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ANEEJ Director Tasks Journalists, CSOs On Budget Monitoring.

Published

4 years ago

August 14, 2020

Editor

The Executive Director of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor has appealed to journalists and members of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), to assist in the mobilisation of community stakeholders to make presentation to government on their needs at the level of budget preparation and during consideration by the state House of Assembly.

Rev. Ugolor gave the charge in his welcome address at the opening session of a two-day workshop organised by ANEEJ for CSOs and journalists in Benin City from 13th- 14th August, 2020, in its implementation of the Civil Society Advocacy to Anti-corruption and the Rule of Law in Nigeria (CASARN) project.

The project is part of the implementation of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) programme which is funded by the European Union and implemented by the British Council.

Ugolor who noted that the CSOs, journalists and the citizens have critical roles to play during the monitoring and evaluation of the budget, appealed to participants whom he said have participated one way or the other in the budget process to sustain the process to hold government accountable to the people.

“This workshop on budget monitoring has been designed to improve stakeholders’ participation in the budget process in Edo State.

“CSOs and citizens in general have the right to participate in the different stages of the budgeting process. At the planning stage, CSOs can assist to organise community stakeholders to make presentation to government on their needs, during consideration at the State House of Assembly.

” CSOs can participate during budget defense. When the budget is being implemented and during M & E, CSOs and citizens in general have a big role to play in monitoring the budget implementation and providing feedback to government.

“We encourage all participants to take it upon themselves to keep a close watch on how government spends public funds, follow up and report on projects being executed in your areas. Where CSOs are docile, a lot of things will go wrong”, he said.

While noting that Edo State was the first state in the South South geo-political zone to join the Open Governance Partnership (OGP) in 2018, Rev. Ugolor disclosed that the State Action Plan (SAP), has been developed and awaiting the governor’s signature.

He added that government’s commitment for implementation across five thematic areas of fiscal transparency, anti-corruption, service delivery and inclusion, access to information and citizen engagement have been proposed.

While thanking the donors for the opportunity to be part of the implementation of the Anti-Corruption Rule of Law implementation programme, Ugolor said, “we appreciate the support from ROLAC team who have made it possible for ANEEJ to receive this funding. We particularly thank the European Union and British Council for funding ANEEJ work”.

News

Gunmen Kill One, Abduct Seven Travellers On Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2024

Editor

Gunmen numbering up to seven have reportedly killed one person and abducted seven other travellers along the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode expressway.

The gunmen armed with A.K 47 rifles were said to have waylaid and attacked the travellers in between the Ilisan, Ceplast industry and Iperu junction axis of the expressway on Friday.

A viral audio from one of the victims of the tragic incident, who was apparently a driver heading to Lagos, detailed how the gunmen stopped their vehicles with sporadic shooting and later marched them into the bush.

He said, “This incident happened at past five in the evening, they were armed to the teeth with A.K 47 rifles shooting heavily. They even killed one person who was inside a Lexus car. So, they marched about seven of us inside the bush and when I saw that they were speaking Hausa, I started speaking Hausa to them begging them not to kill me, so they asked if I was a northerner but I said no, that I have once lived in Kebbi and Sokoto.

“They kept taking us further inside the bush, later they asked if I had any money, so I gave them the N103,000 and my phone. There was another driver from the east who said that the kidnappers had collected N120,000 from him just as we were abducted. They later set the two of us free while the other five people abducted were still with them”.

Speaking with our Correspondent on Monday, the Spokesperson of Ogun State police command, SP Omolola Odutola confirmed the incident.

Odutola said that the police could not confirm the number of people that were abducted but noted that the gun-wielding hoodlums killed one of the travellers yet to be identified.

She said the incident which happened on May 3, around 6:55 pm was incidented as a case of armed robbery, murder and kidnapping.

Odutola said: “We have information that about seven people whom we don’t know with A.K 47 suddenly blocked the Benin-Sagamu expressway.

“The DPO of Ilisan when he got to the scene of the incident saw two vehicles pierced with bullets; a Lexus Jeep 300 with registration number LND 640 DY, the driver’s name is Chilaka Lugard and another Lexus Jeep 350 with registration number LSR 996 JF belonging to Kingsley Chineme. Inside this Lexus 350 car was found a cross bag with N113,000, two iPhones; an iPhone Six and an iPhone Eleven Promax.

“There was also a corpse of an unidentified man who was shot in the head.

“The third vehicle was loaded with plantains and the driver who was among those abducted, regained freedom and was later allowed to go with the vehicle. The other Lexus vehicles have been taken to Ilishan Police Station.”

Odutola said the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu was not happy with this security breach and had in an emergency meeting summoned on Monday, directed the tactical commanders and the mobile squadron to go after these undesirable elements.

