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Tag: Edo

  • 2019 budget scales 2nd reading in Edo Assembly

    The Edo 2019 Appropriation Bill on Monday passed second reading at the state House of Assembly.

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki had on Nov. 26 presented a budget of N175 billion to the assembly for consideration.

    Leading the debate on the bill, the Majority Leader, Mr Roland Asoro (APC -Orihonmwon South), said that the budget was well-structured to cater for infrastructure, education, investment promotion, health and agriculture among others.

    “This budget tagged “Budget of Socio-economic inclusion was designed in such a way that it touches all constituencies in terms of road construction and provisions of social amenities to the people,’’ he said.

    In his contribution, the chairman house committee on appropriation, Mr Damian Lawani( APC -Etsako Central) said the budget would consolidate on the past achievements of the State Government.

    Read Also: National Sports Festival: Obaseki visits Edo contingent

    “More attention will be given to infrastructural development with the money appropriated for capital expenditure,” he said.

    Other lawmakers unanimously supported the passage of the bill.

    The Speaker, Kabiru Adjoto, thereafter referred the bill to the house committee on appropriation for further legislative action.

  • Judicial reform: Edo intensifies work on Judges’ Quarters

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured that the ongoing construction of judges’ quarters in Benin City, by the state government, is part of plans to re position the state as the judicial hub in the South-South region.

    The governor, who said this while inspecting the houses,  explained that the project is in line with his administration’s promise to build decent and comfortable houses for judges in the state.

    According to him, “Our goal is to ensure that by the end of 2019, we would have enough accommodation for all our judges in the state. It is not only for judges in the State High Court but also judges of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. Judges who are posted to work in the state will also enjoy the accommodation.”

    Read Also: Edo to model oil palm sector after sugar industry – Obaseki

    He said that the first five units will be delivered before April 2019, noting that once they are completed, the state will start work on a 20-unit estate for judges by next year, which will be constructed around the Government Reservation Area (GRA).

    Obaseki said his administration has employed over 4,000 youths who are engaged at the various roads, building construction and other infrastructure sites across the state.

    He noted that the state is gradually fulfilling its electioneering promise to create 200,000 jobs for Edo people and residents.

    Obaseki was accompanied on the inspection tour by his Chief of Staff, Chief Taiwo Akerele, and other top government officials.

  • Buhari appoints Nine new federal permanent secretaries

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of nine new Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service.

    The appointment was announced in a statement signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita.

    The list of the successful Federal Permanent Secretaries and their states of origin are as follows:

    Read Also: Buhari may present 2019 budget to NASS next week

    “Dr Bakari Wadinga, Adamawa, Dr M.K. Dikwa, Borno, Dr Ajani Magdalene N. Olor, Delta, Umakhihe Ernest Afolabi, Edo, Mbaeri Maurice Nnamdi, Imo, Babatunde Lawal, Lagos.

    “Engr. Festus Yusuf Narai Daudu, Nasarawa, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, Osun and Dr Musa Hanafi Moriki, Zamfara

    He said that the swearing in and assignment of portfolios would be announced in due course.

  • Edo athletes protest non-payment of allowances

    Edo athletes on Tuesday shut the gates of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, venue of the state’s training camp for the 19th National Sports Festival (NSF), against their coaches and other workers at the sports arena.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the athletes were protesting against the non-payment of their two weeks’ camp allowances.

    NAN reports that the protesting athletes, in their hundreds, prevented workers and other staff of the stadium from gaining entrance into the arena.

    The athletes said that they have been in camp for two weeks, training without the necessary facilities, feeding and transporting themselves to and from the stadium, for the morning and evening sessions.

    The athletes, who all joined in the protest, said they would no longer train for the sports festival, until their outstanding camp allowances were paid.

    Read Also: PDP chieftains seek Northwest votes for Atiku

    NAN reports that following about an hour of consultations between the athletes and the Edo Director of Sports, Sunny Airende, the athletes agreed to back down on the protest.

