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Tag: Prof. Julius Ihonvbere

  • House Leader decries non-implementation of disability act six years after passage

    House Leader decries non-implementation of disability act six years after passage

    Leader of the House of Representatives, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, has decried the non-implementation of the prohibition against persons with disability act by both government agencies and those in the private sector, saying unless something drastic is done, the law will remain just on paper.

    Ihonvbere, who spoke at a public hearing by the House Committee on Disability Matters, said many Nigerians, including heads of government agencies, believe that the Act which was signed into law in 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari said many Nigerians believe that the law was a mere joke.

    He regretted that the contribution of PWDs to national development is hardly acknowledged in the country, adding that the political will and commitment to the implementation was still low, with the National Orientation agency just beginning the educate Nigerians on the existence of the law.

    He said the World Health organisation reports that Nigeria accounts for about 20 million out of the total one hundred and ninety-five million (195,000,000) persons with disabilities around the world, which implies that we account for about 3.9 % of the figure.

    Ihonvbere said: “Until something drastic is done, this act will just remain on paper and will not be implemented. Not even 5 percent since 2018 has been achieved in trying to implement this act. This is not rocket science to adjust buildings to make accessibility possible and to give access to persons with disability.

    “If you think that you are in Nigeria and is very strong, travel abroad and when you see the sign for space for persons with disability, go and pack there. It is somebody who sees you packing there without the tag that will call the police. So, it is the political will and the commitment it get it done. Even if we have to block a few offices to do it, we should do it.

    “The fact remains that unless there is action, we need to amend that law to make a fine of N10 million for corporate bodies who disobey the law and individuals N2 million and one full year in jail. Even in our public transportation, there is no consideration. What kind of people have we become?

    “We must do the right and I am happy that this taking place. We are open to all ideas. This country does not take this act seriously. We all think it is a joke and something must be done about that. The contribution that persons with disability make to the growth of this country is never acknowledged”.

    Ihonvbere said the discrimination and stigmatisation faced by Persons With Disabilities in Nigeria has continued unabated yet the compliance level of MDAs and the private sector to the “Disability Act” has over time left the challenges unattended.

    He said: “Whereas, Section 2 provides for the promotion of awareness regarding (a) rights, respect and dignity of persons with disabilities; and (b) capabilities, achievements and contributions of persons with disabilities to the society. This is hardly being done.

    “Even the National Orientation Agency is only just beginning to find its feet and assure Nigerians that the thing exists. The issue of disability can happen to anybody, anytime and anywhere. Nigerians like to pretend and lie to themselves and so, anybody can be a victim.

    “All humans have one disability or the other. Even the natural process of aging precipitates all forms of disabilities. It is therefore germane that we take compliance with the law seriously.

    “It is worthy of note that the PWDs are a vital part of our society, they are family members or parents who cater for their family needs, they make invaluable contributions at the workplace, and participate in all activities that involve life.

    “Therefore, they should not be limited in their activities and struggle to earn a living, get education, and enjoy equal rights. Deliberate support from the government and those who have the responsibility to do what is necessary is therefore needed to ensure that the capacities of the PWDs are harnessed as part of the process of sustainable development.

    “We all know that the National Assembly passed the Bill on the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 and was accented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, this means that this law is already in force.

    “The Acts protects the rights and welfare of Persons With Disabilities in Nigeria, as enunciated by Part V, which provides for the liberty, right to education, health and first consideration in queues, accommodation and in emergencies

    “Yet, MDAs are yet to implement the Act even at this moment that we speak. But if this is allowed to continue, it will cause severe damage to our social economic development and further impair our thinking as a people without understanding and the will to do the right thing.

    Read Also: Tribunal upholds ex-House leader Doguwa’s election 

    “I am particularly impressed at the effort of the Chairman, House Committee on Disability Matters to invite all relevant stakeholders to engage the issues and ensure that these engagements translate into action which I believe will help make considerable and impactful progress.

    “I am also encouraged by the involvement and the presence of the CSOs that have been active partners with the National Assembly even during the formative days of this Bill. I want to assure the PWD Community that the Leadership of the House of Representatives will provide the necessary support to ensure the full implementation of this law and any other assistance needed to create a more inclusive Nigeria because we are in this together.

