Taraba Facts

  Taraba State Civil Service Commission has accused some politicians of inciting protests over the ongoing sale of recruitment forms in the state. Chairman of the Commission, John Mamman, while briefing journalists yesterday in jalingo, said such actions were capable of igniting violence in the state. The decision of the commission to sell recruitment forms at the rate of N3,500, The Guardian gathered, did not go down well with some groups, as they demanded that the forms be given free of charge to interested applicants. Mamman, however, refused to mention the politicians indicted as masterminds of the protests. GUARDIAN 

Comrade Jonah Kataps, a former chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Taraba State chapter, has urged residents of the state, irrespective of religious differences, to pray fervently for a candidate that has “vision, direction and the capacity to move Taraba to the 21st century”. Kataps, who today took DAILY POST down memory lane, expressed dismay at the way and manner the affairs of the state is being run by Governor Darius Ishaku. Citing the present debt profile of the state which has continued to be on the rise, lack of payments of pension and gratuity arrears, he urged residents to be careful when electing leaders in the forthcoming political dispensation. “Taraba people should be very careful with the kind of choice they will make in 2023,” he said. Wondering why the state has continued to move backward despite the abundant human and natural resources it possesses, he said “there are a lot of issues on ground that need to be addressed.” He urged residents to avoid past mistakes,...

  The Emir of Muri Empire in Taraba State, Abbas Tafida, has issued a 30-day ultimatum to herders terrorising residents of the state to vacate forests within the state or be forced to do so. The Emir gave the ultimatum on Tuesday after Eid prayers. This follows a rising spate of kidnappings, killings, and attacks in the state by criminals suspected to be herders. He claimed that Fulani herders are responsible for perpetrating crimes in the state and should therefore vacate forests in the state within 30 days or be forced out. The Emir, who spoke in the Hausa language, urged the leadership of Fulani herdsmen to fish out the bad eggs among them. “Our Fulani herdsmen in the forests, you came into this state and we accepted you, why then will you be coming to towns and villages to kidnap residents, even up to the extent of raping our women? “Because of this unending menace, every Fulani herdsman in this state have been given 30 days ultimatum to vacate the forests. We are tired of...

  Minister of Power, Mr Sale Mamman , has stated that the federal government revoked the $2.3 billion Mambilla hydropower project contract with Sunrise Power Transmission and Procurement Company Limited (SPTPCL) because the government found out that the company was ‘fronting’ for a foreign business organisation. The cancellation of the deal has been a subject of controversy as the firm has recently dragged the government to an international arbitration court claiming several millions of dollars for breach of contract, thereby stalling the project which is over 40 years in the works. In June, the company filed a fresh $400 million lawsuit at the International Court of Arbitration (ICA), which operates under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), in Paris, France, against the federal government. Sunrise Power had earlier on October 10, 2017, dragged Nigeria to arbitration at the court seeking a $2.354 billion award in relation to the deal before both parties agr...

  The Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo on Thursday adjourned indefinitely for judgement the suit by the Mzough U Tiv against the Taraba State Government seeking the enforcement of the rights of Tiv people of Taraba State. The Presiding Judge, Justice Simon Amobeda, adjourned the case for judgement after counsels to parties in the suit adopted their processes and briefs of the originating motion. Amobeda after listening to the counsels ruled that ‘the case is hereby adjourned to a later date for judgement. Counsels on both sides shall be communicated the date of judgement,’ he ruled. Fielding questions from journalists, lead Counsel to the incorporated trustee of Mzough U Tiv and four others, Sabastian Hon,  SAN , said the court stood on its earlier order of June 30 for a definite hearing whether or not the respondents are in court. ‘There was a deliberate attempt by defence counsels to delay the hearing of the case again today, but as a fundamental human rights enforcemen...

  Taraba State's Civil Service Commission (CSC) has directed applicants for jobs to pay N3,500 for an online application form. The Taraba State government has drawn the anger of indigenes of the state over the ongoing sale of forms to applicants who seek to work in the state’s civil service. The state government a few weeks ago lifted an embargo on employment into the state civil service through an announcement by the Office of the Head of Service of the state. Subsequently, the state’s Civil Service Commission (CSC) directed interested indigenes to apply by obtaining an online application form at the cost of N3,500. The commission also directed workers who want to transfer their services from local government to the state service or across ministries, departments and agencies to also obtain a transfer of service form by paying N3,000 to the state government’s account with Zenith Bank. The government had conduced a similar employment exercise in 2017 but less than 10 per cent ...

