Business

Obi, Soludo, Uba Shun Anambra Guber Debate …Ngige Says I Will Talk To Kidnappers, Armed Robbers

Published

16 years ago

January 15, 2010

Three major players in the 2010 governorship race in Anambra State, the incumbent governor, Mr Peter Obi of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Prof Charles Soludo of the People Democratic Party, PDP and Labour Party’s Dr Andy Uba, yesterday shunned public debate organized for all the governorship candidates in the state, by the Nation newspaper in conjunction with Silverbird Television held at Tourist Garden Hotel, Awka, Anambra State.

Our correspondent who covered the event reports that the affected candidates neither put up physical appearance nor sent representatives at the occasion, till the end of the event at about 5.30pm.

Until the time of filing this report no reason was given as to why the candidates could not be physically reached or through their mobile phones by this reporter to explain why they acted the way they did.

However, worried over the present insecurity of lives and property in the state a former governor of the State, Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige, has promised if reelected as governor come February 6, he would talk to armed robbers and kidnappers in the area to stop their nefarious acts to enable the people of the state sleep with their two eyes closed.

Dr Ngige, who is now contesting the governorship position of the state on the platform of the Action Congress (AC), instead of his former party PDP, made the promise yesterday while speaking on the occasion of the public debate entitled “Anambra Decides: Governorship Debate 2010”.

Describing himself as one of the foundation members of the ruling party PDP, Dr Ngige also promised that if elected, he would build an independent power plant in the state so as to attract more industries to check the high rate of youth unemployment in the area, adding that his government would not toy with youths who are leaders of tomorrow.

He made it clear that during his 33 months in office as governor of the state “ I got out your treasury from the so called God fathers and merchants and gave it back to you. The major thing we have to do for you now is to make you human beings again by restoring security of lives and property back. I did it before and I know the magic with which I did it. The security of the state must be used to maintain the security integrity of that state”, he advised.

Also speaking, chief George Okoye of the NMPP, identified the problem of the people of Anambra state as the imposition of unpopular candidates on the state.

Chief Okoye regretted that Anambra state had never had a master plan , wondering how the state could develop without a blue print, promising that all pensioners in the state would be paid if he wins the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Candidates from other political parties present at the occasion that attracted hundreds of thousands of Anambrarians equally made promises to the people of the state should they win the February 6, 2010 governorship election in the state which has been described in many quarters as home of champions.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the managing Director of Nation Newspaper, Victor Ifije, said their aim of organizing the debate to ensure that the best candidate was elected as governor of the state next month in the over all interest of the people.

He, therefore, advised the people of the state not to misuse the opportunity offered by the forthcoming election, adding that it is time for them to take their destiny in their own hands.

Business

Boat Mishap Kills Pastor, Wife And Church Members In Brass Water

Published

5 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

A boat accident in Bayelsa state has killed a serving Pastor, Wife and other church members along Brass waterways

The sad incident happened at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the Pastor, wife and members of his church were in a programme.

?Tide confirmed that the lifeless body of the Pastor’s wife has been found and deposited in a mortuary while the remains of her husband ,the Pastor is yet to be recovered

as search party are still ongoing.

Although the real cause of the boat Mishap is not yet known as at the time of this report, our Correspondent gathered that the identities of the Pastor, wife and church members were not disclosed to the public.

The mishap, Tide gathered occurred on Friday morning when the church members were on a boat transit

The Bayelsa State government and the state police command are yet to issue official statement’s on the sad accident

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Business

Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

Published

5 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Council of Nigeria Civil Service Union has called on the State Government to urgently scrap the contributory pension scheme, describing it as unfavourable to long-serving civil servants in the state.

Chairman of the union, Chukwuka Osuma, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt, recently.

Osuma said the current pension structure has continued to worsen post-retirement hardship for workers.

He noted that the contributory pension scheme had failed to provide adequate retirement security for workers who had spent many years in service, especially those approaching retirement age.

According to him, civil servants who had served for more than 20 years were among the worst affected under the scheme, insisting that many retirees could no longer cope with prevailing economic realities.

He also informed that the Union has made moves to showcase their concerns, pleading with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to abolish the pension policy and introduce a more favourable arrangement for affected workers.

“The union was not opposed to pension reforms, the contributory scheme should only apply to newly employed workers or those with fewer years in service”, he said.

Osuma explained that workers who had already spent decades in the civil service ought to remain under a more secure pension structure capable of guaranteeing stability after retirement.

The labour leader further noted that inflation and the rising cost of living had continued to erode the value of retirement savings, thereby increasing the suffering of pensioners across the country.

He also appealed to the state government to consider extending the years of service in the civil service from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

Osuma argued that such adjustment had become necessary in view of present-day economic realities and changing conditions in the workplace.

The unionist also reviewed that similar policies had already been adopted in some sectors and jurisdictions, expressing optimism that the State could also implement the reforms for the benefit of workers.

He however, commended Governor Fubara for approving an N85,000 minimum wage for workers in the state, noting that the amount was above the national benchmark of N70,000.

Osuma also acknowledged the government’s efforts in the area of workers’ promotions and bonuses, but insisted that pension reforms and extension of years of service remained critical to the long-term welfare and stability of civil servants in Rivers State.

By: King Onunwor

Business

FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

Published

1 week ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has launched the South-West zonal engagement and ministerial advocacy tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria share capital mobilisation, sensitisation and cooperative sector digitalisation.

Reports say the initiative was launched through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

According to reports, the advocacy tour, organised by the ministry’s Federal Department of Cooperatives, began on Monday in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Abdullahi described the exercise as a strategic effort to reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity.

“Today represents a defining moment in our collective determination to reposition the cooperative sector as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity,” he said.

The minister noted the modern cooperative movement in Nigeria originated in the South-West following the 1934 Strickland Report, which led to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Ordinance of 1935.

According to him, the decision to commence the sensitisation and share capital mobilisation tour in the region is symbolic, as it marks a return to the roots of cooperative development in the country.

Abdullahi said the advocacy tour was a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs held in Abuja in March 2026.

He said the council approved the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the cooperative sector and align it with the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.

“The reform programme focuses on seven strategic pillars, including governance reforms, cooperative financing and the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digitalisation, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities, and strategic partnerships,” he said.

He said the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and the digitalisation of the cooperative sector were the two major transformational initiatives under the programme.

“The Cooperative Bank of Nigeria is aimed at rebuilding a strong cooperative financial system capable of supporting cooperators, farmers, artisans, traders, SMEs, youths, women and persons with disabilities with accessible and affordable financial services,” he said.

Abdullahi emphasised that the proposed bank would be government-enabled but not government-funded.

“Government is not establishing the bank as an owner, nor will it rely on Treasury Single Account funds.

“The role of government through the FMAFS is to provide policy support, stakeholder coordination, regulatory facilitation and an enabling environment under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme,” he said.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to cooperative sector transformation.

She described cooperatives as critical tools for promoting inclusive growth, grassroots productivity, food security, financial inclusion and community wealth creation.

Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos State would continue to support reforms and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (2025–2030).

“Together, let us build a cooperative ecosystem that is modern, transparent, digitally enabled, financially inclusive and globally competitive.

“Let us build cooperatives that not only mobilise savings, but also mobilise prosperity,” she said.