“It’s A Lie, We Did Not Expel Nigeria’s Ambassador” – Niger Republic Junta

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August 26, 2023

By Adesina Soyooye

The Military Junta in Niger Republic has denied the viral news that it has expelled Nigeria’s Ambassador, to the Country, Mohamed Usman.

On Friday, the news broke that Niger Republic’s Foreign Affairs Ministry had, in a release, ordered the expulsion of Usman alongside the Ambassadors of France, Germany, and USA. They were given 48 hours to leave the country.

In the case of Nigeria, the statement said: “In reaction to Nigerian Ambassador Mohamed Usman’s refusal to reply to an invitation by the ministry for a discussion on Friday August 25 at 11.30 a.m., and due to other actions of the Nigerian government contrary to Niger’s interests, the ministry is giving 48 hours to Mr. Mohamed Usman’s to leave the Nigerien territory.”

But on Saturday, the Country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, in a statement, dismissed the first memo as fake. It said it only expelled the French Ambassador.

The statement reads:

“Contrary to the information deliberately distilled on social networks which report a decision by the Nigerien authorities ordering the Ambassadors of Germany, Nigeria and the United States of America to leave Nigerien territory within 48 hours, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Nigeriens Abroad specifies that the said information is false and that only the Ambassador of France in Niger is declared persona non grata.

“Also, the Ministry reminds those who are agitated and still doubt the expression of its sovereign will, that Niger does not need an authorization or an interpretation of the Vienna Convention of 1961, to exercise its prerogatives and have Ambassador Sylvain ITTE leave, after this 48-hour period ubur D Done in Niamey on August 25.”

Reports indicate the Junta was embarrassed by the news of the expulsions as it was unaware of it.

Usman, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Niamey had, earlier, denied the story of his expulsion.

BEMORE Girls Are Problem Solvers

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The Source

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August 26, 2023

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By Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu

It feels great to welcome you all to the valedictory ceremony for #BemoreOndo2023.

The last two weeks have been truly eventful. These freshly-minted Bemore champions are the beautiful products of our rigour in the last two weeks. They have been carefully moulded in line with Bemore Standard and I can tell you for free that this is another BREED WITHOUT GREED.

Having given them the best in the various spheres, it is time to formally release them to take on the world.

While all Bemore girls are very dear to me, let me note that the 2023 set occupies a peculiar place in my heart for personal reasons, and as such, I look forward to seeing them achieve special wins.

It may interest you all to know that, since the founding of Bemore Summer Boot Camp, six years ago, this is the only edition, in the series, that I was not physically part of its making. And, perhaps, this explains why I consider the set as unique in a way.

Let me say, however, to my new Bemore Techy Girls, that, you may have missed grandma’s physical warmth on your arrival in the camp; you may have missed bonding with me on the Yoga mat or missed having to watch and cheer you on the day you played friendly football match with the Sunshine Queens. And you won!

Bemore is increasingly becoming a breeding ground for future female footballers. Ondo State Sports Council should take note. You may even be missing me on this day, your graduation day, to share the dance stage with you for the valedictory dance; but be assured that I am greatly celebrating you right here in Germany, thanks to digital technology. Nevertheless, you will all dance with grandma again.

Reiterating the good job Bemore was set out to do, we have built another batch of builders. Our primary business has been about giving a head start. Bemore thrives on building capacities as well as building lives. We have since built sturdy bridges across ethnic, religious and economic boundaries by turning lives around and yearly enlarging our empire of female champions.

Over the years, we have built incredible talents in solar technology, ICT and nurtured a culture of entrepreneurial adventure. And as we build, we give them out as bricks for building a virile, fair and gender balanced society. Having built over three thousand vibrant young women who are making waves on different fronts around the world, it is only ideal to build for these geniuses a place they all can call a home; a befitting edifice where the generations of Bemore girls would freely meet, interact and make things happen.

