The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo govt

  • High debt profile not worrisome to us, says Edo Govt

    GOING by the record of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Edo State is trailing Lagos State on Nigeria’s foreign debt profile list.

    However, the government (Edo) said that “there is cause for alarm”, allaying fears that the state’s foreign debt profile was worrisome.

    It argued that the credits which the state enjoys were accessed as a result of the state’s transparent governance and prudent financial management.

    Lagos, Edo, Kaduna and Cross River states, in that order, topped the list of sub-nationals with high external debts, according to the DMO record.

    In a statement, Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, said the state government prioritises sustainable development and judicious use of state funds, which is what has enabled it to promptly access the low-interest credit from multilateral organisations.

    He argued that it was erroneous to assume that foreign credits are bad, noting that they help to fast-track development at the lowest cost of funds possible.

    The statement reads: “Foreign credits usually come with single, lower digit interest rates, ranging from one to five per cent. They carry many years of moratorium, that is, a period within the tenure of the loan when the borrower is not required to make repayment. This gives the borrower more time to bring development to the people and therefore increase the capacity to repay the loan.

    “Contrary to opinion by less informed people that ranking as the second state in the country after Lagos with the highest foreign debts portfolio is a negative feat, it is actually a positive development because this simply indicates that Edo State, like Lagos and Kaduna states, are the few states in the country with the requisite level of transparency in governance to access the huge international pool of development financing to help improve infrastructure and enhance the living standards of the ordinary people.”

    He stressed that what the most important was that the Governor Obaseki-led government is putting every penny sourced from the Federation Account, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and international development financing to judicious use to improve the lives of the people.

    He said: “In less than three years, Obaseki’s government has constructed more roads than previous governments were able to do in 16 years. We have revamped and rebuilt basic education almost to the point of re-invention.

    “There is a primary healthcare revolution currently going on in Edo State, as well as the big-ticket transactions of the Benin River Port, Benin Industrial and Enterprise Park, the Benin Modular Refinery Project and many more, where we are making steady progress.”

    According to him, many of the states that are ranked low on foreign debts in the DMO records would have preferred that they had the requisite governance structure and transparency in financial management to access funds from international development finance institutions.

  • Police quiz Edo PDP chairman for accusing government of rice diversion

    Police quiz Edo PDP chairman for accusing government of rice diversion

    The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, ( PDP ) in Edo State, Chief Dan Orbih, is currently being quizzed at the state police command over comments that the state government diverted bags of rice meant for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

    Orbih’s questioning was based on a petition sent by Governor Godwin Obaseki to the state Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, on the need for the police to make the PDP chief present facts on the allegations.

    Orbih arrived the police command headquarters at 10:17a.m. in company of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and a large crowd of PDP supporters.

    Orbih and few party leaders headed for the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police.

    A huge crowd of PDP supporters besieged the entrance gate of the command as they were not allowed into the command’s premises.

    He had alleged that 4,721 bags of rice out of the 6,822 bags donated by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to IDPs at Ohogua village in Ovia North East local government area of the state were diverted.

    Other items the NCS donated to the IDPs were 76 cartons of vegetable oil, 100 sacks of used shoes and 20 pairs of used shoes.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Edo reduces 2017 budget estimate by 16.49%

    Edo reduces 2017 budget estimate by 16.49%

    The Edo Government said on Friday it has reduced the state 2017 budget to N127.92 billion from N153. 9 billion earlier estimated.

    The decision was taken by the state executive council and communicated through a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr. Paul Ohonbamu.

    The statement said after careful deliberation and examination, the 2017 budget estimate of about N153.19 billion was cut down to N127.92 billion, representing 16.49 per cent reduction.

    The government said the reduction was necessitated by the creation of new ministries as well as the current economic realities in the country.

    It also said the new budget estimate would be sent to the State House of Assembly for consideration and passage.

