EKITI 2019 budget aim @completing abandoned projects - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Ekiti State Government has said that one of the major focus of the 2019 budget signed into law by the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi on Thursday is to ensure the completion of all abandoned capital projects across the State in line with the four pillars of the administration, reports ITREALMS.

The State Commissioner of Finance and Economic, Mr Dapo Kolawole, disclosed this on Friday, during a Budget Analysis session with the media and stakeholders in Ado-Ekiti.  Kolawole said some new capital projects were also incorporated into the budget in order to promote sustainable and expansive economic development in the State.

The Finance Commissioner, citing earlier promise by Governor Fayemi on prompt payment of workers salaries and pensions, said the 2019 budget is structured in a way that spending on capital projects would not affect government’s plan for prompt payment of salaries of workers.

He also revealed that government was still owing contracts about N750 million on the newly built Governor’s Office that was commissioned with funfair in May last year by the immediate past administration. He , however said that the amount was captured in the 2019 budget, as government was not ready to owe any body regardless of who gave the contract.

Kolawole who noted that the four pillars of the administration will be the pillars of the budget stated that government has put in place implementation plans and operational approaches in order to ensure that the expected outcomes are achieved within the planned timeframe.

He added that the budget is tailored to improved the State’s IGR while closing monitoring same for the purpose of blocking all leakages of accruals.

While noting that the performance of the 2018 budget was 32% on capital expenditure, the commissioner said the 2019 budget has 56:44 recurrent capital ration in accordance with the Fiscal Sustainability Plan of the federal government as against 69:31 ration in the 2018 budget.

According to the breakdown analysis given by Kolawole, the 2019 budget whose size is #129,924,472,135.01 is to be funded from various sources including federal allocation which is expected to provide 29% of the funds, IGR and VAT, FAAC augmentation, ecological fund, World Bank’s IDEAS, external grants, State Fiscal Transparency Accountability Sustainability (SFTAS) and reimbursement on federal projects executed by the State, among others.

In line with the executive order abrogating payment of education levies, provision was made for grants to cater for schools while payment of gratuities which has not been made since2013 has also been provided for.

Four roads leading to Afao, the country home of former governor Ayodele  Fayose have been marked for rehabilitation. These roads are Iworoko-Are-Afao road, Afao-Igbemo road, Afao-Ire road and Ado-Afao road.

Contractual obligations owed by the Fayose-led government to some contractors who handled ongoing and some completed projects such as Adebayo-Ori-Apata-Nova road were also catered for in the budget while the airport project also catered for in the budget will be driven by a public-private partnership arrangement.

18 secondary health facilities across the State will be renovated, a permanent clinic will be put in place at the State secretariat to cater for workers’ health needs while a surgical festival is in the pipeline.

The shortwave station of the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State located at Ifaki Ekiti will be resuscitated, according to the budget plan.

Perhaps as a way of forestalling a repeat of the failure of the State to make provision for its contingents at last year’s national sports festival, there is provision for the Sports Council in the 2019 budget.

Kolawole solicited the cooperation of all Ekiti indigenes in moving the State forward.

Present at the budget analysis were Secretary to the State Government, Mr Biodun Oyebanji; Director General, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery (OTSD), Prof Bolaji Aluko and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, who coordinated the session.

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UK, US flay Buhari’s suspension of Chief Justice … too close to election – ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The United Kingdom and United States of America have flayed the suspension of the Nigeria’s Chief Justice, Mr. Walter Onnoghen by President Mohammadu Buhari on Friday, reports ITREALMS.

Both countries in a press statement available to ITREALMS expressed serious concerns over the suspension.

UK said they have heard a wide range of credible and independent voices, including in the Nigerian legal profession and civil society, who have expressed concern over the constitutionality of the executive branch’s suspension of the chief officer of the judiciary.

“We respect Nigeria’s sovereign authority and its right to adjudicate on constitutional provisions but as friends of the Nigerian people, we are compelled to observe that the timing of this action, so close to national elections, gives cause for concern.

“It risks affecting both domestic and international perceptions on the credibility of the forthcoming elections. We, along with other members of the international community, are following developments closely,” the High Commission said.

Also UK enjoined all actors to maintain calm and address the concerns raised by this development through due process, demonstrating their commitment to respecting the constitution and the impartial administration of the rule of law.

“We further urge them to take steps to ensure that elections take place in an environment conducive to a free, fair and peaceful process,” UK submitted.

In a similar development, United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, via its Public Affairs Section decried the suspension and replacement of the Chief Justice, Mr. Onnoghen, reports ITREALMS.

“The Embassy of the United States is deeply concerned by the impact of the executive branch’s decision to suspend and replace the Chief Justice and head of the judicial branch without the support of the legislative branch on the eve of national and state elections.

“We note widespread Nigerian criticism that this decision is unconstitutional and that it undermines the independence of the judicial branch. That undercuts the stated determination of government, candidates, and political party leaders to ensure that the elections proceed in a way that is free, fair, transparent, and peaceful - leading to a credible result.

“We urge that the issues raised by this decision be resolved swiftly and peacefully in accordance with due process, full respect for the rule of law, and the spirit of the Constitution of Nigeria. Such action is needed urgently now to ensure that this decision does not cast a pall over the electoral process.”

