PHOTO-TALK
Can Hon. Otirhue’s Board correct the wrongs in Delta State Local Govt. Service Commission?
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he recent appointment of Delta State Local Government Service Commission board headed BY Hon. Joseph Otirhue as the Chairman has brought succor to the entire Local Government staff across the state because the immediate past board messed up the entire system , the Commission was engulfed with massive corruption , nepotism, tribalism and maladministration as the order of the day. Infact the last board of the commission can never be forgotten in a hurry , A Commission that was vested with the exclusive right of appointment, promotion, disciplinary control, removal from office, due process and approval of retirement in respect of all Local Government Officers, but the reverse was the case. From our investigations, appointments and promotions of staff was never done in the right way, it was not based on seniority or merit but rather it was on monetary value (Bribe) .
In line with the above, the Grassroots Publishers had petitioned His Excellency, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa severally in the past concerning the nefarious activities of this past board and the Governor assured us that he will soon appoint men and women of integrity that will correct and sanitize the activities of the entire local government system in Delta State.
At the appointment of Hon. Joseph Otirhue by Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as the Chairman of the new Commission Board, the entire Local government staff( both junior and senior) were so delighted because he is a man of integrity ,a former councilor, Local Government Chairman ,Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government Affairs and a grassroots man, and because they believe that due process and integrity will return to the local government system soonest .
We hereby commend the chairman and his board for taking the first bold step of organizing a 2-day Retreat for senior staff at Sapele in Delta State. A gathering which gave the senior staff the opportunity to express their opinion on the corruption and illegalities that had already engulfed the entire system . We are very convinced that this new board headed by Hon. Joseph Otirhue will redeem the battered image of the Commission by immediate reshuffling and transferring of the Directors and seniors staff of the Commission to the field because retaining or working with them will do more harm than good to this new board.
We also want to commend the board for setting up a Reconciliation Committee, which is headed by a seasoned administrator, proactive lawyer and a man of God. We are surprised that most of the Committee members are the same set of Directors/Staff in the Commission that played a major role in Corrupting the entire system , so parading them in the new Committee is like “Old wine in a new bottle”.
Deltans and Grassroots Publishers are appealing to the new board to carry out their duty with due process and to make sure that every decision taken is backed up by the laws, Acts and Federal Character etc. Infact, let the rules be your watchdog and do not allow the Civil Servants in the committee to deceive your Board, as most of them are very corrupt ,bias and was part of the failed system.
We are praying to God almighty to guide and give this board the wisdom to carry out their duty without fear or favour because the primary aim of appointing this men and women of integrity by our SMART governor is to correct the wrongs and injustice done by the past board.
We are waiting and watching .
By : Ifeoma Maduike & EMEJI NOBLE
Mother sells her baby for N500k, tells her husband that baby is dead
[dropcap]A[/dropcap] housewife identified as Chinasa Ukaonu who allegedly sold her baby for N500k after delivery has been by the Imo state police command and was paraded to the public.
The plan to sell her baby was set in motion after she told her husband Promise Ukaonu, that she was going to stay with her brother for a while at Mbaitoli in the 8-month of her pregnancy.
However after sending over a message of losing the pregnancy shortly after, Chinasa turned up at a baby factory where two nurses, Esomonu Dorothy and Eke Catherine delivered her of the baby.
Suspecting foul play, Promise reported the incident to the police. Upon being arrested, the mother named the two nurses who helped her out during delivery and also revealed she sold her baby for N500k to one Mrs. Chioma Amadi. The State Police Commissioner, Rabiu Ladodo said the paraded suspects will be charged to court after investigation has been concluded. He also confirmed that the baby has been recovered.
By : Emeji Noble
OKPANAM KINGDOM BEGINS 2019 NEW YAM FESTIVAL, WITH IKANZE CEREMONY … UKAH ADVOCATES PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL VALUES
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he people of Okpanam Kingdom, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State on Sunday, 25\08\2018, began activities to mark the 2019 annual new yam festival with the Ikanze ceremony.
As part of the ceremony, the Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah, feted the people of Obodogwugwu Quarters in a well attended event. He called on the people of the kingdom to strive to preserve the cultural values of the kingdom and ensure that the prevailing peace in the community is sustained.
Chief Ukah urged the people to continue to support the programmes of the Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa led administration in the state and assured that the governor is determined to ensure that developmental projects get to all parts of the state.
Earlier at the the palace of the Diokpa-Isi of Okpanam Kingdom, the traditional ruler, HRM Dr. Michael Mbanefo Ogbolu, called on parents to advise their children against belonging to secret cults as the end result is always not palatable.
