POLITICS
House of Representatives Committee Summons Ebonyi UBEB Chairman
The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Public Account has summoned Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, Chairman of Ebonyi State Universal Basic Education Board (EBSUBEB) to appear before it in Abuja for alleged insubordination.
The committee issued the summons on Tuesday in Abakaliki during its oversight visit to Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) intervention projects in Ebonyi.
Ikpor was mandated to appear before the committee within one week to explain why he absconded from receiving its members, even when he was duly informed about its visit for oversight function to the board.
The Committee expressed dismay that the chairman did not only abscond, but failed to make necessary documents available to the committee to enable it carry out its constitutional functions, that brought it to the state UBEB office.
The lawmakers directed the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Abuja to suspend further release of funds to the board until funds previously released were properly accounted for.
A motion to that effect was moved by Mrs Miriam Onuoha, representing Isialambano/Onuimo/Okigwe Federal Constituency, and was seconded by Mr Uzoma Abonta, representing Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency respectively.
She said: “I move a motion that the chairman of Ebonyi UBEB should appear before the committee to give us the state of affairs and accountability of how federal government appropriations through UBEC to the board have been implemented.
“He has seven days from today to appear before this South-East House adhoc committee in Abuja; I, so move.”
Briefing Journalists, the committee’s chairman, Chief Chinedu Ogah, representing Ezza south/Ikwo Federal constituency decried the development.
“It is unfair that most of the staff appointed by the governor are not doing what is right.
“They have to build on what the governor has done to deliver services to the masses and there is a letter to the chairman of UBEB from the committee on Public Account.
“We are here to see whether the money that was released is really channelled to the purpose for which it was released.
“A lot is ongoing and the Federal Government (FG), has done marvellously well under President Muhammadu Buhari and that is why we have a reputable national assembly members in the committee.
“We met and spoke with the chairman this morning, but he abandoned us in the office.
“We are unable to see anything and that is why the house moved a motion inviting him to submit all the documents because they cannot subvert the good gesture of Mr President and the governor,” Ogah said.
He, however, commended Gov Dave Umahi, for paying the counterpart funds for all the UBEC projects meant for the state, but regretted the attitude of some of his appointees in handling projects.
At the Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Afikpo, the committee also moved a motion directing the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), to stop release of intervention funds to the institution.
The directive followed the inability of the Rector, Prof. Ogbonnaya Ibenwo to receive the committee at the polytechnic to carry out its oversight duty.
Similarly, the committee frowned at the failure of the management of Alex Ekwueme Federal Univeraity Ndufu – Alike, Ikwo (A-E FUNAI), to provide necessary documents to the committee, on the ground that they were not communicated about the visit.
The committee however, insisted the school was duly communicated about the visit and directed the management to provide all the necessary documents concerning TETFUND projects in the institution.
The committee gave authorities of the university to submit the documents in Abuja within four after which, they would reschedule their visit to the institution.
The Committee also faulted some TETFund projects executed in the Ebonyi State University (EBSU), describing them as shoddy, while some of the projects, according to them, fell short of the actual specifications.
At the Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo, the Committee applauded the management of the institution for religiously executing all the TETFUND projects in the college.
Meanwhile, Ogah who was visibily happy at the level of implementation of the TETFUND projects in the college, pledged to install Solar panel to supply electricity to the institution. (NAN
From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo
The Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, yesterday charged newly inaugurated members of the Osun Central Senatorial District Accord Campaign Committee for Aare Ganiyu Olaoluwa Asejere to deploy their experience and political networks for effective grassroots mobilization, wider public engagement, and strong support for Aare Asejere.
Governor Adeleke gave this charge while speaking at the official Inauguration of the Osun Central Senatorial District Accord Campaign Committee for Aare Ganiyu Olaoluwa Asejere, at Adebimpe event hall, adjacent Osogbo City Stadium, along Ikirun Road,Osogbo.
The Governor who was represented by his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi said, the campaign council committees should intensify grassroots mobilization from now till Election Day.
Governor Adeleke admonished entire people of Osun Central Senatorial district to see themselves as one and remain under the umbrella of the Accord while they should continue to demonstrate their unalloyed love and support for Aare Asejere for him to emerge as the next Senator for the area in January 2027.
