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  • Supreme Court affirms Mbah’s victory as Enugu gov

    Supreme Court affirms Mbah’s victory as Enugu gov

    • Mbah hails verdict, vows to redouble effort

    The Supreme Court yesterday affirmed the election of Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the governor of Enugu State.

    A five-member panel of the court, presided over by Justice John Okoro, unanimously dismissed two appeals filed by the Labour Party (LP) and its candidate, Jonathan Edeoga.

    Justice Mohammed Garba, in the lead judgment, held that the appellants failed to prove their case.

    Justice Garba resolved the five issues identified for determination in both appeals against the appellants.

    In respect of the first appeal, marked: SC/CV/1130/2023, Justice Garba held that tribunal and the Court of Appeal were right in holding that the written statements of some of the appellants’ witnesses that were not filed along with the petition were inadmissible and subsequently expunged them.

    He rejected the appellants’ request to invoke its jurisdiction under Section 22 to hear and determine the case on the merit, noting that the time allowed for the hearing of the petition had lapsed.

    In the second issue, Justice Garba held that there was no evidence to support the appellants’ claim that Mbah was not qualified to contest the election because he presented forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate No:A080297 to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his qualification to contest the election.

    He noted that the three witnesses called by the appellants on the issue were petitioners witnesses (PWs) one, two and three, who were among those whose written statements on oath were declared inadmissible having not been filed along with the petition.

    “The evidence of PW 1, 2 and 3 are what the issue of non-qualification was based on. The evidence, having been expunged for being legally inadmissible, there is no evidence to support that allegation of forgery of certificate.

    “The allegation, as contained in paragraphs 24 and 25 of the petition, is not supported by valid evidence. There is no merit in this issue,” he said.

    In resolving issue three against the appellants, Justice Garba held that the trial tribunal appropriately evaluated, analysed and ascribed the required value to the evidence led.

    He held that the appellants did not prove that the trial tribunal did not properly evaluate their evidence.

    The judge noted that the appellants, who were petitioners at the tribunal, called witnesses who they said were polling unit and collation agents, but under cross examination the witnesses admitted that they were not properly appointed to act in those capacities in accordance with relevant legal provisions.

    Read Also: UPDATED: Supreme Court affirms Mbah’s election as Enugu governor

    He also noted that the statements of the witnesses were all the same, except for the names, adding that such evidence was not admissible and could not be ascribed any value.

    “PW26 was the appellant state collation agent. He gave hearsay evidence because he was not at the ward collation centres for him to give admissible evidence of all that happened at all the ward collation centres.

    “The tribunal was right to have held that the petitioner failed to prove with evidence that the second respondent (Mbah) was not elected with majority of valid votes cast in the election.

    “I have no reason to interfere with the concurrent findings of the two lower courts on the issue,” he said.

    On the fourth issue, he faulted the appellants’ claim that the Court of Appeal wrongly discountenanced their reply brief.

    Justice Garba noted that the reply brief was merely a rehash of the arguments in the appellants’ brief and therefore, the Court of Appeal acted well in refusing to act on it.

    He dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

    The justice proceeded to uphold the November 10 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which earlier affirmed the decision of the trial tribunal, dismissing the petition by the LP and Edeoga.

    In dismissing the second appeal, marked: SC/CV/1131/2023, Justice Garba held that the votes deducted from the votes of the PDP and added to that of LP did not substantially affect the margin of lead by the PDP and its candidate.

    Respondents in both appeals were the PDP, Mbah and INEC.

    Also on the panel were Justices Helen Ogunwumiju, Tijani Abubakar and Emmanuel Agim.

    Meanwhile, the elated governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has hailed the Supreme Court verdict upholding his election in the March 18, 2023 governorship poll, saying distractions were over, as he vowed to redouble efforts in the delivery of his mandate to make Enugu State better.

    Mbah, who described the process of the judicial review of his mandate by the Enugu State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court as a huge emotional journey, physical, and spiritual investment for the people of Enugu, thanked them for their support every step of the way, promising not to disappoint them.