While stating that the ban on the activities of Ipempe masquerade is still in place, he stressed that any person or group of persons who violates the rules the kingdom will be handed over to the appropriate authorities.
The Diokpa-Isi of the kingdom, Obi Bernard Nwakpoizu Ndih, called on all true sons and daughters of the community to participate in the historic ceremonies and display maturity throughout the duration of the festival.
This year’s festival will be rounded up on Sunday, September 15, 2019 with the Igochi Ndi Mkpalo.
We introduce policy that stops years of illegalities at Seme- Compt. Uba
CAC, Seme Customs Command
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]omptroller Mohammed Uba needs no introduction as far as Nigeria customs Service is concerned. He is a no nonsense Officer and a core disciplinarian. He doesn’t paint words and his yes is yes once it has to do with Customs procedures,processes as well as cargo classification. He is a very committed, proactive and pragmatic fellow in his decision making. Comptroller Mohammed Garba Uba is a team player, who cooperates and works cordially with his management teams. he is also the man behind the smooth operations currently taking place at Seme, the busiest and hottest border station in the whole country.
In this exclusive interview , he spoke on some issues,his achievements and how he is running the Command while commending his boss , the Comptroller General of Customs,CGC, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) on his laudable and vision with achievements for the Service, man whom he said, has taken the Service to its glory land.
Q: let’s look at your antecedents and what you have achieved both when you were at FOU, now that you are at the helm of affairs at Seme border and what it was before you came?
A: You know nobody beats his drum,nobody praises himself.It is other people who see what you have done, they are in a better position to talk about it. When I resumed duties here at Seme in August, 2018, i have to study the environment and know the nature of the place, ask questions from the old timers, looked at the conventions and all that. I held meetings with the traditional rulers, experts, stakeholders and operators, like the freight forwarders and I realized that there was a serious gap missing for over 20 years. That the Customs administrations and administrators have not been able to impose or implement the international laws on cargo traffic. What does the law say concerning that? The law states that goods destined to other country must be handed over to the Customs administration of another country, meaning, from one Customs administration to another Customs administration. And before my arrival at this Command, it was not done. Goods meant for Nigeria were being trans -loaded in the Benin Republic side before coming to Nigeria. This is contrary to the international law on cargo traffic.
So i made sure i stopped that and enforced that law. i also created a law to stop those illegalities and our Beninsours counterparts have no option than to comply. And we have since realized the importance of that. So along that line, i have enforced the, develop our own park on the Nigerian side. The development of that park on Nigeria side brought a lot of opportunities for Nigerians. Before the development of that new park, Nigerians were not allowed to go and work on the other side of Benin Republic’s truck park, only their nationals can work there.Even ordinary battery chargers, food sellers, mechanics, freight forwarders ans so on and so forth, they were not allowed. So, this individual local trading has not been transferred to the people of Nigeria. If you go to the Nigerian side of new park now you will see Nigerians productively engaged in economic activities, satisfying themselves and they are now having sense of belongings. That is what we have we have been able to achieve at Seme at the moment.
Q: In the area of anti- smuggling activites, how do you see your achievement so far?
Ans: Okay, in the area of anti-smuggling like I have told you earlier, the secret of my success in this area is that at the beginning, I visited the traditional rulers and communities within the border stations. I also invited the stakeholders and had meetings with the freight forwarders and clearing agents likewise the villagers and their youths. I asked them of the challenges confronting them and was able to know that some of them may not even understand what we were talking about. Maybe because of the age-long relationship between the two countries, cultural and historical relationship and what they have been doing and not necessarily understanding that some of the trade they engage in are illegal trade. So we brought it to the fore, for them to understand at the stakeholders meeting that smuggling is evil,it destroys the economy, brings unemployment and so many other things. At the same stakeholders meeting, I was able to explain to explain to them that government allows legitimate trade. Even if the trade is informal, what the government needs is the statistics for planning and development purposes. I explained to them too that government in its wisdom, for instance, allows legitimate trade and the exportation of some made-in- Nigeria goods free without payment of any duty. Most of them were not aware before now. We brought that one to the fore and luckily some of them have embraced that aspect of economic. We also brought to their notice that government also gives 30% of the value of the goods exported. Apart from the fact that government does not collect money (duties) it also gives 30% value of that export.
Q: That 30% value of your export, is it given in cash or kind?
