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Tag: Gov. David Umahi

  • Operation Python Dance III a blessing for Ebonyi – Umahi

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has said that the Nigerian Army’s Operation Python Dance III exercise in the state has become a blessing for the residents.

    Umahi stated this on Tuesday while distributing 70 Hilux-operational vehicles to various security agencies in the state.

    He said that the exercise which was heavily misconstrued by some people, has recorded no incidences of infractions, quarrel or torture, among others.

    ”I believe that with the pedigree of the General Officer Commanding the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, his commandant and officers, we would continue to shame our enemies.

    ”We are brothers and sisters across the Niger and no level of enmity wished by the enemies will help the country.

    ”Let us embrace love to engender oneness as this is the only way Nigeria would continue to remain as a nation,” he said.

    The governor berated groups in the South East zone which declared that they would participate in the general elections to vote against him.

    ”I ask of the need to conduct governorship elections in the state considering what God has done but I will not fold my hands and watch uninformed Ebonyi people continue being killed.

    ”When the military was confronted at Umuahia, 90 per cent of those that died were Ebonyians and one person was busy talking about his dog that died.

    ”Ebonyi people would never experience a second colonisation and no other group exists in the state but our people who are determined to re-write their history.

    ”We would continue to collaborate with the Federal Government and security agencies to rid our state of criminals to sustain its rating as the safest state in the zone,” he said.

    He said that the vehicles were distributed to appreciate and complement the efforts of security agencies in the state and particularly praised the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    ”The NSCDC has formed the backbone of intelligence gathering and collaborates effectively with the police by demobilising and handing over criminals.

    ”The police would be allotted 30 vehicles, the army 4 Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of zone 6, 2 vehicles, GOC 82 Division, 2, State Security Service 3, NSCDC 4 and the Neigbourhood Security Watch, 15.

    ”The Nigerian Immigration Service would receive one vehicle, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) 1, Governor’s Convoy – 1, Nigerian Legion 1, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), 2 and Nigerian Prisons Service 1,” he said.

    Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, Muhammad Mustapha, thanked the governor on behalf of other security agencies and pledged that the vehicles would be judiciously utilised.

    ”Ebonyi remains the safest state in the South-East zone and we would ensure that the rate of criminality in the state is reduced to zero per cent.

    ”We have been adequately motivated to perform optimally and we assure the people of the protection of their lives and properties,” he said.

    Dr Kenneth Ugbala, Commissioner for Internal Security and Boarder Peace, pledged that the neighbourhood security watch would continue assisting security agencies to rid the state of criminals. (NAN)

  • 95 per cent of States can’t pay N30, 000 minimum wage – Umahi

    Gov David Umahi of Ebonyi on Wednesday in Abakaliki, declared that 95 per cent of states in the country cannot pay the proposed N30, 000 minimum wage to workers.

    Umahi, who is the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, said this while inaugurating a 36-member fact-finding committee to ascertain the mode of workers’ promotion arrears payment in states across the six geo-political zones of the states.

    According to Umahi, the payment of the N30, 000 can only be realised if the federation account allocation formula is reviewed to offer more earnings to states.

    “The federal government collects 52 per cent of the revenue from the federation account and when I tried to put the N30,000 figure to Local Government Areas (LGA) it means they will borrow N1billion to add to their allocation, in paying salaries.

    “I will definitely not be a governor to govern such a state and will never preside over a state that will allocate 100 per cent of its earnings to pay salaries,” he said.

    The governor recommended that the issue of petroleum subsidy in the country should also be reviewed as had been noted by the state and federal governments.

    “We must presently have the courage to say this because a lot of money can be saved from the subsidy if properly distributed.

    “When 100, 000 litres of petrol is allocated to me for instance and deducted from my allocation, it is then my business to ensure that there is no leakage.

    “There is no governor or political office holder that signs cheques but civil servants as the country’s leaders and labour are just putting water inside a basket and praying God to hold it with this minimum wage issue,” he said.

     

    He urged the country’s leaders and labour to liaise and decide on the percentage of the federation account that should be voted for salaries and other sectors.

    “We should determine how much should be allocated to education, health, infrastructure among others if 100 per cent of earnings are used to pay workers salaries.

    “Many states are experiencing various problems and cannot pay salaries but the people condemn their governments over their inability to provide good roads and other amenities.

    “People don’t understand the problems being experienced by these states and the governors have kept quiet for long and need to speak presently,” he said.

    Umahi regretted that the issue of promotion arrears for workers in the state had lingered for long and urged the committee to be sincere with their findings to find an amicable solution to it.

    “We have been setting up committees on this issue and getting no results with people not being sincere and resorting to all sorts of things,” he said.

    Read also: Minimum Wage: Buhari to study report before any announcement – FG

    Dr Hyginus Nwokwu, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) noted that the issue made the governor to institute a 36-man member committee to tour states in the six geo political zones and ascertain the mode of payments.

    “The members are drawn from critical elements of state with the organised labour having 12 nominees, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) 12 nominees and the government-12 nominees.

    “The committee will tour three states in each of these zones, ascertain relevant facts, analyse and present them to enable government take disposable and final actions on the matter,” he said.

    Mr Leonard Nkah, the Acting Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state and Chairman of the committee pledged to ensure the actualisation of the committee’s aims.

    “We pledge to assiduously discharge our duties and make recommendations that will permanently solve the problem for a healthy government and labour relationship,” he said. (NAN)

  • Buhari: My appointments based on merit, track record

    Buhari: My appointments based on merit, track record

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday night in Abakaliki explained that many appointments in his administration were done purely on merit and proven track records.

    Speaking at a State dinner organised in his honour, Buhari said that he always considered what was best for the country in taking such decisions.

