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Tag: Edo State

  • Gov. Obaseki charges security agencies on safety of corps members

    Gov. Obaseki charges security agencies on safety of corps members

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Monday in Okada charged all the security agencies on the safety of the National Youth Service Corps members posted to the state as the 2019 general elections draw near.

    Obaseki, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Philip Shaibu, gave the charge during the closing ceremony of 2018 Batch “C” stream 1 orientation course.

    He said that the government on its side would do everything possible to guarantee their safety in the state.

    The governor assured the corps members that his government would create an atmosphere conducive for them to showcase their talents and capabilities.

    He said that the corps members who may be co-opted as ad-hoc staff during the 2019 general elections needed to prepare their minds to perform the exercise with diligence and high sense patriotism.

    The governor appealed to them to avoid temptation that could lead them to doing those things that might threaten the smooth conduct of the elections.

    Earlier, Mr Adebayo Ojo, the NYSC state coordinator, in his speech, said that the corps members had exhibited a high level of discipline.

    Ojo, who presented a total of 1882 corps members comprising of 890 male and 992 female, encouraged them to take the skills acquisition training they had in the camp seriously.

    He, however, urged them to continue with the post-camp arrangement with the trainers.

     

  • Hausa-Fulani community in Edo begins biometric verification

    The Hausa-Fulani community in Edo State, led by the Sarkin Fulani, Alhaji Muhammed Sossa, has commenced the biometric verification of its members in the state, to fish out cattle rustlers and other criminals that hide in their community to perpetrate crimes.

    Alhaji Sossa, who disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, at the Government House in Benin City, the state capital, said his group has been having meetings with security agencies in the state to ensure the Obaseki-led administration enjoys the desired peace to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

    He commended the governor for the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the state under his watch.

    “We have started the biometric varication of people in our communities to ascertain genuine businessmen and women in the state. The process will help us fish out bad elements,” the Sarkin Fulani said.

    In his remark, Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, said his administration will continue to collaborate with the Hausa-Fulani community in the state to maintain peace and ensure that people are living harmoniously with one another in the state.

    He commended the Sarkin Fulani for providing leadership among the Hausa-Fulani community in the state especially during trying times.

    “We need to sustain and build on the existing relationship to maintain the peace through information gathering and management,” the governor added.

    “We have set up committees at different local government areas to support in tackling crimes. We need to have a meeting to review the activities of these committees in all the local government areas. In reviewing their activities your contributions will be needed,” the governor added.

    He explained, “It is in the interest of the government to give the Sarkin Fulani all the support to help fish out the bad elements in the state. We will continue to collaborate with you to enjoy peace in the state.”

     

  • WHO to commence week-long maternal treatment, child immunisation in Edo

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that it will commence maternal treatment, newborn and child immunisation exercise in Edo.

    Mrs Kate Ogieugo, WHO State Representative made this known in Benin on Wednesday during a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting for the upcoming campaign.

    Ogieugo said the campaign scheduled to start on November 19 would be targeted at children and child bearing women of 15 to 49 years.

    She also said that Vitamin A would be given to children of six to 59 months to prevent child mortality.

    She said the programme was made possible due to the payment of counterparts fund for the programme by the Edo Government.

    “The interventions during the week will include immunisation of children from zero to 59 months, health education on exclusive breastfeeding for first six months.

    “Complementary feeding, prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS, simple hand washing techniques using soap and water, personal hygiene, birth registration and family planning services.

    “Vitamin A supplementation to children from six months to five years, DE-worming , Ante-natal service including malaria prevention and treatment, administration of Tetanus Diphtheria Vaccine to pregnant women and Nutrition screening,” she said.
    According to her, the programme would be carried out at all health centres and designated centres across the state from 8.00am to 4pm daily.

    Ogieugo said “Vaccinators will not move from house to house. In a single visit, all health interventions will be provided for mother and child at health and designated centres.

    “It is a package of high impact, preventive and curative services. It is cost effective. Repeated Oral polio Vaccine (OPV) will boost the child immunity,’’ she added.

    According to her, all services rendered during the week-long programme will be free. She urged mothers and caregivers should take their children to the nearest health centres.

     

  • Edo Govt to set up “Advisory Council on Persons with Physical Disabilities”

    Edo Govt to set up “Advisory Council on Persons with Physical Disabilities”

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo says his administration would, within the next few weeks, constitute an Advisory Council on Persons with Physical Disabilities, to help implement policies geared towards integrating such persons into the society.

    Obaseki made this known when he received the report of the Committee on Integrating the Physically Challenged Persons into the workings of Edo government at Government House, Benin on Tuesday.

    He said that there was need for a governance structure to be put in place to evolve specific plans as well as monitor implementation of policies that would make life meaningful for persons with physical disabilities.

