FC Taraba Player's Salary Not Paid Till Now, Is Gov. Darius Aware?

All matches involving FC Taraba in the Nigeria National League (NNL) have been placed on hold, the league secretariat said on Friday in Abuja.

A statement from the NNL Media Officer, Amar Ignis, said the development was based on the club’s inability to settle its debts to its players.

It said the club was having outstanding payments and arrears to be paid to players who featured for it last season.

“It is a sort of carry-over and because of the importance we attach to this league, we are compelled to do this.

“We always have to ensure clubs in the NNL are ready to run because they move to the Premier League from our league, and it is necessary for us to direct them well,’’ he said.

The NNL Secretary said the Football Associations in Taraba and the FCT, as well as FC Taraba and Supreme Court FC, have been duly informed.

TARABA SQUARE, reports that the 2015/2016 NNL is billed to kick off on Saturday, with 15 games in four groups billed to be played over the weekend. (NAN)

Teachers Embark On Indefinite Strike In Taraba State

The Taraba State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has decided to embark on an indefinite strike today, Wednesday following the non payment of salaries for the past three months by the state government.

Speaking on behalf of the union on Monday in Jalingo, the state capital, the chairman, Aliyu Jauro Mafindi, stated that the industrial action may last until when the state government shows “sincere commitments” to clearing the backlog of wages.

According to him, the decision to go on an indefinite strike was taken after the state exco of the union convened a meeting on Monday to deliberate on the way forward.

Mafindi, recalled that the union had recently embarked upon on a three-day warning strike which it later suspended as government called the union officials for talks.

“After the suspension of the strike, government side representatives were expected to see His Excellency, the governor, with the agreement for his consideration and possible approval, but since then there was no any serious action or committal statement from the side of the government,” Mr. Mafindi said.

“At the exco meeting, it was unanimously resolved that all teachers in public primary schools in Taraba State should immediately proceed on an indefinite strike action until further notice”.

Taraba State Government denies donating grazing land to Fulani Herdmen

Taraba state Government has denied donating any piece of land to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to be used as a grazing reserve.

This was disclosed to newsmen by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku, Sylvanus Yakubu Giwa in his office while reacting to a publication of the DailyTrust Newspaper of 3 June 2016, page 4, captioned, 11 States donates 55,000 hectares of land each for the implementation of grazing reserves credited to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Audu Ogbe.

The Senior Special Assistant maintained that there was no time that Taraba Government and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture had any discussion bothering on the provision of land that would be used as a grazing reserve and disassociated Taraba State from the list of states as contained in the DailyTrust Newspaper publication.

He reiterated the resolve of Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku to partner with the Federal Government through constructive dialogue that is aimed at bringing succour to the people of the state and the country at large.

He also noted that Taraba State Government cannot go into any form of understanding without carrying the people of the state along as this may in the long-run result to grave consequences among farmers and grazers in the State.

Sylvanus Giwa categorically stated that the state government does not subscribe to the idea of the creation of grazing reserves but would prefer where animals are domesticated through ranching and called on the Federal government to come to a negotiating table with Taraba State Government for a more holistic and purposeful discussion that would be beneficial to both parties.

The States purported to have donated lands as published by the DailyTrust Newspaper includes; Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Plateau, Niger, Sokoto and Taraba as well as the FCT.

Boko Haram terrorists fleeing to Taraba, says Buratai

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Wednesday, said the Army was on the trail of Boko Haram terrorists who fled Sambisa and were hiding in Taraba. Buratai said this when he paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba, in continuation of his tour of Army formations in the state. 

He said the Army had strong reasons to believe that some of the terrorists that fled Sambisa were taking refuge in parts of Taraba. He added that “Taraba has not been affected by this insurgency since it started except for the recent incidences that are related to Boko Haram especially as they are being pushed out of Borno. “We strongly suspect some of them are currently parading themselves around this state; we are working on our intelligence and information from some good citizens. 

“We are banking on support about their movement and we are equally tracking them so that we get them as soon as we can.” The Army boss then urged Nigerians to support the military “to finally clear the remaining hideouts of the insurgents.” He said timely sharing of information on the movement of suspicious persons would go a long way in containing the insurgents. He assured citizens of Taraba and the North East in general of the military’s determination to finally end the menace of insurgency in the region.

On the invasion of communities by suspected cattle herders, Buratai said troops were also on the trail of the suspects. He said that the Army, in conjunction with other security agencies, were working hard to contain the menace. According to him, troops are combing the bush and areas in search of the suspects all over the country. He expressed optimism that the situation would be arrested in the nearest future. On his part, the state governor commended the efforts of the military in addressing threats of security across the country.

Ishaku informed the army chief of the various threats to peace that had plagued the state for a while. He sought the assistance of the Nigerian Army in tackling the challenges, especially in the border communities of the state. Ishaku reaffirmed the commitment of the state government to support security agencies in the discharge of their duties. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the chief of army staff is scheduled to visit army formations in Takum and Sarti areas of the state.

Farmers/Herders' Clash - Jukun Urges Taraba to Set Up Vigilance Team

A socio-cultural group, Jukun Development Association (JDA) rose from her emergency extra-ordinary congress on Wednesday in Lagos with a call on Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku to immediately set up a vigilance group to monitor and ensure security of all farm settlements in the Central and Southern parts of the state.

They said such steps became necessary to ensure the security of lives and property of her people, especially farmers from armed herdsmen.

The group also rejected the proposed grazing reserve for Fulani herdsmen in the country, saying no inch of Jukunland will be surrendered for whatever purpose to anyone outside the zone.

National President of the association, Mr. Benjamin Bako who spoke with newsmen after the congress where he was unanimously re-elected for second term, said Jukun people as farmers traditionally need more land to cultivate and sustain their growing population.

Bako welcomed President Mohammadu Buhari's order on security operatives for a crack down on the rampaging herdsmen. He said the president should have taken the decision before now.

The association also commended rights activist Chief Femi Falana and Isaac Danjuma for their contributions to Jukunland and its people

Taraba Lawmaker Empowers 5, 000 Constituents

The member representing Wukari/Ibi federal constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Danjuma Usman Shiddi has empowered over 5, 000 constituents with working tools.

Presenting the tools to the beneficiaries yesterday in Wukari, the federal legislator explained that his intervention was a fulfillment of his campaign promises, adding that  the empowerment materials were equally meant to justify the confidence the people reposed on him.

He informed that since his assumption of office as a federal lawmaker, he has placed over 15 students on scholarship at the NTA Television College Jos, facilitated the employment of some youths at the University of Jos and the Federal University Wukari, secured employment for youths into the Nigerian Navy and other para-military organisations among others.

“My achievements within this few months as a legislator didn’t end at this. I provided skills acquisition training for over 110 youths at the federal government vocational centre in Lafia, Nassarawa State,” he informed.

He further added that he has put in place strategies to rehabilitate some streets in Wukari and environs and also enrolled some youths into the Petroleum Training Institute, Delta State.