    Chairman of the Committee, Bashiru Dawodu said the public hearing was put together to gather information from the disability community, especially on the implementation of the disability act.

    He said the disability act provides for the protection of the rights and welfare of PWDs. This enquiry will critically assess thematic areas of accessibility, employment, and disability inclusion in policy, plans, programmes and projects of the MDAs of special interest is Accessibility to public buildings and the use of sign language interpreters in the media and all public communications

  • Constituents roll out the drums for ex-lawmaker

    It was a day to say ‘Thank you’ to the immediate past Deputy Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon Pally Iraise by residents of Owan Federal Constituency for providing quality and effective representation. Hon. Iraise had earlier served as Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Chairman of Owan East Local Government Area and Secretary to the Edo State Government.

    Last week, the people rolled out the drums to celebrate Iraise by organising a reception in his honour. Chairman of the “Committee of Friends” Hon. Ambrose Imoode said Iraise focused on people-friendly legislation and policies.

    The reception also provided an avenue to remind their incumbent representative in the House of Representatives, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere to perform above the standard set by Iraise as they would not accept any excuses.

    Imoode listed some projects executed and attracted by Iraise to include electrification of over 50 communities, construction of the Otuo-Ikhin-Afuze Road, N500 million earth dam projects to provide water for over 50 communities.

    Others are five health facilities with Doctors’ residence and solar-powered borehole at Ihievbe and Ikpeyan-Okpujid, borehole projects at Ozalla, Uhunmora-Ora, Okpujie, Ukhuse, Eruere, Ugbubezi, Sobe, Otuo, Ake, Ikhin, Igue-Sale, Ikao, Ihievbe, Ogben, Afuze and Errah communities and ICT centres at Michael Imodu College of Physical Education (now a campus of Tayo Akpata University) and Edeki Grammar School.

    He said several projects attracted by Iraise were geared at economic and social empowerment  of the people.

    He said: “Owan had hitherto been faced with leadership problems and this has always affected our development.”

    Other speakers, however, lamented the continued closure of Otuo General Hospital despite N200 million intervention projects by Hon. Iraise. The Otuo General Hospital was built and completed during the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole. The intervention of Iraise saw the installation of solar-powered energy, a new ambulance, construction of Radiology building housing X-ray machines; supply and installation of incubators, incinerator; hospital beds, mattresses, trolleys and refrigerators, among others.

    The residents said the hospital was supposed to make the people have access to quality health care but they had to resort to traditional healers to treat their ailments if they could not go to either Afuze in Owan East Local Government Area, Igarra in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area or Auchi in Estako West Local Government Area for medical care.

    Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu urged Iraise not to consider retiring from politics as the country still needs his services.

    He said politicians such as Iraise are difficult to find.

    On his part, Iraise said he was a restless legislator moving to key ministries because he knew his people would not understand if he counted to them the many motions and bills he sponsored.

    He said he picked the projects based on their benefits to the people and to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of people, adding that he has no fears that the projects would be abandoned since funds were released to the tune of 70 per cent.

    His words: “The Otuo General Hospital is yet to be functional. It is equipped to a standard that is above the normal standard you find in other hospitals. It is a state government facility. The question of why the government has decided not to be attracted to do what they must do in order to inaugurate the hospital is what I don’t have any idea about. I feel bad. I feel sad that people in this community and its environs are dying needlessly. Even if the hospital is just a department alone, we are talking about 150,000 people. We have good health facility but it is not functional. There is total neglect of a good health facility.

    “I was able to attract these projects because my thought processes were re-modelled. I had to focus on how I would attract Federal projects when people asked me during campaigns what projects I would attract to them.

    “I used my constituency projects as seed projects to bait Federal Government to start key projects which the government later took over.”

  • Trafficking: Edo to track houses of cartels, religious leaders, others

    Trafficking: Edo to track houses of cartels, religious leaders, others

    The Edo State Government is set to embark on a state-wide tracking of members of the human trafficking cartels in the state including religious leaders and other individuals aiding the illegal trade.

    The government also said that part of the strategies to halt the menace of human trafficking include the development of a new social studies curriculum for students and an economic empowerment programme.

