Author: Leadership Newspapers

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara is in support of the plan by Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed to purchase 15 additional aircraft for the state owned International Aviation College.

The party’s state Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Mas’ud Adebimpe, said this in reaction to condemnation from some political parties.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Ilorin, Adebimbe described CPC's condemnation of the plan as mischief.

He said that the plan by the governor to buy the aircraft was in line with the policy of the PDP-led government to diversify the economy of the state.

``For the avoidance of doubt, the kernel of the Shared Prosperity Programme of the PDP administration in Kwara State is to create a credible platform for the emergence of highly trained manpower,” he said.

Adebimpe explained that the International Aviation College is the only non Federal Government driven Aviation College in Nigeria and one of the best in Africa.

He advised opposition parties to appreciate the fact that the PDP-led government in Kwara was forward looking and remained committed to the transformation of the state.

He said the governor remained ``responsive and responsible'' to the needs of the people and would not do anything to jeopardise their interest.

He said,``the PDP and the government are serious minded and profoundly committed to uplifting the standard of living of the people of Kwara State and will not be distracted by spurious allegations.

``Our covenant with the people of Kwara is to improve their economic well being through strong support for commercial agriculture, job creation and economic empowerment for the ever growing population.

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), has challenged PHCN workers to work ``very hard’’ so as to rake in more cash to sustain the company.

``The Federal Government has stopped funding the PHCN and the challenge is for us (workers) to redouble our efforts and get the money to keep the company afloat,’’ Mr Anthony Sule, NUEE Zonal Organising Secretary (North-East) said in Jos on Wednesday.

Sule was speaking at the inauguration of the union’s caretaker committee to oversee the workers’ affairs in the newly created business units in Jos.

He pointed out that PHCN had been funding itself, and advised the workers to brace up for the challenge by putting in additional efforts.

``As it is now, every worker must work harder for his or her pay. We must jointly encourage each other to put in our best,’’ he said.

The NUEE official dismissed allegations that PHCN staff were working to frustrate the ongoing power reforms.

``Any such claim is a blatant lie. These are some of the blackmails used against us. We are Nigerians and we belong to the system. It is our desire that the issues be quickly resolved so that we will happily pull out,’’ he said.

On why NUEE was inaugurating new officials when PHCN was being privatised, Sule said, ``although PHCN is folding up, electricity is not folding up.’’

``Our trade union will not fold up because union activities will continue even in the private sector.

``As I speak, NESCO (a Jos-based power generating and distributing firm), is not PHCN, but there are union activities going on there,’’ he said.

He said that with the creation of two new business units Laranto and Anglo-Jos out of the Jos business unit, it was necessary for the union to set up its structures there to effectively cater for the welfare of members.

``We sought the permission of our national secretariat and they gave us the go ahead to put in place a caretaker committee pending the election of substantive officials for the units,’’ he explained.

Sule revealed that with the inauguration of officials in the new units, the union now had branches in 20 business units under the Jos Electricity Distribution Company.

``The new structures will reinforce the union as the branches have the leadership to handle their issues locally without traveling distances as it used to be in the past.''

Mallam Sulisu Umar is to head the Laranto unit, Emmanuel Ameh to head Anglo-Jos, while Peter Ocheme is to head the committee for the Jos business unit.

The FRSC  on Wednesday in Abeokuta  launched a new licence for commercial drivers operating in Ogun. Speaking at the launching in Ita Oshin Motor Park, the state’s  Sector Commander, Ayobami Omiyale, said the introduction of the ne...

The Community Radio Station of the Federal University of Technology, Minna has been razed down by fire on Wednesday putting the station completely off the air.

The Information Officer of the institution, Mrs Lydia Legbo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that the station went into flames at 12 a.m.

She said that one of the students on duty noticed a spark from the electrical connection at the IBB Library complex.

She said that the student immediately raised alarm, adding that the university's fire service officers rushed to the scene to put the fire off.

`` The studio was completely destroyed but we are lucky that it was put off before spreading to other parts of the library complex.

``Nobody was, however, injured in the inferno but the station will remain off air until it is reconstructed and equipped," Legbo added.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Musibau Akanbi, has urged Gov. Babangida Aliyu to assist the institution by constructing a new studio for the radio.

He told the governor during a courtesy visit on Wednesday in Minna that investigation on the incident had already commenced.  

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  has said there is nothing personal in the decision of its chairman to ask its deputy national secretary, Solomon Onwe, to take over from Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as acting national  secretary. Describing ...