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Tag: commissioner

  • Amosun names three more Commissioner nominees

    The Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has  submitted three additional Commissioner nominees to the state House of Asembly for screening and approval.

    The names of the nominees were conveyed to the house in a letter dated October 2, 2015  by Amosun, and was read during Tuesday plenary by Speaker Suraju Adekunbi.

    The nominees are Mr. Rotimi Durojaye, Adebola Adeife and Mrs. Nike Osoba, thus bringing the number of nominees sent to the state legislators to 19.

    Adekunbi had last week Wednesday announced the names of 16 Commissioner – nominees earlier sent to the Assembly by the governor.

    The first batch nominees are  Mrs Ronke Sokefun, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, Basorun Muyiwa Oladipo, Arc. Segun Abiodun, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite, Jide Ojuko, Sunday Segun Bamiwola, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye and Mr Bolaji Oyeleye.

    Others are Barr. Leke Adewolu, Afolabi Afuwape, Gbenga Adenmosun, Chief Kolawole Wasiu Lawal, Otunba Bimbo Asiru,Mrs Yewande Amusan and Olumide Ayeni.

    The 19 nominees according to the Speaker would appear for screening on Wednesday.

  • Police Commissioner dies in U.S.

    The Commissioner of Police and Commandant, Nigeria Police College, Ikeja, Tunde Sobulo, is dead.

    Mr. Sobulo died on Friday in Atlanta Georgia, United States of America, after a protracted illness.

    The eldest son of the late Commissioner, Robert Sobulo, who confirmed the death, said he got the news around midnight Nigerian time.

    He said his sister, Laila, who was with their father in the U.S., called to inform him of his death while he was already sleeping in Nigeria.

    He said his father would be buried in Atlanta Georgia after a family meeting currently going on.

    “The vacuum my father’s death has created cannot be filled in the family and his profession.

    “He was dedicated to the police profession and his family. He was an operational person.

    “He usually says to me: think, when you think, you carry out the action,” he said.

    The immediate younger brother to the late police chief, Kamarudeen Shomide, described Sobulo as a great loss to the family.

  • 500,000 pupils sit on floor in Kaduna, says commissioner

    Kaduna State government has offered explanation on the declaration of state of emergency in the education sector.

    It said it was necessitated by 16 years of neglect.

    The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Shehu Usman Adamu, said the government adopted six-week emergency measures to rescue the sector from collapse in the interest of stakeholders and the future of the state.

    He lamented in a statement issued in Kaduna and made available to reporters that about 80 per cent of the 4,200 public primary schools were in a dilapidated condition.

    “More than half of the 1.106 million pupils sit on bare floor and the teaching force, which is understaffed, consist of over 40 per cent non-qualified teachers. The 349 public secondary schools are not in a better condition,” Adamu said.

    He said the Malam Nasir El-Rufai administration waded in with reforms capable of standing the test of time by recruiting about 2,226 teachers in English language and the sciences.

     

  • Oshiomhole nominates new Commissioners

    The Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole has nominated Chief Tom Uloko and Mr Gideon Obhakhan as Commissioners- designate in the state.

    The names of the nominees have been forwarded to the Edo State House of Assembly for screening and clearance.

    Until now, Chief Tom Uloko, a Chartered Accountant, was Chairman of the State Procurement Agency, while Mr. Gideon Obhakhan was candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 House of Representatives election.

    Both nominees according to a statement by Prince Kassim Afegbua, Special Adviser (Media & Public Affairs are expected to come on board with their wealth of experience and inject fresh ideas into the state Executive Council.

    Both men are married with children.

  • Ex-education commissioner denies N4.5m fraud allegation

    Immediate past Commissioner for Basic Education in Edo State, Patrick Aguinede, has denied media reports that he was sacked because of an alleged N4.5m fraud.

    The report published in a national daily claimed that the former commissioner was fingered in the fraud which was the registration fee for the Junior Secondary School certificate examination.
    Speaking to reporters in his office, Aguinede explained that the state government was yet to release fund for the conduct of the examination.

