The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Godwin Obaseki

  • Int’l Day of Rural Women: Obaseki harps on inclusive policy

    assures on health, gender mainstreaming

     

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state government has prioritised policies to place women at the fore of development policies and programmes, assuring that health and gender mainstreaming are key drivers of his agenda.

    Governor Obaseki said this in commemoration of the International Day of Rural Women, marked every October 15, by the United Nations and its various organs.

    He stressed that development policies in the state place women at the heart of intervention, as women have been empowered in either driving some of his administration’s key policies or at the receiving end of the policy’s positive impact.

    According to him, “We run an inclusive government in Edo State. This much is apparent in the manner in which we conduct our affairs and those that are the target of our intervention programmes. As a government, we cannot overlook the place of women in rural communities in driving development because of their illustrious roles as mobilisers, activists, cornerstones of progress and a dependable hand in all spheres of human life. Hence, when intervention programmes are designed, women are given the front role.”

    He added that a number of the state government’s programmes such as the Edo Healthcare Improvement Programme (Edo-HIP), the Ward Development Committee, Edo Food and Agriculture Cluster (Edo-FAC) and the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) programmes have components that address the needs of rural women, ensuring that they get the necessary support and structures to live better, rewarding lives.

    Noting that the 18 Special Assistants and a Special Adviser on Gender Issues in the government contribute to policy designs to engage more women, he said, “Our government accommodates the views and inputs of all. The 18 Special Assistants serve as our ears in the rural areas and bring to the fore the issues faced by women at the grassroots. This ensures that we are in touch with them.”

    Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Magdalene Ohenhen, in a chat with journalists, said that the state government has embarked on a number of projects to improve health, education and other indices of development for the benefit of rural women.

    Read Also: Obaseki launches agric cluster for 200 farmers

    According to her, “Through Edo-HIP, at least 200 functional Primary Health Care (PHC) centers will be refurbished to attend to the needs of rural women across the state. Work is currently ongoing on 20 of these centers and those in Warake, Ofumwegbe, Uwelu, Ugbeke and Ukpenu have been completed, to attend to the needs of mothers and children.”

    On Gender Mainstreaming with the 18 Senior Special Assistants and one Special Adviser on Gender Issues, she said, “The state government’s appointment of focal persons for gender issues in the local government is to ensure that the voices of women are heard and their input is taken in formulating policies.”

    According to the United Nations, “Essential services on which millions of rural women and girls depend—health, education, childcare, shelters—are chronically underfunded or simply unavailable. Where they exist, they are often the first to be hit by austerity measures, which are once again on the rise.

    “In 2018 alone, 124 countries are expected to be cutting their budgets, eroding social protection measures and essential services on which so many rural women and girls depend. This is not inevitable. In virtually all countries, there is scope for raising or reallocating resources to strengthen public services that are essential for women and girls. It is a matter of political will and of using all the available policy tools. The cost of inaction is simply too high.”

  • Obaseki, Police CP, DSS boss hold security meeting

    …read riot act to criminals

    …assures of adequate security for Oba Ewuare II’s 2nd anniversary

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state government will not relent in its effort to flush out criminal elements from the state, assuring that security has been beefed up with relevant agencies to ensure the safety of life and property in the state.

    Governor Obaseki who said this after a meeting with heads of security agencies in the state, including the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, and Head of the Department of State Security (DSS) in the state, noted that the state was firming up security to curb criminal activity across the state.

    The security meeting followed the receipt of intelligence on plans by those who do not mean well for the state to disrupt the peace and scale up their nefarious activities as the year comes to an end.

     “I have met with the Commissioner of Police and the DSS boss over the increased spate of cult activities in the state and we are deploying resources to ensure that those fueling the crimes are brought to book. We are committed to a safe Edo State and will not tolerate any criminality,” Obaseki said.

    Read Also: I am not stingy, says Obaseki

    He assured that adequate security measures have been set up in preparation for the 2nd coronation anniversary of the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolo kpolo, Oba Ewuare II.