We are, therefore, calling on all well meaning citizens, government, corporate bodies, donor agencies to join us in building a home, our own Jerusalem, for these problem solvers; to join us in securing a lustrous legacy that will outlive us all and last for generations.

It will interest you to note that land has been acquired at Emure-Ile, along Owo road, and the designs are ready. Please, check out the designs, well displayed on the bill boards for you to appreciate and make commitments.

I, therefore call on you, my friends, associates and political enthusiasts, to join hands with me in erecting enduring halls, hostels etc that would stand as a memorabilia in your honour when we have all gone; to donate structures in your names that would remind the world into the far future of what roles you played in the struggle for the emancipation of the girl child in this nation and the continent even when we are no longer here.

This is the clarion call we all need to heed to help the girl children to soar above primordial limitations, to restore abundant pride to the female folk; to give girls renewed sense of self and a worthier future, and to build a gender-fair country that we all can be proud of.

As I crave your sincere support and commitment towards the success of this illustrious project, individually, as government and corporate bodies, I would like to mention that we have a goal to hold the next Bemore boot camp at the permanent site, and we believe that this is achievable with your kind support.

As I thank all persons and bodies who have variously contributed to the success of the 2023 Bemore Summer Boot Camp, may I appreciate in a special way, Mabest Academy, our host for Bemore Summer Bootcamp for two consecutive editions that facilitated a hitch free stay on their premises. As we plan to build a permanent site for Bemore, the role Mabest Academy played in the success of Bemore Summer Bootcamp will remain unforgettable and evergreen.

May I add, that the last two weeks have been a show of love by our technical partners – Ashdam solar and Matrix Technologies, matrons, assistant matrons and facilitators for the development of the Nigerian girl-child.

Though the training was designed to be intensive and can sometimes be stressful like waking up at 5am for jogging and exercise, we also made learning to be fun and the outcome has been positive and remarkable.

I am yet to receive any expression of regret from Bemore girls, parents or sponors for participating in Bemore Summer Bootcamp since its inception in 2017! So na carry go be dat!

Lastly, I join the Bemore family to remind my brand new Bemore Techy Girls of the need to keep your heads high up; of the beauty of being women on your own terms; of the primacy of deploying the skills acquired to live above board and help humanity and of the special joy in giving back to your community like the Bemore Sister’s Network is doing. Go ye to the world and conquer! Grandma loves you all.

Text of an address by Ondo State’s First Lady & Founder of BEMORE Empowered Girls’ Foundation, Her Excellency, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, at the Closing Ceremony of BEMORE Ondo 2023, which held at Mabest Academy, Oke-Ijebu, Akure, Ondo State

How General Onyeuko Died Complaining Of Cold

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The Source

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August 26, 2023

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By Gideon Njoku

Death struck Saturday morning, August 26, 2023, and unexpectedly, took away with it, Major General Bernard Onyeuko.

Onyeuko who was promoted to the rank of a Major General in December, 2022, hardly enjoyed his rank before he was retired recently. His retirement, along with others, followed the appointment of new Service Chiefs by President Bola Tinubu. Course-wise, they were his junior.

He did not, also, enjoy his retirement before his sudden death.

Reports say he was hail and hearty, with no signs of ill-health, but that he suddenly complained of “cold”. He was rushed to a private hospital in Abuja where he died.

General Onyeuko had held a couple of high profile offices in the Military including, Director Defence Media Operations, and Director, Procurement, Defence Headquarters – his last office before his retirement.

Ekiti: Commissioner, Workers Issue Counter Order To Newly Recruited Teachers

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Ayodele Oni

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August 26, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

Newly recruited secondary school teachers in Ekiti state are entangled in ongoing administrative supremacy between the commissioner for education and career civil servants in the Ministry.

The State Teaching Service Commission had on Friday released lists containing names of those that scaled through the interview processes for appointment as teachers.

A statement by the Commission read “Following the recruitment exercise recently carried out by the Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission for the appointment of qualified

teachers into the State Public Secondary Schools, the Commission hereby releases the under-listed names of successful applicants.

