News

Edo guber: APC inaugurates campaign council

Published

6 months ago

June 15, 2024

The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, inaugurated its campaign council for the September 21, 2024, governorship election on Friday.

DAILY POST reports that the campaign council is made up of 36 directorates, with a chairman and director general, among others.

The council also has a Deputy Director General of Operations and Administration, a secretary, and coordinators in the three senatorial districts.

The campaign council was inaugurated by Adams Oshiomhole, the former governor of the state and a serving senator representing Edo North senatorial district in the National Assembly.

In his speech, Oshiomhole, who is the chairman of the campaign council, said members of the party across over 4, 000 units, 192 wards and 18 local government areas are all members of the campaign council.

Oshiomhole, who said the party would win the forthcoming September 21 governorship democratically in a free and fair contest, urged members to work hard to win their various units, awards and local government, respectively.

He said that with Senator Monday Okpebholo and Dennis Idahosa as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the party, the party is sure of victory at the election.

According to him, every member and supporter of the APC is a member of the campaign for genuine change under the leadership of Senator Monday Okpebholo.

“Titles do not matter. I urged every member of the party in the state to work hard to win their units and wards. Every member is a canvasser,” he said.

He said he was ready to take on the role of sweeper and sweep Senator Monday Okpebholo into office as governor.

On his part, the Director General of the Campaign Council, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, who expressed joy at the inauguration, urged members to work hard, as the task of defeating the incumbent government was huge.

Urhoghide also urged party members to resolve their differences, work hard for the victory of the party and de-emphasise the role of money.

Earlier, the state chairman of the party, Jarrett Tenebe, who said Governor Godwin Obaseki was supposed to continue from where Oshiomhole stopped, noted that he failed as bad governance, perennial flooding and a lack of red-roof schools across the state were the hallmarks of the government.

He, however, acknowledged the late Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, Prof. Ambrose Alli and Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole as three governors who provided good governance for the state.

He promised that by the time Okpebholo and Dennis Idahosa come on board, those things would come back, expressing hope that the campaign council led by Senator Urhoghide would work hard to deliver victory to the APC.

In his remarks, the APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, promised not to disappoint the party and the people of the state if given the mandate to govern the state.

He promised to restore the lost glory of the state in infrastructural, human capital and socioeconomic developments.

In his vote of thanks, the deputy governorship candidate of the party, Dennis Idahosa, said the incumbent government had not attracted foreign direct investment in the past seven years in office.

He assured that the Monday Okpebholo-led government would not only attract foreign direct investment but would also attract investors to the state economy.

News

Nigeria Congratulates Qatar on National Day

Published

3 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The Federal Government of Nigeria has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the State of Qatar on the occasion of its National Day, celebrated on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.

In a statement signed by the Acting Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Nigeria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, conveyed fraternal greetings to Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

The statement highlighted Qatar’s commitment to promoting global peace and its significant contributions to humanitarian services worldwide.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria commends the commitment and strategic efforts made by the State of Qatar in the promotion of global peace; and more so, the excellent contributions to humanitarian services in different parts of the world,” it read.

Ambassador Tuggar emphasised the strong and growing relations between Nigeria and Qatar, expressing satisfaction with the collaborative efforts to strengthen ties for the mutual benefit of their citizens.

He wished Qatar peace, prosperity, and progress, reaffirming Nigeria’s enduring friendship and support.

This underscores Nigeria’s recognition of its diplomatic relationship with Qatar and its shared commitment to global cooperation and development.

News

Reps Recommends Delisting NECO, UI, Labour Ministry, 21 Others From 2025 Budget

Published

3 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called for the removal of the National Examination Council (NECO), University of Ibadan (UI), Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and 21 other federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) from the 2025 budget.

This recommendation follows their repeated failure to account for previous allocations and internally generated revenue.

During an extraordinary session on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, the Committee resolved that these MDAs should be excluded from the budget until they comply with its directives.

Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Bamidele Salam, stressed: “The Financial Regulation empowers the National Assembly to exclude any Ministry, Department, or Agency (MDA) that fails to account for their previous appropriations. As such, the listed MDAs should be excluded from the 2025 budget until they appear before this constitutional committee.”

The decision was prompted by the consistent non-compliance of these MDAs despite multiple summons issued by the Committee to scrutinize their financial operations.

Prominent institutions among those recommended for delisting include hospitals, universities, and federal development agencies. Some of the affected MDAs are:

Federal Medical Centre, Bida
Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment
Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria
Nigeria Police Force: Department of Information and Communication Technology
Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba
Federal College of Education, Yola
Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, Bayelsa State
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi
Federal University of Technology, Minna
Cross River Basin Development Authority
Nigeria Office for Trade Negotiation
National Examination Council (NECO)
Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil
Presidential Amnesty Programme
Galaxy Backbone
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals

Others include the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority, National Space Research and Development Agency, Federal Cooperative College (Ibadan), Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority, University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, and Federal School of Survey, Oyo State.

The Committee unanimously recommended that the MDAs in question be delisted from the 2025 budget until they comply with the request for documentation and provide necessary financial clarifications.

News

Reps Call for Revival of NAPAC to Boost Transparency, Accountability

Published

3 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has called for the revitalization and strengthening of the National Association of Public Accounts Committees (NAPAC) to enhance transparency, accountability, and good governance across Nigeria.

Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts (PAC), Rep. Bamidele Salam, stated this at the joint sitting of Public Accounts Committees of Senate and House and inauguration of an Adhoc Committee for the reconvening of NAPAC at the National Assembly on Tuesday, emphasised the importance of collaboration among Public Accounts Committees at both federal and state levels.

Formed in 2014, NAPAC comprises 38 chapters nationwide, including the Public Accounts Committees of the Senate, House of Representatives, and all 36 State Houses of Assembly, Rep. Salam noted that the Association has been dormant in recent years, necessitating urgent action to restore its relevance.

He stated, “This Association is a pivotal platform for promoting transparency and accountability in governance. However, in recent times, the Association’s activities have been dormant, necessitating the need for a quick revitalization.

“It is in this context that we are inaugurating this Ad-hoc Committee, tasked with the vital responsibility of reconvening the meeting of NAPAC.”

Salam outlined committee’s objectives, including reviving NAPAC’s activities, adopting innovative strategies to combat corruption, and collaborating with anti-corruption agencies, civil society, and the media.

He also stressed the importance of leveraging partnerships with continental and regional associations such as AFROPAC, WAPAC, and SADCOPAC for capacity building and knowledge sharing.

“The task ahead is daunting, but with collective effort, unwavering commitment, and an unshakeable faith in our nation’s potential, I am confident that we shall succeed,” he added.

In an interaction with journalists, thr Committee chairman, stressed plans to engage with the Auditor General of the Federation and Accountant General of the Federation to address delays in submitting reports on Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

“Of course, Nigerians should expect that we’re going to have more productivity, especially in consideration of the report of the Auditor General,” he said.

He noted that only the 2021 Auditor General’s report is currently before the National Assembly, a situation he described as inconsistent with constitutional provisions. Salam expressed the committee’s determination to ensure Nigeria catches up with the 2022 and 2023 reports by next year.

He added, “We’ll also be able to bring more of these agencies of government in line to ensure that all monies appropriated by the National Assembly are spent judiciously, efficiently, and in a lawful manner.”