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13 Year Old Dies Scrambling For Money Shared By Bauchi Lawmaker
A 13-year-old boy, Bappah Adamu, has died while scrambling for money thrown at crowd near the Bauchi-Maiduguri highway.
The boy was said to have been knocked down by an oncoming vehicle while trying to get part of money thrown into the crowd by Halliru Jika, the House of Representatives member representing Ganjuwa/Darazo federal constituency.
The incident reportedly occurred at Konkiyel town when the lawmaker was leaving the town after visiting a project site he is executing in the town.
A source in Konkiyel town, Safiyanu Konkiyel, confirmed the incident, adding that the lawmaker threw money into the air near the highway and people rushed to pick the Naira notes scattered on the road.
Police in Darazo cannot confirm the incidence when contacted on telephone saying that the matter has not been reported to them.
Speaking to our reporter on telephone on the matter, a politician, Nasuru Darazo said that he was aware that the lawmaker visited Darazo, Soro and Konkiyel on Saturday.
He however said that he was aware that the lawmaker was booed in Soro but could confirm the death of the 13-year-old boy in Konkiyel town.
“I was in Darazo yesterday because I went to see the work on Dapchari road and I was told that Jika has visited the three places. It is a fact that Jika has a penchant for throwing money into the air anywhere he goes. I was told that he did the same thing in all the three towns,” he said.
In another development, a Transformer donated to Soro town was earlier rejected by people of the town.
According to reports, the people rejected the Transformer donation by the lawmaker because he has not executed any constituency project nor visited the area since he was elected in 2015.
When the lawmaker visited Soro Town on Saturday, he was reportedly booed while pictures of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Special Assistant to Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar on Non-Governmental Organisations ( NGOs) and Social Investment Programmes ( SIPs) ,Mansur Manu Soro was waved at him.
Mansur Manu Soro is from the town and is reportedly nursing a political ambition to challenge Halliru Jika in 2019.
Jika is said to be one of the people interested in contesting for the APC governorship ticket in 2019 and has allegedly not been on good political terms with Governor Mohammed Abubakar.
Calls to the lawmaker’s phone number by our reporter were not answered and an SMS sent to the same number was not replied as at the time of filing this report.
US car giant Ford on Wednesday announced 4,000 more job cuts in Europe, mostly in Germany and Britain, in the latest blow to the continent’s beleaguered car industry.
“The company has incurred significant losses in recent years,” Ford said in a statement, blaming “the industry shift to electrified vehicles and new competition”.
The move will affect 2,900 jobs in Germany, 800 in the UK and 300 in western Europe by the end of 2027, a Ford spokesman told AFP.
“It is critical to take difficult but decisive action to ensure Ford’s future competitiveness in Europe,” said Dave Johnston, Ford’s European vice-president in the statement.
The company also said it was adjusting the production of its Explorer and Capri models, resulting in reduced hours at its Cologne plant in the first quarter of 2025.
Europe’s car industry has been plunged into crisis by high manufacturing costs, a stuttering switch to electric vehicles and increased competition in key market China.
Germany’s Volkswagen has been among those hardest hit, announcing in September that it was considering the unprecedented move of closing some factories in Germany.
“The European automotive industry is in a very demanding and serious situation,” Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said at the time.
Ford had already announced in February 2023 that it was planning to cut 3,800 jobs in Europe, including 2,300 in Germany and 1,300 in Britain.
The company said then it was planning to reduce the number of models developed for Europe, concentrate on the profitable van segment and speed up the transition to electric vehicles.
Ford currently has around 28,000 employees in Europe with 15,000 in Germany, according to the company’s works council.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, and Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike.
The council, chaired by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, comprised five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.
A statement released on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the council was dissolved following reports of procedural violations in appointing the vice-chancellor.
According to the statement, the council had allegedly appointed an unqualified candidate, disregarding due process, which triggered tensions between the university’s Senate and the council.
The Federal Government expressed dismay over the council’s actions, emphasizing the need for adherence to the university’s governing laws in decision-making.
“The council’s disregard for established rules necessitated the government’s intervention to restore order to the 33-year-old institution,” the statement noted.
In a related development, President Tinubu also approved the dismissal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
Salami was accused of suspending the university’s Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures, a move the Federal Ministry of Education had previously directed him to reverse.
Despite the Ministry’s directives, Salami reportedly refused to comply and resorted to issuing threats and abusive remarks towards the Ministry’s officials, including the Permanent Secretary.
The Federal Government reiterated that the primary role of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of academic activities, strictly adhering to the laws establishing each institution.
Tinubu warned university councils against engaging in actions that could destabilize their institutions, as his administration remains committed to enhancing the nation’s education system.
The Ekiti State Government has reached an agreement with labour leaders in the state, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
Addressing journalists at a brief ceremony in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, the Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, announced that the payment would commence immediately.
She lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritizing the welfare of workers despite the state’s limited resources.
“This development demonstrates the governor’s commitment to improving the livelihood of our workers,” Dr. Olomojobi stated, highlighting the proactive measures taken by the administration to ensure prompt implementation.
In their remarks, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Comrade Sola Adigun, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Comrade Olatunde Kolapo, expressed their appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for fulfilling his promises to workers.
They confirmed that the new minimum wage would apply to all cadres, including employees in ministries, parastatals, agencies, and pensioners.
The Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Comrade Femi Ajoloko, described the implementation as a fair and commendable adjustment.
“This decision reflects the governor’s magnanimity and his dedication to fostering a productive workforce in Ekiti State,” he said.
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