She said ‘the CP had been to the scene of this incident, and a lot of work is ongoing to fish these people out and let them answer for their criminality, I can assure you that, these criminals will be apprehended just very soon.”

About three weeks ago, some rampaging eight gunmen had stormed Ajadeh Event Centre along the Iperu-Sagamu road and snuffed the life out of Professor Yinka Olomojobi, a lecturer with Babcock University, Ilisan Remo.

Olomojobi, a Professor of Human Rights and Gender Law was reportedly shot dead on the fateful day around 9 pm by these daredevil gunmen for allegedly resisting his abduction.

The lecturer and others were at this relaxation centre when these hoodlums began disturbing the serenity of the environment with their heavy shooting.

By the time the dust settled, Olomojobi had been killed while two others, one Dare and another unidentified person had been whisked away.

The police however said that one Awada Ishaya from Plateau State had been picked up as prime suspect of the sordid act.

Ishaya was said to have just been employed two weeks ago as a security guard when the event centre was opened.

News

JUST IN: Aircraft Fault Forces Shettima To Abandon US Trip

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2024

Editor

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, will now represent President Bola Tinubu at the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas, not Vice President Kashim Shettima, as announced earlier.

“Vice President Kashim Shettima who was originally scheduled to represent the President was unable to make the trip following a technical fault with his aircraft, forcing him to make a detour on the advice of the Presidential Air Fleet,” the Presidency revealed in a statement signed Monday evening by the Shettima’s Spokesperson, Mr. Stanley Nkwocha.

The statement is titled ‘Minister of Foreign Affairs To Now Represent President Tinubu at US-Africa Summit.’

Nkwocha said the Vice President who has since returned to Abuja “will carry on with other national duties.”

The high-profile summit, taking place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, will bring together political and business leaders from across Africa, the United States, and other regions.

Hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa, it features high-level dialogues, networking sessions, and plenaries.

African leaders expected at the summit are Presidents Joseph Boakai of Liberia; Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi; Joao Lourenço Angola; Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi of the Republic of Botswana; José Maria Neves of Cabo Verde and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Nthomeng Majara.

The US-Africa Business Summit aims to foster economic cooperation and explore investment opportunities between the United States and African countries.

Besides the summit plenary, the Foreign Minister is expected to speak at the Roundtable on African Infrastructure Investment with a focus on impact and returns.

He is also scheduled to speak on a high-level panel on agribusiness, focusing on transiting “from food insecurity to thriving agribusinesses”.

Additionally, Tuggar will speak at a plenary session on Navigating Africa’s Energy Future as well as chair a session dedicated to promoting the ‘invest in Nigeria’ initiative.

He is also expected to attend other meetings and engagements on the sideline of the summit, the statement read.

Tuggar is expected back in the country at the end of his engagements in the US.

News

AAC Guber Candidate Takes Swipe On Edo Speaker Over Suspension Of 3 Lawmakers

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2024

Editor

Dr Udoh Oberaifo, the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) for the forthcoming election in Edo State, has condemned the suspension of three members of the state house of assembly by the Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku.

The Speaker had on Monday suspended the three lawmakers over an alleged plot to impeach.

The three suspended lawmakers are: Mr Donald Okogbe( PDP Akoko-Edo 11) Bright Iyamu(PDP Orihonmwon South) and Adeh Isibor, (Esan North East 1)

Reacting to the incident in Benin, Oberaifo described the suspension of the three lawmakers as illegal and unconstitutional.

He stated that the speaker lacks the legal power and right to suspend a lawmaker democratically elected by the people.

“So what will now happen to the lawmaking, representation and the constituents of this suspended members,” he asked.

He noted that the “tyranny of the speaker” clearly infringes on the rights of the good people of Edo, the suspended members and their constituents.

” Our courts have consistently held that disciplinary powers of legislative houses like Edo State House of Assembly do not extend to reckless suspension.

” The court of appeal in BAUCHI STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY & ORS v. GUYABA agreed with the trial court in holding that the suspension of a then house of assembly member, Hon. Gubaya for three months was illegal.

“Recently, the court also took a similar view in case of Akinribido v Ondo State House of Assembly.

” The point I wish to state here is that the clear malicious suspension of this members of Edo House of Assembly for whatever reasons by the speaker, is laughable, unjustifiable, illegal and clearly unconstitutional.

“It clearly shows the directionless lawmaking powers; offside decision making of the PDP-led house of assembly, and lack of respect for democratic institutions, “ he said.

Oberaifo, therefore, called for the recall of the suspended members in line with clear court precedents in similar matters.

According to him, the above shows that Edo people can no longer continue with the status quo of the PDP governance and law making in the state.

He urged the people to reject the PDP in the forthcoming governorship elections and vote the candidate of the AAC as a better alternative and for credible governance.