Police reform will address security challenges — Petinrin

Former Chief of Defense Staff, Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin Rtd said the country could summount its various security challenges if the recent police reform embarked upon by the Federal Goverment is properly implemented.

He added that the police reform agenda of the FG is a pointer to the fact that the country may get it right, especially in terms of internal security challenges.

Petinrin, who spoke at the weekend during the Annual Aropeju Day at Ipetu-Ijesa, Osun State, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort to tackle the scourge in the country is commendable.

He said the numerous police bills on police reform before the National Assembly and the reform government is planning towards ovarhauling police would bring a new fresh of breadth to security in the country.

According to him, “The Government is doing everything to tackle the security challenges in the country. Although I am aware that things are not yet good but if given chance, the country will get it right.

“I know there are still some lapses but the government is trying and I pray God will help them. I am sure by the time things are put in places, we are going to see progress.

“The present police reform embarked upon by the government and if the various police reform bills before the National Assembly is treated properly, there is hope the country will be better for it”.

Also speaking the Deputy Governor, Gboyega Alabi, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, Dr Siji Olamiju assured residents of government’s commitment to security of lives and property.

He said the goverment is also committed to the welfare of residents, adding that the 2021 budget of the state when presented would further reveal the its commitment to the masses.

Resolve dispute with ASUU, students getting agitated – Middle Belt Group urges FG

The Middle Belt Movement for Justice and Peace, MBMJP, has urged the federal government to quickly resolve its dispute with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, before it becomes another reason for protests by the youths

The group cautioned that Nigerian students were already getting agitated after losing a session to the strike by university lecturers lamenting that the failure of the government to resolve the dispute had become a source of worry for most Nigerians.

Convener of MBMJP, Comrade Joe Bukka who made the call yesterday in Makurdi decried the continued closure of Nigerian Universities regretting that the lingering dispute was making a mockery of the Nigerian University system.

According to Bukka, “we cannot continue to have our Universities closed for several months because of a dispute that can be easily resolved, it is shameful.

“My fear is that our students have become worried and agitated over this continued closure of the schools given that they have already lost one session to the strike.

“I plead with the federal government to resolve this matter quickly so that it does not became another reason for a protest by the youths.

“Honestly I never believed that the government would allow the strike to linger considering what we just experienced with the ENDSARS protests. I appeal to the government to quickly reach an agreement with the striking lecturers to save our university system and also assuage our agitated students,” he added.

BON Hails Bauchi Governor Over Support To Media

By Habila Victor, Bauchi.

​The Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) Zone B has applauded Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi state for his support to media organisations and working journalists in the country. 

The newly elected Chairman of the forum, Comrade Adamu Isah Badam made the commendation at a meeting of the zone hosted by the Bauchi Radio Corporation held at its premises in Bauchi. 

The Chairman who described the Governor as a media friendly, being a veteran journalist urged him to be good ambassador of the profession by supporting the industry to operate as expected.

While acknowledging the efforts of Governor Bala Mohammed to overcome the numerous challenges affecting the smooth running of the state owned media outfits, Comrade Adamu Isah appealed to the state government to provide enough funds to the organisations as key to solving their problems.

” Media industry is not a money making venture because it is consuming a lot of money, but it is for the benefit of both the government and the citizenry.”

” In north east, we are left behind in terms of training and retraining of our staff in the media industry and today during our meeting we discussed extensively in this regards and we have taken measures to that effect.”

On the achievements recorded by the Governor in the sectors of education, agriculture, infrastructure, health among others, the Media Chief Executive expressed confidence that Bauchi will join its counterparts in the areas of progress and development.

The Zone B BON Chairman used the medium to pleaded with Governors in the North East to equip the industry in their respective states with the state of the art facilities to enable them meet with global advancement in the media industry. 

He therefore assured of the readiness of the forum to work in close collaboration with leaders in the north east sub region especially the Governors so as to succeed in their peace building campaign for the transformation of the region.

In a key note adrress, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Honorable Garba Dahiru said Governor Bala Mohammed being a veteran journalist, there is need for members of the forum to assist him to succeed especially in the area of publicizing his laudable policies and programmes.

The Honorable Commissioner while stressing the need for adherence to the ethics of journalism by practitioners, assured support of the state government for the advancement of media industry in the state.

” We all know the importance of Media industry to our societal development and therefore I want you to ensure adherence to the ethics of journalism by your staff.”

Earlier, the Managing Director, Bauchi Radio Corporation, Alhaji Sirajo Maaji attributed the successful conduct of the meeting to the support of Governor Bala Mohammed to the corporation and assured that, the radio station would remain committed towards supporting his administration to deliver on its campaign promises.