The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Emmanuel Onwe

  • Atiku’s campaign council: Umahi denies rejecting appointment

    The Ebonyi State Government has debunked insinuations on social media alleging that the state governor, David Umahi, has rejected his recent appointment as the South-east coordinator of the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign.

    A state official also said Mr Umahi has pledged loyalty to Mr Abubakar’s presidential campaign.

    Mr Abubakar is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and has selected a former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, as his running mate.

    Mr Umahi, who is also of the PDP, has in the past declared his fondness of President Muhammadu Buhari and recently criticised the mode of selection of Mr Obi; a factor that may have fuelled the rumour.

    The Ebonyi governor’s stance was explained after Friday’s State Security Council meeting.

    The government also denied speculations that the governor had concluded plans to distribute bags of Abakaliki rice branded with campaign pictures of Mr Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

    Mr Umahi’s stance was declared by the Ebonyi State information commissioner, Emmanuel Onwe.

    He said the reports that the governor was working for any other presidential candidate other than Mr Abubakar and his running mate was false, wicked and malicious.

    Mr Onwe said his principal considers his appointment as the South-east coordinator of Atiku/Obi campaign organisation as a great honour and would discharge the duties thereof with immense commitment and dedication.

    Read Also: Peter Obi visits Ugwuanyi, Nwodo

    He urged the general public to disregard any other reports to the contrary, describing them as the handiwork of mischief makers.

    The social media has been awash with reports alleging that the governor had rejected his appointment.

    The governor was said to have disclosed his rejection of the appointment during the State Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.

    But Mr Onwe said there was no time the issue of Atiku/Obi election or campaign was discussed during the meeting.

    “The governor never rejected his appointment as the Coordinator of Atiku/Obi Campaign Organization for South-East”, he said.

    “The social media report to that effect is false and should be disregarded. I was at the exco meeting of yesterday, at no time was such thing discussed. The governor considers the appointment as a great honour and would discharge his duties in that regard with great commitment and dedication.

    “They also said that the governor has concluded plans to distribute bags of rice with the pictures of the presidential candidate of the APC; that is also not true.

    “The governor does not know any other Presidential Candidate except that of his party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Mr. Peter Obi,” Mr Onwe said.

  • Umahi suspends solid minerals development commissioner

    Gov. David Umahi on Thursday suspended the state Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Chief Francis Orji, indefinitely for gross misconduct.

    Sen. Emmanuel Onwe, the state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, disclosed this to newsmen during a joint press briefing with other state Executive Council (EXCO) members.

    Onwe said that Orji committed acts embarrassing to the state government.

    Orji was formerly in charge of water resources before being moved to the Ministry of Border, Peace and Conflict Resolution and subsequently re-deployed to the Ministry of Solid Minerals.

    According to him, the Deputy Principal Secretary, Chief Emmanuel Obasi, will take charge as the acting commissioner for 30 days.

    Umahi had previously suspended indefinitely the former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Augustine Nwankwegu, and the Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Moses Nome.

    The suspensions later resulted in the sack of both officials.

    Onwe further told newsmen that Mr David Nweke, an accountant with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) had been recommended for special commendation by the EXCO.

    “Nweke displayed an act of integrity and honesty by returning N20 million to the state government coffers which was excess payment made by the board.

    Read Also: I won’t castigate Buhari, says Umahi

    “He detected the anomaly, being the accounting officer whom the funds passed through and returned it to government coffers.

    “The chairman of EXCO, who is the state governor, approved that Nweke should be promoted at least by one grade level with immediate effect and given special commendation.

    “The governor also approved that Nweke should be given an official vehicle in appreciation of his act of integrity and honesty,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Dr Chamberlain Nwele, the Head of Service, said that the state government would offset the total cost of burying the late Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Chief Fidelis Mbam.

    “The EXCO has approved a state burial for Mbam for his performance in the position and other positions he held before his demise.”

    “He was an astute politician, technocrat, bureaucrat,” Nwele said.

    The burial ceremonies commenced on Wednesday with a service of songs while the lying in state ceremony was held on Thursday at the State Cabinet Office. The burial will hold on Friday

    NAN

  • Ebonyi releases N1.5b for pension, gratuity arrears

    Ebonyi releases N1.5b for pension, gratuity arrears

    The Ebonyi Government on Thursday released N1.5 billion to settle arrears of workers’ pension and gratuities accruing from Oct.2, 2016 to June 6, 2017.

    Sen. Emmanuel Onwe, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, disclosed this in a statement in Abakaliki.

    According to him, the decision was sequel to a report submitted by the committee on verification of workers’ pensions and gratuities to the state executive council.