    He made the statements in Enugu yesterday while reacting to the apex court’s verdict in Abuja, which dismissed the appeal of the Labour Party governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, earlier in the day.

    The governor, who spoke at the Government House amidst cheers, drumming, and dancing by jubilant Enugu residents who thronged the seat of power, said it was victory for the people and a nudge to continue the development strides and pursue his vision for a greater Enugu State.

    He said: “A few minutes ago, the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, delivered the final judgement on the last tranche of appeals against the mandate you freely gave us on March 18, 2023. We thank God that the learned justices affirmed your sacred will.

    “We wish to express our profound gratitude to the learned justices for keeping the wheel of justice rolling. We specifically thank them for upholding your mandate.

    “This judicial journey has been a huge emotional, physical and spiritual investment for you, the people of Enugu. First, our case was heard and examined during an exhaustive process at the Enugu State Election Petitions Tribunal and at the end, your mandate was upheld. The appellate court sitting in Lagos again upheld the previous decision via a unanimous decision. Today the Supreme Court has again upheld this victory for the people of Enugu State.

    “Ndi Enugu you are the victors of this judicial journey. I salute your dogged belief in us. Your unalloyed support and prayers at every attempt to subvert your mandate can never be lost on us. We do not take them for granted. Now that these distractions are over, it is time to redouble our efforts to serve you.

    “We will double down on our earlier resolve to serve you with every fibre of our being. The reward of your resolute support will come in our rededication to do things that have to do with the ordinary people of Enugu State. We will give more attention to your welfare, development and good living.

    “Let me reaffirm that you haven’t seen anything yet. We are by this judgement recommitting ourselves to the sacred pact between us. The social contract which we both signed on May 29, 2023.

    “This judicial affirmation is a nudge to continue to provide water in every nook and cranny of Enugu State; to build smart schools in all the wards of our state; to sustain the provision of security; to provide massive infrastructure and roads development; to build a new set of leaders of tomorrow who will face the global challenges headlong.

    “Let me use this opportunity to reassure you that all our campaign promises will be fulfilled to the letter. Hold us to account. Hold your pens firmly and tick with us as we drill down into all those electoral promises.”

  • UPDATED: Supreme Court affirms Mbah’s election as Enugu governor

    UPDATED: Supreme Court affirms Mbah’s election as Enugu governor

    The Supreme Court on Friday, December 22, affirmed the election of Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the Governor of Enugu state.

    A five-member panel of the court, presided over by Justice John Okoro, unanimously dismissed two appeals filed by the Labour Party (LP) and its candidate, Jonathan Edeoga.

    Justice Mohammed Garba, in the lead judgment, held that the appellants failed to prove their case

    Justice Garba resolved the five issues, identified for determination in both appeals, against the appellants.

    In respect of the first appeal, marked: SC/CV/1130/2023 Justice Garba held that the tribunal and the Court of Appeal were right in holding that the written statements of some of the appellants’ witnesses, which were not filed along with the petition, were inadmissible and subsequently expunged them.

    He rejected the appellants’ request to invoke its jurisdiction under Section 22 to hear and determine the case on merit, noting that the time allowed for the hearing of the petition has lapsed.

    In the second issue, Justice Garba held that there was no evidence to support the appellants’ claim that Mbah was not qualified to contest the election because he presented forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate No:

    A080297 to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his qualification to contest the election.

    Read Also: Mixed reactions trail Mbah’s 2024 budget proposal

    He noted that the three witnesses called by the appellants on their issue were petitioners witnesses (PWs) one, two, and three, who were among those whose written statements on oath were declared inadmissible having not been filed along with the petition.

    “The evidence of PW 1, 2, and 3 is where the issue of non-qualification was based. The evidence having been expunged for being legally inadmissible, there is no evidence to support that allegation of forgery of certificate

    “The allegation, as contained in paragraphs 24 and 25 of the petition is not supported by valid evidence. There is no merit in this issue,” he said

    In resolving issue three against the appellants, Justice Garba held that the trial tribunal appropriately evaluated, analysed and ascribed the required value to the evidence led.

