The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Obaseki

  • Obaseki is repositioning Edo, says Ihonvbere

    Obaseki is repositioning Edo, says Ihonvbere

    Former Secretary to Edo State Government Prof. Julius Ihonvbere spoke with reporters in Benin City, the state capital, on the Obaseki administration, the challenge of repositioning the state and other issues.Excerpts:

    What is your assessment of the Obaseki administration?

    The Obaseki’s administration is building on the legacy of his predecessor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole. Since Obaseki came in, he has addressed different issues in different ways. Oshiomhole started to rescue the state; infrastructure, education, health, public transportation, urban renewal etc. All these sectors were completely in disarray. Oshiomhole administration achieved a great stride in reducing examination malpractice in the state, which made the state to move to the second and third position in NECO and WEAC respectively. That is one major legacy  this present administration is building on.

    Secondly, Oshiomhole administration did a lot on road construction and rehabilitation, we are building on that and improving on the technology by using Concrete inside of relying on Bitumen all the time, we are now using cement. The technology has proven effective and we have done one major road already and we are going to continue with it.

    Another thing I will say is new is that we have engaged the system of revenue collection.  Prior to this administration, we relied on persons, companies we thought could do a good work to but along the line, we discovered under this administration that there was no order and the returns were being diverted, the method being used involved a lot of violence, manipulation and intimidation and we wanted to get out of that. So we stopped strong men from collecting revenue for the state. We are putting new technology and we are putting in more of public education and advocacy for people to live up to their responsibility. And I think the revenue is steadily growing up from where it used to be.

    The governor said he will not want to play politics…

    We are also engaging the issue of politics differently. We want to address the issue of politics at two levels. First is the relationship between the party and governance

    The party is enjoying an increasingly higher level of autonomy, involvement and participation and consultation and I think they are enjoying it.

    Even in the selection of political appointees, we have given the party to the grass roots level the opportunity to nominate people at all levels to be recommended to a screening committee here at the state level. They have gone through screening at the local level, party level. We then set up another committee chaired by Prof Dennis Abonlahor to do further screening. So we want to be sure that those who are coming on board are persons who are morally up right, intellectually solid, ICT compliance to a large extent, who have experience and who have some legitimate bearing, so that when they are put in position, they will hit the ground running and not trying to learn how government works.

    Could you shed light on the civil service reforms in Edo?

    The other level is to restructure the entire civil and public service. A committee was set up made up of previous head of service and I happen to chair that committee.. I think we made far reaching recommendation; reducing the numbers of ministry say from about 23 to 18 for example. We recommended the abolition of moribund committee that have been overtaken by time, and whose continuous existence constitute impediment to the flow of policy initiation and implementation. Then also restructure of some of the ministry to make them more efficient, stronger to deliver services to the people, we  recommended a whole lot of training for the public, civil servants in particular to increase efficiency. We also recommended new technology capacity building mechanism to enable them work effectively in the 21 century and to key into the developmental objective of the government.

    One thing the Obaseki government has done is to set up the strategic planning unit to bring together critical stake holders including opposition members, youths, NGOs, traditional rulers, public servants; serving and those who have retired into what we call a strategic dialogue for over two-three days, to look at all sectors in the state and come up with clear implementable recommendations on how to do things differently at all sectors. I think the success of that event was that in the history of Edo state, it was the first time such dialogue session was held to come up with principles in which the administration would be anchored. Whether Agribusiness, economy infrastructure or development, education, culture and tourism, tourism, all aspect were examined. I think that strategic document that came out from the dialogue session informed the budget speech of the governor and so far it’s informing the implementation of government policy.

    So, essentially, this administration is moving in a direction that is carrying everybody along; communities, the grassroot, nothing is being done in secret. Everybody is aware of every step the government is going to be taking. And i think what this have done is to by not just support from the government but has generated new discussion and discusses at the grassroot level, so the feedback from the communities at the grass root level is equally substantial.

    I think one other thing that is different here, I will say is that governance is being seen now from the perspective of transparency, accountability, due process and the focus on social justice.

    We had different parties contest for governorship and the APC candidate Godwin Obaseki won. Having won he becomes a governor to the state, to everyone. whether some people went to court should not disturb governance and we believe whatever policies government is taking  will impact on opposition and those in office alike. So it was important to reach out to them to say this are the policies the government will like to implement come to this workshop and express your own views articulate an alternative vision. The government did not go to say  this is what we want to do they gave them strategic pillars  now you fill in the pillars with policies and programmes that is what the strategic  policies unit is trying to put  together for the administration as a guiding path to achieving  his promises and programmes and the traditional rulers that  came there and the religious leaders that came there  the students,  national youth council were well represented, labour was represented.

