Imo State House of Assembly (IMHA) has pushed for remedial works to be done on the worsening condition of Ngor-Okpala/Aboh-Mbaise/Ezinihitte-Mbaise/Ahiazu-Mbaise/Ehime-Mbano roads by urging the Governor Hope Uzodimma to direct the Ministry of Works to immediately commence palliative rehabilitation on them before the Rainy Season set – in.

This was the outcome of the Motion chiefly sponsored by the member representing Ezinihitte Mbaise State Constituency, Hon. Henry Agbasonu, seconded by Hon. Bernard Ozoemelam, with; Hon Ugochukwu Amuchie, member representing Aboh-Mbaise, Hon. Obinna Egu, member representing Ngor-Okpalla State Constituency, Hon. Bernard Ozoemelam, member representing Ehime-Mbano State Constituency, Hon. Clinton Amadi, member representing Owerri Municipal State Constituency, and Hon Kelechi Ofurum, member representing Owerri -North State Constituency as co-sponsors.

Presenting the Motion, Hon. Agbasonu lamented the  deplorable condition of the Road, which cuts across five Local Government Areas of the State.

According to him, commercial activities had been stalled in these Areas since past Administrations in the State, thereby destroying the Local Economy of the Areas.

He pointed out that users of the Road are always in agony, especially whenever it rains.

“If it rains any moment from now, the Road would be totally impassable and will cause a lot of  hardship to the people of the Local Government Areas mentioned.”

Hon Agbasonu stated, and called on his Colleagues to support the Motion, urging that  palliative work be done on the  Road to lessen the suffering of the people, pending when major reconstruction would be done.

Other Lawmakers including; Hon. Chisom Ojukwu, Hon. Obinna Egu, Hon. Ugochukwu Amuchie, Hon. Bernard Ozoemelam, Hon. Clinton Amadi and Hon. James Uba Esile, got the chance and spoke in favor of the Motion before the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe ruled in the affirmative vote of majority of the Lawmakers, and directed the Clerk to communicate the resolution of the House to His Excellency the Governor of Imo State.

Meanwhile, after receiving the Report of the Committee on Education for “A Bill for a Law to provide for Skill Acquisition and Craftsmanship as Mandatory Course in all Primary Schools and Secondary Schools, and for the Establishment of Skill Acquisition And Craftsmanship Centre in Tertiary Institutions in Imo State and other related matters”, the Speaker ruled that it would be considered in the  Committee of the whole House  when the House resumes Plenary on February 29, 2024.

However, the House sitting featured the presence of the Students of two Secondary Schools in the State; Faith-House Leadership Academy in Okigwe Road Owerri, and  Logos International Secondary School in Oru-East, who came on Excursion to observe Plenary proceedings.  

The Students were also taken round the Complex at the end of the sitting.

By Vivian Iwu…

The Executive Director of the International Press Center (IPC ), Prof. Lanre Arogundade has charged Journalists to be catalysts of Good Governance.

He made this charge at a two – day Workshop, organized by the International Press Center (IPC), in collaboration with European Union (EU)-Support / Funding to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGIN) for over 40 Journalists, selected from South-East and South – South Zones of Nigeria, on the use of Freedom Of Information (FOI) and Facts – Check Tools.

The theme for the Workshop, which took place in Port Harcourt, River State, was: “Post Election Reporting: Using FOI Act & other Investigative Methodologies to report Democratic Governance & Electoral Accountability Issues”.

Arogundade explained that what informed his decision to hold the event was that Journalists and the media can hold the Government accountable to the people and do better to report in the Public interest.

“Ultimately it’s about the people. So, we are looking at Democratic Governance and Post Elections, particularly when it comes to promises made by elected Politicians, we believe that we need to use relevant Tools to follow up on those Policies and the Claims they are also making about what has been done or what has not been done.

“That’s why we talked about Freedom of Information Act and Fact – Checking.”
He explained, adding that IPC believes that Gender Issue is still very important and it is their obligation to advance the course of Women.

According to him, in Societies, including Nigeria, through consistent reporting and follow – up, Journalists have been able to make a difference in the lives of people, getting Government to do what it is supposed to do; build Roads and Health Centers in Communities, and expressed confidence that it is quite possible now, despite the challenges faced in the Profession.

He charged Participants of the Workshop on value of fact- checking their Reports in order to dispel suspicions and lower the spread of false information in the society.

However, another Resource Person at the Event, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda, Lagos, who did Justice to the theme of the Event, “Post- Election Reporting: Using FOI Act & other Investigative Methodologies to report Democratic Governance and Electoral Accountability Issues”, charged Journalists to conduct investigative reporting more often, and to hold the Government and Government Officials, as well as Institutions, accountable.