    “As a society, we should show concern and empathy for the most vulnerable and among these categories are persons with physical disabilities.

    “We will ensure that all of our programmes will have components for persons physically challenged and with special needs.”

    Obaseki commended the committee for its report, saying that the data generated would help the state government in its policy formation.

    He said his administration would also work on a policy that would see that employers of labour engaged persons with physical disabilities in their work place

    Presenting the report to the governor, the Chairman of committee, Dr Vivian Audu, said no fewer than 3,015 physically challenged persons were captured during the statewide survey.

    Audu said majority of those sampled were between ages 18 to 51 and had primary education.

    She recommended empowerment such as skll acquisition and giving of interest free loans, saying “when they are empowered, they will not be a burden to themselves and the society

    She also recommended that the government should formulate a policy that would make 10 per cent of persons with physical disabilities employed in work places.

     

  • Breaking: Edo Assembly passes N160bn supplementary budget

    The Edo House of Assembly on Monday passed the 2018 Supplementary Appropriation Bill of N160 billion.

    Recall that Gov. Godwin Obaseki had in December 2017 signed a budget size of N150 billion into law.

    The passage of the revised Supplementary Appropriation bill was sequel to the consideration of a letter dated Oct. 30, from the governor, requesting the legislature to urgently consider and pass the proposed revised 2018 Supplementary Appropriation bill.

    The motion to consider the bill at the committee of the whole was moved by the Majority Leaders, Roland Asoro, and seconded by Mr Damian Lawani, member representing APC Etsako Central and chairman of appropriation committee.

    The House at the committee of the whole suspended its rules 42, 43, 44,45, 46, 47, 48, 55 to consider the bill.

    Asoro said that the increment from N150 billion to N160 billion in the 2018 Supplementary appropriation bill was to enable the state government carry out more infrastructural development in the state before the end of the year.

    The House after consideration of the proposed revised Supplementary Appropriation bill thereafter passed the bill.

    The Speaker, Mr Kabiru Adjoto, thereafter directed that clean copies of the bill be sent to the governor for his accent.

    Meanwhile, the Speaker has said that the house following due consideration with all members had decided to lift the suspension placed on Foly Ogedengbe, member representing APC Owan East constituency.

    Ogedengbe was suspended alongside the former Deputy Speaker, Victor Edoror, for alleged gross misconduct in October.

    Adjoto who however said that the suspension of the former Deputy Speaker continues, reaffirmed an earlier resolution of the house directing the former Edoror to return all official vehicle and property in his possession.

    ”I am calling on the state commissioner of police to take urgent steps to retrieve all official vehicles after 24 hours from the suspended former Deputy Speaker,” he said.

    Also during Plenary, the house observed a minute silence for the late Chief Tony Anenih who died Oct. 28.

     

  • Productivity Award: 23 Edo Workers get automatic promotion, N11.5m

    Productivity Award: 23 Edo Workers get automatic promotion, N11.5m

    Edo Government has given 23 workers drawn from the state Civil and Public Service automatic promotion and N500, 000 each for their productivity and dedication to duty.

    Speaking at the award ceremony held at the state government house in Benin on Thursday, Gov. Godwin Obaseki said a productive civil service was needed to fulfill the promises his administration made to the Edo people.

    He said the 23 recipients made the 2016-2017 Edo Productivity Order of Merit Award List and congratulated them for being outstanding.

    Obaseki announced an automatic promotion for the 23 workers to the next level in their civil service career and a cash reward of N500,000 each.

    He said his administration was working to digitise the state civil service process and had completed plans to build the Edo Public Service Training Academy.

    “The training facility will have 25 rooms to 28 rooms and will accommodate 1,000 people at a time.

    “No public servants will be promoted, or receive increment, without attending at least one training session a year.

    “We inherited a civil service developed during the analog era but today technology has taken over so we have to move from what we inherited into modernity,” the governor said.

    Earlier, the State Head of Service, Mrs Gladys Idahor, thanked the governor for creating a harmonious relationship with workers and rewarding hard-working civil servants in the state.

    Idahor said the governor was workers friendly and had previously promoted three officers who were diligent in their work not minding when they were last promoted.

    Speaking on behalf of the awardees Mr Fedelis Ediagbonya thanked the governor for the awards pledging their readiness to do more and put in their best.

    Present at the ceremony were the State Chairmen of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.

     

  • Over 1.5m PVCs collected in Edo

    Over 1.5m PVCs collected in Edo

    A total of 1,519,350 Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) have been collected by registered voters in Edo ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Mr Emmanuel Alex-Hart, he Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr Emmanuel Alex-Hart, disclosed this to newsmen in Benin.

    Alex-Hart said that the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) office in Benin received 1,992,826 PVCs from the commission’s headquarters for registered voters in the state.

    He said that the figure received from the commission’s headquarters represented the total registered number of voters in the state from 2011 to date.

