Why I have over 1,000 aides –Ebonyi’s Gov Umahi

Clement Nnachi, Abakaliki

Ebonyi Governor, David Umahi, has declared that he appointed over 1,000 aides on assumption of office in 2015 in order to tackle the menace of poverty among the teeming youths of the state.

Umahi made the declaration in Egunkwo community, Onicha Local Government Area of the state, on Sunday on the occasion of a special thanksgiving service organised by Caring Heart Vanguards, an umbrella body of graduates that secured appointments in federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, courtesy of the lawmaker representing Ohaozara Onicha and Ivo federal constituency in the National Assembly, Linus Okorie.

The governor, represented by the Secretary to State Government, Dr. Hyginus Nwokwu, said that more than 1,000 political appointees have been engaged by the administration, comprising commissioners, Special Advisers, Special Assistants, Technical Assistants, and Senior Special Advisers.

“Since my assumption of office on May 29th 2015, more than 500 Technical Assistants, 400 Senior Technical Assistants, 100 Special Advisers, 50 Senior Special Advisers and 21 commissioners have been appointed”
“These appointments were designed to make sure we fight poverty in the land, and also to enable the youths to contribute meaningfully to the development of the State.


Umahi commended the lawmaker for the initiative, in addition to replicating the laudable policies and programmes of the state government to members of the constituency.

Supply Prepaid Meters To Customers, Fashola Tells DisCos

...FG promises to invest 72bn on procurement of equipment for unused 2,000MWs electricity

The Federal Government has committed to invest N72 billion on the procurement and installation of equipment to help distribute unused 2,000 megawatts  of electricity to consumers in the country.

Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing said this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday.

He said the 2,000MWs was from the 7,000MWs that GENCOS could generate and the 5,000 MWs that DisCos could distribute.

Fashola, however, said the problem presently was that the DisCos could not distribute all the power that was available.

This, he explained, was leaving the sector with an unused capacity of 2,000 MWs, with an approximately 1,150 MWs projected to come in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

He said the government had advertised the process of procuring the equipment and was encouraging responses from original equipment manufacturers, which were being evaluated.

The minister, who expressed worry over the activities of some operators, said the government was acting and would not relent to salvage the challenges in the sector.

“The number of complaints coming to government for meters, which the DISCOs should supply, and for estimated billings, and mass disconnections when no everybody is owing cannot continue.

“Government must act, and will do so, the DisCos bought these assets with their eyes opened, and they must compete to deliver or exit.

“Small businesses which need very little power are not getting enough because the DisCos cannot take the power to them.

“The investment of GENCOs is threatened because they cannot utilise the capacity they have installed.’’

Fashola, therefore, urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission in line with the law to prevail on the DisCos to improve their distribution equipment and capacity to take up the available 2,000MWs.

He said NERC should enforce the contract of DisCos to supply meters and act to ensure urgent speedy supply and installation of meters to eliminate estimated billing and promote efficient industry market structures.

“DisCos should stop threatening private entrepreneurs from entering the market to supply consumers whom the DISCos cannot supply.

“NERC should license such persons subject to terms and conditions in order to promote competition and private sector participation and avoid a private monopoly of power.’’

He said Section 71(6) of Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA), dealing with terms and conditions of licenses clearly shows that no exclusivity or monopoly was intended for a license holder such as GenCos or DisCos.

“If we take into consideration that after five years of privatisation, there are still people and businesses that do not have power or enough power.

“Common sense and public interest demand that we must not resist ordinary people, small businesses like shops and markets from seeking alternative sources of energy.

“If the DISCOs are not resisting the generator sellers who are contributing to pollution, what is the logic of resisting small entrepreneurs bringing mini gas plants to supply a market need?.

“I am not unmindful of concerns about loss of market or customers by DISCos but this must be balanced against our national interest.

“My belief is that as their businesses become steady and improve, they will be in a position to use their economies of large volumes of power to buy out or outprice these small entrepreneurs.

“For now, our developmental needs cannot wait for businessmen who are not yet ready to serve.

“National interest, public good, the need to support small businesses, provide access to power for ordinary people and increase productivity inform the policy statements that I have made, and I expect NERC to act with dispatch.’’

(NAN)

Our achievements would have been impossible without Civil Servants – Ambode

…Swears-in new five new Perm Secs

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday commended the State Public Service for contributing immensely to the achievements recorded by his administration in the last two and a half years in office, saying the feats would have been impossible without the support of civil servants.

Speaking at the State Executive Chambers in Alausa, Ikeja while swearing-in five newly appointed Permanent Secretaries, Governor Ambode said since assumption of office on May 29, 2015, efforts have been made to fulfill the promises made to Lagosians, and that it was indeed gratifying that civil servants in the State not only keyed into his vision of a vibrant Lagos but have also been working hard and committed to making the plan a reality.

“In the last two and a half years, our administration has worked relentlessly to fulfill our promises to Lagosians. Our modest achievements in these past months would not have been possible without the support of the public service, most especially our Permanent Secretaries who have not only keyed into our vision of a vibrant Lagos but have also ensured that it becomes a reality through commitment and hard work,” Governor Ambode said.

He said aside the fact that Permanent Secretaries have been working hard to ensure the progress of the State, other officers from directors down the ladder of the civil service have equally been performing creditably well, adding that he was indeed appreciative of their dedication to duty, commitment and service to the State.

The new Permanent Secretaries, who have since been assigned portfolios, are Mrs. Ibirogba Clara Omotilewa (Office of Establishment and Training); Mr. Ogunnubi Timothy Olukayode (Ministry of Science and Technology); Dr. (Mrs.) Are Suwebat Iyabo (Primary Healthcare Board); Dr. Salaam Taiwo Olufemi (Ministry of Transportation); and Mrs. Awobamise Kofoworola Omotayo (Ministry of Information and Strategy).
While congratulating the appointees, Governor Ambode said their elevation was not just about filling the vacancies created by those who have retired, but a way of rewarding hard work and diligence, as well as a reaffirmation that any member of any discipline could rise to the peak in the civil service.

