Armed Bandits kill baby, 6 others in Zamfara

Armed bandits yesterday shot dead at least seven people including a baby in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The victims were on their way to the Dankurmi market when the bandits intercepted them and started collecting money, mobile phones, motorbikes and other valuables from them.
Residents disclosed that they shot dead anyone who resisted their move and among those killed were an old woman and her grandchild.
“Dozens of them wielding rifles stopped the residents on their way to Dankurmi market between SabonBirninBanaga and Duhuwa villages, killing people,” a resident, Aliyu Kawaye, said. He said they burnt many motorcycles seized from traders.

Senate Leader, others ask Buhari to re-contest in 2019

Credit: Daily Trust
The Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan and the National Committee of the Buhari Support Group led by Senator Abu Ibrahim, yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to seek a re-election in 2019.
Ibrahim, while addressing State House correspondents after the group met with Buhari, however said discussion on the 2019 elections did not come up, but that plans to improve the nation’s situation were discussed.
Asked if he would encourage President Buhari to seek re-election, Ibrahim answered, ‘Of course, l will because l believe in his philosophy, and l believe he can solve the problems of this nation. He can ensure the progress, stability and prosperity of this nation.”
Senator Ahmad Lawan said Buhari had done well so far on his campaign promises.
“Mr. President and Nigerians have a future beyond 2019. What he has started, by the grace of God, he should be able to complete up to 2023,” he said.
Lawan, who is also the Senate Leader, added: “The future is bright, and by the grace of God, by 2019, we’ll have achieved so much in this administration and Mr. President will have no option but to continue the good work he has started.”
Buhari, according to a statement later by his spokesman,Mr Femi Adesina, while receiving the group, commended various support groups working for the progress of his administration, saying posterity would reward their sacrifices for the peace, progress and prosperity of the nation.President Buhari assured of the judicious use of available national resources for the betterment of all Nigerians.

Breaking: Good News for 2017 Npower Applicants

The Federal Government of Nigeria is pleased to announce the commencement of the second phase of the N-Power Volunteer Corps Programme, involving the selection of 300,000 successful applicants. The Federal Government of Nigeria wishes to congratulate all 300,000 successful applicants. They are encouraged to take this opportunity seriously by learning the skills that will brighten their future and also serve their communities with commitment and dedication. For those who have not been selected at this time, there is a waiting list and subsequent phase(s) will absorb more qualified applicants.
The selection into the second phase was undertaken in a fair and transparent manner on the following bases:
Npower Teach 170,000 Candidates
Npower Tax 7500 Candidates
Npower Agro 65,000 Cadidates
Npower Health 57,500 Candidates
The Federal Government is partnering with all the States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory through their Governors and relevant Focal Persons for the National Social Investments Programme. As such, the respective list of successful applicants has been shared with the States who are now responsible for deploying successful volunteers to their primary places of assignment from Tuesday, 21st of November 2017. The primary places of assignment will be primary schools, primary health care centres and State Agriculture Development Project (ADPs) within the Local Government Centres. States are at liberty to publicise the list of successful applicants within their jurisdictions and respective Local Government Councils.
The engagement date for all successful N-Power Volunteer Corps members will be December 1st 2017. Successful applicants will be notified by SMS and E-mail from Sunday, November 19th 2017. From Tuesday, November 21st 2017, all successful applicants are required to go to Http://npvn.npower.gov.ng where they are expected to log in to their personal NPVC accounts and update their information as may be required. This NPVC account will be the primary means of constant communication as well as a learning management resource. Successful N-Power Volunteer Corps members must provide valid bank account information for the purposes of payment of monthly stipends. Information regarding deployment will also be accessible on the N-Power web portal as soon as the States indicate the primary places of assignment of each successful NPVC member.
NPVN - NPower Volunteers' Network
npvn.npower.gov.ng

Latest: Job Opportunities for Nigerians

The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) invites applications from interested and qualified candidates for TEACHING appointments into Public Schools across the state. Interested Candidates must possess a minimum of Nigeria Certificate In Education (NCE).

This was contained in a statement endorsed by the Executive Chairman of the board, Malam Nasiru Umar.

All written applications are to be addressed to:
Executive Chairman,
Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board,
79A, Tafawa Balewa Way,
Kaduna.