Edetaen Ojo, a former Nigeria Guardian Editor, explained that Media Professionals are in the Information Business, and the whole point of Freedom of Information Act is to enable Citizens, including, Journalists to get Information that is reliable from Public Institutions and Officials because in the Digital age, there’s so much inaccurate Information floating around.

“So, it’s particularly important that we have an instrument that enables us to ask and get information and have the assurance that the information we are getting is accurate and reliable, then we should utilize that instrument.

“But unfortunately, our experience has been that over the last 12 years or so, the law has been in existence, Journalists have not made significant use of it, so, part of the objective here is to create greater awareness and sensitize Journalists about the existence of the Law and its value to them and also build capacity on how to use the law effectively.

Amidst hydra-headed effects of excruciating hot weather on the populace, the member for Onuimo  statecinstituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon James Esile ( Fresh Air) has cried out against what he called undue neglect of communities under his constituency by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company ( EEDC) over a long time

Speaking on a motion before the floor of the house on ways to ameliorate the effect of the prevailing heat wave across the state, Hon Esile lamented that most communities in thickly populated Onuimo local government area had for long, been without electricity, a situation that worsened the hellish hot weather, as according to him, indigenes of the area could neirher sleep with fans nor referigerate food items and other consumables.

He further, observed that the excessive heat, with its attendant high temperature resulted to measles, body rashes, sleeplessness and high blood pressure.

Esile disclosed that life in  Onuimo communities has been horrible and unpleasant, as every where is covered with darkness at night.

The lawmaker challenged EEDC, the electricity distribution company to explain why Onuimo people should be thrown into undeserved darkness and untold  hardship.

He further, urged the state government to act as a matter of urgency to remedy the sitution of abysmal failure in power supply to Onuimo constituents.

Meanwhile, the state House of Assembly has resolved to summon the management of EEDC, to explain the circumstances surrounding the epileptic power supply in the entire state.

By Fred Njoku…

The General Manager of Imo Signage and Advertisement Agency (IMSAA), Hon. Chibuzor Umunnakwe, has sought the collaboration of the public towards arresting and prosecuting suspected criminals who indulge in the act of stealing and vandalizing billboard materials in the state.

According to Hon. Umunnakwe, the theft of billboard materials in the state has taken a new dimension. The Imo Signage and Advertisement Agency in joint effort with the Imo  State Outdoor Advertising Practitioners has stepped up surveillance to catch the persons destroying and stealing advertising billboard materials.

The GM, disclosed this during an interactive session with the press on the efforts and steps the agency has taken in  addressing and curbing this menace.

According to Hon. Umunnakwe, in the last few weeks, several persons have been caught cutting up billboard materials and they have been handed over to law enforcement agencies for prosecution. Some of them are serving prison sentences.

Hon. Umunakwe, while highlighting further, stated that they have made breakthrough in the areas of arrest and prosecution of suspected persons responsible for, not only stealing flex materials, but destroying and vandalizing outdoor materials.

He sited a case of their surveillance team, which  accosted some men with a push truck carrying flex materials, upon searching them, the men ran away, abandoning their truck. Further probe showed the truck was equally carrying some stolen items from a provision store, including a generating set.

IMSAA is at the forefront of this campaign to stamp out stealing of billboard materials in Imo State.

IMSAA, according to Hon. Chibuzor Umunnakwe pleaded with members of the public to support in the drive to rid the state of these vandals.

“The theft of billboard materials affects the livelihood of the owners. It also directly impacts on the economy of the state and the revenue generated from the boards.

“The general public is therefore warned that any person caught stealing billboards or other materials or involved in receiving these stolen materials, will face long jail terms, as this is not only stealing and vandalism, but economic sabotage too he posited.

Nigerians have been alerted to a sinister plot being hatched by a group of politicians to execute a campaign of calumny against the Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma.

Part of the campaign is to engage in spurious media attacks on the governor, using the recent inconclusive Edo APC governorship primaries as a plank.

In a statement in Enugu yesterday, a Pressure cum Cultural Organisation, Igbo Renaissance for Progress, asserted that it has intelligence reports that former Director of Voice of Nigeria, Mr Osita Okechukwu is leading the group.

According to its Coordinator, Nze Nwankwo Njoku, Okechukwu is still sulking over his loss of Ministerial appointment which he attributes to the governor.

According to Njoku, the former VOA helmsman has vowed to do all within his power to destabilize Uzodimma in every way possible.  