Ans: It is not in cash but in form of credit facility that the government gives you, and it is to help you as a trader to get foreign reserves and get economic survival. And also it increases economic productivity and industrialization. also for those who can come together and form excise factory, government also gives them what is called Tax Holiday (TH) for a certain period of one or two years. What that means is that whatever you produce, excise duty is not collected. Excise Duty is a form of tax for locally produced goods. So government will give a period of Tax Holiday, so that you will be able to grow and employ people. This is to ensure that you are productively engaged in economic activities. Because of this initiative some of them have left their illegitimate and age – long trade ( smuggling) Smuggling is a business they have been doing and so much believe is good and well for them. So when they have this type of information , it goes along way to reducing smuggling activities at Seme border.
Q: In one word, how would you describe smuggling or how do you want people to see it?
Ans: In one word, smuggling must be seen as the centre of all devilish activities. In fact, it is like the mother of all crimes. Because of the ill effects associated with smuggling activities. it is responsible for the destruction of our industries, our economy, bringing in unemployment, disease, starving government of its revenue,necessary records and statistics for development purposes. And since government is not a profit making organization, this is what they need. Government needs statistics and records for planning, for security purposes. Whatever is coming in or going out of the country, the government wants to know, so that it will have control of the economy . This is what smuggling is and what it sets out to achieve, destroying the economy.
How do you see border crime and its control?
Ans: Yes the border crime and the trans-border crime and trans-border crime control. The joint efforts by security agencies, constant interactions and relationship among these agencies have helped us to achieve the stated objectives.
Obaseki swears in 35 years old Edebiri as Commissioner
[dropcap]E[/dropcap]do State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has sworn-in 35-years-old Mr.Richard Edebiri, as a commissioner in the state, after confirmation by the Edo State House of Assembly.
He also warned that public and civil servants found to be corrupt will be made to face the wrath of the law.
The governor stated this on Wednesday during the swearing-in ceremony of Mr. Edebiri in Benin City, the Edo state capital.
Obaseki who presided over the weekly state Executive Council meeting in Government House, Benin City, maintained that government appointment is a call to service rather than an opportunity to make money.
He noted that his administration will partner with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to check corruption in the public and civil service.
“This government is going to take the issue of corruption seriously and we are partnering with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).
“We are setting up a special team at both state and local government levels and the team will have the responsibility to ensure that corruption cases involving public servants; either members of EXCO, civil servants or local
government employees will be taken seriously,” Obaseki said. He stressed that “any public servant caught in the act of corruption will be made to face the law. We will not only take disciplinary action but also
prosecute those caught.
“The reports of corruption reaching my office are becoming worrisome. I have instructed the Secretary to the State Government to set up an anti-corruption team within the next week and also open public complaint
boxes and encourage members of the public to feel free to send information about any official with corrupt tendencies or involved in the corrupt act to the government.”
Obaseki further said that the induction and orientation programme for the commissioners will be done next week after the remaining slot in the state cabinet is filled.
Congratulating the new commissioner, the governor said: “I congratulate you for coming into public service at a young age and it will be a mistaketo imagine that you want to come and make money at this age in government, you have a whole life ahead of you. I encourage you to see this as a call to service and commit yourself fully to the service of Edo State.”
In his response, Edebiri thanked the governor for the appointment and assured that he will discharge his duty diligently. Born in 1984, the new commissioner is from Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the state.
MY TASK IS TO MAKE FRIENDS FOR GOVERNOR OKOWA – Aniagwu …*ACCEPTS NIPR’S INVITATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Honourable Commissioner of Information, Delta State, Mr. Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, has said that major in his tasks and functions was to make friends for the State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.
He made this assertion Friday 23rd August, 2019, when members of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Delta State Chapter paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Asaba.
Aniagwu who so much appreciated the visit, pledged to partner the Institute in promoting positive image of the State to the world, adding that the visit was more of a friendly affair.
According to him, “There are so much grounds to cover, even though my predecessor did a lot to reposition the Ministry. I am seriously getting myself acquainted with the routine schedules of office. However, when your request came, I had to shelve every other thing to receive you, knowing the importance of such a body to the administration of Governor Okowa and the relevance it would attach in easing the job of proper information and reputation management.”
“My major task as Commissioner of Information is to make friends for the Governor and manage information for the peace and progress of the state. I need everybody for this task, except that we will not condone those who are not ready to work and drive the process with us but appearing under the pretence of we are all involved.”
“While we will not relent in our drive to reposition the Agencies under the Ministry of Information in line with the image and policy thrust of the state; it will be our pleasure to partner and collaborate with the NIPR to market our Stronger Delta product”, he affirmed.