    NAN

  • Uwa Primary School Attack: Situation under control – Edo Govt

    Uwa Primary School Attack: Situation under control – Edo Govt

    …police nabs two suspects

    The Edo State Government has condemned the attack on the Headmaster of Uwa Primary School, Mr. S. I. Imafidon, assuring the school and residents in the area that the state is on top of the situation.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education and Sole Administrator, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, said this in response to the attack on the headmaster by some hoodlums at the school premises on First East Circular Road in Benin City, the state capital.

    It was gathered that some hoodlums invaded the school premises and attacked the headmaster, an incident which caused panic among students and teachers.

    Dr Osa Oviawe said that two suspects have been arrested in relation to the attack, adding that they are currently being held at the Esigie Police station.

    According to her, “The situation has been contained. Two persons suspected to be part of those who attacked the headmaster have been arrested. The headmaster was taken to the Specialist Hospital and he has been treated.”

    Noting that the state is keen on ensuring that school premises are safe for learning, she said, “We want to assure the pupils and their parents that we are on top of the situation. Normalcy has returned to the school and we are working to ensure that the situation remains that way.”

     

  • Edo suspends four principals over illegal levies

    Edo suspends four principals over illegal levies

    Edo State Government has suspended four secondary school principals for allegedly collecting illegal levies from new students.

    The suspended principals were alleged to have collected between N11,000 and N20,000 for school uniforms as against N3,000 for Junior Secondary School (JSS) and N4,000 for Senior Secondary School (SSS) approved by the state government.

    Those affected are Glory Omorodion of Oka Junior Secondary School, Mrs. Victoria Okuonghae of Niger College Junior School, Mrs. Cecilia Isibor of Idogbo Junior Secondary School and Mr. Bright Omorogie of Idogbo Senior Secondary School.

    The state Commissioner for Education, Dr. Christopher Adesotu, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Benin City on Thursday, said the affected principals have been referred to the Post- Primary Education Board for disciplinary action.

    The commissioner said several warnings and circulars have been issued by the state government to school principals to stop collection of illegal levies but some of them ignored the directives.

    Adesotu said he uncovered the principals’ action when he interracted with some students during his visit to some schools.

    The commissioner said he discovered that some students paid N11,000, N16,000 and N20,000 for school uniforms.

    He warned Chief Inspectors of Education in the state to be alive to their responsibilities.

    The Chairman of Edo State Post- Primary Education Board, Mr. Gabriel Oiboh, assured the commissioner that necessary disciplinary action would be taken after thorough investigation into the matter.

  • Edo govt to create investor-friendly environment

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki yesterday said his administration would support the Edo Exporters Cluster, a non governmental organisation, to establish processing centres for  non-oil exportable products.

    Obaseki spoke when members of the association visited him in Benin.

    The governor, who decried the high level of importation, said his administration would create enabling environment for private investors to promote economic growth in the state.

    He said the trend of importation was worrisome and should be discontinued in view of the drop in revenue from crude.

    According to him, there is need to invest in the non-oil sector and promote processing of local products for export.

    “When we said we were going to create 200,000 jobs, the jobs will not come from the government but from the private sector.

    ‘’We are investing in infrastructure development, especially in electricity and we plan to locate industrial parks where business clusters would thrive.

    ‘’Our goal is to be an enabler for businesses to thrive and not invest in business ventures,’’ Obaseki said.

    The governor said the state would make land available to the group to establish processing centres for products, such as cassava and yam for export.

    He commended the well-packaged products made by the group, assuring them that his administration was ready to help them grow their businesses.

    Obaseki said an Edo Business Bureau would be established and situated close to the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), to provide business information as well as fast track business transactions.

    Edo Coordinator of the group Ms Josephine Peters said the visit was to solicit the government’s support in promoting export of non-oil products from the state.

    Peters said the aim of the association, established by the NEPC, Benin zonal office in 2014, was to identify and encourage value addition to products from the non-oil sector in Edo for export purposes.

