News
Otti Clears Air On N1.5billion For Two Hilux Vehicles In Abia Budget

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has clarified the issue of the proposed procurement of 2 Hilux vehicles at the cost of N1.5 billion in the state annual budget.
Otti , who made the clarification while reacting to a question on the report that the Abia State government had voted N1.5 billion to purchase two units of Hilux vehicles in her 2024 budget, attributed the controversial figure to a software glitch generated by the Excel package used in preparing the budget document.
He said; “When I saw that report, I knew something was wrong. I knew it could either be the units or the price. So, I called the Commissioner for Budget and Planning and asked him to check it out and call me back. He did and reported that it was neither the units nor the price that was wrong but the excel. If you use excel and the formula is not very right on a particular line, you are bound to have a problem like that. It’s a mistake that has been corrected.
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“When the news of the bloated figure got to me, I immediately had to cross-check the budget numbers and found that the N1.5 billion was not translated to the total budget figure.
“In statistics and even in accounting, there is what is referred to as the materiality concept, and that talks to the significance of a number to influence the outcome. So if you check N1.5 billion against N487 billion budget, that translates to about 0.3%, less than half percent of the total figure, and I believe that it is not that significant in determining the outcome. So even if the wrong number was carried down to the total, it wouldn’t have been material.
“But suffice it to say that anything that comes from government must be correct. It is an error, and it has been corrected.
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“I must thank the people who pointed out the error. It means that people are vigilant; people are checking and I encourage people to check, and hold the government to account.
“I believe that our people should remain awake and be vigilant and hold governments to account because the governments are governments of the people, for the people, and by the people and that is the definition of democracy.
“But having said that, that you have produced a budget does not mean that everything in the budget must be spent. I tell my people that out of the two parts of the budget, the one part of the budget that is sacrosanct is the revenue but the expenditure part of the budget must not necessarily be exhausted. And for my government, the fact that you have something in the budget does not mean it must be spent. You will still come back to me for approval.
“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. The overall numbers are correct and the figure of N1.5 billion was actually N150 million; two units of Hilux vans at N75 million each will give you N150 million, that’s the correct number,” Otti said.
News
Israeli Mission To Bolster Wellbeing Of Orphans In Nigeria
The Israeli Embassy in Nigeria has promised to bolster the wellbeing of orphans in Nigeria.
Deputy Chief of Mission of the embassy, Inbar Garden stated this in Abuja while donating food items to the Hope for Survival Orphanage, Gishsiri community, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
She said aside helping to promote collaboration between Nigeria and Israel, the mission is committed to supporting the wellbeing of the orphans.
Garden said, “We just want to ensure the orphans have a better future and not taken for granted.
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“It takes a person with a giant heart to give themselves to the society and make other peoples life matter.
“I urge you, children at the Orphanage to be focused on your future, because you are not going to stay in this place forever.
“Just dream big and say it loud, and go get your dreams fulfilled.”
Also,the Proprietress of the orphanage, Ruth Ibrahim, thanked the embassy for the kind gesture,
According to her, even for you to come here is not easy due to the deplorable road to the orphanage.
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“We thank God for the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike’s intervention, the road was so bad, at least he has repaired it, such that we can easily come into the orphanage as against before.
“God bless and enrich you for putting smiles on our faces, this is good, because we have never seen such a large cooking of meal like this in our orphanage,” Ibrahim said.
She decried lack of access to medical services and paucity of funds toward the construction of fence around the orphanage, to be major challenges they faced.
The orphanage have 67 children, with two having graduated from university and eight of them are currently in SS3, preparing for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exam.
The highpoint of the event is a treat for the children at the orphanage to a buffet by the Israeli deputy chief of mission.
News
Isokpan Sworn In As Egor LG Vice Chairman, Pledges Loyalty to Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda
The Egor Local Government Council Secretariat was abuzz on Monday as Hon. Kenny Isokpan was officially sworn in as the Vice-Chairman of the Council, in a colourful ceremony attended by party leaders, stakeholders, and community groups.
The event drew a large gathering, including the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor, Hon. Plus Alile, alongside other prominent political figures.
In his address, the Acting Chairman of the council, Hon. Osaro Eribo, described Isokpan as a vibrant and energetic youth whose emergence heralded renewed vigour in the Council’s leadership.
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He expressed confidence that the new Vice-Chairman would work closely with him to advance Governor Monday Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda at the grassroots level.
Shortly after assuming office, Isokpan lauded Okpebholo for his developmental strides across the state and for providing him the platform to serve.
He pledged unwavering loyalty to the governor, the party leadership, and Eribo, vowing to contribute his quota towards repositioning Egor in line with the progressive vision of the administration.
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The new Vice-Chairman also expressed gratitude to the State Chairman of the APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, for his steadfast leadership, and commended party leaders at the state, local government, and ward levels for their support.
He gave special recognition to a prominent Egor leader, Hon. Osahon Airhunmwunde, for standing by him during his most challenging moments.
Isokpan further acknowledged the solidarity of the Red Cross Society and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), stressing that their support reflected broad-based confidence in the ruling party’s grassroots agenda.
News
Dangote Group Agrees To redeploy Workers Sacked By Refinery
After a peace meeting, the Dangote Group has agreed to redeploy the workers sacked by its subsidiary, Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The resolution was announced on Wednesday by the ministry of labour and employment in a statement on the outcome of the reconciliation meetings held on Monday and Tuesday.
Aliko Dangote, founder of Dangote Group, and representatives of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) met on Tuesday with Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, and Mohammed Dingyadi, minister of labour and employment to resolve the labour dispute.
READ ALSO:Dangote Refinery Dispute: PENGASSAN Suspends Strike After FG Intervention
Disclosing other agreements reached during the meeting, the ministry said the parties agreed that the disengaged workers will be absorbed by other subsidiaries in Dangote Group without loss of pay.
“The Honourable Minister of Labour informed the meeting that unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and that this right should be respected,” the ministry said
“After examining the procedure used in the disengagement of workers, the meeting agreed that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately start the process of taking the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay.
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“No worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN.
“PENGASSAN agreed to start the process of calling off the strike.
“Both parties agreed to this understanding in good faith.”
On September 26, PENGASSAN instructed its members to embark on a nationwide strike over the dismissal of workers by Dangote refinery.
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