Chuks Egbune/

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Inequality greatest challenge to Nigeria's economy - Fayemi

Personality@ITREALMS:

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State recently spoke with REMMYNWEKE, Editor, ITREALMS, a member of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Ado-Ekiti on his second missionary journey and development in Nigeria, asserting that creating opportunities will enable a better society, inequality remains the greatest challenge to Nigeria's economy.

Excerpts.

You have been running the government for 100 days without complaining that the last government rendered you ineffective. How come governance has been running smoothly?

Second missionary journeys are by their nature not given to excuses. If I were to start giving excuses you will ask me that you were there before don’t you know that is how things would be? And if you know that’s how it would be, are you not prepared for the eventuality? Not making excuses is not to suggest that things were in absolutely perfect condition. They were not. Things had degenerated but I was not elected to reel out what’s bad about the situation. I was elected to make it better and that’s what we’ve been trying to do. The resources are not what they used to be; they are much lower but we managed within the available resources to make life better for the people.

I’ve been here for less than three months and we’ve paid four months salaries for that period. We’ve settled pensions for that period. We’ve even started paying severance of past political office holders who were not in a position to receive their severance in that period. We’ve re-introduced free education in the state. We’ve introduced free health programme. We are starting a health mission across the state. Our empowerment programmes are restarting, putting back about 10,000 school leavers back to the school volunteer programme that we used to run.

Basically, for us, we just feel very strongly that our people deserve a new lease of life. They have had a pretty rough ride in the last four years. Lessons have been learned across the board. So, to start giving excuses or to start explaining away the challenges that we have… Challenges will always be there but our duty, and if you recall in my inaugural speech the day I was sworn in, we made a pledge that on our 100th day I will give a state of the state address that will explain in details what we met here.

Part of the reasons why we have been talking or giving interviews or saying this is what went wrong in the past is that we felt the people needed to have a full picture and we didn’t want to do it by our own reckoning so we hired Pricewaterhouse Coopers to do a forensic audit of the state. They are still here and by Thursday we will make the outcome of their investigations public. It is then up to you to do independent verification of what they’ve come up with in terms of the finance of the state particularly and in terms of the way things have been run. We want an independent, credible audit firm to do this and release that information.

Are you confident President Muhammadu Buhari will be re-elected?

It is in my own personal interest for the President to be re-elected. So, let me put my interest upfront so that there is no doubt in my mind. I am also a political scientist and to the best of my knowledge - I don’t want to be complacent - I think the President has a very good chance of being re-elected. Every evidence I can see before me, in spite of the feelings that may be one of disappointment in certain circles because the expectation was much when we came in. Have we met the expectation of the public in its totality? Absolutely not. But, have we done a much better job of protecting the commonwealth of the people? I’d like to think we have. I think it’s going to be a question at the end of the day for the voter who is best placed to protect our interest across the board.

I think the President will win the election.

What is your agenda for women in the spirit of balance for better and also against the backdrop that your wife is a champion of the cause of women?

I would like to think that for us we operate by law to the best of our ability. We were the first state, before it even became a national debate, to pass the equal opportunities law in Nigeria. That was informed by our belief that there is no way you can build a better society by reinforcing patriarchy. You just have to find means of broadening the base, protecting the minorities, creating opportunities that will enable us to have a better society.

Unfortunately, things have gone pear-shaped, in the four years that we have been away here, some of the things we’ve noticed are quite shocking. Rape incidents have increased in Ekiti yet Ekiti was the first state to actually put in place a sexual violence register.

We’ve also noticed that we’ve suffered significantly from either disinterestedness on the part of the government or general malaise in the society. Fifty-five percent of our girls are now out of school in the state that used to have the highest enrolment in the whole of the country – 96 per cent enrolment as of 2014 when I was leaving. And it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know why we have those problems.

If you don’t pay workers on the one hand, and on the other hand you impose an education tax, somebody who has not eaten will not send a child to school especially in the rural areas and that’s why one of the very first things I did the day I was sworn in was to cancel the education levy and reintroduce free education in the state because that’s one of the basic ways to create equal opportunity.

If there’s no equality of access there’s no way you are going to create opportunities for all particularly for the girl child who is disadvantaged anyway from being educated.

So we start from that and I know we like to play a game of numbers. How many people do you have in your cabinet who are women? How many do you have in your House of Assembly who are women? How many do you have in this and that? Whilst I think it’s important to recognise presence and more because if you have people of a particular gender they tend to understand the problems of the gender better than others, but it doesn’t necessarily follow that it’s going to be like that. I don’t really have a cabinet per se yet. But I’m going to and it’s not going to take too long.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is presently not as coherent as it was in 2015. You had members in the National Assembly who were more like opposition and you have governors sponsoring candidates in parties. How do you think the electorate who fought to see the APC come into power, would feel?

Parties are not paragons of excellence. Parties are products of the social milieu too and they would always contain the good, the bad and the ugly. So, the reality is that APC is not different. We are not organic enough yet partly by the nature of our formation and coming together, partly because of the exigencies of the times and those who are not fulfilled by nature. Nigerians are not particularly promoters of delayed gratification whether in political parties or in government or in journalism. We want quick results, we want quick wins.

Every journalist comes here and asks me about quick wins. They don’t want to ask me about long term development goals. We are victims of that in the APC too. You can say we are victims of our quick success. Our party was formed in 2013. By March 2015 we won an election, even though we were still at the time not organic, there were still variegated interests being pursued by members of the party.

You then ended up with different centres of power in the party and people started hobnobbing with different centres of power. It’s just the nature of politics but then it’s not unique to us.

