The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo State

  • Obaseki, UBTH mull partnership on specialized healthcare, training of workers

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has said his administration will collaborate with the management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), to strengthen the Edo Health Improvement Programme (Edo-HIP) and offer more specialised health services to residents of the state.

    The governor disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the UBTH management led by the Chief Medical Director, Dr Darlington Obaseki, at the Government House, in Benin City, Edo State.

    Governor Obaseki said the partnership would help in curbing medical tourism in the state, as plans have reached advanced stage for the reestablishment of the state’s School of Nursing and Midwifery and upgrade it to world-class standard to ensure adequate training of health personnel.

    The governor described UBTH as a critical partner in the state’s healthcare sector, adding that the state government will enter an agreement with the management of the hospital to formalise the partnership as soon as possible.

    Read Also: Ramadan: Obaseki seeks prayers for Nigeria’s unity, progress

    Obaseki commended UBTH for its achievements since inception over 46 years ago, noting that the hospital has contributed to the health, social and economic sectors of the state.

    Earlier, the UBTH’s Chief Medical Director, Dr Obaseki, said the team visited the governor to inform him of the maiden edition of the hospital’s Founder’s Day celebration to be attended by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd) and his wife, alongside other dignitaries.

    Dr Obaseki said the hospital has recorded successes in carrying out specialised medical services and was ready to assist the state government-owned hospitals on similar services, noting, “The state’s hospitals need manpower in performing surgeries and we can assist in this area.”

    The CMD commended Governor Obaseki for his intervention programme in the health sector, especially the state government’s response to Lassa Fever and Yellow Fever outbreaks.

    According to him, the renovation of Primary Healthcare Centres and relative industrial harmony in the health sector are also part of the successes recorded by the Obaseki-led administration.

  • Manufacturers in high spirit as Edo Production Centre reaches 95% completion

    Manufacturers in Edo State are gearing to commence production at industrial scale with the assurance of stable power and other support structures as work at the Edo Production Centre has reached 95 per cent completion.

    The facility is a multipurpose, one-stop-shop for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) fitted with stable electricity, business support units and a number of other business enablers for efficient industrial production. Similar structures are to be built in Edo Central and Edo North senatorial districts of the state.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Job Creation and Skills Development, Mrs Ukinebo Dare, said work at the Edo Production Centre is at 95 per cent completion stage ahead of commissioning by Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    While conducting journalists around the facility in Sapele Road axis of Benin City, Dare said the government was collaborating with the Bank of Industry (BoI) for funding as the BoI has expertise in industrialisation and production.

    She noted, “The facility is ready for production. The state government is providing 24-hour electricity, good road network, security, solar powered street lights, among others. The job is about 95 per cent complete and will be commissioned soon.

    Read Also: Edo restates commitment to Okpekpe race

    “In the very near future, we will see a complete transformation in terms of the quality of what we produce, capacity to produce and the number of jobs created by this Production Centre. We are looking forward to the commissioning of this project, which will come up in the next few weeks either on the last week of May or first week of June 2019.”

    A representative of fabricators and welders to be hosted in the Edo Production Centre, Rev. Lugard Ekhosuehi Michael, said working space and electricity supply had been a major problem for us but with the setting up of the Centre, the problem has been eliminated.

    “The state government has provided space for us and promised 24-hours electricity supply as these are the problems we are faced with as welders and fabricators in the state,” Michael added.

    Cyril Okpeahior, who is handling the revamp of the facility, said the Centre has four blocks and will accommodate over 40 manufacturers with access to 24-hour electricity supply, adding that it will boast of good road network, security and solar powered street lights.

    He added that the facility is expected to aggregate different manufacturers and “will have sections for welding, metal and fabrication, polythene cut, printing, woodwork, recycling, shoemaking, among others.”

    Okpeahior described the Centre as the future of production as the state government will be partnering small scales industries, adding, “In less than four weeks the entire place will be ready for use.”

     

  • 75 percent of primary schools in Edo now use digital teaching tools, says Obaseki

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has said 75 per cent of schools in Edo State now deploy digital teaching tools under the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) programme, a new pedagogy that prioritises a more pragmatic, 21st century approach to teaching and learning in Edo schools.

    He added that despite competing demands for limited resources, his administration will ensure that available funds are used to provide functional basic education to Edo children.

