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20,000 Dump Broom for Umbrella in Akwa-Ibom, Including Campaign DG
No fewer than 20,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State have dumped the broom and taken shelter under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ruling party in the state.
Led by the Director General of the APC State Campaign Organization, Chief Sunny Udom, the APC members condemned what they called the precarious condition into which their party has plunged the country, and vowed to work hard to return PDP to the Aso Presdiential Villa in Abuja in 2019.
At a reception in honour of the State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, and wife Martha, organised by youths of the old Abak division comprising five local government areas, Chief Udom said that APC’s house was not in order and as such the party stood no chance in the next elections in the state.
“I brought these people, I came from APC; APC does not have a candidate, I was the Director General of their Campaigns and I know that their house is not in order,” he said at the event, yesterday.
Chief Udom maintained that, they were deceived into APC because of the change mantra of the party and insisted that the change they brought was retrogressive.
“We heard about change but the change turned out to be from frying pan to fire. At least let us come back to the frying pan, the umbrella is a very good symbol,” he said.
He revealed that he and his people were under obligation to support the governor who is married to a daughter of the Old Abak division, maintaining that the Governor has served the state well.
Among those who surrendered their brooms to be received back into the party were former chairman of Abak local government area, Arc. Okon Obot, who spoke on behalf of other decampees; former House of Representatives member, Chief Nkereuwem Dan; other former local government chairmen; and ward coordinators of APC.
Speaking at the occasion, the leader of the youths, Prince Akpan Ikim, spoke of their resolve to deliver their 200,000 votes for the Governor’s re-election, saying that his youth-friendly policies and programmes have met their expectations.
Prince Ikim said the youths had always craved for a leader with passion to build industries and create job opportunities for them, adding that Governor Emmanuel has not disappointed them.
Speaking, Governor Emmanuel appreciated the people of Old Abak Division for the honour and endorsement of his candidature.
He promised to continue his industrial drive in the state, through the provision of critical infrastructure to in the state.
Chairman on the occasion and National Legal Adviser of PDP, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, said that his people in Abak, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Oruk Anam and Ukanafun have all agreed that the Governor was the best for the state and was fulfilling his campaign promises.
Enoidem said for peace and unity to be upheld, then Mr Emmanuel has to complete his second term for Eket Senatorial District. He also announced that his people have also declared their support for the second term of Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Messages of goodwill from Senator Akpabio and Mrs Ekemini Umoh, among others, were also received at the ceremony, which also feature symbolic presentations to the first family.
•Part of the crowd at Friday’s reception for Governor Udom Emmanuel by youths of the old Abak Division
[3:31 PM, 3/24/2018] Media at Award: Committee Submits Report on underage voting
The Committee set up by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the allegations of underage voting during council elections in Kano has submitted its report.
The committee, according to a statement issued by INEC Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, submitted it report to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Friday.
It quoted Mr Ahmed Nahuche, Chairman of the committee as saying that diligent and wide consultations with stakeholders were made by the committee.
The committee was inaugurated by INEC in February 2018, to investigate the allegation of underage voting which was maliciously linked to the Voters’ Register in Kano.
Nahuche said that in carrying out the assignment, the committee consulted with critical stakeholders through visitations and interactive sessions.
“The stakeholders’ interactive sessions included civil society organisations, political parties, print and electronic media organisations as well as security agencies.
“The committee in the course of consultation and interactive sessions received a number of pictures, video clips, reports, documents and presentations from the stakeholders`.
“It immediately embarked on thorough review and analysis of these materials in order to ascertain the actual connection with KASIEC LGA elections.
“The committee also examined the social media reports of pictures and video clips that triggered the outrage and the alleged participation of underage persons in the KASIEC LGA elections as a key area of focus for the investigation.
“The pictures and video clips were thoroughly analysed by the committee,” he added.
Nahuche advised that the State Independent Electoral Commission’s (SIECs) and Political Parties be encouraged to work towards improving electoral logistics to enhance the credibility of their respective processes and procedures.
He urged political parties to observe best practices for the sustenance of democracy.
Receiving the Report, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, commended the Committee for discharging the assignment diligently.
Yakubu reiterated that the Commission was committed to ensuring that the voter register was purged of ineligible persons.
“The credibility of the voter register is very important to the Commission; (and) that the outcome of the investigation, in the interest of transparency would be shared with the general public”. (NAN)
News
Badaru on Operational Tour of 82 Division, other Military Installations in Enugu and Imo States
The Honourable Minister of Defence H.E Mohammed Badaru Abubakar CON mni is currently in Enugu on operational tour of 82 Division of Nigerian Army and other military platforms in Enugu.
He was received on arrival by the General officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army / Commander JTF SE of operation Udoka Major-General H.T Dada and other senior military officers.
