… creates tax appeal tribunal

By Ewa Nworie

Ebonyians in diaspora has been asked to show appreciations to governor David Umahi for his infrastructural transformation,economic revamping and agricultural revolution by coming home to invest in the business friendly environment.

The Special Assistant(SA) to the governor on Ease of Doing Business and Ebonyi in diaspora, Deacon Collins Agbo, made the call while briefing newsmen in Abakaliki,on the activities of his office.

Deacon Agbo who said that Ebonyi state government has created enabling environments for business to thrive through the establishment of Tax Appeal tribunal to ensure that no investor was over taxed, called on both the foreign and local investors to come and have a taste of the new Ebonyi state which have become a business hub for investors.

He disclosed that governor David Umahi in his full determination to make Ebonyi state,one of the fastest growing economy in the country,wants to synergize with Ebonyians in Diaspora for the quick development of the state.

The SA,added that the efforts of the governor in Ease of doing business have started yielding fruits as Ebonyi state has become the investment destination for both the local and international investors.

“The good news I would like you to take home and spread to the world is that those efforts of of His Excellency,in the area of Ease of Doing Business have started yielding results as Ebonyi state has become investment destination for both Local and International investors.

“This is evident in the number of companies springing up in the state weekly,and the foreigners you see on our hotels and business environment daily.

“Our office,in collaboration with the State House of Assembly,will immediately start the process of domesticating relevant laws and executive orders on Ease of Doing Business.

“Ebonyians in the Diaspora can only show their appreciation,support and solidarity to Umahi’s wonders of infrastructural transformation,economic revamping and Agricultural turn around, by coming home to invest in the business friendly environment of Ebonyi state”,he stated.

The Executive Secretary of Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency (ESHIA), Dr. Achi Chinwoke Doris, has revealed that about 31,000 civil servants in the State and their family members would benefit from the state’s health insurance scheme.

The scheme according to her would be flagged off by the state government this November.

Dr. Achi who stated this in Abakaliki during an interview with journalists, disclosed that the state government has agreed to subsidize for the 31,000 civil servants in the state by paying 10% of each of their basic salary, noting that it would also cover for the spouse of the civil servant and four of his/her children.

She said about 10, 000 civil servants would come from the state while the rest are from the local governments and UBEB.

“The health insurance scheme is just like any other insurance where you would pay some money upfront; not so much to cover possible eventualities in the future. We understand that people can get sick when they do not have anything in their pocket. Sometimes, because of taking care of medical bills, some persons will deep their hands into their lives savings. So, the health insurance scheme helps to pull resources from people from different background, people with different ability to pay.

“As for the civil servants, they are state government properties. They are very important part of our workforce in the state.

“There are about 31,000 civil servants in the state; about 10,000 under the state. Then in the LGA, we have UBEB teachers of about 12,000 and LGA workers of about 8,000. “It is actually an initiative of this administration to ensure that everybody is covered; the civil servants and their family members.

“The state government has shown great commitment; his Excellency has shown great commitment to this project. Just last week, it was agreed that the state government was going to subsidize for every civil servants and their family members by paying 10% of the basic salary of each civil servant and its going to cover the civil servant, the spouse and four children,” she stated

Akaeze community in Ivo local government area of Ebonyi state, was at the weekend thrown into mourning following the death of three siblings whose house collapsed.

However, National Assembly members from Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone, have commiserated with the family of the deceased.

Senator Ama Nnachi, representating Ebonyi South at the upper chamber and Engr Livinus Makwe, representing Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Federal constituency at the lower chamber, sympathetized with the bereaved, praying God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

The Lawmakers in their separate statements also commiserated with the people of Akaeze Community over the death of the three sibblings in the Friday’s building collapse.

Makwe described the incident as a sad one. He also prayed for the quick recovery of those injured.

Stating; “I received with sadness the report of the building collapse in Akaeze, Ivo local government area, the death of three children of the Okereke family in a building collapse”.

“My prayers are with the family and the entire community of Akaeze in your moment of grief”.

He also prayed for eternal rest for those who died even as he wished the injured victims quick recovery.

On his part, Senator Nnachi corroborated the sentiments of his colleague, while praying that never again would such a disaster visit any family in the zone and Ebonyi state in general.

The Voice had reported that the three siblings were killed at the weekend in Akaeze, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, following the collapse of a building in the area.

The building as gathered had a thatched roof and had been in a very bad shape but the deceased father, Sunday Okereke, was adamant about it even when his wife, Elizabeth, raised concerns over it.

The family had gone to bed on Friday night hoping to wake up the following day hale and hearty but reverse was the case, as their only shelter collapsed and killed three members of the family, sparing the lives of their mother and one other child.

The names of the deceased were Mmesoma, 11 years old, Onyinyechi, 5 years, and John, 3years.

“But the family could not afford the fund to make alternative arrangements for relocation as a result of hardship,” according to a source.

The corpses were removed from the building by neighbors and have been buried while their mother and her only surviving son were still receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital as at the time of filing this report.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Loveth Odah, said the incident was yet to be reported to her office, assuring that as soon as she gets the report she will make the necessary details available to the press.

Stating; “I called the DPO of Akaeze Development Centre and he said he will text me the details but he has not, I am still waiting for his text”.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of Akaeze Development Centre, Onyebuchi Ogbadu confirmed the incident.

