The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Enugu

  • Retired teachers bemoan pension arrears in Enugu

    Retired primary school teachers in Enugu State have complained  about being owed 27 months of pension.

    The senior citizens lamented that some of them were yet to receive their gratuity after retirement since 2002.

    The retired teachers from the three senatorial zones made known their woes when they paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi in his office.

    A delegation of the retired teachers led by their chairman, Chief Matthias Onovo and the secretary, Chief Ben Nwachi disclosed that they had written relevant authorities in the past without any positive result saying that as a result of the lack of payment of their pension and other entitlements, some of their colleagues have died while many are bed-ridden for lack of fund for medical care.

    Having exhausted every avenue possible to see that the past administration paid them their due, the retired teachers resorted to calling on the Speaker to bail them out.

    They listed other grievances to include harmonisation arrears, 6, 15, and 33 percent pension increases; irregularities in payment of monthly pensions, and non implementation of promotion re-computer i.e promotion received after retirement among others.

    Ubosi assured the retired teachers that something would be done to alleviate their plight saying that, “your labours will never go in vain. You have laboured and you deserve to be paid. “

    The speaker said that they came at the right time when the government has set up an audit committee of the local governments of which he is the chairman, pointing out that the issue of teachers as well as their pensioners was part of the terms of reference given by the governor.

    He thanked them for making the submission that would serve as a guide to the audit committee set up by Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi led administration to look into the rot in the councils with a view to making them viable.

     

  • NGO raises HIV alarm in Enugu

    A non-governmental organisation, Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CiSHAN), Enugu State Chapter has alerted the people and government of the state on the apparent increase of HIV infection in the state.

    According to the organisation, more funds ought to be budgeted for HIV/AIDS related cases in the state to rid it of the scourge.

    The Enugu State coordinator of CiSHAN, Mrs. B.C Nwibechukwu who disclosed this in an address when the organisation paid a working visit to the Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Edward Ubosi lamented that infection occur among the low risk heterosexual group which includes people who are in marital or cohabiting relationship.

    “The state HIV prevalence shows that the rate of infection is on the increase (rise) and presently far above the national and zonal average,” Nwibechukwu laments.

    Nwibechukwu pointed out that 1986 survey report showed that Enugu State had high prevalence of above 6.5% which was the highiest then in the country but with time, the rate came down but is now surprised that it has begun to rise again.

    She explained the source of her fears.  “Recent studies and surveys carried out reveals new infection trends coming from the hitherto low risk segment of the population that were not targeted for preventive services.”

    Mother-to-child transmission of HIV constitutes a huge public health concern globally and especially in resource-poor countries.”

    The coordinator who said they used the visit to intimate the Speaker on the forthcoming launching of their maiden Strategic Plan document in November, expressed worry that if nothing was done fast, Enugu State might be in serious danger in future because some donor agencies would soon stop their financial intervention.

    “Honourable speaker sir, we are worried and concerned on the ability of the state to sustain the gains made in the areas of HIV & AIDS prevention, treatment, care, and support.

    “Our worry is worsened by the continuous donor fatigue and also due to the fact that most donors would be closing shops towards the fall of 2015.  What this portends is that if no proactive measure is taken to sustain the gains and improve on it, we may find ourselves in a state worse than we where some few years back.

    To help reduce the rising rate of the pandemic, Nwibechukwu urged the Speaker to use his good offices to see that a bill is sponsored to dedicate funds in the Enugu State annual budget for CiSHAN for ownership and sustainability of HIV/AIDS response.

     

  • Enugu to ban indiscriminate pasting of bills

    As soon as the Enugu State government approves the Bill passed by its House of Assembly, it will be an offence for anybody or organisation to paste posters or handbills at its bus stops without approval.

    The member representing Nkanu East Constituency, Hon. Paul Nnajifor, supported by 13 others moved a motion urging the state government through the Ministry of Environment to ban members of the public from defacing the bus stops with posters of any kind.

    The motion also sought to mandate the Ministry of Environment through the Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA), Ministries of Gender Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, to clear the bus stops and all the roads in the metropolis of the destitute and hawkers that constitute a nuisance in the state’s urban areas.

    In the same vein, the motion sought the state government to direct the Ministry of Environment and agencies to monitor bus stops with a view to prosecuting offenders.

