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Tag: Enugu State

  • New Governor of Enugu, Peter Mbah appoints SSG

    New Governor of Enugu, Peter Mbah appoints SSG

    The new Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah has appointed Prof. Chidiebere Onyia as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

    The appointment was announced in a statement personally signed by the governor  and released to the press by his media office on Tuesday in Enugu.

    Until his appointment, Prof. Onyia was the Managing Director of the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Facility.

    He was also the Lead strategy advisor for the Federal Government of Nigeria, World Bank Group Power Sector Recovery Programme.

    He has over the years rendered services to different international organizations and countries, among them the United Nations, Germany and Russia.

    Prof. Onyia is a visiting Professor of Education at the Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, a former visiting Professor at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, and serves on the Governing Council of two private Nigerian universities.

    He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, Masters of Business Administration degree and a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership.

    He also had a post-doctoral scholarship in Education Policy from the Ivy League Peabody College, Vanderbilt University.

    Prof. Onyia, with over 25 years of experiences in leadership, innovation, strategy, institutional reforms and research, has received numerous international and national awards and accolades for leadership excellence and for his outstanding contributions to the education sector.

    He is well published and a certified educational consultant, researcher, presenter, mentor and author of many books.

    Prof. Onyia was a member of the Transition Committee, the technical committee that developed an actionable plan for the Gov. Mbah administration, based on his manifesto and social contract with the people of Enugu State.

  • Newly sworn-in Enugu Governor, Mbah performs first function

    Newly sworn-in Enugu Governor, Mbah performs first function

     

    Newly sworn-in Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has signed three Executive Orders for the effective governance of the state.

    Mbah made his first signing shortly after his inauguration a the governor of the state.

    The others are: Order 001 of 2023, which is an Executive Order for the Development of Citizens’ Charter; Executive Order 002 of 2023, which is Order for the Removal of Unauthorised Street Barriers Across the State Within 100 Days; and Executive Order 003 of 2023, which is for the Promotion of Economic Growth through Transparency and Efficiency in Government.

    The Governor explained that by Order 001 for Citizens Charter, the government undertook to provide the citizens with a “peaceful and tranquil living environment devoid of insecurity and all threats to life”.

    “A justice system that efficiently adjudicates on all civil or criminal matters.

    “Critical social amenities including but not limited to good and motorable roads, qualitative world class education, portable water in every household, affordable and qualitative medical services; refuse disposal, provision of open spaces for recreation and sports and other social services as will assure a good living environment for citizens.

    “Creation of jobs to achieve the eradication of poverty in Enugu State by 2030.

    “Ensuring the maintenance of a physical and policy environment in Enugu State that will make the State conducive for establishment of new businesses and growth of existing businesses.

    “Detailed development planning defined by timely quality budget preparation and approval for implementation.

    “Transparent and inclusive governance on web and to the press defined by a regular rendering of accounts and information on government budgets and expenditure plans, including a statement about how your money is being spent, as well as quarterly summaries of government revenue, borrowings and expenditure; timely production and publishing of audited annual accounts; and consultative townhall meetings to present government’s plans and receive citizens’ feedback”.

    Others are: “The establishment of a price intelligence unit to ensure that government contract prices reflect costs that will ensure good value for money.

    “Formation of a public budget revenue and expenditure monitoring committee with broad based membership from the State, citizens and prominent Development agencies and multilateral agencies and civil society groups.

    “Quality and timely government services by all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

    “Timely and complete payments of service providers and contractors as well as emoluments to government employees and pensioners.

    “This Charter will be internally and independently assessed on an annual basis to check to what extent the government is in compliance. The results of the assessments will be graded and published.

    “This is a progressive performance improvement plan. Performance against the standards stated here are expected to be moderate in the first instance but will progressively improve as time goes on”.

    Also, the governor said that by Order 002, which is pursuant to the authority vested in his office by the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and the Laws of Enugu State, seeks to eliminate every barrier to free movement of persons and goods in the state, noting however that the Order was limited to state and local government roads only.

    While acknowledging the reason of security adduced for the erection of the barriers, Dr. Mbah assured the people of the state that the government would step up its efforts to ensure the security of lives and property.

    Giving details on Order 003, the governor said that in order to facilitate government services, “every MDA of the Enugu State Government shall publish a complete list of all requirements or conditions for obtaining products and services within the MDA’s scope of responsibility, including permits, licenses, waivers, tax related processes, filings, and approvals”.

    The Order, among others, stipulates that “Failure of the appropriate officer to act on any application within the timeline stipulated, without lawful excuse, shall amount to misconduct and be subject to appropriate disciplinary proceedings in accordance with the law and regulations applicable to the civil or public service”.

