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Ebonyi increases salaries of LG officials THE Ebonyi State government has increased the salaries of public officer at the local government. The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Kenneth. Uhuo, disclosed this in Abakaliki while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state executive council meeting. According to him, the government took the decision because this was what obtained in the other states in the South East. Commissioner for Local Government And Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Matthias Adum, said councillors, co-coordinators and chairmen were beneficiaries of the new salary package. Adum said based on the new salary structure, the local governments would now have more money to execute important projects since, according to him, the former duplication of functions through development centres had been erased. “They will now have more money to concentrate on their projects because the workforce is now reduced. The salary dropped to about 65 per cent and we will have more savings. The governor, Martin Elechi, is desirous that the council governments emulate his style of delivering democracy dividends to the people by improving on their performance,” Adum reiterated. In his own reaction, the Abakaliki Local Government Area chairman, Mr. Matthew Uguru, said the new salary structure was a welcome development, stating that with that, the council public officers would now have money to attend to their private and constituency needs.
Ebonyi awards water contracts IN its effort to tackle the perennial problem of water scarcity and the resurgence of guinea-worm infestation in its domain, Ebonyi government yesterday awarded contracts for the construction of new water schemes in the state at the cost of N3, 983,704.43. The government also engaged some consultants to closely monitor and supervise the rural electrification project contract awarded by the former administration of Dr. Sam Egwu. Speaking during the contract signing ceremony in his office, the state Commissioner for Public Utilities, Mr. Celestine Nwali, who acted on behalf of the government, disclosed that the contract for the construction of water treatment plant (100,000m per day) at Ohoffia Ukawu in Onicha Local Council of the state, was awarded to Ganza Engineering Limited. He added that the contract for the second scheme situated at Oferekpe in Ikwo Local Council could not be signed same day as earlier envisaged due to what he called "some grey areas" noticed by the contractor that were yet to be ironed out. He, however, assured that the agreement for the contract awarded to Gilmor Engineering Nigeria Limited would be signed next week.
Probe of Ebonyi indigene's murder on course, say police EBONYI State Police Command has said that contrary to the belief in certain quarters that it is foot-dragging in investigating the murder of one Christian Erema of Umuogudakpu in Ohaukwu Local Council of the state, it has made some remarkable in-roads. The command explained that it wanted to ensure that normalcy returned to the area first before making arrests. The Police Public Relations Officer, Frederick N-Nuudam, told The Guardian that the command had recorded some arrests and is still waiting for reports of some of the various agencies sent to the area to arrest the breakdown of law and order. According to N-Nuudam, the command is not in a hurry to disclose what it is doing to bring about permanent peace to the area. He noted that officers on ground are equal to the task, since according to him, the Acting Commissioner of Police who accompanied Governor Martin Elechi to the area is determined to solve the problem of incessant crises in the local council. Chairman of Ohaukwu Council, Sunday Inyima, had at a press conference in Abakaliki, wondered why the Police were yet to swoop into action after Governor Elechi had directed the command to investigate the murder of Erema. Inyima also condemned the petition allegedly written by one of the parties to the crisis and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Mr. Christian Oselebe, to the Inspector of Police (IGP), asking the IGP to order an investigation into the destruction of property by some youths from Aminyi clan.
Ebonyi communal crisis latest: SSG, council boss at war THE communal crisis in Ngbo, Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State which led to the death of two young men and the destruction of some houses, has taken a new twist. The Council chairman, Mr Sunday Elechi Inyima and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Fidelis Mbam, are now trading blames over the escalation of the civil unrest in the area. The bone of contention, this time around, is the query issued by the SSG to the council chairman directing him to explain why he failed to render security report on the lawlessness leading to the destruction of lives and property, looting and maiming of innocent people by two groups within his are of jurisdiction. But addressing newsmen in Abakaliki, the Ohaukwu council boss disclosed that he promptly forwarded a report on the killing of one Erema Christian of Umuogudu Akpu, Ngbo in the area to the state Governor and the supervising Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters. Inyima disclosed that what actually triggered off the chaos was the attack on the young graduate, Erema, who later died a day after he was thoroughly beaten by youths from Ndioyibe. He declared: ''On learning of the outbreak of fresh ogre of violence, he alongside the DPO and assisted by the Deputy Commissioner of Police went round the area talking to the youths to give peace a chance.'' Inyima regretted the query by the SSG was issued two days after he (Council Chairman) had written the Governor over the crisis. He wondered what the written note sent to the DPO by the SSG was meant to achieve ''when in fact the police are doing all in their power to douse tension and carry out investigation into the remote and immediate causes of the crisis as well as those behind the breach of law and order.''
Ebonyi Raises N200m For VVF Centre More than N200m was realized when the wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Martin Elechi, Mrs. Josephine Elechi, formally presented and organized a fund raising ceremony for her pet project, Mother and Child Care Initiative. It was a day that everybody was jolted by the realities of the menace of the Vesico-Vaginal Fistula. The occasion, which was chaired by the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Dave Umahi, who donated N10m on behalf of his family, also attracted prominent citizens of the state including Senators Julius Ucha, Anthony Agbo and Elder Anyim Ude. Mrs. Elechi noted that before 1996, when the state was created, its people had suffered years of neglect; saying that backwardness, poverty, ignorance, illiteracy and lack of basic amenities still affect the people. She said she has decided to use her position to explore ways of addressing some of the challenges confronting women, children and other vulnerable groups in the society. "I have articulated a comprehensive home-grown programme in Mother and Child Care Initiative, (MCCI) as a vehicle for galvanizing partnerships that with facilitate the mitigation of some pertinent issues that affect women and children". Mrs. Elechi disclosed that when completed, the VVF center for which the fund raising was organized, would be responsible for the training of personnel in VVF management in the Southeast. The State Governor, Martin Elechi, said the beauty of the MCCI lies in the fact that its thrust is at the heart of his administration's action plan. "I find the MCCI most supportive and complementary to the efforts of government, especially in the attainment of the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)," he said. The State commissioner for Health and Environment, Dr. Sunday Z. Nwangele pointed out that in MCCI, the state's first lady had articulated a redemptive approach, which, he said, would enhance safe motherhood practices, control and prevent breast/cervical cancers, establish Ebonyi youth development Center and facilitate rural girl-child education.
