National
Kaduna LG Polls: Youth group warns against ethnic division in Zango-Kataf
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
Ahead of the Local Government election in Kaduna State, the Zango-Kataf Youths Vanguard for Peace and Democracy has said that any attempt to distort the existing peace between the ethnic indigenous tribes in the Zango-Kataf Local Government Area will be vehemently resisted.
While addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Wednesday, Convener of the group, Isaac Tanko said they are a group of past and present youth leaders of Atyap, Bajju, Aghan and Ikulu, Hausa/Fulani, including CAN and JNI, operating under the aegis of Vanguard for Peace and Democracy, with core mission of promotion of peace and the practice of true democracy in Southern Kaduna.
According to Tanko, following the recent PDP Local Government Primary elections that returned Hon. Francis Sani Zimbo, the incumbent Council Chairman of Zango-Kataf Local Government Area, as its party’s flag bearer, which has sparked different reactions from different quarters, some sections felt short-changed.
He said they were obligated as stakeholders to respond due to the recurrence of “an abhorrent line of communication by mischief makers whipping up sentiment under various guises, which have littered the media.”
He alleged that “the unintelligent approach by these stakeholders has been to push ethnic divisive words and attribute the same to the Senator of Kaduna-South Senatorial District. They aim to incite certain ethnic groups against the Senator. We urge our people to resist these individuals’ attempts to cause chaos in the Zangon Kataf Local Government Area.”
‘Some of these divisive statements are not only condemnable but also an ignominy of dragging our Local Government and the Southern Kaduna region back to the conquered era of ethnic chauvinism. Meddling into the Politics of Zango-Kataf Local Government Area is the handiwork of some unscrupulous politicians who do not have the interest of our people at heart.”
“Again, Attacks on Senator Sunday Marshall Katung are an act of sabotage, and we are calling those behind the mask and others who have decided to continue the path of coming to public glare over frivolous issues to stop forthwith, especially when they do not have the moral compass to do so.”
“Any attempt to distort the existing peace between the ethnic indigenous tribes in the Zango-Kataf Local Government Area will be vehemently resisted. Zango-Kataf Local Government Youth Vanguard for Peace and Reconciliation wishes to draw the attention of the general public to the antics of mischief makers and ethnic bigots to stoke the flames of ethnic resentment, division, and agents of hate are bent on destroying the recent existing unity and peace which is being enjoyed by our Local Government under the administration of His Excellency Governor Uba Sani.”
“We are first human before any tribe, and we also should not breach the existing harmonious relationship due to the actions or inactions of some persons; perhaps they might have operated within the premise of the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to return the Council Chairman as the PDP flag bearer.”
“It is also pertinent to remind ourselves that mischief makers are being sponsored to deliberately distort the family relationship of the four major indigenous tribes of Zango Kataf local government, which is the political nucleus of the Southern Kaduna Senatorial Zone.”
The group called on the aggrieved to refrain from fanning embers of distrust among the good people of Zango Kataf Local Government Area.
“The PDP, in her political journey, knows more than all of us. It is important that the Zonkwa Constituency would. have to remain while the Zango Kataf Constituency takes over and governs the Local Government for 6 years in the spirit of fairness and inclusion and in the interest of development.”
“The emergence of Zimbo as the PDP party’s flag bearer should not cause any uproar, the reason being that there are other political parties in the contest. We urge all candidates to go to nooks and crannies of the Local Government to canvas for votes from the electorates instead of resulting to inciting ethnic tension. Our unity must not be traded in the Zangon Kataf Local Government Area.”
“We are appealing to our Royal fathers, who are custodians of traditions, to quickly intervene and broker peace amongst their subjects, to bring an end to the uproar, and further unify the people of Area.
We are calling on the good people of Zango Kata local government to give our Royal Fathers all the support as we look forward to interfacing with them. Henceforth, we shall reach out to other stakeholders, the Bajju, Atyap, Anghan, and Ikulu, including the Hausa Fulani from six wards, to give peace a chance,” the group added.
National
Court Approves Federal Government’s Request to Protect Witness Identities in Nnamdi Kanu Trial
A federal high court in Abuja has authorized the federal government’s request to keep the identities of witnesses in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu confidential.
Kanu, who leads the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been held by the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021 on charges of terrorism and treasonable felony.
On Tuesday, prosecution attorney Adegboyega Awomolo informed the court that he had submitted an ex parte application on April 10 to safeguard the identities of the witnesses. He requested that the court provide screens and masks to ensure their anonymity.
“The purpose of this request is to ensure the safety and security of state officers who will serve as witnesses,” he stated.
Kanu Agabi, the defendant’s counsel, did not contest the application.
The trial is underway, with the first witness, a DSS operative, already called to testify.
Kanu was re-arraigned on March 21 before Judge James Omotosho of the federal high court in Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Aisha Achimugu.
The managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Felak Concept Group was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Achimugu was taken in around 5am on Tuesday after arriving in Nigeria from London.
More to follow…
The Federal Government has revealed its intention to begin disbursing the outstanding five months’ wage award arrears, amounting to N35,000, to workers immediately after the April 2025 salary payments. The arrears will be paid in monthly instalments until fully settled.
This information was shared in a statement on Monday by Mr. Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), and reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Mokwa clarified that while the Federal Government had previously paid five months of the wage award in instalments, an additional five months remained unpaid. He confirmed that the outstanding arrears would now be addressed through equal monthly payments of N35,000.
He stated that the first payment will be made right after the distribution of April 2025 salaries, with additional payments following each month until the total arrears are cleared.
“The Federal Government is set to pay the outstanding five months’ N35,000 wage award arrears to workers,” he noted.
According to the report from NAN, Mokwa emphasized that the arrears would be paid in monthly instalments of N35,000 over a five-month period, with the initial payment occurring post-April 2025 salary disbursement.
This wage award is part of the Federal Government’s initiative to mitigate the effects of economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and other fiscal adjustments.
Mokwa reiterated the government’s dedication to fulfilling all agreements related to employee compensation and welfare, describing these actions as essential for enhancing productivity and efficiency within the public sector.
### Key Information
In 2023, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) proposed a wage award to support federal workers amid the challenges posed by fuel subsidy removal. In response, the Federal Government introduced a N35,000 wage award in September 2023 as a temporary relief measure for employees on lower salary scales, addressing the economic pressures from subsidy removal and currency reforms.
While partial payments were made between late 2023 and early 2024, delays in later months raised concerns among labor unions. In 2024, after further negotiations, the Federal Government approved an increase in the national minimum wage to N70,000, as part of broader strategies to tackle rising living costs.
The recent announcement regarding the resumption of outstanding wage award payments is expected to honor the Federal Government’s previous commitments.