    All the members spoke in favour of the motion before passing it but not before the member representing Udi North, Hon. Johnbull Nwagu raised objection that the House would be ridiculed should the order be flouted as it was in the past when a similar motion was raised during the 5th Assembly.

    The Speaker Hon. Edward Ubosi overruled Nwagu’s objection saying that the import of the motion was to ensure the environmental cleanliness of the state that this time around, the law would be obeyed and thanked members for deliberating on the all important motion.

    “I thank in a special way the mover of the motion and the co-sponsors and my colleagues for their contributions to the motion,” Ubosi appraised his colleagues.

    Meanwhile, the House has cleared a member of the Civil Service Commission nominee, Mr. Egbogu Eugene Ejike from Eha Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area to replace Mr. Nwanze Agu who died recently.

    Ejike would be sworn in to fill the vacant position.

     

  • Tribunal nullifies PDP’s Senator’s election in Enugu

    The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu on Thursday nullified the election of the senator representing Enugu East Senatorial District, Gilbert Nnaji, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).

    It ordered that fresh election be conducted in the senatorial district within ninety days.

    The tribunal held that the election did not comply with the 2010 Electoral Act as it was marred by irregularities.

    Delivering judgment on the petition, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Matthew Adewara, said allegations of alteration of results, mutilations and cancellation were proven by the petitioners and nullified the result.

    Relying heavily on the evidence of the forensic expert, who testified on behalf of Nnamani, the tribunal held that irregularities alleged in the conduct of the election were “gross and fundamental.”

     

    The tribunal pointed out that the election did not comply with the rule on accreditation of voters and with proven cases of multiple voting, ballot box snuffing and over voting.

    Nnamani, a former governor of Enugu State, had filed the petition at the tribunal, challenging the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nnaji as winner in the election.

    He alleged that there were widespread irregularities, malpractices and corruption in the conduct of the election.

    He also alleged, in the petition, that the conduct of the election was not in substantial compliance of the 2010 Electoral Act.

    He said that his agents in some polling units in Isi Uzo Local Government were intimidated, while there were cases of voting rigging, ballot box snuffing and mutilation of result sheets.

    He prayed the tribunal to nullify the result of the election and declare him winner.

    Nnamani contested on the platform of People for Democratic Change (PDC).

    Speaking after the tribunal’s judgment, counsel to Nnamani, Olusegun Jolawo, expressed satisfaction with the judgment, but said their team would have been happier if his client had been returned as winner.

    Counsel to INEC, Mr Wilfred Nwabude, said the commission would look into the judgment and know its next line of action.

  • Ministerial list: APC chairman calls for calm

    Ministerial list: APC chairman calls for calm

    Abia State chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Hon. Donatus Nwankpa has called for calm among party supporters in the state as the country awaits the second batch of the ministerial nominee list.

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki had in a letter which he read at the floor of the House during Tuesday Plenary of the Red Chamber mentioned the 21 names out of 36 would be ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as was submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari with names of Abia, Imo and Enugu State nominees missing from the list.

    A source within the party in the state disclosed to The Nation that the inability of President Buhari to mention any Abia nominee for ministerial appointment could not be unconnected with the clash of interest within the ranks of APC members in the state over who should be presented for appointment by the President.

    The source who expressed fears that the situation could further delay the remaining names from being submitted to the senate for consideration urged all the warring factions to sheath their swords and allow the leadership of the state to unanimously present a candidate for appointment, adding that there were a lot of appointments yet to be made where others who could not make the ministerial list could be accommodated.

    When contacted, Nwankpa in a telephone interview debunked that the party was having internal wrangling.

    According to him, “APC doesn’t have problems. What happened is that we said that you cannot have headache and another person will be drinking medicine for you. People cannot labour and work for this party for Mr. President to emerge and somebody, somewhere will call himself a technocrat and will now come to say that He is a member of APC in Abia State because the constitution says that before you can be a minister, you must belong to a political party and that every state is entitled to a minister”. Unless we are forming a government of national unity, then you can choose candidates from the ruling party and the opposition party to become minister on behalf of the APC in Abia”.

