Posted by Jude Aririesike September 04, 2009.
Yar'Adua Sets Up Millennium Development Goals Committee
President Yar’Adua has set up a mini committee to brief him on the efforts towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals of 2015.
The committee which is said to be smaller and more concise will have four weeks to report back to mister president.
He tasked them to look ahead of the budget for next year and come up with specifics on what to do to attain the goals in line with the seven point agenda.
This is the outcome of the quarterly meeting of the presidential committee on the assessment and monitoring of the Millennium Development Goals in the presidential villa chaired by President Yar’Adua himself
Briefing state house correspondents after the meeting the special assistant to mister president on MDGs Mrs Amina Ibrahim said that of the 321 billion naira appropriated in 2006 and 2008, only 68% of the amount was expended in the areas of health, education and provision of water, as well as agriculture.
In 2009 budget she says in spite of some constraints the ministries department and agencies are on track, with conditional grants to states almost concluded.
She observed that for the millennium goals to be achieved the nation will need over 4 trillion Naira.
Posted by Jude Aririesike August 25, 2009.
Babalola: 6000mw Dec Deadline Still Feasible
Minister of Power, Mr. Lanre Babalola, has reassured Nigerians that despite the incessant disruption in gas supply by militants in the Niger Delta, the Federal Government is still on course in its quest to achieve 6000 megawatts power supply by December 31, 2009.
Babalola gave the assurance yesterday at a stakeholders’ capacity building workshop for agencies under the Ministry of Power organized by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) in Abuja.
He said the Federal Government was not relenting in its efforts at improving the supply of gas to the various power plants across the country.
The minister allayed fears that blowout of gas plants and pipelines by militants would disrupt government’s plan to generate and distribute 6000 megawatts of electricity by the target date.
While advising Nigerians not to be bothered about whether or not government would achieve improved electricity, he stated that, “our job is to ensure that there is power supply every day and not just wait till December 31 to give Nigerians improved power.
The December target, however, is still very valid, but we are more interested in giving power everyday and all our efforts are geared towards that objective.”
According to him, “Government is working very hard to address the issue of gas supply, especially for power projects. We have seen some improvements of late, but we expect to have more improvements in gas supply in the coming months to enable us meet the target.”
He, however, admitted that there had been challenges regarding public procurement in the power sector which must be addressed for the country to enjoy value for money in the execution of power projects.
“There were lapses that needed to be looked into and corrected. It is important to plan properly for something; to make sure that you are doing the right thing. There is also need for transparency and value for money in the process of public contracting in the power sector.
“If you don’t plan properly for a project and you go out to ask for money that is not right. There is need to always do the right thing by abiding with procurement laws, and helping the government to achieve efficiency and budgetary discipline in the power sector,” he said.
Babalola said such lapses in the power sector remained a perennial issue and government was committed to establishing robust procurement principles.
“We are working very hard to ensure that we achieve our objectives with regards to improving power generation in the country and I have no reason to doubt the commitment of the various stakeholders gathered here to engage in the process and work out better and more efficient ways to handle procurement issue for the sector,” he added.
BPP’s Director-General, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, argued that the bureau was not responsible for the failure of most ministries, departments and agencies to meet their yearly budgeted targets.
He said: “Over the past years, each time any ministry or government agency fails to implement its projects, it is quick to lay the blame on the doorsteps of the bureau, when it is clear that so many of them lack capacity.
“For instance, if by this period, a ministry has not advertised its projects that would be primarily due to a lack of capacity on its part because you know that the procurement process ought to have ended since April or May to allow time for the projects to be done.”
Ezeh said the workshop was designed to address the capacity and integrity issues in the procurement process, by informing the public officers about what to do to enhance efficiency and transparency in the system.
According to him, “One thing is to have the rules and another is to have the strength of character to say no when pressure is brought to bear on them and to insist on doing what is right at all times.”
Courtesy:Thisdaynewsonline
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Posted by Jude Aririesike August 17, 2009.
Pete Edochie, Nollywood Star Actor Kidnapped
Nollywood star actor, Pete Edochie was abducted by kidnappers at Afor-Nkpor in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State on Sunday. No fewer than three persons were said to have been shot dead on the spot for allegedly trying to foil the kidnap.
Daily Sun gathered that Edochie was just returning from Asaba in Delta State and was passing through Afor-Nkpor along the Old Enugu/Onitsha road when the kidnappers intercepted his Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and whisked him away.
Mrs. Rita Edochie, also a Nollywood and wife of Pete’s younger brother, Tony, told Daily Sun in a telephone chat that the kidnappers dropped Pete’s personal assistant, his driver and the vehicle shortly after the kidnap and zoomed off with Pete in their own car.
She said the whereabout of the abductors and their victim remained unknown as at press time. Pete’s SUV had been recovered by the police, but the kidnappers had not called to demand a ransom.
The State Commisioner of Police, Mr. Uzor Amakulor who confirmed the incident on Sunday evening, said efforts were being intensified to track down the kidnappers and rescue their victim.
He restated his earlier warning that kidnappers and other criminals in the state should have a change of heart or be prepared to face the music.
Speaking on the ugly incident, Barrister Ezenagu, chairman of the Anambra State Chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), said it was an unfortunate event. “Yes, Pete Edochie was attacked and kidnapped this Sunday afternoon, at Nkpor Junction, while in a car with his driver. As I speak with you, they have not released him yet. But the police have swung into action and are on top of the situation.”
Edochie, from Nteje, in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, who’s also known and addressed as Ebubedike, is always remembered for his evergreen role of Okonkwo, in the television adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Edochie, 62, was a career civil servant, who rose to the position of director of programmes, Radio/TV in Anambra State, before retirement.
He immediately embraced full time acting in Nollywood thereafter and has since acted in over 100 movies.
Courtesy: Sunnewsonline
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Posted by Jude Aririesike 13-8-2009.
President Yar'Adua Directs the NCC to Initiate Fresh Process
The President has directed the Nigerian Communications Commission to initiate a fresh process for the award of the controversial 2.3 GHZ spectrum band licenses.
According to a statement by the presidential spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi, the president took the decision after having carefully reviewed official reports and representations from stakeholders as well as availing himself of competent advice on the recent licensing of the 2.3 GHZ spectrum band.
The statement noted that President Yar’'dua has come to the conclusion that the letters and spirit of the stipulated rules and guidelines were not adequately complied with.
The President further directed that in performing its statutory function of awarding licenses for the band through a fresh process, the NCC should make every possible effort to ensure that its actions are seen and perceived by all stakeholders to be open, transparent and fully in keeping with the requirements of due process and fair play.
Courtesy: Channels Television
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