Even parties that are long established, I mean there is a civil war going on within the Republican Party in America. There is a massive civil war going on within the Tories in the United Kingdom. Even in much more mature, settled democracy, it’s taken four months for Sweden to form a government. So maybe we are not as bad as it seems but we are not as good as we would like to be. But APC is a party of the future.

President Muhammadu Buhari said some time ago that the economy is in bad shape. If President Buhari should win the election, with what you know about the economy, what would you advise him to do to ensure that we keep the economy running for the society to be better?

For me the greatest challenge in this economy is inequality. It’s not even poverty. This is not the only society where you have poor people, but it’s the gap between the mindlessly rich and the hopelessly poor that I see as the greatest challenge that we must address. How do we address that without focusing on social investment? We are only scratching the surface.

I don’t like to take credit for it but many of the things we were doing here before I went into the wilderness. When I went into the wilderness I had the opportunity of serving as the person in charge of policy and manifesto in our party. We tried to introduce all of that, our social security for the elderly, our youth volunteer scheme, those are the things that are now known as N-Power, conditional cash transfer, Trader Moni and all that. But we are only scratching the surface.

All together in the last three years that government have effectively run the budget, we haven’t even spent N300 billion on the social investment programmes. And in that same period, we have spent N700 billion to rescue Keystone Bank. We are probably going to spend more to rescue Skye Bank in its latter-day form as Polaris.

If you consider how much we spend, N6 trillion to rescue banks in the previous era, if we pour that into the hopeless and hapless segment of our population maybe we begin to address this disempowering impact of inequality on our society but it’s not just by dashing out cash to people, it’s by creating opportunities for our people as well and I think that’s where we have not done enough.

We’ve scratched the surface as I’ve said. We’ve done a lot. We now earn 60 percent less than what we used to earn and yet we are doing a lot more. People don’t give us too much credit for what we are doing and I don’t think it’s your fault. It’s also partly our fault. We are not as friendly with the media and we are not giving information as we ought to. Maybe we need training from you on how to package our views so they become more accessible and readable and available to the public but all of the things that we said we were going to do in our manifesto, in terms of concrete impact on the population, we’ve actually started.

But the way to juxtapose that is – What was the situation beforehand? Where were we? Where are we now? And where would we like to be? So for me, the advice that I will give first is that we must not let the perfect become the enemy of the good. Some good is going on in this country but our search for the perfect is probably beclouding our own honest sense of perspective of the good that is happening and that cannot be blamed on the citizenry. It has to be blamed on leadership.

We have to make that information as available as possible. Is this the best that we can be? Absolutely not. So when I hear objective criticisms of our government, I take it. I’m a local politician I’m not an Abuja minister so I hear a lot more. I spent the entire day in the market today with the Vice President and people genuinely expressed their concern. I went on a home visit with the Vice President this afternoon and an old man, 80-year-old, actually spoke from the heart about what we are all experiencing. I don’t know anyone who is not experiencing it in the country. The man told us that “Look I’m 80 I really don’t need anything. But Mr Vice President, can you just make sure that my children get jobs? They are graduates, they don’t have jobs.”

I don’t know any home in this country where you don’t have two, three, four unemployed graduates. I know the number of text messages I get even in small Ekiti from our people. Those are the areas that I think we can make a difference and we can lift our people out of poverty. It’s been done in many other places, so there’s no reason why we cannot spend the next four years focusing on that.

There are some things that we have not paid enough attention to. We need a quicker turnaround in decision making and implementation. We need to be more responsive to the yearnings of our people so that they don’t feel we are taking them for granted and we need to focus on better alternatives than (crude) oil and I don’t know any better alternative in other countries that have found themselves in our situation – Vietnam, Indonesia, China – you name it, the first route is agriculture, out of poverty. It’s when they’ve done that that they then move on to manufacturing, industrialisation.

But we can jump the hoop. We don’t have to re-invent the wheel because these things have been done elsewhere and I believe that Nigeria holds the hope for black people in the world. We need to demonstrate by example.

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Buhari replaces Onnoghen as CJN, swears in Justice Tanko Mohammed to take over - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

President Muhammadu Buhari has replaced the Chief Justice of the Federation, JUstice Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen and replaced him with Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed, reports ITREALMS.

Buhari in an address made available to ITREALMS said the CJN is being suspended to enable him answer to the charges of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, just as he swore-in Tanko Mohammed as Acting Chief Justice on Friday in Abuja.

According to him, "A short while ago, I was served with an Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal issued on Wednesday 23rd January 2019, directing the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen from office pending final determination of the cases against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and several other fora relating to his alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.

"2. The nation has been gripped by the tragic realities of no less a personality than the Chief Justice of Nigeria himself becoming the accused person in a corruption trial since details of the petition against him by a Civil Society Organization first became public about a fortnight ago.

"3. Although the allegations in the petition are grievous enough in themselves, the security agencies have since then traced other suspicious transactions running into millions of dollars to the CJN’s personal accounts, all undeclared or improperly declared as required by law.

"4. Perhaps more worrisome is the Chief Justice of Nigeria’s own written admission to the charges that he indeed failed to follow the spirit and letter of the law in declaring his assets, citing ’’mistake’’ and ’’forgetfulness’’ which are totally unknown to our laws as defences in the circumstances of his case.

