Niger Delta
Dep Gov Restates Bayelsa’s Stance On LG Autonomy, Grassroot Dev …As NULGE Hails Bayelsa’s Support
In view of the recent judgment of the Supreme Court granting financial autonomy to the 774 Local Government Areas in the country, the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has clarified that the state government only supervised the councils to drive grassroots development.
He stated this recently when the State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Yenagoa.
The state’s number two man said the joint account with the councils had afforded government the opportunity to supervise its eight councils for prudent utilization of funds to execute rural projects in the various local government areas.
According to him, the “Prosperity Government” has never and will not tamper with council funds, but rather support the councils to meet their obligations at the grassroots level.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo restated that the Bayelsa Government augments the payment of primary school teachers’ monthly salaries in addition to giving funding support for primary healthcare services, and education authorities across the state.
He insisted that the state had made remarkable progress in rural development through prudent management of resources by the local government councils due to effective supervision from the State Government.
The Deputy Governor thanked NULGE for their support to government and condolences over the passing of his brother, promising to convey their requests, including calling for a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss how to relate with the councils.
He, however, noted that the convocation of the summit would depend on the outcome of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum meeting scheduled for this week to review the Supreme Court Judgement on local government autonomy.
“What we have done for the local government system is quite significant and speaks volume. We met local government councils in February 2020, which could not pay staff salaries without borrowing every month.
“But all that is now history. Today, the councils are awarding and executing contracts under the supervision of the State Government.
“We did not tamper with councils’ funds and will never do so. We only supervise to ensure a prudent utilization of funds to foster grassroots development. So, financially, the State Government will not lose anything as a result of the Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy”, he stated.
Speaking earlier, the State NULGE President, Comrade Thank-God Singer, expressed fears that the laudable local government reforms initiated by the present administration might not be sustained if local governments are left without supervision from the state government.
He, therefore, called on the government to convene a stakeholders’ summit to discuss and work out modalities on how to safeguard the local government reforms in the state vis-a-vis the recent Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy.
Comrade Singer, who on behalf of the Union condoled the Deputy Governor over the demise of his brother, appealed to the State Government to provide a bus for the Union and consider qualified council staff for appointment as Permanent Secretaries.
“When some of our colleagues called me after the Supreme Court Judgement, I told them the judgement will not do any new thing to us because we have been enjoying financial autonomy here in Bayelsa.
“Before this government came, most of our councils were insolvent. But today almost all of them are solvent and can pay salaries and even execute projects because of your able supervision, your reforms and labour friendly disposition”, the NULGE boss said.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa
The Delta State House of Assembly has commenced public hearing on the State Human Trafficking (Prohibition) Bill, 2024.
The Tide’s source reports that the public hearing was organised by the House Committee on Housing, Women Affairs, Humanitarian Support Services and Girl Child Entrepreneurship in Asaba.
Chairman of the committee, Mrs Bridget Anyafulu, said the hearing was to provide members of the public the opportunity to offer contributions to the proposed law.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure that the state has a law that adequately answers to the challenges it seems to address and satisfy the needs and aspirations of our people and society.
“We have invited you to join us to make a law that will help to effectively address and eradicate the odious practice of human trafficking in our state.
“We know that as stakeholders, the effective participation in making this law will go a long way in enhancing the quality of the law that will finally emerge from the process”, she said.
Anyafulu assured the stakeholders that the committee would look into their suggestions and consider areas that could help to strengthen the bill as well as enhance its quality.
On her part, the State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Community Support Services and Girl Child Development, Ms. Orode Uduaghan, called for the inclusion of the National Agency for the Protection of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in the implementation process.
It also reports that Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), State Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), among others, were involved in the public hearing.
They commended the State Executive for initiating the bill and called for its speedy passage.
The Federal Government has handed over 24,180 bags of 50kg maize and 5,828 bags of 25kg ‘garri’ to the Akwa Ibom State Government for distribution to vulnerable households.
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, made the presentation on behalf of the Federal Government in Uyo, the State Capital.
Represented by Mrs. Mmandu Aisueni, the Head, Operations, NEMA, Akwa Ibom State office, Umar said the donation was in fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to Nigerians.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government approved the release of 42, 000 metric tonnes of assorted food items from the National Strategic Reserve to vulnerable households.
Umar said that the president’s promise was the government’s way of reducing the impact of the current economic hardship in the country.
“We are here to hand over the food items to the state government for distribution to the intended beneficiaries in the communities”, she said.
The NEMA D-G said that the food items should be shared in the communities through properly constituted committees at the local government levels.
She said membership of the local government committees should include the council chairman, representatives of the State Emergency Management Agency and the traditional institutions.
Umar said 20 per cent of the food items for each council area should be given to religious groups, and that three per cent of it should be given to boarding schools in the area.
Receiving the items, Dr Offiong Offor, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, commended the Federal Government for the intervention.
Offor said that the gesture was a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to the wellbeing of the citizenry.
The commissioner promised that the state government would ensure that the items were given to the intended beneficiaries.
A group, Concerned Obidient Movement, has declared support for Mr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 21 Edo State governorship election.
Leader of the group, Mr. Ikhuenbor Igbinevbo, told newsmen in Benin that the election transcends individual personalities.
“It is a critical moment that will shape the future of Edo. The PDP is creating a climate of renewed political energy that promises sustainable progress.
“Its candidate, Ighodalo, and the deputy, Osarodion Ogie, possess the vision and qualifications that align with the aspirations of Edo people,” he said.
Igbinevbo highlighted the candidates’ deep understanding of the State’s challenges and potential which, he said, positions them to lead the state into a new era of prosperity and responsible governance.
He urged Edo people, both at home and in the Diaspora, to unite in their support for the PDP and its candidates ahead of the election.
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