Wike Sacks FCT-IRS Acting Chairman Ango

Wike sacks FCT-IRS acting chairman Ango. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has sacked the acting executive chairman of the FCT Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), Mr Michael Ango, from his position.

The immediate dismissal was announced in a terse press statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the senior special assistant to the minister of Public Communication and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.

According to the statement, the minister has directed the most senior official within the FCT-IRS to immediately assume control and oversee the operations of the critical revenue agency.

The statement read: “The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has sacked the Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), Mr. Michael Ango.

Wike

“The most senior official of the FCT-IRS has also been directed to take over the running of the revenue agency with immediate effect.”
The announcement did not provide specific reasons for the sudden removal of Ango.

The FCT-IRS is the primary body responsible for the assessment, collection, and accounting for all taxes, levies, and revenues due to the FCT Administration.

Government Offers Health Insurance To 4,200 HIV-Positive Residents, 600 Orphans In Kano

Government offers health insurance to 4,200 HIV-positive residents, 600 orphans in Kano. Health commissioner Abubakar Labaran disclosed this at a media briefing on Monday to commemorate the 2025 World AIDS Day.

The Kano government says it has enrolled more than 600 orphans and vulnerable children and 4,200 people living with HIV into its health insurance scheme.

Health commissioner Abubakar Labaran disclosed this at a media briefing on Monday to commemorate the 2025 World AIDS Day.
Mr Labaran said the enrolment was implemented through the Kano State Health Trust Fund in collaboration with development partners. He described the commemoration as an opportunity to stand in solidarity with millions of people living with HIV globally.

“For Kano state, we currently have 37,825 people living with HIV, including 4,381 children, with 551 recorded deaths so far in 2025,” he said.

The commissioner said the theme underscored the need for increased domestic financing for HIV response, especially as donor organisations gradually withdraw support.
He said the government responded by expanding the budget line for the Kano State Agency for the Control of AIDS from about N300 million to N2 billion for 2025 and beyond.

“We have released about N500 million this year alone to bridge gaps created by disruptions in external funding,” he said.
He added that Governor Abba Yusuf remained committed to equitable and non-discriminatory healthcare for all residents.
Mr Labaran listed priority areas for 2025, including reducing stigma, improving access to care, strengthening prevention, and protecting vulnerable groups.

He said the government had enacted an Anti-Stigma and Discrimination Law and expanded access to the Kano State Contributory Health Scheme for PLHIV.
According to him, other achievements recorded during the year include the provision of 24-hour solar power at the SACA office, the procurement of operational vehicles, the strengthening of data systems, and the launch of Nigeria’s first full-scale triple elimination programme for HIV, hepatitis and syphilis in six pilot facilities.

“This is the first initiative of its kind in the country, targeting pregnant women attending antenatal care,” he said.

He also announced the construction of a paediatric TB/HIV clinic at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, funded entirely by the state government. On service delivery, Labaran said the state conducted 607,720 HIV tests in 2025, identified 2,440 new cases and placed 2,388 people on treatment.
He said 37,825 people were currently receiving care in various health facilities.

The health commissioner also highlighted progress in preventing mother-to-child transmission, stating that 238,495 pregnant women were tested during their first antenatal visit, out of which only 34 tested positive. He said 31,277 children under 15 were tested, with 68 found positive and placed on treatment.

HIV

According to him, Kano conducted the highest number of early infant diagnosis tests in the country this year using the M-PIMA machine.
Mr Labaran reaffirmed the state’s commitment to achieving the goal of ending AIDS by 2030 and urged the residents to continue supporting people living with HIV and to help eliminate stigma.

The director-general of KSACA, Usman Bashir, said the event was organised to show solidarity with people living with HIV and remember those who had died.

“We are here to commemorate World AIDS Day and to show love to people living with HIV,” he said

Jigawa: 9,600 Teachers Register For Special Training

Jigawa: 9,600 teachers register for special training. No fewer than 9,600 teachers under the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) registered for a competency test to determine the specific training required to improve their skills and enhance teaching outcomes in the state.

The Executive Chairman of the Board, Professor Haruna Musa, revealed this while briefing journalists on the purpose of the examination, adding that 12,000 teachers were expected to register for the exam.

He explained that the state government, under the leadership of Governor Malam Umar Namadi, was committed to repositioning the state education sector as a key foundation for sustainable development, in line with its “12-Point Agenda.”

Prof. Haruna noted that while the government has been spending significant resources to improve educational infrastructure, meaningful learning improvements cannot be achieved without also enhancing the capabilities of teachers.

“Based on that, the State Executive Council approved for the board to organise a competency test for all teachers. This will enable us to understand the kind of training each teacher requires to improve his or her skills”.

“Out of the 9,600 teachers registered for the exam, over 70% have never attended any capacity-building training since they were employed, including some with over 15 years of service,” the Chairman added.

Teachers Register For Special Training

He stated that after the exam, the teachers will be categorised into three groups: Group A, those with both knowledge and teaching skills; Group B, those with knowledge but lacking teaching skills; and Group C, those lacking both knowledge and teaching skills.

“Each group will be offered specialised training. Those in Group C will undergo intensive training and subsequent examinations for a period to ensure they are equipped with the required knowledge and skills”.
“For those with slower learning uptake, we will attach them to competent teachers within their schools for ongoing guidance and mentorship,” Prof Haruna said.

He further stated that the project is not about retrenchment, but his primary goal is to enhance teachers’ capacity for better learning outcomes within the state’s basic education sector.