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Tag: Oshiomhole

  • Oshiomhole approves yearly salary increment

    Oshiomhole approves yearly salary increment

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has promised to grant yearly salary increment to the state’s workers.

    The governor spoke yesterday in Benin during the May Day rally at the Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

    The governor reminded the workers that May Day was not to celebrate any increase in salary but to cherish and remember those who were jailed or killed on the streets of Chicago because they damanded basic rights for workers to form trade unions, negotiate and speak with one voice.

    He told the teachers that he would not be intimidated to drop the conduct of the competency test for teachers on the altar of politics.

    Oshiomhole said: “We found some teachers who did not know how many local governments are in the state. I was scandalised when an Edo teacher said the University of Benin is a local government, and you asked me to retain such a teacher! I will not. I have my duty to the Edo child. It is the duty of the poor man who attends a public school. I am a child of a poor man. I cannot abandon an Edo child because I want to win the next election. There are choices to be made.

    “The challenge of leadership is tested on an occasion like this. Nothing has been said that I did not expect. This movement has taught me to have courage. It gave me the values to be myself anywhere, anytime any day…

    “When you supported me to be governor, it was because I was troubled about the future of our country and I believe I can make a difference from my state. I was clear that difference must begin by preparing the Edo child for the future. We cannot pretend over the affairs of teachers in the state. I cannot preside over the ruining of our children. I do not want to think like a politician.”

    The rally became a battle of wits between Oshiomhole and organised Labour, especially the teachers.

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) were unhappy with the government over what they called unfulfilled promises.

    Members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) showed their discontent when they wore straight faces during the march past and refused to salute the governor.

    TUC state Chairman Charles Oronsanye said the union was angry that the governor failed to sack the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Major Lawrence Loye.

    The also expressed displeasure over retrenchment of workers, competency test, promotion in the public service and non-payment of 27 months of salaries to workers of Bendel Brewery.

    Other reasons for their grievances, according to the TUC chairman, were funding of salary payment for state-owned institutions and contributory pension scheme.

    Oronsanye said: “The current approach by Edo State Government is a fire brigade approach, military in nature, rigid and again witch-hunting. We urge the government to change its tactics, embrace civility, follow due process and carry the workers along.”

    NLC state Chairman Emmanuel Ademokun said the euphoria of May Day celebration was waning across the country because of job losses and ill-treatment meted out to workers.

  • Oshiomhole ready for Okpekpe race

    Oshiomhole ready for Okpekpe race

    Comrade governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole is fit and ready to run in next weekend’s second Okpekpe 10km road race,his trainer Yusuf Ali has disclosed.

    “The governor has been going under five minutes per kilometre in training and this is an indication of his readiness for the race,’revealed Ali, a former African long jump record holder.

    Ali, who is also the race director, is confident this year’s race will be a huge improvement from last year both in terms of its technical organisation and quality of elite runners. ‘We have confirmed the participation of some who is who in the road race world,’said Ali who reiterated Pamodzi’s plans to make the race one of the eargerly anticipated races in the world.

    ‘The race is already one of the highest paying 10km races in the world. The quality of athletes the second edition has attracted is a confirmation that the race will become very successful,’ he said and thanked Pamodzi, the organisers of the race for putting the rusty town of Okpkekpe on world map.

  • Edo monarch Erediauwa gets tax number

    Benin Monarch Oba Erediawa has registered for the Tax Identification Number (TIN).

    He was registered at his palace by the management of the State Internal Revenue Service led by its Chairman, Oseni Elamah.

    The registration of the Benin Monarch was to formally inaugurate the TIN registration in the traditional institution.

    Oba Erediauwa said he was aware of what Governor Adams Oshiomhole ‘is doing with tax payers’ money’ and as such needs money to develop the state.

  • Jonathan, Oshiomhole, Uduaghan seek media partnership for national development

    Jonathan, Oshiomhole, Uduaghan seek media partnership for national development

    President Goodluck Jonathan wants the media to report the country positively.

    A similar challenge came from Governors Adams Oshiomhole of Edo and Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, both of whom asked the media to help fix the problems in the country.

    Jonathan spoke through the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, during the dinner to raise funds for the building of the Editors’ House by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Abuja on Thursday.

    He hailed the leadership of the guild for its decision to build a befitting edifice that would serve as its secretariat.

    Describing the Nigerian press as one of the best and freest in the world,he said :”I will say that our profession is making progress. The Nigerian media represent the best and the freest on the continent today and everywhere around the continent, we are looked upon as the leaders of this profession.

    “This freedom did not just come overnight. It is something we have fought for and it is something Nigerians have recognized and in deepening this freedom, let us act with serious sense of responsibility and let us uphold the unity of this country.

    “Nigeria represents the basis of the freedom of Africa. Our country, no matter what challenges we have faced, had done tremendous things for this continent.

    “We must realize that the work of the Federal Government is huge. What President Jonathan has done in the last four yes has been very significant. The problem is that the rot has been there for a long time.”

    Mr.Maku said that the Jonathan administration has built 10 power plants, revitalized the railways and established 13 universities in the last four years.