The renowned resourceful broadcaster who was presented with the NIPR admission form, however, accepted the invitation for membership into the Institute. He narrated how he made efforts to join the Institute immediately after school but was not successful do to other engaging factors; nonetheless, he appreciated the Delta State Chapter for honouring him with such a rare privilege.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the Institute in Delta, Chief Patrick Ukah who was represented by the Secretary, Mr Godfrey Osakwe congratulated Aniagwu for attaining such a height of becoming a Commissioner within the political space of Delta State.
Defining PR and what the Institute stands for in Nigeria, the Chairman also gave a run down of activities of the State Chapter, stating how Chief Ukah resuscitated the Chapter through the backing of the National Body, led by Mr. Oladele Rotimi at the time.
Osakwe affirmed that as at today, NIPR Delta State Chapter remains a reference point as one of the most outstanding Chapters in terms of membership.
He however, averred that in terms of performance, Delta was still lagging behind, but could raise the bar through professional engagements. He noted that as a result of this challenge, the Chapter had initiated to host the November edition of the Institute’s membership induction in line with the Chapter’s AGM during which the Governor would be invested as the Chapter Patron.
Lagos is magnet point for investors, by Tinubu
[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ational Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday gave reasons why Lagos State remains the magnet point for investors within and outside the continent.
He said investors are attracted to Lagos because it is succeeding.
He spoke while answering questions from reporters when he paid a surprise visit to the Eko Hotel &Suite Ikoyi venue of the four-day retreat for Commissioners, Special Advisers and Permanent Secretaries in the state.
The former Lagos governor said: “We have highly talented people running the affairs of the state and that is why we have other past governors and public officeholders coming to the retreat to mentor the new appointees.”
Tinubu charged the cabinet members to see their appointment as opportunity to serve the people of the state.
“I am very proud of what has been put together by this government as a retreat, bringing talented and resourceful individuals from private and public sector to address the cabinet is a very good idea….in terms of leadership and commitment to develop….it is a road map to succeed. And we are very proud of that,” he stressed.
He told the 22 Commissioners and 13 Special Advisers to consider themselves lucky to be selected among other qualified Lagosians’
“My experience can only be shared with you as time progress. You are a team of selected few to serve the people of Nigeria and Lagos.
“This is an important state and the heartbeat of Nigeria, anything that goes wrong here is a cancer to Nigeria. To serve Lagos is a great honour and opportunity for you.
“It shows you have been deemed to be one of the able professionals in your fields with great character,” Tinubu said.
He added: “However, talent can only give you the opportunity and recognition away from your peers but it can’t pave the way for the well being of the society. Talent without character is zero.
“There are so many unrewarded talents across the world. Your appointment gives you huge opportunity unavailable to the rest of the people. Always place in your mind that honour and opportunity comes with great responsibility.
“Residents of Lagos must have confidence in the government that is in place for them, the residents have seen the government as prepared to do a marathon commitment in development for them.
“There are some developments that cannot be seen physically, they are not just the bricks and mortars but there are so many of it. If the smart city emerges, you have more investments, prosperity and revenues.”
The Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola, who paid the surprise visit with Tinubu, advised the new appointees to work more, read a lot rather than resulting to prayers in the discharge of their duties.
” You have to read a lot. You can’t do this business without reading. I welcome you to a life of service to your nation and state. Forget prayers, it’s what you do that matters.
“You have signed up for a difficult job but it’s a noble undertaking to serve your people, you have to prove you deserve to be here.
“Some of you have been in politics, some are technocrats. You came here on a political platform so you all have become politicians,” Fashola said.
The former Governor urged them to develop working relationship with political structure in their wards and state.
“Don’t leave the area from where they picked you, you are the ears and eyes of the governor from where you are picked,” he told them.
Comptroller Oyama visits Sahco export, DHL …Says Customs work is 24 hours
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he new Customs Area Controller (CAC), Murtala Muhammed Area Command (MMAC) of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller L E Oyama, has visited the export unit of Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (Sahco) and DHL operating office at the Command during her first working tour of the area.
Comptroller Oyama who just took over the leadership of MMAC, embarked on the tour of the Command in company of senior officers.
The working tour, which started from government warehouse of the Command covered Sahco shed, Sahco courier and other units under her area of coverage.
While at the warehouse, the CAC instructed the officer in charge of that department to give her a report immediately on items seen, in order to inform the Customs headquarters appropriately.
According Comptroller Oyama, her official assignment began the moment she took over the Command and the tour became necessary to familiarise herself with all the departments under her supervision.
The new CAC pointed out that Customs work is 24 hours and no vacuum should be created for any reason.
