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Southern governors give reasons for insisting on state police, appoint Dapo Abiodun chairman

Published

3 months ago

June 25, 2024

Southern governors

Southern governors give reasons for insisting on state police, appoint Dapo Abiodun chairman

Southern governors yesterday said having state police will give them more control over security decisions in their states.

They believe locals are better placed to fight crime because they understand the terrain and language.

The state helmsmen met under the Southern Governors Forum (SGF) in Abeokuta.

They appointed host Governor Dapo Abiodun as chairman.

Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, was named Vice Chairman.

Also in attendance were Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Alex Otti (Abia), Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).

Others are Bassey Otu (Cross River), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa) and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom).

Deputy Governors Chinyere Ekomaru (Imo), Monday Onyeme (Delta) and Olayide Adelami (Ondo) represented Hope Uzodimma, Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori and Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Rivers State Governor, Similayi Fubara, was absent and was not represented.

Abiodun replaced former Ondo governor, the late Rotimi Akeredolu.

The governor, who featured on a national television last night, said the forum deliberated on state police, the political upheaval in Rivers, infrastructure and agriculture, among others.

He said the 17 Southern governors were united in their call for state police.

Abiodun said: “We all spoke with one voice in support of state policing.

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“We spoke with one voice in support of regional security outfits which almost all regions have set up.

“The outfits are working hand in glove with the law enforcement agencies and providing them with intelligence and support.

“We all know that we cannot have any meaningful development in the atmosphere of insecurity.

“We all spoke with one voice in support of state policing, and regional security outfits, working hand-in-glove with the security outfits.

“The governors are called state chief security officers. But, we know that the Commissioner of Police is appointed by the Inspector General of Police and is only answerable to the IG.

“And when the governor needs to call the attention of the CP on an urgent task in his state, the governor will have to first clear with the IG.

“What have we discovered? In most cases, a policeman from Borno, Maiduguri, posted to Lagos or Ogun states, for instance.

“Such an officer doesn’t understand the terrain, he doesn’t speak the language and he does not get the level of intelligence he needs.

“By the time he is settling down to understand these factors, he is transferred to another state.

“We’re calling for community police to tame insecurity in the state and the nation.

“Under the state police arrangement, a policeman posted to his ward won’t have problems with language and intelligence.

“In that case, the policeman understands the community and the locals, language, the sentiments and, he knows the criminals within his territory.

“It is also common knowledge that the federal police have a shortage of manpower.

“We, as governors, are not in charge or control of our states as far as security is concerned.

“Yet, we fund the federal police operations, yet we are not getting the best from them. They don’t have enough personnel.

“State policing is not something new.

“We have several types of policing structure in other climes where we took our democracy from.”

Speaking on local government tenure, Abiodun said it was unconstitutional for anybody to extend the tenure of constitutionally elected public servants.

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Referring to Rivers political quagmire where the House of Assembly extended the tenure of the local government chairmen, Abiodun said: “On local government administration, it is a constitutional issue that will be put to rest at a point in time.

“When your tenure has expired, it stands to reason that your tenure has expired.

“It is not up to the governor of that state or anybody else to extend the tenure of the local government chairmen.

“The collective position of the governors is that it would be a dangerous precedent and an abuse of the democratic ethos for the tenure of an elected local government chairman to expire and for anyone to imagine that their tenure can be extended by one day.

“I think that puts that matter to rest. If that is not the case, that becomes a precedent, a reference point, and the thing is that somebody will ask for a tenure extension.

“Our democracy has evolved and we should not do anything to truncate the process.”

Abiodun, who said the forum also agreed on a modal transport master plan for the region, noted that the governors were delighted with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the award of the coastal road project.

“We spoke about infrastructure. For us to be regionally integrated, we must have the infrastructure for investment facilitation, promotion, for enhancing movement of goods and services.

“On that note, we were unanimously appreciating President Tinubu for the construction of the coastal road.

“This road connects almost all southern states. It is a key enabler of economic development like no other. It will also create a lot of job opportunities.

“We also spoke of the need for the Federal Government to transfer some of the Trunk A roads to the states if a state government is prepared to take on such roads.

“We also agreed to have a modal transport master plan that allows us to connect rail, water and road transportation because we realised that transportation is key to enabling investment promotion, facilitation and the general wellbeing of our people.”