"5. One expected that with his moral authority so wounded, by these serious charges of corruption, more so by his own written admission, Mr. Justice Walter Onnoghen would have acted swiftly to spare our Judicial Arm further disrepute by removing himself from superintending over it while his trial lasted.

"6. Unfortunately, he has not done so. Instead, the nation has been treated to the sordid spectacle of a judicial game of wits in which the Chief Justice of Nigeria and his legal team have made nonsense of the efforts of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to hear the allegation on merit and conclude the trial as quickly as possible considering the nature of the times in which we live.

"7. Whether deliberately or inadvertently, we have all seen the full weight of the Chief Justice of Nigeria descend on the tender head of one of the organs of justice under his control. There is simply no way the officers of that court, from the Chairman to the bailiffs, can pretend to be unaffected by the influence of the leader of the Judiciary.

"8. Not only the trial court, but others have been put on the spot. Practically every other day since his trial commenced, the nation has witnessed various courts granting orders and counter-orders in favour of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, all of them characterised by an unholy alacrity between the time of filing, hearing and delivery of judgment in same.

"9. The real effect has been a stalling of the trial of Justice Onnoghen, helped along by lawyers who insist that these orders, whether right or wrong are technically valid, and must be obeyed till an appellate Court says otherwise. No doubt, that it is the proper interpretation, but is it the right disposition for our nation?

"10. Nigeria is a constitutional democracy and no one must be, or be seen to be, above the law. Unfortunately, the drama around the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria has challenged that pillar of justice in the perception of the ordinary man on the street. For it is certain that no ordinary Nigerian can get the swift and special treatment Justice Onnoghen has enjoyed from his subordinates and privies in our Judicature.

"11. In the midst of all these distracting events, the essential question of whether the accused CJN actually has a case to answer has been lost in the squabble over the form and nature of his trial. This should not be so.

"12. If Justice cannot be done and clearly seen to be done, society itself is at risk of the most unimaginable chaos. As a Government, we cannot stand by wailing and wringing our hands helplessly but give our full backing and support to those brave elements within the Judiciary who act forthrightly, irrespective of who is involved.

"13. As you are all aware, the fight against corruption is one of the tripod of policies promised to Nigerians by this administration. Needless to say that it is an existential Policy which must be given adequate attention and commitment by all the three arms of government. The efforts of the Executive will amount to nothing without the cooperation of the Legislature and especially the Judiciary.

"14. It is no secret that this government is dissatisfied with the alarming rate in which the Supreme Court of Nigeria under the oversight of Justice Walter Onnoghen has serially set free, persons accused of the most dire acts of corruption, often on mere technicalities, and after quite a number of them have been convicted by the trial and appellate courts.

"15. Since there is nothing the Executive Arm can do after the apex court of the land has spoken on any matter, several of these individuals walk free among us today, enjoying what are clearly the proceeds of the corruption which for so long has defeated the efforts of this nation to develop and prosper.

"16. It is against this background that I have received the Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal directing me to suspend the Chief Justice pending final determination of the cases against him. It also explains why I am not only complying immediately, but with some degree of relief for the battered sensibilities of ordinary Nigerians whose patience must have become severely over-taxed by these anomalies.

"17. In line with this administration’s avowed respect for the Rule of Law, I have wholeheartedly obeyed the Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal dated 23rd January 2019.

"18. Accordingly, I hereby suspend the Honourable Mr. Justice Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen, GCON as the Chief Justice of Nigeria pending final determination of the case against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

"19. In further compliance with the same Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, I hereby invite Honourable Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed JSC, being the next most Senior Justice in the Supreme Court, to come forward to take the Judicial Oath as Chief Justice of Nigeria in an Acting Capacity.

"20. Fellow Nigerians, we can only stand a chance to win the fight against Corruption, and position our dear nation for accelerated development when we stand together to contend against it.

"Thank you and may God bless our country."

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

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41-year later: Fayemi flags off construction of Ado-Iyin road - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Forty-One years later, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has flagged off the construction of the 7.25 km Ado-Iyin road, originally awarded in 1978 by the then military government but later abandoned, reports ITREALMS.

Flagging off construction work on the road as part of activities marking his first 100 days in office, Dr Fayemi said the construction of the new road is long overdue considering the unsafe nature of the existing Ado-Iyin-Igede-Aramoko road which has winding and undulating alignments.

He said the construction of the dual carriage way would be completed within 15 months.

The Governor stated that the proposed road will not only address the problem of alignments and reduce carnage on the old road but also have multiplier effects on commuters who use the road for longer journey.

“This is just one of several abandoned projects we are determined to execute for the benefit of Ekiti kete. Just few weeks ago, I visited the secretariat and inspected another equally important project within the secretariat, a gigantic project at that. I am glad to inform you that One Billion Naira has been earmarked in the 2019 Budget of Restoration that I just signed this morning for the abandoned project to be resuscitated and completed”, he said.

While reassuring that his administration will not abandon any project, the governor said all the ongoing projects of his predecessor, Ayodele Fayose are being given attention for completion for the use of the people.

He recalled that his government between 2010 and 2014 rehabilitated old roads and constructed new roads for the use of the people but the roads were left after he left office and are now in a state of disrepair.

“As a government, we understand and appreciate the importance of good road network to our economic development. Good road network will not only ease the stress of commuters but will also enhance the marketability of our farm produce which is the mainstay of most of our people. The need for us to constantly rehabilitate old roads and open up new ones cannot be overemphasized”, Fayemi said.