    Nwankpa who recalled the humiliation they (members of APC) suffered among their kinsmen and members of the ruling party while campaigning for Mr. President before the elections said “I am not angling for that. We should know that there were people who took the risk and their names were submitted among those who should be considered as ministers. We were almost stoned like Stephen, we were bombarded, blackmailed and so many things were meted out against us in the process of campaigning for APC candidates in the state and Mr. President who we sincerely believed his message of change during the campaign period.

    “The people who are now jostling for Abia slot didn’t even allow us to eat in the same restaurant where they were eating or allow us to drink from the same cup with them. We were treated like lepers among our kinsmen because of APC. So, how can they come from behind to start saying that they want to reap from where they didn’t sow anything? It is an aberration and travesty of justice and very discouraging; it weakens the morale of people for tomorrow. We are only saying that we will resist any ‘mystrimer’; those who worked against us during the election will come to be a minister when the people who actually worked for Mr. President have not gotten anything”.

    Continuing, the chairman of the party who was optimistic that President Buhari would not allow anyone to misguide him from doing what is right, added “We trust the judgment of Mr. President because even when people by the side wanted to deceive him, he refused. Mr. President has been a head-of-state, a minister and among various positions that he has served in the past. One thing I admire about Mr. President is that he has a good sense of judgment and we know that nobody will mislead him, especially among the southeast where he knows people’s resentment towards some of us who took the initial risk of not only being in APC, but believing in the change which the President was and is still preaching about.

    “Within human limitations, I believe that Mr. President will not go wrong because I know that the President will not make us (APC) a laughing stock in the southeast. After all, he has taken the judgment in Ebonyi and Anambra state. So, Abia, Imo and Enugu cannot be exceptions. God will guide the President in his decision. And that God that guided the President’s decision in Anambra, Ebonyi, will also guide him to take such decision in Imo, Enugu and Abia.

    “Mr. President is not an accidental member of the party. He is a foundation member of the APC, CPC and ANPP, abinitio. There is one thing about Mr. President, he is a very careful person and he knows all those who worked for him and those who contested election in Abia and in the southeast; those he knew as the face of APC in various states of the southeast. He knows them right from the merging process”, Nwankpa opined

  • Bridge falls in Enugu

    Bridge falls in Enugu

     

    A hanging bridge at Ikem in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State has collapsed.

    The bridge served as the only outlet for transporting agricultural products from the area.

    Although no life was lost but the bridge that connected five communities, other local government areas as well as Ebonyi and Benue states had cut-off the commuters motorists and other road users.

    The collapse of the bridge has paralysed vehicular movement in and out of the town and  caused serious hardship to the people of the area and other road users.

    The bridge which was constructed during the Nigerian civil war by the federal troops collapsed when a tanker that went to supply diesel to the generating set powering one of the telecommunication masts in the place was trying to cross the bridge, leaving the tanker hanging in the middle of the bridge.

    Commuters now have take two different vehicles for their journey.   Commercial vehicles and motorcycles stop people at the two edges of the bridge to enable the passengers to cross the river with their legs where they will rejoin another vehicle to continue their journey.

    A resident of Ikem Mr. Toochukwu Ngwu called on governor Ifeanyi Ugwanyi to do something immediately to reduce the suffering of the people whom he said have been completely cut-off from their brothers living in the other side of the town.

     

  • Enugu sets up urban renewal committee

    Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has inaugurated a committee to drive urban renewal in the state with Chris Offor, an architect, as its chair.

    The governor dissolved the Nsukka Urban Renewal Committee earlier constituted to modernise and develop Nsukka town, replacing it with the Enugu Urban Renewal Committee as part of his administration’s plan to develop cities in the state.

    The information was contained in a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Gabriel Ajah.

    The terms of reference of the new Committee which membership runs across the three senatorial districts of the state are to: identify factors responsible for the slow pace of development of some Urban towns in the state; develop Enugu State Urban Plan or modify the existing one if necessary; identify structures and buildings erected without Town Planning approval or that constitute nuisance which may obstruct the new Enugu State Urban Renewal.

    Other terms of reference include: to identify new satellite areas that could be developed as Urban Cities as part of Enugu State Urban Renewal and to make recommendations to the State Government, actions to be taken to give Enugu State Urban Cities facelift.

    It would be recalled that the state governor had earlier reiterated his commitment to the principles of justice, equity and fairness in the development of the state and promised to constitute a broad-based committee that would address the developmental challenges in the entire state.