Notwithstanding, candidates can also E-mail the  scanned copies of their particulars to subeb@kdsg.gov.ng.

Note that: Application to be closed on 19th November, 2017.

House Of Reps Member Backs To School

A Nigerian House Representatives Member, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila engages himself in voluntary teaching in the public schools of Lagos State.

The 55 year old Lawmaker, is representing Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State and currently serving as  leader of the House (8th Assembly).

This was disclosed in a statement shared on his Facebook account showing how he will be attending the volunteer teaching exercise. As shown below:

Young Lady Donates To Develop Education In Gusau LG

Ms. Fareeda Musa, is an influential lady, who works to the best of her ability to contribute towards the development of her local community.

In a statement issued by the Secretary General of Zamfara Youth Charity Movement Mr. Yusuf Anka praised Ms. Fareeda for donating books to the public primary schools within Gusau metropolises.

"I will like to present Fareeda Musa to you today.
Fareeda who is fondly referred as THE PHILANTHROPIST by ZamCharity representatives. She is a young lady within our age bracket who has extended her hands of support to Schools within Gusau Local government. Ms. Fareeda has committed herself to service to humanity through the instrumentality of eraducating illiteracy in Zamfara State. She is a young lady who has understood and valued the objective of living. Fareeda in her words says she has promised to subject her resources, energy, time and intellect to serving humanity. She has called on the female gender to give back their own quarters to the society so  as to arrest the most pressing challenges of the todays society". Mr. Anka said.

Mr. Yusuf added that:
"She has donated a number of books, bags, pencils and erasers to the #DontDumpDonate of #ZamCharity in a bid to eradicate illiteracy. It's our prayer and hope that the story of Fareeda who earns little or none compared to our earnings but still finds way to profer solutions to our problem inspires you and people around, may we put in more and more effort to ensure a viable society".

FIRE OUTBREAK SETS A HOUSE ABLAZE IN KAURA NAMODA

No Fire fighters in Kaura Namoda

By: Abdulrazak Bello Kaura.

Yesterday at about 19:15 hrs (7:15pm) a Gas cylinder ignited fire in Engr. Yusha'u Mubi's House at Yarima Quarters (Behind LEA office) in Kaura Namoda which destroyed the entire house and all property inside. Alhamdulillah no life was lost.

Let me use this medium to solicit for Zamfara state government to consider and release the fire fighting truck already procured for Kaura Namoda zone, as the Harmattan season is fast approaching and it is the season that the fire outbreak takes its peak

It is very imperative for me to salute and say Kudos to Gusau Fire service for their quick response, coming all the way from Gusau to quench the fire in Kaura Namoda (about 57 KM), even though the damage have been done before their arrival due to the distance.

Neighborhood pays it obligations, as all and sundry around including passersby assisted immensely in controlling and quenching the fire.

Police and other securities also deployed their men avert possible criminal acts.

The community of federal polytechnic  Kaura Namoda and Zamfara State government should pls look at the possibilities of supporting and assisting Engr. Mubi.

Kudos to Gusau Fire service !

There Is Need For Constructive Opposition In Zamfara State

For the betterment of Zamfara state and need for constructive opposition.

By: Ubaidullah Y. Kaura

Ideally, a constructive opposition would emphasize more on discussion, ask more questions, resolution of problems faced, help in amendments and passage of important bills.
Also unite with ruling govt on issues of national or state interests. Without constructive opposition our beloved state is dying.

At the same time, opposition must warn or bring in focus issues that govt is not addressing effectively at its level.

Zamfara state need a strong and constructive opposition to only complements democracy. In the event of a weaker opposition, ruling govt and its representatives may become complacent and insensitive for duration of their rule as we are witnessing currently in Zamfara State.

But let's avoid disruptive opposition in the sense that we are opposing everything for the sake of opposing - is not good for democracy and tax-payers.

The current opposition in Zamfara state is nearly dead nothing shows officially and open that there's existing of opposition parties in Zamfara state.

What do you expect in the state where the oppositions are set to to be quit in anything concerning the development, implementations,  forward need and backwards need of the state. ?

I pity for Zamfarathe opposition parties act like non, acts incapacitated the government officials are operating state systems like their toilets but nobody's calling their attention to order.
Even a meaningful advice is hard from serious opposition is lost, what types of democracy are we operating in the state.