    I think the enthusiasm, the commitment, the robustness of the conversations and the diverse suggestions and the willingness to draw examples from where we can talk of success stories are Lagos, Cross River we even had a session environmental and we brought Donald Duke as chairman of that session to tell us what he did in cross river that is keeping Calabar and other cities clean, it was a 2 day meeting was here. We did one where we brought in professor Afolabi, former head of service of the federation and he was here for two days with us to work on strategies and tactics of how to get things going, we had one on housing, brought in Alli Magashi of Aso Servings and Loans, brought in Alhasan Usman and a critical range of people. We did one on health, the minister for health was here. We did one on human trafficking and Abike Dabiri was here, Joe Oke-Odumakin was here.

    We have over 50 NGO’s including some that came from Russia. The speaker of the Lower House of Deputy of Italy was here including Italian ambassador and representatives of the British high commission and we had victims of Human trafficking present and we brought in students from about five or six of the schools around the cities to also come and listen to the ills and dangers and the implications of human trafficking and their teacher were here too. We brought in Immigration, Customs, Police and some Lawyer, it’s a holistic arrangement to get everyone on board to discourse a particular issue so that policy implementation that we will follow will not come to any one as strange or out of context.

    What is Obaseki doing differently in Edo?

    We have never been short of blue prints, but if you look closely, the blue prints we’ve been used to have been turned down. What we are doing in Edo now is that, at any time, before you change any sector, involve the practitioners, the professionals, the end users of that sector so that you can know what has gone wrong and those who made it go wrong will be there themselves and what should we do differently, what have succeeded elsewhere. Now, in the next six months, one year what you will see in Edo would be strategic development pointers that would move this state away from where it used to be. We strive to be number one, we don’t have all the resources of Lagos or some of the major Oil producing states but we know it’s not necessary money that promotes development.

    We used to have a PPP office, an economic team and the ministry of investment we have combined the three into an investment promotions bureau so when an investor come to Edo, you don’t have to deal with the commissioners or the bureaucrats, you to the investment bureau with your proposal, there you have professionals and it’s a one stop shop. The ministry of lands has a deck there, the ministry of environment has a desk there, the Edo internal revenue service has a desk there and so on, so when you get there, you discus your business with the professionals, you meet with the relevant desk you need to meet and in 24 hours you are before the governor to discuss how to implement whatever you came to edo to do. Things that normally will take you six months will be done in less than a week, that’s the new edo you will see.

    We want to make it an investment destination. Edo in several ways is the heart of Nigeria, in this state in whatever direction in two to two and half hours you are in another state. We have about nine universities here, those are shoppers, those are people who patronize the market, we have growing urban population and an enlighten community, eighty percent of edo people can speak English, so communication is not a problem. We are redesigning the traffic infrastructure, so it’s not just rehabilitating roads, expand them and create walk way but the traffic infrastructure in such a way that when you come in from the airport to the city centre, from the city centre to any part of the state would be a straight direct journey and we are redesigning the security structure. We used to have neighborhood watch, vigilante, surveillance, all of that we are putting together into an edo state security architecture at the grass root level to the city centre, people who like will work in collaboration with the SSS and other security agencies to ensure that any person that comes into the state will be secure.

    What is the government doing about human trafficking?

    But the reality is that we are now trying to stop the trafficking from the root from within the state by creating job opportunities, we are revamping our technical educational system, the governor said that if I have a 100 naira for education, he will put 40 naira in technical vocational education, he will put 20 naira in basic while the rest will manage from others because that is where the bottom is. So we are revamping our technical colleges to produce certified and qualified artisans so that investors that come here will not need to go outside the country to hire people to work for them, when we do that we refocus basic education and we also had a workshop on that, you will see that there is a synergy so that the problem we have at the university level at the level of polytechnics would be resolved by the quality of products that come from basic and technical vocational education. In all the states of Nigeria, that is where the problem is. If you produce an ignorant student at the primary school, you will have an ignorant student in your class at the university and you will have an ignorant graduate who will rely on cultism, manipulation and bribery to graduate and you have an ignorant public servant and a dangerous person in any where the person is working. So we are turning the entire thing by looking at the foundation of education in edo state.

    What is the government’s plan for housing?

    Housing is our core area, mass housing for the people. We will provide the land and the enabling environment, let them build the houses, we have more than 25 willing and ready investors interested in our housing sector. So I think the credibility of the governor, his knowledge of the interplay of the financial has helped Edo to gain the traction we needed to move on from where Oshiomhole stopped and that is to our benefit in several ways.

    Communication infrastructure is the most fundamental of whatever we are doing. Both within and outside the state. A consultant, Dr Henry Ezeku, has come to us with ideas to build an alternative communication infrastructure. It is not something one individual will be doing.

