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Tag: Edo State government

  • Edo to recruit 204 teachers for technical, vocational education

    To further strengthen its Technical and Vocational Education sub-sector, the Edo State Government will in the coming weeks recruit not less than 204 teachers.

    The recruitment is being conducted through the Edo Jobs platform and will serve to fortify technical schools in the state with young, qualified teachers in the various subject and technical areas.

    Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Skills Development and Jobs, Mrs. Ukinebo Dare, said that the state’s Ministry of Education is recruiting the teachers through the Edo Jobs platform to ensure integrity, synergy, and transparency in the recruitment process.

    She said applicants will have to register on the platform to be considered for the roles, as Edo Jobs will be responsible for interviewing and shortlisting candidates and referring them to the ministry.

    According to her, “Companies in Edo State recruit through our portal as we have a pool of job seekers who we train and prepare for the workplace. At the moment, the state government has about 204 vacancies for vocational and general studies teachers and other non-teaching staff in schools. Applicants can access the vacancies on the Edo Jobs site.”

    The state government needs graduates to teach the following: Electrical Installation and Maintenance Work, Motor Vehicle Mechanic Work, Business Studies, Block Laying/Concreting (building), Engineering Drawing, Welding and Fabrication, Hotel and Catering, Carpentry and Joinery, Mechanical Engineering Craft Practice and Radio and Television Repairs Work, among others.

    The vacancies in the general studies category include those for English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Civic Education, Home Economics, Economics, Commerce, Computer Science, Refrigeration and Air-condition.

    Non-teaching staff required include Laboratory Attendants (physics, chemistry, biology); Workshop Demonstrators, Typists, and Clerical Assistants, among others.

     

  • Edo trains 150 youths in Career Kickstarter Programme

    Edo State Government has commenced a three weeks employability skills training for 150 youths in its Career Kickstarter programme to equip them with relevant technical and soft skills for the workplace.

    The state’s Skills Development platform, EdoJobs, organised the training after short-listing participants from its database. The 150 youths are the second batch of trainees under the Career Kickstarter programme, being executed by GidiJobs.

    Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Skills Development and Jobs, Mrs. Ukinebo Dare, said that the Career KickStarter Programme was developed to help disadvantaged youths become competitive and employable within the job market.

    “It is a career building platform aimed at bridging the gap between the knowledge gained from the formal education sector and the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to function effectively in today’s global work environment,” she said.

    Read Also: Obaseki promises to complete NYSC Orientation Camp

    She noted that the initiative is being championed in a bid to create 200,000 jobs by 2020 by the Governor Godwin Obaseki led-administration, adding that the training will culminate in a jobs fare.

    According to her, the modules to be taken includes, business writing, accounts for non-Accountants, problem-solving and use of initiative, workplace ethics and telephone etiquette, professional dress sense and confidence building.

    Others, she said, are excellence in customer service, selling skills and Information and Communication Technology skills.

    She said the target is for beneficiaries to become directly engaged/self-sufficient upon completion of their training.

  • Press Bus accident: Edo refurbishes, hands over accidented vehicles

    The Edo State Government has handed over two vehicles that were damaged in the accident involving the Government House Press Corps Bus, to their owners, after refurbishment.

    The refurbished vehicles, a Toyota Corolla saloon car with Registration Number FC 291-APP belonging to Ezeora Obiora, and a Honda Civic saloon car with Registration Number USL 380-AH belonging to Mr. Obi Charles Ifechukwu, were handed over to the Nigeria Police Force at the Government House, in Benin City.

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Taiwo Akerele, said the vehicles were refurbished and handed-over to the Police for onward delivery to the owners.

    He said the handing-over was a fulfilment of the governor’s promise, noting, “The handing over was done as we operate a responsive government that cares for its people and take responsibility for its actions.”

    Obaseki  said the state government took care of the hospital bills of all the victims of the accident as promised, adding “All the victims were adequately attended to as the state government ensured that the medical bills were cleared.”

    He expressed appreciation to the owners of the vehicles for their patience and understanding, adding, “we also appreciate the level of professionalism displayed by the Nigeria Police while investigating the cause of the accident.”

