The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sam Egwu

  • 132,000 PVC remains unclaimed in Niger

    The Niger state Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Professor Sam Egwu has disclosed that 132, 000 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) are yet to be collected by prospective voters who have completed registration in Niger state.

    He said that Commission had earlier embarked on massive sensitisation for voters to collect their PVC but it has yielded no result.

    Speaking in Minna on Friday in his office while playing host to the Zonal Coordinator of the Federal Information Centre in Minna, Malam Bawa Salihu Mokwa, Egwu urged those who have completed registration to go to their respective registration areas to pick their cards.

    He expressed the desire of the Commission you capture all prospective voters across the state calling on people to come out for the registration.

    According to Egwu, the ongoing registrations is to capture those who have attained the age of 18, people displaced as a result of transfer or movement as well as those who have lost their cards earlier obtained.

    The Coordinator of the centre, Malam Bawa Mokwa had earlier assured the REC of the readiness of the centre to partner with INEC to achieve free and fair 2019 general elections.

    He told the REC that the Federal Information centre has the necessary facilities in place to help INEC in the state in the area of sensitization and education of voters to enable them understand their civic responsibilities.

  • We need policies to protect the furniture sector – Muni Shonibare

    The Chief Executive Officer and founder of IO Furniture Limited, Mrs Muni Shonibare on Monday received the senate committee on Industry led by its chairman Senator Sam Egwu at its administrative and production office in Ilupeju, Lagos.

    The Senate committee members that visited comprised of Senator Buhari Abdulfatai (Oyo North), Senator Baru Jibrin (Kano North), Senator Barnabas Gemade (Benue North East), Senator Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North).

    They came on oversight of the mandate of the Bank of Industry ( BOI ) in funding and supporting indigenous industries. They also came to ascertain and ensure that the organization’s processes and products meet international standards.

    According to Senator Sam Egwu, “the visit was imperative in order to determine how our industries are faring and to see how they can better be supported through government interventions.

    “Nigeria loses a huge amount of her foreign exchange to importation; this we can reduce by encouraging our local industries to grow by patronizing them.”

    According to Mrs. Shonibare, that intervention funds (loans) from BOI has been of immense help in setting and scaling up the business. Their loan which is pegged at a single digit of 7% is very encouraging.

    With respect to scaling up the business, the CEO reiterated their plans to set up a technical/training programme to bridge the skills gap that currently exist in the industry.

    “We constantly have to bring in expatriates to run the machines because we cannot find Nigerians that are qualified to run them,” she said.

    “Aside from the generic issues of infrastructure, lack of regular supply of electricity, transportation, not getting raw materials for production etc., the greatest challenge is in getting the skilled labour.

    “We recognize that there is a major gap in getting really skilled and qualified personnel for manufacturing. We have to sustain our economy with our own people.

    “Another burning issue is in the area of policies that will protect the industry. We find that unlike other sectors such as architecture, law, banking, insurance etc., where foreign organization cannot just break into the sector without partnering with existing firms, the furniture space do not have such policies to protect it.

    “We need policies to protect the furniture sector so that we can grow in the correct manner. We currently cannot compete with the Chinese market because of their prices which is largely due to the availability of skilled labour.

    “China for instance has over a thousand technical schools, and enroll at least eleven million people with the support of their government to ensure they set up programs that will support the local industry.”

    She further added that patronage is very key. She stressed the need for the government and the Nigerian people to increase their patronage of products by Nigerians.

    IO FURNITURE 2

    Responding to the issues, Sen. Sam Egwu said a bill has been sponsored to encourage, support and protect local industries in the country. He said the “Made In Nigeria” bill which has reached the last stage of conclusion, will ensure that whatever purchases the government intends to embark on (including furnitures), it will first look inwards.

    According to him, it is only when they can’t find what they want within the country that they are permitted to look outside. Agencies or parastaltals of government that flouts this law will be blacklisted.

    “We are sure that when the law comes to effect, it will support your industry and you might find it difficult to meet the demands from government parastatals,” he said.

    The representatives of the senate committee on industry were given a quick tour of the organization’s facilities and show rooms.

    They could not hold back their excitement and how impressed they were with the production capacity and quality of products made by IO furniture limited.

