NATIONAL VIBES

  Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said that his administration is committed to ensuring the autonomy of the judicial arm of government in the state. Governor Diri, who described the judiciary as very crucial to the development of any society, gave the assurance at the state High Court during the commencement of activities marking the 2020/21 Legal Year.  His Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, in a statement, quoted the governor as saying that the importance of the judiciary cannot be over-emphasised given its role as the custodian of the Constitution and guarantor of fundamental human rights.  Describing himself as a beneficiary of the judiciary, he commended the judiciary for being forthright against all odds in declaring him winner of the November 16, 2019 governorship election in the state.  The state helmsman noted that as a country, Nigeria had come a long way, moving from the days when individual interests held sway to a time when all are subject to the la

…Treasure Island calls for Tradefaire Vendors Treasure Island Garden and Restaurant, one of Abuja’s fastest growing eateries and Event company in line with its yearly December end of year activities is holding an event tagged, “Treasure Island/Friendly Nigeria Xmas Shopping, Games and Kids Festival” in Abuja. The event is scheduled to start on 14th December, 2020 at Abuja Zoological Park, Nasarawa Street, Area 2, Garki Abuja. It will come to an end on the 24th of December, 2020. According to the organisers, this year’s event is especially packaged to give Abuja residents and others an opportunity to have a pleasant shopping experience with fun, laughter, games and the cheapest prices for household goods, food stuff , shoes , clothes , phones and electronics in Abuja. The event will also have Raffle Draw, Comedy, Karaoke Show, Couples Night and Music Extravaganza. Billed to perform in the stand up comedy performance are top Abuja Stand-Up Comedians. The Managing Director of Treasure Isl

..Infrastructure Gets N34bn, Education N24.9bn Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has presented the 2021 budget estimate to the House of Assembly. It is christened the "Budget of Growth." Presenting the N290,295,465,423 Appropriation Bill on the floor of the assembly on Thursday, Governor Diri noted that the  the outgoing year 2020 has been challenging due to the impact of COVID-19 and the ravages of flooding but expressed optimism that 2021 would be one of progress and prosperity for the state.  Giving a breakdown of part of the sectoral allocations, he said N34billion was earmarked for Works and Infrastructure while Education was allotted N24.9billion, Health N5billion, Agriculture N11.3billion, Trade and Investment N500million and Environment N3.3billion.  He also said that personnel cost would gulp N66,646,082,751 while capital expenditure would take N80,017,254,683 and overhead costs   N66,185,336,658. The governor assured that his administration will at all tim

 Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said that his administration cherishes the relationship with the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) because the maritime sector has great potential for the economic advancement of his state. Governor Diri, who stated this at a dinner organised in honour of the NIMASA Director General, Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh and his entourage in Government House,  Yenagoa, on Tuesday night, noted that the riverine nature of the state makes the partnership with the agency imperative.  A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying that the visit marked the beginning of a new page in the relationship between the state and NIMASA. Governor Diri noted that oil wealth would not last forever hence the need to turn attention to the maritime sector, which holds great potential for the state's advancement economically. He stressed that the agency was important to the state and that both parti

Bayelsa State Government has explained that the N17 billion facility it is processing is for the purpose of boosting the state's economy through the development of its agricultural sector, create jobs and raise its internally generated revenue profile.  The Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Maxwell Ebibai, stated this while reacting to questions from journalists after rendering the statement of accounts for the income and expenditure of the state for August, September and October 2020. According to the Finance Commissioner, "we decided to approach the State House of Assembly for approval to collect the facility for the purpose of developing our palm oil and our other agricultural potential. "The Bayelsa government is not collecting N17 billion to spend on recurrent expenditure. Rather our citizens involved in commercial agriculture would benefit from it and the process would also generate employment for our people and boost our revenue too." While noting that the money i