    The governor disclosed this while inspecting primary schools under the Edo-BEST programme on the first day of resumption of academic activities in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    “75 per cent of our schools are under Edo-BEST and we have 25 per cent to go. We have ordered 25,000 seats for our pupils which is under production. The school furniture is being constructed at the Benin Technical College now Government Science and Technical College (GSTC) and others will come from the Edo Production Center. All the furniture is being made locally here in the state,” he added.

    He said, “All Edo-BEST schools have books and it is not cheap but quite expensive. Each child in the programme costs money. Our schools are now well organised and the level of participation of our pupils is high. I am impressed that the training we have given to our teachers and administrators is yielding results.”

    Obaseki said the state has limited resources, but is sourcing for funds from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), to revamp basic education in the state. He added that as soon as the state gets more funding, more schools in the state will benefit from the ongoing reforms implemented through the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

    Read Also: Obaseki resumes, presides over exco meeting

    “When people complain that we are not distributing money, they should know that we don’t have enough to train the children. So, where do we get money to give out? We don’t have all the resources, but we are sourcing for funding from UBEC and as soon as we get more funding, we will spread the Edo-BEST programme across all our schools,” the governor added.

    Obaseki said his administration will deploy more resources to ensure the education sector is transformed, noting, “We will strive very hard to ensure the education sector is transformed if I am allowed to use state resources to train our children.”

    The governor, who inspected Ivbiotor Primary School and Itohan Primary School, in Benin City, said his administration has trained about 9,000 teachers under the Edo-BEST programme.

     

     

  • Ramadan: Obaseki seeks prayers for Nigeria’s unity, progress

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has urged Muslim faithful to imbibe the virtue of piety and pray for Nigeria’s unity and progress with the commencement of the Ramadan fast.

    The governor said the sacred month of Ramadan is a period for Muslims in the state and across the country to draw close to God, live in peace with their neighbours and dedicate themselves to the virtues of charity and sacrifice.

    According to him, “As Muslim Faithful in the state and across the world commence the Ramadan fast, I urge them to uphold the hallmarks of the period which include commitments to family, faith and community.

    Read Also: Obaseki resumes, presides over exco meeting

    “The period is a time of reflection and dedication to God and as Muslim faithful observe this sacred devotion, they should remember to pray for peace, unity and progress in Nigeria.

    “I also urge Muslims in Edo State to pray for the progress of the state as they have always and ask that Almighty Allah continue to direct and guild those in the position of authority so they will continue to do His will.”

    The governor said the state government has benefited immensely from the prayers of Muslims, especially during the month of Ramadan, urging them to continue in the tradition.

    “As a government, we have enjoyed the support and prayers of Muslims faithful whose prayers have continued to guide us in delivering a better, rewarding life to Edo people,” he added.

     

     

  • Revenue collection: Edo repositions councils for service delivery

    Before January 1, 2017, the 18 local government areas in Edo State were in wretched state. The total monthly revenue generated by the local governments was a paltry N30 million. It was a usual sight to see local government workers and pensioners in the streets of Bénin-City protesting non-payment of salaries and pension arrears.

    What made the councils broke was simple. The revenue collection was in the hands of private individuals. It was used as political patronage for party leaders who pay peanuts to the councils’ coffers.

    It, therefore, became difficult for elected council officials to execute projects as the allocation from Abuja and the paltry IGR could not pay salaries and pension. The individuals collecting the revenue were seen as major determinants to securing victories during elections. So, they were regarded as sacred cows.

    On January 1, 2017, Governor Godwin Obaseki dropped a bombshell that shocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders across the state. He banned the use of contractors for collection of revenue for both the state and local government areas, even as he insisted that government is capable of collecting its revenue.

    Before Obaseki announced the ban, he had asked his Deputy, Philip Shaibu, to head a committee on revenue.

    Shaibu met severally with various stakeholders and the so-called tax consultants and advised them on the need to diversify. He told them to bring their boys to be trained by the state government on the new system to be introduced. The tax consultants refused and thought the state government would not risk taking revenue collection from them.

    The Deputy Governor scouted over 900 boys who were trained as enforcers. Their duty was to ensure that market women, drivers and others pay the appropriate rates and levies.

    Governor Obaseki introduced e-ticketing and directed officials of local government to collect revenue. The e-ticketing yielded good results as daily income of over N500, 000 was realised daily from nine locations in Oredo against N42, 000 that was previously remitted by the private contractors.