    The organization which has a staff strength of over a hundred and thirty people was established in 1987, and prides itself as being the Nigerian furniture market leader for locally made furniture.

    Every product is made by Nigerians with the technical expertise of their Italian partners who ensure that products meet global standards in terms of production process and the training of staff.

  • Buhari harps on Unity, promises more projects to South East

    Buhari harps on Unity, promises more projects to South East

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday reiterated his believe in the unity of the country.

    He spoke in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital when he paid a one day working visit to the state.

    Buhari, who is visiting the region for the first time since he became President, said the diversity of the country makes it unique in the committee of nations.

    “My presence here today is a demonstration of my strong believe in the unity of Nigeria. As a most populous country in Africa with over 300 ethnic groups our diversity is almost unique among the nations,” he said.

    He assured the people of the South East of his administration’s commitment to carry out projects that will lead to the fast tracking of development in the region.

    According to him, in keeping with his promise to South East leaders, the 2018 budget which he recently presented to the National Assembly captured many projects in the zone in accordance with his promise to South East leaders.

    “When I met with leaders of the south east last month in Abuja they raised several issues of concern including the state of roads in the region. I want to assure you that we will deliver on our promise. Our 2018 budget include many strategic projects for the region in roads, power, agriculture and social sector,” the President said.

    Earlier, the State Governor, David Umahi said the state is appreciative of the President’s support to the state especially in the area of Agriculture.

    He, however, appealed to the President for refund of funds expended by the state government on some Federal Roads in the state.

    Former Governor of the state, Sam Egwu commended the President for the recent decision to pay former Biafra Police officers pensions.

    “Such an act of accommodation is what translates a mere leader to a great father of the Nation”.

    He pleaded with the president to give the state assistance in the area of agriculture; roads and education to enable the state catch up with other states.

  • NLC rejects Egwu committee’s report on salary structure

    The Organised Labour in Ebonyi State has rejected the recommendations of a special salary committee set up to look into the impasse between labour and the state government on salary structure.

    The Nigerian Labour Congress Chairman in the State, Comrade Ike Nwafor, made the position of labour known after the committee presented its report to the state governor, Dave Umahi.

    He said the workers will utilize all apparatus in its arsenal including strike action to protest any deviation from the present salary structure which was implemented by former governor Martin Elechi.

    Presenting the report to Governor Umahi at the government House in Abakaliki, the Chairman of the committee and member representing Ebonyi North Senatorial zone in the Senate, Dr. Sam Egwu, said the committee met severally and interacted with both the government and labour representatives and received submissions from both parties.

    He said the committee noticed discrepancies in salaries tabled as both government and labour paraded different charts.

    ‘’The committee noticed too, the reality of low Federal Allocation due to the fallen cost of oil in the world market and the state also has poor Internally Generated Revenue.

    ‘’Unfortunately, the present Federal Allocation to local governments is too poor that it cannot pay the salaries of the local government workers now.

    ‘’The committee also observed the economic situation of the society now amidst inflation where naira is depreciating on daily basis,” Egwu stated.

     

  • Ex-Governor Egwu, others pick Ebonyi PDP senatorial tickets

    Ex-Governor Egwu, others pick Ebonyi PDP senatorial tickets

    Ex-Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Ebonyi North.

    He polled 194 votes to beat the former Minister of Power, Chief Goddy Ogbaga, in the primaries conducted by the Chief Joseph Onwe faction of the party.

    Also, the former Chairman, Chief Obinna Ogba, emerged as the candidate of the party for Ebonyi Central.

    In Ebonyi South, the incumbent, Senator Sunny Ogbuoji, emerged victorious.

    Egwu thanked the delegates for voting for him. He assured the people that he would not disappoint them.

    The primaries were conducted peacefully in the three zones.

    Distributing the electoral materials to the returning officers in each of the three centres, the Leader of the team and Chairman of the panel, Prof. Oboh Silvanus, said they were in the state to

    conduct the House of Representatives primaries.

    The materials were distributed in the presence of security operatives, PDP delegates, reporters, returning officers and supporters. There was no violence.

