Nation
Politicians Accuse ENSIEC Of Partisanship
Leaders of political parties in Enugu State have strongly condemned the attitude of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC). They alleged that some members of the State electoral umpire, were card carrying members of the state ruling party – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
They expressed their readiness to support and fully back youths and women in their various parties to contest the forthcoming local government election in the state but were getting frustrated with the knowledge of the election not being conducted free and fair by ENSIEC.
The state Chairman of Providence Peoples Congress (PPC), Mr Newman Chukwuegbo, made his feelings known on Monday during a Town Hall Meeting in Enugu with political parties participating in the forthcoming February 23, local government election in the state.
He regretted that the development had demoralised the electorate and those with intention to contest for chairmanship and councillor positions.
“That is why there is low participation, people are saying why should we go and spend our money when the election is not free and fair and we do not have chances of winning,” Chukwuegbo lamented.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of Green Party of Nigeria, (GPN), Dr Afam Ani, alleged that initially, ENSIEC wanted to frustrate contestants from other parties by demanding charges and tax clearance but were stopped when they were reminded of an existing court judgment jettisoning such demands.
In the same vein, State Chairman of Action Alliance, (AA), Mr Festus Ogbonna, said his party fielded candidates in eight local governments, adding that the party faithful were afraid and wondered if the election would be conducted in a credible, free and fair manner.
The Programme Manager of YIAGA Africa, Mr Ibrahim Faruk, commended the leadership of political parties in the state for expressing their commitment to support young people as well as women with their structure, financial and material resources in the forthcoming council election in the state.
Faruk explained that YIAGA Africa is a non-profit civic hub of change makers committed to the promotion of democratic governance, human rights and civic engagement.
It would be recalled that YIAGA championed the passage of Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill into Law.
“We are happy to notice during the town hall meeting, a healthy appetite and concessions for young men and women to participate in the forthcoming local government election in Enugu State, regardless of challenges, from the political parties”.
He said that YIAGA Africa wanted to create awareness around the local government election, adding: “Most times, when it comes to local government elections, there seems to be a kind of apathy hence the need for these sensitisation meetings”.
Nation
Gombe Opens Bid For Construction Of Three-Arm Zone Project
Gombe State Ministry of Works, Housing and Transportation has opened bids for the construction of three arms zone complexes within the Gombe Capital Special Development Zone which held at the Ministry’s conference hall.
Speaking while presiding over the bid opening proceedings, the Commissioner, Engr. . Usman Maijama’a Kallamu assured the bidders that the bid opening would be carried out using procurement process which is based on specific regulations that are credible, fair, and transparent.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alh. Idris Yambiu Buba said that the Ministry will continue to align itself for optimal results in the implementation of government policies and projects in line with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s commitment to bringing development to the State.
While assuring the bidders of a transparent process, the SSA to the Governor on Special Project, Arch. Yakubu Mamman thanked Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his foresight in infrastructural development of the State, adding that government is committed to ensuring that all bidders had an equal chance to participate and compete based on merit to maintain standards and specifications.
Nation
Gov Mbah Signs Bill To Establish Teaching Hospital In Enugu
Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, yesterday, signed the Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Teaching Hospital Bill 2024 into Law, promising to expedite action to actualise the teaching hospital immediately to provide quality training and healthcare services in the Enugu North part of the State and the State in general.
Mbah, while commending the Enugu State House of Assembly for accelerating action on the processing and passage of the Executive Bill, said that establishing SUMAS Teaching Hospital was in line with his manifesto.
He said, “What we have done by signing into law the Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences Teaching Hospital Bill is that we now have in place a legal framework to immediately begin to put in place all that is required to upgrade SUMAS to a teaching hospital. This is part of our campaign promises and we are committed to delivering on that expeditiously.
“We believe that the importance and significance of siting a teaching hospital in our Enugu North zone can never be lost on us. So, we are not going to spend any time in making sure that everything that is necessary and required to upgrade and get the teaching hospital operational is put in place. With this Law, we are going to redouble our commitment and our efforts to achieve that.”
He assured the Governing Council and the Management of SUMAS of his continued support, adding that his administration would equally be counting on their pedigree and contacts to bring the teaching hospital to fruition in record time.
“We are going to continue to support you and we are also going to continue to count on your experience, network, and profile in raising resources to actualize the project.
“This year alone, we are going to spend 33 per cent of our budget on education. This underscores the importance of education to this administration. So, be sure to come to us whenever there is a need. We are going to support you because we are interested in education and we are investing heavily in it,” he said.
On his part, the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu, who also spoke at the Bill signing witnessed by the Chairman of SUMAS Governing Council, Msgr. Obiora Ike, and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. James Ogbonna, and top hierarchies of the institution, commended Governor Mbah’s speed and faithfulness in delivering on his campaign promises. He assured that the House of Assembly was ever ready to fast-track every executive bill that would impact positively on the state and its people.
“We promised we are going to support this administration by doing our job expeditiously to ensure that there is no delay in your delivery of democracy dividends to our people. Therefore, the SUMAS Teaching Hospital Bill received expedited hearing and today you have the signing of the bill into law,” he stated.
Nation
Ododo Applauds Security Agencies Over Rescue Of 43 Bus Passengers
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has applauded security agencies in the State for their efforts in the rescue of 43 bus passengers.
The Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Ismaila Isah disclosed this in a statement yesterday.
The statement noted that the governor welcomed the news of the release of the abducted bus passengers in Okehi Local Government Area of the State and called for sustained collaboration between security agencies and local communities to improve intelligence gathering and prevent crime and criminality in all parts of the state.
Ododo commended the caretaker chairman of Okehi LGA, Mr Amoka Eneji, the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Professional Hunters, Ebira Local Hunters Group and other security agencies for their intervention, which led to the rescue of the passengers who were abducted outside the state.
“Governor Ododo also commends the response of security agencies to the robbery incidence in Felele area of Lokoja and called for more urgency in addressing cases of insecurity in any part of the state.
“The Governor reassured the people of the state that his administration will not relent in its efforts in deploying maximum resources to ensure that all communities in the state remain unsafe for criminal elements.”
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