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Tag: Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

  • NUT appeals to Enugu State to pay teachers’ gratuity arrears

    NUT appeals to Enugu State to pay teachers’ gratuity arrears

    The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), on Wednesday, appealed to the Enugu State Government to pay teachers’ gratuity arrears that had spanned over three years.

    The Chairman of NUT Enugu State Wing, Mr Paul Ozor, made the appeal while speaking with News men in Enugu.

    Ozor noted that the payment of the arrears would help to alleviate the challenges being faced by teachers after retirement.

    ‘‘Since 2015, no gratuity payment for primary school teachers in the state and our retired senior citizens, who have served the state meritoriously are not happy with the development.

    ‘‘I appeal that the gratuity arrears should be cleared in order to bring relief to our retired teachers and senior citizens,’’ he said.

    Read Also: NUT threatens strike over arrears, infrastructural decay

    Ozor also revealed that the pension payment for retired teachers was paid last in September, 2017.

    He, however, commended the state government for an up-to-date and prompt payment of teachers’ salaries in the state.

    ‘‘I must confess, the state government is always prompt and regular with teachers’ salaries, especially Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration,’’ he said.

    The chairman also urged the state government to donate buses to primary schools as done to each secondary school in the state.

    ‘‘I believe that when buses are donated to schools at the primary level; just as the state government had done in secondary school, it will go a long way to motivate and further enhance productivity at the primary school level,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Ugwuanyi has wiped away our tears, says University VC

    Ugwuanyi has wiped away our tears, says University VC

    …as governor flags off 10km road construction

    The Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Prof. Christian Anieke has described Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State as a Messiah sent by God to wipe away the tears of the University and the people of the host communities through the commencement of the construction of the 10-kilometer Ugwuomu-Nkwubor-Godfrey Okoye University road.

    Speaking during the flag-off ceremony of the road by Gov. Ugwuanyi, Prof. Anieke expressed gratitude to the governor for coming to the rescue of the university and the people of the area through the intervention on the deplorable road. Godfrey Okoye University is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Enugu.

    The Vice Chancellor regretted that all efforts by the university and the people of the communities to get previous governments to construct the road yielded no result “until the Messiah arrived”.

    “Among all the politicians in Enugu, only one person got the heart to do this road and you are the person, Your Excellency. I thank you. You have wiped away the tears of Godfrey Okoye University. You have wiped away the tears of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu.

    “You have wiped away the tears of Reverend Sisters and Fathers, Ugwuomu and Nkwubor communities; Caritas University, Emene community and all the surrounding communities.

    “This road will be the greatest blessing of your life. Anything you ask God, you will get it”, the Vice Chancellor, who is also a priest prayed.

    He also promised the governor that he will continue to offer prayers for his landslide victory in the forthcoming election.

    Flagging off the road, Gov. Ugwuanyi noted that the action of the government was in response to a formal request from the authorities of the university to assist them improve infrastructural development in the school and its environs.

    The governor added that it was also in keeping with the rural development policy of his administration, stating that the road, when completed, will help to open up the agrarian communities and stimulate rapid economic development of the area in particular and Enugu East local government area in general.

    Gov. Ugwuanyi reiterated his administration’s commitment to “the continuous improvement of the state’s education sector, particularly, through the provision of necessary infrastructure, equipment and logistical support to educational institutions at all levels”.

    He, therefore, pledged continued partnership and cooperation with the university and similar institutions in the state, to ensure the realization of the common visions and objectives in the education sector, “for the benefit of our children and the society at large”

    Earlier in their remarks, the Executive Chairman of Enugu East L.G.A, Hon. Alex Ugwu; the traditional ruler of the Mgbulu Anyuli kingdom, HRH Igwe Mike Ogbuchi; the University’s Board of Trustees’ Chairman, Prof Bartho Okolo and Chairman of Juhel Pharmaceutical Company, Ifeanyi Okoye, commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for his intervention on the road through partnership with the university authorities. 

  • Enugu revenue board seals 5 hotels over N6.6bn debt

    Enugu revenue board seals 5 hotels over N6.6bn debt

    No fewer than five hotels in Enugu State have been sealed by the state Board of Internal Revenue ( BIR ) due to huge tax debts.