In his address, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Mr. Dele Agbede solicited the cooperation of residents along the route especially those whose property may be affected by the dualization project.

Agbede noted that the road on completion, the road will boost socio-economic activities, reduce carnage, road user’s cost and travel time.

He added that streetlight and other aesthetics will be provided to enhance pleasurable driving experience on the road.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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Pix: L-R :The Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti HRM, Oba Ademola Ajakaye; the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, HRM Oba Rufus Aladesanmi III; Ekiti state Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi; his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; and Chairman Ekiti State Council of traditional rulers, HRM Oba Michael Ademola Ademolaju; at the flag-off of the new Ado-Iyin road as part of activities marking the first 100 days in office of Governor Fayemi in Ado-Ekiti..... On Thursday

FG applauds USA, UK position on 2019 elections - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Federal Government has welcomed the statements from the United States and the United Kingdom demanding credible and peaceful election in Nigeria and threatening punitive measures against election riggers and perpetrators of electoral violence, reports ITREALMS.

In a statement available to ITREALMS from Ilorin on Friday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the Federal Government is particular delighted that the statements came after it alerted the nation to the machinations of some opposition elements who are working to scuttle the 2019 polls through widespread violence.

''A few days ago, we alerted the nation to the plot by the opposition to orchestrate widespread violence in the country, using insurgents and criminal elements within and outside the country. Their plan is to scuttle the election and then push for an interim government, having realized they can't win a free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.

''The fact that those statements came after we issued our red alert, which is based on credible intelligence, shows that the international community is closely monitoring events ahead of the election. We urge them to keep a close tab on the desperate opposition, whose language, actions and undisguised threats are antithetical to the conduct of peaceful polls,'' he said.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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Fayose incurred N155.79bn debt for Ekiti says Feyemi - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

*As Ekiti Speaker beraes Fayose for emolument denials

The Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has put the debts incurred by his predecessor, Ayodele Fayose at N155,791,785,214.08, reports ITREALMS.

Disclosing this Thursday in a State-of-the-State address at the State House of Assembly, Governor Fayemi said the sum was the total debt profile of Ekiti State as at 16th October, 2018, stressing that he inherited "a State that was in total chaos and a people severely disorientated under a suppressive government who had raised and promoted deceit into statecraft."

Fayemi spoke just as the Speaker of the House , Hon Adediran Alagbada lamented that the immediate past administration of ex-Governor Fayose, denied the House members their salaries and furniture allowances despite making appropriations that covered such expenses.

The governor stated that his administration had distanced itself from "political witch-hunting and media trials to score cheap political goals" but decided to give the State of the State in order to use the "lessons of the past to create the future of our dreams".

Fayemi disclosed that Ekiti State under Fayose received #184.83 billion as income between 2014 and 2018; noting that the former governor had no reason to owe salaries given the huge revenue that accrued to the State during the immediate past administration.

While giving a breakdown of the debt profile, Fayemi said though borrowing is in itself not a bad thing, borrowing to fund self-serving and unproductive projects is unpatriotic.

He gave the breakdown of the debt as follows:

Loans and bonds #57,694,460,298.79; salary arrears #16,777,257,608.52; outstanding leave bonus #4,402,585,167.53; corpers allowances #28,883,959.00; outstanding subventions #4,770,676,870.98; pension and gratuity arrears #39,775,919,872.02, and outstanding contractors claims #28,575,946,572.25.

Others include Outstanding furniture allowance #470,266,137.09; severance allowance #586,144,167.51; monitized vehicle arrears #101,243,387.24; outstanding warrants #386,77,450.64; outstanding FIRS obligation #184,215,623.43; Traditional rulers arrears #150,214,204.10; judgement debts #95,048,963.35 and other outstanding liabilities #1,792,144,931.62.

Fayemi said the debt profile was a product of the audit carried out by Pricewater Coopers (PWC).

The governor stated that he had used the first 100 days of his administration to "lay the needed foundation to restore our values and restore Ekiti State to its rightful position in the comity of States".

"This is our first stewardship in the series of others to be witnessed in the life of this administration in the fulfilment of our obligation to Ekiti people. As a government, we are more interested in building and strengthening institutions rather than wielding powers or self aggrandizement. This is the world best practice in governance and we are proud to thread that path to attain speedy economic recovery and value restoration for Ekiti State", he said.

He called on corporate organisations, donor agencies, the federal government and Ekiti people to support his administration in moving Ekiti State forward "economically, socially and politically".

Speaking on the forthcoming election, Fayemi urged everyone to play by the rules and be law abiding; urging Ekiti people to use the election to consolidate the gains of his administration in the last 100 days.

In his remarks, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt Hon Adeniran Alagbada said Ekiti people have now got "new hope through the policies and programmes of the Fayemi-led government".

Alagbada who said the 100 days of Fayemi in government is "better than the four years of Fayose" called on Ekiti people to rally support for the governor to succeed.

He lamented the poor treatment meted out to members of the House by the fayose administration, inspite of their support for the former Governor.

He said, the House had it on record that it made appropriation for for all government expemses and that it was sad that despite their support the former Governor denied them their salaries, allowances and furniture allowances were well provided for in the four budgets they passed during the duration of the administration.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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Pix: Budget signing: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi signing the 2019 Budget , surrounded by members of the State Assembly and state executive Council, at the Executive Chamber, Governor's office, Ado-Ekit...on Thursday

Nigeria 2019: U.S, U.K insist on genuine free, fair, transparent elections - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The duo of United States of America (USA) and United Kingdom (UK) have insisted on free, fair, transparent exercise in the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria, reports ITREALMS.