    As soon as we are done, by the end of this month we will be done, we will bring in the professionals who will deal with telling us what king of telecommunication architecture we need to get it out there.

    The office of the CPS and whoever becomes the Commissioner for Information will not be sufficient to get this done and we know there are professionals out there who have done this before and who can plug into it and play for us effectively.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    For Observer, he is also working on a strategy, I wouldn’t at this point want to go too far on it so as not to scare people in thinking that this governor is trying to do.

     

    But one thing I will say in all our restructuring is that we are not laying off anybody. Like our SUBEB, we posted out everybody there because they focused more on contracts than on supervision schools and designing new methods for teaching than improving on the technology. Infact everything that was wrong with education was there. The governor posted out everybody and in the last three four days, we have been conducting interviews to replace the staff there. We have decided that any people who have worked there before will not go back there. So even when we restructure EBS, we will restructure Observer to save us better, I can assure you nobody will be laid off. But they might not end up working in the same place they were working before.

     

    We had a major meeting with UBEC, we brought in people from UBEC and we had an extensive discursion to know what is really wrong with basic education, what we came to realize is that the mentality of the people working there did not pluck into the objective and the vision

     

    We are still conducting internal interviews, we have not got into the external one yet, we can fill it up quickly, and they don’t have to go back to the civil service commission. So all of that we have restructured. We’ve brought in new technology to track teachers and pupils. Even the political architecture have been redesign for instance the special assistance to the governor, each ward recommended them and they are not coming to benin to work they are staying in there wards and part of their function is to help keep an eye on the structure, if the roof of the schools is blown off, if you go to school where there are no desk, where there are no teachers, the political appointee will inform the Chief of Staff and once it gets to the COS, it’s with the governor and action can be taking immediately. We have also recognized that one of the basic problems was the lack of training and re training. We are redesigning and equipping our civil service training centre here, we will bring in expects from ASCON, from civil service college, we are bringing people from university of Ife, from UNIBEN so we have the skills to train the properly here using contemporary technology to know how to run the school, so that the new people coming in will meet a different environment of work. There will be proper induction and proper orientation.

     

     

     

    We are setting up a policy evolutional and performance unit in governor’s office, there job is to ensure that mde’s are leaving up to the goals set. And unlike before each commissioner that come in will receive an envelope from the governor and in that envelop will be the action point that the governor expect to achieve in the next four years in terms of first year, second and third. This is part of the outcomes of the workshops so it is easy to monitor and the people are coming from the governor’s office.

     

     

  • Obaseki must hear this!

    SIR: The people of Emuhi and its environs of towns and villages have never had it so bad until recent time when the road leading to the town is completely dilapidated. The importance of this road cannot be overemphasized as it serves dual purposes for the state, as a feeder road, and also a security measure, to checkmate the menace of criminalities within the axis.

    It is important to note that it is faster to connect Ekpoma Township from Benin City through towns like Ehor, Ukpogo, Ugiamen, and Emuhi. And of course, the state makes do with this road to collect taxes, levies, and other internally generated revenue (IGR) which helps to fast-track its infrastructural development of the state. The economic importance of the road is so enormous to just wish away. Arable lands which used to be cultivated over the years are now abandoned as a result of poor condition of the road, thereby throwing the people of Ekpoma in general into labor market, penury, and other untold hardship, also indirectly or directly drifting the people most especially the youths into social vices.

    The size of the people in terms of population and land mark is an integral factor to attract a quick fix of Emuhi road. The absolute neglect of the road and the people could disconnect the people from other traditions, culture and their kinsmen.

    The prayer of the people is that the governor should waste no time in using his people’s mandate to the government house to do the needful in constructing Emuhi road without any further hindrance.

     

    • Augustine Ebadamioria

    Stine.ebada@oouagoiwoye.edu.ng

  • Obaseki begins reconstruction of Lucky Way

    do state government has finally heeded to the cries of residents of Lucky Way Oregbeni quarters in Ikpoba Okha local government area by commencing reconstruction of the road.

    The road was first constructed during the administration of Chief Lucky Igbinedion and it served as a linked between Ikpoba-hill at Ramat Park and Upper Mission extension.

    For many years now, the three kilometers road has been in bad shape and was a nightmare for residents in the area.

    Whenever it rains, there are flooding everywhere as the side drains were already clogged.

    The reconstruction will have a new side drain and flood would be channelled underground to the drainage located at Auchi-Benin Road.

    A deep manhole of about 12 meters depth would also be constructed to take the entire water to Ikpoba dam.

    Madam Peace Paulinus, whose tailoring shop was along Lucky Way, said the bad road has caused them great pains

    Her words, “The absence of tricycles is a big challenge to all because it makes it difficult to get to your destination. I was the happiest person when l noticed that government had deployed contractors to Lucky Way Road to rehabilitate the road. I will be glad if the road is rehabilitated.”