    The hotels are Nondon Hotel, Allen Suites, Villa Toscana, Filbon Hotel and Hotel Codial, which allegedly owed N6.6 billion to the state government.

    Officials of the BIR swooped on the premises of the affected hospitality outfits on Wednesday and shut down their operations.

    The Chairman of the board, Mr Emeka Odo said the affected hotels had been recalcitrant in fulfilling their tax obligations to the state government.

    He said the debts were owed between 2011 and 2016, adding that government was poised at recovering all debts owed it by institutions in the state.

    The chairman said the BIR would embark on intensive revenue drive from the first quarter of 2018, adding that tax evasion and avoidance would no longer be tolerated.

    Read also: Enugu to recruit 700 teachers

    Odo said the creativity of the state governor was enough to encourage residents and enterprises in the state to discharge their civic responsibilities.

    The chairman said accruals of the state government from the federal allocation would not be enough to deliver meaningful projects, adding that government relied mostly on IGR.

    According to him, the state will take the issue of debt recovery seriously in order to change the mindset of the people toward discharging their civic obligations.

    Meanwhile, the state governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had disclosed that the government generated N17 billion between January and November, 2017.

    The governor made the disclosure at the recent launch of the automated tax system in the state.

    NAN

  • Social benefit scheme: Enugu deploys 100 enumerators

    Social benefit scheme: Enugu deploys 100 enumerators

    Ahead of the execution of its social benefit scheme, the Enugu State Government on Friday deployed 100 enumerators  for the registration of  all adult residents and organisations in the state.

    The Chairman of  Enugu State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr Emeka Odo, said each resident would obtain the   Enugu State Social Benefit Number ( ESBN ).

    He said that the registration exercise  would be decentralised to enable residents and organisations collect their ESBN numbers without hindrance.

    Odo also  said that  registration centres would be opened in all tax collection centres at the headquarters, zones  and councils, in addition to  specially  designed centres.

    “The bedrock of any efficient and modern tax administration is enumeration.

    “Proper enumeration creates the database on which subsequent assessment, collection  and accounting is based,’’ he said.

    Read also: $42.5m loan boosts Enugu estate project

    According to him, the ESBN is unique to every individual and organisation and will be used to access and benefit from various programmes and policies of government.

    Odo, who said that the registration exercise would be done by the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service ( ESIRS ), would be free-of-charge.

    “The scheme’s exercise will run across the state to ensure that all adult residents and organisations in Enugu State are registered and given ESBN number,’’ he said.

    Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was the first to  register  and was issued with the ESBN number.

    “The ESBN is a giant step toward  the full tax automation system of the state.

    “It is meant to usher in a full blown Integrated Tax Management System  where the process of revenue assessment, collection and accounting is automated,” he said.

    NAN

  • Governors urge FG to increase allocation to states

    Governors urge FG to increase allocation to states

    The South-East and South-South Governors’ Forum on Monday called on the Federal Government to increase allocation to the states from the Federation Account.

    The governors made the call in a communiqué at the end of the forum’s meeting in Uyo.

    In the communiqué signed by its Chairman, Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, the forum expressed concern that in spite of increase in oil price and production level, revenue accruing to states had not reflected such realities.

    “The forum therefore urges the Federal Government to ensure improved revenue allocation to the states to reflect the current realities to enable the states meet the yearnings and expectations of their people.

    “The forum also proposed that the Federal Government should relinquish all federal roads to states, where such roads are located, facilitate legislation that would ease concession of the roads,” the communiqué said.

    The governors appealed to the Federal Government to intervene urgently to improve the current state of some critical infrastructure located in the South-South and South-East.

    According to the communiqué, the forum mentioned some of the infrastructural facilities to include airports in Calabar, Enugu, Imo and Port Harcourt as well as roads located in the zones.

    The forum expressed concern over alleged shoddy approach to infrastructural development by some intervention agencies of the Federal Government operating in the regions.

    It, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to direct the agencies to liaise with state governments in the identification and execution of projects.

    It expressed belief that the approach would ensure that projects carried out by intervention agencies were in synergy with the developmental agenda of the states.

    The meeting was attended by Udom Emmanuel, Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu.

    Others were Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Ivara Esu and Dr Nkem Okeke, both Deputy Governors of Cross River and Anambra.

