Taraba Facts

  On this auspicious occasion of the 30th anniversary of the creation of Taraba State, I wish to join all of you – the good people of the state – in thanking God for this milestone in the life of our dear state and for the remarkable progress recorded during this period. The creation of the state 30 years ago was, no doubt, a watershed in the social and economic lives of the people. It has quickened the pace of social and economic development. The state now has expansive and functional educational institutions with a highly rated state university – Taraba State University -  as the icing cake of this progress. Our schools are among the best in the country and our WAEC performance statistics occupy the number one position in the entire Northern states.  The state can also now boast of a good network of urban and rural roads and an airport, all of which have made movement of people and goods a lot easier, safer and more comfortable.  Access to health facilities has bee...

  No fewer than seven people have been confirmed dead following an outbreak of what is suspected to be cholera in Tella Town, Gassol local government area of Taraba. The state Commissioner for health, Dr. Innocent Vakkai, who confirmed the incident in Jalingo, on Monday, also disclosed that several others had been hospitalized in health care centres in the area with symptoms of severe stooling and vomiting. Vakkai said that a team of medical experts from the state ministry of health had been dispatched to the area to investigate the cases and report back. Similarly, the Chairman of Gassol Local Government council, Alhaji Musa Chul, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview that at least 25 persons were on admission at the Tella maternity clinic as a result of the symptoms they showed which looked like cholera. He confirmed receiving a report from Tella on Saturday evening that three people had died of vomiting and strolling, and that on Sunday morn...

The leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN has begun a new synergy with the law enforcement agencies, aimed at fighting insecurity across the country. The leadership of the association on Sunday handed over 11 suspected kidnappers and gun runners to the Taraba State Police Commissioner, Mr Abimbola Sokoya, at Maraban kunini, according to Daily Trust. The suspects were presented during the formal inauguration of a 16-man committee set up to tackle criminal activities, especially kidnapping. The chairman of the MACABAN in the state, Sahabi Tukur, said  this was done in response to pledge made before the Emir of Muri, Alhaji Abbas Tafida, and state Commissioner of police that they will expose criminal elements among them. He said the committee members drawn from all the Fulani clans in the state would work along with police and other security agents in all the 16 local government areas  of the state to fish out kidnappers and other criminals. T...

Taraba State Governor, Arch Darius Dickson Ishaku at the weekend attended a wedding ceremony of his nephew in Kenya with a large entourage of about 40 people. The entourage consisting of close family members, the Secretary to government, about four commissioners, political aides, traditional rulers and lawmakers from the state house of Assembly attended the ceremony held at Carnivore Nairobi. Taraba Truth and Facts checks revealed that the Kenya trip could have cost the Taraba State Government about N30 MILLION on air fare only, as a return ticket from Nigeria to Nairobi, Kenya cost averagely about N800,000 while estacode in hundreds of thousands were given to the wedding guests.  This newspaper gathered that the fund for the trip was provided by Taraba State Water and Sewerage Corporation, TAWASCO and the State  government. A close government source said all board members of the state water agency with management staff attended the wedding in Kenya alongside a three days lead...

  Abdull Adam Bello✍🏼✍🏼 Hon. Barister Yahuza Jalingo and his primary assignment Hon Yahuza Jalingo is a legislator and the legislature is that organ of the government which passes the laws of the government. It is the organ which has the responsibility to formulate the will of the state and vest it with legal authority and force. In simple words, the legislature is that organ of the government which formulates laws.      While democracy is all about ensuring popular participation and control of the process of government. Since all the people cannot participate all the same time. The entrust this right 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.      From the above explanations on democracy, legislator difination one will not deny the fact that...

 Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University chapter, on Saturday, threatened to resume its suspended strike over alleged poor implementation of the 2021 Memorandum of Action (MoA) it signed with the state government and the institution’s management. This was contained in a statement issued by the union’s Chairman, Dr Samuel Shikaa in Jalingo. The statement said that the university staffers had found themselves in a precarious condition after the suspension of the last industrial action, as fractional payment of salaries and non-implementation of promotion still persisted. According to the union, five months after the suspension of the industrial action, the only positive action taken regarding the MoA is the election of deans in the various faculties. “Before the industrial action was suspended, the N35 million agreed upon was released for Earned Academic Arrears (EAA) while the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 sessions’ promotion arrears were paid. “Today, the N10...

We, the undersigned have watched the recent deterioration of Taraba state administration under Ach. Darius Dickson Ishaku with growing alarm. Specifically, we have watched with, deep concern as he keeps retaining selected civil servants whom their years of service is due, which we consider such act as radical changes to our known civil service procedures, revealing his unproven and intentional destructive intentions in Taraba state. Your excellency Ach. Darius Dickson Ishaku, these initiatives of your agenda which are negatively transforming several sectors in the state does not longer meet the minimum conditions for a true democratic system, hence, we are now at risk, and it is not just our venerated institutions and norms that are at risk, but our future national standing, strength, and ability to compete globally. Permit us to deal with few of your strategic games of looting the state treasury by retaining your foot soldiers among others like; Mr Audu Chindo the permanent secret...

