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Obaseki, Oshiomhole Mourn Departed Former Head of Service, SSG, Shower Encomium

Published

3 years ago

February 18, 2021

Editor

The death of former Head of Service, HoS, and Secretary to Edo State Government, SSG, Dr. simon Imuekemhe, has been described as great loss to the state.

He was said to have passed on in the early hours of Thursday at the age of 66.

It was gathered that the former SSG had not been on good health for a while before his health degenerated on Saturday, when he was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Benin.

Governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, in his reaction to the death of the former civil service doyen, expressed deep shock.

A statement issued on Thursday by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Osarodion Ogie, and made available to newsmen said, “The Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has received with deep shock, the news of the death of a one-time Head of Service and Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Simon Omoaka Imuekemhe, KSM, FNIM (JP)”.

“Dr. Simon Imuekemhe joined the then Bendel State Public Service in 1988 as a Consultant Pediatrician. He held several positions in the Hospitals Management Board and was appointed Permanent Secretary in 1999. Dr. Imuekemhe was Head of the Edo State Civil Service from 2005-2011 when he retired from the Civil Service. He was appointed Secretary to the State Government in 2011, a position he held till November, 2012”, the statement traced the trajectory of the deceased in the service of the state.

The statement continues, “Edo State Government mourns the loss of an Administrative Colossus, who impacted positively on all spheres of Public Service having served the State under four (4) Military Administrators and three (3) Civilian Governors.

“Our deep and sincere condolences go to his wife, children, the entire Imuekemhe family, the Public Service and the good people of Edo State. May the good Lord grant us the fortitude to bear this huge loss,” statement added.

Also in his reaction to the death the former Head of Service, former governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in a statement said he received death of the former Head of Service with shock, just he described Imuekemhe as a very good man with outstanding personality and excellent career in public service.

Oshiomhole in the statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Benin added that the former Head of Service understood his vision when he was governor, keyed into it, stressing that he (HoS) contributed immensely to the many successes recorded by his administration as governor of the state.

“He contributed immensely to the many successes recorded by my administration as governor of Edo State, by tirelessly offering his expertise and vast experience whenever he was called upon to serve.

“It is noteworthy that he worked assiduously to introduce several far reaching institutional reforms into the Edo State civil service, which enhanced productivity and afforded substantial benefits to the state’s workforce.

“As Secretary to the State Government during my first tenure as governor, he understood my vision and immediately keyed in to be part of it. His loyalty and commitment to this vision was never in doubt and coupled with his courage, boldness, intellectual depth, honesty, managerial capacity and experience, we were able to achieve so much in such a short period of time,” he said.

Oshiomhole therefore prayed God to grant the family he left behind the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Imuekemhe was Head of the Edo State Civil Service from 2005-2011and when he retired from the Civil Service, he was appointed Secretary to the State Government in 2011, and served till November, 2012. He was also at a time the Chief Medical Director of the Central Hospital, Benin; as as he was Chairman of the state’s Local Government Service Commission.

Related Topics:#Dr. simon Imuekemhe #Edo HoS #Godwin Obaseki news #SSG Comrade Adams Oshiomhole Edo State government Edo State governor

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Bauchi Lawmaker Pledges To Expedite Passage Of Bill On Reduction Of Out-Of-School Children

Published

5 hours ago

May 10, 2024

Editor

Honourable Nasiru Ala, the Chairman, House Committee on Education in the Bauchi State House of Assembly has pledged to expedite the passage of the state framework Bill to reduce Out-Of-School in the state.

He made the pledge during a two-day regional stakeholders meeting on out-of-school children and retention, transition as well as completion models in Bauchi, Gombe and Adamawa states.

According to him, any moment the bill is sent to the state House of Assembly from the Executive, the lawmakers would expedite actions to ensure that the bill is passed within three to four weeks.

He said: “Based on the law making, we are going to enact this particular law on the domestication of the Bauchi state framework to reduce Out-of-School children bill within three to four weeks from the day of reception from the Executive Arm.

“Our governor has been very cooperative and supportive on this particular issue of out of school children because it is a serious menace.

“As an academic, I’m not always happy anytime I hear the word Out-of-School children.

“That is why it’s not going to be a big deal in the Bauchi state House of Assembly to enact the state framework to reduce Out-of-School children in the state.

“In three weeks time In-Sha-Allah, we are going to pass into Bill this State Framework to reduce Out-of-School children in the state”.

Also speaking, Mr Raphael Aiyedipe, Education Officer, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, said that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) had developed a National Framework of Action to Reduce Out-of-School Children and drive access to education in the country.

According to him, the framework commits to substantially and systematically decrease the number of Out-of-School children in Nigeria by 2030.

He highlighted some of the objectives of the framework to include; improve access and quality of education for all Nigerian children, drive improvement in learning and relevant skills development.

Others, he said, were to accelerate the social and economic development of communities and the country at large.

“The Framework has 5 thematic areas that includes; political actors and this means gaining the political will and government commitment.

“Best practices and alternative pathways and this translates to defeating learning poverty, Community accountability, that is engaging stakeholders to build ownership.

“Technology and ICT which means improving access through innovative solutions and Financing mechanisms, that is, reaching the most vulnerable,” he explained.

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EFCC Trial: ‘Even The Prophets Went To Prison’ – Buhari’s Minister Comforts Self In Court

Published

15 hours ago

May 10, 2024

Editor

A former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, standing trial for an alleged N7.2bn fraud, said he was ready to go to prison just like the prophets.

Sirika, his daughter, and three others were arraigned at a Federal Capital Territory High Court on Thursday on a six-count amended criminal charge before Justice Sylvanus Oriji.

A video of the ex-minister speaking in court with his lawyers surfaced on X on Thursday.

In the video, Sirika, dressed in cream Babariga, could be heard saying, “It’s okay. Fatima, it’s okay,” while comforting his daughter.

He continued, “Even prophets have gone (to prison). Those that went, haven’t they finished theirs already?…whatever Allah says”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had accused the ex-minister, his daughter, son-in-law and Al-Duraq Investment Limited, of fraud in connection with the botched Nigerian Air project.

Meanwhile, the court granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of N100m with two sureties each.

Before the trial judge, Justice Sylvanus Orji granted the bail request of the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them after it was read out to them.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, had informed the court of an amended charge by the EFCC dated May 7, and filed on May 8, which was not opposed by the counsel for the defendants.

Sirika’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), informed the court of his client’s bail application dated May 6.

The other defendants similarly, moved their bail applications and prayed the court to be liberal in the bail conditions.

Jacobs, on his part, told the court that all the defendants were on administrative bail and asked the court to grant bail on the condition that would make them appear for their trials.

Apart from the N100m bail, Justice Osuji added that one of the sureties must own a landed property with valid land titles in like sum within the Federal Capital Territory.

The judge also held that the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means while he barred the defendants from travelling outside the country without its permission.

He added that failure to fulfil the bail conditions would earn the defendants a stay in a correctional facility.