News
Enugu Assembly Pledges Speedy Passage of 2018 Budget


… Members Adjudge Budget As Pragmatic and Implementable
The Enugu State House of Assembly will soon pass into law the 2018 Appropriation Bill presented by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to the House on December 28, 2017, said the members.
After a heated debate on the merits and demerits of the budget on Tuesday and Thursday, the lawmakers adjudged the budget a pragmatic and implementable one.
After a second reading, handed it over to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation to scrutinise the budget estimate and, after ministries and departments’ budget defence, to report back to the House for a possible passage into law.
During the budget presentation on the floor of the House on December 28, 2017, Governor Ugwuanyi had pleaded with the legislators to expedite action on the budget debate to ensure quick passage into law so as to make it a legal working document that would enable the executive embark on the developmental projects mapped out for the fiscal year under review.
In line with Ugwuanyi’s plea for speedy passage of the budget tagged “Budget of Sustainable Economic Growth,” members while contributing to the debate applauded the budget as a practicable and realisable budget devoid of bogus estimates that might not be accessed.
Member representing Isi-Uzo Constituency, Dr. Emeka Ogbuabor, said that for the first time the state budget captured the health institutions like the schools of health in Oji and Nsukka which, he said, train health personnel that would sustain the provision of adequate manpower that would ensure better healthcare in the state.
In his contribution, Barr. Obinna Okenwa representing Enugu South Urban, while appraising the workability and realisability of the budget estimates, said that the executive streamlined how the budget would be financed and funded through Federal Allocation, IGR, grants and other sources like the Paris Club and said that when passed into law, the state would fare better.
“It is not proposing huge amount without realising them. It is a precise budget. They want to budget what they can implement,” he said. Barr. Okenwa pointed out that he discovered that ministries and departments achieved their budget estimate for last year and expressed belief that this year’s budget would be realised as well.
Urging his colleagues to support the budget estimate, Mr. Chuka Eneh, UDI South, said that the budget was specific and is likely to be implementable. He expressed optimism that the state would achieve over 90% of the budget estimate.
Eneh said that with such budget which fell short of what was budgeted last year by over N7 billion, the state will not incur debt as in previous years.
Recall that the state budgeted over N105 billion while this year came down to N98.5 billion.
The Speaker of the House, Chief Edward Ubosi had given all the members the opportunity to make their contribution to the debate and asked the House Committee of Finance and Appropriation to further scrutinise the budget and report back to the House on February 8, 2018 for possible passage into law.


Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.
The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added.
The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all.
Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.


The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.
Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.
The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.
While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.
News
Family Marks one-year Memorial of Late APC Chieftain, Ojougboh with Charity Outreach
By Ikenna Oluka


The family of the late chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, led by his wife, Mrs. Bose Ojougboh, marked his one-year memorial anniversary with a series of charitable initiatives aimed at honoring his legacy of philanthropy and service to society.
The memorial activities included the donation of school books and bags to pupils of Erigbe Primary School, in Agbor within the Ika South Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State, where Dr. Ojougboh had received his early education.
The outreach also included extension of financial assistance to patients at Central Hospital, Agbor, and the provision of toiletries, cash, and food items to children at the Salve Regina Children’s Home, Agbor.
The outreach was carried out under the ‘Dr. Cairo Ojougboh Foundation’, a family-led initiative established to immortalise him and continue his lifelong commitment to education, healthcare, and social welfare.
Speaking during the event which took place recently, Mrs. Ojougboh reaffirmed the family’s dedication to sustaining the ideals of the late APC chieftain, describing him as a man who strongly believed in education and giving back to society.
“We are here to celebrate the life of my husband, Late Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, who passed on a year ago. In his honour, we decided to give back to society. He was a man who valued education and was always willing to help others. It is only fitting that we continue his legacy through acts of generosity,” she stated.
Honouring his passion for education
The first visit was to Erigbe Primary School, where Dr. Ojougboh had received his early education. The Foundation distributed school bags, writing materials, and food packs to the pupils. The family encouraged the pupils to take their education seriously and strive to become responsible citizens.
Supporting patients at Central Hospital, Agbor
At Central Hospital, Agbor, Mrs. Ojougboh and her entourage moved through the medical wards, offering financial support to patients to assist with their treatment costs. The hospital staff and beneficiaries responded with prayers and words of gratitude for the kind gesture.
Reaching out to orphaned children
The outreach team also visited Salve Regina Children’s Home in Agbor where they donated cash, food items, and toiletries to the children.


The Matron of the home expressed her deep appreciation to the Ojougboh family, commending their commitment to sustaining the late politician’s legacy of compassion and social impact.
Dr. Cairo Ojougboh’s enduring legacy
Reflecting on her late husband’s contributions to society, Mrs. Ojougboh emphasised that his legacy of generosity and service to humanity would not be forgotten.
“Dr. Cairo was a selfless man who touched many lives. His contributions to the Nigerian political landscape, his mark in Agbor Kingdom, Delta State, and the country at large, will always be remembered. He may be gone, but his impact will continue to be felt for generations,” she said.
The Dr. Cairo Ojougboh Foundation has pledged to continue supporting education, healthcare, and social welfare initiatives in his memory, ensuring that his vision for a better society lives on.
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