Governor Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai of Kaduna has made it clear that he would not reverse the sacking of 21,780 teachers irrespective of pressure from any quarter.
The teachers were sacked in November last year after they failed primary four examination.
“There is nothing to step back on. It is a well thought out position. We took one and half years before we made the decision and we will not change it.”
The governor told news men at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, today, Friday after observing Jum’at (Friday) prayer along with President Muhammadu Buhari that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) whose leadership protested the sack yesterday in the state had the right to express themselves the way they feel.
“For me, the right to protest is guaranteed in the constitution providing you don’t go violent and you don’t violate any laws.”
Governor el-Rufai said that in line with the public service rule, the state government will pay three months severance pay to the sacked teachers.
He said that some incentives have also been provided for those that are retiring to go through the retirement training. “Those that are interested in farming, we have the reserve land available and for those that want to go into trade, we have micro credit to support them but they are not suitable as teachers.
“They can do other things and the government will do other things to support them.”
He denied instructing police to stop workers from marching to government house during the protest in the state yesterday, saying that he was not even in Kaduna.
He believed that the concerns of the police was because of the precarious situation in the country particularly in Kaduna which made it unsuitable to have such protest.
“And the last time they did such a thing, they attacked the State House of Assembly; a legislator for which they have filed criminal charges. So this is the concern, the concern is break down of law and order and not protest or strike. They are free to do so but it will not change our position.”

Top security operatives have confirmed that the Leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim ElZakzaky and his wife are alive and in stable health conditions.
The sources stressed that the rumour of the death of Sheikh El-Zakzaky is a handiwork of mischievous makers who would stop at nothing to cause confusion among the followers and for ulterior motives.
An intelligence officer said: “as I am speaking to you now Sheikh ElZakzaky and his wife are alive and stable.
“They observe they regular prayers and are in stable condition.
“The peddlers of rumours claiming he is dead are mischievous undesirable elements engaging in the antics for ulterior motives.
“While it is out of place to say more than this, Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife are accorded respects and some privileges including occasional communication.
“Therefore the message being circulated to the effect that there would violence as a result of his death is unfounded and misleading and should be disregarded.”

A Fulani socio-cultural organisation, the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) has come out to own up the current attacks Fulani people have launched in some parts of the country, saying that they are fighting because they had long been pushed to the wall.
The group admitted that the conflicts between farmers and herders in Benue State and other states is the Fulani way of fighting back over prolonged neglect and injustice.
The group lamented that the country had never allowed Fulani herdsmen to exercise any right in the country like other citizens.
National Secretary General of GAFDAN, Alhaji Saleh Bayeri, who spoke to news men in Jos, the Plateau State capital, yesterday said: “there has been so much hatred against the Fulani by other Nigerians over the years and successive governments never cared to see to the challenges facing the Fulanis in this country. We have been pushed to the wall and the only option we have is to fight back, especially as states are beginning to enact laws to further strangulate the only means of livelihood of the Fulani herdsmen in the country.
“The reason for the problem is obvious. The Fulani in this country are facing the toughest challenge of their lives, a kind of challenge that makes you to choose between life and death; they are facing serious economic depression.
“Historically, the herdsmen and their business have been neglected o by the people and government of Nigeria. It is therefore natural that for people that feel oppressed to want to fight back or resist oppression. As far back as I can remember, from 1970 till date, there has been no single government policy geared towards assisting herdsmen in any way.
“Naturally, the government should know that the Fulani that keep multiplying in human population and their animal, should know that they need a space to occupy and carry out their legitimate business. The Fulani are not being allowed any space in Nigeria and government does not seem to care, so they have to fight back.
“There was the issue of grazing reserve, about 413 grazing reserves in gazette. Out of that number, you can’t count up to 20 that are functional. But farmers enjoy and keep enjoying all sorts of assistance from the federal government through the same ministry for agriculture. Government does not really care when it comes to the issue of herders.”
On the killings in Benue state, he said: “We expected the federal government to move in and stop the enforcement on this anti-open grazing law in Benue State, but since government does not care on any issue affecting the Fulani man, the governor was allowed to enforce the law and we can now see the consequences
“From the last check, it was reported that over 70 people have been killed in Benue State in attempt to enforce an unjust law of anti-open grazing. People should ask the governor, is the enforcement of any law worth the lives of over 70 of his people. Has that law succeeded?”
He said that the solution to the problem is for the the Benue State governor to withdrew the anti-open grazing law he enacted last year.
“Let him look at Benue State as home for all irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliation. The governor should be reminded that he swore to protect and defend the lives of all citizens of Benue State not minding their tribe, religion or political background.”[myad]

Court in Abuja, the Nigeria’s Federal Capital, has granted the former Executive Director of Aso Savings and Loans Plc, Maimuna Aliyu, bail in the sum of N10 Million over an alleged fraud amounting to over N57 Million.

This followed today, after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), charged her to for the offence.

The Commission in a 3-count charge before Justice M. A. Nasir of the FCT High Court No 16 at Jabi, Abuja alleged that Maimuna used her position as the Executive Director of Aso Savings and Loans Plc, to confer corrupt advantage upon herself by receiving the sum of N57, 000,000 being the proceeds of the sale of three plots of land in Jahi District, Abuja and failing to remit the said amount to Aso Savings.

The ICPC also alleged that Maimuna Aliyu made false statement to officers of the Commission thereby contravening the provisions of Sections 19 and 25 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same Sections.

Maimuna Aliyu is also facing a charge of criminal breach of trust for allegedly diverting the sum of N57,000,000 to personal use, an offence that is contrary to Section 311 and punishable under Section 312 of the Penal Code.

She pleaded not guilty to all the charges even as her counsel, Mr. Joe Gadzama (SAN) in his bail application, requested the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition and also on the basis that she is a first offender. Hon. Justice M. A. Nasir, in her ruling granted the accused bail in the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum. She said that such sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case was adjourned to March 12 for commencement of hearing.