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Tag: commissioners

  • Anxiety in Edo over commissioners’ list

    Anxiety in Edo over commissioners’ list

    There is anxiety in Edo State over the make-up of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s executive council.

    Obaseki last month promised that he would name his cabinet before the end of the month.

    To ensure grassroots participation in the selection of political appointees, Obaseki asked the party structure from the ward to the local government to submit names following certain criteria he spelt out.

    A committee headed by Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor was set up to screen the names forwarded by the political party structure and to also look into areas of dispute where two different lists were submitted.

    The Agbonlahor-led committee submitted the list of Commissioner nominees in April while the list of those to be appointed Special Assistants and Senior Special Assistants were submitted in May.

    It was while receiving the list in May that Obaseki promised that his cabinet would be named by May ending.

    Last week, Obaseki announced the appointment of 192 Special Assistants representing the 192 wards in the state.

    He clearly told the SAs that they would work from their various wards and not the Government House in Benin City.

    Supporter of APC were surprised that the House of Assembly on Wednesday embarked on a two-weeks recess without mentioning whether the Commissioners’ list has been sent to it for screening.

    Two meetings of Edo APC caucus held to finalise the list were said to have ended in deadlock.

  • Aregbesola swears in 22 commissioners, 16 special advisers

    Aregbesola swears in 22 commissioners, 16 special advisers

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday swore in his executive council made up of 22 commissioners and 16 special advisers.

    On the list of the commissioners are an Associate Professor of Economics, Olalekan Dauda Yinusa; a Doctor of Law, Ajibola Basiru and a former Senator, Mudasiru Hussain.

    The governor said he and his deputy, Mrs Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, would drop their portfolios in Works and Infrastructure and Education for the new commissioners, to allow for effective policy coordination and supervision.

    Aregbesola, at the inauguration at the parking lot of Bola Ige House in Osogboý, said the ceremony was long overdue, but for financial constraint.

    He said: “I congratulate the appointees for being considered worthy of service to the government and people of our dear state and for scaling the hurdle of screening.”

    The commissioners are Ismail Jayeoba Alagbada, Commerce, Co-operatives, Industries and Empowerment; Miss Mobolaji Akande, Human Resources and Capacity Building; Kolapo Alimi, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs;  Mrs Mofolake Adetohun Adegboyega, Empowerment and Youths Development; Mr. Emmanuel Kunle Ige, Agriculture, Food Security and Youths Engagement; Dr. Surajudeen Bashir Ajibola, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; Mr. Bola Ilori, Regional Integration;  Hon. Idiat Babalola, Commissioner for Federal Matters; Hon. Biyi Odunlade, Social Affairs Special Needs; Wasiu Kolawole Omotunde-Young, Education; Mudasiru Hussain, Cabinet Matters;  Oguntola Mudasir Toogun, Special Duties;  Idowu Michael Korede, Environment and Sanitation;   Alh. Bola Oyebamiji, Finance; Mr Adelani Baderinwa , Information and Strategy; Mrs Latifat Giwa, Women Affairs;  Engr Remi Omowaiye, Innovation and Technology; Dr. Rafiu Kusamotu, Health; Engr. Kazeem Aderemi Salami, Works and Transport; Dr. Dauda Yinusa,  Economy, Planning and Budget;  Dauda Adebiyi, Home Affair and Akintunde Akinajo, Lands and Physical Planning.

    The special Advisers are Hon. Samuel Adebisi, Special Adviser to the Governor Local Government and Chieftain Affairs; Barrister Mikail Adejare Adebisi,  Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Projects, Office of the Governor; Barrister  Gbenga Akano, Special Adviser to the Governor on Tax Matters;  Hon. Ipoola Binuyo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters; Gbenga Oyinlola, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Matters; Mr. Ayinde Olateju, Special Adviser to the Governor on Science and Technology; Mr. Ismail Adetoyese, Special Adviser to the Governor on Wealth Creation;  Simeon Popoola, Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce;   Olajide Opatola, Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment and Sanitation; Tunde Ajilore, Special Adviser to the Governor on Natural, Mineral Resources;  Claudius Kolajo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Food Security and Youth Engagement;  Ademola, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Production and Efficiency; Grace Oluyemi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Higher Education Bursary of Schools;  Mrs Taiwo Oluga,  Special Adviser to the Governor on Culture and Tourism; Olugebenga Awosode,  Special Adviser to the Governor on Cooperative and  John Ibirogba,  Special Adviser to the Governor on Women and Community Affairs.