    A furniture maker, Pastor Samuel Aigbokhan, said business had slowed because the road was bad and no one had the wherewithal to transport furniture along the dilapidated road.

    He said: “As the government had started this job, Obaseki deserves commendation. I was rejoicing. I was so happy. I had to bless the name of the Lord for using the governor to do a wonderful work at Lucky Way Road. We want him to continue the good work he’s doing in Edo state. It was as if we were in the wilderness, but now the light has come.”

  • A walk with Obaseki

    A walk with Obaseki

    This piece is coming in fulfillment of the biblical injunction which preaches that “we honour our father and mother, so that our days may be long”. Last month, I wrote that I wasn’t going to write on Edo State again. And my 85-year-old father didn’t take kindly to that. My father’s terse message frowned at the line which said it was my last. I apologised profusely. This column is for you, dad.

    Let me start with this scenario last Thursday in Lagos. Boarding time showed traces of a likely downpour but the passengers had to board the plane. Less than 25 minutes after boarding commenced, the heavens opened up. It wasn’t funny as most of us were drenched to the sole of our feet because the airline staff didn’t have anything covering the point where the ladder connects the aircraft’s door. Unbelievable. Our problems were compounded as we waited for the skies to be cleared. Many of us could wax songs from the gnashing of our teeth. Not forgetting our trembling hands.

    Fast forward from the airport in Lagos last Thursday to Tuesday morning, this time in Benin City. Then you will appreciate the huge joke we experience everyday. It was raining when the aircraft arrived, yet boarding had to be done en route Abuja; guess what, there couldn’t have been a better drama script than what I saw in Benin. Passengers were ushered into the aircraft under the umbrella. They took their turns. Please don’t ask me how long it took. I saw some foreigners laughing. Will you blame them? Where these foreigners come from, it is mandatory for every airline to have vehicles taking passengers from the lounge to close to the aircraft and vice versa. For the bigger airport terminals, you walked out of the aircraft, even if the rain was heavy into the welcome lounge. No contact with the rain except when you get out of the building. When will Nigeria grow? I digress.

    Going to Edo State comes with a lot of excitement. I look forward to the level of development. I strive to visit my hometown, Okpokhumi-Emai in Owan East Local Government Area. Of course, I stop by at Sabongida Ora, my late mother’s place, for a meal of good bush meat and ogbono soup with pounded yam.  How could I have forgotten the big snails or the stockfish? The aroma is something else. Eating these delicacies leaves me with one option – sleeping inside the car while heading for Okpekpe. It has become a ritual. Thank you Mike Itemuagbor, for making this yearly feast called Okpekpe 10-km International Road Race (an IAAF/AIMS’ bronze event) possible. It compels many of us to go home.

    Travelling through the roads gave hope that something was being done to make life safer for commuters. Indeed the fifth edition of the race was one of transition and I looked forward to observing how Governor Godwin Obaseki would interface with his predecessor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. There was a pre-race dinner in Auchi on Friday, an innovation by Deputy Governor Phillip Shaibu. I didn’t attend because I had to be awake at 4.30am Saturday to observe the details beyond what would be published in the media.

    If anyone had doubts about the synergy be

    tween Obaseki and Oshiomhole, it was time to clear such. People were excited when Obaseki, Oshiomhole and Shaibu crossed the finish line about the same time. The two men acknowlegded the change of baton and assured everyone that the global competition had come to stay. Obaseki directed that a three-year programme, starting from May 13, be drawn up to help the race attain the gold label in record time. Several innovations were seen this year, the most significant being the Police chopper hovereing over the place whilst the event was on. The chopper was also for surveillance. Besides, aerial photography of the race was shot from inside it.

    Interviewing Obaseki revealed a lot. This time with some sports editors (Tony Ubani, Christian Okpara, Dare Esan and Frank Ilaboya), we walked a short distance with the governor who answered questions. The walk took us to Oshiomhole’s dinning settee built exquisitely with burnt bricks. It was a beauty to behold.

    I was bowled over watching Oshiomhole, Shuaibu, Iara (Oshio Baba’s wife) and Betsy Obaseki eating like a closely knit family. Of course, the governor excused us to join the high table. I observed that former commissioners and legislators came for lunch. The Edo political family is intact.

    Oshiomhole showed that he had taught his wife our traditional values. Iara walked towards us and asked that we join the table. Lunch over, Obaseki, who had other plans before we cornered him, joined the movement out of Oshiomhole’s home with Sports Minister Solomon Dalung to Benin. The interview was truncated but we had enough materials from the discussion with Obaseki.