    She listed the projects of the group as creation of employment via ranching of native cattle, rearing of sheep, goats, and poultry and establishment of two processing centres in the state for processing of cassava and yam.

     

  • Odubu’s assassination theory false, says Edo govt

    Odubu’s assassination theory false, says Edo govt

    The government of Edo State yesterday reacted to the reported attack on Deputy Governor Pius Odubu.

    In a statement signed by Hon. Commissioner for Information and Orientation Kassim Afegbua, the government said: “Our attention has been drawn to newspaper reports and subsequent Press statement by the Odubu Campaign Organisation on the alleged assassination attempt on Dr Pius Odubu, the Deputy Governor of Edo State and a gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    “While we condemn in very strong terms the ugly incident at Auchi, we note, however, that the conclusion of the Odubu Campaign Organisation on alleged assassination attempt appears hasty as preliminary reports suggest that the fracas at Auchi was caused by thugs loyal to the Odubu campaign imported in two truck-loads to Auchi who attacked other party loyalists not sold to the Deputy Governor’s aspiration.

    “It is instructive to note that the Deputy Governor was inside the secretariat building of the APC in the company of the Party Chairman in  the Local Government, Alhaji Umoru Akokhia, addressing the delegates while  thugs loyal to him who had become unruly fired gunshots at other APC loyalists who were outside protesting against his visit.

    “We gathered authoritatively that the first shots were, in fact, fired by Odubu’s security detail in an attempt to scare away the party faithful who were against the hoodlums imported to their domain by the Odubu Campaign Organisation, before thugs loyal to him fired at the party’s loyalists.

    It should be noted that among those who sustained injuries are APC loyalists who are presently receiving medical attention in the hospital. It is laughable that the Odubu Campaign Organisation will allege that the Deputy Governor, with full compliments of security details, was shot at, yet no casualty was recorded on the other side and nobody apprehended.

    “Given the above scenario, we find it lousy for anyone to impute assassination theory as propounded by the Odubu Campaign Organisation, especially when investigations are still ongoing and the police are yet to submit their findings on the fracas. A responsible campaign organisation should have waited for investigation reports before jumping into reckless conclusions.

    “The Governor has already directed the Commissioner of Police to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the incident and whoever that is found culpable will be made to face the full wrath of the law, no matter how highly placed. It should be understood that democracy is all about inclusive participation and contestation of ideas, and not rule of the gun. Every gubernatorial aspirant who truly wants to govern the state must live by the rules of the game and not the size of his guns and political thugs. Campaigns are generally a very interesting aspect of democracy, hence, it must not be reduced to bloodletting.”

  • Tax enforcement: Edo Govt seals off 23 hotels

    Tax enforcement: Edo Govt seals off 23 hotels

    In continuation of the on-going tax enforcement exercise, the Department of Tax Intelligence and Enforcement of EIRS on Wednesday sealed off over twenty three  establishments in the hospitality industry   in Edo Central Senatorial District.

    The Nation reports that the hotels were sealed off for non-compliance with the Hotels and Event Centres Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Law of Edo State also known as Consumption Tax Law.

    In Esan West Local Government Area, establishments visited and sealed-off during the enforcement exercise include Eken International Hotel, Joefel Supreme Restaurants & Bar, Hotel Super Dee, Thy Will Hotels and Suits, Unique Mettle Hotel, Big Taste, Mimi Restaurant & Bar, Uncle Sam Hotel, Beverly Hills Hotels, Hotel De Torino, Zeke Hotel, Supreme Hotel, Big Taste Fast Food amongst others.

    While in Uromi, the Esan North East Local Government headquarters, about twelve establishments were sealed off. Those sealed-off include Lins Hotel Rodena restaurants, Samco Bensike Hotel, Citadel Hotel and Suits amongst others.