“Accordingly, all successful applicants are enjoined to complete their documentation at the Teaching Service Commission between

Monday, 28th and Thursday, 31st August, 2023.

“They are to come along with original copies of their credentials and receipts of payment for the sum of Five Thousand Naira

(N5,000.00)each for employment and document forms payable to: Account No:0537177025,

Account Name: Teaching Service Commission

Overhead Account Bank Name: FCMB.’

Sources at the commission disclosed that this has been the practice for newly employed teachers to pay N5,000, regarded as administrative charges for processing of their credentials.

Recalled that the state Civil Service Commission had earlier forced some job applicants to pay N3,000 to the state Treasury for inexistent job vacancies.The applicants are yet to be refunded their money.

The latest information for newly recruited teachers did not however go down well with the commissioner for education, Mrs Kofoworola Aderiye who views the order as exploitative of the new recruits.

Aderiye is coming to the ministry for second time as commissioner, after serving as Special Adviser in same ministry and could not have claimed ignorance of previous payment of ‘administrative charge’s by recruits.

A counter order by the commissioner states “Further to the notification for the release of lists of successful applicants into teaching profession in Ekiti State Public Secondary Schools, the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Dr ( Mrs) Kofoworola Aderiye mni has directed that successful applicants are not required to pay for the employment and documentation forms as contained in the earlier notification.

“However, they are to appear for documentation processes at the Teaching Service Commission from Wednesday 30th August, 2023 to Tuesday 5th September, 2023 at 9.00am prompt. This information supercedes the earlier notification in this regard.”

The Commissioner’s counter order was signed by the permanent secretary, Mike Omolayo.

Some Staff of the Ministry are surprised by the Commissioner’s counter order since she has been part of the system.

It was gathered that some of the successful candidates had already paid the money into the stipulated account before the Commissioner’s order.

Poor Pay: Tinubu Promises To Increase Judges’ Salaries

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James Orji

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August 26, 2023

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President Bola Tinubu says his administration will ensure that judicial officers in the country are well-remunerated in its effort for swift dispensation of justice and to combat corruption.

The president made this known when the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, led by its President, Yakubu Maikyau paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday in Aso Rock, Presidential Villa, Abuja

Nigerian judges are not well paid, according to those familiar with their earnings even though their job loads are very high.

Apart from their poor pay, the environment in which they work is not complimentary, considering how important their work is to the smooth dispensation of justice in the country.

For instance, a Supreme Court Justice is believed to be earning less than N800,000 per month, while other judges in the lower courts earn less, according to those close to the nation’s court system.

The salaries of Ministers, Senators, and House of Representatives members are way higher than this.

Not a few Nigerians have therefore demanded upward reviews of judicial officers’ remuneration in line with the importance of their duty to the country.

President Tinubu. According to a statement issued on Friday by his Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity has now promised to increase salaries and allowance of judges as part of his government’s reform of the nation’s judiciary, saying this is necessary “to fight corruption in the judiciary.”

“We must deal with the review of remuneration if we truly want to fight corruption in the Judiciary. We will look at the cost as well as the consequences,” President Tinubu told the NBA President during the meeting.

Doubts As FG Restates Plan To Pull P/Harcourt Refinery Back To Work

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James Orji

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August 26, 2023

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The Port Harcourt refinery will be ready by December 2023 as had been earlier scheduled, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, has said.

The minister spoke after inspecting the refinery facilities to ascertain the level of work done.

The federal government started the repairs of the refinery in 2021 with $1.5 billion allocated for the project, which had earlier been scheduled to start working by December 2022.

The scheduled time for production in the 210,000 barrel per day capacity refineries has been shifted twice, raising doubts about the government’s seriousness in making the refinery functional

Recently, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration made a renewed commitment to pull the refineries back to work, as part of the agreement with organized Labour to shelve their nationwide strike over the removal of fuel subsidy and its consequential increase in the pump price of petrol.