    Meeting Oshiomhole almost five years after came with plenty of drama. We took turns to greet the former governor. I shook his hands but he kept looking at me. Oshiomhole again shook my hands and won’t let go. He stared into the skies. A third time he shook my hands. I knew the former governor’s dilemma but I didn’t want to help him fix the puzzle.

    Not one to accept defeat easily, Oshiomhole sprang up to his feet, shook me ferociously and shouted “yes, Ojeikere! I know you now. Mike, this was the guy who wrote that article at the back of The Nation, aptly captioned “Oshiomhole’s suicide mission.” He told of his encounter with this column. The former governor remained excited, four years after reading. Thank you, sir for your kind words. 

    With the race over and winners heading back to their countries, the homeward movement took me to Benin City – to rest after another hectic exercise. The Obasekis, Uzzis and the Ojeikeres have family ties. I wanted to visit the governor, the first since he came into office.

    Let me confess here that a friend in government is lost. Also, a family member in government isn’t easy to access. I waited patiently. It was all for my column to capture the events differently. I succeeded. I worked with Obaseki on Monday for two hours, as they say, my ears were full. What I heard the governor telling Edo people raised hopes for better days. You needed to have seen how elderly people struggled to hug him. The prayers were moving.

    But I was stunned when school pupils sprang from their seats to hail the governor, who chatted with some of them. The children sang rehabilitation, apparently motivated by their teachers (I don’t blame them) for their buildings, most of which were falling apart. The governor reassured them, with one of them told that a mini stadium will be constructed along with their school buildings.

    Inside the governor’s office on Monday morning I saw Obaseki work with his deputy and the Secretary to the Government. Done with a discussion, the governor asked me to accompany him on an inspection tour. We drove towards Sapele Road besides the Central Hospital. There was a traffic light, which the governor’s convoy obeyed. When the light turned green, one of these “road assassins”, a fuel tanker beat the light on the other side. The governor instructed that the convoy blocks the tanker, arrest the driver, impound the trailer and ensure that the driver is prosecuted, onlookers were excited. They sang the governor’s praises.

    Quickly the convoy moved away to Oba Market area in Benin, where the real job continued. So much was said during the tour that had the Secretary to the Government and other permanent secretaries.

    Did I hear you say is this sport? Yes. We walked long distances, sweating profusely. Those who wore coat pulled them off. We covered over five kilometers, walking briskly. When I asked the governor about Bendel Insurance FC, his went bright. He said a lot, asking me how the government could recoup its investment.

    I sent the government my thoughts on this issue which he acknowledged as we drove back to the Osadebey House. I told him to organise a fund raiser where a card scheme would be launched. The governor asked, “what do you mean?”

    I said the cards will be in gold, silver and bronze, with another option where during matches sealed cans will be passed around for willing supporters to put whatever they had to help the team. The bronze card’s limit would be between N50,000 to N250,000. Silver card owners will pay between N251,000 to N500,000. Gold card holders will pay from N501,000 up to any figure.

    Again, the governor asked who would purchase the cards. I retorted by saying Bendel Insurance FC’s fans across the country. He nodded. I also asked the governor if he doesn’t have friends who are Edo people who can buy these cards. The governor said “I have”, nodding in approval.

    Obaseki reconfirmed the establishment of the Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC), which he promised will be backed by a legal document that would be binding on subsequent administrations since that is the modern way to run sports. We talked about how the commission could be funded. Then Obaseki said: “Ade, you sure say we no go find how we go bring you home come do something?” I smiled; the governor laughed.

    We were back in Government House. He walked into his office and I walked to the car that brought me.

    All hail Oshiomhole. Clap for Shuaibu. Take a bow, Barrister Osarodion Ogie. For Obaseki, with these men, Edo can be the model state. Thank you, Itemuagbor for thinking out this project that has placed Okpekpe on the world map for very good reasons. Oba Khato Okpere, Ise!

  • Obaseki moves to erect central bus terminal in Benin

    Obaseki moves to erect central bus terminal in Benin

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has, in continuation of the decongestion process to clean up Edo State, inspected the city centre, Ring Road and its environs, where he moved to recover government properties and promised to build a central bus terminal.
    The governor assured the people of the state that the discomfort accompanying the clean-up process was ephemeral and would soon pass as his administration had exhibited readiness to recover all government lands and erect a central bus terminal to further decongest the city centre.
    Inspecting the government properties around Ring Road axis in Benin City, the state’s capital, Governor Obaseki revealed that in the last four months of his administration, his government had critically studied the congestion dogging the city centre and fingered absence of a central bus terminal as the culprit.
    “We are trying to decongest Ring Road and Oba market to open up the bottle neck because the city centre has become choked with people selling by the roadside and transporters picking passengers by the road side. One of the challenges facing traffic is that we do not have a central terminal, but we have identified government properties where we can build central bus terminal,” he said.
    Elucidating, Governor Obaseki, who was accompanied by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barr Osarodion Ogie said ‘Operation Clean up Edo’ was not to punish Edo people, but to ensure that the state was clean.
    The Governor noted that the space occupied by Idah primary school, Okai primary school; Ekpenede primary school and the government landed property opposite Evbuotubu Motor Park would be used for the planned central bus terminal.

