Okowa signs 4 Bills into law, to set up Economic Council

  

TO ensure cohesion between state and local government councils in the speedy delivery of democratic dividends, Delta State Governor, Senator  Ifeanyi Okowa  has assented to a Bill for the setting up of an Economic Planning Council in the state.

Governor Okowa, sitting, signing the bills into law .

Apart from the Delta State Economic Planning Council Bill 2016 which was presented to the Governor for assent by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya who was accompanied by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi and other principal Officers (01/07/16) in Asaba,  three other Bills were also presented and signed into Law by the Governor. 

They were Delta State Security Trust Fund (amendment Bill) 2016, Delta State Anti-kidnapping (amendment) Bill 2016 and the Delta State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy (amendment) Bill 2016.

Okowa in a group photograph with principal officers of DTHA and some cabinet
members.

Governor Okowa who said he was excited to have signed the Bills into law expressed confidence that the economic situation of the state and the country would improve in the next few months.

He assured Deltans of continuous infrastructural development  and that the passage of the Economic Planning Council bill was to bring it in line with the  Nigerian Constitution to ensure that the Local Government Council were carried along in the developmental planning in the state and also, avoid duplication of projects.

According to the Governor, "in this particular law, local government Chairmen will be brought in as members of the Council and it will enable us to compare notes on economic plans between the local government councils and the state government,  and  ensure greater partnership in the delivery of economic dividends for our people."

Governor Okowa who took time to explain the importance of the four laws to the government and people of Delta State, disclosed that the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy would be constituted in the next few weeks because of its importance in looking at issues concerning "persons who have been condemned and those who are held in the Prisons."

On the anti-kidnapping Law, the Governor said, "kidnapping of persons for money is on the increase across the country and with the signing of the law,  security agents are now empowered to  ensure that those directly involved in kidnappings and their accomplices are sentenced and their property destroyed to serve as deterrent to others; the state government will not spare anybody, there will be no sentiment there will be no friendship in ensuring that we live in peace for development to take place."

The Delta State Security Trust Fund Law (amended) 2016, according to Governor Okowa, "was passed in the past but it was not made operational. We want to operationalize the law and with contributions from the state and private sector, fund will be available to provide equipment and logistics and support security agencies' operations in the state."

The governor commended the Speaker and members of the State House of Assembly  for their support and co-operation in delivering democratic dividends to the people.

Earlier, Rt. Hon. Igbuya, while presenting the Bills to Governor Okowa said that the Bills were speedily attended to and passed to enable the governor pursue vigorously his developmental agenda for the state.  

Recognise Sheriff and end this mess, Cairo Ojougboh tells PDP

By Kolapo Olapoju

Factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ali Modu Sheriff, speaking through his deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, has asked the opposition party to recognise him as substantive chairman to put an end to its lingering internal strife.

Ojougboh’s comment was in reaction to a statement put out on Saturday by the national working committee of the PDP headed by Ahmed Makarfi.

Dr. Cairo Ojougbo

Speaking to The Punch, Ojougboh on behalf of the Sheriff faction said, “Adeyeye would put the party in further mess with his utterances.

“If that’s true (the allegation against Sheriff), Adeyeye should also blame the PDP governors who invited him to come and head the party. What he’s saying won’t help the party at all. In any case, the earlier the party gives full recognition to Sheriff, the earlier we will be out of this mess.”

Sheriff was accused of being sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to destroy the party – by creating division and ill-feeling within the ranks.

The interim spokesman of the group, Dayo Adeyeye, had said Sheriff was “on a designed mission to kill and destroy the party and all its gains in nurturing and sustaining democracy in the country.

“Sheriff and his group have been shopping and approaching law courts with dubious information for interlocutory orders to keep them afloat, until it frustrates governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states as designed by their sponsors. Legitimacy in politics is not given through a procured interlocutory injunction but through the mandate of the people, and Sheriff and his cohorts will soon realise this.

“We are aware that Sheriff’s sponsors have urged him to sustain his illicit role for a while and create a semblance of a faction in the party to give way for some elected PDP members to take the advantage to defect, but unknown to them, members of our great party are aware of their game and have vowed to resist them.”

Source: thecableng

Jonathan, Patience receive ‘heroic welcome’ on return to Nigeria

It was a carnival-like atmosphere at the Port Harcourt international airport on Sunday evening, as former President Goodluck Jonathan returned to the country after an international tour.

Jonathan, acknowledging the crowd on his return.

Accompanied by his wife,  Patience, Jonathan who wore a black suit with his usual Niger Delta hat to match waved with smiles to the jubilant crowd who received him.

The atmosphere was similar to the days when he was in power.

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, led top government officials to welcome the immediate past president.

 Security personnel were also on ground to control the crowd of supporters who thronged the airport to welcome the former first family.

After exchanging pleasantries with some associates, Jonathan interacted with Wike and some of his aides before departing to his hometown of Otuoke in neighbouring Bayelsa state.

Jonathan left Nigeria on June 4 after spending only 48 hours in the country.

Within that period, he met with President Muhammadu Buhari, and both men were believed to have discussed about the resurgence of militancy.

While in England, he delivered a speech at a session organised by Bloomberg, and later granted an interview where he said he was being investigated for corruption.

The comment sparked reactions, particularly on social media.

Source: thecableng

Avengers blow up oil pipelines in Delta state

Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) have blown up no fewer than three oil installations located at various points in Delta state. Observers see the resumed attacks on oil installation as evidence of the collapse of the cease fire pact between the group and the federal government

Initially, the militants denied having any agreement with the government in spite of the withdrawal of troops from the Niger Delta region to give room for dialogue.

