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NCC Attends Argungu Festival, Carries out Consumer Education

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Nasiru Yusuf

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has leveraged its presence as a collaborating partner at this year’s Argungu International Fishing and Culture Festival (AIFCF) to undertake a robust education of telecoms consumers attending the event about their rights, privileges as well as their obligations as critical stakeholders in the telecommunications industry.

The historic event, which dates back to 1934 was first organised in honour of a visiting Sultan of Sokoto, the Late Malam Hassan Dan Mu’azu, to mark the end of hostility between jihadists and the Kabawa.

Held annually in Argungu town, Kebbi State, this year’s edition of the five-day festival started on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 and it is expected to end on Saturday, March 14, 2020. Each year, the festival attracts participants from private and public sectors both within and outside the country.

The festival, thus, offers the NCC the opportunity to interact with a large number of telecom consumers attending the festival to educate them on their rights and privileges as telecoms consumers, and also to enlighten them on various consumer-centric actions and policies of the NCC.

As a programming partner to AIFCF 2020, the NCC participated at the Symposium and Grand Finale Inter-States Quiz and Essay Writing Competition, which marked the opening activities of AIFCF 2020.

This aspect of the festival, which was well attended by traditional rulers, other community leaders and other participants from the public and private sectors, members of the academa and as well as tourists, held
at the Conference Hall of the Presidential Lodge in Birnin- Kebbi.

The NCC seized the opportunity of the symposium to educate and sensitise participants on the procedures for reporting and resolving telecom services-related challenges. Importantly, telecom consumers were informed that the process begins with filing a complaint to service providers.

Consumers were also informed on their right to escalate their complaints to NCC in cases where they are not satisfactorily attended to by their service providers. In this case, consumers were ask to dial the 622 toll-free number provided by NCC.

The NCC also enlightened the consumers on the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) 2442, where a consumer is required to simply send “STOP” as a text message to the short code, 2442, in order to completely stop unsolicited Short Messaging Services (SMS), or to send “HELP” to 2442”, to select the kinds of SMS or Value-Added Services (VAS) they may wish to receive.

The Commission also sensitised participants on the availability of 112 toll-free number which telecom consumers and other citizens can dial in emergency situation, in order to access help from emergency response agencies (ERAs) through the Emergency Communication Centres (ECCs). Eighteen of the ECCs has so far been built by the NCC in different states. The Commission is also in the process of building ECCs in remaining states in the Federation.

The Consumers were also enlightened on the dangers of using improperly-registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards. They were enjoined to ensure proper registration of their SIM cards to avoid being disconnected on the mobile networks.

The NCC team also urged the consumers to leverage Mobile Number Portability (MNP) to seamlessly migrate from their original network to any of the other networks they prefer without losing their SIM numbers.

Participants at the Festival were equally informed of the opportunities that abound in the telecoms sector. For instance, the kinds of licenses they can obtain to start small scale businesses in the telecoms sector.

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“As You Sow, So Shall You Reap”: Imam Reminds Muslims of Divine Justice

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Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

 

Imam Nura Garba Mato has urged Muslims to remain conscious of their actions, saying that divine reward and punishment often correspond to the nature of people’s deeds.

 

KANO FOCUS reports that the imam made the call while delivering a Friday sermon at Jami’u Ansar wal Muhajirun Jumaa Mosque, Cotton Ginnery Layout, Zawaciki, Kano State.

 

The sermon, titled “Al-Jazā’u Min Jinsil-‘Amal” (Recompense Is According to the Nature of Deeds), focused on the Islamic teaching that people’s actions have consequences and that good deeds attract divine reward.

 

Imam Mato said Allah had established enduring principles in human life that do not change, urging Muslims to understand these principles and allow them to guide their conduct.

 

He explained that one of these principles was that recompense corresponds to the nature of one’s actions, stressing the importance of living righteously and fulfilling one’s responsibilities to Allah and fellow human beings.