     

  • Club honours Enugu Speaker

    Club honours Enugu Speaker

    Enugu-based social club, Cordial Friends Association of Nike, Enugu has honoured one of their distinguished members, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Edward Uchenna Ubosi.

    Ubosi was the pioneer president of the club which was inugurated in the year 1997. The club organised a gala night which it called, Dinner Reception for Hon. Ubosi and his wife, Akunna at the prestigious Nike Lake Resort Hotel to celebrate his Speaker role at the House.

    Prominent personalities from Nike land as well as other places witnessed the epoch making event that will remain fresh in the mind of Hon. Ubosi and his household. 

    Dignitaries that graced the occasion include the Vice Chancellor Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Professor Luke Agboanike; the chairman of ALGON and chairman Enugu East Local Government Area, Hon. Cornelius Nnaji; President Umuchigbo Iji-Nike Development Assembly, Chief Patrick Anike; Administrator, Enugu East Development Centre, Hon. Peace Patrick -Nnaji as well as the PDP chairman, Enugu East Local Government, Chief Chijoke Ugwueze.

    His colleagues from the House of Assembly were also there to identify with their him. They are Hon. SKE Ude-Okoye, representing Awgu North Constituency; Hon. Paul Nnajiofor, Nkanu East; Hon Philip Nnamani, Enugu North and Hon. Paul Obinna Okenwa, Enugu South Urban.

    The occasion was colourful spiced with the rendition of beautiful praise songs by a choir from St. Mary’s Catholic Church Nike.ý

    President of the club, Godwin Ike Ochu said: “We are here to give honour to whom honour is due. We are here to advice him that getting to such height calls for sober reflection. He should carry others along and think before he talks.

    “If God is lifting you up, it is a challenge. He should use his office to impact on the people positively. He should use his position to the glory of God”.

    Ochu said that it has been the culture of the association to celebrate any of their own that excels in his area of jurisdiction.

    His words: “Distinguished Speaker Sir, you would recall that we paid you a courtesy call when you were appointed as Administrator, Enugu Central Development Authority as well as when you were elected as member Enugu State House of Assembly in the last dispensation, the 5th Assembly.

    “It has been our culture to celebrate our members who have excelled in various fields of human endeavour. My humble self standing here before you was equally celebrated when I was appointed as Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Enugu East Local Government in 2007.”

    Ochu said that one of the major objectives of the association, “is to encourage, promote and foster the spirit of oneness and enterprising spirit among members. It is in view of this aspiration that nature has made it possible for us to navigate the stormy oceans of life together and thus brought us to various positions in life in the area of politics, business, enterpreneurship, academics to mention but a few.

    “In recognition of God’s goodness in the life of our dear distinguished speaker, who is the first Cordial Friends of Nike indigene and probably Nkanuland ever to hold the office of speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, we have marked today of remarkable day in the history of our association to celebrate success and excellence epitomised on the person of Rt. Hon. Edward Uchenna Ubosi. Equally we are celebrating God’s glory and love upon the family of our member and pioneer president who by God’s Divine providence is the Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly.”

    Ochu described Ubosi as hard working, humble and wished him more success in life.

    “Rt. Hon. Edward Uchenna Ubosi is a hard working, humble, visionary, articulate and pragmatic leader. No wonder Aristotle said that excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention since effort and intelligent execution represents the wise choice of many alternatives – choice not chance and power to determine your destiny in life.

    “Distinguished speaker sir, we are bold to say that the next ladder which you shall climb is between you and your creator. We are highly convinced that you are a man of destiny. The sky is your starting point.

    “Our prayer is that the Almighty shall continuously favour you with His abundant grace of good health, give you wisdom like Solomon, protect you from the eyes of the evil ones and above all give you human heart that impacts positively on the lives of humanity because to whom much is given, much is expected.”

    Ochu further advised the speaker: “Always carry your members along in day to day activities of the House; avoid sycophants and their stock in trade by verifying fact before acting and to cooperate with the executive arm of government and never engage the executive in unnecessary confrontations.”

     

     

     

     

  • FRSC tackles speeding in Enugu

    FRSC tackles speeding in Enugu

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has held a sensitisation rally In Enugu, aiming to curb speeding which is blamed for most road crashes.

