Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, on Wednesday announced that he had forfeited his security vote to enable him to meet up with the economic challenges in the state, especially the payment of salaries and pension.

The governor spoke when he met with the Imo Economic Development Initiative led by Prof. Maurice Iwu, at the Government House in Owerri.

He said he took the decision because of paucity of funds.

He also revealed that his next plan was to establish power and petrochemical plants, boost electricity supply and review the 2020 budget to address the current problems militating against development in the state.

The governor also announced plans to launch a special security outfit to tackle criminals, revealing that over 100 vehicles had been procured for the purpose.

The House of Representatives has stated its readiness to exercise its powers of oversight on ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government on the implementation of the 2020 Appropriation Act.

The House stated that it would go all out against MDAs who failed to follow the national budget to the letter.

The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, made this known at Wednesday’s plenary in his welcome address, after the return of the lawmakers from a five-week recess to celebrate Christmas and New Year.

The Senate and the House of Representatives had on December 5, 2019, concurrently passed the 2020 Appropriation Bill, raising the total estimates from the proposed N10.33tn to about N10.6tn.

Buhari had assented to the bill on December 17, 2019.

Gbajabiamila noted that the timely passage and presidential assent to the appropriation bill were due to the collaborative efforts by the legislature and the executive.

He said, “For the first time since 1999, we have a budget passed by the legislature and signed into law before the start of the implementation year. I commend and thank all the members of this House for your efforts towards achieving early passage of the Appropriation Act 2020 and the Finance Act, both of which have now been signed into law.

“Passing the budget into law is merely the beginning. We now have a duty to ensure faithful compliance with the letter and spirit of the law by the MDAs of the Federal Government.

“We will carry out this responsibility and we will do so with integrity, taking pains to ensure that we leave no room for neither friends nor foes to find fault with our words or deeds.”

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has advised his commissioners to always make themselves accessible to the people even as he charged them to be accountable in their dealings.

The governor spoke on Wednesday while swearing-in the commissioners at the Government House, Lokoja.

The swearing-in of the commissioners came barely 48 hours after the governor took his oath of office for his second term.

The governor also announced the appointments of 30 new special advisers and their portfolios.

He told the 17 newly-appointed commissioners that human capital development must be respected.

“Every commissioner, as well as all ministries, departments and agencies, must operate an open door policy and make themselves available to the people because human capital development would form the nucleus of this administration,” the governor said.

He also warned the newly-appointed commissioners not to ruin his administration’s hard-earned reputation on fiscal accountability.

“The anti-corruption agencies have scrutinised us based on petitions written by various people who are not happy with the way we carry out our reforms, and they have found us clean.

“Don’t tarnish our reputation with corrupt practices, anyone found wanting will not be speared,” he said.

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has advised his commissioners to always make themselves accessible to the people even as he charged them to be accountable in their dealings.

The governor spoke on Wednesday while swearing-in the commissioners at the Government House, Lokoja.

The swearing-in of the commissioners came barely 48 hours after the governor took his oath of office for his second term.

The governor also announced the appointments of 30 new special advisers and their portfolios.

He told the 17 newly-appointed commissioners that human capital development must be respected.

“Every commissioner, as well as all ministries, departments and agencies, must operate an open door policy and make themselves available to the people because human capital development would form the nucleus of this administration,” the governor said.

He also warned the newly-appointed commissioners not to ruin his administration’s hard-earned reputation on fiscal accountability.

“The anti-corruption agencies have scrutinised us based on petitions written by various people who are not happy with the way we carry out our reforms, and they have found us clean.

“Don’t tarnish our reputation with corrupt practices, anyone found wanting will not be speared,” he said.

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, on Wednesday announced that he had forfeited his security vote to enable him to meet up with the economic challenges in the state, especially the payment of salaries and pension.

The governor spoke when he met with the Imo Economic Development Initiative led by Prof. Maurice Iwu, at the Government House in Owerri.

He said he took the decision because of the paucity of funds.

He also revealed that his next plan was to establish power and petrochemical plants, boost electricity supply and review the 2020 budget to address the current problems militating against development in the state.

The governor also announced plans to launch a special security outfit to tackle criminals, revealing that over 100 vehicles had been procured for the purpose.

“A new Sheriff is in town and I must deliver,” he said.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Thursday swore in Christopher Ekpenyong as Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West.

This followed Ekpeyong’s victory at the rerun election ordered by the Court and conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Jan. 25.

NAN reports that the All Progressive Congress (APC) did not participate in the re-run.

APC’s failure to participate in the election followed a letter from INEC that the party cannot substitute a candidate for the rerun.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, who contested the Feb. 2019 National Assembly election as a sitting senator on the platform of the APC had dragged Ekpeyong to court.

Ekpeyong’s victory was cut short by the Court of Appeal which directed INEC to conduct a fresh poll.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ekpeyong is a senator under the People’s Democratic Party.

(NAN)

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, on Wednesday announced that he had forfeited his security vote to enable him to meet up with the economic challenges in the state, especially the payment of salaries and pension.

The governor spoke when he met with the Imo Economic Development Initiative led by Prof. Maurice Iwu, at the Government House in Owerri.

He said he took the decision because of paucity of funds.

He also revealed that his next plan was to establish power and petrochemical plants, boost electricity supply and review the 2020 budget to address the current problems militating against development in the state.

The governor also announced plans to launch a special security outfit to tackle criminals, revealing that over 100 vehicles had been procured for the purpose.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Thursday swore in Christopher Ekpenyong as Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West.

This followed Ekpeyong’s victory at the rerun election ordered by the Court and conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Jan. 25.

NAN reports that the All Progressive Congress (APC) did not participate in the re-run.

APC’s failure to participate in the election followed a letter from INEC that the party cannot substitute a candidate for the rerun.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, who contested the Feb. 2019 National Assembly election as a sitting senator on the platform of the APC had dragged Ekpeyong to court.

Ekpeyong’s victory was cut short by the Court of Appeal which directed INEC to conduct a fresh poll.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ekpeyong is a senator under the People’s Democratic Party.

(NAN)