    Airende, who later addressed them, assured the athletes that efforts were being made to pay their outstanding allowances.

    He said although the money had been approved, it was yet to hit the camp, from where it would be withdrawn.

    According to him, “I am with you in this. Your camping allowances is not the only issue affected. As we speak, the state is yet to pay the participation fee for the festival.

    “Government officials had to rally round on Monday to raise some money for the advance team to travel on Tuesday, to make arrangements for accommodation, as well as pay the participation fee.

    “All I can assure you is that your camp allowances will surely be paid before you depart Benin for Abuja on Wednesday.’’

    NAN reports that the state is expected to be represented at the festival with 350 athletes.

  • Power outage in Edo will soon be over, BEDC

    Management of the BEDC Electricity Plc in charge of Edo, Delta, Ekiti and Ondo states has said that the power outage currently being experienced in parts of Benin City and environs would soon be a thing of the past.
    It said that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has made commitment to procure two 60mva transformers to replace the faulty  ones that plunged the state into darkness.
    Spokesman for the BEDC, Adekunle Tayo, told newsmen on Wednesday that the firm has put measures in place to ensure power is restored to affected areas before the two procured 60mva transformers are installed.
    Tayo said the new lines being installed at Okada in Ovia North East would soon be completed.

    Read Also: Edo budgets N7b for investment drive

    He debunked reports that Edo gets more power since the Azura Power Plant generates 600 megawatts of electricity.
    Tayo explained that whatever Azura generates is taken to the national grid before it is transmitted to the Discos across the country.
    According to him, “What happened at the transformer that caused all these was purely an accident and we have taken steps to connecting affected customers to other areas.
    “As a stop gap on the recent reduction in power supplied to Edo State on some feeders in Central Benin, arrangement was made to connect customers on the affected feeders to existing functional ones in a manner that would not overload the system and to provide supply albeit on limited basis, pending when normal supply”.

  • NCDC partners Edo to contain yellow fever outbreak

    •Plans are on to begin vaccination campaign

    Following a report of an outbreak of yellow fever outbreak in four local government areas in Edo State, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), World Health Organisation (WHO), in collaboration with Edo State Epidemiology, has said the state public health has commenced investigations to contain the situation.

    In a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, on the 21st of November, about nine cases tested positive for yellow fever and it awaits confirmatory result from the WHO Regional Reference Laboratory.

    His words “The Edo State Epidemiology Team is working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and World Health Organisation (WHO) to carry out a detailed investigation and response to the already confirmed cases”, he said.

    According to Ihekweazu, NCDC has deployed a rapid response team to support the state with contact tracing, risk communications and management of cases, adding that plans are to begin a vaccination campaign in the state in response to the cluster of cases.

    In addition to the vaccine, Dr. Ihekweazu enjoined the public to keep their environments clean and free of stagnant water to discourage the breeding of mosquitoes and use insecticide treated mosquito nets, screens on windows and doors to prevent mosquito bites.

    “This week, our sister agency NPHCDA flagged off a large yellow fever vaccination campaign, targeting 26 million children and adults (aged 9 months to 44 years) in six states: Niger, Plateau, Borno, Sokoto, Kebbi and the FCT. One dose of the yellow fever vaccine provides for life-long protection against the disease. We urge all Nigerians to get vaccinated and encourage their families, and neighbours to do the same.

    The NCDC reassures all Nigerians that we will continue to work with States and partners nationwide to ensure that the outbreak is curtailed.

     

  • Edo State House of Assembly: Blazing the trail

    The importance of the house of assembly of a state as a fundamental arm of government cannot be overemphasised. The duty of the legislature in any country is to make laws and legislate, as well as act as representatives of the people. To this end, effective legislation is a panacea for accelerated development and a catalyst for good governance.

    The story of a formidable state house of assembly in Nigeria will not be complete without the mention of Edo State House of Assembly, EDHA. Right from the inception of the fourth republic in 1999, EDHA has been a beehive of activities, sometimes breathtaking.

