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Bayelsa Cuts LG Wage Bills by N344m

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The reduction of the wage bill of the eight local government areas from N1.389 billion to N945 million in December 2017 has freed more funds for the councils, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Local Government Administration, Dr. Agatha Goma, has stated.

The money would assist in rural and infrastructural development projects with direct impact on the people at the grassroots.

She stated this on Friday during the Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing on the 6thAnniversary of the Governor Henry Seriake Dickson’s administration.

The Commissioner said there has been a progressive reduction of the over bloated wage bill of the councils due to the sustained efforts of government to sanitise the public sector.

She said: “As at December 2015, the wage bill of the eight LGAs was one billion three hundred and eighty-nine million. This was later reduced to one billion three hundred fifteen million in April twenty-sixteen and later in July last year, the wage bill was reduced to one billion one hundred eighty-nine million and in  December, it was one point one billion and currently stands at nine hundred and forty-five million.

“Prior to the inception of this administration in 2012, the Inspectorate Unit of the ministry had been docile and not functional and to correct this abnormality, the state governor ordered a series of staff verification and audit exercises.

“Most of the LGA’s could not meet their monthly financial obligations and were frequently bailed out with augmentation from the state government and funding of infrastructure and projects at that level became a rarity.”

Goma said when Governor Dickson assumed office in 2012, the two craft centres in the state were in bad shape as they could not meet their objectives but have now been refurbished and are now come centres of excellence.

“The massive work at the centres was done by the state government in conjunction with SEEFOR. They can now properly address issues of unemployment and provide middle-level skilled manpower to support industry and government institutions.

The Commissioner stated that the craft centres, located at Sagbama, Nembe, Polaku, Ayakoro and Adagbabiri had just 300 students at inception of the government but have recorded increase of over 300%, with about 1,000 students enrolling for courses such as tailoring, plumbing, hair dressing, welding, air condition repair among other, services being offered by non-Bayelsans.

Also, the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Kurokeigha Dorgu, while giving a scorecard of his ministry, said it has successfully carried out its mandate of managing and administering land in the state and has also been involved in settling land and boundary disputes.

He listed some land acquired by government to include; the GRA in the New Yenagoa City, Airport project, 250 hectares in Ebedebiri for Cassava farm, 5 hectares for fruit market in Kpansia, 100 hectares for residential building at Agbura, Ayama and 75 hectares for cattle ranch at Okoroma among others.

While lauding the state government for establishing the Bayelsa State Geographical Information System, which facilitates the issuance of certificate of occupancy, profiling of vacant lands and houses in Yenagoa, Mr. Dorgu said a demolition squad has been set up to demolish houses built on the government’s land, urging those with befitting houses to urgently visit his ministry to regularise their document.

“The government has set up a demolition squad and we will demolish houses that have encroached on government land, starting from the Ox Bow Lake area of Yenagoa but the governor in his magnanimity has directed that those whose houses meet the standard would have to pay compensation to government.”

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IPOB Declares May 30th As Sit-at-home Day Across The Southern East States To Honour Biafran Fallen Heroes

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The Indigenous People of Biafra has declared May 30, 2024, as a sit-at-home day across the South-East to celebrate Biafran soldiers.

The pro-Biafran group said that day is set aside annually to celebrate the men and women who died in the Biafran war between 1967 and 1970 and beyond and even until now.

This was made known in a press statement by the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, on Thursday, adding that every Biafran in the South-East is expected to sit at home and reflect on the war.

He cautioned South-East residents to avoid loitering about on this day, adding that those who intend to travel to and fro Biafra land must do so before the evening of May 29.

The IPOB statement also directed that all the residents of “Biafra Land” are to stay indoors from 6 am to 6 pm on May 30, 2024.

He also called on christians and traditionalists to pray to Chukwu okike abiama for the fallen heroes, And also for the independence of Biafra from Nigeria.

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Anambra State Government Arrests Man For Marrying Off His Underage Daughter

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The Anambra State Government has arrested one Uzochukwu Okoli, for marrying off his underaged daughter.

Okoli was apprehended after his daughter reported to the State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare about the alleged ill-treatment being meted out to her by her father and the man he forced her to marry.

The daughter, Chioma Okoli, who is currently 16 years old, said after the death of her mother, her father took her and her sister out of Edo state and brought them to Anambra.

She alleged that she was first forced to live with a 70-plus-year-old man at the age of 14 but after some time, she ran back to her father’s house before he finally gave her out to a 34-year-old Chinedu Nweke as husband.

Chioma who was in the company of her sister, explained that life with Chinedu has been a living hell because he allegedly beats her and sometimes pees in her mouth.

She said this act made her run away with their 9-month-old baby. Her father, Uzochukwu Okoli, on the other hand, claimed her daughter is 18 years old and, at some point, said she is 20 years old.

After he was handcuffed, Mr Okoli threatened to deal with the daughters if he made it out of prison. He also urged Chioma and her sister to pray he dies in prison because he would make life more miserable for them.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Hon Ify Obinabo, has instructed that the case be charged to court so that the girl can get justice.

Both Mr Okoli and Chinedu Nweke were arrested and will be arraigned in court.

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Nigerians Seek Woman Who Spoke Out Eloquently Against Fuel Scarcity In Viral 1994 TV Clip

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April 30th 1994, 30 Years Ago, And Till Today Nothing Has Really Changed.

Netizens have gone in search of a beautiful and well-spoken woman who spoke out against fuel scarcity 30 Years Ago.

A user on X.com, Jackie, who identifies as #JWEZEE had shared the video yesterday with the caption, “On this day April 30 1994, same day same time, only difference 30years ago.

“Nigerians in long fuel queues lamenting, 30years later they are still lamenting. And In another 30years will still lament, why? Because patterns don’t lie.”

In the video, which has since gone viral, Nigerians were seen queuing to purchase fuel and lamenting their predicament as citizens waiting in long queues with their gallons to buy fuel.

The woman passionately addressed the unfairness of soldiers skipping queues to resell fuel, highlighting a longstanding problem.

She said in part, “You have the soldiers that come, they buy petrol, they put it in jerry cans they sell it right in front of these people, it’s ridiculous.

“They get the fuel themselves, why do they have to come here, they don’t join the queue, they just buy and they sell right in front of people, it’s ridiculous. Something has to happen.”

The 30-year-old video which recently surfaced coincides with the current fuel price hike across the country.

Here is the viral video from 30 years back.

Currently, the country is facing fuel scarcity and price hike, with fuel being sold at N900 per litre in some states. This has affected the price of goods in the nation.

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