    He held that the appellants did not prove that the trial tribunal did not properly evaluate their evidence.

    The judge noted that the appellants, who were petitioners at the tribunal, called l witnesses who they said were polling unit and collation agents, but under cross-examination, the witnesses admitted that they were not properly appointed to act in those capacities by relevant legal provisions.

    He also noted that the statements of the witnesses were all the same, except for the names, adding that such evidence is not admissible and could not be ascribed any value.

    “PW26 was the appellant state collation agent, he gave hearsay evidence because he was not at the ward collation centres for him to give admissible evidence of all that happened at all the ward collation centres.

    “The tribunal was right to have held that the petitioner failed to prove with evidence that the second respondent (Mbah) was not elected with a majority of valid votes cast in the election.

    “I have no reason to interfere with the concurrent findings of the two lower courts on the issue,” he said.

    On the fourth issue, the faulted appellants claim that the Court of Appeal wrongly discountenanced their reply brief.

    Justice noted that the reply brief was merely a rehash of the arguments in the appellants’ brief and therefore, the Court of Appeal acted well in refusing to act on it.

    Justice Garba dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

    He proceeded to uphold the November 10 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which earlier affirmed the decision of the trial tribunal, dismissing the petition by the LP and Edeoga.

    In dismissing the second appeal, marked: SC/CV/1131/2023, Justice Garba held that the votes deducted from the votes of the PDP and added to that of LP did not substantially affect the margin of lead by the PDP and its candidate.

    Respondents in both appeals were the PDP, Mbah, and INEC.

    Also on the panel were Justices Helen Ogunwumiju, Tijani Abubakar, and Emmanuel Agim.

  • Mbah hails Supreme Court judgment, promises better performance

    Mbah hails Supreme Court judgment, promises better performance

    Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, has hailed the Supreme Court verdict upholding his election in the March 18, 2023 governorship poll, saying distractions were over, as he vowed to redouble efforts in the delivery of his mandate to make the state better.

    The Nation reports that the Supreme Court had affirmed the election of Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the governor of Enugu state, dismissing the appeal of the Labour Party governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeoga.

    Mbah, who spoke at the Government House Enugu, described the process of the judicial review of his mandate by the Enugu State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court as a huge emotional journey, physical, and spiritual investment for the people of Enugu, thanked them for their support every step of the way, promising not to disappoint them.

    The governor said it was a victory for the people and a nudge to continue the development strides and pursue his vision for a greater Enugu State.

    He said: “A few minutes ago, the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, delivered the final judgement on the last tranche of appeals against the mandate you freely gave us on March 18, 2023. We thank God that the learned justices affirmed your sacred will.

    “We wish to express our profound gratitude to the learned justices for keeping the wheel of justice rolling. We specifically thank them for upholding your mandate.

    “This judicial journey has been a huge emotional, physical, and spiritual investment for you, the people of Enugu. First, our case was heard and examined during an exhaustive process at the Enugu State Election Petitions Tribunal, and in the end, your mandate was upheld. The appellate court seating in Lagos again upheld the previous decision via a unanimous decision. Today the Supreme Court has again upheld this victory for the people of Enugu State.

    “Ndi Enugu you are the victors of this judicial journey. I salute your dogged belief in us. Your unalloyed support and prayers in every attempt to subvert your mandate can never be lost on us. We do not take them for granted. Now that these distractions are over, it is time to redouble our efforts to serve you.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Supreme Court affirms Mbah’s election as Enugu governor

    “We will double down on our earlier resolve to serve you with every fibre of our being. The reward of your resolute support will come in our rededication to do things that have to do with the ordinary people of Enugu State. We will give more attention to your welfare, development, and good living.

     “Let me reaffirm that you haven’t seen anything yet. We are by this judgment recommitting ourselves to the sacred pact between us. The social contract which we both signed on May 29, 2023.

     “This judicial affirmation is a nudge to continue to provide water in every nook and cranny of Enugu State; to build smart schools in all the wards of our state; to sustain the provision of security; to provide massive infrastructure and roads development; to build a new set of leaders of tomorrow who will face the global challenges headlong.

