The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Francis Nwifuru

  • Umahi signs VAPP into law

    Ebonyi State now has the Violence Against Persons Prohibition ( VAPP ) law. Governor Dave Umahi gave his assent on Monday, at a ceremony at the Executive Council chambers in Abakaliki. The ceremony was attended by his wife, Rachael and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

    The Speaker, Mr Francis Nwifuru said the law forbids violence against persons, prohibits Female Genital Mutilation ( FGM ) and  protects women against  all manners of violence, including wife battering.

    “The implementation of this law will enable the protection of women and give confidence to women.

    Governor Umahi ordered that copies of the law be distributed to presidents of town unions, local government chairmen and  councillors to help in propagating it in their areas.

    Umahi commended the Speaker and the legislators for making the law. He also commended his wife, Rachael and her team for fighting for the cause of women in the state.

    “Some states have passed VAPP into law to protect rights of Women. Women should know that they are striving to be accorded respect and must shoulder responsibility,” he said.

    Read Also: Umahi orders arrest of policeman over killing of Okada rider

    Mrs Umahi said her pet project; Family Succour and Upliftment Foundation would be launched, along with foreign partners, to enhance development of women.

    “VAPP law will prohibit FGM, rape, abandonment of dependants, child labour, stalking, spouses battering and others.

    “It will be a privilege for women to know who they are with the law backing them,” she said.

    The Chairman, International Federation of Women Lawyers ( FIDA ) Ebonyi chapter and Deputy Head of Chambers, Ms Olivia Okpaleke noted that the law covers all manner of violence against women in the state.

    Okpaleke explained that it was a crime not to report rape cases, adding that anyone found in the act would be prosecuted.

    “This will go long way in addressing all forms of violence against women  in the state, ” Okpaleke said.

    NAN

  • Ebonyi: Umahi swears-in new Attorney General

    Ebonyi: Umahi swears-in new Attorney General

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has replaced the state former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Augustine Nwankwagu, 12 hours after sacking him.

    Nwankwagu, a former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, was sacked on Thursday over “acts inconsistent with his office”.

    Umahi, while swearing-in the new attorney general, Mr Cletus Ofoke, announced that the justice ministry under Nwankwagu, had performed poorly and incurred the people’s wrath in the process.

    “The country’s president wrote to all the state governors on the need to decongest the prisons but I did not receive response from the justice ministry on the issue.

    “I have issued the permanent secretary of the ministry a query and I believe that this and the new injections, would make him proactive.

    “The justice ministry is the weakest of all the state’s ministries as I received series of complaints from judges, security agencies and the public over its activities,” he said.

    Umahi alleged that the ministry did everything possible to tele-guide him in releasing hardened criminals without recourse to justice on the victims’ families and the society.

    “There are cases that are supposed to be charged to court that were not done as the new commissioner should realize that he is presiding over men’s affairs and ensure justice to all.

    “He should, in collaboration with his team, ensure that prisons in the state are decongested and ensure that the ministry is repositioned to gain public confidence,” he said.

    He threatened to reduce the size of the state Executive Council (EXCO) because of, ‘incessant gossiping’ and laxity on the part of its members.

    “Public offices are not for personal gains as the EXCO members complain that there is no money to gain from this government.

    “I wonder the type of money they want when they are duly paid their salaries, allowances such as furniture allowance that they were not supposed to receive.

    “I believe in reducing the size of EXCO because it is the cause of the gossiping and funny activities going on in it,” he said.

    Prof. Bernard Odoh, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), noted that the change became imperative because of the poor performances of the justice ministry.

    “This development is caused by poor leadership as the new commissioner and others appointed in the ministry have been tested and trusted to deliver equitably,” he said.

    Ofoke, the new commissioner thanked the governor for appointing him into the position and pledged to justify the confidence reposed in him.

    The governor also swore-in Mr Vincent Nwokpor as his Senior Special Adviser on Criminal Prosecution and Mr Paul Ugboloko as a member of the Local Government Area Advisory Committee.

    The swearing-in ceremony was witnessed by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Francis Nwifuru and principal officers of the House who screened the appointees before the swearing-in ceremony.

    NAN recalls that Nwankwagu, the sacked commissioner had previously been suspended indefinitely in early 2017 for negligence of duty.

    NAN

  • Ebonyi speaker assures NULGE of support for local govt autonomy

    Ebonyi House of Assembly Speaker Francis Nwifuru told members of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Ebonyi chapter, that the state government supports local government autonomy.

    Nwifuru spoke in Abakaliki when NULGE members marched to the assembly complex to seek the lawmakers support for local government autonomy, already endorsed by the National Assembly.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that for the National Assembly endorsement to sail through, it must be endorsed by the houses of assemblies of two-thirds of the 36 states.

    According to Nwifuru, besides the Assembly being in support of local government autonomy, Gov. Dave Umahi, is also highly in support of the autonomy.

    According to the speaker, the governor endorsed the autonomy in a letter for constitutional amendments he sent to him as required by all State House of Assembly speakers.

    “The speakers were invited to Lagos on the issue of constitutional amendments with relevant sections to be amended and asked to present the letters to their governors.

    “My governor fortunately voted in support of the autonomy and told me that we should try them and leave Nigerians to see and deal with them if they fail,” he said.

    The speaker advised NULGE not to hold him responsible for the outcome of the assembly members’ votes on the autonomy, but to immediately consult with their constituencies’ representatives before resumption from recess.

    “You watched the National Assembly voting process during the constitutional amendment and you saw that the Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives did not vote.

    “They will only vote when there are contradictory situations to ascertain whether the issues will scale through or be rejected.

    “Go and discuss with your representatives so that when we reconvene by October 3 and start debating on them, you must have given them inputs to support the autonomy.

    “You should dialogue, educate and give them clear explanations on the merits of local government autonomy because it is what all of us needs and can be achieved through unity,” he said.

    Mr Leonard Nkah, Ebonyi NULGE President, noted that autonomy would ensure that local government chairmen would stop blaming state governors as excuses for non-performance.

    “It will curb the excesses of the chairmen and abolish issues like bloating of workers and teachers payroll with its attendant vices and consequences.

    “Autonomy will also enable the local governments bounce back with activities and replicate the state tier of government in areas of road construction, agricultural enhancement, revenue generation, among others.