    Since the inception of democracy in 1999, it has been led by several speakers. Some were impeached in a most unconstitutional and questionable manner. In some cases, the hollowed chambers of the assembly complex was turned into a free-for-all.

    The harmonious working relationship existing between the executive and the legislature in Edo State is due to the understanding between the governor and the speaker. Check and balances can be carried out effectively in agreement. It does not necessarily have to be open confrontation.

    On Tuesday, 23rd October 2018, EDHA unanimously passed a vote of implicit confidence in the speaker of the house, Hon. Kabiru Adjotu, for his exemplary leadership qualities and outstanding charisma. Peace and tranquility has now been restored to the house.

    To all intent and purpose, the legislature as an organ of government is a veritable tool in effective and efficient delivery of the aims and objectives of government. The importance of legislature cannot be overemphasised. The slow implementation of budget occasioned most times by rift between the executive and legislative arm of government is quite worrisome. The function of parliament in any country is to make laws and legislate, as well as act as representatives of the people. By all standards effective legislating is a panacea for accelerated development, and a catalyst to good governance.

    However, few states in Nigeria enjoy harmonious working relationship between the three arms of government, notably between the executive and the legislature. Worthy of mention is Edo State.

    In Edo state, the fact speaks for itself. Hon. Kabiru Adjotu has brought sanity to legislative business in Edo State. Basically the house has indeed become a true house of assembly as against a house of commotion and comedy that it used to be prior to this very time.

    The synergy between the legislature, the executive and the judiciary in Edo state is quite commendable. Before now, just like some state house of assembly, EDHA used to by walloped in leadership struggle, supremacy, senatorial district tussle and friction with the executive organ of government in the state. But under the able leadership of Kabiru Adjotu, he has been able to unify the house and restore sanity to the legislative process. This is quite commendable and a good example of what a proactive legislature should be, and quite evident for the National assembly and other legislative houses all over the country to borrow a leaf from. Due to his courage, dexterity, sagacity, capacity, determination and will-power, the speaker has transformed EDHA to an amiable position with regards to the legislative and parliamentary functions in Nigeria.

    Bearing in mind that government is the amalgam of the people, the executive can function effectively and provide the basic necessities of life if there is an active and effective legislature to make laws for the good governance of the people. At any level whatsoever, the legislature is the representative of the collective will of the people. It is the symbol of democracy, and it should be active, distinct and independent.

    Only recently, students from the faculty of Law University of Benin, endeared by the leadership qualities of the speaker paid an academic visit to Edo state house of assembly to watch parliamentary proceedings. Consequently, they proposed some bills and urged the speaker to keep up the good works in ensuring that the state in particular and the nation in general have people oriented law for the good governance of the state, and the nation at large.

    • Peter Erekose, University of Benin, Benin City.

  • Edo solicits support to host 2020 NSF

    Edo State Government has declared its intention and readiness to host the 20th edition of the National Sports Festival in 2020.

    The Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu made the declaration while addressing sports journalists at the Government House Benin City.

    He stated: “Mr Governor has directed that I declare the intention of Edo state government to host and win the National Sports Festival in 2020 in furtherance of its transformation agenda in the sports sector. We are very serious and determined when we say we want to restore the lost glory of Edo in sports. Towards this end, the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium is undergoing renovation to bring the facilities to a world-class standard. We are also building 20 mini stadia across the 18 Local Government Areas in the state.

    Comrade Shaibu disclosed that government efforts have started paying off with the expected promotion of Bendel Insurance Football Club to the premier league, adding that the upgrading of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and other facilities like the swimming pool, lawn tennis court, tartan tracks, to the world-class standard have since commenced. He said the government has scrapped the state sports ministry and set up a sports commission headed by an executive chairman.

    The Deputy Governor stressed that 20 mini-stadia are being constructed across the 18 Local Government Areas with a view to promoting sports development at the grassroots. ”we are doing all these in preparation for the big unity festival in 2020.”