    NAN

  • Media chief hails Ugwuanyi’s development strides in Enugu

    Chief Obinwa Nnaji, a top flight journalist, editor and politician, says the just concluded local government elections in Enugu State, has shown that the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has stamped his authority in the state.

    According to him, the clean sweep by the Peoples Democratic Party PDP of all the seats-chairmen and councilors in the local governments in Enugu State, amply demonstrated that Governor Ugwuanyi was in charge.

    “Make no mistake about this, forget the conventional outburst of losers, the party PDP is still the dominant political party, with all the House of Assembly seats in its kitty, including the eight House of Representatives and three Senatorial seats. It will be absurd to think otherwise,” Nnaji remarked.

    In a statement yesterday, the journalist explained that the governor over the short period as leader and chief executive of the state has ensured equitable development of every nook and cranny of the state.

    The statement further said that some of those who had expressed reservation about the last local government elections were only reacting to please their masters who must have been disappointed by their abysmal performance.

    Nnaji says most of them cannot win even their polling booths in front of their homesteads and Nigerians are no longer gullible as these fair-weather politicians are still living in their past and will continue to be rejected by their people.

    He advised the government and the state party not to be distracted but to remain focused and work toward uplifting the man on the streets.

    The enormity of governance is not a tea party. The governor is going into an election year,  he should continue to strengthen and consolidate his administrative policies especially those that touch lives of the populace,  those at the rural and urban areas and he and the party would be reassured of assailable heights come 2019 general elections.

    He called on well meaning people of the state to remain steadfast and support Governor Ugwuanyi whose humility, magnanimity and commitment to develop the State remain the touch stone of his administration.

     

  • PDP to work with any chairman elected at Dec. 9 convention

    PDP to work with any chairman elected at Dec. 9 convention

    The eight contenders for the National Chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP )have agreed to work with any of them elected at the party’s National Convention on Dec. 9.

    Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti, made the disclosure at a news briefing in the early hours of Monday after a five and half hour closed door meeting in Enugu.

    Fayose said that the governors met to deliberate on the forthcoming national convention and discussed with the chairmanship aspirants.

    According to him, the forthcoming PDP convention will serve as template for future conventions in the country.“We put PDP first and PDP is first.

    We are leaving Enugu believing that we will take power at the centre in 2019.

    Fayose flanked by other PDP governors expressed the belief that the party would win the Nov. 18 governorship poll in Anambra.

    “We believe we will take over Anambra if the election is free, fair and credible.“Nigeria is of age to conduct election that is acceptable internationally,” he said.

    Governors at the meeting were, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu; Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia; Darius Ishaku, Taraba; Ibrahim Dankwambo, Gombe.

    Others were Emmanuel Udom, Akwa-Ibom; Ben Ayade,Cross River; ifeanyi Okowa, Delta; Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa; Nyesom Wike, River, while Ebonyi was represented by the deputy governor.

    Eight chairmanship aspirants, South-west had six, while South-South had two.They are: Bode George, Jimi Agbaje, Taoheed Adedoja, Tunde Adeniran, Rasheed Ladoja, Gbenga Daniel, Raymond Dokpesi and Uche Secondus.

    Former governors at the meeting were Gabriel Suswam of Benue and Godswill Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom.

    The meeting was also attended by former External Affairs Minister, Tom Ikimi, Kema Chikwe, former Senate President Adolpus Wabara, and incumbent Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

    NAN

     

  • Enugu govt develops six housing estates in one year

    Enugu govt develops six housing estates in one year

    Enugu State Government says it developed six housing estates within one year and plans to launch website where people can get more information about housing developments in the state.

    The General Manager of Enugu State Housing Development Corporation ( ESHDC ) Mr Chukwuemelie Agu, disclosed this in an interview in Enugu on Sunday.

    Agu said that the new developed estates in the state included Heritage Estate, WTC Estate, Transparency Estate, Rangers Estate 1&2, Citadel Estate and Vally Estate.

    He explained that some of the estates were for low income earners, while others were for medium and high income earners.

    According to him, Citadel Estate is for high income earners and Valley Estate is exclusively for low income earners in the state.

    The general manager explained that the housing corporation ensured that the estates met the needs of all classes of people, adding that the estates were affordable for people according to their social strata.

    He pointed out that the developments of the estates were to cater for the growing population in the state.