The activities of the opposition parties are seriously discouraging one, they act like they want to be ever in the dying line of opposition unreasonably.

The opposition parties are doing nothing but creating factions,  crisis in their own territory rather than to face the serious challenges ahead of them in their future.

 As we are hoping for Zamfara state 2019 a party in opposition may be the next ruling party and other way around. So they must see their actions and how they will be remembered or forgotten.

God bless Zamfara state all the time.

Zamfara Circle Set To Conduct A Town Hall Meeting

The Gusau chapter of Zamfara Circle movement is set to conduct a town hall meeting, themed: DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTH; EFFECTS AND IMPLICATIONS ON SOCIETAL DEVELOPMENTS.

The town hall meeting has been scheduled to hold on Saturday, 28th October, 2017, at Jibril Bala Yakubu Secretariat, Gusau, by 10:30Am Prompt.

This was contained in a statement issued by the secretary of Gusau Town Hall Meeting Committee, Mr. Ishaka Idris Gusau.


Malam Ishaka, also disclosed that, the chairman of the Occasion will be Alh. Ibrahim Umar Tanko, Hon. Chairman Gusau Local Government Area. While the Emir of Gusau, Alh. Ibrahim Bello, will be the Royal father of the day.

Equally, guest speakers of the day include:
1. Al-Amen Tsafe, from Federal University Gusau,
2.  NDLEA Commandant Zamfara State, and
3. Mal. Sani Abubakar Mai Albasa, from the Zamfara State Council of Ulamah.

Mr. Ishaka Idris, further revealed that, the Lead Moderator of the occasion will be
Barr. Muhammad Bello Idris NBA Chairman, Gusau Branch. While,
Comrade Lukman Majidadi will be the master of the ceremony.

Meanwhile, the state headquarters of Zamfara Circle  under the leadership of Mr. Gazali Shehu, has ordered all the Fourteen Local Governments  of the state to conduct similar program with the same theme with in the last quarter of 2017.

Good News for 2017 N-Tax Applicants

In furtherance of the efforts of Nigerian Federal Government to eradicate poverty and unemployment among youth.

The N-Power scheme has released a pre-selection training time table for the 2017 applicants under N-Tax category.

In a statement released by the N-Power headquarters, indicated that the Training will commence on Sunday, 22nd October 2017 and end on Friday, 27th October 2017. At Federal Treasury Academy, Orozo, FCT, Abuja.


The invited applicants are also warned to maintain that, the registration commences at 4.30pm and closes at 8.00pm (on the day of arrival).


Recall that, the N-Power Tax training and all ancillary processes are undertaken by the Federal Ministry of Finance in conjunction with the Joint Tax Board.

General Govs to Buhari: We spent bailout funds on 200m Nigerians

Source: Daily Trust

The Nigerian Governors Forum said on Tuesday that the billions of intervention funds received from the Federal Government had reached about 200 million Nigerians in all the states of the federation.

 

NGF Chairman Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, said this in an interview with State House correspondents yesterday after a delegation of the forum met with President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

The various interventions which the 36 states had received from the Federal Government included bailout, Paris Club refund and budget support .

 

"200 million citizens in Nigeria are residing in respective states. These supports are going down to them when you are taking the indices from the grassroots," Yari said.

 

He said they visited Buharu to thank him for the previous bailouts and the Paris Club refunds which, he noted, had enabled them helped to meet their obligations.

 

"We're here on behalf of the 36 states governors and this is a result of the  collective decision to see the President after the National Economic Council meeting last month. Our mission here is simple, we are here to thank Mr. President for his concern about the state of the economy and for giving us several support ranging from bail out, restructuring our debts, Paris club exit payment.

 

"We also told him that we think that  it was because of his  decision to grant us bailouts and pay the refund of the Paris Club that many Nigerians are criticizing him, this is the reason why we got out of recession. We thanked the president for that and at the same time, as a father, we said to him Mr. President you remember that in 2016, we presented to  you  the numbers of  Paris exit funds which we agreed, and you directed we be paid 50 percent and the remaining 50 per cent open reconciliation.