    Others are reintegration and counselling programmes and public enlightenment campaigns to markets and streets among others.

    Speaking with journalists in Government House in Benin City, Chairman, Edo State Strategic Planning Team, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said the initiatives are in support of the Edo State Taskforce on Anti-Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration, which is leading the effort to reintegrate returnees from Libya and coordinating the state’s campaign to curb trafficking in persons.

    “Governor Obaseki’s administration is giving the issue of human trafficking the kind of priority it deserves by ensuring efforts are made to put a stop to the trend,” Ihonvbere said.

    “Part of our programme is to include campaign against human trafficking in the social studies curriculum in schools. The state government is also making efforts to track traffickers and native doctors, who are enriching themselves with the illicit trade,” Ihonvbere said, adding that the state government has commenced public enlightenment campaigns on the issue, which is holding in markets and other public places across the state. He assured that the campaign trail will soon get to schools when they are in session, stressing that the governor has enlisted religious leaders to take the message to their members.

    According to him, “there is need to educate the people, especially children in schools on the dangers of human trafficking and embarking on dangerous journeys across the desert and on the high sea. Part of our programme is to include campaign against human trafficking in the social studies curriculum in schools. The state government is also making efforts to track traffickers and native doctors, who are enriching themselves with the illicit trade.

    Other strategies he said include the state government’s policy to welcome back returnees and organising counselling and reintegration programmes.”

    Prof. Ihonvbere added that the government is also training the returnees and has provided empowerment packages like start-up capital and packs for those interested in starting business.

    He, however, urged stakeholders, including the Federal Government, philanthropists and international agencies, to join hands with the state government to address the menace.

  • 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.”

  • Assault: Oshiomhole suspends Onojie of Uromi

    Assault: Oshiomhole suspends Onojie of Uromi

     …Suspension is unconstitutional, Esama of Uromi

     

     

    Traditional ruler of Uromi, His Royal Highness Anselm Okojie, Aidenojie II, the Onojie of Uromi, has been suspended for seven days by the Edo State Government.

     

    The Onojie of Uromi was suspended for allegedly assaulting a married woman, one Mrs. Betty Okoebor and traveling outside the country without getting appropriate permission.

     

    This was contained in a letter signed by Secretary to the State Government, Prof Julius Ihonvbere and dated October 26, 2016.

     

    It said the refusal of the Onojie to respond to a query issued by the appropriate authority within the stipulated 72 hours demonstrating total disregard and disrespect for constituted authority.

     

    The letter said the suspended Onojie demonstrated disregard for extant regulations and laws by travelling outside the country without appropriate permission.

     

    It reads in parts, “Your unprovoked attack, inflicting grievous bodily harm on one Mrs Betty Okoebor on September 28, 2016 in full public glare to the embarrassment of those present and causing disgrace to your otherwise esteemed office

     

    “In the circumstances, the State Executive Council has arrived at a conclusion that these and other acts of misconduct of Your Royal Highness, the Onojie of Uromi are not only distasteful but also unbecoming of a traditional ruler of your status.

     

    “Based on the above and convinced that your Highness has denied yourself of the opportunity of entering a plea against the charges against you that were duly conveyed in writing to you, and therefore in exercise of the powers conferred on the State Executive Council by virtue of Section 28(1) of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law (1979) and all other Laws enabling it in that behalf, has approved your suspension from office as the Onojie of Uromi with immediate effect for a period of seven (7) days, that is, from the 26th of October 2016 to the 1st of November, 2016.

     

    “Consequently, within the suspension period, you shall cease to be recognized and treated as traditional ruler or as the Onojie of Uromi in Edo State and you shall not exercise any powers or function or enjoy any privileges provided for under the Traditional Rulers and Chief Law (1979) and all other relevant provisions under the said law.

     

    “Within the 7-day suspension period, you are required to tender unreserved apologies to your victim, Mrs Betty Okoebor and the Government of Edo State. However, if within the said 7 days no public apology in tendered by your very self, you will stand deposed as the Onojie of Uromi.”

     

    It was would be recalled that the embattled Onojie was quizzed in April by officials of the Directorate of State Security over a petition sent to it by one Prince Ernest Okojie over alleged threat to life.

