The embattled Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Simon Achuba has been impeached.
He was impeached by the House of Assembly shortly after it received report of a judicial panel of enquiry set up by the Kogi State Chief Judge Justice Nasir Ajanah.
House Leader, Hassan Bello Abdulahi, representing Ajaokuta state constituency, said Achuba was impeached following consideration of the report of the John Bayeshea-led committee.
Abdulahi explained said the report was accepted with lawmakers unanimously agreeing to impeach Achuba and “he therefore stands impeached.”
Speaker Mathew Kolawole on Friday received the report following which the House went into a closed-door session to discuss its contents.
The committee, which was inaugurated on August 26, probed allegations of gross misconduct leveled against the Deputy Governor.
Federal, States and Local Governments in Nigeria have shared a total of N693.529 billion from the Federation Account Allocation for the month of September.
A communique by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) chaired by the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) Ahmed Idris, confirmed that from the total revenue of N693.529 billion, the Federal Government received N293.801 billion, the States received N186.816 billion and the Local Government Council received N140.864 billion.
The oil- producing States received N51.532 billion as 13% derivation revenue and the Revenue Generating Agencies received N20.517 billion as cost of revenue collection.
The gross statutory revenue for the month of September 2019 was N599.701billion. It was less than the N631.796billion received in the previous month by N32.095 billion.
For the month of September, gross revenue of N92.874 billion was available from the Value Added Tax as against N88.082 billion distributed in the preceding month, resulting in an increase of N4.792 billion. Exchange Gain yielded total revenue of N0.954 billion.
A break of the distribution showed that from the gross statutory revenue of N599.701 billion, the Federal Government received N279.985 billion, the States received N142.012 billion, the Local Government Councils received N109.485 billion, the Oil Producing States received N51.417 billion as 13% derivation revenue and the Revenue Collecting Agencies received N16.802 billion as cost of collection.
The N92.874 billion gotten from Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue was shared accordingly in which the Federal Government received N13.374billion, the States received N44.580 billion, and Local Government Councils received N31.206 billion and the Revenue Generating Agencies received N3.715 billion.
The communique also stated that in September 2019, revenue from Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) and Company Income Tax (CIT) decreased while Royalties, Import and Excise Duties and Value Added Tax increased considerably.
For us in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, the November 16, 2019 governorship election election is already won. Won by us and lost on the other side.”
These were the words of the outgoing governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Henry Dickson when he fielded questions from news men today, October 17 at the presidential Villa, Abuja.
“In Bayelsa state, PDP is the largest, biggest and the most formidable political platform. When you have such large platform and you have about twenty something people aspiring, you will expect that at the end of the day, when one person inevitably wins, this issue of conflict will be there.
“Compared to the other side which didn’t have the luxury of having a credible primary. A candidate was brought out from the pocket of the leader of the party; a candidate that is not sellable; a candidate that we all know can’t govern.”
Governor Dickson described politics as being all about management of dissent and management of interests that are conflicting.
He said that it is also management of egos “because, you are dealing with human beings, and we are managing all of these.
“My specialty is reconciliation and I’m leading the reconciliation efforts and we are also getting stakeholders at different levels, at the state levels to do that.”
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has presented a National Priority Budget proposal of N28, 422,804,431 for the year 2020 to the Senate Committee on the FCT.
Presenting the budget proposal to the committee today, October 17, the Minister said that completion of on-going projects remains a priority for the FCT Administration.
“in view of the poor performance of the Federal Capital territory portion of the 2019 National Priority Budget, the federal Capital Territory Administration has therefore decided to re-prioritize and rollover only essential on-going projects without making provisions for new ones.”
Mallam Muhammad Bello said that a total of 13 projects, comprising 12 ongoing projects and one new project will be the focus of the budget, explaining that the new entrant was the rehabilitation of Federal Government buildings at the cost of five billion Naira.
Fielding questions from the lawmakers, the Minister who described the 2020 budget proposal as a budget of stability, stressed that the focus on ongoing road projects within the Federal Capital City and satellite towns was deliberate and a measure to forestall any traffic gridlock in the nearest future.
“If we don’t build all the link roads and interchanges now to accommodate traffic spills, it will come back to haunt us in the next two years or so because the city is ever expanding.”
He commended members of the Committee for their passion for the FCT as evident in their comments and contributions toward the growth and development of the FCT.
Malam Muhammad Bello explained that the ongoing projects highlighted in the budget proposal were awarded some years ago to address the infrastructural demands of the FCT but over the years the FCT Administration had accumulated huge liabilities in order to roll out the projects.
In their remarks, members of the Senate Committee on the FCT reiterated that there was an urgent need for funding for the FCT to be increased substantially.
It was the consensus amongst the Senators that the sum of 28 billion Naira National Priority budget of the FCT was the equivalent of 78 million Dollars which, it was admitted, was inadequate considering the critical infrastructural needs of the FCT.
According to Senator Phillip Aduda, Senator representing the FCT, while there was an urgent need for the funds released to the FCT to be substantially increased, the FCT Administration is also obliged to shore up its internally generated revenue.