  • When ‘ll Akeredolu appoint commissioners?

    When ‘ll Akeredolu appoint commissioners?

    Three months after his inauguration as the sixth elected governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) is still trying to settle down to business. He has made some appointments, but the people of the Sunshine State are still eagerly waiting for the list of commissioners. Correspondent DAMISI OJO writes on the scramble for slots in the State Executive Council.

    AFTER making some appointments into his kitchen cabinet, stakeholders now expect Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who mounted the reins of power on February 24 as the sixth civilian governor of Ondo State, to constitute his cabinet.

    The impression the Owo-born legal luminary gave at the outset was that of someone who came into office prepared. Between the period he won the election and February 23, when his predecessor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, handed over the mantle of leadership to him at the Cocoa Conference Hall, Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, various committees had been set up to ensure a seamless transition.

    Many indigenes and observers had expected the governor to announce his political appointees immediately after delivering his maiden speech at the State Sports Stadium, venue of the inauguration. Such observers have been speculating about who will make the cabinet list.

    But, apparently, the former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President is not in a hurry to constitute his cabinet; his attitude suggests that he does not want to be stampeded into making any appointments.

    Akeredolu has however, made some crucial appointments. In recognition of the impact of the media and information in the daily routine of government affairs, Akeredolu has approved the appointment of his media aides headed by Segun Ajiboye, a journalist. The unit swung into action and started dishing out information on the activities of the government through mass media channels.

    Other crucial appointments followed some weeks later. For instance, he announced the appointment of the former lawmaker, representing Akure North/South Federal Constituency, Ifedayo Abegunde as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). He hails from Akure in the Central District.

    This was in a bid to balance the political equation, since the governor is from North District and his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, is from the South District. Akeredolu also announced the appointment of his kinsman from Owo, retired Permanent Secretary Gbenga Ale as his Chief of Staff (CoS).

    The appointment of Abegunde met the expectations of many people, especially from the Central District. But, that of the CoS shocked many observers, because the Owo-born technocrat was not known to be a politician. Nevertheless, from the governor’s perspective, Ale is the right man for the job.

    Akeredolu also approved the appointment of more political aides, including Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Women Affairs, Mrs. Titi Adeyemi; SSA Oil and Gas, Benson Enikuomehin; SSA on Public and Inter-Government Relations, Mrs. Bunmi Ademosu; SSA on Agriculture, Akinola Olotu; SSA on ICT, Olumbe Akinkugbe; SSA on Development and Investment, Boye Oyewunmi and SSA on Security, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo.

    He also appointed a former member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olugbenga Edema, from Ogogoro in Ilaje Local Government, as the new chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC). Other members with him on the commission are Mrs. M. Witherspoon, Olumide Ikuepenikan, Ikoto Agabra Atili, Chief Ilawole, Igbekele Akinrinwa and Bankole Ogbesetoro.

    Though many appointments have been made, the commissioners that will drive the governor’s programme in the various ministries are still outstanding and many residents of the state are anxious to know those who will make the list.

    Insiders say Akeredolu is working towards reducing the number of ministries, in keeping with the harsh economic realities. This was unlike the immediate past administration that paraded 23 commissioners with the same number of ministries.

    The governor is believed to have come up with a list of those who may make the cabinet, but he is keeping it close to his chest. Those allegedly struggling to be appointed as commissioners cut across the three districts. Eyes are on the son of late former governor Adebayo Adefarati, Otunba Gboyega Adefarati (Akoko Southwest); former Commissioner for Natural Resources, Prince Sola Amodeni (Akoko Southeast); former CoS to late Agagu, Pastor Femi Agagu (Okitipupa); and former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Oluwasegunota Bolarinwa (Akoko Northwest).

    Also itching for positions are: former Coordinator, Ondo State Information Technology Development Commission (SITDEC), Tunji Light Ariyomo (Akure South); seasoned banker and hotelier, Timehin Adelegbe (Ose); Bode Olawoye (Owo); the APC Youth leader, Bamidele Ologun (Akure North) and Saka Yusuf (Akure North). The list also includes: former Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinterinwa (Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo), former Commissioner under Mimiko’s administration, Mrs. Yetunde Adeyanju and the APC Deputy Chairman, Ade Adetimehin (Idanre).

