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Tag: secretariat

  • Alia begins renovation of 40-year old secretariat

    Alia begins renovation of 40-year old secretariat

    Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has commenced the total renovation and refurbishing of the 40 Years old State Secretariat in the state, housing civil servants, and top Government functionaries.

    This is part of his genuine efforts to bring about optimum productivity of the career civil and public servants housed by the gigantic facility.

    When completed, the secretariat which was built by the first civilian governor, the late Aper Aku, in 1982, will be part of efforts by the governor, to provide a befitting working environment for the workers in the state and give them a smooth take off of the current administration’s Spirit of commitment to duty.

    The renovation of the facility will also serve as a beacon of hope for the restoration of maintenance culture in the state which was abandoned by previous administrations.

    The Commissioner for Works and Housing, Mr. Tiza Imojime, who took journalists round the Secretariat, during an on the spot check of the renovation, yesterday, said the entire work is expected to be completed within six months.

    He said the governor is poised to equip the Secretariat with new office chairs, tables, and other furniture that would befit a 21st century working environment for the workers.

    The project, he said, would be one of the legacies of Governor Alia’s administration, aimed at prioritizing the welfare of civil servants in the state.

    Read Also: APC pegs Edo guber nomination fee at N50m, holds primary Feb. 17

    He explained that the last time the Secretariat was renovated was in 2008, noting that more projects would be launched within the year for the benefit of Benue people.

    He thanked the media for the good work they are doing by projecting the policies and programmes of the Governor in a positive light just as he urged them to maintain the tempo.

    The State Head of Service, Dr. Moses Agbogbo, who received the Commissioner and the team of contractors handling the project, said the renovation and furnishing of the State Secretariat is part of efforts of the Governor to revive the state civil service which was under intensive care, noting that the action, is a fulfilment of the Governor’s campaign promises to the people.

    He enjoined the civil servants to shun vices that are capable of hindering the growth and development of Benue.

    “I commend the Governor for the passion he has on the welfare of civil servants and pensioners to boast their productivity”, he said.

    The Project Manager of Shake and Bright Nigeria Limited, Mr Bem Iortim, handling the project, said with the cooperation of the State Government for timely release of funds, they are determined to deliver quality work within the specified time.

    The Commissioner for Finance, and Economic Planning, Mr Michael Eglegba, who also joined in the inspection, said the first phase of the project costs over N1 billion, and was the first of its kind since the Secretariat was built, adding that, it has been hooked to 330KVA power supply, while water supply in the Secretariat, has also been restored in the offices, describing it as a remarkable achievement by the governor.

  • Drama as APC exco clears fetish objects from secretariat

    There was drama at the Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, as the Olajide Awe-led exco resumed office, two days after scores of party members invaded the place and shut it down.

    To facilitate their return, supporters of the Awe-led exco had removed a big pot of fetish objects and palm fronds placed at the gate prior to their arrival. The fetish objects were thrown to the road. They also smeared the ground with salt to ‘cleanse’ the place and neutralize the effect of the charms that had just been removed.

    Addressing a news conference shortly after regaining office, Awe said the rain that fell on the day the fetish objects were placed at the secretariat had “turned the evil on those who put it there”.

    Motorists and motorcyclists avoided the objects placed in the centre of the road.

    Following last weekend’s botched governorship primary, some party members had stormed the secretariat and declared the Awe-led exco. They also ‘installed’ a caretaker committee led by the APC Chairman in Ise/Orun Local Government, Mr. Kayode Egunjobi, to run the affairs of the party for three months.

    They accused Awe of collecting a bribe of N75 million from Governor Ayo Fayose, to bungle the May 5 primary. They also accused the party leadership of favouring a particular aspirant and embezzling party funds.

    Awe said the action of those who invaded the secretariat and ‘sacked’ the duly-elected exco constituted a breach of party constitution and gross indiscipline. He said he and his exco went to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja to brief the leaders at the centre on the crisis, adding that a Disciplinary Committee has been set up to investigate those directly and remotely linked with the ‘coup’.

