Connect with us

Headlines

OCCEN, Kano CSOs launch situation room for 2023 election

Published

on

 

Ahead of 2023 general elections, Organization for Community Civic Engagement (OCCEN) in collaboration with Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF) have inaugurated Civil Society Situation Room.

KANO FOCUS reports that the Executive Director of OCCEN, Comrade Abdulrazak Alkali who is a co-convener of the inauguration ceremony said the idea for establishing the state elections situation room is to ensure prompt responses to possible challenges and threats before, during and after the 2023 general elections.

Comrade Abdulrazak Alkali

He said, similar effort was made during the last local government election in Kano and had yielded positive results, which prompted the formation of the situation room for the forthcoming election.

Alkali who is the convener of the programme stated that, Kano situation room is a replica of National Situation Room, set up to strengthen electoral processes in Kano State.

He called on Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to develop mechanism for checkmating vote buying by politicians and pledged to organise  periodic meetings with INEC and other stakeholders on electoral processes as the need arise.

In his address the President of Kano Civil society Forum, Amb. Ibrahim Waiya said, the Situation Room model, by contrast, ”provides a platform for rapid and timely response.”

Amb Ibrahim Waiya

Waiya who doubles as co-convener of the programme said it is designed to ensure that beyond observation, civil society is able to play a greater role in crisis management, early warning and constructive engagement of the process to ensure a credible election.

”The Election Situation Room shall have the following representatives stakeholders groups and organizations as members: Police, DSS, INEC, National Human Right Commission, EFCC, Media, Civil Society, IPAC, Hisbah, NOA, Civil Defence, Military, Traditional Institution among others.

Dignitaries at the event

“The essence of the Situation Room, is to tactically maximize the access for information gathering and provide a unified platform for analysis and intervention by the concerned authorities proactively,” he explained.

He added that “The Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF), is the key umbrella body of Civil Society Organizations in Kano State, associating under a common platform with the aim of achieving human rights protection and promotion, promotion of democracy, good governance, Anti-corruption

“Transparency and accountable Governance, health, peace, justice and sustainable development in the State and Nigeria at large.

Representatives of media

”Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF) the umbrella body of over 100 Civil Society organizations operating in Kano State, has as part of its continuous interventions and advocacy for best Democratic practices is in partnership with Organization for Community Civic Engagement (OCCEN) with support from National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Washington D.C organizing today’ s event to launch and inaugurate the establishment of the Kano State Civil Society Election Situation Room,” Waiya said.

The featured presentation from representatives of Independently National Electoral Commission (INEC), Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Representative of EFCC

Highlights of the event include questions and answers session on how to strengthen electoral processes in Kano State.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Headlines

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

Published

on

 

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.

 

Continue Reading

Headlines

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

Published

on

 

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.

 

Continue Reading

Headlines

Kano Settles N32bn Pension, Gratuity Liabilities, Says Gov Yusuf

Published

on

 

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.

 

Continue Reading

Trending