.

He stated that out of the 13 working committee members of the party, nine were present and in support of the suspension of Modibbo.

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Crime

Yobe man kills neighbour over alleged affair with wife

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Yobe man kills neighbour over alleged affair with wife

By: Zagazola Makama

A 40-year-old man, Yau Ari Dawa of Fulameri Village in Yobe State, has allegedly stabbed his neighbour to death following a violent altercation over a suspected extramarital affair with his wife.

Zagazola Makama gathered from sources that the incident occurred late Wednesday night at about 11:30 p.m., when Dawa reportedly confronted Mallam Faji Gana, 35, accusing him of having an affair with his 25-year-old wife, Noja Yau.

The sources said that the confrontation quickly turned violent, and Dawa allegedly used a knife to stab Gana in the stomach during the scuffle.

A neighbour, raised an alarm and reported the incident to authorities in the early hours of Thursday.

Gana was rushed to the Specialist Hospital in Geidam, but was confirmed dead on arrival by medical personnel.

The suspect, Yau Ari Dawa, has since been arrested by operatives of the Yobe State Police Command.

According to police sources, the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation and possible prosecution.

Yobe man kills neighbour over alleged affair with wife

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News

Climate resilience: Group tasks Adamawa stakeholders to enhance gender-responsive strategies

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Climate resilience: Group tasks Adamawa stakeholders to enhance gender-responsive strategies

Women in Humanitarian Response in Nigeria Initiative (WiHRiN) in collaboration with UN Women and partner organizations urged stakeholders to enhance gender-responsive strategies in disaster preparedness and climate resilience.

Dr. Mimidoo Achakpa, the Coalition Coordinator made the call at the validation workshop in Yola.

She said, the workshop aimed at addressing gender gaps in disaster and climate resilience strategies in Adamawa State.

She advised the participants to critically assess the findings and provide additional input.

Dr. Hassan Misari, facilitator, presented an overview of the assessment findings, highlighting key gender-related challenges and opportunities within the state’s climate and disaster resilience frameworks.

He guided participants through a series of group discussions aimed at validating the findings and shaping a proposed roadmap for action.

Hajiya Safiya Mohammed, controller, Federal Ministry of Environment expressed the need for collaboration among security agencies, government institutions, and Civil Society Organisation to create resilient and gender-responsive disaster management frameworks.

Dr Ibrahim Umar, Director Ministry of environment emphasised the importance of inclusive strategies that ensure both men and women are equally involved in the development and implementation of disaster management policies in the state.

Falda Wesley, representative of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development expressed confidence that the discussions would lead to meaningful outcomes and stronger gender representation in humanitarian planning.

According to her, the workshop is an eye opener for additional knowledge for them to give them and take more ideas on their field work.

The workshop brought together the stakeholders to review and validate findings from a recent gender gap assessment, following a previous consultative meeting in the state.

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