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ICPC, NOA Educate Edo Citizens On Monitoring Constituency Projects

Published

2 years ago

March 20, 2020

Editor

In order for the dividends of democracy to get to the people, especially in the various communities, the Independent Corruption Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), and the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Edo State, have educated the citizens to always monitor any constituency projects sited by Federal Government in their communities.

The duo,while giving this enlightenment in a town hall meeting tittled: ‘My Constituency , My Projects’, Benin city, said the money earmarked to execute these projects are not coming from the lawmakers but the Federal Government hence the need for people or citizens to monitor projects going in their communities.

According to the Commissioner of ICPC Edo, Delta States, Olatunji Yusuf, the Town Hall meeting was organized to teach the citizens on how to guide, protect and monitor all governments constituency projects.

Yusuf added that the Town Hall meeting will also be taken to other local government areas in the state to let the citizens know how to monitor, protect and report on all government projects in their different localities.

He stressed that ICPC is doing this in order to reduce the gravity of corruption that is going on in government and called on all stakeholders to curb the menace, adding that corruption is more endemic than corno virus disease.

“Constituency projects are health, education or infrastructural projects recommended by legislators at federal level , including Senate and House of Representatives, Or state Houses of Assembly; or projects identified by government agencies, and organized as beneficial to the people for government to carry out in their various constituencies for the benefit of the people they represent.

“It is vital that, these projects are funded by public money raised from taxes paid by citizens, and from other sources of government revenues, “ he added.

In his speech, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Dr. Garba Abari, said, their partnership is to change the idea so that, citizens will begin to see the constituency projects as their own and to continue to make needed efforts that help to popularise democratic model government in Nigeria.

“As the promoters of the model ,constituency projects help to give tangible meaning to their representation at the National Assembly in Abuja.”

“It also gives the representatives of the people. The required opportunity to identify infrastructure accountable their domains for quick government intervention.

“When communities take ownership of these projects, there will be genuine interest to preserve and protect them. It ensure contractors are to maximize profits to execute the projects to the highest standards needed.

“Community ownership will ensure legislators and other officials of government are alerted when there is poor execution of these contracts , and how they will be hold accountable,” he stressed.

In his remarks, Comrade Roland Osakwe, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Edo State Council, commended the initiative, but appealed to the organisers to always carry the media along to enable them achieved the reality of the event.

Comrade Osakwe lamented that, over the years, politicians have misused and misappropriated the money meant to give vital constituency projects to the people.

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JUST IN: OPEC Secretary-General, Barkindo, Is Dead

Published

4 hours ago

July 6, 2022

Editor

The Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Muhammad Barkindo, is dead.

Barkindo died late Tuesday.

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari, announced Barkindo’s death in a tweeted posted to his verified Twitter handle, @MKKyari, in the early hours of Wednesday.

“We lost our esteemed Dr Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo. He died at about 11pm yesterday 5th July 2022. Certainly a great loss to his immediate family, the NNPC, our country Nigeria, the OPEC and the global energy community. Burial arrangements will be announced shortly,” Kyari tweeted.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had, on Tuesday, honoured Barkindo, describing him as a worthy ambassador of the country, at the State House, Abuja.

Reacting to Barkindo’s death, a former lawmaker in the eighth Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani, tweeted to his Twitter page, “Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo, former GMD NNPC and until recently, @OPECSecretariat scribe, was honoured yesterday. He died 11pm yesternight. May Allah grant him Aljanna firdausi. Amin. That is the ephemerality and transience of life.”

Details later…

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‘Go Spiritual,’ Army Chief Tasks Troops To Complement Kinetic Efforts

Published

14 hours ago

July 5, 2022

Editor

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, has asked troops to complement the Nigerian Army’s kinetic engagements with spiritual efforts.

He advised them to seek counselling, guidance, and divine supplications in ongoing military operations across the nation.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Yahaya gave the charge during an interdenominational church service to commemorate the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2022, held at Saint Mark Military Church (Protestant), 34 Brigade Obinze Barracks in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

The army chief who was represented by Major General Victor Ezugwu, according to Nwachukwu, noted that the theme of the interdenominational service “Promoting National Unity through Religious Tolerance and Peaceful Coexistence” was apt.

He urged the Christian faithful across the nation to continually promote peace and unity in complementing the efforts of the army to surmount contemporary security challenges bedevilling the nation.

Yahaya also appealed to all to desist from the use of misinformation, deceit, and issues capable of disintegrating the nation, stressing the unity in Nigeria’s unique diversity.

The interdenominational service was held in all formations and units of the army across the nation.

The church service had in attendance representatives of the President, Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), principal staff officers from Defence and Army Headquarters, corps commanders, general officers commanding, commandants of Nigerian Army training institutions, soldiers, and their families.

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Man Docked For Alleged Intimidation, Falsehood Against High Court Judge

Published

16 hours ago

July 5, 2022

Editor

A Minna, Niger State-based land speculator, Ibrahim Tukura, has been remanded in correctional custody till July, 7 on the orders of a Chief Magistrate, Hauwa Kulu Isah over alleged intimidation and injurious falsehood against a High court judge, Justice Bilkisu Yusuf Gambo in the state.

Tukura had allegedly filed a case before the Niger State Acting Chief Judge, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, and requested that his case over a parcel of land presided by Justice Gambo of High Court No 6 be transferred from her court.

The defendant claimed that the disputed parcel of land of which, he is claiming ownership with suit No: NSHC/MN/173/2021 was pending in High court No. 6 presided by Justice Gambo.

He alleged that the plaintiff in the disputed land, Malam Isah Nagoji, had given the said land to the presiding judge handling the case, hence his petition to the acting chief judge, demanding that the case be transferred from her court.

Justice Bilkisu Yusuf Gambo in her reaction filed a Direct Criminal Complaint against the defendant to the Chief Magistrate Court No., Hauwa Kulu Isah, requesting a police investigation into the allegations levelled against her by the defendant.

Chief Magistrate, Hauwa Kulu Isah, forwarded the complaint to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligent Department (SCIID), for discreet investigation and afterwards, arraigned the defendant in court for prosecution.

The defendant was consequently, booked on a four-count charge of injurious falsehood, use of abusive or insulting language, criminal intimidation as well as inciting disturbance.

According to the head of the prosecution unit of the SCIID, Abdullahi Mayaki ASP, the charges contravened sections 393, 399, 397 (b), and 114 of the penal code.

However, when the presiding Chief Magistrate, Hauwa Kulu Isah read the charges to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was ordered to be remanded in Correctional custody.

Magistrate Isah then adjourned the case to July, 7 for further mention