    The Chief Executive Officer, Lady Mechanic Initiative, Sandra Aguebor, whose company refurbished the vehicles, said the state government made real its promise to refurbish the vehicles, adding that the vehicles were in better working condition.

    Recall that a bus assigned to the Press Unit of the Edo State Government House was involved in an accident on its way from an official assignment, on March 14, opposite the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), in Benin City.

    The medical bills of all the victims of the accident were settled by Governor Obaseki when he visited the patients in the hospital, including the bills of a medical doctor, a mother with her five-year-old child, Freeman Okoro, whose cancer treatment has been taken over by the state government.

  • Ireland lauds Obaseki’s reintegration plan for Libya returnees 

    Impressed by the Edo State government’s holistic plan for receiving and reintegrating Libya returnees, the  Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria, Sean Hoy, has expressed his country’s readiness to collaborate with the state government in training the returnees on technical and vocational skills to become self-reliant and employers of labour.

    The envoy disclosed this when he led a delegation of Irish diplomats on a courtesy visit to the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State.

    He commended the efforts of the governor at curbing illegal migration and human trafficking, noting, and “Providing the youths with means through which they can acquire skills is a significant step in curbing illegal migration, modern-day slavery and human trafficking”.

    “We have identified ways we can assist the state in training these youths. We are in talks with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on the training of returnees. We want the returnees in Edo State to benefit from the programme.

    “It is important for us to show love and empathy to the returnees and assist them to acquire skills which will provide them with opportunities to seek gainful employment,” he added.

    In his response,  Governor Obaseki said the state government has a comprehensive work plan with clear strategies for curbing illegal migration which includes providing youths with technical and vocational skills.

    He said his administration is partnering with the European Union (EU) to empower the youths. He commended the Irish Government for offering to support the state government in empowering Edo youths.

    The governor told his guests that statistics gotten from about 3,082 returnees of Edo State origin showed that 77 per cent were males; 79 per cent of the returnees sponsored themselves for the journey; while 81 per cent of them embarked on illegal migration voluntarily.

     

  • China Harbour intensifies work on Gelegele Seaport

     

    …Edo Govt. sees record time delivery of project

     

    The Edo State Government has said that efforts to industrialise the state is gaining momentum as China Harbour Engineering Company Limited intensifies work on the development of the Gelegele Seaport in Benin City.

    Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said “we are excited at the pace of work on the project. We foresee the delivery of this project well ahead of the scheduled delivery date.

    “Our partner, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited is living up to its billing as its personnel have been on ground for over about two months now. They have been working round the clock doing soil testing, ground mapping, following the aerial survey they did immediately they arrived Benin City, to ascertain the positioning of the facility in line with best environmental practice.

    “A visit to the site showed some de-watering, excavation and land reclamation work and the Project Execution Plan revealed that the Seaport will be delivered well ahead of the scheduled date of delivery.”

    Osagie added: “Governor Obaseki is in a hurry to transform Edo State into a state with solid industrial base. A lot of work is ongoing in the background to ensure that these projects are delivered in record time. It is not his style to create a buzz around projects.

    He further said: “The Edo Fertiliser and Chemical Company came on stream without any media hype until it was commissioned. The first phase of the Edo- Azura Power project was delivered in same manner and we are looking forward to receiving the first ship that will berth at the Gelegele Seaport. It will be a landmark event that will change the face of the state’s economy forever.”

    The governor’s Aide assured that with a functional port in Gelegele, Edo people and residents in the state will start enjoying the benefits of exporting and importing their goods to and from Europe/America, respectively.

    “We foresee the establishment of allied businesses such as tank farms, private dry ports and others, that by default go with seaports,” he added.

    China Harbour in January, began the execution of the project with an in-depth assessment of the Gelegele Seaport Report submitted by the Engr. Greg Ero-led Technical Committee on the Actualisation of the seaport, to the state government.

    The company with over 90 branches and operating in about 100 countries across the world commenced operations in 1994, is handling various projects in Nigeria including Calabar, Warri ports and most recently, the $1billion Lekki Deep Seaport.

    Read Also: Gelegele Seaport: Edo, Navy strengthen ties to deliver project

  • Why NMA, Edo Govt talks end in deadlock

    Ongoing talks between the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA)  and the Edo State Government are not yielding results because of the demands for 100 percent wage increment by the doctors.

