PHOTOS: Suspected Fulani Herdsmen Attack, Inflict Wounds On RCCG Pastor In Ondo

Femi Ajayi, a Pastor with The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Akure, Ondo state, has been attacked by suspected fulani herdsmen leaving him with deep matchete-inflicted injuries...

See photos Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/photos-suspected-fulani-herdsmen-attack.html?m=1

BREAKING: Heavy Tension In Jos, Plateau State. Avoid This Places

Security agencies have been drafted but cautioned should be exercised.
Let us be mindful of our movement even as we pray God to take absolute control of the situation...

See Here for Places to avoid
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/breaking-heavy-tension-in-jos-plateau.html?m=1

PHOTOS: Emeka Ihedioha Rebuilds Dan Anyiam Stadium, See The New Beautiful Photos

See the Beautiful looking Once abandoned Dan Anyiam Stadium as it's been Rebuilt by Governor Elect, Emeka Ihedioha. A visit to Dan Anyiam Stadium which has been left abandoned over the past 8 years, will show you that a serious government is on the way....

See Photos of the New Looking Stadium Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/photos-emeka-ihedioha-rebuilds-dan.html

FG Commends Abia Govt Over Improvement On Health Sector


The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewale, has commended the Abia state government for efforts it has made in improving health sector in the state,


See full details here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/fg-commends-abia-govt-over-improvement.html?m=1

BREAKING: Orlu Senate; Gov. Okorocha In More Trouble As Court Orders INEC To Maintain Status Quo

An Owerri High Court today orders INEC not to “depart from its decision” of not issuing Rochas Okorocha Certificate of Return...

See Full Details Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/breaking-orlu-senate-gov-okorocha-in.html?m=1

BREAKING: Ihedioha Wins As Tribunal Dismisses Two Petitions, One Petitioner Withdraws His Petition.

The state election petitions tribunal sitting in Owerri today Dismissed two petitions seeking to upturn the election of Hon. Emeka Ihedioha. The petitions dismissed are that of Nwadigo Chris C and Clifford Okechukwu of the Democratic alliance.


See Full Details Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/breaking-ihedioha-wins-as-tribunal.html?m=1

See Current Senate Membership Make-up As PDP Wins Three More Seats

Three Senators would be added to the numbers of the People's Democratic Party senators following the Supreme Court ruling which sacked all elected APC Candidates in Zamfara State...

See the Full Senate Membership here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/see-current-senate-membership-make-up.html?m=1

BREAKING: ASCETA Suspends Strike

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu (ASCETA) have called off their industrial action...

See Full Details Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/breaking-asceta-suspends-strike.html?m=1

Abia State Gov't. To Restructure Civil Service, Vigilante Security Group

Exco adopted the report of the internal committee that reviewed the qualifications of staff of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, as well as the optimization of staff of the institution. Council directs the institution to proceed with implementation of the recommendations there in...

See Full Details Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/abia-state-govt-to-restructure-civil.html?m=1

BREAKING: APGA Leadership, Members In IMO State Joins PDP (Photos)


Members of Imo New APGA officially decamp to PDP, pledges support to the incoming administration under the leadership of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha...

See Photos Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/breaking-apga-leadership-members-in-imo.html?m=1

BREAKING: APGA Leadership, Members In IMO State Joins PDP (Photos)


Members of Imo New APGA officially decamp to PDP, pledges support to the incoming administration under the leadership of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha...

See Photos Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/breaking-apga-leadership-members-in-imo.html?m=1

BREAKING: OKOROCHA Loses As Court Strikes Out Suit Seeking To Stop Ihedioha's Swearing-In


Imo wins again at the Federal High Court as court strikes out suit seeking to stop the inauguration of the incoming governor, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha..

See Full Details Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/breaking-okorocha-loses-as-court.html?m=1

PHOTOS: Governor Elect, Ihedioha Begins Renovation Of Dan Anyiam Stadium

The repairs ongoing at the two major sections of the Stadium, the Grasshopper Handball Stadium and the Football pitch section are to see the place which has been abandoned by the present day government habitable for the good people of Imo State and the Visitors who will be turning out in their numbers to herald the coming of a New Imo in the coming days...

See photos here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/photos-governor-elect-ihedioha-begins.html?m=1

Why We Prevented The Looting Of N5b In Imo - EFCC

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on Friday in Enugu that Imo state government is under its searchlight for alleged money laundering during the last gubernatorial election in the state....