    Aguinede who was sacked alongside three other commissioners stated that the registration money was paid into government coffers.

    According to him; “That report is misleading and damaging. Such persons should have cleared from me first. Money for the examination was not paid to me. It was paid to government.”

    “Government is yet to release money for the conduct of the examination. The file was handed to the SSG for scrutiny and cost implications. Money has not been released.”

    “Contractors did the job on goodwill and the examination was conducted. I don’t. Have any grudge against the governor reliving me of my appointments. He has the right to remove anybody. Nothing strange has happened. I never desired to be a commissioner. “

  • Community agitates for commissioner

    THE traditional ruler of Imota, Ikorodu Division, Lagos State has appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to appoint one of his people as a commissioner.

    In a letter to the governor, the Ranodu of Imota, Oba Ajibae Bakare Agoro, Olufoworesete II, said, since the creation of the state almost 50 years ago, Imota, one of the major districts in Ikorodu Constituency II, has not produced a commissioner.

    The monarch said although its neighbours, Igbogbo and Ijede have benefited from the slots, Imota has not. He listed those who benefited in the area as: Dr Olambiwonnu – commissioner for Health –Ijede; Hon Olorunfunmi Bashorun – Secretary to the Government (SGF)) and later Commissioner for Education–Igbogbo.

    Oba Agoro said: “We, the people of Imota, have continually been short-changed in appointments to the state Executive Council. And this is why we are appealing to the state government of an Imota indigene into the state Executive.’’

    He added that the All Progressives Congress(APC) was behind him.

     

  • Corruption tops discussion as Bayelsa health commissioner, ministry bag award

    Corruption tops discussion as Bayelsa health commissioner, ministry bag award

    The awards presented recently  to the Commissioner for Health, Bayelsa State, Dr. Ayibatonye Owei and his ministry were not ordinary. They came from an anti-corruption crusader and a whistleblowing non-governmental agency, the Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation (CESVO).

    In fact, for an agency based in Lokoja, Kogi State, to identify excellence in service delivery and high ethical conduct  of a commissioner and a ministry operating in the Niger Delta region further distinguished the awards. Little wonder, the employees of the ministry spent few hours after work to receive a team of CESVO led by the centre’s Executive Director, Prince Salih Musa Yakubu.

    Yakubu, the founder of the Nigerian Parliament, explained why and how Owei and his ministry were selected for the awards. He said: “The Ministry of Health of Bayelsa today, has been found by this group among only 50 most ethically responsible state-owned ministry within the investigations that we have done. That is why we have come to thank you, because we don’t have money to give you.

    “The highest we could give you is to encourage you and to stimulate you more. The health policy of Bayelsa state today, being anchored by the Ministry of Health benefits the Ibos, Yorubas, your tribal men, and even an Igala man like me.

    “A lot of them are here and they are also benefiting from the policy, courtesy of this ministry. Therefore, when we come here to say thank you, you will do more. And Nigerians will be affected positively. That is the news we brought to you today.

    “In the entire country, out of these 50 MDAs that meet our standards, only four state ministry of health succeeded to be enlisted. The rest is story. Lagos is one, Bayelsa is two, Gombe is three, and Delta is four”.

    He said before the ministry was selected, the centre sent out whistleblowers to monitor and observe the activities of the ministry and its relationship with members of the public.

    “We are not anyhow group and so we don’t visit anyhow people. Just the same way we have come to this ministry; we have sent our whistleblowers to you. They meet you in your office like normal Nigerians looking for service. But what are they looking for?

    “They want to establish if there is a symbiotic relationship between you and the public you are called to serve. Who are those that are ruled? An African man can be carried away by the paraphernalia of office, that when they give them little office to handle, they barricade themselves from the people they are meant to serve. We don’t want such people in government.