    He said his exco also met with the Chairman of the Ekiti Governorship Primary Electoral Committee, Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on the modalities for the conduct of a fresh primary.

    In a related development, some leaders of the Ekiti APC have kicked against the use of direct primary for the conduct of the rescheduled primary slated for Friday.

    In a letter addressed to Al-Makura, dated May 9, a copy of which was made available to our reporter on Wednesday, they said the use of direct primary was against the principle of fairness and justice to change the rules in the middle of the game.

    The letter was also copied the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the National Working Committee (NWC).

     

  • Kaduna APC faction opens secretariat

    Kaduna APC faction opens secretariat

    Fresh crisis is rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State.

    Some party leaders, including Senator Usman Othman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North), have opened a factional office.

    The faction suspended three party chieftains and issued a query to Governor Nasir El-Rufai for “anti-party activities”.

    The factional Chairman, Danladi Wada, who claimed to be the authentic acting chairman, said they relocated the secretariat to 11b, Sambo Road, following constant harassment of members.

    He said: “The decision to relocate the secretariat, as approved by majority of the State Executive Committee, is to create a harmonious working condition, considering how some politicians have permanently deployed thugs who “invaded the former address, harassing and intimidating innocent officers.

    “Also, we decided to take disciplinary measures on some of our members after investigations, in accordance with the party constitution, and they were found deserving of some punitive measures.

    “In this regard, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Politics and Intergovernmental Affairs, Uba Sani, has been suspended for 18 months. The acting state secretary is also suspended for 18 months and Commissioner of Finance Audu Kwaru is suspended for 18 months, all for anti-party activities.

    “Governor El-Rufai has been queried and we are expecting his response within 48 hours. We queried the governor for his anti-party and anti-human activities. The letters would be delivered to these personalities today.”

    But El-Rufai, in a statement by his media aide, Samuel Aruwan, described Hunkuyi and his group as “drowning political traders seeking lifeline through the national reconciliation committee”.

    The statement reads: “These actions by these traders, in the hope of getting a lifeline from reconciliation moves, will not be rewarded.

    “No one will heed the attention-seeking gambits of desperate politicians who have steadily been demystified. The government has lived up to its manifesto commitments and principles to the people.

    “In this work, it continues to enjoy the firm support of the APC State Executive which is united and committed to the hard work of bringing sustainable change.

    “The government is aware of Senator Hunkuyi’s pompous claims that he will change the leadership of Kaduna State in 2019, by installing himself as governor. The desperate Senator is seeking a lifeline, in the vain belief that racketing up rascal actions will bring him attention and relief from the mooted national reconciliation efforts.

    “Senator Hunkuyi has also created an illegal faction, headquartered in his house, as a bargaining chip. This senator has failed to understand that you cannot create party executives at your whim. It is the party’s prerogative to consider appropriate responses to this breach of discipline.

    “But as a government, we view these actions as the needless drama of political traders.

    “It is clear he can’t be cured of his obsession to be governor of Kaduna State at all cost, whether through betrayal of trust, treachery, or deceit. But he should know by now that Kaduna State is not for sale. Ordinary people, including those in Hunkuyi’s Kudan local government area, now know that governance can work for them. The era of political traders is over.”

  • Tinubu in APC Secretariat for consultations

    Tinubu in APC Secretariat for consultations

    Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has today visited the National Secretariat of the party to consult with members of the National Working Committee on how to go about the assignment given to him by President Muhammadu Buhari to reconcile aggrieved members of the party across the country.

    Tinubu arrived the APC secretariat at exactly 2.00pm in a black land cruiser jeep and went straight to the office of the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun before they proceeded to the NWC conference room for their meeting.

