Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has announced the appointment of Major Maikano Adamu (rtd) as the Acting Commandant of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards (CPG), effective immediately.

The appointment came after the suspension of Col. Rabiu Garba Yandoto (rtd), the former CPG Commandant, by the state government.

DAILY POST had reported on Thursday that the suspension was prompted by Yandoto’s remarks criticizing the state government for allegedly providing inadequate funding for the outfit.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the State Commissioner for Information, Munnir Haidara, the government clarified that the decision to appoint Adamu as the acting commandant was made owing to recent developments.

Prior to his new role, Major Maikano Adamu served as the immediate Deputy Commandant of the CPG.

Nigerian Army troops have successfully repelled an attack by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra.

In a post on its X Handle on Friday, the Nigerian Army said the dissidents, armed with AK-47 rifles and riding in two Lexus vehicles and motorbikes, launched a surprise attack on the town, opening fire at troops engaged in internal security operations.

It said the troops swiftly and decisively responded and countered the attack, neutralising unconfirmed numbers of the attackers, while others fled the scene with gunshot wounds, as traces of blood were seen along their escape route.

According to the post, one soldier paid the ultimate price in the line of duty, while two others sustained critical injuries and are currently receiving medical attention.

“The Nigerian Army remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens and will continue to confront all threats to peace and stability in the region.

“The bravery and dedication of our troops in the face of danger are testimonies of their  unwavering commitment to protecting the people and communities,” it added.

Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said on Thursday that the present administration placed a high premium on accountability and transparency issues.

Akume represented by Wase Francis, Director, ICT, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), said this in Abuja, while declaring open a one-day workshop/presentation of Transparency and Integrity Index Methodology Handbook 2024.

The event was jointly organiaed by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) and the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch (CeFTIW).

Akume said that transparency and integrity were the keys to the strategic objective of the eight priority areas of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu-led government.

“This will help to improve governance for effective service delivery.

“It is pertinent to state that the components set out in the Transparency and Integrity Methodology Index, together forms a comprehensive framework for evaluating and enhancing governance across public institutions.

“By implementing this methodology index, we can catalyse a paradigm shift towards greater accountability, transparency and inclusivity in governance.

“The presentation of the Transparency and Integrity Methodology Handbook will elicit the interest of more public institutions towards proactive compliance and deepen the level of transparency in discharging official business,” Akume said.

He urged all stakeholders including policymakers, civil society organisations, citizens and public servants to show commitment in implementing the outcome of the workshop, for a prosperous Nigeria.

Earlier, Mr Dasuki Arabi, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), said that that transparency usually play a vital role in building public trust and confidence.

Arabi said that the workshop which started in 2022 was designed to build capacities for officials across the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to promote proactive disclosure of public information and adoption of best practice models.

“By embracing transparency, we not only uphold the principles of good governance but also empower citizens to hold us accountable for our actions.

“The handbook we are presenting today encompasses a range of critical areas, including website integrity, fiscal transparency, open procurement, anti-corruption measures, citizen engagement, human resources practices and inclusivity.

“These pillars serve as the foundation upon which we can build stronger, more resilient institutions that serve the interests of all citizens.

“Accordingly, one of the priority areas of the eight-point agenda as enunciated by President Bola Tinubu, is on ‘Improved Governance for Effective Service Delivery’, this underscores the importance of the issues of transparency and accountability by the current administration,” Arabi said.

The Director-General of CeFTIW, Mr Umar Yakubu, said the centre focused on five variables in evaluating and assessing various agencies websites this year.

Yakubu listed them to include financials, procurement, human resource, control of corruption and citizens engagement/responsiveness and dialogue/public consultation.

He said that the handbook provided detailed explanation of the variables and the scoring criteria for the evaluation and assessment of openness and transparency of public institutions.

“The project aims to evaluate the publication of information that is statutorily supposed to be within the public domain, particularly on the website of MDAs.

“This involves information on budgeting, audit, procurement, recruitment, and utilisation of tools that aid the engagement of citizens.

“This initiative will assess compliance of MDAs and other institutions of government with national laws, policies and guidelines as well as other international agreements which Nigeria has made commitment,” Yakubu said.