    He said that the Federal Government now has the funding requirements to complete the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, saying: “But because Jonathan inherited a lot of problems, it is difficult to notice what he had done so far.”

    He added: “I want to call on my colleagues, because today when people read some of the things you write, the impression is that this country is so bad, they should not even come here.

    “The reality of it is that this country is the number one destination for investment in Africa for the last four years because of our policies and the nation is developing. We need patience.

    “This country has suffered from impatience. Each time we are having a breakthrough, something will happen.

    “My appeal to us is to also ensure we report our country positively. We are leading in several ways.”

    On his part, Governor Oshiomhole appealed to delegates at the ongoing National Dialogue to work towards the peace and development of the country.

    He noted that countries which are considered safe havens today have had to work for their development.

    Oshiomhole said: “My appeal is that anyone who has been nominated and is part of the confab would have been nominated on the assumption that he has no other country but Nigeria.

    “Therefore, since he does not have any other country but Nigeria, he will stay in that conference and work towards the progress and development of Nigeria.”

    He hoped that those who are privileged to lead the country cannot afford to become ethnic champions.

    “Let us leave ethnicity to those who are detained by their domains, so that those who have responsibility beyond domains, who are defined and identified by our green passports should speak for the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because we have no other country we can call our own,” he said.

    Also speaking,Governor Uduaghan noted that those agitating for war in the country are doing so because they have not witnessed any in their lives.

    He called on the media not to incite the younger ones to violence through their publications.

    He said: “I say to those who today are saying they are Biafrans that if they had seen war before they would be very careful in their agitations.

    “What I want to plead with the guild is that we should not incite, especially our young ones, to cause crisis because it does not pay. Nigeria is one.

    “We should not incite with our microphone; we should not incite with our pen because this country has a lot of potential.”

    President Jonathan announced a donation of N50million towards the building of the House, the Governors of Rivers and Kwara states donated N10million and N5million respectively.

    Most of the other dignitaries did not announce their donations.

  • Why we cancelled ward congress, by Oshiomhole

    Why we cancelled ward congress, by Oshiomhole

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole said yesterday the ward congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo South was cancelled because the party wants to lay a solid foundation for democracy at the grassroots.

    Oshiomhole said the cancellation was as a result of the failings of those entrusted to conduct the elections and not because of protest by some party members.

    The governor, who spoke at a briefing in Benin City, said he was encouraged by the huge turn-out of APC members.

    Oshiomhole said a review of the exercise in Edo South showed that officials did not show up for the exercise and in areas where they showed up, they did not carry materials.

    He said: “To conduct election is to undermine a very important rule of the game, which cannot be cured by any future action.

    “Conducting the election without accreditation made the exercise a complete nullity and it cannot be remedied.

    “No one argued that majority of those who queued to vote were members of the party. Those who were empowered to conduct the election were not available.

    “The people had to appoint individuals to conduct the election. Those who conducted the election cannot be said to be neutral.

    “In a typical voting centre, they are unable to list those who won or those who lost. All of these cast serious doubts on the entire process.”

  • Why we cancelled ward congresses in Edo South, Oshiomhole

    Why we cancelled ward congresses in Edo South, Oshiomhole

    Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole Thursday explained that the ward congress of the All Progressives Congress in Edo South senatorial district was cancelled because the party wants to lay a solid foundation for democracy at the grassroots.

    Governor Oshiomhole said the cancellation was as a result of the failings of those entrusted to conduct the elections and not because of protest by some members of the party.

    The Governor who spoke at a press briefing said he was encouraged by the huge turn-out of APC members to participate in the election.

    Oshiomhole said a review of the exercise in Edo South showed that officials appointed by the Election Committee did not show up for the exercise and in areas they showed up, the officials did not carry materials such as party register and result sheets.

    According to him, “To proceed to conduct election is to undermine a very important rule of the game which cannot be cured by any future action. Conducting the election without accreditation made the exercise a complete nullity and it cannot be remedied. No one argued that majority of those who queued out to vote were members of the party. Those who were empanelled to conduct the election were not available.”

    “The people had to appoint individuals to conduct the election. Those who conducted the election cannot be said to be neutral. In a typical voting centre, they are unable the list of those who won or those who lost. All of these casted serious doubts on the authenticity of the entire process. Reports showed that some people used unfair tactics to scare away people who came to vote. That alone violates the entire system.

    “It was clear that what was done was not satisfactory. We have decided that rather than live with this shallow foundation, we decided that the only way is to cancel the entire exercise. Those who were involved in the handling of the election were removed and appointed others outside Edo South.”

    “This may be strange in this part of the country. The foundation for sustainable democracy dictates that there must be internal democracy. The test lies in the conduct of ward congresses. It is better we do it over and over again so that we can have a party that is progressives. We are determined we must break from the past and build our party on those values of democracy.

    “I urged party members to accept what has been done. They must be long distance runner. Theu should understand that the basis of our moral authority lies in what we preach namely one man one vote. If we don’t practice one man one vote within our party, we won’t have the courage to preach one man one vote in inter-party election. We are determined that one man one vote must prevail. We want the people to see the difference between this party and other parties.”

