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Tag: Edo State

  • Federal Character: Obaseki tasks commission on compliance

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has urged the Federal Character Commission (FCC) to set up a compliance unit that will monitor the distribution of federal government appointments and infrastructural facilities across the country, in line with the principle of federal character.

    Obaseki made the call on Thursday, at the commission’s seminar for South-South Zone, with the theme: The Spread of Socio-economic and Infrastructural Facilities – Need for Strategic Partnership with Stakeholders,” in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    According to the governor, “we must constantly project a national outlook in the appointments of Nigerians into federal ministries and agencies and ensure that infrastructural facilities are evenly spread across the country. We must reinforce the principles of fairness, equity, justice, which form the tripod upon which the Federal Character Commission rests.

    “To ensure harmony in our polity, I will suggest that the Federal Character Commission establish a compliance monitoring department that will scrutinise federal government appointments and the distribution of infrastructural projects across the country. The compliance monitoring department should raise the red flag when the provisions of the Federal Character are abused or flouted.”

    Obaseki who was represented at the event by the Special Adviser on Special Duties, Yakubu Gowon, advised that “If appointments and infrastructures are skewed or tilted in favour of one part of the country or state, those from other parts of the country will feel short-changed and become agitated.”

    He said “stories abound of how some people abuse the provisions of the Federal Character. We learnt that some people fraudulently change their states of origin and take over appointment slots reserved for other states. This is condemnable.”

    On synergy, Obaseki told the commission “to strengthen synergy with the state governments and publicise its activities by advertising appointment slots regularly, so that the various state governments can utilise their respective slots. I recommend that similar strategy should be adopted in the allocation of infrastructural facilities.”

    He said: “There is a raging debate about whether the Federal Character Commission has outlived its usefulness and therefore should be scrapped. Some argue that the principle of federal character negates meritocracy, industry and creativity. My position is that, everything in life is dynamic. The only institutions that die with time, are those that refuse to modify their ways to keep steps with changing times and trends.

    “My recommendation is that the commission should be ready to reinvent its systems from time to time so that it is not left behind.

     

  • Gov. Obaseki gives ear to Street Children

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state government has robust policies and laws to cater for the needs of children to ensure that none of them is left unattended to on the street.

    The governor said this in commemoration of International Day for Street Children marked every April 12, by the United Kingdom-based Consortium on Street Children and other partners across the world.

    He said that the state’s Child Rights Law has provisions for the protection of children against abuse, urging people to blow the whistle on parents who abandon their children.

    “The state’s Child Rights Law is clear on punishment for people who abandon their children. On this day, I want to make it categorically clear that we will come hard on people who violate the law. I also want to call on people to report parents who abandon or abuse their children,” he said.

    He added that the state government has made adequate provision to cater for children in the state, especially to their health and education needs, noting, “We implore parents to look after their children on the home front. As much as we are providing the environment and other amenities for acculturation of children into society, there is also the need for parents to look after their children, ensure that they get enrolled and stay in school, and are not left to wander about.”

    He added that it was imperative to provide basic needs for children because they are the bedrock of societal progress, assuring that the state government is reforming the health and education sectors in Edo State to ensure that children are better prepared to compete favourably with their peers anywhere in the world.

    According to him, “On this day, it is important to warn against abandoning children and leaving them to fend for themselves on the street. Not only will this stunt their development, they will be shortchanged later in life and will get fewer opportunities to succeed.”

    “In Edo State, we are making sure we close gaps that expose children to vices on the streets and ensure that they are in classrooms during school periods. It is for this reason that we are revamping the support structures for them to get the best of healthcare and education and be well prepared to contribute to societal growth,” he added.

     

  • Edo Govt. opens up rural communities

    The Edo Government has approved the construction of 60 roads across the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state to open up the rural communities for business activities.

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki, disclosed this while inspecting the ongoing road projects at Ogunmwenyin community, near Benin on Wednesday.

    Obaseki, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Taiwo Akerele, said that the approved road projects were semi-rural/urban roads, ranging from one kilometre to 1.5 kilometre long.

    He said that the infrastructural development strides of the present administration would create jobs and alleviate poverty in the state.

    The governor said that 7,000 youths would be engaged during construction of the approved roads.

    “The effort is geared towards deepening the spread of economic enablers to engender development and improve the livelihoods of the people, especially the agrarian communities,” he said.

    The governor noted that those in the agrarian communities needed good roads to move their produce to the cities for sale.

