News
Refuse Disposal: Between Governor Ugwuanyi and the Critics
No matter how we view Democracy- slow, cumbersome, or imperfect, it is still the best system to emancipate the people from tyranny and oppression. Democracy offers each of us, no matter how feeble, or eccentric, liberty to voice h/her opinion. This even extends to choice of candidate during electioneering, however clueless or inhuman the candidate seems, or is painted to be.
This summarises reasons the people of Enugu stand-by their Governor, His Excellency Rt. Honourable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; not because he is the perfect, not because he is excellent, and definitely not because all the challenges faced by the State and millions of citizens have all been solved. The people maintain the status quo simply because they believe in improvement through democracy, not autocracy; and that is where ‘Gburugburu’ resonates hope.
Where am I driving at? When the issue of reckless dumping of refuse in the State metropolis and subsequent overflow of litters on the streets, it becomes obvious to inform our people that the Government isn’t bereft of ideas on managing the situation.
Recently, voices of detractors seem to suggest that the present administration in the State is incapacitated or under-performing. One area they found pleasure is accusing the Governor of negligence of the environmental sanitation.
They keep vomiting venoms of frustration; casting aspersions on the Governor and his cabinet, accusing the Enugu State Environmental Management Agency (ESWAMA) of incompetence. Well, the truth is: let’s not doubt the Governor in a stint of fugacity nor play into the hands of political carnivores perching around to milk the scare recourses.
The environmental sanitation managers, at a point, failed to live up to His Excellency’s expectations. As a Government with people-oriented agenda, His Excellency quickly set up an Environmental Emancipation Committee, which in its findings reveal that; insufficient waste disposal facilities are the challenges encountered by ESWAMA in managing waste in the Coal City; also hog feeding, open dumping, incineration, resources recovering, composition and phrolysis are the waste disposal systems of ESWAMA; environmental protection and preservation are the prospects from waste management.
One thing about Governor Ugwuanyi: he tries to see the best in people; well, that could be a flaw; and by now, he would have learnt to ignore flaws, since the citizens see them so easily. So, he has taken bold actions to nib the issues in the bud.
He is not taking lightly the recommendation that ESWAMA management need to make every effort to safeguard the environment and reduce the hazardous effect which unhealthy environment can cause to individuals and society at large.
He is not just focusing on ridding the streets of refuse; he takes issues at abattoirs very seriously; as health sanitary inspectors have been given matching order to supervise and sensitization the people.
As a ‘grassrooter’, Gburugburu has also mandated ESWAMA to enhance the public enlightenment programmes meant to reach the grass root in order to secure and preserve the environment.
In his recent meeting with the environmental supervisors, His Excellency said, unequivocally, “Enugu Must Always Be Clean!” There is nothing to add. A little while we shall begin to see ESWAMA and their contractors refuse collection at night; this will prevent air pollution during the day.
Gburugburu isn’t perfect, but please lead me to the man who is! When I Governor Ugwuanyi, I see a man with the Citizen’s best interest at heart. We should not forget, transitorily, that things get worse before they get better.
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.
45th Int’l Trade Fair in Kano: Badaru Urges Support for Nigerian Military for Peace, Security
FG Pledges Enhanced Security for Southeast Region
Speakers to Discuss How to Restore Nigerians’ Confidence in the Judiciary
LASG Acquires New Outboard Engines For Optimum Boat Performance
Elon Musk builds Hotel in Mars, Sets to launch soon at $5million per night – Photos
