POLITICS
Bayelsa Saved N2.3bn From LGA Reforms, Says Gov Diri
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has revealed that the reforms initiated and implemented by his administration led to the saving of the sum of N2.3 billion in the local government councils.
Governor Diri disclosed this on Monday at the opening ceremony of an orientation programme organised for newly-elected local government chairmen, vice chairmen, councilors and principal officers at Perdis Hotel, Akenfa.
The governor stated that on assumption of office in 2020, some local government councils were highly indebted and unable to pay salaries. But the administration took measures that resulted in regular payment of salaries, execution of projects and saving of funds.
The Bayelsa chief executive restated his call on the Federal Government to create additional local councils in the state, saying it was unfair for some states to have more than 40 councils and receiving monthly allocation from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee while the state had only eight.
He charged the newly elected local government officials to make good use of the two-day workshop to equip themselves with the requisite knowledge to carry out their responsibilities.
The governor also called on them to work as a team to ensure that development was felt at the grassroots.
He said: “Local governments as of 2020 were unable to pay salaries, particularly Nembe, Ogbia, Ekeremor and Sagbama. There was some form of dissatisfaction in the system.
“After I went through the recommendations of the Deputy Governor, whom I entrusted with investigating the local government, I wasted no time in approving the recommendations.
“The recommendations included the ban on loans from any source by local government chairmen without approval of the governor, compulsory savings by every council, and the division of balance after payment of salaries into 60 and 40 per cent respectively. One part was for compulsory savings and the other to project implementation and immediate commencement of computerisation of their payroll as well as compulsory quarterly award of projects by each council chairman.
“We found a lot of fraud in the local government system. But as it stands today, our councils have N2.3billion as a result of the combination of the factors of reforms and proper supervision of that tier of government.
“The breakdown is N400million compulsory savings while N1.9 billion for capital projects. This is aside from the one done by caretaker committees in terms of project execution within the short period they stayed.”
Diri assured of his administration’s commitment to support the councils to achieve their goals, and expressed confidence that the new officials would meet the expectations of the people.
“We firmly believe that good governance begins at the grassroots level. That is precisely why we have gathered here to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to improve our local government administration and enhance service delivery.
“I recognise the immense responsibility you have to bear as representatives of the people at the local government level. Remember, you have been entrusted with the mandate to serve and uplift our rural dwellers and communities. I have no doubt that you will work diligently to fulfill this obligation.
“I urge you, particularly our chairmen, to encourage teamwork, financial probity and prudent expenditure of projects.”
Earlier, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Development, Mr. Ifidi Ebiware, urged the new local government officials to avail themselves of the opportunity presented by the training to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform their duties.
Mr. Ebiware also admonished them to justify the confidence reposed in them by implementing people-oriented policies that will impact positively on the people at the grassroots
He thanked Governor Diri, his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission and other stakeholders who ensured a hitch-free electoral exercise
By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
The Northern Senators Forum; an umbrella body comprising the entire senators from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory yesterday denied orchestrating a plan to impeach the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio together with other principal officers of the Senate.
The Chairman of the Forum, Senator AbdullAziz Yar Adua who dismissed the reports as fake advised Nigerians to focus on issues bothering on national development and not baseless and unfounded reports,such as was yesterday reported by an online platform.
Senator Yar Adua (APC, Katsina Central) while reacting to the reports by northern Senators to impeach at the Senate Press Center, Abuja in company of Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South) said the Senate,under the leadership of Godswill Akpabio was conducting it’s proceedings without rancour and division, blaming the reports of Akpabio’s impeachment plot on mischief makers that means no good for the country.
“There’s no such plot,plan or an idea to impeach or topple the leadership of the Senate by anyone or group, especially the Northern Senators Forum who I’m their Chairman. Such reports should not only be discarded as baseless and unfounded but should be seen as the handiwork of mischief makers,who want to bring the name of Northern Senators Forum to disrepute.
“We are solidly behind the leadership of Godswill Akpabio,the Senate President. We have not had any rancour or division within our fold as Senators,so why should anyone think and align us with such information?”, the retired Army Colonel queried.
Speaking in the same vein, the Senate Committee Chairman on Media Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu expressed his displeasure with the online report, which surfaced in the early hours of yesterday claiming that the Northern Senators were aggrieved with the policies of the Federal Government, prompting the senators to move against the impeachment of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and other principal officers.
