Connect with us

News

Extortion: Disguised Zulum finds health officials collecting N10,000 for free medical services

Published

on

 

Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum on Thursday disguised his convoy and visited some Government healthcare centres unannounced, during which he found some officials collecting between N8,000 to N10,000 from patients, whereas the services are meant to be provided free of charge.

Zulum summoned the State’s Commissioner of Health, Mrs. Juliana Bitrus, and asked her to join him in a 10-seater bus that is usually used for airport services. The Governor left the Government house around 1:30pm without any convoy and without siren, leaving everyone surprised and wondering. Not even the Health Commissioner knew the Governor’s plan.

Zulum headed straight to the newly established and fully equipped primary healthcare centre at Gwange II ward in Maiduguri and found that some workers were collecting between N8,000 to N10,000 before diagnosing and treating patients of common ailments like Malaria.

“The staff we met here (at Gwange II, PHC) confirmed that they use to collect between N8,000 to N10,000 from patients to treat malaria. In fact they have turned this Government health centre to a private hospital, and this is why the centre has been deserted by people who mostly do not have the money to access services here. The workers just collect money and put it in their pockets”, unhappy Zulum said.

Advert

The Governor directed the Borno State Primary Healthcare Agency to thoroughly investigate, identify all the culprits and take appropriate disciplinary actions.

Zulum was also sad that the same primary healthcare centre had only one medical staff on ground to attend to patients, despite having 29 health workers on Government pay roll.

“You can imagine that at 2:00pm, this primary healthcare centre we built and fully equipped is empty (because of extortion and without medical staff). This level of impunity cannot be tolerated. The earlier we address it, the better for all of us” Zulum queried.

The Governor proceeded to a similar primary healthcare centre at Gwange I, but that was a pleasant experience.

Zulum found medical workers on ground attending to patients without extorting them.
The Governor was happy and he commended the staff for being good people.

The Governor has since formed the habit of showing up at odd hours including midnights at hospitals and early mornings at schools, for on the spot assessment of essential public services.

There are times Zulum extends his unannounced visits to schools, public offices and healthcare centres in Local Government Areas, some of them requiring him to drive hours from Maiduguri, the Borno capital.

The Zulum administration has constructed over 75 primary healthcare centers, built and renovated dozens of general hospitals and employed close to 600 medical workers of different categories, and is also building houses for doctors and nurses to inspire good medical services to citizens.

News

Breaking:Kano Deputy Governor Resigns

Published

on

Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo Former Kano state Deputy Governor

 

The Kwankwasiyya Movement has announced the resignation of the Deputy Governor of Kano State Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, stating that the decision was formally communicated to the public in a press release issued on Friday and signed by its spokesperson, Dr. Habibu Sale Mohammed.

According to the statement, the resignation was taken “in the overall interest of the people and the stability of governance” in the state, with the movement noting that recent developments had significantly limited the Deputy Governor’s ability to fully discharge the responsibilities of the office.

The movement also addressed the ongoing issues involving the Kano State House of Assembly, emphasizing that the Deputy Governor’s decision to step down should not be interpreted as an admission of any allegations raised against him, and insisting that he continues to maintain his innocence.

Describing the move as one of “statesmanship,” the statement said the resignation was intended to reduce political tension and prevent further disruptions to governance and development efforts in Kano State, while demonstrating a commitment to peace and political maturity.

Advert

The Kwankwasiyya Movement further disclosed that the former Deputy Governor plans to redirect his focus toward strengthening the movement’s internal structures and strategies, particularly as political actors begin positioning ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The statement added that this renewed engagement would involve rebuilding party frameworks and pursuing strategic realignments aimed at promoting what it described as people-oriented leadership, social justice, and sustainable development.

The movement called on its supporters and residents of Kano State to remain calm, law-abiding, and committed to democratic principles, assuring the public that additional details regarding the resignation would be communicated in due course, according to the spokesperson.

 

Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo the Deputy Governor has been enmeshed in a political battle with his boss Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf since the Governor defected to the All Progressives Congress without the blessing of the NNPP National leader Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

 

Recently the Kano state House of Assembly has issued Impeachment notice on Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo over allegation of corruption.

Continue Reading

News

Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, Mother of Former Kaduna Governor, Passes Away

Published

on

 

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, the mother of former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has died.

According to family sources, she passed away on Friday afternoon. While details surrounding her death remain unclear at this time, the family has since confirmed the sad event.

The announcement was made public by her grandson, Bello El-Rufai, in a statement shared on Facebook. The statement read:

Advert

“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. From Allah SWT we came and to Him we shall all return.

I would like to inform the public of the demise of my grandmother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who passed away a few hours ago.

She is the biological mother of our father, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. We are grateful for the life she lived and pray that Allah SWT bless her gentle soul.

May He bless the souls of the parents we have lost. On behalf of our family, we seek your prayers. Thank you.”

The family is expected to release further details regarding funeral arrangements in due course.

Continue Reading

News

ASUU Threatens Nationwide Shutdown

Published

on

 

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has warned the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately implement the newly approved salary structure for university lecturers or face a possible nationwide shutdown of public universities.

The union issued a four-day ultimatum on Thursday, with its president, Christopher Piwuna, saying failure to act within the deadline would trigger a strong response.

Speaking at Sa’adu Zungur University in Bauchi State, Piwuna said the government must begin payment under the new salary arrangement without further delay.

Advert

“We have issued a four-day ultimatum from today to the federal government to commence payment of the newly approved salary structure. Failure to comply will attract a strong response from the union,” he said.

The warning comes months after ASUU and the federal government signed a renegotiated agreement in January, aimed at resolving long-standing disputes and preventing the recurring strikes that have plagued Nigeria’s university system.

At the heart of the agreement is a revised salary structure designed to improve lecturers’ welfare and finally address issues stemming from the controversial 2009 FG-ASUU pact, which remained largely unimplemented for years.

Continue Reading

Trending