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Tag: Mr Paul Ohonbamu

  • Alleged diversion of IDPs rice: Police invites Orbih for questioning 

    Alleged diversion of IDPs rice: Police invites Orbih for questioning 

    Edo State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, has invited Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih, for questioning over allegations that the state government diverted rice meant Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    Chief Orbih had alleged that 4721 bags of rice meant for IDPs at Ohogua village in Ovai North East local government area were diverted.

    The invitation of Chief Orbih was based on a petition by Governor Godwin Obaseki on the need for the police to make Chief Orbih present facts of the allegations.

    Governor Obaseki had in the petition said Chief Orbih in a a radio interview ‘falsely and maliciously stated that the Edo State Government was involved in a criminal conspiracy to divert 4,721 bags of rice released by the Federal Government for distribution to IDPs in the state’.

    In the petition signed by Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, the Edo Government stated that Chief Orbih further claimed that 300 bags of rice were diverted to a certain Senator in Ondo State.

    According to the petition, “It is instructive to note that in making these allegations to the general public, Chief Orbih claimed that he had facts and records to back up these criminal allegations.

    “The purpose of this complaints is to formally bring these weighty and unsubstantiated allegations to your attention and to request a thorough investigation with a view to establishing the veracity or otherwise of same.

    “It is the contention of the Edo State Government that Chief Dan Orbih should be called upon to provide evidence of the serious crimes he has alleged to have been committed by the Edo State Government and to furnish your Command with facts, details and proof of the allegations he has made in the public domain.”

    State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Chris Nehikhare who confirmed the development said Chief Orbih will appear before the police.

    Nehikhare said the Edo PDP also wrote a petitioned for criminal incitement of the public against the leadership and members of PDP by the Edo State Government.

    He stated that Edo Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr. Paul Ohonbamu and the Media Aide to Governor Obaseki, Mr. Crusoe Osagie have consistently issued press releases referring the members and leadership of PDP as bandits, rogues, liars and fraudsters who stole the resources of the people.

    “Edo PDP wants the police to investigate these matters and ensure that those behind these criminal incitements are brought to book.”

    Read Also: Rice, shoes for IDPs: Edo releases distribution roster

  • Edo Sensitises Commissioners, MDA Heads

    Edo Sensitises Commissioners, MDA Heads

    To guard against corrupt practices, abuse of office and entrench accountability in governance, commissioners, and heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Edo State have been charged to abide by the provisions of the state’s Procurement Law.
    This was the submission of experts at the seminar tagged “Essentials in Public Procurement Process and Organisation” organized by the Edo State Strategic Planning Team and hosted by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Edo State Public Procurement Agency, (ESPPA), Mr. Henry Idogun, at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Benin City, on Thursday.
    The seminar was an initiative of the state government to sensitise its officials and other stakeholders on the supremacy of the Public Procurement Law enacted in the state in 2012, for the sourcing of services and goods to ensure optimal service delivery and good governance.

    Mr. Idogun, in his presentation, said complications with procurement often arise because government agencies do not keep to the conventional methods of sourcing services, goods and jobs such as the national and international competitive bidding procedures.

    He noted that the use of unconventional methods, though lawful, often create conflict, which public servants ought to guard against if they are to maintain transparency and accountability.

    He said: “Many would argue that drug procurement falls into emergency service. But it isn’t, because, if the official in charge requested to replenish stock as at when due, there wouldn’t be any need to classify drugs as an emergency good. We are to work in the background to ensure that everyone complies with the law, and we are committed to ensuring that this is done.”

    The Head of the Edo State’s Strategic Planning Committee, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said the Edo State government wants everyone involved with procurement to understand the import, implication, and essence of the Procurement Act.

    He said: “That is why we have brought in experts to speak with commissioners, permanent secretaries and those heading all the MDAs in the state for this intensive one-day workshop on compliance with the Procurement Act.”

    Prof. Ihonvbere explained: “This is a different era. First, we started with a strategic plan for the state, which started with a strategic dialogue attended by all stakeholders. Thereafter, we did targeted workshops for each ministry and some departments. Then, we developed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each commissioner. We also required that using their initiative, they develop a work plan, which is aligned to the budget. We want to ensure that absolutely no procurement would be done in Edo State without compliance with the Procurement Law. So, it is part of our effort on the war against corruption and abuse of office.”

    The Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr. Paul Ohonbamu, said the seminar was to expose government officials and other stakeholders in the procurement space to the legal and institutional framework for doing business with the state government.

    According to him, “The intent of this workshop is to ensure that government is for governance and not for looting. Once we have that as the watchword, we would bid goodbye to the days of looting. We want to ensure that sanity is brought into the way goods and services are procured. At the end of the day, when these loop holes are covered, stealing and fraud would become things of the past.”