For Senator Adaramodu, ” I came to the Press Center with the Chairman of Northern Senators Forum, my respected colleague, Senator AbdullAziz Yar Adua to tell Nigerians that the report were ill conceived and of no value, considering the fact that all the entire senators are solidly behind the Senate leadership.”
He however advised Nigerians to pray for the government at all levels, saying that its success is not limited to those in power but the entirety of Nigerians.
On the hardship Nigerians are passing through following the federal government petroleum and tax reforms, the Ekiti lawmaker said, ” we, as the people’s representatives, are not unaware and oblivious of the sufferings orchestrated by the recent tax and petroleum reforms. We feel it as well because we are also part of the society. If you recall, the Senate summoned the Chief Tax Officer (the FIRS BOSS) Tuesday to explain the situation to us. We are also engaging the NNPC, together with our colleagues at the House of Representatives. So, very soon we will be through with them. And afterwards, we shall make our position as the legislative arm of government known to Nigerians.
However, a national assembly publication, Order Paper had reported earlier yesterday that security was beefed up yesterday at the National Assembly to avert the possibility of a forceful change of the Senate leadership; attributing the plot to northern senators that were aggrieved by Federal Government policies.
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The All Progressive Congress (APC) Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Sen. Sunday Stephen Karimi, has disbursed over N24 million to support LG electioneering campaign activities across all the seven local government areas in his constituency.The seven local government areas include: Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Yagba East, Yagba West, Mopamuro, Kontokarfi/Kogi and Lokoja.
According to a statement by the Senator Karimi media team (DSSK), the fund is meant to support all the Chairmanship Candidates and their Vice, as well as all the Councilorship candidates in over 70 wards across the seven LGAs of Kogi west, towards the October 19th LG elections in Kogi State. It said N1 million was disbursed to each of the seven Chairmanship candidates, N500,000 to each of the Vice chairmanship candidates, and N200,000 to each of the over 70 councilorship candidates across the 7 LGAs in Kogi west senatorial district.The DSSK media team described Sen. Karimi as true people-centric Lawmaker who is committed to championing good governance and improving the well-being of his constituents especially at the grassroots.The DSSK Media team said: “Distinguished Senator Sunday Karimi’s generous contributions to the 7 Local Governments in Kogi west are highly commendable, especially in preparation for the forthcoming Local Government elections on October 19th.”These donations demonstrate Senator Karimi’s commitment to empowering local leaders and enhancing community development in Kogi West.”As a lawmaker representing Kogi West, senator Karimi has promised good representation, good roads, good medical facilities, empowerment, and many other dividends of democracy ¹.”His leadership and philanthropy have made a significant impact in the communities, and it is very clear that he is dedicated to serving humanity.”May Almighty God continue to guide and guard Senator Karimi’s path as he serves the people of Kogi West”.It would be recalled that Sen. Karimi handed over a newly built and well equipped military base to the Nigerian Army in Egbe, Yagba West LGA, to address rising kidnapping and banditry, and improve security in Kogi and some areas in Kwara State.The military forward operating base (FOB) was commissioned on Saturday in Egbe, by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
The leadership crisis rocking the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been resolved by the party’s Governors Forum and the Board of Trustees (BoT).This development was announced by the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Mohammed, who fielded questions from Journalists at the Private Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on his way to Ondo State for PDP governorship campaign, added that all members of the NWC have been directed to revert to the status quo before the crisis erupted last Friday. According to the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, “The crisis is over. The governors, Board of Trustees, and other organs have resolved that the NWC should revert to the status quo. They are now united.”The governor, accompanied by the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, while travelling to Ondo State for a PDP gubernatorial campaign rally, announced that suspensions from both factions had been lifted.Also speaking, Damagum confirmed that the crisis is over, adding, “The party is united, and no members of the NWC left before.”The mutual suspicion among PDP NWC members over alleged anti-party activities of the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum and the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwun boiled over last Thursday when some member almost engage in physical fight during the NWC meeting.Few hours later the National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba announced the suspension of Damagum and his replacement with Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the new Acting National Chairman.Damagum reacted by directing the National Publicity Secretary and the National Legal Advisor to “step aside” and to face a disciplinary panel.Daily Asset gathered on Tuesday that final decision in the leadership logjam in the party will be laid to rest when the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meet on October 24.The camp of the Acting National Chairman is believed within the PDP circle of working to ensure the meeting did not hold over possibility of NEC appointing a substantive National Chairman from the North Central.The PDP BoT at its meeting last Thursday advised the NWC to ensure the October 24 NEC meeting is held as earlier agreed by various organs and leaders of the party.
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