     

    Mbah during his swearing-in ceremony   pledged that his administration would not be business as usual, saying “Enugu will rubbish ‘Japa syndrome’, not by legislation, but by creatively addressing the challenges to the future of our youths”.

    “Take notice that this administration will be business unusual. Tough decisions will be taken. Those decisions will however be taken in the best interest of Ndi Enugu and Enugu State in general. You (citizens) will constitute the driving force of every action we take as your representatives.

    “We will serve you with every fiber of our being and devote all our energy and your resources to working for you and your interests. Our driving force and governance philosophy will be always based on transcendental values.

    “We will invoke the spirit of enterprise, the creative energy of our people and the remarkable industry on the streets of Enugu State to create the difference in governance.

    “We will pursue an economic growth that is unrivalled in this part of the country.

    “We will tap into the limitless resources of the private sector to provide world-class infrastructure and productive sector growth.

    “The youths of Enugu State will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the tomorrow that is now here today. We want to expose our youths to the skills required to grasp the emerging future and create opportunities for the genius in them to flourish.

    “We also want to invoke and instil in them the can-do spirit that is innate in the Igbo man”, he stated.

    The inauguration ceremony, which witnessed a mammoth crowd as Enugu people defied both the rain and sit-at-home, was attended by notable leaders of the state, including the former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Sullivan Chime, Okwesilieze Nwodo, and former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo as well as the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, among others.

    Mbah was sworn-in alongside his deputy, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai by the Chief Judge of Enugu, Justice Raymond Ozoemena,

  • Woman banished from Enugu community for allegedly cheating on husband [PHOTOS]

    Woman banished from Enugu community for allegedly cheating on husband [PHOTOS]

    A woman identified only as Martina has been reportedly banished from Iheakpu Obollo Afor village in Udenu Local Government Council area for allegedly cheating on her husband.

    According to a report, the said woman has been cheating on her husband for a long time and had been appeasing the land through rituals.

    A source in the village who craved anonymity disclosed that as a result of the serial cheating, the husband has been in and out of hospital beds.

    “The husband has been sick for a long time due to the sacrilege of his wife, and it’s against the tradition of the land.

    “The husband and Umunna joined to banish the woman,” the source said.

    According to the source, the man’s name is popularly known as Abisco in Ochisiri Iheakpu Obollo.

  • Enugu Gov, Ugwuanyi fires political appointees

    Enugu Gov, Ugwuanyi fires political appointees

    Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has directed all political appointees in the state to hand over on or before May 26, ahead of the expiration of the second tenure of his administration on May 29.

    This is contained in a statement by Ugwuanyi’s Special Aide, Mr Louis Amoke in Enugu.

    The directive was conveyed through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Simon  Ortuanya, when the SSG met with Heads of Boards, Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions in his office in Abuja Building and Government House, Enugu.

    Prof Ortuanya listed the affected political appointees to include all Commissioners of Ministries, Special Advisers (SPAs) to the Governor, Chief Executive Officers of Government-owned Companies, Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs) to the governor.

    Others are Technical Assistants to the Governor, Technical Assistants to Commissioners, Technical Assistants to Special Advisers and  Technical Assistants to Enugu State House of Assembly Members

    Others are Board Chairmen and Board Members of Government-owned Companies, Executive Secretaries of Parastatals or Government-owned Companies, and State Project Coordinators of World Bank-Assisted Projects.

    The SSG said “the above mentioned political appointees are to hand over their affairs to the Permanent Secretary or Director of Administration or Director of Personnel Management, as the case may be.”

    The state government also directed all civil servants holding political positions to return to their parent ministries.

    Prof. Ortuanya explained that the decision was in line with established procedure, as the second tenure of Governor Ugwuanyi expires on May 29, 2023.

    “Enugu State Government expresses gratitude and sincere appreciation for the contributions you have rendered towards the development of the state.

    “The state wishes you well in your future endeavours,” he added.

  • Community protests against murder of Enugu APGA guber aspirant

    Community protests against murder of Enugu APGA guber aspirant

    The People of Ozalla Community in Nkanu West Local Government Area have vowed not to rest until killers of their son, Chief Dons Udeh, APGA  Gubernatorial Aspirant in Enugu State, are arrested.

    Members of the community came out in their numbers, adorned in black and carrying various placards on Wednesday in Enugu, to protest the “one murder too many.”

    Udeh was kidnapped on April 22 and his decomposing body was later found on April 26 at 9th Mile Corner, Udi Local Government Area of the state.