The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC had demanded the repairs of all the refineries in the country to ease the frequent increase in the price of fuel in the country.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to ensure that the refineries become functional, the minister said repairs are currently ongoing to beat the deadline.

He explained that other refineries in Warri and Kaduna, including Dangote Refineries will start work by the end of 2024, adding that the aim of the government is to ensure better supply of petroleum products in the country.

According to him, “Our objective is to ensure that in the next few years, Nigeria will stop fuel importation. The idea is to ensure that we complete these refineries on time to enable the people enjoy the benefits of deregulation.

“These things take time to do, but Nigerians should expect better supply of fuel and better economy. We believe that this projects will be completed as scheduled to renew the hopes of Nigerians.”

Meanwhile, Nigerians are curious why the Dangote Refinery has not started production, three months after it was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, the owner of the multi-billion dollar petrochemical refinery promised that production would commence by July this year.

NIMASA Deep Blue Assets Deployed To Patrol Maritime Domain

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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August 26, 2023

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The Nigerian Navy says assets acquired by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, otherwise known as the Deep Blue project have been deployed across the South West, Central and Eastern Zonal operations to enhance patrol of the Nigerian maritime domain.

The Acting Fleet Commander, Western Naval Command and Commander Deep Blue Project, Commodore Victor Choji made the declaration, during a working visit by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mohammed Abdullahi to the Management of NIMASA. He added that the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla is fully committed to the success of the Deep Blue Project.

According to him, “The assets have already been well deployed. As we speak 5 armored vehicles are deployed in Port Harcourt and 3 in Bonny”.

Speaking further, he said the project team deployed 10 more vehicles there, in addition to a drone unit in Bonny and some personnel. He also hinted that during the last general elections in the country, the mere presence of deep blue assets in those locations provided the needed inference that was required.

Choji also said that in the Central Zone Command, the Navy has deployed 3 units of special mission elements in brass and two of the interceptor boats with the special intervention force elements in central command. “In Lagos, just last week, we got a directive that there is a requirement and we are about to deploy 2 interceptor boats to support the operations that are ongoing in Lagos Inland waters. I can state categorically that we have the full backing of the Nigerian Navy for the success of the Deep Blue Project”.

On his part, the Director General of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, noted that the assets acquired by the Agency under the Deep Blue Project are all managed by a project team headed by a Commodore of the Nigerian Navy. He restated the Agency’s commitment to a robust relationship with the Nigerian Navy towards the economic development of the country.

“I believe that the Agency and the Nigerian Navy have a lot in common to ensure safety and security in the nation’s waters. While the Nigerian Navy takes care of the kinetic operations, NIMASA concentrates on non-kinetic operations, and the two will have to go hand in hand if we must succeed. If you look at the armed forces act, the Nigerian Navy has a role to play in ensuring the implementation and enforcement of the NIMASA and Customs & Excise act”, he said.

Jamoh expressed the desire of NIMASA to earn full value for funds invested and still investing in the operations of the Deep Blue Project. He also noted that the Agency is in constant liaison with the National Assembly to ensure an update of the nation’s maritime laws with particular reference to the Merchant Shipping Act to guarantee adequate punitive measures are in the law to deter criminalities on Nigerian waters.

While commending the Nigerian Navy for their efforts in tracking erring vessels which switched off their Automatic Identification System, AIS, in Nigerian waters, Jamoh called for improved synergy amongst all organs of Government in the maritime sector. Particularly, the Nigerian Navy and the marine arm of the Nigerian Police to quickly tackle head on; pockets of recent criminalities in the Lagos anchorage and inland waters.

Text of A Press Conference By The Leadership of The Labour Party, Addressed By The National Secretary, Umar Farouk On Friday August 25, 2023

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The Source

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August 25, 2023

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This conference is called purposely to clear the air on yet another attempt by some of our former members who rebelled against the party and who have gone ahead to shamelessly misinform members of the public on the huge progress being made to reposition Labour Party as one of the biggest political parties in Nigeria.