    Some eminent indigenes have advised Akeredolu on the type of people he should appoint into his cabinet. For instance, a Second Republic politician, Senator Olorunnimbe Farukanmi, said now that the governor is having problems settling the backlog of salary arrears, he must bid his time to ensure that he gets respectable, well informed and diligent characters to work with, to facilitate smooth governance and development.

    An Akure lawyer and human rights activist, Charles Titiloye, said, based on the personality and the reformation agenda of the governor, his commissioners must be men of proven integrity and technocrats who have excelled in their various fields of endeavour.

    The APC stalwart however, said the governor must come up with a blend of technocrats and politicians of high repute, to ensure political stability of his government.

    A retired principal and seasoned educationist from Arigidi-Akoko, Chief Bola Komolafe, urged Akeredolu to pick professionals with track records that will assist his government to achieve success. He warned him against appointing professional lobbyists who will secure appointments but would not perform.

    A community leader and the National Organising Secretary of Ansar-UD-Deen Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Ibrahim Kilani, wants the governor to look inwards and consider credible people at the grassroots who will return to their constituencies by weekends to interact with people and educate them on government policies.

    Kilani said former governors Adekunle Ajasin and Adefarati made use of such commissioners who were based in Ondo, rather than Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan. He said: “I am not being sentimental on the basis of religion, but Muslims in the state deserve reasonable numbers of commissioners, having lost out in many key appointments in the past.”

    APC Chieftain, Kehinde Ojuolape, advocated for credible and experienced politicians, who will share the progressive agenda of the party to transform the state as promised by Akeredolu. Ojuolape urged the governor to consider those who are closer to the grassroots to make his administration popular.

    Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice under late Anthony Onyearugbulem. Thus, he has had the opportunity of understudying governance and what the Sunshine State desires. The Owo-born legal luminary made his first attempt to govern the state in 2012 on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), but he was not successful.

  • Osun Assembly clears 38 for commissioners

    Osun Assembly clears 38 for commissioners

    •Drops one nominee

    Osun State House of Assembly yesterday confirmed 38 of the 39 exco nominees submitted to it for clearance by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
    House Committee Chairman on Information & Strategy Olatunbosun Oyintiloye said the nominees were confirmed by the lawmakers at a plenary chaired by Speaker Najeem Salaam.
    He said only Mr. Adeola Tejumola was not cleared by the lawmakers and gave no explanation for their decision.
    Oyintiloye said the motion for the nominees’ confirmation was moved by the Majority Leader, Mr Timothy Owoeye and seconded by the Minority Leader, Mr. Akinwale Akinwole.

     

  • When will Obaseki appoint commissioners?

    When will Obaseki appoint commissioners?

    The Prof. Agbonlahor-led committee has completed their work and the list ready for submission to the House of Assembly. Those who made the list are unknown, but the commissioners to be appointed will have to key into Obaseki’s style of adequate data gathering, careful planning, enforcement, implementation and execution.

    SIx months after Godwin Obaseki was elected as governor of Edo State, he is yet to appoint his commissioners. Also yet to be named are Special Advisers, although lawmakers in the House of Assembly has given Obaseki the nod to appoint 12 Special Advisers.

    On assumption of office in November last year, the governor had while reeling out his policies asked politicians in the state to give him six weeks to work with Permanent Secretaries in the various ministries to enable him understand the structure of governance and the system, to meet the high expectations of the people. Another reasons he adduced for the six weeks was the need to restructure, make government more efficient and reduce the cost of governance.

    Before the expiration of the six weeks, Obaseki set up a strategic dialogue team led by Professor Julius Ihonvbere, and 149 others to raise implementable plans for his administration. Ihonvbere outlined six thematic areas, namely: Economic Revolution, Culture and Tourism, Environmental Sustainabilty, Welfare Enhancement, Infrastructure Development and Institutional Reform, which Obaseki should focus on.

    However, Obaseki said he would need another six weeks  to drill down on the six areas before political appointments would be made. This, he said, was to enable political appointees have ideas on the specifics of what his administration set out to achieve.  He vowed to evaluate those he would pick as his cabinet members.

    The additional six weeks have since elapsed and several workshops on judiciary, housing, environment, sports, and other sectors have been held where experts brainstormed on which area Obaseki should focus on and what those expected to work with him are to achieve.

    However, in line with his resolve to take governance to the grassroots, Obaseki asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders across the 192 wards to recommend competent people for appointments. Some criteria were spelt out by the governor as he opted to pick one Special Assistant from each ward, a commissioner from each local government, three Senior Special Assistants from each local government and two Special Advisers from each senatorial district.