    In a protest letter submitted to Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Ozalla Development Union (ODU) said, “We are resolved to treat this case as a matter of great importance and with utter dispatch to avoid this case falling into the bucket of numerous unresolved murder cases.”

    The letter was signed by the President General of the union, Chief C.N.N. Nwagbara and handed over to Gov. Ugwuanyi.

    “The deceased was an accomplished statesman, a community leader and a patriot who had held several positions at the local, state and federal levels, including the Secretary General, Ozalla Development Union, President General, Ozalla Development Union.

    “He has served as State Secretary Peoples Democratic Party, Commissioner and member of Enugu State Executive Council, National Commissioner, Nigerian Communications Commission, Board member, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and more recently, a governorship aspirant on the APGA platform in the 2023 elections.

    “He was a man who brought to bear his wealth of experience, capacity and strict sense of nation building to our own state and the nation at large.

    “He had served creditably well in all the offices he occupied to the admiration of the public. His footsteps in the democratic processes and institutions stand tall as ever,” the letter stated.

    The ODU expressed worry that such a man of high pedigree should be murdered in such a cruel manner that depicted the public execution of the medieval era.

    They added that the gruesome murder had traumatised the people and every right thinking individual.

    “Though we are aggrieved, we have decided not to take laws into our own hands, being law abiding citizens.

    “We are therefore constrained to write to your office, knowing your penchant for due process and unblemished integrity to always ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done in any case brought before you.

    “We trust your establishment to conduct an intense forensic investigation into this dastardly act, to reveal the perpetrators behind it and bring them to book as soon as practicable.

    “This will bring succour to us and send a signal to others nursing similar criminal intents to steer clear.

    “We are more than willing and ready to cooperate with you to achieve this set objective,” it said.

    Similarly, Mr Obiora Okwuibe the convener of #JusticeforDonsUdeh, said the community was yet to heal from the kidnap of one of their traditional rulers from Ozalla Etiti to be faced with this.

    “This is one murder too many for us to swallow. We have come on our knees to beg the government to bring the perpetrators of this dastardly and heinous act to book.

    “The cases of adoption in our community are becoming alarming and we’re begging the government to come to our aid and stop this carnage,” Okwuibe said.

    Responding, Gov. Ugwuanyi expressed concern over the sad incident and assured the people of Ozalla and the entire state of his commitment to ensuring that hoodlums had no place in the state.

    The governor said late Udeh was a friend and a loyal party man; thus, his death pained him too.

    He, however, assured them of his readiness to provide the necessary support to both the community and the security agents to ensure the perpetrators were brought to book.

  • Enugu-based activist denies maligning Gov. Ugwuanyi

    Enugu-based activist denies maligning Gov. Ugwuanyi

    An Enugu-based Social Activist, Mr Chukwuma Okenwa, dismissed insinuations that he granted media interview against Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and his “sterling outstanding achievements” in the state.

    Okenwa said this on Sunday in Enugu while reacting to reports linking him to unprintable statements against the governor.

    “To set the record straight, I did not grant any interview to a non existent platform seeking attention.

    “I have not even heard of any platform called by the name before and I am sure it is equally a strange platform to the good people of Enugu State.

    “How can an acclaimed news platform compile such a report without the name of the news writer?”

    Okenwa said such “a report can only be fabricated by unconscionable individuals who are bent on scoring cheap political points”.

    He called on the people of the state to disregard such a report, as “never a time did I grant such an interview to any news platform, not even in my dream”.

    The activist also thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for the opportunity to serve in his administration, adding: “I urge His Excellency, to disregard the malicious report linked to me.”

  • Enugu varsity bans students from using artificial eye lashes

    Enugu varsity bans students from using artificial eye lashes

    Management of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu has banned the fixing of fingernails, eyelashes and other artificial materials on the body.

    The institution also banned the wearing of short clothes by staff and students to work and lectures.

    Rev. Fr. Christian Anieke, Vice Chancellor of the University, announced this on Thursday in Enugu while addressing staff and students of the university.

    Anieke warned that the management would not tolerate staff or students who wear tights and other materials that expose sensitive parts of their bodies.

    According to him, such dressings distract other members of the university.

    He said that only black and brown hair would be allowed on campus and gave the staff and students one month to adjust to the new rules.

    The vice chancellor announced that students would be expected to wear their faculty uniforms from Tuesdays to Fridays since students had abused the liberty to wear cultural attires on Fridays.

    He said that the exchange of phonographic materials was a taboo in the institution.

    “Such odd things will no longer be allowed in the university,” he warned.