 

"Reconciliation has been on since 2016, we are hoping that both the Debt Management Office (DMO), Ministry of Finance, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), and our consultants are concluding this reconciliation by November, so therefore we want to crave your indulgence so that we can  factor the numbers in our 2018 budget, so that we can use it for projects and other recurrent spending according to the specification given by our respective House of Assemblies and that's why we are here. 

 

"Mr. President was prompt being that he has a representative in the National Economic Council that is the Vice President and Minister of Finance is away. We are going to work on the numbers  when he returns from his trip, we are going to follow up this meeting with him so that we can conclude  on what is going to be done next," Yari said.

President Buhari Set To Develop Niger Delta- Presidency.

PRESIDENT BUHARI PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NIGER DELTA; SIGNS UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES BILL

President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abuja pledged continued support for the socio-economic development of the Niger Delta region.
Giving the assurance at a brief ceremony in the State House to sign the bill establishing the University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State, into law, the President said “this administration is fully committed to supporting the Niger Delta in its endeavours to achieve socio-economic development.”

He appealed to all communities in the region to strive for peace through dialogue in resolving all conflicts not only among them, but also with business entities and the authorities.

With the signing of the bill into law, the path has been cleared for the establishment of the specialised university in the Niger Delta, charged with training and research in petroleum technologies.

Stop Political Thuggery On Social Media- Youth Cries Out

MY CANDID ADVICE TO THE ASTUTE YOUTHS OF ZAMFARA STATE AND BEYOND ON THE NEGATIVE EFFECT OF OUR ROUGH HANDLING OF SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITIES ON POLITICAL BASIS

By: Abduljabbar A. Maradun

In the name of Allah, the most beneficient the most merciful. Peace and blessings of Allah be upon his noble messenger Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

I'm aware of the undeniable fact that many of the readers of this write-up would be astounded upon seeing the heading without going through the innards as to what could be the basis on which this article is penned down. Hence, I hereby request for their precious time to give this piece a cursory read in spite of their tight schedules.

One could easily notice how a large number of our youths are frequently becoming absorbed in political activities on social media platforms particulary Facebook and WhatsApp and how it is regularly turning into a competitive train among the youths from all the strong political parties known within the axis of Zamfara which has undoubtedly made them adverseries of one another as a result of their diverse opinions which everyone of them is entitled to and believes is the right path to be followed despite myriads of lapses that each of the political camps might have.

The extent to which show of derogatory attitude by these teeming youths is on the rise is extremely disheartening considering the harmful effects it could cause to them in the future which may eventually amount to 'twist of fate' for them.
Meanwhile, the long awaited 'brighter future' they have been dreaming of since childhood stage could be at the risk of being ruined as a result of wasting their time, exuberance and every other valuable thing in their possession that may be labelled as a tool of actualizing their dream in the future by disrespecting elders who are also our parents and mobilizing the candidature of someone whose concern is not channelled towards aiding them in the actualization of their dream after all the series of hardships and threats you may encounter along the line.

At this point, I want to make myself clear to you for the utmost fear of being misinterpreted or misjudged on the basis of writing this article. I'm not trying to label the idea of partaking in political activities on social media whatsoever by my fellow youths as a negative idea. No! It is just that I want to advise us to take precautionary measures on the poor handling of the aforesaid activities. "Prevention is better than cure" a popular adage says.

To be frank, political activities on social media are being mishandled to a greater extent which if precautionary measures are not taken, may throw its defaulters into a very dangerous pool of regret in the near future.
We are all aware of the path we place ourselves on, if we know we have veered up towards a wrong direction then we must quickly make a U-turn and advance towards the right direction in order to arrive at a violent-free and brighter destination.

I have been keenly noticing the negative basis on which we planned our blueprint of activities and if we fail to realize the danger it entails, we are in deep mess and I pity us.
It may interest you to know the much talked negative basis that is why I decided to list them below for your perusal.

1. The display of derogatory attitude by some of the youths in this 'business' (as they call it) is on the rise intermittently. Whereas, you will see a teen of less than 20 years posing himself in the awful act of dragging one's name through the mud.
It would undoubtedly break your heart beholding a teen turned mudslinger on social media insulting a highly respected politician who is older than even his father, saying all sorts of negative things against him in a bid to blacken his reputation and instead of those seen as matured people sharing same opinion with him politically to caution him they will end up giving him 'Thumbs up' and lauding his negative effort. You are deceiving him and one day he will turn out to be in your opposition side, he would'nt hesitate to give you similar treatment which you lauded him of.
It irritates me whenever I see our youths insulting statesmen who might be age mates to their parents or older than them.

