Continuing with the giant strides experienced during his leadership as the National President of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in his first term, Hon. Alabi Kolade David has hit the ground running having been unanimously reelected for a second tenure.

His reelection and swearing in was one of the high points at the ALGON General Assembly meeting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday, March 24, 2021.

It is expected his second tenure will mark the beginning of a more robust strategic repositioning of ALGON as the General Assembly adopted a 5-year Strategic Plan (2021 – 2025). The strategic plan, geared towards making ALGON a more vibrant and respected association, which is responsive to its members and stakeholders, was a product of a 2-dag retreat by the previous administration led by Hon. Alabi David.

In his post-swearing in speech, the National President appreciated the confidence reposed in him by members of the association, through their delegates at the General Assembly.

According to Hon Alabi Kolade David in his acceptance speech, “I’m indeed humbled by your continued support.

“When we started this journey, we promised you that we are going to move with a new strategy. I am not standing here to tell you that we are moving with a new strategy, we have already started that journey.

“I am appreciative of your support. I am humbled and I am assuring you that I will not take your support for granted.

“Myself and my team, we shall represent you well”, he pledged amid applause.

Earlier, the chairman of ALGON Board of Trustees, Ategbero Odunayo, commended the national president for organising the General Assembly, insisting that security of lives and property has become daily occurrence, leading to loss of lives and deserves attention.

He appealed to members of the association to support creation of state police, urging ALGON members to lobby representatives of their respective constituencies at all State Houses of Assembly as well as the state governors for the concurrent passage of local government autonomy Bill recently passed into law by the national Assembly.

Full list those reelected alongside Hon. Alabi Kolade David are: Hon. Shehu Jega Marshal Deputy National President; Hon. Solomon Izukwukwu Onah, National Publicity Secretary; Hon. Aminu Muazu Maifata, national treasurer;  Hon. Taufiq Isa, National Legal Adviser; Hon. Ezekiel Rabuet, National Auditor; Hon. Kia Ebidoughebofan, National Financial Secretary, among other ex-officio members.

The Venue for Ogbeni Aregbesola’s investiture as Grand Patron, Nigerian Union of Journalists, South West Zone, has been moved from the NUJ Press Centre, Iyangaku, to Premier Hotel, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State.

According the Grand Council Of Yoruba Youths, the development was due to “the confirmed large number of invited Guests and for all the Participants to comply with the COVID-19 Protocols.”

The youths said the time for the event remains 11:00am prompt.

The group added, “kindly come along with your face mask, observe social distancing and be law abiding on arrival.

“Maximum Security guaranteed thoroughout”, the group stated.

Katsina State Deputy Governor Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, among others, has attended Commemorative Lecture and Dinner to celebrate 100 years of the establishment of Barewa College, Zaria, Kaduna State.

The lecture delivered during the occasion titled “Barewa College at it’s Centenary past, present and future” by the former Head of State General Yakubu Gawon.

The Chief Press Secretary to Deputy Governor, Ibrahim Musa Kallah, said the occasion was attended by a representative of President Muhammadu Buhari, top Government officials from the federal and state levels as well as members of the Alumni among others.

Earlier, the Deputy Governor Alhaji Mannir Yakubu said that Barewa College Zaria was first established in Katsina as Katsina Training College (KTC) In 1921.

The College was essentially to train teachers for the Northern provinces by the Governor General Sir Clifford.

Alhaji Mannir Yakubu maintained that the college was upgraded to Katsina Higher College in 1929 and then move to Zaria as Zaria Secondary School and it was changed to College Zaria in 1956 which was later adapted as Barewa College in 1971.

The Deputy Governor noted that among other objectives of the Alma mata is to provide opportunities for social intercourse between past and present students of the college with the intent to prosper solutions to the Nation’s problems especially the Northern Nigeria.

Those attended the occasion are Minster of Defence Bashir Salihi Magashi and that of FCT Muhammad Musa Bello as well as Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar among other top Government officials and members of the Alumni.