  • Edo ratifies new Health Bill, GIS project, School relocation

    Edo ratifies new Health Bill, GIS project, School relocation

    The Edo State Executive Council on Wednesday approved the bill for the Edo State Health Law 2017, from the Ministry of Health, seeking to domesticate the National Health Act of 2014.

    The Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr. Paul Ohonbamu, who addressed journalists after the weekly meeting,  said that: The immediate benefits of the bill includes the remodeling and standardization of the health system in the state particularly, the primary healthcare sub-sector which covers 70% of the state’s  health challenges.”

    He explained that the proposed Edo State Health Law 2017, “will also reduce the burden on the tertiary and secondary health care systems and provide the legal authority for the state to establish the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Board and the proposed Edo State Contributory Health Commission, with shared responsibility for funding from the three tiers of Government, beneficiaries and partners to ensure Universal Health Coverage.”

    The EXCO headed by the Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, also approved the introduction of the Edo State Geographic Information Service (GIS) Agency, that will automate land administration and development control in the state.

    The agency will also undertake the aerial mapping of Edo State for the formation of a geographic information system and improve the ease of doing business in the state.

    “EXCO reiterated its earlier position that all structures under the high tension electricity transmission lines be removed.”

    Ohonbamu further said: “To show the seriousness of the matter, EXCO ordered the immediate relocation of a public school, Etete Primary School, which has been in that location for decades.”

    According to him, “The Chairman in Council is particular about the health and safety of pupils of the primary school and has ordered that they should not resume next academic session in that location.” He assured that the affected pupils, teachers and parents would be informed of their new location before resumption date for the next academic session.”

     

  • Edo Govt to relocate schools under transmission lines

    Edo Govt to relocate schools under transmission lines

    The Edo government has ordered the immediate relocation of a public school, Etete Primary School in Benin for the safety of the pupils, before the commencement of the 2017/2018 academic session.

    The Commissioner for Communications, Mr Paul Ohonbamu, announced this while briefing journalists on the outcome of the Executive Council meeting in Benin on Wednesday.

    According to Ohonbamu, the school is being relocated because it is situated located under high tension transmission lines.

    He said the relocation was in compliance with the earlier directive to residents of the state to remove all temporary or permanent structures under such lines.

    The commissioner said the affected pupils, teachers and parents would be informed of their new location before schools would resume for the next academic session in September.

    “The state governor is particular about the health and safety of citizens of the state and has ordered that pupils and teachers of Etete Primary School should not resume the next session in that location,” he said.

    Ohonbamu said that the Edo State Geographic Information Services, an agency to automate land administration and development control, had also been approved.

    He said the agency had the mandate to undertake the aerial mapping of Edo into a geographic information system, to ease the challenges of doing business in the state.

  • Edo orders removal of structures under High electricity transmission cables

    Edo orders removal of structures under High electricity transmission cables

    The Edo State Government has ordered the immediate removal of structures, temporary or permanent, under high electricity transmission cables in the state due to the associated health hazards.

    The resolution was reached at the weekly Executive Council Meeting presided over by the Chairman-in-Council and Governor of the state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, at Government House in Benin City, on Wednesday.

    Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr. Paul Ohonbamu, who spoke to journalists after the Exco meeting, said the state government was concerned about the health and safety of Edo people and directed that all structures located under High power transmission cables be removed immediately.

    ‘’The radiation from high tension electricity lines has been linked to cancer, and there is also imminent danger of electrocution and incineration,” Ohonbamu said and assured that massive sensitization campaigns would be done to ensure that members of the public comply with the safety rule.

    On the threat to the security of lives and property in the state, he said that the State Executive Council urged Edo people to go about their daily duties as the government was determined to ensure their safety and protection.

    “Security would be beefed up in all the institutions of the state including hospitals, government offices and schools amongst other places,” Ohonbamu said.

    He added that the ongoing promotion examination for public servants in the state was not conceived to sack any one from the state civil service.

  • Edo govt bans use of schools, roads for social events

    The Edo State government has banned the use of the premises of public schools, roads and other public places for social events.

    The Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr Paul Ohonbamu made the announcement on Wednesday in Benin in a statement issued to newsmen.

    He warned that violation of the ban would be dealt with in accordance with extant laws.

    He said that henceforth, the government would not condone those who flout the ban.

    The commissioner directed government agencies to ensure the ban is complied with.

    “By our ancestry as Edo people, we have always shown the example of public order and decency which others have emulated over the years.

    “This administration is determined to make Edo a model of magnificence and beauty once again,“ Ohonbamu said.