    “They are those that will continue to barricade themselves and keep on cornering public funds to their own advantage. But no matter how far you go, 6ft measurement is enough for you and you will give account of your stewardship”, he said.

    Turning to the commissioner, he added: “Sir, we have found you worthy in character and conduct. You are such a very upright, straightforward man, full of energy and action, even though your actions at times affect some persons. You are a very rugged commissioner that wants results. We love you for that, sir. Today, we are to formally induct you as Ambassador of Ethics and a man of conscience”.

    To the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Biribina Samayin, he said: “Of this ministry, because of your insistence always that due process be followed, you have subjected beaurocratic  procedures to the level that is so appreciated by us. Your non-compromise to beaurocratic procedures and servicom compliance is part of the reason why we are here today, though the attitude may be hated by some.

    “At times, you and your Commissioner may be at loggerheads in the quest to achieve results, because you are human beings. If you don’t quarrel, there can never be results and progress. The commissioner is the political head of this ministry. But you have been able to manage your differences. We have enlisted you among only 200 ethically responsible civil servants in the whole of the federation”.

    He said the centre would return to train 100 employees of the ministry free of charge for two days. He said the trained employees would help to transform others and make them ethically responsible. He said the centre has so far trained over 7000 persons on ethics.

    The commissioner said he never solicited for awards, adding that he never accepted such awards since he was just performing his job. He said it was regrettable that some persons solicited for and paid to get awards.

    He said the award from the centre was no an individual honour but an award meant for the ministry.

    He dedicated the awards to the restoration government of Governor Seriake Dickson saying the governor provided the directive for the ministry to operate.

    “I am very delighted that this award is not a Greek gift. Nobody was paid money for it. Nobody influenced it. We decided to act it not for ourselves but on behalf of the Restoration Government of Governor Dickson who has made it possible for health benefits to reach Bayelsans”, he said.

    He thanked the employees in the ministry for working round the clock to distinguish themselves. He asked the employees to make adjustments and work within the limited resources in the ministry. He said the award would motivate the ministry to deliver service to the people.

     

  • Commissioner seeks cooperation of Local Government chairmen, staff

    The Commissioner for Local Government Matters in Enugu State, Rt Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, has held a meeting with all local government chairmen in the state and all the staff of the ministry to seek cooperation.

    Edoga said he called the meeting to find ways of straightening work ethics and relationships among staff and other stakeholders of the ministry for better output.

    Edeoga, an aide to President Goodluck Jonathan on National Assembly matters, urged the staff to be dedicated and committed.

    While commending staff of the ministry for running a robust establishment, Edoga asked for the cooperation of all, adding that “only a focused and well-mobilized team can achieve good results”.

    According to him, “there is need for us to work together so we need to know each other and set up the rules of our engagement. I seek your cooperation because we would make progress by so doing. In that case, we would have justified the confidence reposed in us by the Executive Governor of Enugu state Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. There is no point in over emphasizing the  fact that a united work force will serve all of us better and Enugu state much better in the long run.”

    Speaking earlier, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Mr. Gerald Nnaji, welcomed the new Commissioner, pledging the loyalty of the staff, just as the ALGON Chairman, Hon. Cornelius Nnaji of Enugu East Local Government Area, who spoke on behalf of the local government chairmen, thanked the commissioner for the invitation.

  • Kano against censorship of media, says commissioner

    Kano against censorship of media, says commissioner

    The Kano State Government has said it is against censoring any media organization operating in the state in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities.

    The Commissioner for Information, Youths Sport and Culture, Malam Mohammed Garba, who spoke to reporters yesterday, also urged journalists to abide by the ethics of the profession.

    According to him, the Ganduje administration is not interested in censoring any media outfit in the state but advised them to go by the ethics of the profession in order to distinguish themselves from practicing junk journalism.

    Garba also sought for the cooperation and support to the Ganduje-led administration in order to enhance a cordial relationship between journalists and the state government.