  • Education is in the front burner of this administration, says Obaseki 

    Education is in the front burner of this administration, says Obaseki 

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has said his administration would prioritise education to ensure the sector received rapid infrastructural development in continuation of the policies put in place by the Adams Oshiomhole-led administration.
    The governor disclosed this in Benin, on Monday, during the 77th Plenary Meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee on Education (JCCE) holding in New Era College, where he was represented by the permanent secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Osazuware Idahosa.
    Addressing delegates during the plenary, the governor called on all stakeholders in the education sector to deliberate meaningfully and ensure that the challenges militating against the sector were nipped in the bud for good.
    Meanwhile, he charged them to come up with qualitative policies that would put value on education for effective service delivery, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to the laudable programme.
    For her part, the Chairperson of JCCE, Magdalene Anene Maidoh noted that the meeting was to examine the memorandum that has come from the reference committee concerning policy issues in Education.
    She added that the overall objective of the meeting was to develop a policy framework that captured, inclusively, a system of education in Nigeria where everyone had equal opportunity to learn, regardless of vulnerability and disability.
    The stakeholder explained that this could only be achievable if teachers’ capacities were expanded, and their role in nation building was recognised.
    In the same vein, she continued that the recommendations of the committee would be forwarded to the National Council on Education (NCE), which was the highest policy making body in Nigerian on education.
    Present during the event were distinguished delegates drawn from across the education sector in the 36 states of the federation.

  • As Obaseki begins civil service reforms

    When the Edo State Civil Secretariat buildings were first inaugurated during the military administration of late Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, they were a cynosure of beauty.  Located along Sapele Road in Benin City, the secretariat buildings were the second high rise building in the country after the Cocoa House built by late Obafemi Awolowo.

    The buildings were supposed to housed all government ministries and agencies in the defunct Bendel State. As at the time of inauguration of the buildings, three out of the five buildings were completed. Those completed were the Palm House which consisted of 12 floors, the secretariat building (eight floors) and the two storey Civil Service Commission building. The buildings especially the Palm House was tagged the Pride of Bendel.

    Two other buildings tagged Block C and Block D which are eight floors each were yet to be completed. In 2008, the Block D was awarded and completed but government officials did not move in until while the uncompleted Block C served as a place of abode for some policemen until 2010 after a report was published about the living place of policemen in Edo State.

    Today, the completed secretariat buildings are an eye sore. State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Ohue Marshall aptly captured the rot and decay in the buildings in his May Day address to Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    He said, “We expect government to pay attention to its buildings and offices to make work environment conducive. A first time visitor will wonder the kind of people we are given the nature of our infrastructural decay.

    “Our offices as at today are not qualified to be called offices but simply put “Abandoned kitchen”. This is as a result of complete neglect of various work places by past government over the years. The environment is hostile and all elements for effective and efficient working system are completely abandoned.”

    The 9th and 10th floor of the Palm House that was gutted by fire in 2003 are yet to be  renovated. The only lift operational in the building is always faulty that people preferred to use the stairs. Many of the offices except the part recently renovated by Edo SEEFOR are an eyesore. Files are scattered in many of the offices and many of the furniture are old. In fact, for the past 40 years that the buildings were erected, no major renovation work has been done.

    When Obaseki paid a working visit to the secretariat, his verdict was that “You do not expect people to work in this condition and get results”.

    Obaseki went on: “This complex was designed and most of it constructed, almost 40 years ago. So, the decay started quite a while ago.

    “We need a total overhaul, not only cleaning, but the entire process. You could see squatters, you could see traders all over the place, and that in itself creates insecurity for people working here. So, we are going to look at the entire gamut; from ensuring that this place is properly fenced to having a power system.

    “Rather than each ministry having a generating set, we need to have an efficient system that powers the secretariat and the entire complex, ensure that they have water, ensure that the place is properly cleaned and ensure that you have control in terms of access of who comes here and that government documents that are kept here are safe.”

    During the presentation of the 2017 budget, Obaseki said his policy focused on six key areas which include Economic Revolution, Infrastructural Expansion, Institutional Reform, Social Welfare Enhancement, Culture and Tourism and Environmental Sustainability.

    In carrying out institutional reform, Obaseki said he would put required facilities in place so that civil servants could work in a safe and efficient environment.

