Author: Editor

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia  Abia State is to spend N750 billion in 2025 fiscal year. This is contained in the Appropriation Bill of the state presented to the State House of Assembly, Umuahia, onTuesday by Governor Alex Otti. The 2025 budget outlay represents 30% increase in the 2024 appropriation of N523 billion. Analysis of the budget shows that  N611.7 billion, representing 82%  is for capital expenditure while N138.6 billion representing 18% is for recurrent expenditure. Presenting the budget on the floor of the State House of Assembly, Otti said his administration took into account, “major economic headwinds such as inflation and…

…As Chido Onumah named chair of WIN board Our Reporter, Abuja, with Lawrence Nwimo, Awka  The maiden sub-regional conference organised by African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), ended just over a week ago with a call for Nigeria and other countries in West Africa to legislate whistleblowing and whistleblower protection to tackle corruption in the region. The two-day event themed, “Reducing Corruption in West Africa: The Importance of Whistleblowing and Whistleblower Protection Legislations,” took place at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Academy, Abuja. It was held in collaboration with the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development (PRIMORG)…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia  Abia State Government has announced that it would construction 20 smart schools across the state. Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who made the announcement during a press briefing on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting in Umuahia, said at least, one smart school would be sited in each of the 17 Local Government Areas in the state. By this development, Abia has joined Enugu State on the list of states building smart schools. The landmark project, according to him, is in pursuit of Governor Alex Otti’s vision to made education a strong pilar of…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Ebonyi state have announced the suspension of the one week warning strike declared on December 2, 2024. The Union leadership in a statement on Monday said the decision followed a review meeting by the State Executive Committee of the union. The suspension of the strike,  according to the bulletin, was addressed to all the affiliate unions of NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). The Union noted that the state government has shown strong commitment on the negotiating table, having invited and consistently involved the Union in a long stretch of…

…Construction begins Dec 17 Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia  Abia State Government in partnership with the Federal Government is  to build a standard airport in the state. The project according to the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, is to be sited at Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, about 10 kilometers from Umuahia the state capital. Kanu who disclosed this during a press briefing Monday in Umuahia, said the Minister for Aviation, Mr Festus Keyamo, would flag off the construction on Tuesday, December 27. He noted that the airport was not the State Government’s priority project initially but the…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia  Former Deputy Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Dr Cosmos Ndukwe, has commended President Ahmed Tinubu over his choice of members of the Board of Directors, South East Development Commission, SEDC. The former presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2023, in a press statement, Monday, described the nominees as “square pegs in square hole.” This is as he expressed optimism that the Commission, when eventually inaugurated, would help bridge infrastructural deficit in the South-East states. Ikengaonline had reported that President  Tinubu, last week, transmitted to the Senate for confirmation, a reviewed list of nominees…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu  The Chairman of Enugu East Council Area, Pastor Beloved-Dan Anike, has renamed Ezeokwe Palace, Ibagwa Nike and its adjoining artefacts, as Centre for Cultural Heritage and Tourism. The Council boss disclosed this during the Ofala Festival of Ibagwa Nike Ancient Kingdom, Enugu State, on Sunday in Enugu. According to him, the renaming was in line with his administration’s determination to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the Nike people and entire council area. The chairman said: “As part of our efforts to preserve and celebrate our cultural heritage, I am pleased to announce that the Ezeokwe…

Maxim Uzoatu  The 2024 UNESCO World Philosophy Day is the rave of the moment on Thursday, December 12 at the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.  The personable Host and Head of Department of Philosophy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof Ifechi Ndianefoo, calls forth the enlightened public to the Faculty of Arts Auditorium of UNIZIK for the epoch-making event. The theme of the UNESCO World Philosophy Day is ‘Philosophy for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future.’ The fest that is the talk of all comes under the distinguished chairmanship of Sir Paul C. Chukwuma (KSJI, Onwa…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Beneficiaries of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase-One, ATASP-1 in Enugu and Anambra states have commended the management for its great impacts towards Federal Government’s efforts to tackle food insecurity in Nigeria through strategic infrastructural and capacity development and support for rural farmers, processors and other agricultural value chain actors. The beneficiaries made the commendation when a delegation from Africa Development Bank, Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), Ministry of Finance, Water Resources as well as ATASP-1 toured some project sites executed by the programme in Adani-Omor Zonal Programme Implementation Unit. Some of the…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Media Rights Agenda (MRA), has called on Nigerian youths to take concrete action against corruption by leveraging the power of technology, social media and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to demand transparency and accountability in governance in order to build for themselves the future they want. In a statement to commemorate this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD), Mr. Ayode Longe, MRA’s Deputy Executive Director, said: “As we come together today to reaffirm our collective commitment to combating corruption, a major challenge that continues to undermine national development, justice, and equality, we call on young people across…