In join press statement made available to ITREALMS, both USA and UK affirmed their support for a credible election beginning with the presidential election till the last exercise.

U.S. Statement read in part:

“The conduct of the upcoming elections in Nigeria is important not only for Nigeria, but for the African continent.

“The United States government does not support any specific candidate or party in Nigeria’s upcoming elections. The United States supports the Nigerian democratic process itself. We support a genuinely free, fair, transparent, and peaceful electoral process.

“We, and other democratic nations, will be paying close attention to actions of individuals who interfere in the democratic process or instigate violence against the civilian population before, during, or after the elections. We will not hesitate to consider consequences - including visa restrictions - for those found to be responsible for election-related violence or undermining the democratic process. Under U.S. immigration law, certain violations may also lead to restrictions on family members.

“We welcome the signing of peace pledges by Nigerian candidates and their commitment to a peaceful electoral process.

According to the United Kingdom, yesterday, “23 days to the Presidential and National Assembly elections and 37 days to the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections, the British High Commission in Abuja would like to reaffirm our strong support for free, fair and peaceful elections in Nigeria.

“We and our international partners remain committed supporters of Nigeria’s democracy. We do not support any party or individual and believe that the Nigerian people should be able to choose their leaders in an environment free from hate speech and insecurity.

“We continue to provide significant support to Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission and to Nigerian civil society to help them deliver credible elections. We also regularly engage with actors across the political spectrum to encourage them to respect electoral rules and maintain an atmosphere of peace and calm. We will be deploying an extensive observation mission for the forthcoming elections, including coordinating with the EU’s Election Observation Mission. 

"Our monitors will in particular be looking out for any attempts to encourage or use violence to influence the elections, including on social media. We would like to remind all Nigerians that where the UK is aware of such attempts, this may have consequences for individuals. These could include their eligibility to travel to the UK, their ability to access UK based funds or lead to prosecution under international law.

“The UK is a friend and partner of Nigeria. We hope our continued support will play a role in helping Nigeria take a further step towards consolidating the progress made since democracy returned in 1999.”

Chuks Egbune/DoP

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IE begins electronic tagging of poles - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The leading Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric Plc (IE), has began the electronic tagging of electricity poles across its network, reports ITREALMS.

The exercise known as E-Pole Tagging Project entails labeling of all 11KV and 33KV High Tension (HT) poles with electronic Quick Response (QR) Code stickers.

ITREALMS reports that it will accelerate fault clearing, ensure proper record keeping for poles and feeders that need urgent maintenance to bring about stable power distribution to customers.

Head, Corporate Communication, Ikeja Electric, Mr. Felix Ofulue, said “At Ikeja Electric, we are consistent and committed to improving our operations in line with best practice in order to give the desirable services to our customers. We are engaging in activities that will provide significant outcome and impact positively on the sector.”

“This consistency shows that we are driven by commitment and passion to add value to the lives of our customers through exploring ways of improving the network,” he said.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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Ohaneze endorses Atiku/Obi in 7-point communique - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The umbrella social cultural group of Ndigbo, the Ohaneze has endorsed the Atiku and Obi ticket in the forthcoming presidential election in a 7-point communique, reports ITREALMS.

Arising from its collective search for a polity that is just, egalitarian and inclusive, ITREALMS reports that the Ime Obi Ohaneze Ndi Igbo on Thursday 24 January, 2019 at the Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu, to further deliberate on the future of Ndigbo in the chequered history of a beleaguered country. 

President-General Ohaneze Ndigbo World Wide, Dr. John Nnia Nwodo, confirmed this in a communique made available to ITREALMS, noting that the endorsement was arrived at after a critical and dispassionate appraisal of the issues and the visible fault lines in the nation's polity.

According to him, the issues included the analysis of the election manifestos of  the various contesting parties, especially with regards to the restructuring of the federation and continued relevance of the people in the Nigerian geopolitical space.

Equally, Ohaneze pointed out specifically that nomination of former Governor of Anambra State, Sir Peter Obi as vice presidential candidate of a major political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is an opportunity for inclusivity which Ndigbo must seize the moment. 

ITREALMS reports that the 7-point resolutions comprised: 

"1.  That Ohaneze remains the apex socio-cultural organization that works  for the interest of the Igbo in and outside Nigeria. It attempts to aggregate the views of  all other  Igbo platforms;

"2. Ohaneze notes particularly that a major political party (PDP) by the nomination of  our son Peter Obi as the Vice presidential candidate has given Ndigbo an opportunity for inclusivity. Ndigbo must seize the moment; 

"3. That the presidential candidate of PDP Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has made an avowed commitment to restructuring of the federation and reconfirmed same during his recent visit to the United States in his meetings high-level US officials; 

"4.  In consideration of the above and other relevant existential factors pertaining to the treatment of the Igbo in our polity,  the Ime Obi Ohaneze, therefore, hereby ratify the decision reached at the Ohaneze National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Enugu on Tuesday 22 January, 2019, to adopt the Atiku Abubakar/ Peter Obi ticket in the 2019 presidential election. Ime Obi therefore endorses and embraces fully, this ticket without equivocation, especially  with regards to the position of Ndigbo  at the AWKA Declaration which insisted on a complete restructuring of the Nigerian polity.  