The Minister is expected to meet with South East stakeholders on the way forward.
Details later…
Tinubu has granted full oversight responsibilities to Ministers of State over agencies under them amongst whom are Minister of State for Defence Dr. Bello Matawalle, Water Resources and Sanitation, Minister of State for Agriculture and others will henceforth enjoy full oversight responsibilities over such agencies.
President Bola Tinubu at FEC Meeting has approved that ministers of state be given full powers to supervise the agencies under them, the cable reported.
Until now, files pertaining to departments and agencies under their supervision were sent by their permanent secretaries to the senior ministers.
With the new dispensation, ministers of state can now grant all necessary administrative approvals on the governance process of these agencies and departments.
According to a source in the office of the head of service of the federation, “the president was not pleased with the prevailing governing framework in which ministers of states were just ministers in name”.
This, Tinubu reportedly said, led to the “underutilisation of the expertise and capabilities” of most ministers of state.
“The president believes ministers of state should have the right to make decisions and direct action within their areas of responsibility,” the official added.
According to the Cable report, the source said the idea, first mooted by Hadiza Bala Usman, special adviser to the President on policy coordination and head, central delivery coordination unit got an instant buy-in from the President.
With the new directive, the administration hopes “to unleash” the potential of all the ministers, the source added.
…It’s unprecedented to earn above minimum wage in Enugu- Labour
… We’ll commence implementation immediately- ALGON
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has approved N80,000 minimum wage for the state’s work force, including local government workers, effective October 2024, noting a direct link between a motivated workforce and his administration’s vision of growing the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn.
The new minimum wage covers all state employees, primary school teachers, and local government workers.
Organised labour has described the wage as unprecedented, as it was the first time that Enugu workers would be earning above the national minimum wage.
Mbah announced the new minimum wage on Thursday after a meeting with the Enugu State Minimum Wage Implementation Committee headed by the Head of Service, Kenneth Ugwu and labour leaders, including the state’s labour leaders.
Mbah said, “Few weeks ago, I inaugurated a committee with the responsibility to oversee the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage in Enugu State. Today, I’m happy to announce a new minimum wage for workers in Enugu State, reflecting our fidelity to their welfare, in regard of which we have been resolutely committed.
“We have approved the sum of N80,000 as the new minimum wage in Enugu State. This underscores our commitment to bequeathing lasting legacies of improved living conditions.
“Our commitment to improved workers’ welfare runs deep, and is rooted in the firm understanding of the inextricable link between an inspired workforce and the audacious economic targets we had set our sights on.
“We clearly understood that reducing poverty to the barest minimum and achieving an unprecedented economic growth target were contingent on the output of the workforce. Therefore, for us, the best way to acknowledge that labour creates wealth is by ensuring that the workforce, which creates the wealth that oils the wheel of government, is sufficiently motivated.
“We have similarly demonstrated our commitment to workers welfare through the consistent payment of the wage awards, a gesture we had pledged to sustain until a new wage structure took effect.”
Speaking, the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, thanked governor Mbah for always prioritising the welfare of workers, describing the new minimum wage as “a great one for Enugu workers.”
“In the past, when minimum wage is announced, it takes up to one or two years for anything to happen; and when it did, we took anything they gave us as we saw it. But today, you have even given us something much higher than national minimum wage.
“But I am not totally surprised because when other governors were paying N12,000 wage award, you were paying us N25,000. When others paid for some months and stopped, you continued paying it until the new minium wage as you promised. So, we have enjoyed wage award for 11 months and today you announced the minimum wage which is the first of its kind since my 32 years in service,” said.
Speaking to Government House correspondents, the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Ben Asogwa, said, “We are so happy. The governor did not just announce ₦80,000 minium wage, but said that it cascades down to even local government workers. He said that he does not want disparity in salary implementation in Enugu State anymore because we all go to the same market.
“This is the first time in history we are seeing the implementation of minimum wage above the approved amount by the federal government. Actually, when we entered into the negotiation, we were afraid because we know quite well that we are not among the states that share in dividends of oil money. We know quite well that we are at the back when it comes to federal allocation, but His Excellency actually surprised us.
“One thing we have seen is that he understands the impact of motivation on productivity. The governor has set a pace and we know that any other person coming after him will have the challenge to meet up with the target set by His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah.”
On his part, Chairman of the Association of Local Government Workers, ALGON, Enugu State, Hon. Okechukwu Edeh, pledged the commitment of council chairmen to implementing the new minimum wage.
“When you motivate workers, they become more productive. What I am promising on behalf of the Enugu ALGON family is that we are going to cascade the new minimum wage to the local government level. Implementation begins immediately,” he said.
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