He said according to available facts, the new Permanent Secretaries as directors, demonstrated loyalty and commitment through active involvement in the implementation of some of the policies of the present administration, just as he expressed optimism that their appointment would be a source of encouragement to all officers who are diligent in the discharge of their duties as civil servants.

Besides, Governor Ambode charged the new appointees to contribute their quota to the development of the State and add value to governance.
“To the new appointees, it is my belief that you will continue to contribute your quota to the development of the State. This is no time to relent on your hard work but rather a time for you to come up with new ideas and innovation that will add value to our State in the way and manner government policies are implemented for the greater benefit and service of our people.

“I charge all of you to rededicate yourselves to the tenets of the public service reforms we have embarked on and prove to the rest of the service your justification for the new elevation,” the Governor said.
Responding on behalf of the appointees, Ibirogba thanked Governor Ambode for the opportunity given to them to serve the State, assuring that they would hit the ground running to uphold the vision and mission statements of their respective MDAs and also ensure that result-oriented policies are delivered.

Ambode presents certificates to 1,500 retrained Artisans, Traders

…Orders MDAs To Engage Informal Sector In Executing Govt Projects, Contracts

 ...Vows Continuous Implementation Of Policies To Advance Sector

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday presented certificates to 1,500 artisans and traders in the State who were retrained on modular employability programme as part of efforts to scale up the informal sector with the view to making members meet up with current realities.

The beneficiaries drawn from various associations under the auspices of the Lagos State Council of Tradesmen and Artisans (LASCOTA), were solely trained by the State Government for enhanced productivity in a total of twenty-four trades including entrepreneurship, computer appreciation, writing business proposals, among others.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony and 8th Tradesmen and Artisans Day held at De Blue Roof, LTV 8 Compound in Ikeja, Governor Ambode said the role of artisans and traders in the pyramid of socio-economic development of the nation was very critical in achieving sustainable growth and overall prosperity of the people.

He said it was in recognition of such fact that his administration had shown commitment towards ensuring that the event was not only sustained eight years after, but also designed to be more rewarding.

Governor Ambode, who recalled various initiatives designed to scale up the informal sector such as the N25billion Employment Trust Fund (ETF), among others, assured traders and artisans in the State that government would continue to implement strategies and programmes to promote their businesses and create conducive environment for their operation.

He said: “Giving the strategic role of the informal sector in our economic development in this State, our administration has opened an online portal designed to facilitate interaction among artisans, customers/end-users and relevant stakeholders.

“It is our primary role to make it easy and convenient for people in need of high quality service to meet reliable, trusted and verifiable service providers. It is also aimed at enhancing the productivity, competitiveness, creativity and vitality of this sector.”

While expressing excitement with the fact that it was the tailors from the State that produced the academic gowns used for the graduation, the Governor said moving forward, the State Government would now start to officially engage traders and artisans on jobs that would improve their economy.

Speaking on specific requests made by LACOSTA, the Governor said: “As a start, we instruct the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment to see the capabilities and the opportunities that we can spread out from State jobs and contracts and give to our artisans.

“I am very happy to note that we have graduates among you and also graduates who are also your children. So, we hereby create an immediate opportunity through your associations to be able to recruit into key areas in the public service where we can need your services. These are not political promises, we keep our promises and we will fulfil all our promises,” Governor Ambode said.

While congratulating the artisans and traders for successfully undergoing the training, the Governor urged them to put all they have learnt to effective practice, and leverage on the endless opportunities of the strategic position of Lagos as one of the fastest growing economies in the world to be solution providers, just as he assured that the State Government would continue to provide and maintain the required infrastructure and conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

Besides, Governor Ambode launched a compendium of artisans in the State to boost the informal sector, and also inaugurated operational bus donated to LACOSTA by the State Government.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti said since the last edition of the event, Governor Ambode, as requested by LACOSTA, had already approved N12million annual subvention to the association and increased the number of beneficiaries in 2017 to 1500 from the 500 that were trained in 2016.

Also, LACOSTA President, Alhaji Nurudeen Buhari commended Governor Ambode for keeping his promise of scaling up the informal sector and prioritizing the interest of artisans and traders in the State. He said as promised by the Governor, many of their members have benefited from the ETF loan, among other fulfilled promises.

MDAs, Civil Servants celebrate Lagos @50 inside Agege Stadium

AgegePulse Magazine

Lagos State Polytechnic was cynosure of all eyes yesterday when a drone created by students of the institution was flown high across the roof of the Agege Stadium during exhibition of various activities by Lagos State MDAs.

The exhibition was part of events lined up by the state government to celebrate Lagos @50.

The hovering of the drone was a beautiful sight to behold for all the Lagos State civil servants, politicians and other dignitaries in the stadium. Many said the technological product is a reassurance of the technical endowment of Lagos State.

His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode ably represented by Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule was full of praise for the workers saying they (workers) have contributed immensely to the success story of the state. He however urged them not to relent on their laurels.

Also, Education District 1, Agege led by TGPS Dr. Ayandele led dignitaries at the exhibition to showcase several works of arts and crafts as well as trophies won by District 1 at various competitions they partook. The district had 2016 One Day Governor, Master Olaseinde among the team who paraded at the exhibition.

Other ministries, agencies and parastatals of the state took turn to parade round the stadium amidst singing, dancing and beautiful displays.

See more images below:

Source: AgegePulse Magazine