    Read Also: Audio: Tinubu reconciliation committee fantastic, says Sen. Leader

    The APC leader who was visiting the secretariat for the first time since 2015 told his host that the party came into power with enormous goodwill which they must strive to restore.

    The meeting was still ongoing as at the time of this report.

  • ARIAN gets new secretariat, plans housing estate

    In a bid to meet the general needs of its members, the Association of Registered Insurance Agents of Nigeria (ARIAN) has secured a befitting secretariat located at 187 Ikorodu Road, Palmgrove, Lagos.

    Its President, Olamerun Gbadebo, at a press breifing to unveil the office, noted that the training room within the office will be used to train stakeholders and equip members with trends in insurance practice.

    He maintained that the association in order to build capacity, has embarked on a campaign encouraging agents to acquire insurance professional certificates, adding that training would be organised for unit and agency managers in the secretariat’s training room.

    He said the association will soon organise training for would be retirees on the differences between annuity and programmed withdrawal.

    He further disclosed that the association will, on the 28th of this month, hold insurance walk in Abuja; Lagos; Ibadan and Owerri, adding that the walk is aimed at sensitising the public on the need to have fire and burglary insurances, and use them to secure their properties against losses.

    The walk, according to Gbadebo, is organised in partnership with the Federal Fire Service (FFC); Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).

  • APGA forum condemns Agbaso over secretariat

    APGA forum condemns Agbaso over secretariat

    The national co-ordinator of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Media Warriors Forum, Evang Chinedu Obigwe, has condemned the take-over of the APGA National secretariat by Chief Martin Agbaso and his supporters.

    Obigwe, in a statement, said: “On Thursday Martin Agbaso in company of policemen broke into APGA national secretariat but when the police realised that Martin Agbaso and his cohorts misled them with false information ,the police hierarchy withdrew policemen from the APGA secretariat and Hon Labaran Maku ,APGA National Secretary, arrived the national party secretariat to access the level of damage done on the secretariat and to take stock of documents.

    “The invasion of APGA secretariat by Martin Agbaso and his cohorts is tantamount to contempt of court.  They should be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to those with penchant for disobeying court orders with impunity. A court of competent jurisdiction in Nnewi , Awka and Ibadan gave separate orders restraining Martin Agbaso and his cohorts from parading themselves as national leaders of APGA and that their continuous parade as APGA national leaders contemptuous of valid court order, smacks of impunity and mischief that is not healthy for our democracy. Using Martin Agbaso to throw spanners on the foreseen victory wheel of Governor Obiano’s merited second term in office bid is bound to fail because it is already a divinely sealed deal that cannot be truncated by hatchet job executors and propaganda merchants. I call on lovers of democracy to call Martin Agbaso to order for the growth of our country democratic system of governance.”

  • Protest as IYC faction takes over secretariat in Bayelsa 

    A faction of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide led by Mr. Oweilaemi Pereotubo, yesterday, took over the National Secretariat of the council in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    Some officials of the state government led by a former Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodolor, led the Pereotubo council of IYC to the secretariat and handed the building over to them.

    But the faction led by Mr. Eric Omare, protested the development saying it smacked of illegality and urged Ijaw youths to disregard the handover.

    Succession crisis has crippled the IYC as the two factions fight over the leadership of the council.

    A committee set up by Governor Seriake Dickson to resolve the crisis chose the Pereotubo-led faction but Omare and his executive committee rejected the decision describing it as premeditated and unconstitutional.

    In a statement shortly after the secretariat was handed over to the Pereotubo faction, Omare described the “purported handover a display of mockery of the IYC constitution and processes”.

    He said: “For the records, the immediate past President of the IYC, Udengs Eradiri had handed over the leadership of the IYC to Eric Omare since March, 2017.

    “And it is customary in the IYC just like similar organisations for the immediate past President and leader to hand over to his successor.   Therefore, what is happening at Ijaw House is nothing but display of impunity and invitation to anarchy.