    “Let me use this opportunity to reassure you that all our campaign promises will be fulfilled to the letter. Hold us to account. Hold your pens firmly and stick with us as we drill down into all those electoral promises.

    “As we celebrate this affirmation of your electoral mandate, please continue to spare moments of prayers for us. Beseech God on our behalf for an ultimately greater Enugu State. With your prayers and support, we will get to the Promised Land of an Enugu of our dreams.”

  • JUST IN: Supreme Court affirms Mbah’s election as Enugu governor

    JUST IN: Supreme Court affirms Mbah’s election as Enugu governor

    The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the governor of Enugu state.

    A five-member panel of the court unanimously dismissed two appeals filed by the Labour Party (LP) and its candidate, Jonathan Edeoga.

    Read Also: Mixed reactions trail Mbah’s 2024 budget proposal

    Justice Mohammed Garba, in the lead judgment, held that the appellants failed to prove their case and proceeded to uphold the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which equally affirmed the decision of the trial tribunal, dismissing the petition by the LP and Edeoga.

    Details shortly…

  • Makinde, Mbah, Obaseki, Aliyu present Appropriation Bills to Assemblies

    Makinde, Mbah, Obaseki, Aliyu present Appropriation Bills to Assemblies

    • Oyo proposes N434b; Enugu, N521b; Edo, N325.3b; Sokoto, N270.1b 2024 budgets

    Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), and Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto) yesterday presented the 2024 Appropriation Bills to the Houses of Assembly for perusal and passage into law.

    Makinde presented N434,221,765,938.79 budget proposal which comprises a Capital Expenditure of N222,337,320,199.85 and a Recurrent Expenditure of N211,884,445,728.95.

    The governor said next year’s budget proposal, christened: Budget of Economic Recovery, offers a chance for his administration to show its responsiveness to the current economic realities in the country.

    He said the Capital Expenditure is 2.4 per cent higher than the Recurrent Expenditure.

    Makinde explained that the budget proposal envisaged an increased Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N72 billion with an average of N6 billion monthly.

    A breakdown of the proposals showed that Education got the highest share of N90,664,994,252 (20.88 per cent), followed by Infrastructure, which got N74,316,325,706 (17.11 per cent); Health, with N40,998,197,758.30 (9.44 per cent); and Agriculture, with N15,848,707,310.80 (3.65 per cent).

    Read Also; NIN and passports

    In Enugu State, Governor Mbah presented a budget proposal of N521,561,386,000 to the House of Assembly yesterday in Enugu.

    The proposed budget, tagged: Budget of Disruptive Economic Growth, comprises a Recurrent Expenditure of N107,272,660,000, representing 20 per cent; and a Capital Expenditure of N414,334,120,000, representing 80 per cent of the total budget.

    Education got the lion’s share of N134.5 billion, representing 33 per cent of the total budget proposal.

    Mbah said through the revised budget, his administration had been able to make some appreciable progress in fulfilling its promises to Ndi Enugu in the last few months.

    He estimated that the total recurrent revenues in 2024 will amount to ¦ 383,789,000,000.00, as against the approved revised provision for 2023 of ¦ 143,571,592,917.

    Giving a breakdown of the projected revenues for 2024, Mbah said the state would generate N252,789,000,000 through Internally Generated Revenue (IGR); N60,000,000,000 through Statutory Revenue; N16,000,000,000 through Excess Crude and others; while N44,000,000,000 and N11,000,000,000 would be earned through Value Added Tax (VAT) and Opening Balance.

    In Edo State, Governor Obaseki presented a proposed budget of N325.3 billion, called: Home Run, Finishing Strong, to the 24-member House of Assembly in Benin, the state capital.

    The governor said the 2024 Appropriation Bill contains N178 billion for Capital Expenditure, and N146 billion for Recurrent Expenditure. He put the total projected revenue for 2024 at N303 billion. This consists of N55 billion for Statutory Allocation, Value Added Tax (VAT) of N38 billion, Capital Receipts of N40 billion, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N72 billion, and N10 billion from Grants, among others.