    ‘‘Some of the people holding high positions in the government, like my ministers, will tell you that I didn’t know them from Adam.

    Read Also: Buhari: more development for Southeast

    ‘‘I just came across their names from the records and I worked with the records. I thank God that I have a very good team,’’ he said.

    The President commended Gov. David Umahi for his development strides in the State, saying ‘‘the absolute commitment of the Governor to his position is very remarkable and I am very impressed.’’

    He expressed gratitude to God and the people of Ebonyi for recognising his modest contribution to the country.

    Buhari described Nigeria as a great country with incredible resources and highly talented people.

    ‘‘We should continue to pray to God that the elites that will be in charge of the country in the future fear God,’’ he said.

  • Don’t insult Buhari, Umahi advises PDP members

    Don’t insult Buhari, Umahi advises PDP members

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has advised politicians in the opposition not to insult those in government but to criticise them constructively to enhance development.

    Umahi spoke at a gala-night to celebrate 21 years of the creation of Ebonyi and the 57th Independence anniversary of Nigeria in Abakaliki on Sunday.

    He advised members of his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to refrain from insulting the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government.

    The governor also urged members of APC in Ebonyi to refrain from insulting him and his PDP-led state government.

    .“I always tell my people (PDP) that opposition at the centre is not about insults; I also advise the opposition in our state to tow the same line.

    “Opposition is about constructive criticism, putting the leader in check and reminding him that he has not fulfilled the promises he made.

    “It should not involve lying to the people, deceiving them and practising politics with bitterness and anger.

    “I will ask our grandfathers who are tackling us to do so with wisdom and love because it is a shame that a grandfather would tackle his children,” he said.

    Umahi said that the opposition would not succeed in the state because the state was neat and did not need to be ‘swept.

    “We have been holding the umbrella for an old man who was under the umbrella for eight years and we will take him to the boundaries of Ebonyi to sweep.

    “We are standing on God’s mandate and not shaking because over 10,000 people are praying for us day and night to succeed and take the state to another level, “ he said.

    Umahi commended the president for agreeing that the country needed to be restructured and noted that such stance had established a platform for Nigerians to discuss their agitations.

    “We will now talk, disagree, agree and arrive at decisions that will take the nation to greater heights and achieve the desired unity and development,” he said.

    Mr Augustine Nwankwagu, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, said the party was to celebrate God’s mercies since the state’s creation and the successes of the governor.

    The governor has been heavily criticised for his actions by the opposition, with his predecessor, Chief Martin Elechi, who decamped from PDP to APC, leading the critics.

    Elechi during a recent interview told newsmen that he did not support Umahi’s emergence as governor and would not support his re-election  for a second term in office.

  • Ebonyi distributes relief materials to IDPs

    Ebonyi distributes relief materials to IDPs

    Ebonyi state Governor, David Umahi on Monday distributed relief materials worth N20million to Internally Displaced Persons in the intra-communal dispute between the people of Ogiri and Okporojo, Afikpo South local government area of the state.

    The two neighbouring communities have been locked in land dispute which claimed the lives of over 40 persons when fighting broke out in May this year with properties including houses worth millions of naira destroyed.

    The relief materials include cartons of noodles, bags of rice, cartons or wrappers, sleeping mattresses among others.

    In addition to the relief materials, the government also gave each household affected in the crisis N100, 000 to the over 121 households.

    Handing over the relief materials to the IDPs at government house, Abakaliki, Governor Umahi represented by his Deputy Dr. Kelechi Igwe called on the over 130 communities in the state to live in peace.

    He said the distribution of the relief materials will) be the last time the government will be intervening in intra crisis.

    He noted that the government was spending much in maintaining security of lives and property of the citizenry and warned that it will not tolerate anyone or community frustrating the government’s
    efforts.

    “We are doing a lot to change the state for good and also touch lives. What security is taking from this government is so much that any other government would have collapsed because in all our border communities, there are crisis and the government has been providing security in all these flash points. The government ensures the welfare of the security agencies in these areas”, Umahi said.

    The Chairman of the local government, Eni Uduma Chima who commended the government for the gesture, said normalcy has returned to the two warring communities. 

    Eni Uduma Chima who lamented over the condition of the affected village in terms of infrastructure and welfare added that the present administration has begun the reconstruction of the houses in the area to ensure that the people were comfortable and repositioned to face the challenges ahead of them.

    Chima further noted that security personnel were fully mobilized within and around the affected village to ensure peace and order adding that his office would ensure that the relief materials were duly distributed to the IDPs.

  • Gov. Umahi suspends attorney-general, solicitor-general

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has ordered the immediate suspension of the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Augustine Nwankwagu, for non-commitment to duty.

    The governor also indefinitely suspended the state Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the ministry of Justice, Mr Jonathan Okoronkwo for the same reason.

    The governor announced the suspensions in Abakaliki  in Abakiliki after the duo failed to turn-up for the swearing-in of the new auditor-general of the state and members of the state judicial service commission.

    The officers also failed to witness the swearing-in ceremony of newly-appointed caretaker chairmen of some local government areas and development centre coordinators in the state.

    According to the governor, the officers have been absent on such occasions thrice in the past as it caused serious embarrassment to the state government.

    “This suspension will end the ceaseless embarrassment brought to the state by such absenteeism as the executive council members should convey the message to them, he said.

    He subsequently appointed his Senior Special Assistant on Legal Matters, Mr Uwabunkonye Anwusi to act as the attorney general and supervise the affairs of the ministry.

    The News Agency of Nieria (NAN) reports that Nwankwagu was the Speaker of the state House of Assembly from 2007 to 2011.