NEWS
ICYMI: Mbah Inaugurates State Human Capital Development Council

From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah has constituted the State Human Development Council, stressing that human capital remains the true wealth of any nation.The Council, which has the Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai, as the Chairman, comprises several members of the State Executive Council, heads of MDAs, and representatives of the legislature, Local Governments, traditional institutions, the Church, and the civil society.
Inaugurating the Council at the Government House on Thursday, Mbah said that the setting up of the Council was in line with the premium, which his administration places on human capital development. He, therefore, urged members to brace up for the task ahead.This is largely responsible for the huge investment we have done in education, the human skills and enhancement programmes and, of course, healthcare.Responding, Chairman of the Council, Barr. Ossai, assured governor of the members’ total commitment to delivering on the Council’s terms of reference, noting that the imperativeness of the Council was underscored by the fact that everything the government was doing, from Green Smart Schools to the Primary Healthcare Centres, Transport Terminals, Farm Estates, roads, among others, were all about human beings.Meanwhile, fielding questions from Government House correspondents, a member of the Council and the Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Samuel Asadu, described the Council as a game-changing initiative.Other members of the Council are the State Focal Person on Human Capital Development/Secretary of Council, Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodu and the Deputy Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Ezenta Ezeani.Other members drawn from the State Assembly are Hon. Iloabuchi Aniagu, Hon. Okey Mbah, Hon. Jane Eneh, and Hon. Chukwuma Ekwueme.Those drawn from the State Executive Council are Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubeuze Mbah; Commissioner for Health, Dr. Emmanuel Obi; Commissioner for Labour and Employment, Hon. Chika Ugwuoke; Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Chris-Roberts Ozongwu; Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Nathaniel Urama; Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Ngozi Enih; and the Hon. Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Malachy Agbo.Other members are Chairman, Enugu State Local Government Service Commission, Nana Ogbodo; Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Enugu State, Hon. Okechukwu Edeh; Special Adviser to the Governor on MSME and Digital Economy, Arinze Chilo-Offia; Executive Secretary, Enugu State Economic Planning Commission, Dan Onyishi; Assistant State Focal Person, Human Capital Development, Queen Ugwu; and Lucy Harry-Enwu, drawn from the Ministry of Information.Also, on the Council are Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ike and the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Calistus Onaga as well as the representative of Enugu civil society organisations, Ozor Ugonna.NEWS
Senate Gives NNPCL Three Weeks to Answer Queries Over Missing N210 trillion

By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
The Senate through its Committee on Public Accounts, yesterday gave the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) three weeks to respond to queries raised against it in the Audit Reports of 2017 to 2023, alleging unaccountability of N210trillion.
This is as the Committee chaired by Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu (SDP, Nasarawa West) insisted that the amount in question was neither stolen or missing, but yet to be accounted for.
However, the three weeks window for explanations was given to the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Engineer Bayo Ojulari after he finally honoured the senate invitation after four previous failures, with an unreserved apology which the senate accepted.
Ojulari had after his apology to the Committee, explained to its members that for satisfactory response from him on the 19 queries raised, he needed more time to dig into the technicalities and perspectives of the issues raised.
” I’m just over 100 days in office as the GCEO of NNPCL. Please I will need time to do further digging, given the perspectives I have heard now into the issues. This is coming in the midst of a huge national assignment. Your explanation has now changed my perspective about the subject matter.
” I need to understand the issues myself so I can respond appropriately. I will get a team to help me get the details properly reconciled, so we can work to provide answers to the queries.
” In doing this, I will surely engage the external auditors and other relevant groups “, he said.
Though he requested for four weeks, the Committee granted him three weeks which according to him is enough for the response expected from NNPCL.
Explaining the nitty gritty of the queries to the NNPCL GCEO, Senator Wadada said the N210trillion unaccounted for were in two components of N103trillion liabilities and N107trillion assets which according to him must be accounted for.
“There are none out of the 18 or 19 questions we have on NNPCL from us as a Committee, neither did it come from the Executive or Judiciary. They are questions extracted from the audited financial statement of the NNPCL by the Auditor General for the period spanning 2017 to 2023.
” Also this Committee had not at any time said the N210trillion in question as far as the queries are concerned was stolen or missing. What the Committee is doing is investigation on queries raised in the report, in line with its constitutional mandate.
” Therefore , the Committee is giving NNPCL three weeks to forward written responses to it on all the 19 queries after which the GCEO will be invited along with other management staff for physical appearance and defence”, he said.
Earlier before the ruling of the Chairman, virtually all members of the Committee spoke on the seriousness of the issues at stake but expressed optimism that the GCEO will clear the air on them.
Specifically, Senator Victor Umeh ( LP, Anambra Central) said : ” We are happy to have you because we have been waiting for you. One thing that must be stated clearly is that we need transparency, and NNPCL is in possession of Nigeria’s economic prosperity”.
Senator Babangida Hussaini ( APC, Jigawa North West ) in his comments said there was need for NNPCL management team to look into the issues raised since governance is a continuum, stressing that the issues were germane and critical.
But another member of the Committee, Senator Tony Nwoye (LP, Anambra North)said ” It is very important and germane to give them ( NNPCL) fair hearing. Maybe the audited report is not correct”.
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NEWS
Tor Tiv Lauds Tinubu’s Wife’s Condolence Visit to Benue

…..says our killers are in Nasarwa State
From Attah Ede Makurdi
The Paramount Ruler of the Tor Tiv nation Orcivirigh Prof James Ayatse, has emphatically postulated that the terrorists attacking Benue innocent citizens come from Nasarwa State and after massively killing the people withdraw back to Nasarawa State
The Begha u Tiv who disclosed this to the Nigerian First Lady at Government House Makurdi today during the condolence visit to the state described the condolence visit of the Nigerian First Lady and wife of the President Mrs Oluremi Tinubu as distinct.
He said that the first lady coming to the state after the visit of her husband following the aftermath of gruesome murder of over two hundred people at Yelewata is a demonstration of a great caring mother of the nation and a pillar of support to the President and all Nigerians.
The Tor Tiv maintained that her visit at the material time has provided additional comfort in consoling the bereaved people of Benue State stressing that the two visits by President Tinubu and his wife was a deep demonstration of their commitment towards the protection of lives and property of Nigerian citizens.
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Police Reunite 35 Rescued Kidnapped Victims with Families

The Police Command in Niger, says it has reunited 35 rescued kidnapped victims and survivors with their families in Niger.
This is contained in a statement by its Public Relations officer, Wasiu Abiodun, on Tuesday in Minna.
According to the statement the rescued victims consist of 16 women and 19 children.
The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Niger, Adamu Elleman, represented by the DCP investigation, Ibrahim Adamu, said the victims were from Kagara, Tegina and Agwara.
According to the CP, the victims had been in custody for some period for counselling and deradicalisation processes before handed over to their Council Chairman of Rafi LGA and relatives.
He appealed to members of the public to continue to cooperate with the police by providing actionable information on criminal activities.