Southern governors give reasons for insisting on state police, appoint Dapo Abiodun chairman

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BREAKING: FG declares Tuesday public holiday to celebrate 64th Independence

Published

9 hours ago

September 28, 2024

Trends Admin

Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo

BREAKING: FG declares Tuesday public holiday to celebrate 64th Independence

The Federal Government has declared Tuesday, 1st of October 2024, as a public holiday to commemorate the Nation’s 64th Independence Day Anniversary.

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated Nigerians at home and abroad on this occasion.

In a statement signed Saturday in Abuja, by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, the minister praised the patient and hardworking Nigerian men and women, stating that their sacrifices will not be in vain.

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Aligning himself with the theme for the Anniversary, the Minister reiterated the need for Nigerians to reflect on the labour of our heroes past and be inspired for the tasks ahead, realizing that a Nigeria of our dream can only be built when we unite.

While wishing Nigerians a Happy Independence Day Anniversary, Dr. Tunji-Ojo urged the citizens to continue to be steadfast in nation-building.

BREAKING: FG declares Tuesday public holiday to celebrate 64th Independence

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Tinubu makes new appointments

Published

9 hours ago

September 28, 2024

Trends Admin

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tinubu makes new appointments

President Bola Tinubu has taken a significant step toward establishing the North West Development Commission (NWDC) by submitting the names of its inaugural Governing Board members to the Senate for approval.

This action follows the President’s recent signing of the North West Development Commission Bill into law on July 24, further advancing the Commission’s formation aimed at the socio-economic development of the region.

According to a statement released by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Tinubu has nominated Amb. Haruna Gindau from Jigawa to serve as the Board Chairman. Additionally, Prof. Abdullahi Ma’aji from Kano has been selected as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO).

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Other key nominations for the Board include Dr. Yahaya Umar Namahe (Sokoto), Hon. Aminu Suleiman (Kebbi), and Sen. Tijani Yahaya Kaura (Zamfara). The President also nominated Hon. Abdulkadir S. Usman (Kaduna), Hon. Engr. Muhammad Ali Wudil (Kano), Shamsu Sule (Katsina), and Nasidi Ali (Jigawa) as members of the Board.

The newly appointed members are expected to bring their experience and knowledge to advance the Commission’s mission of driving development across the North-West region.

The NWDC aims to promote economic growth, social development, and empowerment within the region. The statement emphasized the President’s dedication to supporting the Commission in achieving its development goals.

Tinubu makes new appointments

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Wike approves recruitment of 900 health workers, okays 25% salary increase for nurses

Published

9 hours ago

September 28, 2024

Trends Admin

Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike

Wike approves recruitment of 900 health workers, okays 25% salary increase for nurses

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced plans to recruit 900 healthcare workers to strengthen staffing in its hospitals.

The decision was disclosed by Dr. Babagana Adams, the Permanent Secretary of the Health and Environment Services Secretariat (HESS), during an awards dinner hosted by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) FCT Council.

The event, which served as the conclusion of the 2024 FCT Nurses Week, began with Jumaat prayers on Sept. 20 and culminated with the awards night.

Adams revealed that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has given the green light for the recruitment of the healthcare personnel.

Additionally, approval has been granted for the hiring of 342 other health professionals, with recruitment efforts expected to commence shortly.

In further remarks, Adams stated his intention to submit a proposal advocating for the establishment of a dedicated village for health professionals before the end of the current administration.

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He also indicated that plans were underway to enhance transportation for nurses, with discussions already initiated with WEMA and Zenith banks to facilitate this support.

He emphasized that the forthcoming proposal would include a seamless payment system for these initiatives.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Jama Medan, Chairman of the NANNM FCT Council, called for the expansion of hospitals across the FCT, noting that many districts lack adequate healthcare facilities. He highlighted that the growing population in the FCT has far exceeded the capacity of existing hospitals, underscoring the need for more infrastructure and medical equipment.

Medan encouraged nurses to remain dedicated to their profession despite the challenges of heavy workloads, urging them to resist the temptation to migrate abroad or switch careers. He praised Minister Wike’s efforts to improve conditions in the FCT, expressing optimism that the hard work of healthcare professionals would soon be rewarded.

“The minister has already made significant strides, beginning with the approval of a 25% salary increase and other benefits for nurses,” Medan noted.

During the event, the award for the Best Nurse in the FCT was presented to Rosemary Okoroafor from Karshi General Hospital. The honor was bestowed by Dr. Esther Osunluyi, representing the National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America.