Said he” those who read Okechukwu’s virulent attacks on Uzodimma over the Edo debacle would understand that the man has a mission which is, to damage the image of the governor who is the leader of the APC in the South East. ”

He noted that while other critics of the Edo matter restricted themselves to the issues, Okechukwu went overboard, calling for the sack of Uzodimma as Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum.

He said members of his group were alarmed by the vitriolic attacks on Uzodimma by Okechukwu, showing that he was actually on the payroll of politicians, envious of the rising national profile of the governor.

“We know for a fact that, that man is still embittered that Uzodimma chose UcheNnaji over him for Ministerial nomination.  But his attempts to rubbish the Imo state governor would be resisted by us”, Njoku averred.

He noted that contrary to the claims by Okechukwu, Uzodimma has used his position as Chairman of Progressive Congress Forum, to benefit Ndigbo and the people.

He listed the appointment of an Igbo man as Chief of Naval Staff, the dredging of Oguta Lake to the Atlantic with the concomitant economic milestone and several other benefits as evidence of what Hope Uzodimma has done with his position.

“Indeed,Okechukwu should know that APC does not revolve around him. We have more qualified stakeholders, who should be respected in Igbo land. He is not a match to Uzodimma, so blackmailing him will not work “, he submitted.

He threatened that his group will declare Okechukwu a persona non grata in the South East if he doesn’t refrain from his unholy alliance with his Cohorts to destroy Uzodimma’s image.

By Jude Onyenedogha…

It was indeed an epoch making event Wednesday, February 21, 2024, as the Old Girls Association of Atta Girls High School sponsored the West African Examination Council (WAEC) registration for the 2024 Senior Secondary 3 set of their Alma mater.

A cash sum of Thirty Thousand Naira (N30,000), being the WAEC registration fee was handed to each of the Thirty five (35) students of the school which now comprises female and male students who registered for the external examination.

Speaking during the official presentation of the cash, chairperson of the association, Lolo Nkemdi Akano Onyirimba and the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mrs Evelyn Iwu-Childs, who spoke through the contact person and Imo State coordinator of the association, Lady Heart Iwuamadi, said the association has been doing a lot to improve the lots of the school.

“We have been coming. Anytime we think out something to help them, we come to carry it out. Some three, five years ago, we came when they complained that they didn’t have a large hall for external exams. The old girls stepped in and renovated this school main hall for them”.

On their reason for embarking on the payment of WAEC registration for the WAEC candidates, Lady Iwuamadi said, “This year, when we interviewed the Principal, he told us that the population of the school is reducing, principally because of hard times, as most parents are no longer able to take care of their children and wards’ academic financial demands.

“We now reasoned together and decided to take care of the WAEC registration of SS3 students this year. So we embarked on freewill donation, through which we raised the money for this project and other logistics associated with it, including the snacks and drinks we brought for the school today”.

She disclosed that the Old Girls have also undertaken to build a modern toilet facility for the school, while urging the beneficiaries to study hard and make excellent results in their exams, which she said will serve as motivation for the organization, towards making the project an annual event.

Fielding questions from newsmen, Principal of the school, Rev. Ikenna Nwanna, expressed gratitude to the Old Girls for the kind gesture, praying for God’s continuous blessings on them, while urging the students to reciprocate by working hard to achieve the aim for the gesture which is excellent result in their WAEC and future academic successes.

“I am dumfounded. I don’t know how to appreciate them for extending hands of assistance to the students, their parents and the school at this time of economic hardship in our country”.

Earlier, a guest speaker at the occasion, Rev. Canon Dr. Emma Egbule maintained that education is the easiest way to achieve genuine and sustainable success in life, emphasizing on the need for people who have tested the goodnesses of education to deliberately devote time in teaching the young ones the enormous benefits in education.

Speaking, the chairman, Parents Teachers Association of the school, Mr Enwenonu Chima appreciated the association for its numerous benevolent gestures to the school, pleading for its sustenance, while expressing readiness of the PTA to collaborate with the Old Girls towards lifting the school to greater heights.

Delivering the vote of thanks, on behalf of the beneficiaries, Senior Prefect of the school, Miss Nwankwo Favour, expressed appreciation to the Old Girls for sponsoring their WAEC registration, promising not to let them down, while praying God to replenish their purses abundantly.

The Federal Government has commenced the payment of withheld salaries of members Academic Staff Union of the University (ASUU) in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

A senior lecturer at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, who did not want his name in print, confirmed the development to newsmen.

The source, however, said he has so far received payment for only two months of the withheld salaries.

This position was also confirmed by the director of Press in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), Bawa Mokwah who disclosed on Monday in Abuja that the government released two months salary arrears to the affected lecturers during the weekend.