Senator Rochas Okorocha on his part advised the FCTA to look inwards and exploit several possible options including land-for-infrastructure programmes to raise the required capital to bridge infrastructural deficit.
Senator Tanko Almakura described the budget as very focused and commended the FCT Administration for identifying areas of priorities. He however sought for greater collaboration with states neighboring the FCT.
The FCTA team at the budget presentation also included the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, the Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Bashir Mai Borno, the Director Treasury, Alhaji Ishiaku Ismail, Director Engineering Services, Engr. Shehu Ahmed and other top management staff.
President Buhari receives in audience South East Governors and Selected Leaders from the Zone in State House on 17th Oct 2019 | State house
A delegation of governors and leaders of the Southeast have pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state-of-emergecy on federal roads across the nooks and corners of the region.
Speaking today, October 17, on behalf of the governors and leaders who visited the president at the presidential Villa, Abuja, Governor David Umahi described the condition of inter-state Federal roads in the region as deplorable.
“Please, kindly declare a State-of-Emergency on those roads and issue appropriate directives.”
The leaders, who decried the challenging security situation in the region, also appealed to President Buhari to approve special funding for the rehabilitation of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu.
The Southeast leaders however, expressed gratitude to the President over some infrastructural development in the region and that people in the region are delighted with the speed and quality of work at the second Niger Bridge.
They also commended the President for other ongoing Federal projects in the region, including Enyimba Industrial City, Aba.
President Buhari responded by instantly approving the release of the sum of N10 billion Special Intervention Fund for immediate repairs and upgrade of the Akanu Ibiam International airport, Enugu.
The President said that he is aware of the central nature of the airport, which was closed for repairs since August 24, to the socio-economic development of the Southeast.
He acknowledged said the infrastructure deficits all over the country, occasioned by lack of judicious use of available resources in the past and declared that his administration is working on remedying the situation.
“We’re trying our best to make sure that infrastructure rehabilitation is carried out very quickly.
“I personally firmly believe that if we get infrastructure correct, the roads , rail, power, most Nigerians will mind their businesses, they would not even care who is in government. But when you deny them infrastructure, it will be difficult for them to compete and move across the country and regions.”
He appealed to the governors to explain this position to their people.
“Please, have the courage to continue explain to your constituencies whenever they feel that there is laxity in government effort to rehabilitate infrastructure.
“We are doing our best within the resources available to the government. The Federal Government is working to fix infrastructure deficit in the country. The challenges are there. It is our responsibility to fix things, we are doing it and we will continue to do our best in this regard.”
The Obong of Calabar, Edidem Expo Okon Abasi, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to restore the historical significance of the city
This was even the President, who received in audience today, October 17, the royal father at the presidential Villa, Abuja , acknowledged that the City had lost its preeminent status as the first capital city of Southern Nigeria to Lagos.
The Obong of Calabar expressed worry over what he called “disregard and neglect of the Calabar Kingdom in spite of its national historical significance.”
He appealed for the reversal of the “demotion” of the Kingdom with the government executing projects such as roads, power, maritime access, security and border issues.
He also wanted the government to address the plights of displaced persons from the Bakassi Islands.
The royal father congratulated President Buhari on what he described his “overwhelming victory” in the February election and at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
Obong emphasized the need for the Buhari’s government to restore Calabar to what it lost to Lagos and Abuja.
Responding, President promised to look into the request for the restoration of Calabar to its glorious historic point, assuring that his government will not lessen ongoing efforts to open the City to the rest of Nigeria.
He said that his government will increase the efforts to ensure happiness and betterment of the people of the City in particular and Cross River State in general.
“We will open up that part of Nigeria to the rest of the country,” President Buhari assured, adding that a number of projects are being executed by the Federal Government in the State.
According to him, “three road projects –Calabar-Ugep-Ikom-Ogoja; Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene and Sapele-Ewu – are at various stages of completion.”
The President noted that in order to speed up work on the Calabar-Ugep-Ikom-Ogoja road, plans are underway to incorporate it in the Sukuk Bond to increase the level of funding of the construction work.
He assured that dredging of the Calabar harbour will be undertaken as soon as some legal issues are settled by the Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Ports Authority with the contractor.
President Buhari pledged full support to the Calabar Deep Sea Port project of the State, adding that a number of electricity projects would soon follow after a visit to the State by the Ministers of Power in the upcoming two weeks.
The President enumerated other projects in the State being undertaken by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs such as the Industrial Park which is one of the three set up through the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board.
Buhari noted the construction of roads and water projects by the Niger Delta Development Commission; the development of a Skills Acquisition Centre for youths; and the construction of houses among others.
The W Initiative, a flagship women empowerment programme from Access Bank Plc, has began its 2019 W Health Month.
The programme, which has been scheduled to run through the month of October, according to a statement from the bank, is aimed at improving community awareness on health issues that affect women and their families by bridging knowledge gap, providing access to health checks and encouraging healthy lifestyle habits.
The statement said that the programme will focus on key areas such as infertility, endometriosis, vesicovaginal fistula (VVF), cancer, maternal and neo-natal mortality.