    “It is important to note that the Felix Tuodolor who is supervising the purported hand over and some former leaders of the IYC are already in court with the Eric Omare-led National Executive Council of the IYC in a suit challenging the legality of the purported Okrika convention called by former leaders of the IYC which produced the factional IYC leadership.

    “Consequently, we call on the Ijaw nation and the general public to disregard the factional leadership which Dr. Tuodolor purportedly handed over to while reiterating our call on Ijaw youths to be peaceful no matter the level of provocation”.

  • Fire razes Edo NYSC secretariat

    Fire razes Edo NYSC secretariat

    The store section and offices at the Edo State secretariat of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were razed by fire at the weekend.

    Items including 5,000 mattresses, wheel barrows, documents and others were destroyed.

    It was learnt the  fire was caused by a refuse dump set on fire at a nearby building.

    Eyewitnesses said intervention by men of the Edo State Fire Service and Air Force officers prevented the inferno from spreading to the finance and account units.

    NYSC Coordinator Mr. Yusuf Abdulahi could not be reached for comments, but sources said he would assess the level of damage.

    An official, who preferred anonymity, said: “The fire started about 3p.m. on Saturday. A woman was burning refuse at a nearby building. The fire was near the fence.

    “The workers know about the fire; they have been coming to see the affected areas since yesterday (Saturday) . The inferno also affected a canteen.”

    NYSC spokesman Benjamin Esan confirmed the incident.  He said he would give details today.

    Esan said: “Yes, I heard about it. It happened at the weekend, but I was not there. I learnt the fire service officials were there.

    “We’ve just returned from camp. So, I cannot really say much until Monday.”

  • Secretariat shut as SUG impeaches president, treasurer

    Secretariat shut as SUG impeaches president, treasurer

    The Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State has suspended Students Union activities following last Monday’s impeachment of the president and treasurer. The management said it took the action to prevent a breakdown of law and order. SOLOMON ODENIYI (Mass Communication) reports.

    The Students Union secretariat of the Adekunle Ajasin Univeristy, Akungba- Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State has been shut following the impeachment of the president, Adegbola Oduyemi, and the treasurer, Oluwaseun Olanrewaju, for alleged financial impropriety.

    Adegbola is the first SUG president to be impeached in the union’s history. Folusho Ayeni has been sworn in as the acting president, making history as the first woman to lead the union.

    At an emergency sitting to consider the report of a panel set up to investigate allegations of funds misappropriation against the executive arm, members of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) resolved that Adegbola and Oluwaseun should go.

    The SRC instituted the Kayode Fagoroye-led panel last November to investigate Adegbola, Oluwaseun and the Financial Secretary, Segun Bello, for alleged irregularities in the disbursement of union funds.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the panel indicted the president and the treasurer, but cleared Bello.

    The panel found that Adegbola wrote a letter to the management without the SRC’s consent to demand 150 per cent increment in the union’s due. He was also alleged to have deceived the management that the students  agreed to use Capital Insurance Nigeria Limited to provide life cover for them.

    The panel indicated Oluwaseun for changing the union’s account mandate from three to two signatories. She was also accused of impersonation, embezzlement and truancy.

    Senate President Olakunle Balogun and the Clerk, Christopher Arowolo, advised Adegbola and Oluwaseun to hand over the union’s properties in their custody to the acting president. The SRC said it would send the panel’s report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    In her reaction, Oluwaseun said members of the SRC conspired against her, vowing not to step down.

    She said: “I remain the union’s treasurer. There was no formal sitting of the SRC. Members of the House only had a meeting where some of them informally discussed issues. This is nothing, but a conspiracy against me. Since I assume office, I have never joined issues with anyone and I don’t know why anyone would be keen on dragging my name in the mud.

    “I have served the union with transparency and honesty. All my disbursements are well-documented and they were done for the progress of the union. To show that their report was baseless and built on falsehood, myself and the president were indicted, while the third signatory to the union’s account was exonerated. When the issue of the disbursement of funds for the repair of the union’s vehicles that led to the probe was discussed, the financial secretary was aware.”