"5. Ohaneze urges Ndigbo to see  their PVCs as their most potent tool  to ensure a restructured polity and for a better  society.

"6. The meeting further called on the international community to help to ensure a free and credible 2019 elections in Nigeria; and

"7. Finally, Ohaneze urges all Igbo to come out and vote and to protect their votes." 

Chuks Egbune/DoP

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Entrepreneurship: Facebook set to partner Nigerian hubs - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Facebook has advanced plans to launch a new incubation programme in partnership with satellite hubs across Nigeria to help local start-ups and upcoming entrepreneurs, reports ITREALMS.

Participating hubs in the 8-week programme, ITREALMS gathered include Colab, Roar Nigeria, nHub, Ken Saro Wiwa Innovation Hub, Ventures Platform, Di-Hub, Start Innovation Hub, and NG_Hub. 

ITREALMS also gathered that the programme slated for official launch on Monday, February 4, the programme has begun accepting applications from interested candidates, with successful applicants graduating with those from the ongoing Facebook Accelerator Programme.

Designed and run in collaboration with the satellite hubs spread across Nigeria, the programme aims to help new start-ups and entrepreneurs-to-be to take their respective solutions from ideation stage to prototype through mentorship with industry experts and practical training sessions - providing foundational skills necessary for building a successful business.

Speaking on the initiative, Facebook Developer Program Manager, Kendra Nnachi, said “Our aim for these kind of initiatives is to empower entrepreneurs. We believe that this programme will increase the quality and longevity of the Nigerian startup scene by not only providing specialist knowledge and mentoring to the participants, but also by creating a community that gives them room to share and grow.”

Commenting on the programme and the partnership with Facebook, the Partnership Director of Ventures Platform, Mimshach Obioha, commended Facebook for its commitment to the growth and development of startups across the continent, saying that this coincides with objectives of the hub.

“Ventures Platform backs Africa’s boldest entrepreneurs and helps them grow great companies around their ideas. We have always been in the business of incubating ideas and bringing them to life and we are excited that this partnership will give us an opportunity to do more. We are certain that the young people of this country will take due advantage of the opportunities the program will offer and we are willing to nudge them along,” he said.

Also speaking, CEO of Di-hub, Alhaji Idris A. Dangana, said that with the program, more young people will be given an opportunity to showcase their ideas.

“Young people, especially in Nigeria, are known to be bursting with the entrepreneurial spirit and we are only too glad to provide the needed boost with this workshop. As we have always done, we would be providing support services for the duration of the training, and we are very thrilled to see what the participants have to offer,” he said.

Chuks Egbune/DoP

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BreakingNews: Ezekwesili quits presidential race - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The only strong female contender to the 2019 Presidential candidate, Dr Oby Ezekwesili has quit the race, reports ITREALMS.

Ezekwesili in a series of Tweets this morning said she made her decision in a bid "to create a 'strong and viable' coalition to defeat incumbent Buhari."

As said by her, the withdrawal is to help build a coalition to defeat the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

Ezekwesili who is of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) revealed Thursday morning asserting "I decided to step down from the presidential race and focus on helping to build a Coalition for a viable alternative to the #APCPDP in the 2019 general elections," she said.

"This coalition for a viable alternative has now more than ever before become an urgent mission for and on behalf of the citizenry," Ezekwesili said.

She pointed out that "in the  past three months, I have been in private extended talks with other candidates to make a coalition possible that would allow Nigerians to exercise choice without feeling helplessly saddled with the #APCPDP."

Further she said the reactions of Nigerian citizens at home and abroad to the 2019 Presidential Debate held on Saturday 19 January 2019, and "after extensive consultations with leaders from various walks of life across the country over the past few days I have decided to step down from the presidential race and focus on helping to build a Coalition for a viable alternative to the #APCPDP in the 2019 general elections," she declared.

Nenye Dom/EDItor

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NCC hosts roundtable for academia, stakeholders - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Nigerian Communications Commission’s Fifth Roundtable Forum with Academia, Telecom Industry and other Stakeholders in the North Central was held at Doko Hotel Minna in Niger State on 23rd and 24th January 2019, reports ITREALMS.

The forum is expected to improve collaboration among the Commission, academia, telecom industry players and other stakeholders to accelerate innovation, industrial growth and sustainable development in the Nigerian telecoms industry.

Present at the event include members of the academia from various universities and Polytechnics in the North Central region of the country, representatives of telecom companies and other regulatory bodies.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, represented by Engr Austin Nwaulune, Director Spectrum Administration , NCC, stated that regulatory excellence has the capacity to drive social and economic transformation in the country and, the NCC seeks to ensure that regulations match with existing realities.

The EVC further acknowledged that the innovations, inventions and improvements that evolve from collaboration with academia are a catalyst for improving efficiency and productivity, economic growth and will attract more FDI into the country, and to that end, NCC as a regulator of a critical sector, aims to ensure all stakeholders are protected and the industry is nurtured for maximum benefits to all players in the industry.

The NCC boss stated that “the emergence of new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Smart cities, 5th generation network (5g), Broadband technology has led to huge opportunities and consequent risks, hence, the need for collaboration between academia, industry and regulators to ensure that these technologies are adequately prepared for by the time they emerge in the Nigeria’s telecom ecosystem”.

“The potential opportunities and important aspects that should be considered by all stakeholders are critical aspects that academia are invited to research and proffer pragmatic solutions”.