Renowned South East sociopolitical group, the Save Enugu Group (SEG) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to Enugu State House of Assembly to kill a bill seeking for a law to provide life pension for former governors and deputy governors of Enugu State.

The group, in a statement signed by its national coordinator, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said the bill which has passed its first reading must be killed immediately by the state lawmakers for the peace and tranquility in the state’s political arena to be sustained.

SEG said it’s already mobilising “conscious citizens, civil society groups and labour unions in the state to shut down Enugu State House of Assembly for as long as it will take to kill this most insensitive bill.”

According to the group, “it will be a betrayal of the trust the ordinary people of Enugu bestowed in their representatives serving as lawmakers to pass such outdated bill.

“It is shocking that while a state like Lagos, with high internally generated revenue (IGR) that runs into billions of naira monthly, has abolished pensions for former governors, the Enugu State House of Assembly allowed such a bill to pass first reading when such a law will deplete the meager Enugu State revenue to the tune of over N2 billion annually.

“It’s more disheartening to discover that the proposed law is an executive bill.

“More worrisome is the provision in the bill for medical allowance not exceeding N12 million per annum for one surviving spouse of a former Governor, “provided that such spouse was married to the governor while in office”.

“What is more unfortunate in the bill is the provision seeking to mandate the state government to provide three vehicles for ex-governors and replace them every four years.

Also very insulting to the sensibilities of the suffering masses is the provisions that when a former governor or former deputy governor dies, the state government should make “adequate arrangement and bear the financial responsibility” for his/her burial;

“And that the state government should pay “a condolence allowance of a sum equivalent to the annual basic salary of the incumbent” Governor or Deputy Governor to his next of kin.

“This is a country where people that served their states as civil servants for over 30 years are struggling to get their terminal benefits while a governor or his deputy who may have spent eight years, or even less, will be buried at the state government’s expense and the next of kin paid thereafter.

“It is very unfortunate and we call on the Enugu State House of Assembly to kill the bill within the next 21 days or face the wrath of the citizens.

“In addition to other legal measures, we shall mobilise and guide all constituents in the state constituencies to immediately initiate the process of recalling their representatives at the state House of Assembly in the event that the lawmakers failed to kill the bill.

“To pass such a bill into law, the State Assembly must include a provision for all retired state civil servants to receive exactly same retirement benefits as the Governor and the deputy, including the exact condolence allowance to the next of kins of all retired civil servants in Enugu State”, the group demanded.

Every year, Alliance for Africa (AFA) in commemoration of International Women’s Day, put together a few selection of Women who are radical change-makers in South East of Nigeria. The list by the organisation is painstakingly drawn from several nominations submitted from across the region.

The “Impact-Women Recognition” is aimed at recognising and amplifying the efforts of women who are making visible impacts in their communities. 

The Special Adviser (SA) to the Imo State Governor on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Cllr. Celia Osakwe-Hibbert received this prestigious Award over the weekend.

A representative of AFA Organisation whilst congratulating the SA on Diaspora in a zoom chat, commended the Imo Governor’s Aide on her impactful visibility, recalling some of the works the Special Adviser on Diaspora carried out in schools, the mentorship of young girls, and campaigns on rights of women.

Other works include proper representation at the public hearing on VAPP Bill in Imo House of Assembly, collaborations with various NGOs, importation of ‘best practices’ from Diaspora, promotion of rights of Women living with  disabilities, coordinating Covid-19 palliatives distribution for disadvantaged communities, amongst numerous other activities.

The AFA representative revealed to Cllr. Celia Osakwe-Hibbert that their Organisation received multiple numbers of strong nominations on her behalf, thus were happy to give the prestigious Award to her. 

The Governor’s Aide, while responding to some of the comments, thanked the Alliance for Africa for finding her worthy of the prestigious Award and pledged to continue to use her platform to support the growth and development of Imo State.

In her words, the SA Diaspora said, “I’m lucky to be serving under a government that allows me to voice my opinion no matter how sensitive.

“I’m proud that Governor Uzodinma promotes women’s participation in leadership and governance as clearly seen in the demography of his appointments made so far.