     

    Also, former Edo Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Louis Odion, had raised alarm that the Onojie of Uromi threatened to deal with him over an article he (Odion) wrote criticizing the conferment of Adolor of Uromi on Mike Onolememen.

     

    The People’s Democratic Party described the suspension as “senseless, unconstitutional and anti-people”.

     

    State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih who is also the Esama of Uromi, said, “This recent action of the governor is a clear manifestation of what I said at that time. 

     

    “What Oshiomhole must come to terms with is that he has no power, under our constitution and law to take the actions he has just taken.

     

    “If anybody for any reason was accosted by the Onojie, the rightful place to report is the police station and the rightful thing for the police as an institution to do if they found any truth, is to take it to a court of law.”

  • Edo 2016: Owan people will vote Obaseki – Ihonvbere

    Edo 2016: Owan people will vote Obaseki – Ihonvbere

    The Secretary to Edo state Government and Iyase (Prime Minister) of lluleha kingdom, in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo state, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere has faulted reports that Owan people have vowed not to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) if the lluleha-Uzebba road was not constructed before the election.

    He said the comments were being made by political jobbers in the area who don’t “even know the difference between politics of development and that of the stomach.  That is just the figment of their imagination because Owan West particularly lulleha has been APC and will continue to be APC.

    “Regarding the road they are talking about, We are thankful that the road has been awarded to a credible contractor and the state government has mobilize the contractor and work is ongoing now. And to be honest, there is no way that road will be completed in the life span of the current administration.

    “But the good news is that Obaseki has visited the area and he understands the terrain and he has promised that if the road is not completed by November he will complete it. Obaseki’s mother is from Uzebba and he cannot abandon his people. Most of us were in PDP for years infact PDP spent ten years but they never poured a sand in that place, so why will people in the name of politics try to exhibit ingratitude to a government that at least had made effort to construct that road.

    “Apart from the fact that I am SSG, I am the Iyasele of lluleha so nobody knows my area more than me. These comments are coming from hungry characters who want to blackmail the APC but they have failed. The Local Government is an APC Local Government we have always done well there and there is nothing stopping us from defeating the PDP and their sponsors in this area. PDP cannot point at anything they have done for our people all they do is to sponsor some idle persons but they are wasting their time,” he stated.

     

  • Oshiomhole sacks aide for dereliction of duty

    Oshiomhole sacks aide for dereliction of duty

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has terminated the appointment of his Executive Director on Poverty Alleviation and Mobilisation, Chief (Mrs) Evelyn Igbafe, for “dereliction of duty, incompetence”, among others.

    Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, in a letter dated June 1 stated: “I write to inform you that the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole has approved the termination of your appointment as Executive Director to the Governor on Poverty Alleviation and Mobilisation for dereliction of duty, incompetence and abdicating your responsibilities.”

    Consequently, you are to return all government property with you, including vehicles and identity card, to the Directorate of Administration, Governor’s Office immediately”

    The Governor wished her the best in her future endeavours.

  • Ihonvbere loses APC Edo North senatorial bid

    Ihonvbere loses APC Edo North senatorial bid

    Secretary to the Edo State Government Prof. Julius Ihonvbere failed yesterday to secure the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) ticket to the Senate to represent Edo North Senatorial District.

    Incumbent Senator representing the zone, Senator Domingo Obende, also lost as he came third in the primary that was conducted till yesterday morning. Obende got 198 votes while Prof. Ihonvbere polled 815 votes. An aspirant that was regarded as “a weakling” in the race, Major Francis Alimekhena, won the primary, scoring 831 votes.

  • Edo SSG resigns

    Secretary to the Edo State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, has resigned his appointment.

    Ihonvbere resigned after losing in the primaries of the All Progressive Congress where he contested for the Edo North senatorial seat.

    He lost to Major Francis Alimekhena, a contender from Estako, while Ihonvbere hails from Owan.

    Sources close to Ihonvbere said he resigned because he felt Governor Adams Oshiomhole connived with the Estako tribe to humiliate him.

    A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Oshiomhole, Mr. Peter Okhiria, said the Governor has accepted the resignation of Prof. Ihonvbere.

    The statement said the Governor thanked Ihonvbere for his services to the state and wished him well in his future endeavors.