    Anieke advised the staff to be proactive and cover their lectures as management would not have any excuse in case of disruption of the nation’s academic programmes.

    The vice chancellor, however, warned final-year students against plagiarism, stressing that the university librarian had been directed to carry out plagiarism tests on all research works by students and staff.

    Anieke advised students to report staff who frustrate them in the completion of their projects.

    The meeting was attended virtually by students and staff of the university and its group of institutions.

  • Labour Party has 14 seats in Enugu House of Assembly – INEC

    Labour Party has 14 seats in Enugu House of Assembly – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the list of the 24 members-elect of the Enugu State House of Assembly.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports INEC’s Head of Voter Education and Publicity in Enugu State, Mr Rex Achumie released the list on Tuesday.

    According to the list released by the electoral umpire, the Labour Party (LP) has 14 seats while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has the remaining 10 seats.

    Mr Achumie issued the list detailing the names, constituencies, parties and number of votes scored by the members-elect at the March 18 election.

    Achumie urged members of the public to disregard any unauthorised list posted on social media or in online media but not issued by INEC.

  • Two policemen feared dead in Enugu as gunmen attack checkpoint

    Two policemen feared dead in Enugu as gunmen attack checkpoint

    After weeks of calmness, gunmen on Sunday resumed attacks on security checkpoints in Enugu State, reportedly killing two policemen.

    The attack happened before 12.00pm at a police checkpoint between Kenyatta Market and the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC) Stadium.

    A source hinted that the policemen, who were on stop and search, were caught unawares.

    A viral video trending on social media shows two of the officers lying in a pool of their blood inside gutters.

    The Enugu Police Command is yet to issue any statement on the incident.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that sometime June 2022, two police officers were feared killed when gunmen attacked a police checkpoint along Agbani Road in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria’s South-east.

    The gunmen were said to have opened fire on the police officers at the checkpoint, killing two on the spot.

    A resident of the area told PREMIUM TIMES that about two officers were seen lying on the ground at the scene of the attack, but he was not sure if they were dead.

    “Two of them are just lying there motionless. Nobody knows if they are dead or wounded,” he said.

    When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES.

    He could not, however, confirm the killing of the two police officers in the attack.

    He said the details of the attack were still sketchy.

    “Yes. There was an attack on policemen on stop and search duty this morning by yet-to-identified hoodlums,” he said.

    Mr Ndukwe said police operatives have been mobilised to track down the gunmen.

    “Further development will be communicated, please,” the police spokesperson said.

    Like other states in the South-east, security in Enugu State has deteriorated lately with attacks by armed persons.

    The latest attack comes less than two weeks after a police officer was killed by gunmen who attacked a police checkpoint in Ibagwa-Ani, a community in Nsukka Local Government Area of the state.

    Earlier this month, two police officers were also killed when gunmen attacked Nkpamte Community in the Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the state.

    The Nigerian government has accused the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied their involvement in the attacks.

    The separatist group is leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra to be carved out from the South-east and some parts of South-south Nigeria.

    The leader of the group, Nnamdi Kanu, is being detained in Abuja where he is facing trial for terrorism.

  • Enugu Governor-elect, Mbah promises to repay voters with projects, better policies

    Enugu Governor-elect, Mbah promises to repay voters with projects, better policies

    Enugu Governor-elect, Peter Mbah, has promised to repay voters with projects and policies that will elevate the State.

    Mbah, who made the assurance in his acceptance speech on Thursday after he was declared winner of the March 18 contest, pledged to repay them with projects and policies to give them comfort.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that he also promised to serve the people of the State and dedicate every 1,460 days that make up his initial tenure of office to serving them.

    His words: “I accept this announcement with a glad, solemn and grateful heart and with only one obligation: to devote every tissue of my flesh, the totality of my mind and spirit to the task of the greatness of Enugu State.

    “Let me pledge once again, that I will remember the coarse road you travailed to get us here. In reply, we will speak resoundingly with policies of the government that will give you comfort and rest of mind.

    “As I told you during the campaign, the administration we will run will bring joy to your hearts. We will make you remember March 18, 2023 with a toothy smile.

    “In infrastructure, health, tourism, education and development of our state in general, we will run a government that you can be proud of. We are in a hurry to dualize the Abakpa, Ugwuogo Nike-Nsukka road, build a monorail from Enugu to Nsukka, Udi, Awgu and construct a ring road to connect all the 17 local government areas of Enugu State.

    “We are in a hurry to build a world class Theme Park in Enugu. We are in a hurry to establish Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in all the local government areas, as well as Agro-Allied Processing Zones and Industrial Parks in all our senatorial zones”.