According to him, another tranche of two-month salary would be released to the lecturers later on Monday.

President Tinubu had in October 2023, approved the release of four of the eight months’ ASUU withheld salaries of the workers.

The salaries were withheld when the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari invoked a ‘No Work, No Pay policy’ against some university-based unions that embarked on a strike, which lasted for eight months in 2022.

It was however, gathered that Federal Government might have decided to pay the lecturers all the withheld salaries as part of efforts to sustain the industrial peace being enjoyed now in the universities.

Mokwa alluded to this, saying the Federal Government has resolved to offset the eight-month salary arrears of the lecturers, even though he did not state when the remaining four months would be paid to the members of ASUU.

When contacted on telephone, President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, said he was in a meeting and would get back later.

But the ASUU chairperson, Federal University of Technology, Minna, GbolahanBolarin, ASUU chairperson, Federal University of Technology, Minna confirmed the development where he said, “Yes, it is true. Payment has started rolling in.”

Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Abuja zone, on Monday, lamented the death of some of its members as result of Economic hardship in the country.

Zonal coordinator, ASUU, Abuja zone, SalahuMuhammed who stated this in a statement in Abuja, decried the poor remuneration of academics and unfavourable working conditions.

He revealed that no fewer than 46 academics lost their lives in universities under the Abuja zone, namely the University of Abuja, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State University, Nasarawa, and the Ibrahim Babaginda University, Lapai.The union said it recently lost an eminent Professor of Fisheries, Johnson Oyero, of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, due to the inability to afford quality medical facilities.

Speaking further in the statement, Muhammed said the union was also appalled by the failure of the Tinubu-led administration to honour some of the commitments it made with the union in a bid to avert potential industrial actions in universities.

Political activist, Aisha Yesufu, has slammed Nigerians protesting over the high level of economic hardship in the country.

Nigerians are currently going through untold economic hardship as many families could no longer boast of a square meal per day.

The situation has led to protests in some part of the country with residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital being the latest to take to the streets to show their anger.

DAILY POST reports that angry youths in Oyo State hit the streets to protest the high cost of living, food inflation and the current economic hardship in the country.

Our correspondent observed the irate youths were also chanting songs to show their grievances.

They brandished placards with inscriptions such as ‘End food hike and inflation’, ‘The poor is starving’ and ‘Tinubu, don’t forget your promises’, amongst others.

Aisha Yesufu, made popular by her role in the Bring Back Our Girls, BBOG, noted that those protesting over food inflation and its resultant hunger in Nigeria were silent when Boko Haram and bandits and other terrorists kidnap, kill and displace innocent people.

“For years farmers were being displaced and sent to IDP Camps yet you felt it wasn’t your business,” she wrote on X.

“You were even angry that people were protesting insecurity and blocking your way. Today you are in the streets protesting against hunger.

“You kept your empathy only for yourself.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) identifies with some bold economic policy reforms which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has initiated within the short time of assumption of office such as removal of fuel subsidy and exchange rate unification as outlined in our previous position papers. We also identify with his support for a clean energy transition that factors in the vast gas resources of the country which in our view is energy justice and will reduce debt exposure of the country. We commend him for these quick and bold actions, drawing attention to consideration of the plight of those within the low-income bracket.

However, another quick and bold action which the President must take as he considers his ministers is the appointment of more chartered accountants in his cabinet. The socio-political challenges facing Nigeria today calls for the intervention of chartered accountants in public governance. Chartered accountants should man key sensitive positions requiring proper accountability as there cannot be effective public governance without accountants.

The study we conducted provides evidence which shows that there is positive correlation between having more chartered accountants within a work force and better organisational performance. In other words, organisations that employ more chartered accountants perform better than those employing less chartered accountants in terms of service delivery and financial performance. This has been proven empirically drawing experiences from Zenith Bank, Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) and Lagos State government. These three organisations span private sector, a government agency and state government respectively”

We believe that President Tinubu’s administration will experience same performance success if more chartered accountants are engaged by his administration. Today we are looking for a Minister of Finance that will clean up government monetary policy. What we need is a chartered accountant economist i.e. an economist that is a chartered accountant and not just an economist alone.

We want to state that within the ICAN chartered accountants, we have economists, engineers, doctors, pharmacists, architects, political scientists, pastors, imams, you name it. So inherent in ICAN chartered accountants are other disciplines, while accounting and finance predominates.

When accountability permeates every cabinet member and his or her ministry, corruption will be minimised, better governance elevated and Nigerians will instantly begin to feel the dividend of democracy.  

Incidentally the President is an accountant and understands what we are saying here.