    The theme of the rally was:  Speed Reduction- A panacea to Road Traffic Crashes.

    The corps marshal and chief executive of FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi represented by his assistant, Kenneth Nwaegbe, maintained that the FRSC remained the leading agency in traffic management.

    He said, “The anti-speed is introduced to enhance road safety, increase value for fleet owners and operators and contribute to the reduction in human and material losses arising from road traffic crashes.”

    The corps marshal affirmed that it was imperative that speed infraction and violation must consciously be controlled through humans (drivers), mechanical mechanism (speed limiting device) to enable carnages on our roads be eradicated.

    He further reminded the road users the regulation on speed limit which includes motorcycles Nil, private vehicles 100km/hr, taxis and buses 90km/hr, tanker/ trailers 50km/hr, tow vehicle while towing 45km/hr and tow vehicles while not towing 70km/hr.

    Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state who was represented by the commissioner of transport, Barr. Vitus Okechi urged everyone to embrace the campaign wholeheartedly in order to help reduce unnecessary loss of life that takes place everyday.

    “I promise that as government, we will continue to offer to transport commission, the necessary assistance and support to ensure the success of this campaign”, he said.

    Garrison commander 82 division Nigerian Army, Col. G.O Umarugben assured the commission that the army would partner with it and always be ready to assist it on the campaign against careless road users.

    In the same vein, the sector commander, David U Mendie enjoined all stakeholders to join hands with the FRSC inorder to douse the painful agony occasioned by preventable Road Traffic Crashes and safe guard the lives of Nigerians and by extension improve on our economic strength as a nation.

    The commander, Southeast Federal Fire Service, Nwoko Chinedum condemned the use of obsolete fire extinguisher by the drivers and urged them to cross check the extinguisher before buying.

    Later in an interview, the assistant corps marshal FRSC, Enugu sector command, Kenneth Nwaegbe advised that people should embark on their journey early and the drivers should know that the road is being shared by other road users like trailers.

    “We believe that with this kind of institution, the road users will remain a bit more cautious than ever before”.

    The occasion was graced by commandant Nigeria security and civil defence corps represented by Mr P. C Eze; the controller of prisons, Sir Alloy Ikechukwu Uchenwa; the youth corps members and other honourable dignitaries.

     

  • Cargo village coming in Enugu

    Cargo village coming in Enugu

    Enugu State is gradually shedding its civil service status and becoming a business-friendly environment, thanks in part to the upgrade of the Akanu Ibiam Airport to an international status.

    An estate developing firm has mapped out a stretch of land where the East Gate Enugu Airport City will be built just beside the airport.

    Add that to the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) saying it will develop a cargo village by the airport too.

    The National President of NAGAFF, Dr. Eugene Nweke has visited Enugu for an on-the-spot inspection and assessment of the site.

    He was taken round the project by the Representative of the Corporation, Mr. Daniel Kalu, the NAGAFF Enugu State Chapter chairman, Comrade Sunny Okonkwo and the Project Legal Consultant who is also the Secretary of NAGAFF Enugu Chapter Mr Chinedum Agwaramgbo.

    According to the NAGAFF President, the proposed NAGAFF Cargo Village is to be fashioned after a similar one in Malaysia, and to get a clearer picture of the Malaysia model a delegation comprising officials of NAGAFF, representatives of the Enugu State Government, and of the investor, NECI Land Development Corporation Limited as well as other 27 business venture companies including the banks would visit the Asian country in October.

    Nweke intimated that NAGAFF seems to be enjoying the goodwill and trust of all stakeholders involved in the Project and all hands will soon be on the deck to make the project a reality.

    Nweke added that the cargo village when completed would boost and further simplify the process of cargo clearing in the country and help in removing the congestion at the Lagos ports and entry points as importers, exporters and freight forwarders will be happy to divert their cargoes to the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

    The proposed cargo village is part of bigger project which has the potentials of creating a wide range of business opportunities in Enugu State and the entire South East geo0political zone.

    It would encompass the establishment of key investment component such as air cargo terminal logistics hub, high industrial zone, duty-free and export zone and commercial and residential real estate.

    The Enugu State government has indicated interest in the project. The governor, Ifeanyi Uguwanyi recently visited the site of the proposed East-Gate Enugu Airport City Development project where he expressed delight in the proposals.