     “I am very much committed to stemming the increased criminality perpetuated by cult groups and gangs in the state.

    “As a state that is forward-looking and desirous to attract foreign investment, I want to reiterate that we have exited the days when cult activities held sway in society.

    “We have beefed up measures to check the reported cases. The new security architecture is taking shape to ensure that the people are safe,” he added.

    He assured that preparations, especially those pertaining to security, are being finalised for the 2nd Coronation Anniversary of the Oba of Benin, noting that a combined team of security operatives will be deployed to ensure adequate security for the ceremony.

  • Obaseki assures safe space for children

    As court jails paedophiles in Edo

     

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state government would not relent in its effort at enforcing the Child Rights Law and protecting children from the vices of molesters in the state.

    The governor took the stand, as the Evbuoriaria Magistrate Court in Benin sentenced six persons to various terms in prison, giving legal teeth to the governor’s campaign against paedophiles in the state.

    According to the governor, “We are committed to protecting our children and enforcing the Child Rights Law to ensure that children are not exposed to the vices of child molesters and abusers.

    “We want to assure parents that the campaign by the state government is yielding results. We will not relent. In fact, there is no hiding place for these deviants in our society anymore. This campaign will be intensified and we will ensure that those caught molesting children will face the full wrath of the law.”

    Read Also: I am not stingy, says Obaseki

    Recall that the Chief Magistrate, Evbuoriaria Magistrate Court, J. O. Ejale, sentenced Friday Moses, and two others to different jail terms and remanded another three in prison for charges pertaining to child molestation.

    Moses, a commercial motorcycle operator, was sentenced to 14 years in prison with hard labour, without the option of fine, for defiling and impregnating his 13-year-old daughter.

    Lambert Ighodaro and Benjamin Uzoma Nwachukwu, bagged 14 and 20 years jail terms respectively. Mr. Nwachukwu, who was recently dismissed from the seminary, was arraigned on two-count charge and got 10 years each, with hard labour and without the option of fine.

    Others remanded in prison are Matthew Omokhafe, 65; Pastor Matthew Braimoh, 31; Corporal Michael Eriarebhe, 33 and others who were remanded in prison for allegedly defiling children aged 15 years and below.

  • Edo LGAs receive N3.2bn as September allocation

    The Edo State Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) has declared N3,204,857,456.43k as gross allocation received from the Federation Account for the month of September 2018.

    Speaking to journalists at the end of Edo JAAC meeting, presided over by the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, the Chairman of Etsako Central Local Government Area and Vice Chairman of Edo State Chapter of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Comrade John Akhigbe, put teachers’ salaries at N1,151,526,487.55k.

    He added that “Non-teachers’ salaries gulped N60,318,373.78k while the total deduction for the month was N1,825,907,586.41k.”

    Read Also: Edo not owing workers’ salaries – BudgIT

    Akhigbe added that the net allocation shared by the 18 Local Government Areas of the state from the Federation Account was N1,378,949,870.02k.

    He said “unfortunately, the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by the local councils in the state which was N173,080,974.94k for the month of September reduced by 15 per cent when compared to IGR generated in August due to the heavy rainfall, flood as well as the warning strike embarked upon by the organised labour.”

  • Edo upholding dignity of girl child – Obaseki

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the ongoing fight against human trafficking in Edo State is in recognition of the dignity of the girl child and her capacity to contribute to the growth and development of society.

    Obaseki said this in Benin City, in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child celebrated by the United Nations and its global partners on October 11, each year.

    He noted that “The fight against human trafficking and illegal migration requires the support of everyone as the menace debases the essence of our common humanity.”

    The governor further said that his administration has demonstrated the readiness to attend to the peculiar challenges faced by girls and women in the state with the appointment of 19 female aides on gender issues, who have been enriching government policies and programmes with the needs of girls and women.