See Full Details Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/why-we-prevented-looting-of-n5b-in-imo.html?m=1

X-raying the issues with Abia parastatals and pensions payment (5)

By John Okiyi Kalu

On pensioners, we are determined to not only solve the challenge but also do so in a sustainable manner. Abia State pays more than N450m monthly to state pensioners and more than N380m monthly to LGA pensioners. Our current wage bill revolves around N2.7bn monthly for the state while that of LGAs is around N1.9bn monthly. Contrast that with one of our neighboring states with a total wage bill of N900m, including a monthly pension bill of N160m, and you will understand why successive administrations in Abia state struggle to meet other needs of majority of our hardworking citizens after paying salaries.

In 2015, when the first verification of pensioners was done by Ikpeazu-led administration, one of the cabals that specializes in padding pension wage bill in the state was unmasked. The scheme engineered by a man who never worked In the civil service for one day took advantage of our existing poor internal controls by teaming up with nefarious actors within the pension payment system to inject fictitious names into the pension basket. While the ring leaders were duly handed over to security agents for prosecution, the administration discovered that the existing sub treasury payment system created the loophole exploited by the scammers, and proceeded to abolish the system in preference for a centralized system that ensures that our aged pensioners receive alerts from the comfort of their homes instead of queuing up under a tree to be paid.

It is a well known fact that in the southeast region, Abia workers and pensioners receive the highest wage per worker and because of our existing civil service promotion policy and practice whereby workers automatically move to the next salary level with every promotion exercise, not minding competence, disproportionately high number of workers end up retiring as directors or permanent secretaries.

On the average, the state receives a net sum of N3.5bn monthly as federal allocation, including derivation payments. With only 4 active oil wells against 50-70 owned by some of our neighbours, oil derivation revenue for the state is minimal. As at today, Delta State has 74 active oil wells, Ondo - 18, Edo - 13, Rivers - 77, Bayelsa - 58, Ak Ibom - 55, Abia - 4, Imo - 12, Lagos - 1. Yet, previous decisions on wages were taken on the basis of Abia being an “oil producing state”. It will shock most readers to note that in a particular month, we received less than twenty million naira (N20,000,000) as derivation payment.

Internally generated revenue (IGR) still remains under N1bn (excluding PAYE) because of revenue leakages and other structural problems. While the administration commissioned a company to computerize the IGR collection and accounting system, not much improvement has been observed. We are therefore set to rejig the system to eliminate or, at least, reduce revenue leakages to its barest minimum as well as put in place a humane revenue collection system. In the coming weeks, the details of this and more will be revealed and implemented.

In summary, we are aware of the challenges within our parastatals and pension payment system and have taken measures to change the narrative. It is unacceptable to the administration to allow genuine workers in our parastatals suffer from irregular payment of wages and we will certainly make necessary interventions to end the saga.

Yet, it is factually incorrect to state that Abia pensioners have continuously not been paid for the number of months advertised. I know for a fact that in December 2018, March 2019 and May 2019 state pensioners received at least one month payment for each of those months. But we certainly have backlogs that the administration intends to clear, especially with the likelihood that the last tranche of Paris Club refund for Abia will soon be paid. Other states have already received their due refunds of the money deducted in excess from the state to pay our national debt and Abia state expects about $80m refund.

To avert future challenges with pension payment in the state, we have signed up to the contributory pension scheme which should ensure that those who retire from January 2019 do not suffer any delays in the payment of their pensions and gratuities.

Let me assure all that the Ikpeazu-led administration has the correct diagnosis of the issues in the ailing parastatals as well as the political will to do the needful to change the situation positively. All we are asking for is support and understanding from all strata of Abia society as we embark on far reaching reforms to reposition the work force for optimal results.

