NEWS
State Security: Plateau Graduates 600 Personnel of Operation Rainbow
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
All is set for the graduation of 600 personnel of Operation Rainbow state security outfit in Plateau by the state Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang.
The outfit according to the state government is part of efforts to address the security challenges bedeviling the State.
Coordinator of Operation Rainbow, AIG Dabup Makama (Rtd) made this known on Tuesday, during the final parade rehearsals of the personnel at Rwang Pam Township Stadium in Jos, the State Capital.
He said the development was part of Governor Mutfwang’s promise to citizens of Plateau to revamp the Operation Rainbow.
“What we are seeing today is the final rehearsals of parade by personnels of Operation Rainbow set for their passing out tomorrow.
Operation Rainbow is a well-known State security outfit in Plateau State already. Created by the legislative law of the State Assembly.“They are actually from 5 local government areas of the State which is a strategic plan of the State. So we are training them in batches, these are the first batch from Mangu, Barkin-Ladi, Bokkos, Riyom, and Bassa LGAs of the State expecting that we shall scale down to the remaining 12 local governments.
“The criteria for selection is that they’re drawn across all the wards of the 5 LGAs. Mangu being the widest has 200 personnels, while Royom 100, Barkin-Ladi 100, Bassa Bokkos 100 that makes it 600.”
The Security Adviser to the Governor, Brig Gen. Gakji Shipi at the inspection disclosed that the 600 personnel were now formally employed by the State Government
“They’re going to work under Operation Rainbow, in fact they are employed by Operation Rainbow. After their graduation, they’re going to be respective personnel of Operation Rainbow, they will be on the payroll of Operation Rainbow.”
General Shipi cleared the air on alleged training of militias earlier reported in some sections of the media.
“There was a communication gap and I will advise that for the interest of peace, you know how little things can destabilize everything in the State.
“Always reach out to the appropriate office and get the appropriate answers, there is nothing like training of militias, the communication gap is that we commenced training, without ensuring that the Media broadcast it.
“The first batch is from five Local government areas of the state because first, it is impossible to take the whole 17L Government Areas of the state at the same time for both logistics and finance reasons,” he noted
“We gave priority to the youths that before now are the ones that have been volunteering at community level either as Vigilante or Hunters and so they know the ground very well.
“We did not just pick for the sake of giving employment. But we picked people that have some little background of security on their own and have been volunteering and they know the nooks and cranny of the state that is why we picked them first and later joined with other able youths.
“We needed more operatives on ground in Mangu that is why it has a larger number of personnel. This is also a way of employing able youths, now that we have employed these ones, it is now for them to do the needful,” he stated.
The Security Adviser noted that adequate monitoring mechanisms by Operation Rainbow on its personnel were on ground in order to be on track at all time.
“They are now employees of Operation Rainbow, so the structural organization of Operation Rainbow provides for Supervisors, Commanders at all levels. In Fact from now all local government headquarters will have Operation Rainbow Office and at District level. So, that will be a way of having a monitoring mechanism to ensure that they don’t employ themselves into other nefarious activities.
“Citizens of the state should not be apprehensive but should be happy because we know that the regular security will not be everywhere. When something happens, before you call the Police, Army the worst has happened. But now, they’re going to have these young men within the society, they have somebody they can quickly run to for help before the regular forces come.
“There are logistics, recall that the Governor promised to revamp the Operation Rainbow, the narratives that the Governor said that purchasing vehicles is part of the efforts of revamping the State Security outfit. Certain vehicles will be made available to them.
“The personnel are not going to be out there with their fingers, we are going to arm them minimally within the ambit of the law. The Federal government has given some limitations to the level of arms so that they can respond initially before regular security forces come in,” he explained
President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the Sector-wide Coordinating Office-Programme Management Unit (SCO-PMU) domiciled in the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.A statement on Friday by his spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, said the unit would ensure efficient, transparent and accountable management of external grants mobilised towards the implementation of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
Ngelale said SCO-PMU would report to a Steering Committee/Ministerial Oversight Committee chaired by the Minister, including the Minister of State, Permanent Secretary; Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and relevant development partners. “The SCO-PMU will serve as the secretariat and delivery unit for the NHSRII and is to be headed by a national coordinator (NC).“The functions of the SCO-PMU include programme management, monitoring and evaluation, engagement and supervision of Independent Verification Agents (IVAs) for NHSRII programmes and fiduciary management, among others.“Consequently, the President has approved the appointment of Dr. Muntaqa Umar Sadiq as the National Coordinator of SCO-PMU,” he said.Report says that Sadiq has over 17 years of experience in public health, impact investing, investment banking, energy, and climate financing across the health, finance, climate and energy sectors.He had served as Head of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Chief Executive Officer of the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria.He also served as Head of the Nigeria Energy Transition Office and Private Sector Engagement Adviser at the World Bank. (NAN)
The Federal Government says it has no plan to slash scholarship students’ allowances as recently projected in the media.The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, stated this during a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Abuja on Friday.