“This is why people like myself, suddenly, are able to take part in nation building. I also thank the Imo Diaspora community for all their encouragement, advice and support.

“I thank my friends and most especially my family for the unwavering support…”, Cllr. Celia Osakwe-Hibbert said.

In July 2012, Alliance  for Africa was granted consultative status with the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

AFA is a human rights organisation that advocates for the protection of human rights; advocate for gender justice, promote equality and non-discrimination, as well as promotion of peace, security and conflict resolution intervention.

Our Correspondent gathered that it is very rare for a serving official of a Government to receive this kind of Award as organisations like AFA are completely non-political.

There is the popular saying that until any organization is challenged, it will learn to innovate and do things better. This aphorism captures a vivid description of what the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) is presently facing.

To consolidate the gains that ALGON has made in the past, despite all challenges, the Alabi Kolade David led Exco has made good part of his promises in rebranding the Association in line with visions of its founding fathers.

Part of the strategic direction include, but not limited to policies, planning, research, development, programmes and capacity building.

In his opening address, the National President Hon. Alabi Kolade David welcomed participants and said that the right time is now to effectively make best use of ALGON as a purpose vehicle for grassroots development.

He noted that such requires effective stakeholders’ engagement, partnership and collaboration which are all geared towards strengthening the capacity of the national Office, the local governments and area Councils for maximum productivity.

It was his view that functions of LGAs/Councils as enshrined in the 4schedule of the 1999 Constitution is huge and requires corresponding innovation to tackle them.

In his message to the participants, the Director General of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum, Ashishana Bayo Okraru, commended the National President of ALGON and the organizers for the initiative.

He said that the maiden retreat will no doubt reposition ALGON to formally take a decisive step predicated on setting best agenda for a rebranded association.

He used the analogy of good team spirit to send strong message across to ALGON for repositioning.

The two-day retreat, according to the Chief of Staff to the National President, Hon. Itiako Ikpokpo stated that by retooling, rebranding and restructuring ALGON through the lessons of the Retreat, there is every hope for the association to become more vibrant.

In his contribution during the group presentation, one of the Consultants, Dr. Asoluka said that ALGON needs to be well focused as an Institution, memory for Research, and evidence based platform for development.

Also speaking another consultant, Professor Jonhson Falade, noted that aligning with SDGs, the national planning will be well optimized leveraging on partnership and collaboration so as to bring about massive developments.

Earlier, the Secretary General of ALGON, Hajia Binta Bello called for sustainability of the retreat as such will help in strengthening of the Association.

Corroborating this view the Chairman of BOT ALGON Hon. Odunayo Ategbero stated that with the leadership direction of Hon. Alabi, ALGON is set to growth from strength to strength given the prevailing unity it is presently enjoying.

The Consultant Kalu Ukoha observed that if ALGON and all key stakeholders, NEC, BOT, Principal Officers and National Office unite to embrace this change, it will be purposeful in the future.

It will be recalled that the retreat with the theme Developing a 5 year strategic framework for Development is coming barely three weeks after the 3rd National Steering Committee for Preparation of Medium Term National Development Plan in Abuja of which the ALGON National President is a member.

This to ALGON is very essential and we’ll situated to have a bottom up impact through the entire Local Governments and Councils in Nigeria so as to free ALGON from the wrong notion of contract awarding and all manner of being tagged as a transactional Association.

Other Exco members in attendance and some principal Officers include Hon Shehu Jega the Deputy National President, Hon. Ezekiel Pabuet National Auditor, from Plateau, Hon. Solomon Onah the PRO from Enugu, Hon. Taofik Isa the legal adviser from ALGON Kogi, Hon Kia Nigeria the financial Secretary from Bayelsa, Hon. Aminu Muazu Mai Fata the Treasurer, Hon Bayo Ishola BOT North Central, Mrs Evan Enekwe Director Legal and Admin services, Mr Nuhu Ozigi Director Administration, Hon Dr Cyril Okafor BOT representing South East, Hon Assi the BOT representing South South and other resources persons.