    According to the Deputy Governor:”we are not only hosting to win but to showcase other world-class facilities in sports. We want other states to support our bid because Edo is centrally located and accessible from every part of Nigeria. We have a rich culture, it is the home of hospitality and Edo is very peaceful. Edo state is the most secured state in the oil-rich Southsouth region. We are proud to say this.”

    Comrade Shaibu stated that a bill for a Sports Trust Fund has been sent to the State House of Assembly for adequate funding of the sports sector in partnership with the private sector. He also used the opportunity to unveil the chairman of the newly established Edo State Sports Commission, Godwin Dudu Orumen, a seasoned sports administrator. He assured that the letter of intent is ready for onward transmission to the Minister of Sports, next week.

  • Edo, Ekiti, Delta, Ondo, power consumers protest blackout

    A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of BEDC Franchise State Peoples’ Alliance, yesterday protested against the management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing in Abuja.

    The protest was led by power consumers from Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states.

    The protesters also visited the offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to lodge their complaints against company.

    The power users from the four states called for the overhaul of the company’s management.

    The President of Edo Civil Society Organisations, one of the CSOs in the alliance, Mr. Leftist Agho, said the BEDC had not recorded any improvement since it took over the distribution of power to the affected states.

    The address was jointly signed by Comrade Terry Ajagbawa, Delta State Coalition of Civil Society Groups; Comrade Omopariola Dare, Ondo State Electricity Customers; Comrade Akinsuroju Olubanjo, Bring Back Our Light and Ibukun Ogundipe, Ekiti State Residents’ Association.

    Agho said: “Since takeover, the BEDC has not recorded any discernible improvement or added value to what it met on ground. Nigerians in the affected states have been groaning under heavy estimated and ‘crazy’ bills, deliberate non-supply of meters and molestation of consumers with the military.

    “There is also the refusal by BEDC to connect communities to the national grid, non-provision of transformers, poles and other ancillaries, creation of special electricity lines for certain institutions and individuals, while the majority are served total darkness, among other inefficiencies numerous to outline.”

    He urged the Federal Government not to extend the date for the review of BEDC’s performance agreement with the BPE.

    He said: “While Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti people are waiting for the end of the terrible activities that BEDC has dealt on them for over four years running. It was shocking to read in the media of the purported plan by the BPE and the NERC to extend the performance agreement with additional one year, which hopefully, will elapse in December 2019.

    “This is insensitive, to say the least, of a government in the face of several protests, complaints and petitions from citizens, civil society groups, communities and youth groups from the four states of BEDC franchise area.”

    In October, the Federal Government announced that the date for the final performance review of the privatised electricity distribution companies will be on December 31, 2019.

    The BPE said the announcement became imperative due to the interest shown by various stakeholders in the electricity industry on the date for final review of distribution companies’ (DISCOs’) performance.

  • Edo intensifies intervention in Ekpoma, Irrua, Uromi

    Following the completion of major audit of roads in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki has intensified repair work on 109 roads across the state, including key roads in Edo Central Senatorial District.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said work has reached appreciable stage on Mousco – Ukpenu Road, Ekpoma; Irrua – Uromi Road; Secretariat Road, Igueben; Union Bank Road, Igueben and Uwenlebo Road, Ekpoma, among others.

    He added that the ongoing work across roads in Edo Central Senatorial District include cutting, earthwork, stone base and asphalting.

    According to him, “We are concerned about the state of roads across the state and have ensured contractors are mobilised to undertake this remedial work during the dry season, as promised. This work will touch on all parts of the state. It is to ensure that the major roads are in good state, at the least.”

    In Benin City, he said the affected roads include Boundary Road and Commercial Avenue, as well as Ogbelaka/Evborhan, Yoruba Street and Dumez Road.

    Major reconstruction work is ongoing in parts of Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Benin City, including Etete Junction on Adesuwa Road, where rehabilitation of failed portions are ongoing.

    Workers handling rehabilitation of failed portions of Etete Junction on Adesuwa Road, are expected to be deployed to 1st and 2nd Ugbor as well as other roads in the axis.