As you already know, the party surprised many Nigerians with the huge success it achieved during the last general election. The party became a house hold name, all to the envy of the older political parties. You also know how the ruling party, forced itself into power at the expense of the Labour Party and the entire Nigerians. We are still in the tribunal challenging both the process and outcome of the presidential election.

In order to ensure a subjugation of the Labour Party, the ruling party has deployed all manner of strategies to stifle the party, part of which was to sponsor insurrection amongst some suspended former members of the party, Lamidi Apapa and a few others. Their assignment was to ensure that no progress is achieved in the party.

The heavily funded dissidents have tried to mislead the courts and some section of the media to harass the party leadership but all have failed. Only recently, the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City affirmed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of Labour Party (LP).

Only yesterday, the Court of Appeal Owerri, which sat in Abuja, while giving judgement in the case brought before it by one Basil Maduka, one of the two aspirants that were deceived by the Apapa camp to participate in their illegal primaries also ordered that the status quo remains with Senator Athan Achonu as the validly nominated candidate of Labour Party for 2023 Imo governorship election. It noted that Basil Maduka has no locus to seek redress in the court as he is not known by the Labour Party.

For emphasis, you may recall that Apapa group had hoodwinked and arranged governorship primaries for two members of the Labour Party, namely Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu and Sir Maduka, after which Ukaegbu won the contest. Maduka was piqued by the outcome of the fake primaries and had gone ahead to challenge the emergence of Ukaegbu. He sued both Ukaegbu and the “Labour Party”.

Neither the authentic Labour Party led by Barrister Julius Abure nor its candidate Senator Athan Achonu was put on notice and were not aware of the situation. The case was decided on behalf of Ukaegbu against Maduka. The matter has nothing to do with the leadership of the party or the candidacy of Senator Achonu, a product of a properly conducted primaries by Abure led NWC.

Apparently Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu mischievously misinterpreted the judgment of the said Federal High Court delivered on the 23th day of June, 2023 by His Lordship, Hon Justice BO Quadirin Suit No FHC/OW/CS/28/2023, wherein it categorically held that from the totality of all the considered argument and authorities “the plaintiff Sir Basil Maduka does not fall within the definition of an aspirant as it never participated in the process leading to the primary election nor took part in the primary election of the 1st Defendant LP.”

With this judgement, the pro-Apapa choice, Chief Ukaegbu had gone to town declaring himself as the Labour Party candidate for the Imo governorship election. For emphasis, the court never pronounced him as the candidate of the Labour Party. No court has given judgement de-recognsing Barrister Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party up till today.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party appealed the Bayelsa court ruling on the ground that it lacks the jurisdiction to entertain a suit filed by the Apapa camp without putting the leadership of the party which is known to law into notice. Senator Achonu who was also not a party to the suit filed by Sir Maduka but on hearing about the matter before the Federal High Court, sought to be joined as an interested party. However, the Court of Appeal re-emphasized the implication of lack of jurisdiction in a Motion for leave to appeal as an interested party and held that the Motion was filed out of time hence it lacked jurisdiction.

To our greatest surprise Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu and his cohorts flooded the social media with yet another propaganda and falsehood that Court of Appeal has declared him the candidate of Labour Party, in a matter he was neither the Plaintiff nor Appellant. He also falsely and mischievously interpreted the judgement that Abure was no longer the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

Yesterday’s judgement laid to rest all those mischief as it reaffirm the earlier judgment that Chief Basil Maduka is just a meddlesome interlopper. The Appeal Court in Edo has since ruled that Abure is the authentic chairman of the Labour Party and everything done under his leadership, including nominating candidates for elections, is legal. It thus means that whoever that is not satisfied with the ruling of the Appeal Court is permitted under the law to approach the Supreme Court to seek a review of the Appeal Court judgement.

We took time to explain this trajectory because these men are out to ensure that Labour Party suffers immeasurably and they will stop at nothing from achieving the mandate of their sponsors.