    He said the inspection of the roads in Ogunmwenyin was to ensure that the contractors handling the projects worked in accordance with specifications.

    “The communities where roads are being constructed must ensure that the projects are protected.

    “The state government will sign a Community Action Agreement (CAA) with communities where projects are sited.

    “Failure to ensure the protection of the projects will mean that no additional projects will be sited in such places,” Obaseki said.

    He added: “We are not only interested in building infrastructure in the state but also in developing human capacity.

    “We have created 188 direct jobs through the construction of the one kilometre road in Ogunmwenyin community,” Obaseki said.

    Also speaking, Dr Samuel Uwadia, the Odionwere of Ogunmwenyin community, lauded the efforts of the state government on road construction.

    “This will improve the lives of the people and business activities.

    “We hope more roads will be constructed in the communities to connect them to other areas of the state,” he said.

     

  • Oshiomhole talks tough against looters

    The former governor of Edo, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, to adopt a “ruthless” measure against alleged looters of the nation’s treasury.

    Oshiomhole, who disclosed this on Sunday in Benin, described as mindless the stealing by the then Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led Federal Government.

    The former governor noted that it was the right of Nigerians to know the level of rot that transpired in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government.

    “I think that if other Nigerians don’t understand the power of transparency, the right to know, the media should uphold that right and defend it.

    “What was stolen was not from private purse; the house that was destroyed was not a private residence.

    “We are talking of resources, which if it is distributed on basis of equality, divide by 180 million people you will be a lot richer.

    “I think my only complaint is that the Federal Government should be more ruthless because there are lot of people who should be in court who are not there.

    “When I was still in the office and I said the kind of money they stole was huge in dollars they paid hired writers to ask how I knew.

    “I have interacted with power vertically and horizontally. I know that we cannot be lamenting today without understanding that the treasury was burgled yesterday.

    “I think the promise of democracy is that good or bad, the people have the right to know and that is the starting point and particularly important.

    “I think the people have the right to know and if any of them think that what has being said is not true, they can go to court.

    “All of them who are involved and those who they are looking for, they should put everything in public domain and that is the promise of democracy and it is about you.

    “Just by virtue of being in a winning party they helped themselves so much.

    “One of the acting chairmen of PDP, Ahmed Makarfi, I used to respect him so much, I heard him saying that the reason they did not indict Diezani was that the money missing and everything that was done, Goodluck approved.

    “If President approved the money, should it be stolen and not go into the federation account or used for the intended purpose.

    “Jonathan may have immunity against prosecution but he doesn’t have power to appropriate what the national assembly have not done.

    “Right now, they are now saying the national assembly should not approve the $1 billion the Federal Government is going to spend on security.

    ‘’This is a party that spent well above that without going to the national assembly at all.”

     

  • NIS set to launch Passport to Safe Migration

    NIS set to launch Passport to Safe Migration

    The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) says all arrangements are now in place to launch its enlightenment handbook called Passport to Safe Migration with Edo state picked as a pilot city for the launch.

    The new Comptroller of the NIS, Edo State Command, Mr. Kayode Eniolohunda revealed this when himself and other senior officials of the Service paid a courtesy visit to Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Government House, Benin City, the Edo State Capital.

    The Edo State Comptroller of the NIS expressed the Command’s support for the governor’s policies, far-reaching reforms as well as the fight against illegal migration.

    “We hope to launch this programme in collaboration with other stakeholders, particularly the Edo State Taskforce on Human Trafficking, which has done wonderfully well within the short period of its establishment,” he said.

    Receiving the NIS entourage, Governor Obaseki reiterated the state government’s commitment to curbing the menace of human trafficking and illegal migration.

    Obaseki noted that his administration will be counting on the support of the Service, particularly in the areas of investigation and prosecution.

    He said, “With the feelers we have received so far, we are confident that human trafficking will be reduced by at least 50 percent before the end of this year.

    “We are encouraged by the support received from the European Union and have agreed to have a conference in the state before June this year, where we will reveal all the steps taken to deal with human trafficking and illegal migration.”

    He said he has directed the local governments to secure office spaces for officers of the Service to enable them integrate properly into the state’s security architecture.

    The governor added that he will continue to work with the Service to secure Visas and other necessary documents for foreign investors coming into the state for business.

     

  • What Gov. Obaseki wants from newly inaugurated advisory committee

    What Gov. Obaseki wants from newly inaugurated advisory committee

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has inaugurated an advisory committee and revealed plans to develop a policy document on forestry and set up a Forestry Commission, as part of ongoing reforms to boost economic growth through agriculture.