The Governor of Sokoto State and Chairman PDP Governors Forum, Rt Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal says current efforts at restructuring of the country though desirable will not achieve success if they are not channelled through the National Assembly as amendments to the 1999 constitution. Speaking at the opening plenary of the 26th Nigerian Economic Summit tagged “Building partnerships for resilience” Governor Tambuwal said the nation must avoid a repeat of the mistake of 2015 when a robust attempt by the House of Representatives to amend the constitution was rejected at last minute. Speaking alongside Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Funke Opeke; Chief Executive Officer, MainOne and Chidi Ajaere; CEO, The GIG Group in Abuja, Governor Tambuwal who was Speaker of the House of Representatives when the attempt at constitution amendment was made said restructuring can only be done by constitution amendments. “As it were at the moment, whatever you are going to do about the constitution, ha

    Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said as a way of giving back to his community, he would ensure the expansion of the St. Peter's Anglican Church in his community, Sampou in Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area of the state. Senator Diri stated this on Sunday at the church's 2020 Annual Adult  Harvest Thanksgiving Service with the theme: "Build My House That I May Take Pleasure." A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel  Alabrah, quoted the governor as promising that the church's expansion project would be achieved within record time. Acknowledging the supremacy of God in the affairs of men, the governor stressed that power flows only from God and He bestows it on whoever He pleases. According to him, he has passed through many trials with God guiding him to becoming the number one citizen of the state. Senator  Diri who paid tributes to his father for the strong Christian foundation he laid for his children in the Anglican Communio

  Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has advised social media users to stick to the pristine principles of truth and responsible citizenship while using the social media.  The governor stated this while adding his voice to the debate surrounding the proposed regulation of social media in Nigeria. In his tweets on Thursday, the governor said he totally supports "the Freedom of Expression by citizens as enshrined and guaranteed in our Constitution" but "strongly urge all to practice the principle of self regulation in their use of the social media in a way that will not lead to maligning, abusing, and inciting anyone or spreading falsehood". The governor's tweet reads: "I have followed with keen interest developments surrounding the proposed regulation of the social media. While I agree that the social media, just like any other medium can be subject to abuse, I totally support the freedom of expression by citizens as enshrined and guaranteed in our

  This afternoon, we inaugurated the Oyo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry into Police Brutality, Violation of Rights of Citizens and Unlawful Killings. The panel is made up of eleven (11) members led by Justice Bolajoko Adeniji (Retired), as Chairman of the Panel. Members of the panel are drawn from the legal community, the National Human Rights Commission, the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), the National Youth Council of Nigeria, youth representatives of #EndSARS protesters and the community. This panel was constituted pursuant to Section 2(1) of the Oyo State Commission of Inquiry Law Cap 32 of the Laws of Oyo State 2000 which empowers the governor to set up a commission of inquiry. However, as the scope is beyond Oyo State, we're collaborating with the Federal Government. I encouraged anyone who has faced human rights abuse in the hands of any of the security forces to use this opportunity to seek justice. I also stated that those responsible for the deaths of Isiaka Jimo

  Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Tuesday, expressed optimism that the state’s security outfit, Operation Delta Hawk, would commence operation before the 2020 Yuletide. The governor made this known at a meeting with traditional rulers and religious leaders at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, and said that necessary equipment to make the outfit operational had been procured. He explained that the process of establishing the security outfit took a while because he wanted to ensure that everything was in place, adding that the outfit would tackle kidnapping and other violent crimes, including farmers-herders clashes. "We set up the Operation Delta Hawk which we are hopeful will be operationalized before Christmas. The team has already been selected and trained and we have been able to get men on ground to participate." "For them to be able to undertake such programmes, they also need the body armour, the vests which we have gotten recently." "We are in

  Delta Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday said unemployment was a national emergency, and urged the Federal Government and stakeholders to provide skills and empowerment opportunities for youths as a solution. The governor made the call in Asaba while inaugurating the Delta State Rural Youth Skill Acquisition (RYSA) Programme for 810 rural youths. He insisted that unemployment should be declared a national emergency and made top priority in governance at all levels. He said that his administration’s strategic thrust for job creation had been entrepreneurship development programmes anchored on skills training, engaging youths in productive enterprises, nurturing entrepreneurs, leaders and promoting communal peace and security. The governor noted that no nation could prosper without building the youths, saying, "If you don't build them today they cannot lead tomorrow". "Today, we opened a new vista in our Job and Wealth Creation Scheme. The Rural Youth Skills

Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalllen, Tuesday, launched the Nigeria Poverty Alleviation Stipend empowerment programme meant for one million poor people in the state. The N-PAS scheme which is a United Nations programme is generated by leaders who have concern for the poorest of the poor in their communities in which beneficiaries will receive the sum of N5,000 in their bank account for the improvement of their small scale businesses. During the launch, Gov. Matawalle said he has introduced several empowerment schemes some of which are ran through the office of his wife in Zamfara since his assumption in office last year. He noted that his administration has recognized the critical importance of fighting poverty and improving economic empowerment to ensuring peace and stability in our communities which is responsible for the establishment of Zamfara State Social Intervention Programme (ZASSIP), under which 8,692 persons drawn from across the 14 Local Government Council

… education, health, infrastructure get lion share …prioritises capacity building, hiring professionals into civil service to boost efficiency The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has presented a N153.4 billion budget proposal to the Edo State House of Assembly, for the 2021 fiscal year, representing a 9.7 percent increase from the revised 2020 budget. Obaseki, who presented the budget to the Assembly sitting at the old Legislative Chambers in Government House, Benin City, said the budget comprises N94.8 billion for recurrent and N58.6 billion for capital expenditure. The governor said the document christened ‘Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) Budget,’ is exclusively pinned on robustly responding to the dislocations caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, whilst building a workforce of the future. He noted that the N94.8 billion recurrent expenditure estimate for 2021 fiscal year represents a 24 percent growth from the N76.6 billion actual expected in the 2020 fiscal year. According to

   The Obong of Calabar, His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, has declared his full support for Governor Ben Ayade and his administration. The Obong made the declaration on Tuesday when the governor paid him a courtesy call at his private residence in Adiabo, Odukpani Local Government Area. The first class monarch used kind words on the governor, describing him as "my brother, my friend, the great Governor of this state.” The royal father recalled the role he played during the governor's re- election bid in 2019. “I was at the forefront of your re-election, and spoke strongly that no one can remove Ayade, he has to complete his tenure." "You are our own son, you are with us and we will all work with you to make sure that this state, no matter what happens, is rebuilt,” he said.  "I want you know that we all love you, we all want you, no matter how people were trying to bring problem in between us." Speaking earlier, Governor Ayade thanked the Obong f

  Gov. Umahi to Gov. Wike: "Take Care of Civilians That Lost Their Family Members To Hoodlums Attack Like You Are Taking Care of Security Agencies" ...As Governor Wike says there cannot be Nigeria without Ndigbo The Chairman of South East Governor's Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi on Sunday led a delegation of Ndigbo to Rivers State on a fact finding mission of what truly transpired and to resolve whatever that may have caused it for peaceful coexistence of the neighbouring zones. In an opening remark, Governor Umahi said; "We are here to interact with you. We saw a number of things in the social media about Igbos in Obigbo and as leaders, we put heads together and requested to meet with Governor Wike." "The first thing we want to do is to ask our people, the Ndigbo in Rivers State, are the things we are seeing in the social media true, we will want you to address us." Reacting, the spokesperson and Eze Ndigbo in Rivers and Bayels

  ... Adjudged Best To Take Africa To the Future By NBA Boss As the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic looms again globally, the need to marshall the rule of law and give premium to free trade have been identified as the ways that the African continent can have a better future and turn the scourge of the pandemic to a success story. Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal suggested these antidotes to the continent's malady Monday when he delivered a keynote address at the 2020 Virtual Conference organised by the African Bar Association (AfBA) in Niamey, Niger Republic. The governor, who was described by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olumide Akpata, as the "Best person to take Africa to the future," harped on the sub-theme of the conference: "How Lawyers Can Lead", saying: "Every state in Africa must be governed according to the wishes of the people and dictates of the Constitution." Tambuwal observed, "As lawyers, who are trained t