Meanwhile, we are aware that during the last May Day celebration, NLC and TUC leaders acknowledged that the administration of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu is up to date with salary payment of workers of MDAs in Abia State, who are by law the group paid directly by the state government. It is shocking that even when Channels TV interviewed the NLC Chairman, Uchenna Obigwe, and saw the written relevant statement applauding the government for sustainably solving the previous challenge with MDAs, where the majority of Abia workers are located and the administration has been paying them seamlessly, the station obviously chose not to at least balance their news report. Hopefully, the intention was not to create mischief in furtherance of any political objectives. But we still noted that whereas in their reports concerning other states of the federation no mention was made of the status of parastatals and pension payment, even where outstanding exists, the focus on Abia's parastatals without even properly informing viewers that the listed units are state parastatals that the government does not pay directly, is suspect. The relevant interview portion with the NLC Chairman and myself were deliberately omitted in an apparent hatchet job aimed at generating public odium for the state and its government. I therefore wish to call on journalists in the state to kindly abide by the journalistic creed of balancing their reports by hearing from and publishing the other side at all times.

Elections are over in Abia State and the focus should be substantive governance aimed at delivering more dividends of democracy to the people.

In addition to our efforts to reposition our workforce, this administration is determinedly pushing job creation to ensure that more of our high flying and unmatchable graduates are gainfully employed within the public and private sectors of the state economy. We have accelerated work in the new Aba Automated Shoe Factory which is expected to provide, at least, 1,000 new jobs as well as supporting the establishment of the Nibra Leather City at Obuaku that is poised to add another 1,000 jobs to the state economy. Our flagship industrialization Public Private Partnership (PPP) project, the Enyimba Economic City and Free Trade Zone, is expected to deliver a minimum of 700,000 jobs within the next 10 years. The administration is also supporting Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the state to employ more Abians through the provision of better infrastructure, security and other institutional support.

With more well paying private sector jobs, we hope to reduce the pressure on our parastatals and civil service to hire more.

Thank you.

(CONCLUDED)

JOK


https://www.facebook.com/119961132055926/posts/349889102396460?sfns=mo

BREAKING: Imo House Of Assembly Impeaches Speaker Acho Ihim, Swears In...

Imo House of Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon Acho Ihim Impeached By Members Of The House As Member Representing Onuimo Takes over As Speaker...

See Full Details Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/breaking-imo-house-of-assembly.html?m=1

BREAKING: Kano State Court Sacks Newly Appointed Emirs

A Kano State high court Wednesday declared the appointment and the installation of four new emirs by the Kano State government as null and void...

See Full Details Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/breaking-kano-state-court-sacks-newly.html?m=1

X-Raying The Issues With Abia Parastatals And Pensions Payment (3)

The situation with other distressed parastatals mirror the AbiaPoly conundrum with the signpost being the failure of diligent corporate governance. For instance, prior to October 2018, when Dr ACB Agbazuere was appointed General Manager of Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS), the organisation owed workers 3 months wages. But by December 2018, Dr Agbazuere, the new GM, had restructured the place, sanitized their operations, paid off backlog of wages and also paid December salary even before state MDAs received theirs. Today, that parastatal has already paid April salary of workers.


Again, contrast that with other parastatals like ASUBEB where workers in a parastatal that is in charge of basic education (Primary 1-JS3) are being paid by the state government whereas in other states the local governments are responsible for wages of workers in UBE scheme. Interestingly, former workers of state MDAs lobbied to move their services to ASUBEB to receive higher wages and opportunities whereas such persons on secondment ordinarily should be paid by their parent ministries. Senior Secondary School teachers are the only ones expected to be paid by Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB) but due to the high wage bill arising from addition of JS teachers they are struggling.

To correct this anomaly, the government has set up a committee on Disarticulation of Junior Secondary Schools from SEMB and harmonization of payment of teachers' salaries and allowances by local governments to ensure proper administration of the school system and regular payment of workers.

It is unfortunate that people who go to state owned hospitals and pay money to get cards, treatment and other services see hospital management as social service that the state government should fund as a leaking pocket. Those who toe this line of puerile argument do not bother to ask medical practitioners and managers of state owned medical facilities what exactly happens to the money paid by patients and beneficiaries of other services or why they are not managing their private clinics as social services too.

How can managers of revenue making units who do not pay any portion of thier earnings to the state coffers but make and use revenue as they deem fit still come to government house at the end of every month, cap in hand, to beg for salary bailouts without accounting for their internally generated revenue?

Early in the administration of Governor Ikpeazu, stakeholders of Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), including labour leaders in the institution, visited the Governor to discuss how to move the institution forward. They informed the Governor that the workers were being owed 11 months in unpaid wages and requested the Governor to help settle the bill with a promise that if that was done they would run seamlessly and use what they make from their operations to run the institution. They also made the case for the sack of the then management team.