    Obaseki stressed that the focus areas for the 2024 fiscal year would include growth and employment enablers, such as trailer and transit parks, ICT infrastructure, Benin port projects, which would gulp N85 billion; Road and Transport Infrastructure, N62 billion; Health, N33 billion; Education, N32 billion; and Buildings, Physical Planning and Development Control, N21 billion.

    Other areas include Social Welfare/Benefits, N16 billion; Environment, N5 billion; Electricity, N7 billion; Agriculture, N6 billion; and Youth, Social Development and Gender, N6 billion.

    In Sokoto State, the House of Assembly yesterday passed for second reading the proposed 2024 Appropriation Bill of N270.1 billion.

    The request for this progression came from the Assembly Leader, Alhaji Bello Idris (APC, Gwadabawa North), after a thorough debate on the budget presented by Governor Ahmed Aliyu.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the governor presented the proposed 2024 budget to the state legislature last Friday.

    Aliyu said the proposed budget, tagged: Budget of Hope and Resilience for Infrastructural Development, consists of Personnel Costs of N46.9 billion; Overhead of N50.9 billion; and Capital Expenditure of N172.2 billion.

    The governor said Education got the largest allocation of N42.9 billion, followed by Health’s N31.2 billion; Works and Transport, N18.8 billion; and Agriculture, N10.3 billion.

  • Mbah inaugurates investors’ network

    Mbah inaugurates investors’ network

    • Igbo captains of industry embrace economic plans

    Captains of industry and prospective investors of Southeast extraction have expressed their readiness to key into the investment and economic growth plans of the Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah.

    They expressed satisfaction about the administration’s effort at rallying local domestic business leaders and de-risking the state’s business environment, stressing that investors go to where the risks are less and return on investment (ROI) is high.

    Mbah stressed on synergic regional cooperation for development, saying people could only get respect outside their land proportionate to the socio-economic growth in their own homeland.

    The business moguls spoke in Enugu at the weekend during the inauguration of the Enugu Investors Network, an initiative of Enugu State Government for mobilising domestic investment. 

    One of the business leaders at the event, which also served as the inaugural roundtable of the network, Dr. Sam Onyishi, CEO of Peace Group of Companies, hailed the governor for improved security.

    He urged Ndigbo to think home, emphasising that the long-term security of Igbo investment could only be guaranteed in their homeland.

    Onyishi said: “The government is thinking what I was thinking. The first thing this government did was to work on the Monday sit-at-home. Two years ago, we did not go to work for 62 days. Last year, we did not go to work for 67 days. This year was going to be worse than that.

    “Why I said the government is thinking what I was thinking is because on the 23rd of November 2013, I told my family that I was not going to make any investment that is worth more than N1 billion outside the Southeast.  

    Read Also: Igboho to security agencies: step up efforts against killer herders

    “I am happy with this government. This is the first time anybody is inviting me in Enugu State to come and have this kind of heart-to-heart discussion with the governor seated too. The other ones were a kind of ‘come, talk and go home.’ But this one is action. The governor says, ‘this is what we have and what we are going to do together’. It is straight to the point. 

    “We must be plain and frank with ourselves. So, I do not want to talk about what Nigeria is and what Nigeria is not. As far as I am concerned, I am made for where I come from. Charity begins at home.”

    The Chairman of Coscharis Group, Sir Cosmas Maduka, said the firm had since turned homeward, investing in agriculture, among others, in Anambra State and would be eager to explore any of the outlined investment opportunities in Enugu State.

    Governor Mbah, who recalled how the Premier of the defunct Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Okpara, turned the region economy around by assembling personalities, said the narratives of insecurity, economic underdevelopment, laxity and lack of ambitious development initiatives could be changed, as they did not represent Southeast people.

  • Mbah directs verification of Enugu council workers

    Mbah directs verification of Enugu council workers

    Enugu Governor Peter Mbah has directed the verification and biometric capturing of all local government workers in the state.