    He said “in one year and few months in office, my team with tremendous support from Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has been able to achieve a lot in estates development in Enugu State.”

    Agu said there were four upcoming estates for development from different communities outside Enugu metropolis to spread development and residence within the state.

    “We want to develop some of these satellite estates to be able to decongest the state capital, Enugu.

    “There are more people in Enugu metropolis because many are coming back to the state due to one reason or the other.”

    On the corporation’s new website, the general manager said it was aimed at providing detailed information about houses and all housing developments in the state.

    He said people could check the website for information without necessarily coming to the corporation’s office.

    He applauded Gov. Ugwuanyi “for his fatherly support to the corporation to cater for the welfare of Enugu residents.”

    NAN

  • Gov. Ugwuanyi visits 478 communities in 2 years

    Gov. Ugwuanyi visits 478 communities in 2 years

    Dr Eric Oluedo, the Head, Visit Every Community ( VEC ) Directorate, Office of the Governor Enugu State, say Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has visited 478 communities and some special communities within two years.

    Oluedo disclosed this in Enugu on Thursday.

    “The visit, an interactive session between the government and people of each of the communities, is meant to get community-needs assessment from the people to drive the ongoing bottom-up approach of development adopted by the state government.’’

    He said that the visits had afforded the governor the opportunities to meet with his people one-on-one and felt their pains and gains while living within their communities.

    The governor’s aide said that the visits had given the people the voice to say their most pressing needs or challenges and how they could be tackled with collaborative efforts of the people and government.

    “Visit Every Community (VEC) Initiative, has led Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to sit down one-on-one with community members to chart realistic and inclusive community development programmes for them.

    “You can see that we have hundreds of community-based developmental projects ongoing in Enugu State through the instrumentality of the VEC.

    “And now, the community members are part of the projects since they monitor and report to the VEC office on how their projects are being executed.

    “In some communities, we handed over the entire project to a formidable and trusted committee to execute, while the state government releases money in phases as each phase of the project is completed.

    “In all, we have micro-community projects or projects that will be between five million naira and N12 million as well as those that will gulp up to N20 million.

    “So, with this, basic community needs like Primary Health care centre, boreholes, electrification and construction of town halls, markets, primary schools are done to solve communities’ immediate and pressing needs,’’ he said.

    Oluedo, former Enugu State Commissioner for Rural Development, urged other state governments to adopt the bottom-up approach to fast-track development in the country.

    He said that part of the problem of development in Africa had been the up-to-down approach to development which had left no room for people in the communities to contribute and participate in developments meant for them.

    According to him, the ongoing bottom-up approach to development in Enugu State has given every community and group in the state a sense of belonging and allow holistic development to get to rural communities.

    Special community categories, include conglomerate of motherless babies homes, orphanages, old people’s home, schools for the deaf and dumb, schools for the blind and schools for children with special needs, among others.

    NAN

  • Ugwuanyi reiterates commitment to make Enugu tourism hub

    Ugwuanyi reiterates commitment to make Enugu tourism hub

    Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has reiterated his administration’s commitment and resolve to make Enugu State a tourism hub within the West African region.

    Ugwuanyi made this known when he declared open the 2017 edition of Life in My City Art Festival ( LIMCAF ), an art exhibition, in Enugu on Thursday.

    The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs Rita Mba, said that the state government was doing all it could to attract tourism investors into the state.

    He expressed gratitude to the organisers for sustaining their vision of ensuring that art was promoted in Enugu State.

    The Executive Director of LIMCAF, Kevin Ejiofor, thanked the state government for recognising the importance of art in promoting culture and tourism.

    Ejiofor, however, urged the participating artists to sustain their vision.

    The Art Director of LIMCAF, Ayo Adeyemi, said out of 200 artworks submitted by artists, 100 of them, which suited the required standard, were selected and displayed.

    Adeyemi also noted that apart from cash prizes that would be given to winners, four of the participating artists that would emerge winner in the grand finale would be sponsored to Dakar, Senegal, for exhibition.

    Some of the participating artists displayed their art works while spectators at the exhibition expressed satisfaction with the art works.

    The grand finale of the event, which is the 11th edition of the art exhibition, is expected to hold on Oct. 28 with winners going home with cash prizes.

    NAN