    What was supposed to be a simple process of nomination by party leaders have turned to muscle flexing in some local government areas over who should make the list. In many of the local government areas, it was gathered that party leaders decided to pick their preferred choice against the governor’s directives. A top government official said Obaseki was disappointed that some leaders nominated their children and loyalists that have no working experience or expertise.

    To further review the nomination process, Obaseki raised a committee headed by Professor Dennis Agbonlahor, a former Vice Chancellor of the Abmrose Alli University. The committee was to, among other things, look into areas where two different lists were submitted and to ensure that those picked meet the criteria.

    It was learnt that, unlike in the past when some political appointees lurked about government house without offices or specific duties, the Special Assistants and Senior Special Assistants to be appointed by Obaseki, would not have any offices around the government house. Sources said they are to have offices in their various wards and local governments. The purpose, according to the source, is to take governance to the people and serve as a link between the government and the party at the ward levels.

    Government sources said the Prof. Agbonlahor-led committee has completed their work and the list ready for submission to the House of Assembly. Those who made the list are unknown, but the commissioners to be appointed will have to key into Obaseki’s style of adequate data gathering, careful planning, enforcement, implementation and execution.

  • El-Rufai swears-in new Commissioners, Perm Secs, others

    El-Rufai swears-in new Commissioners, Perm Secs, others

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai on Wednesday, sworn-in four new Commissioners, eight Permanent Secretaries and two Chairmen Interim Management Committee of Giwa and Zangon-Kataf council areas.

    Speaking shortly after the swearing-in of the appointees, El-Rufai, said his government decided to bring new commissioners to energize the administration and to inject new blood in the system.

    The governor while commending the former commissioners for their service rendered to the people of Kaduna State explained that none of them were dropped or sacked but were deployed to handle other government functions.

    El-Rufai said: “I thank former commissioners for their service in our state. I want to make it categorically that, we didn’t drop any commissioner. None of our commissioner was dropped. Some former commissioners have been deployed to other functions of government. So, our team is intact. We are all together”

    “We carefully selected our team members. We decided to bring new commissioners to energize the administration and to inject new blood”

    “You are joining a wahala team and I sympathize with you because we work with little earnings. The permanent secretaries were chosen based on their competency and integrity. All the directors chosen to be permanent secretaries sat for exams and faced oral interview. So we have the best of permanent secretaries,” the governor said.

    The new commissioners sworn in were, Barrister Umma Hikima – Attorney General and Comissioner of Justice, Jafaru Ibrahim Sani – Comissioner for Local Government, Prof. Kabir Mohammed Mato – Comissioner for Agriculture and Forestry and Hafsat Mohammed Baba – Comissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development.

    While the new sworn in Permanent secretaries were, Barrister Abdullahi Sani – Permanent Secretary Cabinet Affairs and Special Services, Habiba Anana Shekarau – Permanent Secretary General Services among others.

    Others appointees were:” Bashir Umar Lere – Director General, Kaduna State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency,Abdullahi Bayero – Special Assistant,Abubakar Shehu Giwa – Chairman, Interim Management Committee, Giwa local government and John Hassan – Chairman, Interim Management Committee, Zango Kataf local government”.

  • Obaseki: how commissioners will emerge in Edo

    Obaseki: how commissioners will emerge in Edo

    Since Governor Godwin Obaseki took over the reins of power on November 12, residents of Edo State have been waiting anxiously to see what the new administration would do differently. He has asked for six weeks to undertake a study of the structure of governance, to determine how to proceed. But his pronouncements have indicated the areas that may become his priorities. OSAGIE OTABOR reports. 

    Who will make up the cabinet of Governor Godwin Obaseki? Will they be able to carry out the policies of the new technocrat governor who is not a typical politician? These are some of the questions currently agitating the minds of many residents of Edo State. Since November 12 when he assumed office as the new helmsman, Governor Godwin Obaseki has kept political supporters guessing, on what shape his cabinet will take. He has only named a few political appointees, with the promise that the remaining members of his cabinet will emerge after six weeks. In the interim, he has been working with Permanent Secretaries and the idea is for him to understand the structure of governance, to evolve ways of reducing the cost of governance.

    Supporters and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been waiting anxiously to find out who gets appointed into the various vacant cabinet positions. In the meantime, Obaseki has tried to spell out specific deliverables that he expects political appointees to achieve.