    Obaseki disclosed this when he inaugurated the 16-man Advisory Committee on Forestry at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State capital.

    According to him, “In my inaugural address in November 2016, I promised to focus on agriculture to drive socio-economic transformation, as agriculture remains strategic in attaining economic development. This committee will help drive one of the cardinal programmes we have outlined for the agricultural sector.”

    He said, “The Advisory Committee will assist the state government draft a policy document on forestry; advice the government on issues on forestry it plans to put in place, and structure for the forestry commission. This would aid the state government develop effective frameworks in managing its forestry assets in line with international best practices, as its relate to forest reservation, preservation, conservation and regeneration.”

    Obaseki noted that the state government intends to unveil a policy document on forestry at an International Conference to be held in Accra, Ghana, in May 2018, where the state government will showcase how it intends to work with international partners in managing its forest assets.

    He said the advisory committee will “develop a workplan and budget for the forestry commission as well as guidelines for monitoring and implementing its mandate. It will also assist the state government to re-build the forest management and operation plans, and advice government on steps to take.”

    Obaseki said it was regrettable that the state’s forest resources have been depleted over the years with inevitable consequences, charging the committee to work assiduously to help reverse the unfortunate trend.

    “We are determined to set up a framework to safeguard the resources God has endowed us with in terms of our forest assets. As part of the design of the Benin Industrial Park, a section of the park will be built on inputs from the state’s forestry sector,” he said.

    The Chairman of the advisory committee, Dr. Felix Idumah, expressed appreciation to the governor for the appointment. He assured that the committee will deliver on its terms of reference in a timely manner.

     

  • Breaking: Obaseki shakes up Edo Civil Service after sacking environment commissioner

    Breaking: Obaseki shakes up Edo Civil Service after sacking environment commissioner

    In a major shakeup of the Edo State Civil Service, Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has redeployed top civil servants across Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs).

    The redeployments affected permanent secretaries, who were reshuffled across MDAs, even as six newly sworn-in top officials were assigned offices.

    Obaseki on Wednesday swore-in the six newly appointed Permanent Secretaries.

    The new Permanent Secretaries are Mrs. Oboh Usiriedo, posted to the Ministry of Water and Energy Resources; Mrs. Stella-Marice Imasuen, who now holds fort at the Ministry of Women Affairs; and Ms. Debra Enakhimion who is now at the Directorate of Establishments.

    Others are Mr. Bernard Oigboke posted to the Board for Technical and Vocational Education; Mr. Enabulele Ferguson, who is to resume at Ministry of Infrastructure; and Mr. Roland Ogbebor, who is posted to the Ministry of Finance, as Accountant-General.

    The governor also approved the redeployment of permanent secretaries across the state’s MDAs, with Mrs. Obahiagbon R.E. of the Ministry of Environment, now in the Ministry of Education; Emoedume B.I, from Government House and Protocol Unit to the Ministry of Environment; S. O Oko-Ose, from the Directorate of Cabinet and Special Services to the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

    Others are Wasa L. A. from the Oil and Gas Commission to the Ministry of Communication and Orientation; Mrs. Aziegbmhin P. E., from the Ministry of Wealth Creation, Cooperatives and Employment to the Office of the Head of Service; while Mrs. Obayuwana I.J, was redeployed from the Ministry of Arts and Culture to the Ministry of Minerals, Oil and Gas.

    In addition, Omozeghian M.O. was redeployed from the Bureau of Lands to the Ministry of Wealth Creation; Dania D.I., from the Ministry of Physical Planning to the Ministry of Science and Technology; Omoruyi A.I. from the Ministry of Minerals, Oil and Gas to the Ministry of Local Government; Ms. Idugboe H. A., from the Directorate of Establishments to the Oil and Gas Commission; Abode C.O., from the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources to the Office of the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EDGIS).

    Also, Ms. Bazuaye I.E., of Ministry of Education was posted to the Ministry of Youth and Special Duties; Iyekekpolor M., from the Ministry of Local Government to the Government House and Protocol Unit; Aigbirio Samuel from the Ministry of Communication to the Ministry of Arts and Culture; Mrs. Olatunji J.I was redeployed from the Ministry of Women Affairs to the Directorate of Cabinets and Special Services; while Igberaese G. O, moved from the Ministry of Science and Technology to the Directorate of Central Administration.