Palliative anywhere in the world is intended to make the effects of a problem less severe even if it does not actually solve the entire problem.

In other words, its intent is to improve quality of life since it relieves the physical, psychosocial and spiritual suffering due to ailments or other severe impacts on the society.

A palliative can be given in homes, health centres, hospitals, and hospices.
In fact palliatives, if properly handled, benefit health system by reducing unnecessary hospital admissions.

The Coronavirus, popularly known as COVID-19, is an infectious disease caused by different strains of coranavirus first discovered in Wuhan, the Hubei region of China.

The disease was first referred to as 2019-n cov. The COVID-19 virus is linked to the same family of viruses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). It is also said to be related to some types of communication cold.

More so, the virus is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplet of an infected person generated through coughing and sneezing, while individuals can also be infected from touching surfaces contaminated by the virus and touching their faces, nose, and mouth as well the COVID-19 virus may survive on surfaces for several hours. However, simple disinfection or use of alcohol based sanitizers can kill it.

In Nigeria, in a bid to slow the rate of spread of the dreaded virus, the federal government on several occasions imposed targeted lockdown and other measures restricting movements in areas with rapid increase of COVID-19 cases.

Some of the states in which the federal government has imposed the targeted lockdown included Lagos, Ogun and Abuja.

In the same vein, some states in the country, including Katsina, swiftly imposed partial lockdown and closure of interstate boarders to slow the Coronavirus transmission from person to person and limit interstate transmission of the virus.

More interestingly, as a way of cushioning the effects of the lockdown Katsina State, government rolled out palliative measures for targeted groups across the 34 local government areas in the state.

Governor Aminu Bello Masari, who flagged off the distribution of the palliative in August last year, said over 67, 000 vulnerable households across the state were selected in the first phase of food palliative distribution.

Each of the beneficiaries received a minimum of 10kg of maize, 10kg of Rice, 5kg of sugar, 1kg of salt, 1carton of superhero, and 2 cartons of imdomie noodles.

Even though the palliatives was donated to Katsina State by private sector Coalition against COVID-19, CACOVID, Governor Aminu Bello Masari assured that all necessary arrangements were in place to ensure that food items reached the targeted vulnerable families in the state.

In fact, Governor Masari headed the committee himself as away to indicated his seriousness on palliative distribution. The Governor equally constituted similar distribution committee across the 34 local governments areas for fairness and equitable distribution at the grassroots levels the state.

The state Deputy Governor, QS Mannir Yakubu seats on the committee as the co-chairman.

The committee was divided into three senatorial districts, with Alhaji Muntari Lawal heading the Katsina zone and the Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly heading the Daura Senatorial zone.

The Deputy Speaker Katsina State House of Assembly, Engr Dalhatu Tafoki is heading the Funtua Senatorial zone.

The committees were constituted from the state level to local governments, to ward, and polling unit levels in order to make a hitch-free and fair distribution across the state without any form of discrimination.

During the flag off of the distribution, the co-chairman and the Deputy Governor, QS Mannir Yakubu explained that the robust implementation committee had its membership drawn from relevant government agencies, community leaders, civil society, and faith based organizations, local government as well as from members of the state house of Assembly.

The Deputy Governor added that they were constituted to undertake the distribution of the food relief items in order to reach the desired people, thereby ensuring that there was no diversion of the food palliatives.

To this end, the second round of the distribution of the palliative was conducted by the Speaker of the Katsina House of Assembly, Hon. Tasiu Musa Maigari, precisely in November 2020.

The palliative was provided by the National Emergency Management Agencies (NEMA).
The commodities donated by the agency, which included maize, sorghum, and millet were handsomely distributed to the targeted beneficiaries in the state.

The speaker equally distributed the recently donated CACOVID palliative, which was over 13,000 kilograms of rice, maize, and flour, 20, 000 cartoons of instant noodles, sugar, and salt in Daura zone.

While distributing the the commodities in Baure Local Government Area, he ensured that the items were distributed to the wards of the zone for the subsequent presentation at polling units.