    He commenced the renovation of the secretariat buildings. A visit to the secretariat showed that work has commenced in the building housing the Local Government Service Commission, Law Review Commission and Civil Service Commission.

    The floor tiles in the top floor were being removed while many of the doors and furniture were removed from many of the offices.

    Chief Press Secretary to Governor Obaseki, Mr. John Mayaki, said the renovation  was systematic fulfillment of electoral promises.

    He said: “In his first week after assuming office, he was clear on the condition of workers, welfare, environment, safety and general infrastructure. He inspected Palm House, Secretariat building, Block D, Benin Technical College among others to ascertain their conditions and how to put them in befitting order for workers’ optimum productivity. He left nobody in doubt that he would match words with action.

    “What is clear here is that Mr. Governor is not distancing himself from his campaign promises. He is not your type of politician who will say what he does not mean, knowing fully well that voters choose one politician over another because of campaign promises and personality.

    “It is disingenuous to get the votes of the electorate based on specific promises but turn back on those promises once elected. The governor is a man of integrity and must be regarded as making genuine efforts to fulfill his campaign promises.”

  • Kudos for Obaseki for launching Nigeria’s first pavilion at Venice Art Biennale

    Kudos for Obaseki for launching Nigeria’s first pavilion at Venice Art Biennale

    The Presidency has hailed Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki for launching Nigeria’s first pavilion at the 57th Venice Art Biennale.

    Nigerian-born international journalist in the United States of America (U.S.A), Mr Tunji Lardner and Head of President Muhammadu Buhari’s digital communication team, Mr Tolu Ogunlesi, on Wednesday, sent commendations to the governor for promoting Nigeria’s image on the global scene.

    Tolu Ogunlesi, a Nigerian journalist, poet, photographer, fiction writer, blogger, one of the nation’s most active Twitter users, tweeted at Governor Obaseki: “Thank you Governor. Mighty proud of what you are doing.”

    This was in response to a tweet by the governor, on Wednesday, saying: “Yesterday, I commissioned Nigeria’s first ever pavilion at the 57th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, which was the first time Nigeria would have a pavilion at the historical art biennale.”

    With over 331,000 twitter followers, Ogunlesi was appointed the role of Special Assistant on Digital/New Media by President Muhammadu Buhari on February 18, last year.

    Lardner, a Nigerian journalist and adjunct professor at the Columbia University School of Journalism in New York, said: “Your Excellency, I throwey salute o! Well done so far… We hail una o! God bless.”

    Lardner, the consultant for the United Nations (UN) on the Internet and the media in his reply to Governor Obaseki’s response on the commendation, added: “God bless and keep you and yours. We are proud of you and we are certain that Edo state will be advanced in quantum leap forward under your enlightened leadership”.

    Obaseki has been growing increasingly active on his social media accounts.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, is among eminent Nigerians who have engaged the governor via social media.

     

  • Obaseki: Beyond May Day celebrations

    Obaseki: Beyond May Day celebrations

    On labour matters, the governor of Edo State, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, may not be cut out in the exact mould of his immediate predecessor in office, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, whose whole life has virtually involved labour activism, leading in the extreme to several “labour wars”.

    Nevertheless, that does not in any diminish in Governor Obaseki a deep concern for the welfare of the workers in the state workforce in all possible ramifications. On several occasions, including the last Labour Day celebration on May 1, the governor said it loud and clear that his government fully appreciates the strategic place of workers in the wealth creation process of a people, underscoring the imperative to take their concerns closest to heart.

    It was in that sense that he declared: “Our most valued asset as a government is in our workers… so I stand with you workers and will work with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to improve workers’ welfare and reward system.”

    These were no frivolous declarations from a man who pledged during the electioneering that ushered him into office the provision of 200,000 jobs for the citizens of Edo within four years of his administration which took off on Nov 12, 2016.

    Truly over the years, governments at various levels had unwittingly diminished or completely eroded the trust and confidence of the people in them, especially the labour force/workers who felt, perhaps justifiably too, that they had been continually short-changed by the very people they entrusted with governance over them. The gory years of the PDP in Edo State are a ready reference point.

    The eight wasted years of the PDP rule in Edo State between 1999 and 2007, with Chief Lucky Igbinedion at the saddle, were not what the ordinary Edo electorate will forget in a hurry against the backdrop of collapsed infrastructure, dampened morale of workers, and general despondency of the people.

    Since 2008 when the APC took charge in the state, the story has been different as the civil service has been reinvigorated and the working environment enhanced for improved welfare of workers, in addition to improved infrastructure and systems across the state.