    This is contained in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia on Thursday in Enugu.

    According to the statement, the verification committee will be inaugurated on Friday, December 1, 2023 at the government house, Enugu.

    Read Also: Enugu begins pumping of 70m litres as Mbah commissions water scheme

    The verification exercise, Onyia added, shall commence on that same Friday, December 1, 2023 and continue till the end of February 2024 with random visits by the verification committee to any of the 17 local governments in the state any working day of the week. 

    The statement advised workers in various council areas to be on duty with their letters of appointment and schedule of duty for verification and biometric capturing.

    “Those absent and others confirmed not to have been fulfilling the terms of their employment shall cease to be government employees. 

    “Also, all local governments by this announcement are hereby directed to henceforth submit their lists of attendance for the previous week on Wednesdays to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government”, the statement concludes.

  • Enugu begins pumping of 70m litres as Mbah commissions water scheme

    Enugu begins pumping of 70m litres as Mbah commissions water scheme

    Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has commissioned a water supply scheme in Ninth Mile area of the state.

    The governor also disclosed his plans to commission another water scheme at Oji River area of the state with an additional 50 million litres of water daily.

    The project, according to the governor, has the  capacity to deliver 120 million litres of water daily  to Enugu metropolis and its suburbs.

    Speaking while commissioning the Ninth Mile Water Scheme yesterday, Governor Mbah said that the projects were in fulfilment of his campaign promises that all parts of Enugu metropolis would begin to enjoy uninterrupted water supply within his 180 days in office.

    He noted that the timely delivery of the project followed the realization that the challenge of water supply is fundamental to the achievement of his objective to take the state’s GDP from the current position of $4.4b to $30b within the next four to eight years.

    “It was clear to us that the status of water supply at the time was deplorable. At that time, there had been no reliable water supply in most parts of Enugu State for almost 20 years. This led to the situation we are dealing with now, where families have to queue endlessly to fetch water from tanker trucks who supply water in a very unreliable and epileptic fashion. Businesses on the other hand were forced to invest in extensive water infrastructure from tankage to additional reticulation and for large scale users like hotels, hospitals etc. Many of them actually had to acquire tanker trucks of their own to afford themselves some reliability of supply.

    “One need not be a rocket scientist to discern that few investors will be attracted to the state under such dire circumstances, nor can existing businesses expand to generate additional jobs and economic growth. If anything, these conditions are suffocating businesses and households and leading to unnecessary suffering across the State”, he said.

    The governor expressed happiness that as his administration clocked in office, he was “commissioning this new ultra-modern water scheme with a capacity to deliver to businesses and families in Enugu 70 million litres of potable water daily and this is but the first phase.

    Read Also: Crisis brews in Enugu market over alleged brutality of traders by soldiers

    “In a few weeks we will also be commissioning new pumps in Oji water scheme to enable us to deliver another 50 million litres of water every day. This will give us a total daily delivery of 120m litres in Enugu, about twice the daily demand of Enugu urban.

    “We are currently supplying water at appreciable pressures to Enugu municipality and I can state here and now that pipe-borne water is here to stay. Now the businesses in Enugu can just connect to public water and pay monthly water rates like is the practice in other advanced environments”, he said.

    For families on the water pipeline grid, the governor explained that they would have access to water in their homes, while those still outside the grid for the time being, can go to the newly built water galleries nearest to them to fetch clean water.

    Mbah used the opportunity to advise residents who have invested in water tankers to put them up for sale and free up capital for other uses.

    “For example we at the Government House are in the process of decommissioning our tankers to various people for alternative uses. On the part of the families in Enugu, we can now consign to unpleasant memory the sad experiences of coming back after a hard day of work to find that we have run out of water, or the instances of listening to the excuses of the water suppliers as to why they are yet to deliver your water up to two days after the date initially promised”.

  • Senate hails Mbah on youth empowerment

    Senate hails Mbah on youth empowerment

    The Senate has hailed Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah for the efforts of his administration in empowering and equipping youths with requisite skills to enhance their financial base.