Ebonyi Indigenes in US Decry Neglect Indigenes of Edda Community of Ebonyi State resident in the United States have decried the continuedneglect of the area by successive governments, both at the state and Federal levels. The body also urged the Martins Elechi administration in Ebonyi State to reinstate the Eze Adda, Chima Onu Chima and the Igboeze Akanna of Ekoli, both of whom were deposed by the Sam Egwu administration in the interest of peace and harmony in Ebonyi State.Edda community which comprises 72 villages have been clamouring for a separate identity as against the present situation where they are lumped with Afikpo people. The area is rich in mineral resources and home to the Amucho cave, a veritable tourist attraction which served as bomb shelter during the Nigeria civil war. Over 90 per cent of Ebonyi indigenes in the US are reputed to be of Edda extraction.
Egwu Bemoans Loss Of PDP Chairmanship Immediate past Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Sam Egwu has said that despite the outcome of the recent national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it was unthinkable for him to contemplate changing his political platform. He said that as a loyal party man, he accepts the choice of Chief Vincent Ogbulafor as the party's national chairman in good faith "since it was a purely party decision." Egwu spoke yesterday during an emotional reception organized for him by his supporters at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. He told the supporters that his only regret for not becoming the national chairman of the party "was a dashed dream and objectives for which I contested the position in the first place." He said there were a lot of expectations from the party, the state and from his people whom, he said, felt that they have not occupied any higher position in the party before. There was a brief airport ceremony before the former Governor's supporters, which included serving and former Ebonyi executive council members, council chairmen, minister and senators followed him to his Umuebe home in Ezzamgbo. Egwu thanked God for seeing him through the campaigns and the people for their support and confidence in him. He specifically commended the State Governor, Chief Martin Elechi, "for being the only man standing for me even when the pressure was so high" saying that what happened during the party's convention was a party decision which he has accepted in good faith. "When one door closes; another opens. For me I have put everything behind me, it is already a forgone issue and I'm happy with the decision of God. I support the new exco of the party, I will work with them," he said. "I'm a core party man, no matter what happened, I'm a PDP man".
Ebonyi Councils Oppose Deduction Of Allocations LOCAL councils in Ebonyi State under the umbrella of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) have protested the continued existence of the state and local council joint account committee, through which the statutory allocations are deducted. The union appealed to the state government to abolish the joint account. In a six-point communiqu? issued at the end of its State Executive Council meeting in Abakaliki, the union demanded that the councils be allowed to receive their allocations directly from the Federation Account, as obtained in other states of the federation. Its chairman, Mr. L. Nkah and secretary, Mr. Ike Abugu, in the statement alleged that the continued existence of the joint account committee had provided an illegal channel for the councils' funds to be diverted. "We view with utter dismay the illegal and spurious deductions still perpetrated against local government statutory allocations by agents of the state government to pay for phantom projects, fictitious seminars, funding of political party congresses, Her Excellency's Child Care programme and traditional rulers' institution, among others. This has rendered many councils insolvent, impotent and incapable of meeting their basic needs," the union contended. It described as unfortunate "a situation where the salaries of council workers are usually paid towards the end of the succeeding month," adding that this runs contrary to the directive of the governor that all categories of workers be paid promptly. While calling on the ministries and agencies concerned with such payments to put all remedial arrangements in place to check the situation, the union also faulted the current pre-auditing exercise by the Auditor-General for Local Government, saying that internal auditors in the councils had done their work. "The action has continued to cause delay in the payment of salaries to council workers and smacks of an orchestrated agenda to sustain the payment of council employees a month after their counterparts in the state," the union said. NULGE also urged the Local Government Service Commission to immediately conduct the 2007/2008 promotion/conversion interview, since the delay in holding the interview could technically deny the council workers the benefits, "because the financial benefits do not run concurrently with the notional effect."
Two suspected arsonists remanded in Abakaliki An Abakaliki Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday remanded two persons, David Nome and Iruka Chukwu in prison custody for allegedly setting fire on the house of their community leader. Chief Magistrate Benard Ukwa-Chinua said he remanded the accused because his court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter. Ruling on the preliminary objection raised by the counsel to the accused, he noted that the issue of age of the second accused was not before his court. The magistrate, however, directed the prosecutor, Sergeant Friday Udo to transfer the case file to the state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for action. He adjourned the matter indefinitely. Udo had earlier told the court that Nome (30) and Chukwu (20) and others at large, on November 19, 2007 conspired to commit arson. He said they committed the offence at Amuzu community, Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The prosecutor alleged that the suspects did wilfully and unlawfully set fire on the house of Canice Nwankwo, a community leader in Amuzu. He alleged that they set the house on fire when the complainant was away to his farm. The second accused was not underage as the charge sheet showed. The accused, he said, was 20 and not 12 as argued by the defence counsel. Source: Nation, 21st February 2008.
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