    “The council has authorised the release of N750 million for the payment of pension and gratuity arrears of retired state civil servants.

    “The council also authorised the release of N750 million for the payment of the pension arrears and gratuities of local government workers,” he said.

    The commissioner said that Gov. David Umahi had directed all eligible beneficiaries to proceed to the Deputy Governor’s Office for verification and to ensure that the payments were disbursed with dispatch.

    “The council also deliberated on the deepening economic recession in the country and resolved to expand the state government’s empowerment programme.

    “This is to meet the growing economic challenges faced by the ordinary citizens, particularly the most vulnerable in the society,” he said.

    Onwe said that government would release funds for the ongoing economic empowerment for over 2,000 widows across the state on Monday, Aug. 21.

    “The widows would be given N200, 000 following the concluded report of the verification exercise conducted by the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious and Welfare Matters which has been presented to Council.

    “The widows’ empowerment programme has also been expanded to accommodate additional 2,000 widows who will be selected, verified and paid the sum of N200, 000 each by October, 2017,” he said.

    Onwe said that the N1billion budgeted for empowerment of 4,000 eligible persons of the state was still being disbursed by the Ministry of Empowerment and Job Creation.

    He said that over 1,000 persons had already applied and collected grants of N250, 000 each.

    “Beneficiaries who meet the criteria should expect to be paid with effect from Monday, Aug.21 as the relevant ministry will announce and publish the names of recipients of the grants at the conclusion of the disbursements.

    “The state government in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI) has inaugurated a Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Fund of N4 billion operated by the bank for companies and cooperative societies.

    “The beneficiaries with business plans, would access loan facilities ranging from N1million to N100 million to either commence or expand small scale or medium scale enterprises.

    “Interested citizens of the state with creative and entrepreneurial drive are encouraged to approach the BOI to obtain loan facilities at a staggeringly low interest rate of just 6%”.

  • Umahi effects minor cabinet reshuffle

    Umahi effects minor cabinet reshuffle

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi on Thursday effected a minor cabinet reshuffle, which saw two commissioners swapping positions.

    Sen. Emmanuel Onwe, Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, who briefed journalists on the outcome of the state executive council meeting, said the changes were with immediate effect.

    ‘‘The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Uchenna Orji, takes over the Ministry of Economic Empowerment and Job Creation.

    ‘‘The Commissioner for Economic Empowerment and Job Creation, Chief Ogodo-Ali Nome, takes over the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources,’’ Onwe said.

    He also said that the executive council approved setting up a committee for the procurement of herbicides for farmers, with the Commissioners for Information and that of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters as members.

    ‘‘The committee also has the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Special Assistant to the Governor on Agricultural Services, Special Assistant on Donor Agencies, among others as members,’’ he added.

  • Four commissioners, two SSAs, 11 SAs swap positions in Ebonyi

    Four commissioners, two SSAs, 11 SAs swap positions in Ebonyi

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi on Friday carried out a major cabinet reshuffle in which four commissioners, two Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and 11 Senior Assistants swapped positions.

    Sen. Emmanuel Onwe, the state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, made this known in Abakaliki while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state Executive Council meeting.

    According to Onwe, the state Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Chief Sabinus Nwakwegu, will take charge of Ministry of Border, Peace and Conflict Resolution, while his Economic Empowerment counterpart, Chief Donatus Njoku, takes over Environment ministry.

    “The Commissioner for Border, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr Francis Orji, takes over the Solid Minerals ministry, while the Commissioner for Environment, Chief Moses Ogodo-Ali will head the Ministry of Economic Empowerment,’’ he said.

    Onwe said that the SSA on House of Assembly Matters, Mr Ikechukwu Ogbu, will be in charge of Salt and Cement Production, while the SSA on Salt and Cement Production, Mr Sunday Ugwuocha, will take over Assembly Matters.

    “The SA on Talent Development, Mrs Jacinta Nworie, will be in charge of Income Tax, SA on Primary Health (Ebonyi North), Dr Chris Achi, takes over Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and SA, Primary Heath (Ebonyi South), Chikere Omebe, takes over Training.

    Onwe announced that the suspended state Accountant-General, Mrs Queen Agwu, had been restored to her position.

    According to him, the state’s Executive Committee on IGR has been dissolved and a new one constituted.

    “The new committee on IGR is led by the state Deputy Governor, Dr Kelechi Igwe.

    “It includes the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bernard Odoh, and SSA on Welfare and Religious Matters, Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali,” he said.

    Onwe said that the appointments took immediate effect.