    The commendation was made by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth, Sports and Community Engagement, Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, when the committee visited the governor at the Government House in Enugu.

    The members, who informed the governor that they were on inspection of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) facilities in the state, asked him for more intervention in other areas such as funding and re-equipment of the NYSC permanent orientation camp at Agwu Local Government.

    Adaramodu extolled Mbah for the state government’s intervention in some of the pressing needs of the NYSC and provision of security for corps members.

    Read Also: I’ve never taken alcohol, smoke cigarettes- Akpabio

    He said the committee had taken note of the good work the governor was doing not only for NYSC, but also his engagement of youths in governance and training them in modern skills that would empower them.

    Mbah said his administration had made some significant interventions at the NYSC permanent orientation camp in terms of improving and upgrading the facilities, adding that his government would support the scheme in other areas despite the lean resources at its disposal.

    The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said his administration had undertaken the re-roofing and other renovation of the NYSC permanent campground.

  • Subsidy removal: Mbah okays N25,000 cash awardfor Enugu workers

    Subsidy removal: Mbah okays N25,000 cash awardfor Enugu workers

    Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has announced a cash award of between N10, 000 and N25, 000 to workers on government payroll.

    The implementation of the wage award which starts next month will last till April.

     Mbah, who said the government’s gesture was to cushion the effect of petrol subsidy removal, hoped that the new minimum wage negotiation would soon be concluded.

     He dropped the hint yesterday at a joint news briefing with the leadership of the organised Labour at the Government House, Enugu.

     The governor said that his administration was also implementing other social interventions apart from the cash transfer to better the lives of workers. He restated that the welfare of workers remained a priority.

     According to him, a happy workforce will compliment government’s laudable plans for the state.

     He also announced an increase in the state social register enrolment from 43,000 to 260,000, promising to lift more indigent citizens out of poverty through cash transfers and other social interventions.

     The governor said: “As you may be aware, since the removal of the petroleum subsidy, we have been in constant negotiation with the Labour unions in the state, crafting a way forward on how we can provide palliatives to our teeming workforce.

     “So, by the time you put a monetary value to all the social services we have provided, it will weigh well above N100,000 minimum wage.

     “But, in addition to that, with effect from December, we are going to also make a flat payment to all the categories of our workers, beginning from our local government to the primary and secondary school teachers and civil servants.

    “We are going to categorise them and there will be flat payment of between N10, 000 and 25,000, depending on the category.

    “That payment is going to continue until April 2024,” he said.

     Mbah also said: “It is our hope that by the end of April, the committee that is reviewing the minimum wage would have come out with what would then become the new minimum wage in the state.

     “So, from there, we are just going to carry on the implementation of what is then set as the minimum wage.”

     He reaffirmed the determination of his administration to achieve zero per cent poverty headcount index by 2031.

     He said the state had set aside N1.5 billion for social development programmes, like water and sanitation in the communities.

    Read Also: Mbah announces N25,000 cash awards for Enugu workers

    Mbah said: “This is in addition to constructing 260 model primary health centers and 260 smart schools with accompanying teachers’ quarters.

     “The state is just concluding the update of our social register and we have now expanded it from 43,000 to accommodate up to 260,000 indigent people in our state.

     “That is also a platform that we are going to use to do cash transfers to engage our indigent ones,” he said.

     Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Fabian Nwigbo, and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Benneth Asogwa, thanked the governor for his proactive steps towards the welfare of Enugu workers.

     They said they were happy that Enugu workers did not have to lobby, protest or embark on strike to have their salaries and welfare addressed.

     “I am overwhelmed by your pronouncements this afternoon.

     “We are grateful for the announcement because there was no war to get this.

     “We did not come begging and crying or shouting and agitating.

    “It was out of the abundance of your heart that you decided to greet us with this big news.

     “Actually, it has been great for the people of Enugu State, especially the workers under your administration.

     “First of all, our salaries come as and when due and our promotion is also on the way for 2023.

    “In the past, you have to spend years before you get promoted.  “So, as workers, we will do all we can to ensure that this government succeeds,” Nwigbo said.