Jalingo Times.

By Jako Keke, August 15, 2026. A Special Adviser to Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, on Community Engagement, Hon. Sunday Yusuf Tonga, Esq., has commended the leadership and peace-building training held in Jaji, Kaduna State, describing it as a valuable investment in strengthening the capacity of stakeholders to provide effective leadership and promote peace. Tonga, who spoke in an interview after the five-day intensive training, said the programme had exposed participants to practical knowledge and critical skills required to discharge their leadership responsibilities more effectively. According to him, the training provided participants with deeper insights into the principles of leadership, conflict prevention, peace-building and effective stakeholder engagement, which he said were essential for sustainable development in Taraba State. He noted that effective leadership goes beyond occupying public positions, stressing the need for leaders and other stakeholders to...

By Jalingo Times Correspondent, August  15, 2026. The Executive Chairman of Takum Local Government Council, Hon. Bako Benjamin, has completed an intensive Leadership and Peace Support Programme at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State. The week-long training, sponsored by the Taraba State Government under the leadership of Governor Agbu Kefas, brought together local government council chairmen, members of the Taraba State House of Assembly, senior political appointees and other key government officials. The programme focused on strengthening leadership capacity and equipping participants with practical strategies for conflict prevention, peacebuilding, security management and sustainable development. Participants described the training as more than an academic exercise, saying it provided a platform for leaders to brainstorm on contemporary approaches to peacebuilding, drawing on the expertise of renowne...

By Jako Keke,  August 15, 2026. A Senior Lecturer at the Taraba State Polytechnic, Suntai, Jalingo Campus, Mr Kamalu Aliyu Babando, has commended the efforts of the Taraba State Government under Governor Agbu Kefas to protect the future of youths in the state. Babando, who made the commendation in an interview, particularly applauded the constitution of the Government Council on Drug Control and Social Renewal, describing the initiative as a significant step towards tackling the growing menace of drug and substance abuse among young people. He expressed concern over the alarming rate at which youths are engaging in drug and substance abuse, stressing that the trend poses a serious threat to their future and the overall development of the state. According to him, the situation requires concerted efforts from the government, parents, educational institutions, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to effectively address the m...

By Jako Keke, August 14, 2026. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Taraba State Wing, has appealed to teachers across the state to remain calm over the deduction of ₦5,000 from their salary arrears for the production of Permanent Identification Cards. The State Chairman of the union, Comrade Nathan Solomon, made the appeal in an interview with our Correspondent, following an outcry by some primary school teachers over the deduction. Solomon explained that the decision to deduct the amount was not taken unilaterally, stressing that the issue had been discussed and agreed upon by the leadership of the union. According to him, Branch Chairmen of the NUT had in May 2024 agreed that a specified amount would be deducted from teachers’ arrears, once paid, to facilitate the production of Permanent Identification Cards for teachers across the state. He expressed concern over reports allegedly portraying the union in a negative light, insisting that the deduction was the outcome of ...

By Our Political Correspondent, August 14,  2026.  The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Taraba State Chapter, Hon. Moses Maihankali, has commended Governor Agbu Kefas for sponsoring a leadership training programme for Chairmen of the state’s Local Government Councils and other stakeholders in Jaji, Kaduna State. Maihankali, who is also the Chairman of Kurmi Local Government Council, said the training in Peace Support, Financial Management and Leadership would enhance the capacity of local government leaders to effectively discharge their responsibilities and improve governance at the grassroots. In a statement issued on Monday, August 11, 2026, the ALGON Chairman described the initiative as evidence of the Kefas administration’s commitment to human capital development and effective leadership. He said continuous capacity building was necessary to equip local government leaders with the knowledge and skills required to...

By Jako Keke, August 14, 2026 The Taraba State Universal Basic Education Board (TSUBEB) has dismissed reports alleging illegal deductions from the salaries and arrears of primary school teachers across the state, explaining that the ₦5,000 deduction was approved for the production of permanent identity cards for teachers. The Board, in a statement issued through its Public Relations Department, described the allegations circulating on social media as misleading, insisting that the deduction was part of a planned identity-management initiative designed to strengthen personnel records and improve administration in the basic education sector. According to TSUBEB, the initiative was conceived by the Board and subsequently discussed with and supported by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Taraba State Wing, following consultations between the two bodies. “The initiative was subsequently discussed with and supported by the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Taraba State Wing, foll...

By Jako Keke, August 14, 2026 The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Lau State Constituency, Hon. Silas Kessavo Rifore, has urged youths in Taraba State to embrace patriotism, responsible citizenship and active participation in democratic processes as pathways to building a better Nigeria. Kessavo made the call while speaking on the significance of the 2026 International Youth Day, urging young people to see themselves as critical stakeholders in the political and socioeconomic development of the country. According to him, patriotism would inspire youths to develop a positive vision for their communities and contribute meaningfully to the pursuit of a prosperous and united Nigeria. He said the theme of this year's International Youth Day, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” was timely, stressing that despite differences in background, location and circumstances, young people share common aspirations for good governance, peace, economic opportunity a...

By Jako Keke, August 13,2026. Members of the left-handed community in Taraba State have called for an end to discrimination against left-handed people, particularly children, urging parents, teachers and community leaders to support rather than force them to change their natural hand preference. The group made the call in a statement issued on Thursday, August 13, 2026, to commemorate International Left-Handers Day. The statement, signed by Comrade Keke Moses, Secretary  and the Chairman, Hon. Sunday Yusuf Tonga respectively , said the annual celebration was an opportunity to raise awareness about the experiences of left-handed people and promote greater acceptance of left-handedness as a natural human trait. The group described left-handed children as gifted and urged parents and caregivers to allow them to develop their abilities without coercion, punishment or ridicule. It expressed concern that some left-handed children continue to face pressure in homes, schools an...