    “We are empowering our girls and their male counterparts through the new basic education sector transformation (Edo-BEST) initiative of our administration; the various skills acquisition and job creation programmes of EdoJobs, an agency of the state government and we are committed to protecting our young girls in schools with the Child’s Rights Act, amongst other initiatives,” he said.

    He added that the landmark judgements secured against child molesters in the state is a testament to the commitment to protecting the girl child from social vices, noting that even more policy measures will be adopted to give the girl child a broader space to realise her potential.

    Obaseki described as apt, the theme of the 2018 International Day of the Girl Child, With Her: A Skilled GirlForce, and in consonance with the underlying philosophy of his administration’s well thought out programmes for the girl child.

    According to the United Nations, October 11 has been marked as the International Day of the Girl, since 2012, to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

    Read Also: I am not stingy, says Obaseki

    “Today’s generation of girls are preparing to enter a world of work that is being transformed by innovation and automation. Educated and skilled workers are in great demand, but roughly a quarter of young people – most of them female – are currently neither employed or in education or training.

    “Of the 1 billion young people – including 600 million adolescent girls – that will enter the workforce in the next decade, more than 90% of those living in developing countries will work in the informal sector, where low or no pay, abuse and exploitation are common,” the UN said.  

    The global body explained that it is using the day to “work alongside all girls to expand existing learning opportunities, chart new pathways and calling on the global community to rethink how to prepare them for a successful transition into the world of work.”

  • I am not stingy, says Obaseki

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has declared that he is not a stingy man as many perceived him to be.

    Governor Obaseki said he could not give out tax payers money anyhow when money is needed to train teachers in the state.

    He spoke at the graduation ceremony of 7000 primary school teachers in the state who were trained on pedagogy under the Edo BEST initiative.

    Obaseki disclosed that it cost the state government N150,000 to train one teacher annually.

    His words, “People say I am stingy but I am not. How can I spend Edo people money anyhow when I need money to train teachers.”

    Governor Obaseki further stated that his administration would soon commit N6bn to building and renovation of schools across the state.

    He disclosed that the N6bn would be sourced from N3bn out of the Paris Club Refund a d another matching grant of N3bn.

    Obaseki said President Mohammadu Buhari approved the spending of N3bn from the Paris Club Refund.

    He prolmised that all teachers in the statw would be trained on pedagogy within the next 12 months

    The Edo Governor added that more teachers would be recruited next year.

    An appeal by Governor Obaseki to the teachers for school hours to extend beyond 1:45pm was rejected by the teachers.

    On the non-availability of electricity to charge their devices, Governor Obaseki said he was working hard to provide solar charging point in every school.

    Read Also: Akeredolu mourns Agbi

    According to him, “President Buhari did something that will add to what we are doing. He mandated Edo State to set aside N3bn from the Paris Club Refund which will be matched with another N3bn to rebuild and refurbish all our primary school. We will provide all available facilities within the next six months.

    “We are restructuring our educational system. We have one College of Education with three campuses. The one in Abudu that is almost ready will be dedicated to training basic and early childhood teachers. The campus will be open in January next year.

    “I want to do more for teachers. It is my dream for all of you to own your homes. I want your reward to be on Earth.”

    Chairman of Edo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, said the Edo BEST covers 612 primary schools and 150,000 pupils.

  • Edo not owing workers’ salaries – BudgIT

    An independent survey by civic start-up, BudgIT, has shown that Edo State is not owing workers’ salaries.

    The survey which was conducted across Nigeria’s 36 states showed state governments that currently owe outstanding workers’ salaries in the education and health sectors, secretariats as well as backlog of pension.

    The survey, tagged State of States: 2018 Sub-National Salary Survey, which is valid as of September 24, 2018, showed that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration does not owe salaries due school teachers, midwives in government hospitals and secretariat workers.

    In a statement, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said that the survey confirms the state government’s stance on the early payment of workers’ salaries, and “civil servants can testify that they get their salaries before the 26th of every month.”