    In Esan West, the daily revenue generated was between N68,000 and N108,000 daily but the new method increased it to between N1 million and N1.5 million daily. Oredo Local Government Area raked in over N40 million within the first five months.

    Currently, only six local government areas in Edo State owe salary arrears from between three and 12 months before 2017. The increased revenue has also made payment of retirees of local government to be paid promptly.

    Some councils such as Ikpoba-Okha can now pay salaries without waiting for allocations from  the Federal Government. Esan South East launched a transport scheme without borrowing money from any financial institution. The total monthly revenue of the 18 local government areas is above N220 million.

    Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area, Patrick Aguinede, said he looked forward to collecting N20 million monthly as IGR.

    “If I get N20 million monthly, why will I not construct roads? Why will I not make health centres functional? Why will I not provide basic amenities and pay salaries? My desire is to raise money to satisfy the people,” he said.

    Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Jimoh Ijegbai, a lawyer, said the chaotic system of revenue collection has been buried and would not be allowed to return.

    Ijegbai noted that the new system driven by technology has brought sanity and blocked leakages.

    He said: “We are witnesses to the chaotic system of revenue collection before now. Obaseki government is based on the rule of law where force is not allowed.  A system where they will beat people up to collect revenue is dead.

    “The first thing Obaseki did was to ensure a harmonised revenue collection law was passed in 2017. In January before the law was passed, the total monthly revenue collection for the 18 local government areas was N33 million. At the close of last year, it has jumped to over N210 million monthly.

    “It has brought civility in whatever we are doing. It is cashless policy and it is driven by technology. In four local government areas where we are now using scratch cards, we got dealers interested in partnering with the government. They buy the cards from government and go back and sell to the drivers. We eliminated leakages in the system. The merit of the new system is that it is more civil, blocks leakages and enhanced collection of revenue.

    “Across the 18 local government areas, you can see most of them doing very well. They are now embarking on development projects. Esan South East Local Government Area just floated a transport line without borrowing money from any financial institution. Ikpoba-Okha that was hitherto indebted has cleared all the arrears.

    “We have eliminated consultants in this new system. We don’t allow consultants collect our revenue. We now have enforcers who go out to ensure the scratch cards are actually used. These people are meaningfully engaged across the 18 local government areas in collaboration with road transport unions. We have eliminated double collections.

    “The governor made it clear that those who were collecting revenues before can fit into the new system. Those who want to learn are free. We are open; the government is transparent in its dealings. They are amenable to training. We did not bar anybody from keying into the new system. We want to be civil in what we are doing.”

    Critics of Governor Obaseki, especially those opposed to his second term ambition, said the disbandment of the private revenue collectors led to lots of job loss as boys hitherto engaged are now roaming the streets.

  • Obaseki resumes, presides over exco meeting

    After a one-month annual leave, Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has hit the ground running once again by presiding over the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting on Thursday, intensifying his efforts to marshal resources to provide a better, rewarding life for Edo people.

    The governor arrived Benin City, on Wednesday, after his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu acted as governor for a month. He had set a precedent by being the first governor in the state to transfer power to his deputy while on annual leave in the current democratic dispensation.

    At the EXCO meeting on Thursday, the governor expressed appreciation to his deputy for gallantly holding fort while he was away, noting that his performance has shown Edo people the smooth working relationship they both share as well as their uniform vision for the development of the state.

    Read Also: Obaseki dismisses rift with Oshiomhole

    Obaseki commended other members of the EXCO for ensuring a stable state of affairs while he was on vacation, noting that their commitment to the development of the state was remarkable.

    After the executive council meeting, the governor had a strategy session with core members of his team, which include the deputy governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu; Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., and his Chief of Staff, Chief Taiwo Akerele.

    He also held private meetings with the Management Team from Uber and as well as Barr. Olatunji Yusuf, Edo State Commissioner for Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

  • Police parade suspected killer of 38 persons

    Edo State Police Command has paraded a 37-year old suspected serial killer cultist, believed to have killed 37 persons.

    The suspect, Frank Ikhenbor, was said to have been nabbed with two cut to size single barrel gunwhile on his way to kill another victim, one Mr. Osasumwen Evbuomwan.

    Another cut to size double barrel gun was recovered from his residence.

    Police Commissioner, Danmallam Abubakar, told newsmen on Thursday that Frank has killed as many as 38 persons.

    Read Also: Police parade three kidnappers in Osun

    But Frank denied the allegations saying he was a head of vigilante in his area at Sokponba road in Bénin City.