Prof Danbatta reiterated that the three areas which are fundamental to future growth and development of the sector include: innovation in terms of new ideas, industry growth in terms of building capabilities and the role of the regulator in promoting synergy between the academia and the NCC while ensuring regulatory excellence and operational efficiency of the industry.

“The Commission has, among other things, directed funds to encourage innovation by boosting research and development in Universities across the country; there is need to collaborate with emphasis on development of prototypes that would meet the standards required by the industry”, he said.

Chuks Egbune/DoP

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Elections: Nigerian Army flags off Python Dance III @FCT - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army has flagged off Operation Python Dance (EGWU EKE) III in the Federal Capital Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, ahead of the General Elections starting February 16, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking at the Flag off ceremony, on Wednesday held  at the Guards Brigade Step-up Headquarters Kuje, Abuja, the Minister of FCT, Muhammed Musa Bello said the essence of the exercise is to secure FCT and it's environs against all forms of crime and to create a conducive atmosphere for the conduct the 2019 general elections.

The minister while noting that security challenges has been on the increase since the arrival of the elections, however expressed confidence in the operation python dance to guarantee a peaceful environment for the elections.

"2019 general elections has arrived and our security challenges are also increasing. But I have no doubt that with what we are witnessing today elections will come and go peacefully and we will continue to operate as one nation in the objective that unite us together.

"I also note that this exercise is not targeting any individual or group, but to create a condusive atmosphere for the conduct of the forth coming 2019 general elections where every law abiding citizens will exercise his or her Democratic right freely." He said.

The minister therefore charged the civilian populace to accept the troops into their various communities and provide them with the needed information and any other support they need to do their job effectively.

He also assured the Guards Brigade as well as all other military and paramilitary agencies within the territory of his to enable them discharge their constitutional role in the right way and manner.

Earlier, The Commanding Officer, Guards Brigade, Brig. Gen. Umar Musa  speaking at the ceremony informed that the exercise is in preparation against any security challenge that may arise before, during or after the 2019 General Elections.

He noted that the build up to 2019 General Elections has witnessed  an upsurge of security challenges such as stockpiling of arms by criminal groups, formation of militias and violence induced by political activities is on the rise. 

He said, "These challenges coupled with other security threats across the country such as terrorism, militancy. kidnapping and banditry portend that dissident groups and criminal elements could cash in on the situation to perpetrate large scale violence before, during or after the 2019 General Elections.

Umaru assured that the exercise will rid the FCT and environs of criminal element that would likely cause havoc, while charging all law abiding citizens to go about their normal activities without any form of fear.

" I want to assure you that the officers and men of the Guards Brigade are ever ready to the responsibility of protecting the seat of government and FCT in general, and are ready to make all sacrifices needed in carrying out these tasks. 

"Our troops will discharge this tasks within the confines of the law and operate within the Rules of engagement and code if conflict for military operations." Umar said.

Uboshe Uboshe/DoP

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Fayemi's free health programme kicks off, 50,000 residents to benefit from medicare outreach - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has said that his administration has begun the process of reversing the poor health indices of the State’s in order to produce good health outcomes for the citizenry, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking in Ikere -Ekiti at the flag off of the quarterly free health mission, the Governor said he would provide the leadership required to stop the “sobering decline in Ekiti State health indices from 2016 to 2018”.

No fewer than 50,000 residents are expected to benefit from medical attention, including corrective surgeries, eye treatment in the first phase of the programme which is designed to hold on quarterly basis.

Fayemi who expressed determination to ensure that the state does not lag behind in the delivery of quality and effective health care service, said the goal of his government is to ensure that Ekiti State “regains its place in the comity of states by reworking our health system to deliver improved health indices as marker of a healthy society”.

“In Ekiti State as at 2018, mortality rate among children was 49 deaths per 1000 population in the first month of life. 69 deaths per 1000 in the first year of life while it is 86 deaths in the first five years of life of the children. Ekiti State skilled birth attendants also dropped from being the first in the southwest region in 2015 now to being the 5th in position among the southwest States”, Fayemi said.

While speaking on the free health mission, the Governor said the programme is a vehicle to expand access to basic health interventions that have been proven to improve the health of women of reproductive age and children.

Fayemi who administered immunization to some babies at the programme said no fewer than 50,000 Ekiti residents would have received free healthcare services in the first phase of the programme; noting that over 500,000 people participated in the mission during his first tenure as governor between 2010 and 2014.

“By the account from the first 2 days of this mission, we believe that by the end of this first phase, we would have been able to serve over 50,000 residents of Ekiti State.  This mission is a first instalment of a revolutionary health programme portfolio that will ensure that healthcare can be delivered quantitatively and sustainably”, he said.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Folake Olomojobi had said that 10,246 people had received free treatment in general outpatient cases, dental surgeries, HIV/AIDS test, family planning and other health issues within the first two days of the mission.

Olomojobi noted that the Basic Healthcare Fund recently launched by the President is an endorsement of Fayemi’s “Facility based free health programme” funded and implemented between 2011 and 2014.

Also speaking at the flag off ceremony, the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu commended Governor Fayemi for initiating the programme; calling on Ekiti residents to troop out and benefit from the health mission.

Ayo Midele/GEE

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Pix: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, presenting an eye glasses to an elderly citizen, Madam Maria Ajayi, at the flag off of the quarterly Free Medical Mission of the state government in Iker-Ekiti…on Wednesday