Governor Ikpeazu acquiesced to their requests and paid off the 11 months salary owed workers in the institution and changed the management team as requested. Indeed, workers earning N500,000 monthly got N5.5m at once. Apparently, those who benefited from the Governor's gesture proceeded to refurbish or establish new private clinics with the money and then reports of alleged diversion of patients from ABSUTH to these private clinics began to emerge. Whatever the institution made as revenue was purportedly used to buy diesel for the new generator provided by the Ikoeazu-led administration and such sundry expenses without paying the workers. Even medical consumables and equipment supplied by the government to the institution continued to diminish with no commensurate improvement in revenue.

TO BE CONTINUED

See Full Details Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/x-raying-issues-with-abia-parastatals_15.html?m=1

X-Raying The Issues With Abia Parastatals And Pensions Payment (1)

X-raying the issues with Abia parastatals and pensions payment (1)

By Chief John Okiyi Kalu

Recently, Abia State Commissioner For Finance, Mr Obinna Oriaku, released a press statement titled “Our Position on Parastatals' Salary Issues” to essentially bring to the public arena facts on what the government is doing to support state parastatals pay workers as and when due.


One key thing about Mr Oriaku’s media engagement on the issue was that he did not try to pass the buck but rather focused on solutions already in the works to solve the challenge. Having read him and the response of well meaning individuals to his statement, permit me to shed more light on the real issues behind the challenge Abia State parastatals are having with workers' payment and leave you to share your views and suggestions.

First, I need to correct a misrepresentation of facts regarding the outstanding owed workers. While the total outstanding in a parastatal might be X number of months, it doesn’t mean that workers in those parastatals have not been paid for the past consecutive X months. For instance, pensioners might have 17 months in unpaid wages but in March 2019 they received one month pay and just last week (May) they received another month’s pay. The notion that they have not been paid anything for the past 17 months is not factually correct. Same applies to all the parastatals with outstanding. In December 2018, for example, Governor Ikpeazu ensured that every Abia worker in our MDAs and Parastatals as well as pensioners celebrated the Yuletide (Christmas) with a minimum of one month salary paid to him or her.

It is also on record that the majority of Abia workers are in our MDAs. As at today, our MDAs are up to date with salary payment. They have already received April 2019 salary. The same applies to our primary school teachers who are not owed even a month’s salary.

Even with parastatals, we currently have about 15 state parastatals and less than half of them have salary payment challenges. The majority of our parastatals are up to date with salary payment and some of them like Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA) are also up to date with pension payments. Kindly feel free to verify from any BCA pensioner if he or she is owed any pension. Indeed, during the last May Day protest by pensioners, I asked one of them who is a former BCA staff why he joined the protest and he replied: "Commissioner, injury to one is injury to all”,

Fair enough to me. We do not want any “injury” to any of our pensioners or workers.

My note on the challenge with some Abia parastatals is not meant to give excuses or pass the buck. The focus will be to present to the public arena issues around the distressed parastatals as well as what the Government is doing or planning to do to solve the challenges.

There is no state in Nigeria without ailing parastatals. It will not be fair that because workers of Odumegwu Ojukwu University, for example, are currently on strike over wage issues, then one should now generalize and say Governor Willy Obiano is not paying Anambra workers. Likewise, JAMB announced today that they remitted N5b to the federal government from what they made and that clearly shows that a well managed parastatal can contribute to state revenue, comfortably run its operations and pay salaries of its workers if properly run by their management and not serve as draining pipes of state treasury for themselves and their vested interests. Along the same line, that a neighboring oil producing state is owing 14 months in unpaid pensions does not necessarily tell the whole story.

To those who dwell on rhetorical questions like “who appointed the heads”, it is important to point out that the same person appointed the heads of the successful parastatals. When those non performing heads who give all kinds of excuses to defend poor performance are sacked or suspended from the same place they were complaining about they return to lobby for re-appointment. We all know why and also know why even workers who complained of being owed in a parastatal will resist transfer to MDAs where salaries are paid regularly. Don’t we all know?

Make no mistake about this: the administration is determined to solve the challenges with parastatals and pensioners in a manner that will serve the best interest of our about 38,000 workers and the more than four million other Abians who also need dividends of democracy such as good roads, hospitals, schools etc.