In conclusion, we state categorically that Senator Achonu remains the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in Imo state as no court has stated otherwise. That the Independent National Electoral Commission has since published his name as the party’s candidate.

That Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph is not the candidate of the Labour Party and that no court either Federal High Court or Court of Appeal ever declared him LP candidate. As well no court in Nigeria has accorded Apapa the status of the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

Senator Achonu has received very wide endorsement by Imolites who are tired of the high level of insecurity and maladministration in the state. Our national leader Peter Obi, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, the Labour Party National Chairman Julius Abure and other stakeholders and party members have also filed behind him. We await victory at the November 11 polls and no gang up by some desperate politicians can stop an idea whose time has come.

Sign

Malam Umar Farouk
National Secretary
Labour Party
25-08-2023

Imo Civil Servants To Uzodinma: We Insist On Re-electing You”; “I Appreciate Your Fidelity, Says Governor”

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The Source

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August 25, 2023

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Enthusiastic Civil Servants in Imo State have resolved to reelect Governor Hope Uzodimma in November 11, insisting that under his regime, they have never had it so good in terms of attention given to their welfare by the government.

The resolve to re-elect Governor Uzodimma was communicated to him on Friday when he paid a working visit to the Imo State Secretariat on Port Harcourt road Owerri.

A grateful Governor Uzodimma had, however, reminded the civil servants, after commissioning the newly renovated walk ways to the 10 blocks of offices at the Secretariat, that he will not take their fidelity to him for granted as his friends.

After a careful review of the welfare situation of the Imo State civil servants in the years leading to Governor Uzodimma’s assumption of office in 2020 and now, the Head of Service, Barr. Raymond Ucheoma described the Governor as God sent.

“You are a messiah personified,” he said, adding that the Imo civil servants will forever remain grateful to the Governor for the numerous things they have enjoyed under his tenure such as mass promotion of workers, 13th month salary payment, free transportation, free medical treatment, regular payment of salary, conducive work environment, training and retraining of workers, among others.

Ucheoma delightfully noted: “Our joy is rooted on the fact that Your Excellency has a Midas hand, in which whatever it touches changes for good. We are therefore indeed very grateful that our dear indefatigable workaholic Governor found time out of his busy schedule to visit the factory and milling machine of government policies in the State.

“Your Excellency, as workers in the Imo State Public Service, we have every reason to be thankful to you. During your maiden visit to the Secretariat in January, 2020, Your Excellency promised to make the office conducive for work. You kept this promise by re-roofing the 10 blocks of Offices. You also replaced toilet facilities and repainted the buildings. You rehabilitated the water scheme, repaired the four giant generator sets and caused the restoration of Public Power supply to the Secretariat.

“Furthermore, Your Excellency completed the abandoned walk way thereby connecting all the buildings in the State Secretariat.

“It is on record that Your Excellency, the Governor not only gave brand new vehicles to Permanent Secretaries but also provided free bus service for the workers of Imo State.

“Your Excellency, you streamlined the payment of workers’ salaries and all workers now receive salaries on the same date irrespective of work place. Your Excellency also approved waivers for employment of workers in some critical areas especially, in the Justice and Health sectors.

“Recruitment of Primary School Teachers has commenced in earnest courtesy of Your Excellency’s magnanimity. By Your Excellency’s benevolent approval, the backlog of workers promotion have been cleared with some benefitting from three promotions while most of them had two promotions.There is no gainsaying the fact that Imo workers have never had it so good.

“Under Your Excellency the Governor, the Imo State Public Service has undergone series of reorientation and training cutting across all the strata of the service as graciously sponsored by you. These trainings have impacted positively on the service delivery of individual staff and the system.

“We are grateful for the N30, 000 minimum wage already being paid to Imo State workers, the National Health Insurance Scheme which Your Excellency introduced for the workers, the increased minimum wage of N40, 000 and one meal per day which Your Excellency recently announced for workers in Imo State to cushion the biting effect of the removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria.