    Part of the mind-warming story of success in Edo is that, contrary to the punishing delays and inconsistencies in salary payments, payment of workers’ salaries has become prompt and precise – never exceeding the last week of every month. This, to say the least, is cheery and hitherto unheard of in the labour history of Edo State. That momentum has been sustained till date and even improved upon by the incumbent governor.

    As the governor made clear, “Salaries are important and must be paid as at when due. But beyond salaries, labour must begin to partner government on the issue of workplace efficiency and service delivery.” For the governor, the payment of workers’ emoluments is not being celebrated as favours done to the workers. Rather, what is celebrated is the enhancement of human dignity, hence the governor’s call for such collaboration that ensures efficient service delivery.

    No least important on Governor Obaseki’s mind is the payment of pensions and gratuities to retired workers of the state’s civil service. As the chairman of the state’s Economic and Strategy Team (EST) during the tenure of Adams Oshiomhole, the incumbent governor is fully knowledgeable and indeed significantly imputed into ways and means to enhance the circumstances of the retirees – men and women who had put in their best services to make the state what it is today. Added to that is the fact that the governor had also served on the Presidential Committee on the Reform of the Nigerian Pension System.

    In secret and in the open, the man who now steers the ship of Edo has said repeatedly that he is indeed deeply pained by the stress retirees went through to get their entitlements at the end of their service years. It is that unaffected concern that informed the establishment of the State Pension Bureau, designed to resolve all issues bordering on pensions in the state.

    The state government has already commenced its participation in the Contributory Pension Scheme as obtained at the federal level and which has significantly eliminated the bottlenecks associated with pensions and gratuity payments of federal workers. It is, therefore, with all optimism that economic experts project that very soon Edo State will breathe a sigh of relief in pension settlement.

    Governor Obaseki may not be loud and chatty, but he is fully at work to creatively consolidate on the gains of the last administration and reclaim the economic glory of Edo State. As he said: “It is our character as a government to say less and do more and also to under-promise and over-achieve.” His is not the truckload of promises and a teaspoon of fulfilment.

    Evidences abound of the resolve and commitment of this administration to improve the state economically and socially. It is as well fully committed to the good of the workers and the work environment. The Palm House and State Secretariat are billed for renovation; a new administrative building is springing up in Government House while in terms of workers welfare, several workshops have been concluded for several MDAs, with the aim of improving the human capacity of workers and deepening a holistic understanding of state of affairs.

    Moreover, the government has revealed that it is in talks with several serious investors in the areas of agribusiness, housing, hospitality and infrastructure that are designed to create jobs, improve real incomes and expand the state revenue base. The Agripreneur Project has been flagged off at three designated centres in the state, focusing on major crops with identified out-growers and off-takers, while a total of 150,000 persons have been registered as unemployed under the Edo Jobs Initiative.

    Certainly, these measures, economic experts project, will improve the quality of life in the state, especially for the labour force.

    Consequently, beyond the May-Day Celebrations, all stakeholders in Edo state, including Labour and government, must cooperate, collaborate and synergize to make the state economically viable. If this is done well, there will be attendant benefits of improved living standards for the people in Edo State.

     

    • Dr Oviosun writes from Benin City, Edo State.

  • APC, Obaseki file cross-appeal against tribunal’s ruling

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), have filed a four-ground of cross-appeal against part of the judgment of the tribunal, which upheld Obaseki’s election.

    The APC and Obaseki are the second and third respondents in the appeal filed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the Court of Appeal.

    Obaseki and the APC are challenging the ruling of Justice Ahmed Badamasi for refusing to strike out the “offensive” paragraphs and/or the petition based on the two applications.

    In its four grounds of cross-appeal, Obaseki and the APC averred that the tribunal erred in law when it held that “the essence of the application is to defeat the intendment of the petition through technical process, it is premature at this stage to consider striking out paragraphs 17 to 753 and we so hold”.

    Among the reliefs sought in the cross-appellants are: an order of the appellate court to allow the cross-appeal; an order granting their motion on notice, dated and filed on November 30, last year, by striking out paragraph 16(1) of the petition, which touches on corrupt practices and other paragraphs of the petition on which allegations of corrupt practices were pleaded, including paragraphs 17 to 753.

    They are contending that the tribunal breached the cross-appellants’ right to fair hearing when it failed to adequately consider the issues raised and submitted before it.

    The cross-appellants also said the tribunal erred in law when it held, at page 35 of the judgment, as follows: “A careful perusal of paragraphs four to 501 of the third respondent’s reply to the petition, one will see new issues raised by the third respondent, which are not contained in the petition.”

    They also submitted that the tribunal erred in law and breached the cross-appellants’ right to fair hearing when it held on page 36 of the judgment as follows: “There is no law prohibiting the petitioners from filing additional statement on oath of the petitioners in response to the third respondent’s reply to the petition.”