“I am appealing to you all my dear people to extend the same love you gave me in the just concluded Governorship election in Osun State to Alhaji Asejere in the forthcoming election as he must be in the Red Chamber by January 2027 by the power of the Almighty God” Governor Adeleke stressed.=
Yeye Dupe Adeleke Sanni, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun and a current Commissioner in Osun, Hon Bunmi Jenyo, while inaugurating the committee, charged them to be up and doing and work towards the victory of Aare Asejere in the coming election.
“The committee should make sure our Accord candidate for Osun Central Senatorial district wins the Senatorial election to the Senate as Aare Asejere’s Senatorial ambition is a round peg in a round hole towards the development and betterment of the people”.
The Chairman of the Campaign Committee and Secretary to the Osun State Government, Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye as well as the Director-General of the Asejere Campaign Committee and the incumbent Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, while speaking congratulated Aare Asejere in advance saying, nothing will stop his emergence as Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial district in the coming election by God’s Grace and people’s support.
Also the Osun Accord Chairman, Pastor Victor Akande enjoyed the newly inaugurated committee for the emergence of Aare Asejere to see the assignment as a task which they should not take with levity.
“Our man, Aare Asejere has been tested, he has never been found wanting, he’s a man of his word and he is a complete grassroots politician who loves to develop people, let us join hands together and support his ambition”, Pastor Akande said.
Responding, Aare Asejere who was highly elated for seeing large numbers of people from far and near promised not to let the people of Osun Central Senatorial district down, adding that he will ensure he involves the whole people in his performance while his representation will be meaningful.
Aare Asejere once again called on the people of Osun Central to vote him in as the Senator representing the district assured that he will not fail them.
He appreciated Governor Ademola Adeleke in absentia, his deputy, the SSG, Bobagunwa Igbalaiye, Oluomo Alimi, Yeye Dupe-Sanni, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon Egbedun, Hon Abesin, Hon
Funso Ishola, party leaders, members of the Accord, community leaders, Iyaloja-General and her team, Oluomo Rasaki, Hon Adigun Olaide, among others.
By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously called for urgent and coordinated actions to protect Nigerian girls from child marriage and other harmful practices.
The call followed a motion of urgent national importance moved by the member representing Kosofe Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Rep.
Kafilat Ogbara, in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, marked every October 11th.Ogbara, while moving the motion, decried the prevalence of child marriage and other harmful practices against the girl child.
She called on government at all levels to strengthen national programmes aimed at preventing child marriage and protecting girls at risk.
The Speaker, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, in adopting the motion, also urged governments at all levels to ensure that every girl child has access to education, and quality healthcare.
The theme for the 2026 commemoration siught to reaffirm commitment to ending child marriage and upholding the fundamental rights of every girl child.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restated its commitment to an inclusive electoral process.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Prof. Adeniran Tella, stated this on Wednesday in Ibadan at a training programme for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) ahead of the 2027 general election.
Tella noted that persons with one form of disability or another constitute an important segment of the society.
He said such individuals are citizens with equal rights, responsibilities, aspirations and contributions to make towards the development of the country.
He said: “The commission recognises that electoral inclusion goes beyond permitting PWDs to register and vote.
“It also involves ensuring that they have access to reliable electoral information, understand electoral procedures, can access polling units and are able to participate in other aspects of the electoral process.”
Tella said the commission would provide relevant assistive devices such as magnifying glasses, Braille guides and posters for voters with hearing impairments at polling units to give Persons with Disabilities a more pleasant voting experience on election days.
He added that INEC guidelines and regulations provide that priority should be accorded to PWDs at polling units without them having to wait in long queues during voting.
He further said that eligible PWDs would be engaged and trained as ad-hoc staff during the elections.
The REC explained that the objective of the commission was to ensure that eligible PWDs in the state were not discouraged, excluded or prevented by avoidable barriers from exercising their franchise during the elections.
He further asserted that “democracy is stronger when every eligible citizen has a fair opportunity to participate in shaping its future.”
He urged PWDs across the state to cooperate with the commission to remove avoidable barriers, promote electoral awareness and encourage peaceful participation.
The state Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Oluwaranti Abiodun, commended INEC for giving special consideration to PWDs ahead of the forthcoming general election.
Abiodun urged the electoral body to give priority to the plights of Persons with Disabilities when planning its activities towards the conduct of the elections.
He demanded that more consideration should be given to eligible PWDs who are interested in working as ad-hoc staff.
He also called on members of the association to support INEC and be ready to perform their civic responsibilities during the 2027 elections. (NAN)
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