2. We are all aware that Maradun LGA and Zamfara as a whole are left behind interms of Socio-economic development, educational standard and many other areas but because of the little means we earn from top officials of the goverment we refrain from voicing our needs from the government let alone to constructively criticize the government to return back to its right track.
For instance, this year's SSCE results were released nationwide few months ago but to my dismay the results of my state are withold over non payment of funds by the state government but we have remain tongue-tied as if we are not aware. Our siblings are stranded at home, the have utmost interest to further their studies but results are nowhere.

If only we could pressurize the state government and make the governor realize the danger of not releasing the said results through all the nooks and crannies of social media, notwithstanding our political differences. I'm very sure the state government must succumb to our collective demands even for the fear of the governor's image to be tarnished.
Moreover, those plying Danbaza-Maradun road are well aware of the dangerous and dilapidated condition of the road but the state government is acting like it's not aware of it. But despite all these we cannot tell the governor the truth about what we have in mind because of the fear of losing our gains or perhaps the utmost fear of incaceration.

3. It is obvious that in the mind of every youth there must be a dream for a brighter future but unfortunately we ourselves created an obstacle that could prevent us from actualizing the much-talked dream. It is nothing other than being absorbed in political activities on social media campaigning for those whose dreams are already actualized but they could not help you in one way or the other to achieve your own dreams.
Some of us are ND holders, NCE holders while some are still in the system aforementioned or even degree programmes but we are here wasting our precious time over someone who even his SSCE certificate is doubted upon. The time you may waste could be used to either look for job with your qualification or admission to further your studies.
Haba 'yan uwana, wake up to wakefulness mana.
This is not what our parents did in their juvenile age.

Let's be wise and be the masters of our fate as well as captains of our souls.
What most of them have in mind is that we are together with them to get money, and to some certain extent true, we sold our mandate and integrity, even if they wins they have every right to sideline us because we worked for them and get paid, nothing else we could do to convince them whatsoever.

4. The most worst part of it is that most of our youths in this act do not wait to know a person personally, his ethos, his contribution to the society, what captivated his attention to be in the race as well as his mission and vision; their minds get easily captured by the fancy and expensive dress he wears as well as his influence (wealth status). They will blindly go ahead to mobilize his candidature making lies to bag support for him.
In this case, they do not consider hailing from different towns or even states, all they see is what they will gain.

To this end, I'm please appealing to all my fellow youths to shun these negative and disdainful ethos to avoid the regretion that may follow afterwards.
Let's wake up to realities and support only those with clear vision to bring unprecedented development and not clowns.
Let's avoid insulting or taking one another as adverseries and as well eliminate the awful act of insulting our parents and elderly persons.
Let's do things in limits, do not let this dirty game to ruin your future.
Your future is your life, once ruined it could never be fixed nor return to normalcy.

I wish you good health and prosperity.
I leave you in peace!

PRESIDENT BUHARI CONCERNED OVER PLIGHT OF WORKERS IN STATES

President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abuja expressed concern on the growing complaints and agitations by workers in states over unpaid salaries and allowances, in spite of interventions by the Federal Government

Receiving a group of governors led by the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Abdul’Aziz Abubakar Yari, at the State House, President Buhari said the plight of workers in the states need urgent attention as many could barely survive.

  “How can anyone go to bed and sleep soundly when workers have not been paid their salaries for months.

“I actually wonder how the workers feed their families, pay their rents and even pay school fees for their children,’’ he said.

The President told the governors that two out of the three-pronged focus of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to secure the country and fight corruption had received some commendable reviews by the people, noting that the challenge in payment of salaries in states had taken a toll on the people.

“God has been merciful in hearing the prayers of his servants so the rainy season has been good, you can ask the Kebbi State governor on this, and our enormous food importation bill has gone down.’’

President Buhari said the Federal Government and state executives would need to work closer together to ameliorate the situation of workers across the country.