    Prof. Oboh told reporters: “If there was any court injunction stopping the election, we wouldn’t have been here. We came from the national secretariat. We are members of the National Assembly Primaries Panel for the conduct of the election and we are law- abiding citizens.

    “We are comfortable. We appreciate your presence and will be fair to all. We want them to conduct themselves peacefully. I pray God to see us through.”

    Other members of the team are Otunba Wale Ogunrinde, Chief Uche Nsofor and Hajiya Hadiza Adada.

     

     

  • Egwu: Why I want to be senator

    Egwu: Why I want to be senator

    Former Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu has called for what he described as an all-inclusive consultation before selecting candidates for next year’s polls.

    Egwu spoke with reporters in Umebe, Ohaukwu, on his senatorial ambition. The governor is eyeing the Ebonyi North seat in the Upper Chamber. He promised to represent the zone with a sense of duty and responsibility.

    He charged politicians not to allow their personal interest to override the collective aspiration of the people.

    The former Education Minister said there is the need for proper consultation before the selection of any consensus candidate to avoid disaffection and political wrangling among stakeholders, whose views were necessary for the choice of a leader.

    He said the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southeast would not jeopardise President Goodluck Jonathan’s chances of winning the presidential election.

    Egwu called on politicians not to see the general election as a do or die affair, stressing that leadership positions come from God.

    He added: “Consensus means I forgo my personal interest for a collective interest. It is not about announcement, but dialogue, diplomatic persuasion and compromise. This procedure reduces tension within the polity. I am very optimistic that I will win at the polls based on the wishes of the people. The level of support for my candidacy has been satisfactory”.

  • Dansharu emerges Kano PDP chair

    Dansharu emerges Kano PDP chair

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kano State chapter, elected yesterday Alhaji Rabiu Dansharu Kiru as the chairman.

    Ebonyi State former Governor Sam Egwu, who supervised the election, said Dansharu defeated Senator Masuad Doguwa with 1,109 votes against 458 votes.

    The winner thanked members for giving him the mandate to lead the party.

    He pledged to operate an open-door policy to strengthen the party and give members a sense of belonging.

    One of the party stakeholders, who preferred anonymity, said the election was to re-position PDP for the general elections.

    He said the party would win the governorship poll, stressing that the leadership was planning strategies to realise the dream.

     

     

  • Ex-Gov Egwu’s in-law kidnapped

    Ex-Gov Egwu’s in-law kidnapped

    A brother in-law of Dr. Sam Egwu, the immediate past governor of Ebonyi State and former Education minister, was, at the weekend, kidnapped by four gunmen in the state.

    Mr. Kennedy Ogba, elder brother of Dr. Egwu’s wife, Eunice, was snatched from his Nsuruakpa country home in Ohaukwu local government area at about 5pm.

    He had just returned to his compound from a burial in the community when the four gunmen struck.

    Ogba represented Ohaukwu South in the State House of Assembly between 2003-2007.

    He is also a former Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area.

    A family source said the kidnappers were sighted at the entrance gate of the victim’s compound, when he was returning from the burial but never suspected that they were there to kidnap him.

    The kidnappers reportedly followed their victim into his house before seizing him.

    They also overpowered others with him, confiscated their handsets and then zoomed off in their get-away car.

    The source said: “Four of them were strange faces. They were not masked. I had not seen them before in my life. We passed them by when we were coming from burial. They were walking but we never suspected that they were in for such act.

    “When they entered the compound, we were at the gate, when four of them came into the compound. Because our boss is a jovial and simple man, who does not allow anybody to question his visitors, we never cared to ask them what their mission was until they began to exhibit some strange behaviours. We tried to confront them but when they pulled their guns he had to surrender.”

    Chairman of Ohaukwu local government, Mrs. Chinyere Elom, confirmed the incident and said that the police were on the trail of the kidnappers.

    Elom said that the kidnappers have already established contact with the family.

    She said:”I visited the wife this morning. They just allowed the husband to speak to the wife for some seconds and the phone went off. They have not demanded for ransom yet but they warned the family not to trail them with police.”

    Police spokesman, ASP Chris Anyanwu, said he was aware of the incident but said he was waiting for official report from the DPO in-charge of the Division.