TO BE CONTINUED


See Full Details Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/x-raying-issues-with-abia-parastatals.html?m=1

BREAKING: Court Sacks Chike Okafor From House Of Reps...

A member of the House of Representatives, Chike Okafor (APC, Imo) has lost his seat.
The member that represents Ehimembano/ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency lost his seat to Emeka Nwajuba...

See Full Details Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/breaking-court-sacks-chike-okafor-from.html?m=1

Okorocha Spends Billions Of Naira On Last-Minute Documentary Adverts.

"Okorocha is pursuing this wasteful venture that is draining IMO State tax payers just to massage his ego and live in a the illusion that he performed excellently well in office so that he could be considered for APC Presidential ticket in 2023" Dr Onyeocha said...

See Full Details Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/okorocha-spends-billions-of-naira-on.html?m=1

Rochas Okorocha: Oshiomhole Ordered His SSS Orderly To Push Me Out Of His Office

The last time I saw Oshiomhole was when I went to Oshiomhole’s office and he sent his State Security Service man to insult me in his office, before the governorship candidate of Akwa Ibom, the NDDC guy who also reacted against the gentleman...

See Full Details Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/05/rochas-okorocha-oshiomhole-ordered-his.html?m=1

Breaking: PDP Officially Wins Venue With Over 80K Votes

The People's Democratic Party has won the Gubernatorial Election in Benue with over 80 thousand Votes and Governor Ortom would be returned elected...

See Full result here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/03/breaking-pdp-officially-wins-venue-with.html?m=1

Breaking: Tambuwal, PDP Wins Sokoto With Less Than 400 Votes

The People's Democratic Party Has won the Sokoto State Gubernatorial Election with it's candidate Aminu Waziri Tambuwal projected winner with less that 400 Votes difference...

See Full result here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/03/breaking-tambuwal-pdp-wins-sokoto-with.html?m=1

Breaking: PDP Wins 17 States Out Of 36. Full List

The People's Democratic Party Will from May 29th Be in control of 17 States out of the 36 States of Nigeria.
The State includes: 1. Cross River, 2. Akwa Ibom, 3. Rivers, 4. Bayelsa...

See Full list of States here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/03/breaking-pdp-wins-17-states-out-of-36.html?m=1

Breaking: PDP , Tambuwal Wins Sokoto State

The People's Democratic Party has won The Sokoto State Gubernatorial Election and Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal would be returned elected by INEC...

See Full result here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/03/breaking-pdp-tambuwal-wins-sokoto-state.html

Breaking: PDP Sweeps Imo State Rerun, Wins Ngor Okpoala

The People's Democratic Party has swept the Rerun Election held in IMO State today...

See Full Result Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/03/breaking-pdp-sweeps-imo-state-rerun.html

Note: This is The Eastern Telegraph Exit Poll Final Analysis for the Three States.

Exit poll Puts the Presidential Candidate of the People's Democratic Party Atiku Abubakar in clear lead in Lagos, Edo State and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja...

See Full Report here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/02/exit-poll-atiku-abubakar-pdp-wins-lagos.html

Ekiti South Senatorial District
Results for Ward 04, Agbado Oyo, Ekiti South Senatorial District, Ekiti State.
AA - 01
AAC - 02
AAP - 03
ACD - 01
ADC - 03

See Full result Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/02/breaking-pdp-atiku-wins-ekiti-south.html

We Have Defeated Buhari, Hé Should Concede Defeat ~ PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) charges President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop whining over their rejection in the Presidential election and quietly accept the will of the people...

See Full Details Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/02/we-have-defeated-buhari-he-should.html

Breaking: Atiku Defeats Buhari In Aso Rock Polling Units

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured more votes than President Muhammadu Buhari. In the result initially announced, President Muhammadu Buhari lost to Atiku Abubakar, his main rival by 17 votes...

See Full Details Here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/02/breaking-atiku-defeats-buhari-in-aso.html

Find below the Centers the Ruling All Progressives Congress has mapped out for their rigging Work in tomorrow's General Election
The public is hereby notified of the Centers Jigawa, Kano, Benue, Sokoto, Gwagwalada, Ibaji, Bwari, Abuja..

See Full list of centers here
http://www.theeasterntelegraph.com/2019/02/exposed-comprehensive-list-of-apc.html