    Speaking recently during the swearing-in ceremony of the Secretary to the Government, Osarodion Ogie, Obaseki said the first six weeks would enable him understand the processes and the system in government with a view to meeting the high expectations of the people.

    His words: “We will tackle the challenges ahead of us. We are cognizant of what is going on around us. Government has to work for politics to succeed. Initially, we will emphasize more governance. Let us put in place a governance structure, so that our political structure can survive and endure. For the next six weeks, we are going to work with the Permanent Secretaries to understand the structures of government; so that we can make governance much more efficient. We cannot afford the high cost of governance we run today. The money is not there. We can restructure how we work. We can get more from the people we already have.”

    Obaseki’s dream is to position the state as the number one economy in the country, with first class institutions capable of nurturing enduring policies and deliver on infrastructure that would be better than what is available in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This would be achieved by generating more revenues internally, without putting unbearable tax burden on the people.

    Three weeks into his administration, he put together a strategic dialogue team led by Professor Julius Ihonvbere. Other 149 members of the team were Permanent Secretaries, technocrats, traditional chiefs, politicians and members of the civil society. They had a three-day intensive strategy dialogue, to raise implementable plans for the administration.

    The dialogue took place under the theme, “Setting Agenda for the New Administration” and it was centred on six thematic areas, namely: Economic Revolution, Culture and Tourism, Environmental Sustainabilty, Welfare Enhancement, Infrastructure Development and Institutional Reform.

    Addressing participants at the meeting, the governor said he would use another six weeks to study the six thematic areas before commissioners and other political appointments would be made. This, he said, was to enable political appointees have ideas on the specifics of what his administration set out to achieve.

    Obaseki informed the participants that his administration would be built around adequate data gathering, careful planning, enforcement, implementation and execution; even as he vowed to evaluate those he would give responsibility, no matter how powerful they are.

    He said: “I want to make it abundantly clear the government under my leadership will not indulge in frivolities; neither will we play to the gallery. Let me assure you that your reports will be comprehensively looked into, studied with actionable projects and programmes extracted for implementation.

    “Through our efforts at running a transparent, accountable and prudent government, we should be able to cut wastefulness and untargeted expenditure to free up resources to enable the implementation of most of the projects identified.

    “We will intensify our revenue collection efforts and this is the strategy that we will pursue with a human face to make tax liability friendly.

    “Our promise is that we will desist from a situation where contractors or service providers define governance and policies in this state. When we came in eight years ago, we saw that government policies were done at the whims of contractors, because they wanted to promote their business interests. But that has to stop.”

    During the presentation of the 2017 budget proposals to the Edo State House of Assembly, Obaseki said the budget was wrapped around the six thematic areas that the strategic dialogue team was asked to proffer solutions on.

    Nevertheless, it appears that Obaseki’s focus in 2017 is on three key areas, namely: social welfare, institutional revolution and industrialization. A pointer to this fact was when he paid an unscheduled visit to the now moribund Benin Technical College, the School of Health Technology, the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the civil service secretariat located along Sapele Road within the capital.

    In all of his visits, Obaseki expressed dismay at the level of decayed infrastructures and promised to urgently tackle them within the shortest possible time.

  • Gaidam threatens to sack sleeping commissioners

    Gaidam threatens to sack sleeping commissioners

    Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe on Thursday directed a sleeping commissioner  at the  presentation of the 2017 budget to the State House of Assembly to go home for more sleep.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor had barely commenced reading the budget speech when the cabinet member started snoring.

    Gaidam warned that any public officer henceforth caught sleeping stood sacked.

    “As from today, any commissioner or special adviser caught sleeping stands sacked and will immediately be replaced.

    “We will borrow a leaf from the North Korea experience to make government affairs a serious business,” he said.

    Gaidam while reviewing the budget performance of the outgoing year paused and directed the sleeping commissioner to go home.

    “I am referring to the commissioner who is sleeping, you can go back home to sleep since you cannot endure the session,” he said.

    Although the governor did not mention the name of the sleeping commissioner, he pointed to the row of the commissioners to issue the directive.

    NAN reports that the  bewildered commissioners looked at each other in embarrassment and sat up to avoid dozing and being victims of the governor’s sledge hammer.