    Oluwaseun urged the students to disregard the impeachment and the panel report “so as not to begin to have negative thoughts about people working tirelessly for their welfare”.

    Adegbola said he was not aware of any impeachment, insisting that there was no formal sitting of the SRC.

    He said: “The SRC leadership is deceiving itself. Only members of the house can suspend or impeach me and not the Senate President’s WhatsApp’s verdict. There can be no sitting without members of the Ethics and Privilege Committee meeting first. I am not aware of any impeachment. And nobody set up any committee to try me. The treasurer and the financial secretary were tried by a committee. I was never invited by anybody whatsoever to any committee. Some of the SRC members have called me to dissociate themselves from the kangaroo impeachment.”

    To prevent a breakdown of law and order, management shut the union’s secretariat and suspended its activities.

    The Deputy Registrar, Olaoluwa Akinfemiwa, in a memo signed on behalf of the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr Bolanle Ogungbamila, said management would not watch the crisis degenerate into a break down of law and order.

    The memo reads: “Following the outcome of the investigation panel and arbitration, the Dean hereby directs that the students union secretariat be shut and the use of the two union buses be put on hold. The keys must be handed over to the school’s Acting Security Officer. The officials of the executive, SRC and the judicial council should cease to parade themselves as officials of the union.”

    Kayode said the panel’s report followed “thorough investigation”, adding that he refused to be intimidated the induced by the impeached members.

    He said: “Our report is available for anyone who wants to check. The report is a product of a thorough investigation. It was based on truth and we were fair to the parties involved. A lot of things were done to kill this report. I was offered bribe to conceal the truth in the report, which I rejected. They also sent some assailants after me.”

    Kayode accused Adegbola of conniving with some SRC members to boycott sittings.

    According to Section 26(1) of the union’s Constitution, the SRC shall form a quorum when one-third of members are in attendance. But, Adegbola alleged that SRC did not form a quorum when it sat on the report. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that some members threatened not to attend sittings beacuse of what they called the “predetermined agenda” of the SRC leadership.

    Kayode denied that the investigation’s outcome was predetermined. “Our report was ready one week after the panel was constituted. There were efforts to delay the presentation of the report by the executive. Out of the three persons accused, two were found guilty and one was vindicated. Majority of the transactions carried out since the inception of the administration were done by the president and the treasurer. The sum of N534,470 was illegally withdrawn from the union account.”

     

  • Alausa secretariat mosque gets BoT

    Lagos State Secretariat Mosque has inaugurated a 10-man Board of Trustees (BoT) as its highest advisory organ.

    Chairman of the Executive committee Mr. Saheed Animashahun inaugurated the BoT at the mosque’a Multi-Purpose hall in Alausa, Ikeja.

    The BoT members are Lagos State Audit Service Commission Chairman, Alhaji Waliu Onibon, former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Alhaja Wonuola Folami; former Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN); Justice Ibrahim Olorunimbe and former Permanent Secretary, Alhaja Simbiat Agbalajobi.

    Others include former Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Mohammed Olagbaye; former Commissioner for Education, Alhaja Sekinat Yusuf; Dr. Abdullahi Awelenje; former Acting  Chairman, Board of Internal Revenue, Alhaji Labaika Salako and former Director in the Ministry of Works, Alhaji AbdulRahman Bello.

    The mosque’s Resident Imam AbdulHakeem AbdulGafar said the responsibilities Allah reposed on leadership were enormous.

    Any person aspiring to become a leader, he said, must be prepared to exhibit justice and fairness in his dealings, adding that all leaders will render accounts of their stewardship before Allah on the Day of Judgment.

    AbdulGafar urged the members to see their selection as additional call to service.

    Responding, Pedro said the board would not fail in its duties.

    He said members would deploy their vast experience and exposure in carrying out their duties.