​Governors should decide what to pay workers – Reps

The House of Representatives Tuesday passed for second reading, a Bill to allow state governors determine how much they will pay their workers.

The issue of remuneration is at the moment of the concurrent list(duties shared by federal and states) in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Besides, the House, also passed another legislation to hands off the federal government from the administration of correctional centers in the country.

The two bills, after a thorough debate, were referred to the ad hoc committee of the House on the review of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

The bill seeking to remove establishment correctional centres from the exclusive list aims to empower the states to establish and manage correctional centres in their various states, so as to reduce the menace and prisons congestion.

Chairman of the House Committee of Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Benjamin Kalu who sponsored the bill, argued that the growing population of inmates in correctional facilities across the nation and resultant over-stretching of the facilities had made it impossible to reform the inmates and as such, most inmates return to the society unreformed.

He also said that Section 12(8) of the Nigerian Correctional Act empowers the state controllers of correctional service to reject inmates where it is apparent that the operational centre is filled to capacity, noting that inmates will soon be rejected if the bill is not passed.

Although, the bill was stiffly opposed by some lawmakers, it was eventually passed for a second reading.

In the same vein, the bill seeking you transfer the subject matter of minimum wage from the exclusive list to the concurrent list, sponsored by Rep. Garba Dattj Muhammed(APC-Kaduna), was passed after a long debate.

Muhammed while leading the debate, said the proposed legislation “would allow individual states negotiate remuneration with its staff according to its workforce and resources”.

But the deputy speaker of the House, Ahmed Idris Wase, who doubles as the chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, urged his colleagues to oppose the bill.

Despite, the opposition however, the Bill was approved for third reading in the end, and referred to the Constitution Review Committee.

​Okorocha to face protest in Igboland – Igbo youths

The Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders yesterday called Senator Rochas Okorocha, representing Imo west senatorial district, to desist from inciting violence in Imo state or get ready for a heavy protest against the way he conducts himself.

The youth leaders spoke to newsmen in Owerri, through Goodluck Ibem, alongside other youth leaders.

According to them the display by Okorocaha, by invading into the government sealed Royal spring palm estate had caused destabilization and destruction in the state.

Ibem said: “Our decision to call out ex-governor via Owerri peaceful protest on any time soon of February because of his recklessly corrupt practices whilst in Office as the Governor of Imo State which led to a reasonable impoverishment of Imolites, hence an appreciable increase in the insecurity in Imo State, should serve as a warning to all Igbo corrupt politicians.

“All such destructive and destabilizing attitudes and scheming, must end definitively, or we end the promoters of such unhealthy and divisive culture. Our chief interest lies on the holistic security of the whole, nothing more, nothing less!

“At this juncture, we want to categorically state that the failure to adopt the aforementioned demands to the letters, will result to an unpredictable reaction from the South East Youths. We have our plans clearly worked out, no need divulging them to anyone.

“But, the failure to adhere to our legitimate demands, will necessitate a roll out of our plans. Plans, that would not be good for anyone, particularly those looking for our trouble. It’s a high time we the youths rose to secure all Igbo territories. No part of Igbo land, not even a square meter area, would be ceded to anyone.”

“Finally, we have to commend the efforts of the capacity Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma. Uneasy lies on the head that wears the crown, we can understand how difficult and challenging the whole ugly situation must have been to him, but so far, he has been working assiduously to ensure a speedy and conclusive resolution of the crisis. Your Excellency, we commend you, and also task you for more efforts.

“We are solidly behind all moves that will see to the end of this nightmare. Be focused Sir, don’t get distracted by the evil scheming of the detractors. We are fully aware of your noble efforts towards galvanizing Imo State out of the doldrums you found it, via your “triple-R” mandate of Recovery, Rebuilding and Rehabilitation of Imo State,” Southeast youth leaders said.

Other youths leaders at the meetingincluded; Igbo youth assembly, Okey Uche, Southeast Nigeria Students, Silas Obinna, Igbo youth Parliament , D.C Ike, Southern Nigeria Youth Assembly, Njoku Moses, World Igbo Round table, One Nwachukwu, Alliance for Youth Against Crime in Eastern Communities , Ibekwe Amaka among others.

​We‘ll make Nigeria top destination for investment – Onu

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has assured that Nigeria will soon overcome its current security challenges and become top destination for foreign direct investments.

The minister said that the Federal Government is already working hard and taking proactive steps to make insecurity a thing of the past and make the country become a top destination for foreign investment, tourism and other socio-economic benefits.

The Minister gave the assurance when he received the Chief Medical Director of Army Command and NAOWA (Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association) Hospital in his office in Abuja on Tuesday.

Dr. Onu further commended the hospitals’ management for their integration and use of home grown technologies (indigenous technology) in managing their patients.

He said that the Ministry, in line with Executive Order 5 will continue to provide support to the hospitals.

“We believe that through Executive Order 5, our scientists, engineers and professionals will be at the centre of all economic activities, it will further help Nigeria produce all the machines and other equipment needed in the hospitals”.

Dr. Onu further affirmed the Ministry’s dedication to move Nigeria’s economy from being dependent on resources, to a knowledge based and driven economy.

Earlier, the Chief Medical Director, Army Command and NAOWA (Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association) Hospital, Maj. Gen Ikechukwu Okeke (rtd), said that his hospital will cooperate with the Ministry to develop indigenous technology in carrying out their services and treating patients.