 

The imam called on Muslims to observe *taqwa* (consciousness of Allah), remain steadfast in their faith and follow the teachings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

 

He also highlighted the importance of helping people in difficulty, easing the burdens of others and showing compassion to fellow Muslims.

 

Quoting a prophetic tradition, the imam emphasised that whoever relieves a Muslim of a hardship in this world will receive relief from Allah on the Day of Resurrection.

 

He further explained that whoever conceals the faults of a fellow Muslim would receive Allah’s concealment of their faults on the Day of Resurrection, while those who make things easier for people in difficulty would receive Allah’s assistance in this world and the Hereafter.

 

The sermon also underscored the importance of supporting others, noting that a Muslim’s relationship with Allah should be reflected in their treatment of fellow human beings.

 

Imam Mato urged Muslims to reflect on their deeds and recognise that their conduct carries consequences, encouraging them to embrace good actions, assist those in need and uphold the teachings of Islam in their daily lives.

 

He stressed that Muslims should make righteousness, compassion and service to others central to their lives in pursuit of Allah’s pleasure and success in the Hereafter.

 

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Kano Govt Orders Retired Civil Servants to Vacate Offices, Hand Over Government Property

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Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

 

The Kano State Government has directed all civil servants who have attained their statutory retirement age or completed the required length of service to immediately vacate their offices and hand over government property in their possession.

 

KANO FOCUS reports that the directive was contained in Circular issued on Tuesday by the Establishment Directorate, Office of the Head of Civil Service, Kano State.

 

The circular, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Establishment, Abba A. Danguguwa, on behalf of the Head of Civil Service, was titled: “Unauthorized Continuance in Service After Statutory Retirement by Civil Servants in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government – Call for Immediate Handing Over of Official Documents, Properties.”

 

The government said it had observed that some civil servants continued to remain in office and operate in official capacities after reaching their statutory retirement period.

 

According to the circular, such conduct was a “negation to the reputation of the Civil Service of Kano State,” noting that the service had a long-standing tradition of ensuring seamless transition by retiring civil servants.

 

It described the continued stay in service after retirement as a direct infraction and aberration of relevant provisions of the State Civil Service Rules and other applicable service regulations.

 

The government stressed that it was legally and administratively untenable for any officer to remain in service or perform official functions beyond the statutory limit.

 

Consequently, all civil servants who had retired either by age or length of service were directed to immediately exit and hand over all official documents, government property and duties to their immediate subordinates in their respective ministries, departments and agencies.

 

The circular also directed all Accounting Officers, including Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executives, as well as Directors of Administration and Personnel Management, to ensure strict and immediate compliance with the directive.

 

It warned that any officer found aiding, abetting or condoning the continued stay of a retired officer in service would face appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the Civil Service Rules.

 

The directive takes immediate effect, the circular stated.

 

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Kano Settles N32bn Pension, Gratuity Liabilities, Says Gov Yusuf

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Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

 

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf says his administration has settled approximately N32 billion out of the N48 billion inherited backlog of gratuities and related liabilities owed to retirees in the state.

 

KANO FOCUS reports that Gov Yusuf disclosed this on Thursday while addressing residents at the 66th Independence Anniversary celebration held at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium in Kano.

 

The governor said the government had also sustained the regular payment of monthly pensions while increasing the minimum monthly pension from N5,000 to N20,000.

 

He said the welfare of workers and pensioners remained a priority of his administration, citing timely payment of salaries, improved remuneration and measures aimed at strengthening the public service.

 

According to him, the state has maintained the practice of paying workers’ salaries on or before the 25th of every month while implementing the N71,000 minimum wage for civil servants.

 

Gov Yusuf also said his administration was sponsoring public servants for professional training, including programmes at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), to strengthen their administrative and leadership capacity.

 

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a professional and motivated workforce, while ensuring that the contributions and sacrifices of serving workers and retirees were recognised and treated with dignity.

 

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