    The Commissioner, said: “We don’t believe in censorship of media houses but they should at all times avoid sensational journalism and be wary of hate speech in order not to undermine the security of the state and the country at large.

    He maintained that the enforcement of the ethics of the profession is crucial to the national development and sustenance of democracy, judging from the virile violations of the ethics, prior and during the just concluded 2015 elections.

    He, however, advised journalists operating in the state to be sensitive of the environment, where they are reporting, so that they can come together and discuss something of mutual benefits for the people of the state.

    He therefore urged journalists to be fair in their reportage of events and ensure to balance their reports to capture both sides.

     

  • Jega, six commissioners bow out next week

    Jega, six commissioners bow out next week

    The tenure of Professor Attahiru Jega as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will end next Tuesday.

    According to INEC Bulletin, Jega will leave office with six other national commissioners who will also have served out their five year term.

    Jega and the commissioners were inaugurated by former President Goodluck E. Jonathan on 30th June 2010.

    The commissioners affected are: Col. M.K. Hammanga (Rtd), Adamawa state, (North East); Dr Ishmael Jikiri Igbani, Rivers state, (South South); Prof. Lai Olurode, Osun state, (South West); Dame Gladys Nne Nwafor, Abia state, (South East); Mrs Thelma Amata Iremiren, Delta state, (South South); and Engr. Dr. Nuru A. Yakubu,  Yobe state, (North East).

    Four other National Commissioners are to leave the Commission in July and August this year.

    They are: Dr. Abdulkadir S. Oniyangi,  Kwara state, (North Central), whose tenure will expire on 21st July 2015; Mrs Amina Bala Zakari, Jigawa state, (North West); whose tenure will also expire on 21st July 2015; Dr Chris O. Iyimoga, Nasarawa state, (North Central); whose tenure will expire on 11th August 2015; and Amb. (Dr.) Mohammed Ahmad Wali, Sokoto state, (North West) whose tenure will also expire on 11th August 2015.

    The bulletin has however said stated that activities at the commission would not in anyway be affected by the  exit of Jega and the other national commissioners.

    It stated:  “But  even  as  the Commission is being depleted, following the progressive expiration of the tenures of National Commissioners, its (INEC’s) work will continue apace and uninterrupted because it can always form a quorum.

    Citing Section 159 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which states that meetings of the commission can be chaired by another person.

    The section states: (1.) The quorum for a meeting of any of the bodies established by section 153 of this Constitution shall be not less than one-third of the total number of members of that body at the date of the meeting.

    (2.) A member of such a body shall be entitled to one vote, and a decision of the meeting may be taken and any act or thing may be done in the name of that body by a majority of the members present at the meeting.

    (3.) Whenever such body is assembled for a meeting, the Chairman or other person presiding shall, in all matters in which a decision is taken by vote (by whatever name such vote may be called) have a casting as well as a deliberative vote.

    (4.) Subject to its rules of procedure, any such body may act or take part in any decision notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership or the absence of any member.”

    In the meantime, the tenures of sixteen Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) have expired and they have left the Commission last week. A gala night was held in their honour last week Thursday at the Le Meridien Hotel, Uyo, Akwa Ibom. They are: Ahmad Makama, Bauchi state; Haliru A. Tambuwal, Sokoto state; Abdullahi Umar Danyaya, Niger state; Abubakar U.G. Wara, Kebbi state; Mr. Mike Igini, Delta state; Prof. Selina Omagha Oko, Ebonyi state; Hussaini Ahmed Mahuta, Katsina state; Dr. A.L. Ogunmola, Oyo state; Alh. Ibrahim Zarewa, Kano state; Prof. Tukur Sa’ad, Adamawa state; Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo, Kogi state; Kassim Gana Gaidam, Yobe state; Mr. Timothy Ibitoye, Osun state; Amb. Dr. Rufus Akeju, Lagos state;Prof. C.E. Onukaogu, Abia state; and Ibrahim Bagobiri Marafa, Zamfara state