    At the swearing-in ceremony, Obaseki tasked civil servants to be diligent and committed to their duties, adding “This administration is committed to strengthening the state civil service for optimal productivity. Civil servants should be ready to contribute their quota.”

    He maintained that capacity building and training for civil servants would be given top priority in his administration, as it will be used as criterion for promotion. “Strong institutions are needed to drive development and we are determined to fix our civil service to ensure its reforms,” he said.

    In a related development, the state governor has sacked the Commissioner of Environment and Sustainability, Mr. Reginald Okun.

    The General Manager, Edo State Waste Management Board, Mr. Aiyamenkue Akonofua, has also been retired.

    In a statement signed by Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., the state government directed the officials to “handover their assignments to the most senior government official in their offices with immediate effect. They are also to handover all government property in their possession to the appropriate authorities.”

    In the statement, the government thanked the disengaged officials for their service to the state and wished them well in their future endeavours.

     

  • Adams Oshiomhole clocking 66 excites Gov. Obaseki

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has congratulated Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, as the immediate past governor of the state clocks 66 years on April 4.

    In a statement, Obaseki praised Comrade Oshiomhole for his accomplishment as a former Governor and labour leader, noting, “We celebrate you and all that you have accomplished through your humble beginnings to your illustrious career as a labour leader, and as the immediate past formidable, progressive governor of our dear state.”

    He added, “Your leadership prowess has ushered in a new chapter in our quest for development and we celebrate your unforgettable contributions to advancing our march to modernisation.”

    According to him, Oshiomhole’s commitment to humanity, and how he has, at different times through various capacities, impacted the people he leads, cuts him out as “a light that cannot be hidden.”

    “We appreciate you and all you have done and what you represent to the people of Edo state and all Nigerians. We wish you many more years of fruitful service to humanity,” he added.

     

  • Nigerians react as Gov. Obaseki sacks environment commissioner after protest

    Nigerians react as Gov. Obaseki sacks environment commissioner after protest

    Nigerians have aired their opinions about the recent sacking of Edo State Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Mr. Reginald Okun by the State Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    TheNewsGuru reports the environment and sustainability commissioner was sacked after road sweepers protested delayed and non-payment of salaries and allowances today.

    Governor Obaseki made the sack of Mr. Okun known in a statement signed by Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie, and made available to journalists on Wednesday.

    Reacting to the development, @jeffphilips1 said “I have to confess I have never seen what Governor Obaseki just did in Edo state today anywhere in this country before” on Twitter.

    The Edo state governor also directed the re-deployment of the permanent secretary in the ministry, R. E. Obahiagbon and the retirement of the General Manager, Edo State Waste Management Board, Aiyamenkue Akonofua.

    According to the statement, the officials are to handover their assignments to the most senior government official in their offices with immediate effect.

    “They are also to handover all government property in their possession to the appropriate authorities,” the statement added.

    Although no reason was given for the government’s action, the state government thanked the disengaged officials for their services to the state and wished them well in their future endeavours.

     

  • Obaseki unveils plan to facilitate steady power supply in Edo state

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has revealed the state government’s plans to strategically develop industrial layouts away from residential areas to ensure proportionate power supply to help actualize the state’s developmental plans.

    Obaseki disclosed this during an interview with journalists in Benin City, Edo State capital.

    According to him, “We have developed plans to help overcome the challenges of power distribution to industries, residential buildings and other users. This includes building areas of use, that is, developing industrial parks, housing estates and other clusters that can be directly connected to generating plants.”

    He said, “When these plans are fully achieved, the state would have steady power supply to support businesses and other users. With time, Benin City and other towns in the state will be better planned and segregated so that industrial use of power can be separated from domestic use.”

    “When this is done, the structural challenges along the chain of generation and distribution will then be reorganised and steady power supply will then be guaranteed,” he said.

    He explained that steady power supply cannot be achieved overnight until the structural impediments are addressed, noting, “Even if the issue of generation of power is addressed, efforts must be made to address issues mitigating distribution and transmission.”

    Obaseki said, “As long as we have determined people like the developers of Edo Azura Independent Power Plant (IPP), Edo state and Nigeria can become self-sufficient in power supply. As long as there is power generation, we will find a way to get it to users.

    “If we have people who know what they are doing like the developers of Edo Azura IPP, we will overcome issues of power supply. In terms of generation, I believe, given the resources available, hydro, thermal and green energy, we can generate all the electricity to power the state and country.”