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba state has affirmed that agriculture remains the mainstay of the state’s economy. Ishaku spoke in Jalingo, the state capital during the flag-off of the distribution of farm inputs and sales of fertilizers at a subsidized rate to farmers for the 2021/2022 farming. He said peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders is what the state needs to blossom and called on stakeholders from both sides to ensure peace reigns. According to him, “I want to call on farmers and herders to close ranks and work closely with one another for a mutually beneficial relationship. “The synergy and understanding between herders and farmers will benefit the State.” Ishaku further mentioned that areas affected by conflicts would be prioritized in the distribution of the inputs. He, however, pegged the sale of NPK fertilizer at N6,500 while Urea would be sold for N8,000. He also said the state has procured 2000 tonnes of maize seeds, 100 tones of sesame seeds,12000 cassava ste...

  The Senate on Tuesday passed bills establishing FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LAU, TARABA STATE; Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Aboh, Delta State; and City University of Technology Auchi, Edo State. According to a statement from the Senate on Tuesday, the passage of the bills followed the consideration of three separate reports by the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND. Senator Sandy Onuh, in his presentations on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee, Ahmad Babba Kaita, said the Federal Univeristy of Agriculture and Technology, Aboh, in Delta State, would offer graduates knowledge in research to improve on Agricultural extension and general Agricultural practices. In another presentation on the report of the Conference Committee on the establishment of City University of Technology, Auchi, Onuh said the Senate and House of Representatives met and deliberated on the two versions of the bill. According to him, it was resolved th...

The leadership of the Taraba State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has berated Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku over claims that his administration has reached out to the 168 wards of the state in terms of development. Reacting to a recent interview with Channel Television, where Ishaku categorically stated that he has worked in all the 168 wards across the state, the leadership of the party, in an interactive session with media practitioners on Friday, expressed sadness that the Governor is being “economical with the truth. ” Led by the state Chairman, Barrister Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi, the leadership of the party said “everybody in Taraba State knows that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) government has not been working in the state.” Lamenting that all Tarabans, irrespective of religious, tribes and party affiliations “are in penury and in pains that we elected somebody who came to tell lies to Nigerians that he had worked” they challenged Ishaku to be man enough to con...

  By Citizen John Akevi  With each day comes new discovery of billions of naira misappropriated or stolen outright in Taraba  State under the stewardship of governor, Arc. Darius Ishaku.  A trip around the state is an unpleasant experience. And within this period, some accounts suggest nearly  billions of naira  were  misappropriated. Governor Darius Ishaku's  leadership style is a harvests of  corruption, pains, suffering and impoverishment. It is a leadership that  undervalues workers by refusing to pay them as at when due. It is a wicked leadership that is morally reprehensible. It is a leadership that fails to take responsibility, blaming others for its own failures. It is a leadership that has set Taraba State  back by decades.  For six years, Arc. Darius Ishaku  run a government some have described as “the more you look, the less you see”. Contracts for roads and sundry projects were ‘awarded’ to unknown and evidentl...

Documents from the Debt Management Office, DMO indicates that Taraba State debt profile increasely rose to 100bn in the last six years, TarabaTruth and Facts . In 6 years, within the same timeframe, Taraba State domestic debt stock rose from N27.65bn to N100bn, thus making an increase of 261.66 per cent. The State Debt stock as at 2015 when Governor Darius Ishaku took over leadership of the state was N27,65bn but by March 31 2021 jumps to 100bn. Also Taraba State has borrowed the highest among the North East states within the last six years. The Document also shows that Taraba State is also leading in the reduction of domestic debts owed by various state governments in Nigeria as of the end of December 2020. Taraba state in the last six months reduced its debt by paying off about 6.045bn, as of the end of December 2020 the DMO puts the state debt stock at 106.045bn.

 A MOTION PRESENTED BY HON. KASHIMU MAIGARI, Member Representing Jalingo, Yorro & Zing.  There is Need to Upgrade Danbaba Danfulani Suntai Airport Jalingo to an International Airport. Notes that Danbaba Danfulani Suntoi Airport, Jalingo is a State-owned Airport that was upgraded and  completed in 2014 and currently serving Jalingo State Capital of Taraba; Also notes that Taraba State being an agro-producing state the airport serves as a huge opportunity to boost the state 's economy, which is termed as Nature Gift to the Nation, will equally serve as a link to other parts of the country: Informed that the Airport is a passenger airport with only' one route, trip from Abuja to Jalingo operated by Overland Airways; Concerned the potentials of Taraba State to attract economic and social development both locally and internationally due to the presence of so many tourist attractions would not be optimally achieved without an International Airport. Disturbed that the numero...