    The 21 days ultimatum issued by the NMA to the Edo State to meet its demands will expire on Sunday and the NMA has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike action if the demands are not met.

    Among the demands of the NMA are revamping of the health sector, employment of more doctors, addressing decayed infrastructure in the state government owned hospitals and boosting of morale of doctors through payment of good salaries.

    Government sources however said the NMA was only interested in the increment of doctors’ salaries and not concerned about infrastructure in the hospital.

    The source said Governor Obaseki offered 25% pay rise with a promise to increase it in the next four years but the NMA insisted on 100 percent pay rise.

    According to the source, “The NMA is looking for a situation where a doctor will be earning over N1m monthly and not really concerned about the decayed infrastructure.

    “Governor Obaseki has opened up on his robust plans for the health sector  but the NMA wanted the pay rise. If Obaseki agreed to pay them high salary now, they will forget other things they are talking about.

    “This administration is sincere about revamping the health sector and not the approach of the NMA.”

    Reacting to the demand of the NMA, Governor Obaseki said they were unrealistic.

    Obaseki said arrangements were on for private health care providers to offer essential services to patients in state government hospitals during the period of the strike action

    His words, “We believe that the doctors’ demands are unrealistic, having been part of the steps taken so far to improve the conditions of service of medical doctors in the state. They see what we are doing and yet have threatened to go on strike because I cannot afford to fulfil 100 per cent of their demands.”

    “We agree with their demands but cannot afford all the demands now, rather we will spread them across four years of this administration, but the Edo NMA rejected the offer and insists on embarking on strike.

    “We are looking at various ways to execute our health reforms but will not allow anyone to blackmail us. We have been open, honest and have carried NMA along in all our activities till date. We will be talking to private health practitioners to help us and I have told them that I cannot afford all their requests at once. We are already making backup plans to take care of our people, if we are constrained to.”

    Read Also: NMA accuses Obaseki of insincerity

  • Edo hands over father, two sons to police for defiling 9-yr-old child

     

    The Edo State government has handed over 70 years old Francis Ezomo, and his two sons; Nosa Ezomo, 26 years old and Festus Ezomo, 29 years old, to the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnson Kokumo, for allegedly defiling a nine-year-old girl, who is a relative of Mr Francis Ezomo’s wife.

    The Acting Chairman of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Basic Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, told journalists after the suspects were handed over to the Police at Government House, Benin City, that the case was reported to her office by the headmistress of the minor.

    “The issue came to the limelight when the headmistress of the minor’s school noticed a change of behaviour in the minor and decided to ask her what the problem was. The nine years old girl narrated her ordeal to the headmistress who then informed the Education Secretary of the local government council where the alleged crime took place. We then swung into action and got the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development involved,” Dr. Oviawe said.

    The SUBEB boss added that when “we could not get the necessary action required from the Police, the state government swung into action and these three men were apprehended almost immediately.”

    She explained that the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has taken custody of the child who is now in a safe place and assured that SUBEB would ensure that her education is not truncated.

    “What the men have done is bad and their actions have attempted to destroy the life and future of the minor. The three men took advantage of the child and exposed her to trauma. We have waded into the case to ensure justice prevails,” Oviawe said.

    The commissioner of police assured that his men would investigate the allegation and charge the case to court.

    “Scientific investigation for the minor was sent to the hospital and a doctor report has shown that her hymen has been broken. The scientific report has established that the minor was sexually abused. We will investigate the case and charge them to court,” Kokumo said, and urged parents not to leave the duty of nurturing their children to teachers in schools.

    “Nurturing a child is not just the responsibility of the school, both parents and guardians have a lot of roles to play in the proper training up of our children,” the police boss said.

    Read Also: http://staging.thenationonlineng.net/obaseki-orders-arrest-killers-three-persons-edo-central/

  • Edo invites batches 41, 42 pensioners for verification, payment

    In continuation of the payment of pension arrears in the state, the Edo State Government has called on pensioners in batches 41 and 42 to present themselves for physical and documentary verification exercise.