“You have indeed consistently maintained a worker friendly posture by the superlative relationship that exists between the Organized Labour and Government of Imo State. What more can a man do before he is crowned Lion Killer? You have done so much for Imo workers and we know that you will do more.

“In appreciation of these gestures and more importantly, I wish to also inform our dear Governor that the poor attitude to work which Your Excellency roundly condemns has changed. Imo workers now come to work early, stay till close of work and deliver assignments on target, at times, through personal initiative and resources. They now respond swiftly to the demands of their offices. This is another way of appreciating Your Excellency’s love and investment in the Service.

“In addition Sir, I wish to assure Your Excellency that the workers of Imo State will continue to support your administration and all your aspirations. There is no need to change a winning team and the reward for hard work is more work.

“Once again we thank Your Excellency for coming our way today. We are optimistic that as you have seen, you will also conquer whatever challenges you have seen for yourself today particularly, in addressing the present congestion of workers in offices. Perhaps I may need to point out that construction of the proposed seven floor office of the Head of Service right opposite this arena can ameliorate the problem. We believe you have come with packages as usual which when unveiled will gladden the hearts of Imo workers and spur them to do more.”

The civil servants who intermittently interjected during Barr. Ucheoma’s speech with solidarity songs for the Governor collectively resolved to return the Governor to office come November 11, 2023 so that they will continue to enjoy the benefits of his people-oriented welfare policies and programmes.

It was not only Barr Ucheoma who spoke the minds of the civil servants.

The Chairman Civil Service Commission, Lady (Dr.) Julie Onyeukwu, the Chairman Local Government Service Commission, Mrs. Rosemary Izuogu, the Chairman House of Assembly Service Commission, Barr. Lambert Orisakwe and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transport, Mr. Ogunsanya Abimbola, all acknowledged the Governor’s magnanimity to the civil servants, expressing their appreciation and preparedness to reelect him come November 11, 2023.

Governor Uzodimma who acknowledged the fidelity of the Civil Servants to his administration, said it was their support that encouraged him to fulfill all he promised them in 2020 when he assumed office, and the desire to do more.

He refreshed their memory on the things he promised to do such as to reinvigorate and restore the dignity of Civil Service, to restore the years Civil Servants lost to the locust by way of regular payment of salary and benefits, to give the Civil Servants a comfortable environment to carry out their works, and more, all of which he has delivered.

Governor Uzodimma reminded them that he had even gone ahead to do things he did not promise such as payment of 13th month salary. “I want to tell you that I will still do more.”

He told them of his plans to increase the number of buses to the civil servants next week and noted that he “cares for civil servants and always want the best for them.”

“I feel fulfilled when Civil Servants ride on their executive vehicles to office. The civil service is the engine of the Government hence the need to elevate the working environment of the civil servants.”

The Governor observed that the regular payments of salaries and pensions have enhanced the economy of the State and promised that arrangement is in advanced stage to pay the gratuity of retired Imo workers.

He told the civil servants that Imo State has been recovered, meaning that it cannot revert to the old ways of doing things, “rather Imo should be good for all her citizens.”

Governor Uzodimma charged the Civil Servants to resist the temptation of being used by agents of the Satan to destabilize the government and the State all in the name of politics.

He warned them to be wary of temptations that will come their way as the Governorship elections draw nearer and advised them to, no matter the threats, resist such temptations.

He promised that no civil servants will be victimised for exercising their rightful franchise and appealed, “please stay away from evil dowers. Imo State today is a new Imo and we will stop at nothing from recovering the State.”

He said: “the New Imo can be exemplified in Imo having more Universities where our children can gain admissions without much struggles. The new Imo has empowered Imo youths and will continue to empower them through the Skill-Up project.The new Imo is dredging Oguta to Orashi to the Atlantic Ocean, a project that will bring and generate a lot of economic activities and at the end create over one million jobs for the people of Imo State and beyond.”