    According to him, “The verdict of the survey by the independent researchers once again affirms what is already known by all. It goes to show everyone what workers in Edo enjoy and the fact that we are indeed committed to the welfare of workers.”

    He said that the ability to pay workers as and when due is the result of the frugal, time-tested resource management strategy adopted by Governor Godwin Obaseki in managing the state’s resources.

    Osagie said, “The state government has been able to meet her statutory financial obligation to workers as a result of her efficient financial management principle. We are happy that other people are also acknowledging this with surveys like this.

    Read Also: BudgIT knocks NASS

    “At this juncture, it is pertinent to stress that the Governor Obaseki-led administration will, at all times, work for the betterment of the lives of Edo workers, provide enabling environment for them to work and also set the right machinery for capacity building so they can be fulfilled in their jobs as well as their private lives.”

    The survey showed that some states are owing outstanding salaries ranging from one to 36 months, with the worst hit being Kogi, Osun, Imo and Delta states.

    Commenting on some of the states, BudgIT said, “While midwives in Kogi were only paid 40 percent of their agreed salaries and secretariat workers paid 50 percent, in Osun, salaries outstanding is 50 percent for 30 months, but those in levels 1-7 were fully paid.”

  • World Mental Health Day: Obaseki proffers multi-sectoral partnership on treatment

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has proffered a more robust partnership involving state actors, the organised private sector (OPS), donor agencies, research institutes, charities and governments, in the treatment of mental illnesses.

    Obaseki made the submission in commemoration of the celebration of World Mental Health Day, marked on October 10, each year.

    The governor decried the attitude of many societies towards people having mental health problems and called for a change.

    “Across the globe, some societies still discriminate against people with mental health problems. This attitude further compounds efforts by governments, experts and other stakeholders at designing products for the treatment of patients and reintegrating them into the society,” he said.

    Obaseki explained that people with mental health problems deserve our love, care, understanding and support and urged thought and opinion leaders in communities across the globe to lead the fight against exclusion, stigma and prejudices held against sufferers of mental illnesses.

    “As a government, we have delineated our health system for easy appreciation of the roles required by all stakeholders in the sector. We have commenced the construction of primary health centres across the state to reach all Edo people and residents irrespective of where they reside.

    “The Benin Specialist Hospital will be open to offer specialist care to patients before the end of the year and we have received letters of intent from experts in the health sector, who want to partner with us to ensure that our health system can meet the needs of our people,” he added.

    Celebrating the 2018 World Mental Health Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO), urges regular checks for symptoms of mental illnesses beginning at a young age.

    “Half of all mental illness begins by the age of 14, but most cases go undetected and untreated. In terms of the burden of the disease among adolescents, depression is the third leading cause.

    Read Also: Obaseki inspects new Specialist Hospital, High Court


    “Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds. Harmful use of alcohol and illicit drugs among adolescents is a major issue in many countries and can lead to risky behaviours such as unsafe sex or dangerous driving. Eating disorders are also of concern,” the WHO said.

    With the theme, “Young People and Mental Health in a Changing World” the United Nations specialised organisation, stressed that “Adolescence and the early years of adulthood are a time of life when many changes occur, for example changing schools, leaving home, and starting university or a new job.

    According to WHO, “For many, these are exciting times. They can also be times of stress and apprehension however. In some cases, if not recognised and managed, these feelings can lead to mental illness.

    “The expanding use of online technologies, while undoubtedly bringing many benefits, can also bring additional pressures, as connectivity to virtual networks at any time of the day and night grows.

    “Many adolescents are also living in areas affected by humanitarian emergencies such as conflicts, natural disasters and epidemics. Young people living in situations such as these are particularly vulnerable to mental distress and illness.”

  • UNDP Human Devt. Index: Obaseki targets best-performer status for Edo

    The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has said that the ongoing reforms in education and health sectors would put Edo in the league of the best performing states in subsequent human Development Indices of the United Nations Development Programme.