The President said he had instructed all government agencies to comply with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in order to ensure more transparency and prudence in accounting for the revenues of the government and the sharing of entitlements with states.

In his remark, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum said the various interventions by the Federal Government, which include the bailouts, were judiciously utilized by the states, stressing that the governors inherited backlog of unpaid salaries and huge debts portfolios on assumption of office.

“We are concerned with the situation in our states, and we are trying our best to manage the resources,’’ he said.

Yari noted that the bailout funds, and part of the fallout from the London-Paris Club that had been received by the states, were properly expended to alleviate the plight of workers, but more had to be done.

The NGF chairman commended the efforts of the President in improving the economy, assuring that the states would continue working with the Federal Government to improve the livelihood of workers and all Nigerians.

Governors of Ondo, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kwara, Akwa Ibom and the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State were part of the visit to the President.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 17th, 2017

SECURITY LAXITY IN ZAMFARA STATE: WHO TO BLAME?

By: Ibrahim Bello Zauma

On October 2, 2017, I have written an article captioned "Security in Zamfara: Truth and Conspiracy Theories" in which I absolved Zamfara state government from directly having a hand in the sponsorship of brigandage, rustling and kidnappings in the state. I understand there is political undertone in the dissemination of such absurd conspiracy theories just like how Jonathan was wrongly accused of "sponsoring" Boko Haram insurgency "to destroy the North". In the article, I have categorically mentioned that it isn't just possible to accommodate the assumption that the state government is the brain behind the rustling and kidnappings gaining grounds in the state but that it is being handled with kids glove.

However, there are things that evoke some probing questions. One only need to take into cognizance the state government's romance with Buharin Daji which gave him the gut to even reside in Gusau before the fallout of the momentary truce with the bandits, or the ominous silence of the government in failing to dispute the bandits' allegation as aired by one of the rustlers' general called Liman that they were given motorcycles through a certain reconciliatory committee. More appalling is the conflicting assertion between the Governor and Wakkala on the material appeasement given to them to secure the release of 41 people kidnapped along Gobirawa-Bindin-Magami road. Governor Yari on BBC disclosed that they were given some appeasements while Wakkala disputed that they were given nothing to secure the release. There is no relativity or subjectivism in their nomenclatures

Some people stoop to a lowly logic as to equate the Federal government's negotiation that saw the release of some Chibok girls with the reconciliatory measures taken by the Zamfara state government with bandits. This is a very wrong correlation because banditry is not same as insurgency. There is nothing like relative perception here. The nomenclatures given to brigands and bandits and that of militant insurgency are the reflection of what they are and what they do. We can't just mix things up in order to justify equal treatment for both criminals. Insurgency is active revolt for power control against a state while banditry and brigandage is a gang-related crimes involving armed robbery, rustling etc. As different as the two crimes are, they are treated differently in a saner clime. There is no truce with brigands anywhere in the world. Only militancy and insurgency are treated as rebellious activities,  because they have some justification however flimsy as the cause of their mutiny. There is difference between brigandage and militant insurgency. I don't have to be a futurist to know that security will continue to evade us as long as the government whether of Zamfara, Katsina or Kaduna continue to make these criminals feel important by sitting with them on the table of treaty.

How on earth does any right-thinking leader allow a truce with bunch of criminals and even offer them material appeasement!

LET COME TO THE AID OF THE COMMON PEOPLE- Ahmad Muhammad

By: AHMAD MUHAMMAD
Modern way of transportation is one of the most basic needs.With out it, we would  find life very harsh and boring. This  is why Zamfara state government among almost all the states of federation(Nigeria) embarked on it, by introducing Zamfara State Transport Authority(ZSTA), immediately after getting state during the rulling of the then militry ruler Col. Jibril Bala Yakubu. This innitiation countinues to get support by the governors that ruled Zamfara state  starting with Alhaji Ahmad Sani to Alhaji Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi down to the sitting governor Alhaji Abdul-Aziz Yari.

The activities of ZSTA are uncountable considering its services to the people of Zamfara state.

This write up aimed at pleading with the government, stake holders and other responsible personalities in the state to inform the government to come the help of theses people.