    Speaking during the enforcement exercise, the leader of the enforcement team and Director, Tax Intelligence and Enforcement Department, Mr. Victor Okube said “most hotels and eateries in Esan West Local Government Area were found not to be in compliance with the consumption tax law, and were subsequently sealed off.”

    He said “the exercise is not punitive but rather, it is to ensure that operators in the hospitality industry, who are also Agents of Collection, comply with the consumption tax law.”

    Mr. Okube expressed his displeasure over the recalcitrant attitude of managers of hotels, eateries, restaurants, event centres and their feigning ignorance of the existence of the Consumption Tax Law saying that “before the law became operational in November, 2011, the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue had a stakeholders meeting with all operators in the hospitality industry where they were registered as Agents of Collection, sensitized and educated on the administration and processes of the law in other to have a hitch free implementation and wondered why they claim not to be aware of the law.”

    Okube, who took time to educate operators and managers of hotels and eateries on the operations of the tax law, stated that “consumption tax is percent of total sum paid on goods consumed or services rendered in hotels, eateries, restaurants, use of hotel facilities or event centres in Edo State.”

    He warned owners and managers of sealed establishments not to temper with the instruments of distrain as breaking of government seal is a criminal and punishable offence.

    He said the enforcement exercise continues.

  • Edo govt, teachers’ unions bicker over assessment test

    THE Edo State government is going ahead today with the planned assessment test for primary and secondary school teachers on its payroll despite strong objection yesterday from the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the Academic Staff Union of Secondary School (ASUSS). The two unions directed their members to shun the test scheduled for three centres. But the State government insisted that the test would go on as planned. It said the assessment was to enable it ascertain teachers who might need assistance and level of training or retraining required as part of the determination of the Adams Oshiomhole administration to deliver an allround quality education for the Edo child. The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr.Louis Odion dismissed rumour of a court injunction restraining the government from going ahead with the exercise. “For the avoidance of doubt, Edo State Ministry of Justice is not aware of any such injunction,” Odion said, pointing out that “anyone who fails to write the Test will be deemed as constituting a clog in the wheel of our progress and, consequently, will have his or her name deleted from the payroll.” However, the NUT and ASUSS asked its members to stay away from the test. Administrative Secretary of ASUSS, Comrade Monday Anigala, in a statement in Benin City, said any attempt by the state government to go ahead with the assessment test would amount to contempt of court. This, he said, was based on an order from the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja restraining the state government and Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor led committee from conductimg any assessment test for secondary/ technical teachers in the state. Comrade Anigala urged the secondary school teachers to disregard any threat from the state government aimed at coercing them to writing the test in whatever form. Speaking separately, the State Secretary of NUT, Comrade Akin Adeojo , said members had been advised to stay way because the matter was already before the court . President of the Industrial Court, Justice B. Adejumo had on Thursday granted an interim injunction restraining the state government from conducting any competency test for the secondary school tutors. Justice Adejumo also restrained the state government from carrying out any act or doing anything inconsistent with the present employment of the claimants by withholding their salaries or terminating their appointments on the competency test

  • Edo govt to relocate school

    SUCCOR may soon come the way of pupils and staff of Etete Primary School in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, following the decision by the state government to relocate the school.

    Etete Primary School which is built under a Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria (PHCN) high tension line along Sapele road transmission station has 1110 students on admission.

    Disclosing the plans to relocate the pupils, the Commissioner for Basic Education, Patrick Agwinede, during an inspection tour of some schools in his ministry in Oredo Local Government Area, said this was to reduce the risk and danger posed to the pupils.

    Agwinede who just assumed duty as commissioner, said the ministry will no longer tolerate laxity and indiscipline on the part of staff and teachers, adding that attempt must be made to protect the various facilities that have been put in place by the state government aimed at creating conducive environment for learning and teaching.

    He said: “I am of the view that some of the risks we can avoid should be avoided. We have seen that since it is a very bad situation, I am strongly of the view that we make recommendation to the state government to relocate these pupils.”