He asked the civil servants to be mindful of pretenders who want to tell them how they will make Imo better without any proper plan.

The Governor insisted that the insecurity in Imo State is politically motivated. “It is the politicians.”

However, he assured that there will be enough security in Imo State for the November 11 election.

He advised the Civil Servants to shine their eyes and never lose sight of the government’s several welfare schemes for them, assuring that he will not leave the civil service behind.

Governor Uzodimma promised to erect a Civil Service Hall where big meetings of civil servants and the Governor can take place and charged the civil servants to continue to do the good works they are doing for the State.

On the current issues at hand which is subsidy removal and its consequences, he noted that he was aware of how prices of goods and services have risen astronomically, making lives unbearable, and informed the Civil Servants that Government will soon come to their rescue by giving them some palliatives by way of food items.

He said he had constituted a committee made up of the Head of Service and others to work out modalities for the distribution of the palliatives.

Earlier on arrival at the secretariat, the Governor commissioned walk way, visited some blocks housing the Civil Service/Local Government Service Commission/Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Ministry of Works and that of Transport and Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Statistics as well the Office of the Head of Service.

The Deputy Governor Prof Placid Njoku, the Secretary to Imo State Government, Chief Cosmos Iwu, the Chief of Staff Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie, Commissioners, Special Adviser and other top government officials attended the event.

73 Police Officers Decorated With ACP Ranks, As Ondo CP Bows Out Of Service

By

Ayodele Oni

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August 25, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

Seventy three Assistant Commissioners of Police, (ACP) in the Ondo State Police Command were decorated with their new ranks on Friday in Akure, just as the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State, Taiwo Jesubiyi, retired from the Police Force after 33 years of service.

The Inspector General of Police (IG), Kayode Egbetokun, who was represented, tasked 224 newly promoted officers of the Command to ensure justification for their new ranks.

Egbetokun, who was represented by Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Ebong Ebong, Zone 17 comprising Ondo and Ekiti States, advised the new officers to do their best to justify their new positions.

He said 73 of the new officers were confirmed while the rest remained unconfirmed.

“To whom much is given, much is expected. Now that you are up there, you must take responsibilities seriously. Be professional in your duties, be civil but be fair. From today, be in charge in your duties.

“As from today, that playfulness as an inspector, remove it. Show that you are a senior Police officer. Maintain your dignity and pride.

“Take note, we are in ICT era of internet. So you must always be polite and civil to people you are dealing with. Take note that the IG doesn’t tolerate corruption.

“Do your best to ensure you don’t dent the image of the police with corruption. We will reward hardworking and efficient, than but will not spare the rod to punish erring officers.

“The excesses of the police are being checked so do your best and respect human right. Know the law and perform your duties

Earlier, CP Ondo State Taiwo Jesubiyi thanked God for the lives of the decorated officers.

He said promotion was from God and they had to work hard to justify their new ranks as it carried so much responsibility.

“From today, know what to say, where you go and what to do. You will be a mirror to junior ones. Psychologically and socially, you have to change even morally.

“I beg you as an ASP, remember your family and carry them along due to the economic situation in Nigeria.”

Responding, one of the new officers, ASP Tobi Arowojolu, thanked the IG for approval and confirmation of their ranks.

He pledge the unalloyed support for the Police Force and promised to do their best in the discharge of their duties.

Gabriel Ariyo, Police Community Relation Committee (PCRC) Chairman, Ondo State, who bid the CP farewell and described him as a highly reliable and responsible friend, prayed for God to be with him.

DCP Chidi Uzota, on behalf of Police Officers’ Wives Association, glorified God for the life of the CP and described him as a steadfast man, who had the love of God foremost in his heart.

Mr Olayato Aribo, Commissioner for Agriculture said the CP’s stay was brief, but he recorded some renovations at the officers mess during his time.

He thanked God for the life of Jesubiyi and prayed for God to be with the CP always.