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

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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.

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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.

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Group asks Governor Yusuf to appoint Ganduje’s daughter as Kano Deputy Governor

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A group has called on the Governor of Kano State to appoint the daughter of former Governor of Kano, Dr. Asiya Balaraba Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as Deputy Governor.

The group, known as Haɗin Kan Jam’iyyar APC ‘Yan Dangole from Kano State, expressed its support for Dr. Asiya Ganduje to become the Deputy Governor of Kano State.

According to the group, Dr. Asiya Ganduje is a woman committed to serving the people, especially the youth, through various programs that have improved their lives.

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They stated that she has demonstrated competence and dedication in politics, contributing to opportunities for youth and women in areas such as education, skills acquisition, and self-reliance.

The group also emphasized that Dr. Asiya Ganduje possesses compassion and vision for improving the lives of citizens, while encouraging women to participate in politics and economic activities.

Furthermore, they praised her cooperative character and loyalty to party principles, saying this has made her a role model for women and youth.

In conclusion, the group declared that her appointment as Deputy Governor would help bring progress, unity, and prosperity to the people of Kano State.

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UTME 2026: JAMB to Release Day 1 Exam Results Today Before Midnight

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that the results of all candidates who sat for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Thursday, April 16, 2026, will be released on Friday, April 17.

Spokesperson of the board, Fabian Benjamin, announced this in a post on X, noting that an announcement would be made when the results are available.

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“This is to inform all candidates who sat for the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16th April 2026, that their results will be released today before midnight. An official announcement will be made to the public and posted on this page as soon as the results are available. Thank you,” he wrote.

Scheduled to run through April 22, the examination is structured into four daily sessions beginning at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m., a framework designed to manage the large volume of candidates and reduce congestion at Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres.

This year, nearly 2.2 million candidates are participating across 966 accredited centres, each expected to meet operational benchmarks such as functional computer systems, stable internet connectivity and electricity as well as adequately trained personnel.

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Anambra Workers Under Scrutiny for Lateness and Absenteeism after Soludo’s Visit

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Anambra State Government has commenced a probe of civil servants accused of reporting late to duty and absenteeism in the state public service.

Some of the affected workers appeared before the Special Disciplinary Committee on Violation of Public Service Rules, following Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s unscheduled visit to the State Secretariat in March, where it was discovered that over 90 per cent of the workforce were absent from their duty posts.

The committee, constituted in line with the Public Service Rules 2021, sat at the Office of the Head of Service, State Secretariat Complex, Awka, on Friday, and examined several workers over alleged lateness and absenteeism.

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Speaking during the exercise, the Chairperson of the panel and Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Nkiru Nwankwo, said lateness and absenteeism violate public service rules and amount to a breach of employment terms.

She warned that such offences are punishable under the rules, stressing that the current administration is committed to repositioning the public service for efficiency and effectiveness.

“This exercise is set up to probe lateness and absenteeism, which violate public service rules and constitute a breach of contract of employment. Workers should have a change of attitude toward work,” she said.

Nwankwo advised workers with genuine reasons for absence or lateness to follow due process by formally notifying appropriate authorities in writing and in good time.

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