Information parastatals get new Chief Executives

The Federal Government has appointed new  Chief Executives for six  parastatals under the Ministry of Information and Culture.

The appointments were announced in Abuja by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

See the new appointees and their postings

1. Ishaq Modibo Kawu - Director-General, Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, NBC
2. Mansur Liman - Director-General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN.
3. Yakubu Mohammed - Director-General, Nigerian Television Authority, NTA
4. Dr Garba Abari - Director-General, National Orientation Agency, NOA
5. Bayo Onanuga - Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN
6. Olisa Okechukwu - Director-General, Voice of Nigeria, VON.

The new Chief Executives whose appointments are with immediate effect are to fill the void left by the disengagement of six other DGs on February 15.

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China's outgoing Ambassador visits President Buhari at Aso Rock (Photo)

President Muhammadu Buhari receiving the outgoing Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China, His Excellency Gu Xiaojie who was on a farewell visit to him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

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China's outgoing Ambassador visits President Buhari at Aso Rock (Photo)

President Muhammadu Buhari receiving the outgoing Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China, His Excellency Gu Xiaojie who was on a farewell visit to him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

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Ghost Workers: States endorse 22-point Fiscal Reform Action Plan

The 22-point Fiscal Reform Action Plan designed to help states and local governments to reform their finances and weed out ghost workers has been endorsed by the 36 states of the federation.

Festus Akanbi, Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance on Media disclosed this in a statement he issued on Wednesday.

“States have agreed to reform the finances of states and local governments under a Fiscal Sustainability Programme to ensure their long term viability.

“The 22-point fiscal reform action plan to be implemented by states under the programme, mirrors the ongoing public financial management reforms being undertaken by the Federal Government, including: biometric capture of all civil servants, establishment of an efficiency unit, implementation of continuous audit, improvement in Independently Generated Revenue (IGR) and measures to achieve sustainable debt management.

“The reforms were unanimously agreed by state governors during the National Economic Council meeting last Thursday.

“The Federal Government is developing a financial support structure which will be directly tied to the attainment of agreed fiscal reform milestones.

‘’The ultimate objective of the programme is to ensure that states are set on a path towards fiscal sustainability.”

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Double salary: 64 Katsina workers to refund N10m

Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has ordered the 64 health workers found to have received double salaries from both the state government and some development partners to refund the excess payments totalling N10.1m.

Masari gave the order following the report of the five-man committee that looked into the staffing, welfare package and distribution of health workers in the local government areas of Katsina State.

“The affected workers must refund the N10.1m to the government and choose to either work with the government or with the development partners,’’ the governor said.

He directed the immediate redeployment of senior nurses working in secondary school clinics to hospitals.

He added that the nurses are to be replaced with health attendants.

Gov Masari described the collection of double salary as a fraudulent activity.

“On the workers collecting double salaries, we cannot condone this. This is fraudulent. The law must be applied. In addition, they must refund every kobo they have collected. We must also examine the roles and functions of the Local Government Service Commission.”

Earlier Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Maigari Danjuma had said that the state has 10,415 health workers accounting for a monthly wage bill of  N1.019b.

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Nimbo massacre: Police arrest killer herdsmen (Photo)

The Intelligence Response Team, IRT set up by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase in the wake of the Nimbo massacre of April 25, 2016 has arrested five days of the killer herdsmen who perpetrated the heinous crime.

A gang of suspected Fulani herdsmen had in the night of April 25, invaded the sleepy community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, killing no fewer than 40 persons, injuring many others and burning down their homes and properties.

The police said that the suspects identified as Mohammed Zurai, Ciroma Musa, Sale Adamu, Suleiman Laute and Haruna Laute were arrested following credible intelligence.

The suspects were found to be in possession of one Gionee L88 mobile phone with memory card containing the video recording of the Nimbo massacre.

The killer herdsmen were paraded by police in Abuja on Wednesday. 

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Rescued Chibok girl, Boko Haram 'husband' being airlifted from Damboa (Photos)

Chibok school girl Amina Ali after her rescue was airlifted to Maiduguri from Damboa alongside her baby, Safiya and Boko Haram 'husband' Mohammed Hayatu aboard a Nigeria Air Force Super Puma helicopter.

Army spokesman Col Sani Usman said that the subjects examined at an Air Force medical facility before the airlift.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Hayatu has been handed over to Operation Lafiya Dole headquarters for investigation.

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