The governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has congratulated Mrs. Funke Egbemode on her confirmation as the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE).
Egbemode, who is the Managing Director of New Telegraph Newspapers, was officially confirmed as President during the guild’s 12th annual conference in Port Harcourt last week.
The Governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, said Mrs. Egbemode over the years has proved her mettle in the profession, saying that her recent appointment was thoroughly deserved and an inspiration to other women striving to make a name in the profession.
“I have no doubt in my mind that the cap fits Mrs. Egbemode. She has a proven track record of excellence in journalism, which has seen her rise through the ranks to the pinnacle of the profession,” the Governor said.
Governor Ambode also urged Mrs. Egbemode to bring her wealth of experience to bear, not only in advancing the course of the Guild, but also the journalism profession in general.
“I urge Mrs. Egbemode to see her new assignment as one that comes at a time in our national life where we need the media to be more circumspect and developmental in playing its role as the watchdog of the society,” he said.
Tag: Chief Press Secretary
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Ambode congratulates new NGE President
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Fayose denies spending Ekiti funds on EFCC case
…Challenges opposition to forward evidence to EFCC
Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to come out with concrete evidence to substantiate its claims that he is spending state funds on his case against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose advised the APC to forward any evidence at its disposal to the EFCC warning the opposition to keep silent since “Ekiti people have not complained that their money is missing.”
He said: “That kind of allegation can only come from the dirty mind of APC members in Ekiti.
“There is nothing like that and if they have strong evidence, the EFCC which has become a department of the APC is there for them to do their biddings.
“Or has Ekiti people complained that their money is missing? By the way, the APC governors whose elections were challenged in the court, where did the money spent on litigations come from?
“The APC was in government in Ekiti 1999-2003 and 2010-2014, the PDP did not disturb them as they are waging war, fabricating lies everyday to disparage this government.
“By the grace of God, their noise will be like that of dog before mankind. The APC should stop disturbing sensibility of Nigerians and face squarely the myriads of problems confronting the people.
“Nigerians are hungry and never had a bad government as this.”
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Eid-el-fitri: Ambode urges Nigerians to embrace tolerance
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday called on Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the cause of a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria where citizens regardless of ethnic, religious, political or social status can flourish.
The Governor in his Eid-el-Fitri message said it is only by embracing peace, unity and fairness that Nigerians can put the country back on the path of growth and development, urging them to embrace the tenets of love, tolerance, forgiveness and brotherhood which characterized the period of the holy month.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, the Governor said that the nation needs brotherly love and harmonious co-existence among her citizens above all other things as a means to overcome its numerous challenges.
While cautioning against acts that would divide rather than unite the country, Governor Ambode called on Nigerians to return to the values of peaceful co-existence and brotherly love.
He further said: “As we celebrate this auspicious occasion, therefore, let us renew our faith in our nation and implore the Almighty God to restore to us those values that place high premium on human life, love of neighbour and sharing even as we ventilate our faith in the unity of our dear country and the possibility of her taking her rightful place in the comity of nations”.
The Governor said, “In this all important crusade to rescue our dear country from socio-economic as well as political quagmire, let us all continue to demonstrate those sterling virtues of harmonious and peaceful co-existence as well as willingness to serve in this melting pot of cultures where the multi-ethnic and multi-religious nature of our country is turned into a source of strength”,
Governor Ambode also thanked Lagosians for their continued harmonious and peaceful co-existence in the midst of diverse ethnic origin and religion.
“With your demonstration of love for your neighbour and the willingness to serve, our State has continued to be a model of what patriotic Nigerians will want our dear country to be.
“When peace reigns in the land, we can achieve whatever it is that we want to achieve. Infrastructural development can only be carried out in an atmosphere of peace and respect for our political and ethnic differences,” he said.
Governor Ambode wished all Muslim brothers and sisters in the State a happy Eid-el-Fitri celebration, just as he enjoined Nigerians in other parts of the country to continue to be their brothers’ keepers.
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Fayose cries out over alleged freezing of account by EFCC
Indications have emerged on Monday that a personal account run by Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has been frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Fayose’s personal account in the Zenith Bank, Ado Ekiti branch, was allegedly frozen on the order of the anti-graft agency, a source in the bank confirmed last night.
The development was later confirmed by a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi and a broadcast relayed on the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES).
The governor who accused the Buhari administration of running a “selective anti-corruption crusade” alleged that the accounts of his political associates and followers were also frozen by the EFCC.
He claimed that he was not informed that he had committed any offence because his account was frozen.
Fayose, who had earlier issued a counter-cheque to make withdrawal and was rejected by the bank, visited the Bank located at Onigari , GRA in Ado Ekiti, describing the action as criminal and illegal.
The governor accused some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a prominent lawyer from the state of being the brains behind the action.
While condemning the action, Fayose said under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, especially the provisions contained in Section 308, he enjoys immunity and wondered why his personal properties should become the targets of Federal Government and it’s agencies under the guise of fighting corruption.
“Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution gives me immunity just like the President. I wouldn’t know why these people are intolerant of others and in a haste. Let them wait till 2018 when I will end my tenure for them to do their investigation. The other time the EFCC accused me of embezzling N1.2 billion poultry project fund, I was the one who voluntarily reported myself to the EFCC.
“It was when I got a hint of their move that I wrote a cheque to withdraw some money from the account and I came myself. I was denied access to the account as I was told the EFCC has placed restriction on it. That is executive rascality taken too far. Even when I had case with EFCC my properties were not affected.