  • Oshiomhole decries arbitrary electricity tariff

    Oshiomhole decries arbitrary electricity tariff

    Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo on Tuesday criticised the arbitrary energy tariff and fixed charge by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

    Oshiomhole said in Benin at a tripartite meeting between the government, civil society groups and management of BEDC that the charges were “exploitative”.

    He said that irrespective of who generates tariff or distribute energy, the fixed tariff and estimated charges by the BEDC was “irresponsible and exploitative” to consumers.

    The governor said that the essence of privatisation was for an increase in entrepreneurial efficiency.

    He said: “You (BEDC) will recall that the first day I formally receive you in my office, I made some factual statement that the essence of privatisation was the increase in entrepreneurial efficiency.

    “I think l also mentioned that now that the Federal Government had hands off NEPA or PHCN, it was incumbent that you improve on your service delivery to consumers, failure of which would spark revolt.

    “This is exactly what is happening today,’’ he said.

    Oshiomhole said that the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) could not operate in chain process by collecting money for services not rendered.

    The governor noted that as someone elected by the people to represent their interest, he could not be silent on issues involving exploitation by any company.

    He urged the management of BEDC to invite officials of NERC to his office within two weeks for further deliberations.

    The governor also directed the company to stop the disconnection of consumers in the interim.

    Earlier, Mr Kaduna Eboigbodion and Mr Olu Martins, representing the civil society groups, said that BEDC collects a fixed charge of N750 per prepaid meter monthly whether there was electricity or not.

    They noted that some consumers who paid for prepaid meters in the last four years were yet to get the meters.

    The Managing Director of BEDC, Mrs Funke Oshibodu, said that fixed charge was like a chain revolving from generation to distribution.

    Oshibodu stressed that as a distribution company, BEDC only collects tariff on behalf of generation and transmission companies linked to NERC.

    She, however, appealed to Edo consumers to exercise patient with the company as efforts were on to improve on the present status.

  • Speak for Nigeria, Oshiomhole urges Labour chiefs

    Speak for Nigeria, Oshiomhole urges Labour chiefs

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has urged the representatives of the labour movement at the ongoing National Conference to speak for Nigeria and national unity when those with parochial views champion ethnic agenda.

    Speaking in his office in Benin City yesterday during a visit to him by the national leadership of the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Woodwork Workers, Oshiomhole said: “The Nigerian Labour Congress must be on the side of the Nigerian nation. They must champion National unity. They must never be apologetic on the position they take on the side of non-indivisible one Nigeria.

    “I know for a fact that when the political class assembles to share resources, there is no North, there is no South, there is no East, there is no West.”

  • Oshiomhole swears in perm sec

    Oshiomhole swears in perm sec

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has assured public officers that government will reward merit.

    Oshiomhole spoke yesterday at the swearing in of Mrs Vera Obadan as a permanent secretary and secretary of the State Internal Revenue Service.

    Speaking after administering the oaths, Oshiomhole said: “This appointment is unique. This is not one of those appointments we make on account of how many years one has put in the service. It is based on merit; merit-driven and merit-earned.

    “The future of our state lies on the productivity of our public officers. From the reports I received, the evaluations by persons who have come into contact with you, say you have ensured that the revenue service performs optimally.”

  • Road Rehabilitation: Ex-Soldier sheds tears of joy

    Road Rehabilitation: Ex-Soldier sheds tears of joy

    A retired Army Captain, Wednesday, gave in to his emotions as he shed tears of joy over the reclamation of the Upper Lawani Road and the adjoining roads in Benin City, Edo State by the government of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    The retired Army Captain, Mr. Isaac Eguavoen who lauded the Governor for keeping to his electoral promises gave the commendation during the Governor’s inspection of ongoing projects in Benin metropolis.

    Mr. Eguavoen who said he is a landlord in the Upper Lawani area of the state capital, noted that past governments in over twenty years had failed to address the erosion problem in the area. He praised Governor Oshiomhole for restoring the belief of the people in government.

    Governor Oshiomhole assured the retired Army Captain and the people of the state that his administration would not relent in its determination to bring development to the people.

    The Governor who also inspected the 2nd East Circular Road said the road will be dualised and completed with walkways, drainage and streetlights.

    Oshiomhole said: “we have come to see for ourselves the state of the road. You saw us trying to take measurements. Now we are going to work on the road. We are going to dualise it so that it looks like the Airport road.

    “We are going to put streetlights and walkways. I assure you that before the first week of April, you will see caterpillars working on the road,” he said.

    Oshiomhole who also visited Upper Mission, Ogida Road and Upper Ekewan inspected the ongoing works there.

    Oshiomhole said “during the campaigns, I promised that all the roads would be built so that people can drive straight to their homes. Before we do the road we must do the drainage. The problem of Benin is that if you don’t do drainage calculated to take water to a particular destination the road will not last.

    “That is why government is spending a lot of resources to construct the drainage first. The drainage being constructed in Benin has been designed to take into account the volume of water, so that the water will flow all the way to the river.

    “By the grace of God the contractors are doing their best and before the rain, they would have completed as many roads as possible so that you can have real development. People can drive here easily and the value of properties would increase. I promise you we will continue to do our best,” he said.