The statement quoted the Coordinator of ‘W’ initiative, Access Bank Plc, Ayona Trimnell, as saying: “globally, the month of October is dedicated to raising awareness for Breast Cancer, a major health issue affecting mainly women.
“However, as an Institution with focus on women, we are expanding the scope to shine the spotlight on 5 salient health issues affecting women and their families.
“The 2017 African Research and Population Centers, estimated 40,000 maternal deaths in Nigeria, making the country the second largest contributor to maternal mortality worldwide.
“There is need for us to change the story one woman at a time and we at Access Bank have been moving the needle in our own way through our flagship product, the Maternal Health Service Support (MHSS).
The statement said that activities planned during the period include free health screening, health talk by specialists, fitness classes, fund raising to support these causes and other activities.
It said that the Health Month will wrap up with an advocacy walk tagged: “Walk for Women’s Health’ on Saturday 26 October 2019.”
Established in 2014, the W Initiative is home to everything Access Bank has to offer women. This includes both financial and lifestyle needs. Under the Initiative, participating women and their families have access to a wide range of privileges including access to credit facilities to meet business and healthcare needs, the ‘W’ community which provides insights on family matters, health, career, lifestyle and finance. This is in addition to special offerings for the home such as discounts and freebies on health, beauty and fitness.
Health screenings will hold every Tuesday at October designed partner locations across the country.
President Buhari receives in audience Governors of 9 States comprising the Niger Delta Development Commission Board in State House on 17th Oct 2019 | State House
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a forensic audit of the operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from 2001 to 2019, complaining of slow pace of development in the Niger Delta region despite the huge funds allocated.
The President who received in audience today, October 17, governors of the states that make up the Commission, led by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, emphasized that what is presently on the ground in the South south region does not justify the huge resources that have been made available to the organisation.
“I try to follow the Act setting up these institutions, especially the NDDC. With the amount of money that the Federal Government has religiously allocated to the NDDC, we will like to see the results on the ground; those that are responsible for that have to explain certain issues.
“The projects said to have been done must be verifiable. You just cannot say you spent so much billions and when the place is visited, one cannot see the structures that have been done. The consultants must also prove that they are competent.”
President Buhari admitted that developing the Niger Delta area required enormous resources compared to other parts of the country with firmer lands.
“I am acutely aware, with my experience, that projects in your area are very expensive; that is why if any job is given, we must make sure that the company is competent and has the capacity to do it well with experienced consultants.”
The President said that he would wait for the report of the audit before deciding on the next line of action regarding the organisation.
Governor Dickson had earlier expressed the disappointment of other governors with the operations of the NDDC, which they said was characterised by poor choice of projects, shoddy handling, uncompleted jobs and lack of the required support for the efforts of the states and local government administration in the region covered by the organisation.
He, therefore, called for the repositioning of the NDDC in order to achieve the objectives for which it was set up.
Director of Nursing in the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Mrs Grace Eleri has appealed to nurses in Kuje general hospital to shield their sword and have a meeting with the Medical Director (MD) of the hospital over the division of the office of the Head Of Unit (HOU) thereby reducing the office space.
The Director, following our story yesterday about the plan by the nurses to down tools in protest over the action of the MD, invited the executive officers of the nurses union to her office where after briefing on the happening in the hospital, asked the nurses to resolve the issue with the MD.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has directed all his aides to continue to ignore what he called Adams Oshiomhole’s hostile, malicious and incorrect information about the relationship between the two of them.
In a statement jointly signed by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Paul Ohonbamu and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie in Benin today, October 16, the governor however warned those intent on disrupting public peace that he is determined to maintain law and order and protect lives and property as the Chief Security Officer of the state.
The statement reads: “The Edo State Government has again taken notice of extremely hostile, malicious and incorrect statements attributed to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, by his media aides in various newspapers and media outfits.
“This continuous spewing of invective and purposely distorted accounts is aimed at creating a sense of tension and crisis in and around the state and the country when none actually exists. “Governor Godwin Obaseki has therefore restated that on no account should any government official in Edo State join issues on the continuous unwarranted vitriolic comments on the person of the governor and the government by Oshiomhole’s media aides purportedly acting at his behest.
“The position of government is to pursue the path of peace in dealing with ensuing issues for the good of all Edo people. “As Governor and leader, Governor Obaseki is in firm control of the APC in Edo State and there is no reason whatsoever to even moot the idea of leaving the party where he enjoys tremendous support and goodwill both at the state and the national levels.
“The governor, however, warned those intent on disrupting public peace that he is determined in his resolve to continuously carry out his primary responsibility of maintaining order and protecting lives and property as the Chief Security Officer of the state.”
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The embattled Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Simon Achuba has been impeached.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has presented a National Priority Budget proposal of N28, 422,804,431 for the year 2020 to the Senate Committee on the FCT.
The Obong of Calabar, Edidem Expo Okon Abasi, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to restore the historical significance of the city
The W Initiative, a flagship women empowerment programme from Access Bank Plc, has began its 2019 W Health Month.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has directed all his aides to continue to ignore what he called Adams Oshiomhole’s hostile, malicious and incorrect information about the relationship between the two of them.