Hon. Maigari had emphasised that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration is committed to executing series of empowerment programmes, citing the monthly conditional cash transfers as one of the programmes of the Governor Masari administration.

He recalled that in its 2021 budgeting provision, the state government proposed various capital projects for the overall benefits of the electorate, saying the legislative arm is always willing to support the executive arms for more development in the state generally.

Records indicated that so far, over 2, 211 most vulnerable households have enjoyed support, with reasonable commodities from donation to Victims Support Funds launched by the state.

This made it possible for each of the beneficiaries received 10kg of rice, 10kg of maize, 10kg of beans, a gallon of cooking oil, and 1kg of salt, besides the allocation of personal protection essentials to medical workers, in addition to the provision of several hygiene products for use in isolation centres and other public places, purposely to curtail the spread of the deadly virus.

Consequently, lives of residents of the state, irrespective of gender, creed of political affiliation, are being impacted positively as adequate food palliatives, personal protective equipment and conditional cash transfers were deployed by the Katsina State government to proactively slow down the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and sustain the livelihood of the most vulnerable households in the state.

So far, there have been third and fourth round of the food palliative distribution across the three Senatorial Districts in the state, aside other government intervention to make life meaningful for the residents.

The National President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria Hon. Kolade David Alabi yesterday paid a courtesy call along with the members of the National Executive Council from over 25 states in Nigeria to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state.

The visit was part of its agenda ahead of the night NEC meeting. They used the opportunity to appreciate the Governor for the warm reception given to ALGON National and for accepting to be the host state.

It also provided a golden opportunity for the Alabi led National Exco to appreciate His Excellency Governor Ganduje as one of the exemplary pillars of local government in the country by his consistent support through elections.

He said that history will be kind to Governor Ganduje for ensuring that local governments succeed in Kano by his ensuring an unbroken transition from one elected officials to another at the expiration of their constitutional tenure.

Earlier a member of the delegation and Delta State ALGON Chairman Hon. Itiako Ikpokpo who led the introduction of members noted the existing cordial relationship between the Association in Kano and their constituents were visibly felt.

In his address the outgoing host- Chairman of ALGON Kano and Chairman Nasarawa LGA Hon. Lamin Sani thanked the Governor for his support to the local governments and councils especially in Kano states where presently the majority of members of state governments’ executive council were former Chairmen.

In demonstrating its love for the traditional Institution, the National President with his members also paid a courtesy call to His Royal Highness Alhaji Ado Bayero the Emir of Kano. The National President was warmly welcomed by the Emir and members of his traditional Council.

The visits were preceded by tour of some development sites and project’s centers executed by Kumbtso local government area Council. 

The scheduled NEC meeting later commenced at 6:30pm with over 25 National Executive Council members in attendance.

The meeting took some ambitious measures aimed at consolidating on the gains of the present leadership insisting that ALGON is not a contract awarding body but one that will henceforth focus on meaningful representation, service delivery and as well as unifying instrument amongst its members.

It commended all the governors who have demonstrated the political will to respect the 3Tier of Government by conducting election as at when due and urged all the remaining states running caretaker to follow suit.

It went further to remind them of several legal pronouncements, judgments that local government has won and other constitutional provisions which will assist it in upholding the quality representation in the local governments through democratically elected process. This according to ALGON will make the system work, as people hold the Chairmen accountable for service delivery and bring about competition across board.

It was also at the meeting last night that the National President announced the appointment of Chief-Of-Staff to the President, in the person of Hon. Constantine Itiako Ikpokpo, the outgoing ALGON Delta who according to him will bring his six years of managerial ability to further re-tool the association.

Others principal officers present at the meeting include but not limited to the Deputy National President, Hon Shehu Jega the BOT Chairman Hon. Odunayo Ategbero, the Secretary General of ALGON Hajia Binta Adamu Bello, about 25 NEC members across the states, some management staff and Aide’s.

The meeting ended with a dinner and warm reception by the Host Chairman Kano Hon Sani.