    Alhaji Adamu Dala-Dogo, speaker of the assembly, however, advised public officers to take beverages that would keep them awake during public functions. (NAN)

  • Ondo Commissioner resigns over governorship ambition

    Ondo Commissioner resigns over governorship ambition

    …no anointed Candidate- PDP

    The Ondo State Commissioner for Environment,Sola Ebiseni,a lawyer, has resigned his appointment as a cabinet member in the administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    The development was in line with his aspiration to contest the November 26 governorship election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

    Ebiseni who is from Ilaje land in the Southern Senatorial District of the state thanked Mimiko for giving him the opportunity to serve the state in the last six years as a commissioner.

    With the development,two other aspiring Commissioners,Eyitayo Jegede(SAN) the Attorney-General& Commissioner for Justice and his counterpart in the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,Bamiduro Dada would join soon in accordance with the rule.

    The PDP in the state has debunked the rumour that the party has adopted a particular aspirant as candidate for the November 26 poll in the state.

    It maintained that the party is yet to conduct its primary election to decide the party flag bearer.

    A statement by its publicity Secretary,Banji Okunomo said the rumour is a figment of imagination and not emanating from the PDP secretariat.

    There had been speculations that Governor Olusegun Mimiko has openly adopted an Akure Indigine,who is the Attorney-General and commissioner of Justice,Eyitayo Jegede(SAN) as PDP flag bearer.

    PDP aspirants are Chief Sola Ebiseni,Senator Remi Okurinboye, Gbenga Elegbeleye,Prince Nekan-Olateru Olagbegi,Bamiduro Dada,Dare Emiola,Dayo Fadahunsi,Adedayo Omolafe,Dare Bada,Debo Ajimuda and Benson Amuwa.

    The statement said”PDP has a constitution which guides its affairs,the issue pertaining to picking the candidate who would be the flag bearer of the party in the forth coming governorship election is purely a constitutional affair of the party.

    “Provisions for the party’s primary are purely unambiguous in the constitution of the party,PDP believes strongly in internal democracy and as such issues of imposition of candidates on the party would not arise”

    The party assured all contestants that there would be a level-play ground for them in the primary election.

    It said”we believe so much in democratic appeals,fairness,equity and justice.Among other things,the party would consider issues of leadership prowess,popularity and acceptance of candidates to the electorate before such is picked as party flag bearer.

    “Our primary would be conducted at a date which would be fixed within the period which INEC allows by which time the flag bearer of the party would emerge”.

    The statement said it would not leave anybody in doubt as regards the rumour being peddled and to state equivocally that the party has no anointed candidate.

    It called on PDP supporters in the state to continue to blossom in the enviable sanity which it said has continued to exist within the party.

  • Commissioners call for health reforms, financing

    Lagos State Commissioner for Health Dr Jide Idris, and his  Ogun and Kwara state’s counterparts, Dr Babatunde Ipaye and Mr Abolaji Alege, have canvassed proper financing, capacity building and health reform to move the sector forward.

    According to Idris, stakeholders need to pressure the government to fund healthcare and ensure the sector is reformed.

    Idris spoke in Lagos during PharmAccess Strategy Day on Nigeria. The theme was Making health markets work for low-income people in Nigeria.

    The major problem, Idris said, lies with those who run the country’s health system, stressing that many lacked the capacity to function effectively.

    “Many of them are not computer literate. This was disturbing as it did not allow for improvement in the use technology in the hospitals,” he said.

    He said the reality of poor funding of the sector came to the fore during the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the country.

    “When Ebola struck, we saw issues of logistics coming up. But we the government what we need and the money came,” he said.

    Idris whose topic centred on health delivery and sustainability, said technology has a role to play in improving access to healthcare delivery system.

    Dr Ipaye identified poor funding of healthcare as the primary issue affecting the growth of the sector.

    He advised the Federal Government to invest in the sector, adding: “Nobody can give what he does not have”.

    The Ogun State Health commissioner said the present three percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to healthcare was poor, stressing that more fund should be invested in the sector.

    Ipaye said the country’s per capita income has bearing on the state of health.

    The Country Director, PharmAccess Foundation Nigeria, Njide Ndili said her organisation was interested in increasing access to inclusive quality health care for low income communities in Nigeria.

    According to her, lack of access to inclusive quality health care is one of the primary challenges facing Nigeria.

    This, she said, was in spite of the efforts being undertaken by stakeholders in the industry.

    She said the programme was organised to facilitate discuss among key players to get response from stakeholders, long standing partners, new and potential partners.

    The programme, she said, would enable the company find a way forward to advance access to quality healthcare to low income communities.