    Obaseki gave the assurance in Benin City, the Edo State capital, following the release of the UNDP HDI Report 2018, on Friday, using year 2016 performance in: Access to decent living; access to knowledge and health.

    Edo State was ranked 12th by the UNDP  2016 Report with a value of 0.5299, followed by Imo, Osun, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ondo, Anambra, Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Oyo, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Kaduna, Gombe, Niger, Kebbi, Jigawa and Kano states.

    The top performers, according to the report, are Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Ekiti states.

    Obaseki said: “The National Human Development Index released by the United Nations Development Programme which placed Edo State in the 12th position, is an eye opener but our target is to be the best-performing state using the criteria set by the UNDP.

    Read Also: Obaseki inspects new Specialist Hospital, High Court

    “It is instructive to mention that the performances used were those of 2016 and we have since scaled up our activities in education and health sectors to earn us the top spot. We are ready to unveil 7000 digital primary school teachers soon, to transform the way teaching is conducted in our basic education sector.

    “We have commenced the construction of primary health centres across the state to take healthcare to the door steps of our people, no matter how remote their locations are.”

    The governor added: “It is our hope that all these efforts would be captured in subsequent UNDP Human Development Indices to reflect Edo State’s current standing among the comity of states in the country.”

    According to media analysis of the report, with a value of 0.6515, Lagos outperformed all the other states. It also retained the title as it had placed first in the 2013 HDI with a value of 0.6716.

    “The FCT ranked second with a value of 0.6289. It jumped six places as it had placed seventh in the 2013 HDI, with a value of 0.5112.

    “With a value of 0.5909, Bayelsa placed third, stepping a place down from the second place it occupied in 2013, with a value of 0.621.

    “Akwa Ibom ranked fourth with a value of 0.5641. The state retained its placement as it had also occupied the fourth position in the previous index, with a value of 0.5698.

    “Ekiti, occupying the fifth position with a value 0.5608, was one of the highest performers in terms of ranking, as it moved 11 places by jumping from the 16th position it occupied in 2013 to the fifth in the latest ranking.

    “Sokoto, Katsina, Bauchi, Yobe and Zamfara states are at the bottom of the National Human Development Index, according to the National Human Development Report 2018 released by the United Nations Development Programme.”

    The UNDP explained that HDI represents a geometric average of normalised indices for each of the three dimensions of health, knowledge and standard of living.

  • Ehaekpen Road dualisation: Residents express delight at completion

    …laud Obaseki’s investment in infrastructure

    As the contractors working on the dualisation of Ehaekpen Road return to site to complete the road project, residents in the area have expressed excitement over the project, commending Governor Godwin Obaseki for mobilizing the contractors back to site to complete it.

    A cross-section of Benin City residents, especially those who ply the affected road, told journalists that work on the final phase of the road project has brought succour to the people in the area.

    Mr. James Amadin, who owns a store along Ehaekpen Road, said, “I must commend His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki for bringing the contractors back to site to complete the asphalt laying on the road. Those of us who live and do business here, know the importance of the road. We are certain that with this last phase of work, the road will better serve businesses in the area.”

    According to Amadin, “If the road was left without working on the pot holes created by the heavy rainfall, the essence of dualising the road would have been lost. With this final phase of the road construction, we are confident that the road will be durable.”

    Read Also: Obaseki commiserates with late Hayford Alile’s family

    Another resident, Mrs. Pauline Oviasuyi said, “When I saw the contractors working on the road, I was so pleased. The governor has been doing a good job and we are confident that he is not one to abandon a project or deliver haphazard job. So we were reassured when government officials said that work has not been completed on the road.”

    “This road is very important to us, as it will help us connect the different parts of the city easily. My fear before now was that the road would be left the way it was, but from what I am seeing at the site, I know that the road will serve us for a very long time to come,” she added.

    Monday Aigbogun, a transporter, said “before this work commenced, it was difficult for us to drive through the road when it rained. I believe that this work, when completed, will not only bring out the beauty of the road but end the plight of commercial drivers who ply the road daily.”