Report says that there was a report that the ministry, through the Federal Scholarship Board, announced a slash in allowances of foreign scholars stranded in Russia, Morocco, and Algeria among others.
The slash in scholars’ allowances under the federal government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement Scholarship (BEA) was attributed to the economic crises.Mamman said that there was no slash in scholars` allowances but rather an adjustment due to Foreign Exchange fluctuations (FOREX).“We want to clarify what has been in the media on allowances paid to scholars under the Bilateral Scholarship Agreement.“We want to place it on record that the ministry and the Federal Government for that matter have not slashed the allowances due to students.“What happened is some adjustments in the amount due to them because of FOREX fluctuations, and as soon as we get the balance we have applied for, we will pay them.“But for now, what is in the budget is what we can pay. So, there is no slash, we will even be happy to increase, so this is what has led to the adjustments,” he said.(NAN)
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, on Friday, has urged Nigerians to calm and patient with Federal Government and should give the the government more time to address these pressing concerns.In a statement issued by CAN and signed by Archbishop Daniel Okoh ,President, CAN and made available to journalists in Abuja.
CAN also urged all Nigerians to consider alternative means of expressing their grievances. He however said CAN stands in solidarity with the citizens of nation during these challenging times of economic hardship and pervasive hunger. The statement reads in part, “As we navigate this period of crisis, it is imperative to uphold the constitutional rights of every Nigerian to peacefully protest and express their grievances. The right to assemble and voice discontent is a cornerstone of our democracy and must be protected and respected by all. Peaceful protests are a powerful tool for civic engagement, allowing the populace to communicate their concerns and hold leaders accountable. However, the anxiety related to the impending protests is heightening, especially given the volatile experiences in countries like Kenya and Pakistan.”We must also draw from our recent history. The #ENDSARS and #RevolutionNow protests, though rooted in genuine grievances, were marred by tragic incidents where miscreants hijacked the process. This led to widespread looting, destruction of properties, and unfortunate loss of lives. These experiences have shown us that mass demonstrations can quickly degenerate into chaos if not properly managed and coordinated.” In light of the planned protests scheduled to commence on 1st of August, CAN urges all Nigerians to consider alternative means of expressing their grievances. We recommend giving the government more time to address these pressing concerns. This period should be used to explore other legal avenues that will not easily give hoodlums the opportunity to hijack the exercise to destroy our national assets or endanger lives and properties. Dialogue, petitions, and town hall meetings are viable options that can yield positive results without the risk of disorder.”We call on the government to cut the cost of governance and expedite its efforts to alleviate the hardships in the land. The opulent lifestyle of political office holders must be addressed to demonstrate the sincerity of those in government to improve the living conditions of the people. Likewise, it is imperative that the government implements the newly approved national minimum wage to provide immediate relief to struggling families.”Furthermore, specific measures must be taken to put an end to kidnappings, banditry, and mass killings that have plagued various parts of our country. The security and well-being of every Nigerian should be paramount, and urgent action is required to restore peace and order.”We also call on the government to expedite its efforts to alleviate the hardships in the land. There is an urgent need for more refined and effective policies that address the root causes of the economic challenges we face. The government must deepen its consultations with stakeholders, including religious leaders, to create a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to problem-solving. By working together, we can devise sustainable solutions that reflect the needs and aspirations of the people.”In these trying times, let us all remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). As we seek to bring about positive change, let us do so with a spirit of peace, love, and unity. Our strength lies in our ability to come together, support one another, and work collectively toward a better Nigeria.”We pray for wisdom and discernment for our leaders, resilience and hope for our citizens, and divine intervention to guide us through these difficult times”.
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