When they eventually accepted dialogue, the group gave their demands, warning that failure to meet the conditions would lead to a new round of violence.

“We want a peace with honour not a peace of our time,” Mudoch Agbinibo, spokesman of the group, had said.

However, in a new messages posted on its Twitter account, the NDA said it damaged five oil pipelines between Friday and Sunday.

The group usually announces its attacks through its website and social media accounts.

The pipelines said to be affected in the fresh attacks are:

§  Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Crude Oil Trunk Line to Warri Refinery.

§  Two Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) crude trunk lines in Delta state.

§  WELL 7 and WELL 8 close to Abiteye flow station in Delta state.

All the attacks happened after the Department of State Services (DSS) announced that it had arrested two members of the group.

Avengers had denied the arrest of its members, claiming that those in DSS custody were “sleeper agents” of the secret police.

Ibrahim Idris, acting inspector-general of police, paid a visit to some communities in the stronghold of militancy, seeking the support of stakeholders to end hostilities.

President Muhammadu Buhari has also appealed to the militants to stop sabotaging government’s efforts, with Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for state for petroleum, touring some places in Gbaramatu kingdom in Delta state, also a hotbed of militant attacks.

Nigeria’s oil production level soared during the two weeks that the militants suspended their attacks.

Source: thecableng

Governors can be arrested, the era of absolute immunity gone, says Falana

By News Agency

Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says any president or governor who commits criminal act could be arrested while in office.

He said the Supreme Court had ruled out absolute immunity, therefore governors involved in criminal charges, including the leadership of the national assembly, must face the law.

Femi Falana, SAN

Falana said this in Benin on Saturday while speaking on: ‘Limit of executive immunity’ at a ceremony to mark the 60th birthday of Julius Ihonvebere, secretary to the state government (SSG) of Edo.

Faulting the invitation extended to Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation, by the leadership of the senate, Falana urged Senate President Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu, his deputy, to face the forgery charges against them.

He accused the senate of politicising the issue, saying: “they have no immunity to dodge the charges against them.

“The senate is now politicising the issue, saying it is political victimisation but not that the offence was not committed.

“As leaders of the national assembly, you are supposed to be above board and that is even the more reason you must be careful.”

The lawyer said Malami is not answerable to the senate, insisting that: “Any issue that is criminal in nature must be treated as such.

“The attorney-general of the federation is only answerable to his boss, who is the president and nobody else.

“The same thing applies to the states, so there is no longer absolute immunity in this country.

“And that is why what is happening in Ekiti today about money found in a bank and the governor is saying it is illegal to freeze his account, that is not true.”

Source: thecableng

Boko Haram insurgents come to Lagos every day, says army

By News Agency

Isidore Edet, general officer commanding (GOC) 81 Div. of the Nigerian army in Lagos, on Sunday said the division arrests Boko Haram insurgents on a daily basis.

Edet said members of the sect who flee the superior power of the military in the north-east come to Lagos.

He made the assertion at the inter-denominational service organised to commemorate the Nigerian army celebration day at Saint Charles Lwanga Catholic Church, Ikeja cantonment.

“Almost on a daily basis, we arrest Boko Haram members that flee into Lagos just like they flee to other places,” he said.

“They have seen that the war is being won so they are running, so the army in conjunction with other security agencies arrest them almost on a daily basis.

“Initially they deny when we ask them questions, but when we probe further, they start revealing where they fought, how they killed soldiers, how they detonated bombs in post office, Maiduguri and so on.

“By this, we do what we need to do by sending them to the higher authorities to do what the laws and the constitution of Nigeria says it will do with them.”

Edet said the officers and soldiers in the army should be thankful to God for witnessing another army celebration day, adding that many colleagues had died during the fight against Boko Haram insurgents.

“Many of our colleagues have died in this war against Boko Haram insurgents. Some of them, we have seen their graves and some, we did not see,” he said.

“So, we have every reason for those that are still alive to thank God for giving us victory against Boko Haram insurgents.

“So many others are amputated; some are even using crutches because they fought against Boko Haram insurgents so that we would have one country.

“About a year ago, we were object of public ridicule, those of us in uniforms, if we talk, the public will say go and fight Boko Haram insurgents and stop making noise.

“But we thank today that the Almighty God who trained our hands for war has taken the shame away.

“And now Nigerians are proud of us again as their soldiers saying we are at the front line.”

Source: thecableng

Minimum wage committee begins deliberations

The 15-man committee inaugurated by the Federal Government on the implementation of the new minimum wage for workers has started sitting.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered from some members of the committee at the weekend that it had met once.

Mr Chris Onyedika, Acting General Secretary of a faction of the NLC and a member of the 15-man committee, also confirmed that it had started deliberations on the agreement reached between the Federal Government and factions of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in May, this year.

``The 15-man committee will review the Federal Government’s liberalisation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, leading to the new fuel pump price of N145 per litre.

``The committees will discuss and recommend a new national minimum wage, the N500 billion palliatives being proposed by the Federal Government and the re-constitution of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency Board, among other issues, before presenting their recommendations to government,’’ Onyedika said.

NAN recalls that the government in May increased the price of Petrol from N97.00 to N145 per litre, which led to some agitation and a warning strike by Organised Labour.

The Joint Negotiation Council had also started to agitate for an increase in national minimum wage for workers, which was last reviewed five years ago.

Meanwhile, at this year’s International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference in Geneva , Switzerland, participants encouraged the ILO to promote the ratification and implementation of the Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970.
The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the two central labour organizations in the country have proposed N56, 000 as the new national minimum wage to the Federal Government, as against the current N18, 000.
The current national minimum wage law which prescribed N18, 000 was enacted in 2011. (NAN)