As early highlighted. Investing in tranportation industy  is crucial to sustained economic growth. Mobility studies show that transportation industry is absolutely necessary to economic productivity and it is also competative in the global  economy.” An international study found that every 10 percent increase in travel speed; labour market expands 15 percent and productivity by 3 percent.”   (Mustapha Mukhtar. 2011).
In Nigeria, the most patronised way of transportation is the land road transportation.
My guesstimate has shown me that Zamfara state can get more than  hundred million from this sector annualy if properly utilised and supervised by the government.
But unfortunately the drivers of ( Tashar motar gwamnati) as porpularly known by public who stake their health and lives  are not enjoying their services. It was confirmed to me that, the problem is not from the government.
Since the inception of this directorate, the directors that having been appointed to take care of this sector have been maneuvering to stop these drivers from obtaining  (offers) from the government for their on personal gains, that means these people are working their as casuals.
For instance, there was a time Col. Jibril Bala Yakubu was coming back from Nasarawa,  and met a serious accident involving one of the vehicles belonging to this motor station, after he arrived Gusau  he went directly to the temporary station of this directorate at GIDAN MAN A A LADAN, after long discussing with director he asked him to provide him with list of workers under him to include them in the state payroll, but he declined claiming that he can pay them. There was also a time when some drivers under the leadership of their then senior driver Alhaji Umar Ashafa  attempted to have movement that will make  their dream reality, but even that went usuccessful when the story met their then director, who even went further to suspend this old baba who has been working since from Sokoto state, but alhamdulilah, that was averted by the effort of his children which also resulted him to be transferred to the Establishment, but other members are still under this critical condition.
I know many will never  understand the implication of this. Here are some of the implications of this:
They are wasting their energy for nothing, after retirement they will not benefit from pemsion, gratuity and other benefit that retired civil servant are enjoying.
When ever they fall sick they will not be paid (i.e NO WORK NO PAY)
 When  vehicles got spoiled victims will not be paid.
I will also commend the speaker who promissed them that the government will consider them  and allocate seats for Hajj to them after the complained they issued to him that they never get a single seat despite their contribution to the pilgrims of conveying them to and pro. But sir I will requist you under your power to set that aside and consider a placement for them under state civil service which is more important to them than the hajj seats.
I will also like to plead with the governor and the state government under the leadership of his excellency Alhaji Abdul- Aziz Yari Abubakar to consider this issue and provide its help to these people.
Stake holders are also required to plead with  the government to come to the help odf these common people.
To the rest of the community we have to do all the best we can do to help them, even by fowarding, liking comment and sharing till this write uptill it get to the concern authority.
May Allah bless Zamfara state and it leadership.

Address SSCE Mass Failure- Youth urges Zamfara State Government

MY ADVICE TO THE COMMITTEE CONSTITUTED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF MASS FAILURE OF SSCE IN ZAMFARA STATE


By: Ahmad Muhammad

It is a welcoming improvement, that  Zamfara state government  has constituted seven man committee to address the issue of mass failure on  senior secondry schools certifate examinations (SSCE). It atleast shows the government readiness to bring back life of education that has died for long.

I believe I am too young to advice this committee on this issue, most expecially knowing that the committee has great personalities that can exercise this great duty and also bring  this issue to history. With all this,  I deemed it imperative to put my contribution as somebody who wrote these papers in not more than seven years ago.

I will strict myself on what appeared in the government house press release signed by Mr. Aminu Ibrahim Gusau, Director  Press Affairs, Government House Gusau., that reads “ Also the committee would be meeting with all relevant stakeholders and provide modalities for employment of professional teachers to curve the excess of examination failure by Zamfara students.

Zamfara state Alhmdulilah! has considerable number of professional teachers  that have passion for teaching who can take care of that . But the problems are;

How to retain them. if I can recall  at my school we lost many highly qualified teachers that  left for guicy works to be well able to sustain their families. They were taking us very sensitive subjects which include: English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and others. I believe uptill to now, that school has not gotten their rightful substitute.

Laboratories are not well equipped. There are some schools in Gusau which is the capital where their students cannot defferenciate between laboratories from libraries, and they are science students with ambition to read Engineering, Medicines, Enviromental Design courses. etc.


These and many others are part of what I think are necessary for the committee to consider.
MAY Allah bring this to an end, bless Zamfara state students, it citizens and the government. Also this write up is wishing this committee success in their duty.

THANKS!