By Suleiman Yakubu

Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji, has called for synergy between the newly inaugurated standing committee on finance and the Ministry of Finance.
Rt. Hon. Sarkin Daji made the disclosure during the official inauguration of an eight-man Standing Committee on Finance at the State House of Assembly Complex, Minna, on Tuesday.
The Speaker said that without such synergy, support, and cooperation, no meaningful development or progress would be achieved.
He urged them to make all necessary adjustments where possible without infringing on any democratic principles for them to record success while discharging their oversight function.
According to him, where there is disagreement, they should always come to a compromise and agree on a specific position.
Earlier, the chairman of the committee and member representing Wushishi Constituency, Hon. Sheshi Aliyu Wushishi, assured that they would not compromise in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.
Hon. Wushishi added that they will diligently follow up on the budgetary provision accrued to all Ministries, Agencies, and Departments (MDAs).
"What is expected from us is to go and see the level of implementation or the release of funds appropriated for each parastatal.
"We will make sure that the money being released to all parastatals is given to them", he said.
Representing Mallam Lawal Adamu Maikano, the Commissioner of Finance, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ibrahim D. Abubakar, assured 100 percent support of the ministry and its agencies to the committee for the overall benefit of the state.

By Suleiman Yakubu

The Niger State Police Command has said that no fewer than 38 suspects were arrested for various offences by men and officers of the command in recent times.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Wasiu Abidoun, disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the command headquarters in Minna on the achievements made by the Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, CP Ogundele Joshua Ayodeji, in the last few months.
The PPRO, who addressed journalists on behalf of the commissioner, stated further that seven suspects were equally charged in court during the period under review, while 28 of the suspects were under investigation.
DSP Wasiu Abiodun also informed journalists that an AK-49 rifle and an AK-47 rifle with 14 rounds of ammunition, one locally made revolver, one pump action gun, and other guns were recovered by the police as evidence.
Other exhibits that were also recovered, according to him, were six locally made guns, two AK-47 magazines, one Toyota Corolla vehicle, 16 bags of Indian hemp, and 264 wraps of suspected Indian hemp as well.
According to the PPRO, some of the offences that led to the arrest of suspects by the police ranged from armed robbery and conspiracy, unlawful possession of Indian hemp, thurgery and causing grave harm, and snatching of a phone, amongst other forms of criminality.
DSP Abidoun told journalists that the press briefing was aimed at showcasing the recent achievements recorded by the commissioner of police, CP Ogundele Joshua Ayodeji.