…plans raising N15 billion start up funds
The Kogi State Council on Monday approved a memo containing the bills for the establishment of KOGI STATE University, Kabba and other matters connected, 2023, while the State Attorney General was directed to transmit the bill to the State House of Assembly for consideration and passage into Law.
In a briefing by the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones stated that a University Law is one of the pre-requisites for the National University Commission (NUC) to recognise and approve any established university in Nigeria.
He hinted that the State government was working towards ensuring that before the end of the coming weeks, NUC would have given approval to the State University, adding that the recently inaugurated implementation committee chaired by renowned Professor of English Language, Prof. Olu Obafemi, was working alongside other stakeholders to speed up the process.
The Commissioner, who used the medium to again clarify on the rumour over the conversion of the College of Education Technical, Kabba or about the location of the University, noted that the news was false and an unauthenticated information which was largely a premonition by some individuals.
He however pointed out that the committee after several considerations concluded that it was more expedient to start the Kogi State University, Kabba at the current site of College of Education Technical Kabba while the College of Education will be relocated to another venue and the government was considering MopaMoro Local Government Area for the task.
In another development, Gov. Bello administered oath of office for returning appointees, who initially resigned their appointments to seek for elective post in the recently concluded gubernatorial primary elections.
The appointees include the Chief of Staff, Pharm. Abdulkareem Jamiu, Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic planning, Asiwaju Idris Ashiru, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bar. Deedat Ozigi, Accountant General of the State, Alh. Jubrin Momoh and the Auditor General of the State, Alh. Yakubu Okala.
In a press briefing by the Commissioner for Information and Communication Strategy, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, after the Executive Council Meeting, mentioned that the returning appointees were all charged to continue to be loyal and serve diligently in a bid to move the administration further forward.
Similarly, Mr. Fanwo briefed that the EXCO received reports on the progress on several projects currently embarked on by this administration, noting that several of these projects were hinted to be in advanced stages while the Governor reiterated commitment and determination to ensure completion of all projects before the end of his administration.
Other approvals at the meeting according to the Commissioner includes the Termination of the appointment of the Former Chairman of the Market Board, Mr. Danjuma Ochima who was accused of neglecting duties and promoting the return of filth in the state adding that his replacement would be announced in next few days.
The Commissioner mentioned also that the EXCO approved a Memo seeking for the establishment of the Directorate of Medical Laboratory Services in the Ministry of Health. He alluded that the creation of the Directorate will create cooperations amongst Medical Laboratory Scientist across the states, particularly in health care institutions.
Mr. Fanwo also hinted that the council approved a Memo seeking for a law to repel the Prohibition of Kidnapping and other related matters, Law 2015 and be re-enacted, Kogi State Prohibition of Kidnapping and other related maters, law 2023. He said that the State Attorney General was further directed by the council to forward the bill to the State House of Assembly adding that the law when passed is aimed at strengthening the criminal justice system of the state and to further nip in the bud issues of kidnapping, thuggery and other violent crimes