****Passes vote of no confidence on JISIEC

Opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Jigawa State has warned against the attempt by the Jigawa State House Assembly to tamper with the provisions of Section 7(1) of the Construction of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to allow the State Government impose caretaker committee chairmen on the people at the 27 local Government of the state
The State chairman of the Party, Ali Idris Diginsa in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday said they would not fold their hands and allow the ruling party to mess up the government at the grassroots that is closer to the people just like it has done at the State level.
Drawing strength from the recent move by the federal Government through its Attorney General who dragged the 36 State Governors before the Supreme Court seeking for full autonomy for the 774 LGs and the supreme Court’s order for them to file their respective defense, Diginsa said, “We are not going to accept any caretaker chairman in the State.
He said, “Attempt made by the Jigawa state House of Assembly to pave away for the Jigawa State government to appoint sole administrators for the 27 Local government councils of Jigawa state is unconstitutional and undemocratic.
“Indeed, the legislative action of the Jigawa state House of Assembly is a calculated attempt to amend the clear and unambiguous provisions of Section 7 sub section 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which made it mandatory for every Local Government Council in Nigeria to be headed by democratically elected Local government council chairmen.
“And the government of every state shall ensure they exist under the law. Unfortunately that is not the case in Jigawa state, even the so called Jigawa state Independent Electoral Commission has failed in discharging their legal obligation but deliberately refused, neglected and violated its own law that mandated her to publish a timetable for new local government councils election, not later than 90 days to the expiration of the tenure of office of the current local government councils as provided by the provisions of section 64(1) of the Jigawa state Independent Electoral Commission Law without any legal justification.
He explained that the inaction of the Commission to do the needful left us with no other option than to pass a vote of no confidence on the leadership of the Commission and urge the Jigawa state government to dissolve it forthwith and to appoint capable hands that can organize council elections immediately.
He said failure to do that the party(PDP) will take legal action to enforce the entrenched provisions of the Constitution against the Jigawa state Government , Jigawa state House of Assembly and the Jigawa state Independent Electoral Commission.

“We have passed a vote of no confidence on JISIEC and the Governor is not practicing proper democracy because he has ignored the constitution and the State assembly by doing what is antithetical to the provisions of the constitution. The Governor after one year has nothing to show, he has wasted resources in renovating grave yards and public toilets in the State.
“We have written a letter to them and they have not replied us and that is why they have amended the law and they are going to dissolve the Local Government and set up caretaker committee chairmen and we are calling on them to organize elections before the tenure of the current occupants of the local government councils expires immediately.
“They should retrace their steps and conduct Local Government Elections at the expiration of the tenure of the current LG chairmen.
From John Akubo, Abuja
Opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Jigawa State has warned against the attempt by the Jigawa State House Assembly to tamper with the provisions of Section 7(1) of the Construction of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to allow the State Government impose caretaker committee chairmen on the people at the 27 local Government of the state
The State chairman of the Party, Ali Idris Diginsa in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday said they would not fold their hands and allow the ruling party to mess up the government at the grassroots that is closer to the people just like it has done at the State level.
Drawing strength from the recent move by the federal Government through its Attorney General who dragged the 36 State Governors before the Supreme Court seeking for full autonomy for the 774 LGs and the supreme Court’s order for them to file their respective defense, Diginsa said, “We are not going to accept any caretaker chairman in the State.
He said, “Attempt made by the Jigawa state House of Assembly to pave away for the Jigawa State government to appoint sole administrators for the 27 Local government councils of Jigawa state is unconstitutional and undemocratic.
“Indeed, the legislative action of the Jigawa state House of Assembly is a calculated attempt to amend the clear and unambiguous provisions of Section 7 sub section 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which made it mandatory for every Local Government Council in Nigeria to be headed by democratically elected Local government council chairmen.
“And the government of every state shall ensure they exist under the law. Unfortunately that is not the case in Jigawa state, even the so called Jigawa state Independent Electoral Commission has failed in discharging their legal obligation but deliberately refused, neglected and violated its own law that mandated her to publish a timetable for new local government councils election, not later than 90 days to the expiration of the tenure of office of the current local government councils as provided by the provisions of section 64(1) of the Jigawa state Independent Electoral Commission Law without any legal justification.
He explained that the inaction of the Commission to do the needful left us with no other option than to pass a vote of no confidence on the leadership of the Commission and urge the Jigawa state government to dissolve it forthwith and to appoint capable hands that can organize council elections immediately.
He said failure to do that the party(PDP) will take legal action to enforce the entrenched provisions of the Constitution against the Jigawa state Government , Jigawa state House of Assembly and the Jigawa state Independent Electoral Commission.