    In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary/Chairman, Pension Bureau, Inih-ivibodohu D.S. Juwobor, the state government said the verification exercise for those in batches 41 and 42 will take place at the Imaguero Hall, Benin City on Monday 26th, Tuesday 27th and March 2018.”

    Juwobor said those who missed the exercise in the past will be allowed to partake in the exercise so that they can claim their arrears.

    According to him, “Pensioners in batches 37, 38, 39 and 40 who failed to participate in previous verification exercise will be verified and screened alongside pensioners in batches 41 and 42.”

    He urged the pensioners to check the Office of the Head of Service on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd March 2018 for the list of pensioners in batches 41 and 42, adding, “Pensioners whose names appeared on the list should go to the venue of the verification exercise with: Pension Authority; Retirement Letter; Letter of First Appointment; Pension I.D. Card; Biometric Slip; and Bank details including bank name and Account Number.”

    “At the end of the verification exercise, the outstanding pension arrears will be credited into the pension account of each pensioner, shortly after due process and documentation by the relevant agencies involved in the payment process, are concluded,” he added.

    Read Also: Edo Govt. reinstates commitment to attract investors

     

  • ‘Edo prudent with debts, proceeds utilised to drive devt’

    The Edo State Government has flayed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state for making unfounded claims of the state’s debt status, noting that the party was being mischievous with facts.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the state government has been prudent with external borrowings incurred since the All Progressives Congress (APC) came on board and has utilised all the credits judiciously to fund developmental projects.

    Osagie said a significant portion of the debts the state is currently paying off was incurred by the PDP government in the state at the height of its dubious foray into borrowing, for which it got so notorious in squandering, that several multilateral organisations blacklisted the state from their financing facilities.

    According to him, “As at today, Edo state is still paying a N30 billion debt taken from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the development of water infrastructure. There is also a Union Bank loan taken and put in the balance sheet of Edo Line. These are besides several other such borrowings, which officials of the PDP government took privately and converted to state liability. The State Government is still paying all these debts.”

    Osagie said that it was disheartening that an entity that exhibited the most primitive understanding of public finance would then come out to make unfounded claims about the prudent management of the state’s finances by a globally renowned investment banker.

    He said, “The PDP is still raising evil guts to talk about these debts, when in fact, they are the ones who threw the state into the debts. The PDP were so irresponsible in debts and loans that the World Bank placed a ban on Edo State government. These loans were of single digit interest and the moratorium ran into 10 years.”

    He noted that it was not until the APC came into government and reformed the state’s finance, that they were able to access these financing facilities from multilateral organisations.

    Osagie added, “It was during the reign of the PDP that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) pulled out of the state because of the irresponsibility of the government at the time. The PDP lacks the credibility and moral standing to make any comment.

    “They are made up of people who lack the capacity to frugally allocate resources for positive outcomes. Debts at low interest rates are actually good for development and shows the state as viable. It is even better when the debts are used to fund developmental projects.”

    Read Also: Okomu expansion project to create 40,000 jobs in Edo

  • Doctors’ Strike: ‘We will adopt holistic approach to health sector reforms’

    …appeals to doctors to go back to work

    Worried by the recurring strike actions by medical doctors and other workers in the health sector, the Edo State government said work on a holistic plan for workers in the sector has reached advanced stage.

    Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, said the health sector is a major pillar of the government’s overall policy framework for the state and appealed to the striking workers to be patient with the state government.

    Osagie said: “The Edo State Government is adopting a holistic approach to the reform of the health sector in the state. We urge the health professionals to exercise some patience as hasty and tokenistic efforts cannot produce the high standard of healthcare which the Obaseki-led government has envisioned for Edo people.

    “The plans have been made and partners are being sourced, and in good time, the results will manifest.”

    He added that the governor has tremendous respect for health workers and will not turn a deaf ear to issues that affect their welfare.

    “As you are aware, Governor Obaseki is passionate about getting the health sector to contribute significantly to his administration’s overall goal. This informs his personal involvement in health care programmes, from immunisation to the distribution of long lasting insecticidal nets and the commitment to the construction of primary health care centres across the state.”

    The governor’s aide assured that the health sector will receive more than the usual attention in the months that will follow the unveiling of the reforms for the sector.

    Read Also: Doctors strike: Patients urged to resolve issues