  The Minister of Power, Engr. Sale Mamman on Tuesday justified the reduction in the capacity of the Mambilla power project from 3,500 megawatts to 1,500 megawatts, saying it was to ensure adequate funding by lenders. Minister disclosed this while appearing before the Senate committee on Power said capacity of the power project was rescoped to 1500 megawatts to make it bankable and acceptable to the lenders. He said: “We discovered that the 3050 megawatts is not visible. We have sent officials to China to review the project and the memo is on the table of Mr President waiting for approval. “The idea of rescoping the project is to make it bankable. The market that we are operating today in Nigeria is different from the market that was operated when the Mambilla project was conceived. “Today we need a project that can be paid for in the market. We are funding the project with loan from a lender who is only interested in funding a project that can pay back the loan. Most of the issues...

                                             Abdulrauf A. Bello Jalingo A youths must continue fighting in a peaceful manner to seek participation. Hon. Kasimu Bello Maigari and his primary assignment. Democracy is all about ensuring popular participation and control of the process of government. Since all the people cannot participate and individually control their government at the same time, they entrust these rights and duties to an elected few among them known as legislators.It is interesting to begin by saying that when referring to democratic governance, whether parliamentary or presidential, the organ of government that captures the mind most is the legislature. Legislature is the place where the public sees democracy in action, in the form of debates, and consideration of motions, resolutions and bills. There is no gainsaying the fact that legislator is the closest...

    Tuesday, 6th- July, 2021.   The Executive Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States, under the auspices of North East Governors’ Forum, held its 5th meeting in Jalingo, Taraba State and discussed, among other things, the challenges facing the sub-region. Under the Chairmanship of the Governor of Borno State, Professor, Babagana Umara Zulum, the Forum resolved as follows: 1.     The forum notes the general improvement of the Security situation in the region and calls for continuous collaboration of all the security agencies in the country to sustain the gains.  The Forum, condoles Mr. President, the Nigerian Army and the families of the late Chief of Army Staff Major General Ibrahim Attahiru and the other officers who lost their lives while on duty. It also congratulates the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya on his appointment. 2.     The Forum calls on the diplomatic community, ...

  Officials distributing the items are allegedly diverting them to the black market, with the connivance of some politicians. Farmers in  Taraba State  are accusing politicians and officials of the state ministry of agriculture and natural resources of diversion of farm inputs provided by the state government for distribution to farmers. But the state The government has said it was monitoring the process and has not noticed any malpractice. As part of the state government’s efforts to boost production in the sector,  Governor Darius Ishaku  approved the release of N200 million for the procurement of farm inputs, including seeds and chemicals. However, the officials distributing the items are allegedly diverting them to the black market with the connivance of some politicians. The governor had directed that the items be distributed to the farmers free, with special consideration to areas affected by ethnic crises. But despite the directive, officials of ...

  Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority in collaboration with the Nigerian Methodological Agency and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria have inspected Gembu Airstrip in Sardauna Local Government Area, with the aims at commencing rehabilitation work on theAirstrip for flight to resume operation to Gembu, Taraba Truth and Fact report. The founder and promoter of Mambilla Air, Aliyu Bello Malabu who led the technical delegation to Gembu Airstrip said the project said the aim of the inspection was to revive the abandoned Airstrip to resume flight operations especially now that the Mambilla hydro power project is underway. Bello said Mambilla Air is an aircraft that was flying from Yola to Gembu in eighties, but stop operation for the past nine years.He added that the invitation of Nigeria Civil Aviation and other agencies was to access the airstrip as well as to know what do to improve the airspace to a modern standard. Bello Malabu further disclosed that the outcome of the technical del...

The Taraba State University, Jalingo is set to expel not less than 2,000 students and some staff for alleged involvement in exam malpractice, misconduct and upgrading of students' GP.  Rhapsodi Affos Blog RAB exclusively gathered from a source who is a member of the Senate committee that the Senate committee have concluded plans to expel the students and some of the staff for upgrading the GP of the students and collecting ransom for it. Senate committee have concluded plans to expel the students and some of the staff for upgrading the GP of the students and collecting ransom for it.

  The Taraba State Government had awarded the company a contract for the satellite survey and analysis of hydrocarbon feedstock deposit of Benue valley territory of the state. A company has seized 15 vehicles of the Taraba State government following a court order over a debt owed the company. The company, Waterwells N.A International, obtained the order at the Federal High Court in Jalingo, the state capital. The court also issued a writ of attachment and sale of goods order against the Attorney-General of the state to implement a judgment given by the court on June 10, 2020 over a N550 million debt. The debt is with respect to a contract the government awarded the company for the satellite survey and analysis of the territory of hydrocarbon feed stock deposit of Benue valley territory of the state. In the event of the government defaulting to pay the debt, the court allowed the company “to take control by sale of goods and chattels of the defendant, wheresoever they may be...