“We have passed a vote of no confidence on JISIEC and the Governor is not practicing proper democracy because he has ignored the constitution and the State assembly by doing what is antithetical to the provisions of the constitution. The Governor after one year has nothing to show, he has wasted resources in renovating grave yards and public toilets in the State.
“We have written a letter to them and they have not replied us and that is why they have amended the law and they are going to dissolve the Local Government and set up caretaker committee chairmen and we are calling on them to organize elections before the tenure of the current occupants of the local government councils expires immediately.
“They should retrace their steps and conduct Local Government Elections at the expiration of the tenure of the current LG chairmen.

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has offered permanent and pensionable employment to over 3,143 qualified teachers as part of his one year anniverssary celebrations.
Speaking while presenting the offer, governor Malam Umar Namadi at the colourful ceremony held at Malam Aminu Kano Triangle in Dutse the state capital, indicated that it is in continuation of his administration effort at improving the educational sector with quality education for the future leaders.

Namadi explained that in his commitment to fulfilling his administration’s promise to implementing the 12 point agenda, it has also recruited a total of 1,440 agricultural extension workers under J-Agro programme and 1,005 junior and senior health personal.

According to him, the effort is serving multiple purpose which includes providing job opportunities to the teaming youth, bridging teachers and medical personnel gabs and improving educational and health through the provision of adequate and qualified personnel in the two human development sectors”.

He explained that there is no government policy that can be fully and effectively implemented without enough training and capable manpower.

“Our 12 point agenda designed to make Jigawa state great included access to quality education for all child in state, and to achieve this we must bridge our teachers gap, that is why we employed this number now and we will continue doing this untill we have teachers in every classroom.”

“In addition to the commitment to achieving this, we have send over 120 students to Cyprus and India to study medicine, launched construction of N5.5 billion School of Nursing and Midwifery and established three tertiary health institutions in the state.

“Agriculture is one of the key sectors in our 12 point agenda, targeted at providing employment, Job creation, poverty eradication, food security, building resilient and sustainable economic development “.

“Promoting use of modern farming technology and making modern farm implements available and affordable to farmers are indispensable in achieving the goals.
“In view of that, today we are presenting offer of employment to 1,440 temporary Agricultural extension workers under our program known as J-Agro”, Governor Namadi stated.

Speaking at the event, the chairman Jigawa state Universal Basic Education Board, Professor Haruna Musa indicated that the teachers who on temporary employment for two years in the state were employed as permanent and pensionable after passing the examinations.

“All the 3,143 teachers were recruited based on merit and we are assured that, all of them are capable and they will give sound knowledge to our children.” The chairman stated

He however told the newly recruited staff that, the board will keep monitoring them and will not hesitate to sack any one who failed to abide by the employment rules as stated in the offer of employment.

***Sends 109 aboard to study Medicine.

By Ahmed Rufa’i Dutse

In his effort to ensure there is adequate and qualified manpower in the health sector, the Jigawa state Governor, Malam Umar Namadi has laid the foundation stone for the construction of N5.5b permanent site for Hadejia College of Nursing Science and Midwifery.

Speaking during the foundation laying ceremony, the Governor said affective healthcare delivery system is one of his 12 point agenda presented to the people of the state before his Government was voted in to power.

He said the project is divided in to phases, the first phase comprising of structures would cost N3b adding that the second phase would gulp N2.5b for road landscaping etc to be completed in 18 months as agreed with the construction company handling the work.

The Governor explained further that in that regards the present administration had targeted one general hospital far each of the 30 state’s constituencies and one primary healthcare facility at each of the 287 political wards of the state.

Malam Umar Namadi explained that “in preparation for the notable and gigantic programme he deemed it necessary and urgent to made solid plans to ensure adequate and qualified personnel are in the hospitals”.

According to him “We have almost achieved one PHC for political ward, we have also reached greater percentage on the provision of general hospitals in each of the state constituencies”.

He noted that the state government has esterblished one specialist hospital in each of the three senatorial zone.

“As part of our plans to have adequate and qualified personnel to man the Primary, secondary and tertiary health institutions, government has sent over 109 students to Cyprus to study medicine in addition to many others studying medicine within the shores of the country”.

“With the three colleges of Nursing Science and Midwifery at Birninkudu, Babura and this one in Hadejia, I’m optimistic that very soon nurses and Midwives would be available and even for other states”.

“Government is ready to provide all the support and encouragement to teachers and the students in all the colleges and the college of health technology in Jahun through the provision of modern teaching and learning apparatuses”, Namadi emphasised.

The governor called on the people of the state and the youth in particular to make very good use of the opportunity, “and I really appreciate your kind support, understanding and patience. You will no regret voting us in to power”.