“If they say they are investigating money spent on election, does it mean it is only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that spent money on election? A lot of people and groups supported my campaign then.
“Where did APC and their leaders get the money they spent on 2015 general elections from? Now it is only in PDP that they find thieves, to them there are no theieves in the APC.
“Even the President cannot claim to be an angel. The estate he built in Abuja is known to us. His wife was indicted over the Halliburton Scandal. When that American, Jefferson, was being sentenced, the President’s wife was mentioned as having wired $170,000 to Jefferson. Her name was on page 25 of the sentencing of Jefferson. We can serialize the judgment for people to see and read.
“We will not allow this and we will defend our rights within the law of the land. Those who think they can silence me are mistaken. I am a person who is not perturbed by things like this.
“Let them wait till 2018 when I will finish my term and I will be the one to go and meet them. I won’t run away and let them investigate the whole world, I have nothing to hide or fear,” he said.
Fayose who vowed to challenge the action appropriately.
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Dickson orders perm secs, others to submit payrolls
Bayelsa State Government has restated its determination to carry out far-reaching reforms in the service, towards eliminating payroll and other fraudulent activities.
The decision was line with its ongoing efforts at repositioning the State public service for effective service delivery.
Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, in a statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said this was why government set up the various staff verification teams as well as the Judicial Commission of Inquiry for the State public service and the Rural Development Authorities.
The statement quoted the governor as directing all permanent secretaries, heads of the parastatals and extra ministerial departments as well as principals and headmasters, to submit their staff nominal rolls, indicating the date of first appointment of each staff and current grade level.
He also urged them to “submit the staff payrolls, indicating the authentic monthly salary for each staff, within one week, stressing that, non compliance with this directive would be met with stiff disciplinary measures.”
Iworiso-Markson said, “The permanent secretaries, heads of parastatals and heads of extra ministerial departments, principals and headmasters, have been strongly advised to sign the required documents personally and take responsibility for every information or data submitted in this regard.
“The permanent secretaries and heads of parastatals and extra ministerial departments are expected to submit their documents to the office of the Head of Service of the State, with principals to submit same to the Chairman of the Post Primary Schools Board, while headmasters are directed to submit same to the Executive Secretary of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).”
The state government also used the medium to appeal to all workers of the public service to be patient, as efforts were being made to ensure that, all genuine public servants were paid their salaries.
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Saraki to ACF: All zones must contribute to GDP for national stability
Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday appealed to all geopolitical zones in the country to contribute equitably to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in order to ensure national stability.
Saraki according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu in Abuja, made the appeal when the Chairman of the National Executive Council of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), former Inspector General of Police, Dr. Ibrahim Coomassie, led other executive members of the Forum to visit the Senate President at the National Assembly.
The Senate President said the only way for the North to contribute meaningfully to the growth of the nation’s GDP and the diversification of the economy is for its leaders to methodically focus on mining and agriculture.
Saraki said: “My appeal is that in all countries that have gone through similar economic challenges like ours, recovery does not happen overnight. There will be initial pain, but eventually, the future will be bright. It is this journey that we should have embarked upon many years ago. We cannot run away from it.
“We cannot continue to depend only on oil. We must look at agriculture. Specifically for those of us from the North, agriculture is key. I also want to say that for the stability of any country, it is important that every part of the country is seen to be contributing to the economy of the country. A country where it is only one part that contributes to the economy is a recipe for disaster.
“For the stability of this country, it is important that we from the North must play our own role to contribute significantly to the GDP of this country. It is then we come to the table on equal terms and then we will be able to ensure the stability of this country. The only way for us to make our contribution is to go back to mining and agriculture. We must talk to our people that it is time for hard work to do that.”
Saraki noted that the 8th National Assembly is already looking at laws to improve the business environment, address infrastructure deficit and, ensure private participation in construction and maintenance of roads, ports and even railway systems in the country.
He told the northern elders that the National Assembly is committed to supporting President Muhammadu Buhari so that he can achieve success in his fight against corruption and bad governance.
He said: “I think we don’t have much choice because a lot of Nigerians spoke at the last election and said goodbye to impunity and bad governance. They want leadership based on transparency and accountability and the 8th Senate is going to work tirelessly to ensure that we give them just that.
“In doing that, we need your support, because we are going to step on toes. In doing that we are going to be seen to be doing things that have not been done before and of course those that do not want change will fight back. That is natural. But our distinguished Senators are committed and no amount of intimidation and blackmail will stop us from doing what we know is in the interest of the good people of Nigeria.”
Saraki reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to pass the 2016 budget on March 17, 2016, adding that after the passage, the National Assembly would focus on the amendment of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
“It is our intention that as soon as we pass the budget, the constitutional amendment committee that we have set up will begin to meet. I have told them that I will like to see that by June, they have finished and the proposed amendment should go to the State Houses of Assembly.”
Coomassie told the Senate President that the visit was meant to sustain and consolidate the cordial relationship that exist between the ACF and the Senate since 1999.
He congratulated Saraki on that inauguration of the 8th Senate and described the National Assembly as an epitome of democracy.
Coomassie said: “May I also acknowledge the support and cooperation the executive arm of government enjoys from you as clearly demonstrated by the speedy screening of the Ministers by the Senate and the consideration of the 2016 Appropriation Bill which the National Assembly has pledged to pass before the end of this month.”
He reminded the Senate that their role does not end in legislation alone, but also to ensure the “effectiveness of oversight functions and transparency for the benefit of Nigerians…. ACF shall continue to support you to legislate well…”