FG flags off cash grant distribution to rural women, WLWD in Katsina

In its bid to cushion the effects of covid -19 pandemic across the country, the Federal Government has flagged off the distribution of cash grant to rural women/women with disabilities in Katsina.

The minister of Humanitarian Affairs , Disaster Managemen and Social Development SadiyaUmar-Farouk, performed the symbolic distribution of the cash along side the Executive Secretary National Commission for Persons with Disabilities Mr James David Lalu Thursday.
The minister indicated that the program which has over 6,700 beneficiaries drawn from all rural areas of the state also have over one-third of the number of women with various forms of disabilities.

“The cash grant of #20,000 each to the beneficiaries is expected to reduce the economic hardship and stabilize income base of the beneficiaries.”

The Executive Secretary while admonishing the beneficiaries in general and women with disabilities in particular, charged them to judiciously make use of the funds to improve their living standards.

Speaking further the NCPWD boss said the  kind gesture being extended to women with Disabilities by the Federal government is a welcome development.
He said it is expected that the programme will be of great benefit to over 5000 women with Disabilities across the country.
He therefore expressed  appreciation to the president and world Bank for keying into the lofty projects.

The Executive Secretary also expressed profound gratitude to the Minister for always ensuring that Persons with Disabilities are included in her scheme of things.

Community leader advocates Joint Hunters, Community Policing synergy to check crime

By Friday Idachaba

National President, Egume-Ome Descendants Union (EODU) Alhaji Mohamed Ibrahim Lawal, has called for synergy between local hunters and community policing with security agents as plausible community security strategy.

Lawal who made the call at the Annual General Meeting of the Union held at Community Comprehensive Secondary school, Egume in Dekina local government area on Thursday said the call had become necessary to curb the rising crime wave.

He pointed out that the current trend of kidnapping and armed robbery had not only discouraged indigenes and stakeholders from the area residing in other parts of the country from coming home.

This, according to him, is adversely affecting general development and investments in rural communities in the country putting the livelihood and econony of rural and Community dwellers in jeopardy.

The National President commended the constitution of Conflict Resolution Committee on Farmers/Fulani herdsmen by the community saying that it had restored confidence and peaceful coexistence among the Herdsmen and Farmers in the area.

Lawal attributed the inability of the Executive Council of the union to implement its 2020 budget to the overwhelming security challenges and Farmers/Herdsmen crisis.

He said, “We can get it right if we embrace the right attitude, norms and skills in building the moral and social aspects of the Community”.

Mr Sunday Maji, national Vice President of the Union in his contribution, attributed the rising social vices among the youths in the community to laziness and “get rich quick syndrome” along youths.

Maji called on parents to ensure regular check on their children band wards to monitor their activities as government would not hesitate to deal with anybody caught indulging in criminal activities. (NAN)

FDJ/

BOT approves 9 new Caretaker committee members for ICDA

By Friday Idachaba

The Board of Trustees of Igala Cultural Development Association (ICDA), has approved the appointment of nine more members to reposition the Caretaker Committee of the socio-cultural association for efficient service delivery.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Dr Simeon Oyiguh and Mr David Ogwu, Chairman and Secretary of the Board of Trustees and made available to newsmen on Monday in Lokoja.

The statement said that nomination of the nine new members was aimed at fortifying the Interim National Caretaker Committee with the right personalities and capable hands to rijig the body for the task of repositioning Igala nation for a better tomorrow.

According to the statement, among the new nominees is Comrade Goodman Akwu, a Rights Activist, Ocholi Onoja, Yunusa Ilani and comrade Kabiru Tijani.

Others are Comrade Shitu Danjuma Jibrin, Prince Enema Sani Obaje, Barrister Ahmed Salifu, Comrade Emmanuel Omattah and Comrade Umar Oyibo.

The BOT however, called on the general public especially the Igala ethnic nationality to disregard the purported inauguration of a parallel Board of Trustees by some members of the defunct Executive Council led by Sadiq Amodu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the defunct EXCO was dissolved on June 15, by the Board of Trustees with the late Attah-Igala, Dr Micheal Idakwo Ameh-Oboni ll formally ratifying the dissolution.

The Royal Father also endorsed the constitution of a 20-member Interim National Working Committee to run the affairs of the formost socio-cultural association in the kingdom, the ICDA in the interim.

NAN further reports that with the injection of the nine new members, the Committee chaired by Chief Samuel Oyibo, the interim committee now has 29 members. (NAN)

FDJ/