    The REC however said 473,476 PVCs had yet to be collected by their owners in the state.

    According to him, the continued voter education and sensitisation by INEC was yielding results in the state, adding that registered voters’ turnout for PVC collection was impressive.

    Alex–Hart further said that the commission had also commenced the sensitisation of eligible voters and all the stakeholders against vote buying.

    ”To achieve this, we have started sanitising the electorate through the churches, motor parks and worship centres among others.

    ”The commission has also given the responsibility to apprehend and prosecute whoever that is caught buying votes during elections,” he said.

     

  • Breaking: AAU 8-man Governing Council inaugurated

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has inaugurated an 8-man Governing Council for the state-owned university, Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, urging members of the council to work towards repositioning the university into a world-class institution.
    Reflecting on the history of the university as the second state-owned university established in Nigeria, Obaseki said the high-quality standard set by the institution 34 years ago has waned over the years, which showed that urgent action is needed to address the situation.
    He said, “The mandate of the institution is to teach, carry out research and provide services to the community. After 34 years of its establishment, these expectations have not been met. We have reduced our university to one driven by political agents of whoever is in government.”
    Obaseki assured members of the governing council of his administration’s support in ensuring they succeed in the task of repositioning the institution, noting that “We spend over N300 million monthly on the university and we are ready to put more money on infrastructure but we will not do so until we are convinced that the government arrangement in the university is the right one that can properly manage the resources.”
    “One of the first things you will do is to work with us to set up a visitation panel to review and understand what went wrong in the university,” Obaseki added.
    According to him, the state government is working on developing an education policy in the state which will be unveiled in the coming weeks, adding, “This policy will emphasise basic education which is the foundation to prepare our children for the challenges of life. The move is a fundamental shift from what obtained in the last 30 years.”
    The Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr. Lawson Omokhodion, lauded the governor for the confidence in members of the council, noting that the council will put in their best to move the university forward and make it one of the best universities in the world.
     

  • Tanzanian wife of Nigerian fatally shot in South Africa

    Tanzanian wife of Nigerian fatally shot in South Africa

    The Nigerian Community in South Africa has expressed dismay by the fatal shooting of the wife of a member, Mrs Leyness Mangu Irumudomo.
    The late Mrs Irumudomo, a.k.a. Mama Lee, 43, was a Tanzanian married to Mr Jackson Igbinosa Irumudomo, a native of Ekpoma in Edo. They had three children.
    Her husband told the News Agency of Nigeria on the telephone from Pretoria, South Africa, that Mama Lee was shot on Oct. 26, in Soweto.
    He said that prior to her death, a Tanzanian who worked in the same mall with his wife had sent threat text messages to her.
    “My wife and her fellow Tanzanian worked together in the same mall and because of misunderstanding in their work place, the same lady sent her threat messages.
    “A docket was opened at Pretoria Central Police Station on the threat to her life by her colleague, who is also a Tanzanian,’’ he said.
    Irumudomo said that the death was painful and that he and their children would miss his wife sorely.
    Mr Adetola Olubajo, President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, said that the body was saddened by the death of Mama Lee.
    “She was an amiable business woman and a blessing to friends and family. She will be greatly missed because of the vacuum her absence has created,’’ he said.
    Olubajo, however, said that the union was worried that killing was now fashionable within the Nigerian community.
    “The quietness of our government officials is of great concern to us. A Nigerian was shot dead in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, last week, nothing has been done to bring the perpetrators to book.
    “People are now bold to kill one another just by the slightest disagreement because the killers of Nigerians and their family members are not brought to book,’’ he said.
    Olubajo also said that “we need investigation and prosecution of the murder cases involving Nigerians directly or indirectly.’’
     

  • Edo Govt. proposes N16.2bn as 2018 supplementary budget

    Edo Govt. proposes N16.2bn as 2018 supplementary budget

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has proposed a N16.2-billion Supplementary Budget for the 2018 fiscal year to allow for more investments in education and agriculture, among other sectors.
    The information is in a statement by Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie in Benin on Wednesday.
    Osagie stated that the governor announced the proposed supplementary budget after the weekly State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held at Government House in Benin, an increase of about 10.79 per cent to the N150 billion budget for the year.
    He quoted the governor as saying“the supplementary budget would be channelled to education, agriculture, among others, to build human capital and create wealth for people of the state.
    “In the course of the 2018 fiscal year, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the disbursement of the final tranche of refunds from Paris/London club of borrowers to states and local governments.
    “The state’s share of the refund amounts to N5 billion and Mr President further approved the application of a portion of this refund to clear the arrears of state government’s cash contribution for Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Grants.
    “As of August 2018, the state government had achieved over 80 per cent budget performance on capital expenditure.”
    Obaseki added that the Supplementary Budget would be forwarded to the State House of Assembly for passage.