The aim of higher institutions is to provide an environment for research and learning as well promoting good conduct and morals. Sadly, Taraba State Polytechnic has become an epicentre of ethnic crisis and violent conflicts between Jukun and Kuteb ethnic groups, JOHN MKON writes  A few words of welcome on Taraba State Polytechnic’s official site states that “law and order must be maintained to create a conducive atmosphere for academic success and progress.” The institution management also maintained that it is the polytechnic’s responsibility not only to educate students but to guide their personal development into useful citizens, adding that knowledge has meaning only if it enables its possessors to live a fuller life which must include behavior responsibility to self and society. However, amidst the upsurge of ethnic clashes in the institution all hands must be on deck to checkmate the scourge to achieve the institution’s objectives which include “to provide full-time courses o...

  ● Union raises alarm over job loss in food sector NO fewer than 4000 persons have applied for about 2000 existing vacancies to be filled in Taraba State Civil Service. Chairman of the state Civil Service Commission, John Mamman, who disclosed this at a briefing in Jalingo, the state capital, yesterday, also declared that the recruitment process would be on merit. Mamman, however, expressed dismay over the negative remarks that had greeted the sales of recruitment form, and also defended the Commission’s position, saying “the commission notes with surprise and disgust that the noble intention of Governor Darius Ishaku to remove our unemployed from the streets has provided an avenue for some disgruntled politicians to exploit. “The agitation the Commission gathers is against the payments of the application forms of three thousand and five hundred naira only. The agitators want to create the impression that this is the first time that payment is charged for application forms in the ...

  Our attention has been repeatedly drawn to a so-called Punch Investigative report on a purported directive by the Presidency to settle an arbitration with Sunrise, the company previously awarded the contract for the Mambilla Power project. The report was neither initiated from the Ministry of Power, nor did the Minister of Power authorise a statement to be issued to such effect. At best, the story was either sponsored or a deliberate fabrication to achieve a preconceived goal, because the Ministry had nothing to gain from issuing such statement. Before the mischievous report, the Punch Correspondent covering the power sector had called to confirm “information” that the Federal Government had authorised the payment, but was duly informed that we were not aware of such directive, only to come out with a lengthy report, attributing the story to ” a source” and in the same report unethically quoting the Special Assistant on Media to the Hon. Minister for Power. Within ten minutes of ...

  As the strike embarked upon by the Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, across the country enters day three, Taraba state chapter of the association, Wednesday wrote governor Darius Ishaku. The letter which was signed by the State President and Secretary of ARD, Dr. Ahmed Uba and Dr. Sabo Rimamde, wants an improved working condition for Doctors under the state’s payroll. Some of their request as contained in the letter include; “implementation and payment of arrears of doctors recently promoted. “Payment of correct amount of equivalent to grade level for all medical students on bond as stipulated by the bond signed with the State government. “Correction of the under payment of members and provision of running cost for health facilities and hospitals in the State.” The association also wants the state government to domesticate the Medical Residency Training Act, and requested the commencement of internship programme at the State Specialist Hospital for Medical House Officers, Nur...

Two suspected kidnappers have been gunned down while collecting ransom in Sabongida town in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State. DAILY POST gathered that the suspects were shot dead by a local vigilante who accompanied a family member of the victim, identified as Alhaji Gambo, to where the ransom was to be paid. It was learned that the suspects, prior to the incident had instructed the family not to involve security agencies. However, unknown to the kidnappers who were well-armed, the vigilantes swooped on them, gunning them down and rescuing the victim, who, according to reports, is an elderly man. The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Abdullahi Usman, could not be reached as at press time. He did take his calls, neither did he respond to text messages forwarded to him.

  The Leadership of Fulani herders in Taraba have pledged to weed out criminal elements among them within five months. The leadership of the herders comprised Ardos and Fulani community leaders drawn from 14 out the 16 local government areas of the state. They told the Emir of Muri, Alhaji Abbas Tafida, on Monday at his palace in Jalingo that the decision was reached following series of meetings they held to review the challenges confronting them. The herders, Led by the State Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Sahabi Mahmud, pleaded with the Emir to accept their pledge, undertaking that all the criminal elements amongst them would be identified and flushed out within five months in order to bring the desired peace to the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Miyetti Allah Chairman read out the pledge which was contained in a communique issued after a stakeholders’ meeting that lasted for several hours. The meeting was attended ...

The Federal Government has directed the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority to source $200m for settlement of International Court of Arbitration in Paris award in favour of the Chinese firm, Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited. Officials of the Federal Ministry of Power said the government had agreed to pay the sum and had mandated NSIA to work out measures for settling the debt. The $200m settlement offer was to compensate Sunrise Power for the unlawful termination of the contract for the 1,525 megawatts Mambilla hydropower project and the re-award of the same to another Chinese firm. Based on terms the settlement, Sunrise is expected relinquish all claims to the project once the requirements contained in the agreement with the Federal Government were settled. Officials of the power ministry also stated that the new contractors for the project were on ground, holding on till when the ongoing survey of the site and compensation of land owners were completed in Taraba, wh...