    “I have not killed anybody. I was arrested while doing vigilante. The guns were given to me by someone who is now abroad.

    “I was arrested three days after the guns were given to me.”

    Abubakar said the suspect would soon be charged to court.

  • Obaseki advocates channelling domestic savings to devt financing

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has made a case for channelling domestic savings to development financing instruments to spur development.

    The governor said this when he chaired the session on development financing at the induction of new and returning governors into the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), held in Abuja.

    The governor argued that the N200bn investment in agriculture which contributed to wrestling Nigeria out of recession was enough testament to the need to deploy development financing to revitalise the Nigerian economy.

    According to Obaseki, “The Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund, which we are investors as governors, has leveraged N5bn that we have given them to drive development in this country. It would make sense for us to take much of our domestic savings into our Sovereign Wealth Fund so that we can leverage more investment in our various states. The Central Bank, the Sovereign Wealth Fund and other development institutions have done well in the area of agriculture.”

    Read Also: Obaseki’s Edo Innovation Hub excites youths

    “With N200bn, we have been able to invest in agriculture and move the country out of recession. Does it not make more sense for us to commit more of our resources to develop our states,” he said.

    Noting that there was a need for states to channel funds to initiatives that guarantee greater returns and impacts for the people, he said, “Why should we be spending $6bn a year importing petroleum products. Does it not make more sense to use some of that money for development financing that would affect more Nigerians? The task is for us, the class of 2019,  to make the case to get more funding available to development financing institutions so that we, in turn, can get financing to drive projects in our states.

  • Workers’ Day: Obaseki lauds Edo workers’ dedication, dexterity

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has hailed the immense contribution of workers in the state to the development strides recorded in the last two and the half years of his administration, noting that their dedication, dexterity and focus in transforming the state deserves commendation.

    He restated the state government’s commitment to paying the new minimum wage of N30,000, noting that modalities are already in place to ratify the increase.

    The governor said this in commemoration of Workers’ Days, a celebration of labourers and the working class promoted by the International Labour Movement, marked every May 1. It is also known as May Day or Labour Day.

    Read Also: Obaseki’s Edo Innovation Hub excites youths

    The governor said the state government was committed to the welfare of workers and has demonstrated it with the reforms and revamp of infrastructure to assure a better work environment, work-life balance and after service benefits.

    According to him, “As we celebrate Workers’ Day, we appreciate the dedication, dexterity and steadfastness of Edo workers in transforming the state. We reiterate our commitment to building a globally-competitive workforce and commit to sustaining revamp of the civil service.

    “We will achieve this by remodelling the workplace, including the state secretariat; transitioning our workers to digital platforms for efficiency and sustaining health and pension reforms to serve them better.”

    He reiterated the state government’s decision not to sack workers but to retrain them to be more efficient and abreast with the latest trends in their field of expertise, noting, “We have reached an advanced stage in the construction of a building for staff training and have secured partnership with international organisations on capacity building for workers, including the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). This will help in building a globally-competitive workforce.”

    He added that the pension reforms have ensured that workers are migrated to the contributory pension scheme, which guarantees a better life during active service and in retirement.

  • Obaseki, newly elected governors meet at NGF parley

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has sought for areas of partnership with some of the newly elected state governors during the induction of new and returning governors into the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), holding in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    Governor Obaseki said Edo State has pioneered a number of reforms that would be beneficial to other state governors, noting that the state would be willing to compare notes and share its success stories with others. Rwandan President, Paul Kagame is expected at the event.

    Governor Obaseki in the company of his wife, Mrs Betsy, joined his colleagues at a dinner on Sunday ahead of an elaborate induction programme organised by the secretariat of the NGF for newly elected and returning governors holding from Monday to Tuesday.

    Mrs Obaseki is expected to take part in a separate programme for wives of the new governors focused on etiquette and protocol which will hold on Wednesday.

    Read Also: Obaseki: Thriving with politics of good nature

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is expected to represent President Muhammadu Buhari, who is on a private visit to the United Kingdom, during the event. Others expected at the event include former state governors from the United States of America (USA), who are expected to speak on Monday and Tuesday.

    Vice President Osinbajo will be speaking on the topic “The Journey So Far” on Tuesday.  Others expected at the event include Chairman of First Bank, Ibukun Awosika, and Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah, who will speak on Monday on the topic, “The Task of Nation Building.”