He said; “When I received the information, I rushed to the place and saw that three kids died instantly while the surviving mother and one of the children were rushed to the hospital. It was very critical. The incident happened on Friday night.”

State government has inaugurated a Peace and Security committee on Ebonyi/Benue boundary, following the demarcation of the boundary which has been slated for January 27, 2020.

The committee was inaugurated by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, on Monday at his office conference hall.

According to Dr Igwe; “your terms of reference is as follows; to visit the area of dispute, interface regularly with the affected community members, agree on mutually acceptable boundary alignment in the disputed land.

“You are also expected to ensure that peace is restored to the affected community within one month of your inauguration…you are to submit your report on the 29th of November.

Apostle Benjamin Obaji, is the Chairman of the committee, while Ebonyi Local Government Chairman, Princess Chinyere Nwogbaga, Prof. Adaeze Nwuzor, HRH Eze Iboza Nwadum, HRH Eze Emmanuel Okeye, Lawrence Nwagu, Dominic Ekpoku, Rev. Livinus Nweke, Rev. Fr Pius Nwiyi, DPO Ebonyi Local Government, State Security Service Ebonyi Local Government, and Chief Ozigbo are members of the committee.

Speaking on behalf of the members of the committee, Apostle Obaji assured the state that the committee will work with the terms of reference in mind to make sure they deliver, adding that they will perform to the level that the state will appreciate them.

In an interview, Ebonyi local government council boss, Mrs. Nwaogbaga promised to provide the enabling environment for the committee to operate in other to achieve success.

She said at the end of the exercise, there will be lasting peace in the area, stating that they will not disappoint Ebonyi people.

While on his part, the commissioner for Internal Security, Boarder Peace and Conflict Resolution, Hon. Stanley Emegha, restated his confidence on the caliber of dignitaries that were selected to be part of the committee.

Stating that members of the committee know the terrain very well and are familiar with the history of the boundary and as such are knowledgeable in that regard to handle the issue.

He pointed out that with the National Boundary Commission coming in for the demarcation, that the end to the bloody clash between Ebonyi and Benue is at hand.

However, Emegha charged the committee to make sure that what belongs to Ebonyi people are for them and for them not to agitate for what doesn’t belong to them.

Three siblings have been killed at the weekend in Akaeze, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, following the collapse of a building in the area.

The building as gathered had a thatched roof and had been in a very bad shape but the deceased father, Sunday Okereke, was adamant about it even when his wife, Elizabeth, raised concerns over it.

The family had gone to bed on Friday night hoping to wake up the following day hale and hearty but reverse was the case, as their only shelter collapsed and killed three members of the family, sparing the lives of their mother and one other child.

The names of the deceased were Mmesoma, 11 years old, Onyinyechi, 5 years, and John, 3years.

“But the family could not afford the fund to make alternative arrangements for relocation as a result of hardship,” according to a source.

The corpses were removed from the building by neighbors and have been buried while their mother and her only surviving son were still receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital as at the time of filing this report.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Loveth Odah, said the incident was yet to be reported to her office, assuring that as soon as she gets the report she will make the necessary details available to the press.

Stating; “I called the DPO of Akaeze Development Centre and he said he will text me the details but he has not, I am still waiting for his text”.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of Akaeze Development Centre, Onyebuchi Ogbadu confirmed the incident.

He said; “When I received the information, I rushed to the place and saw that three kids died instantly while the surviving mother and one of the children were rushed to the hospital. It was very critical. The incident happened on Friday night.”

…As ministry partners SOMTEC

The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation has revealed government’s plan to return back to school out of school children in the state.

Barr. Uchenna Orji, disclosed that the targeted number for a start is 50,000 out of school children.

He stated this in his office during an advocacy visit paid on him by Social Mobilization Technical Committee on UNICEF Programme in Ebonyi state, on Friday November 1, 2019.

Noting; “the governor is doing a lot in the area of returning out of school children back to school. We are targeting 50, 000 number for a start.

We will make sure that we comb the entire state to bring back to school all the children who have been out of school because of the issue of finance and lack of orientation,” he added.

Orji assured SOMTEC that the ministry of information will partner with it to ensure that its objectives are achieved.

Adding; “This ministry will work with you actively to ensure that you achieve your objectives. I have no doubt that the Gov. Umahi’s administration is prepared to work with you because this administration has done a lot in the area of social intervention in Ebonyi State and beyond.

“The state government has done enough in addressing the issue of child abuse, while the programmes of Her Excellency, the wife of the governor have addressed quite a number of matters including violence against persons and that very law has really tackled a lot of issues, as well as social vices against children and mothers.

“I don’t need to also tell you what the government is dong to ensure that cultists are meant to repent, and if they don’t they would be shown the way out of the state. The necessary campaigns have been carried out, and if any of them repents, there is empowerment programme for such person. These are incentives for cultists who have repented.

“Advocacy is the key and orientation is very important, if the people are not given orientation of course, they will be deformed in terms of what they should know. I’m very much prepared to move this ministry to the field to ensure that we assist you and that people are given orientation” he stated.

The commissioner further urged SOMTEC Ebonyi state, to come up with the requirements for UNICEF to give the committee technical and financial assistance to ensure that advocacy is carried out effectively, adding that if it requires counterpart funding, that the state government will do something to ensure that UNICEF funds the programmes of SOMTEC to achieve its objectives.

He promised to give SOMTEC the necessary support in the area of airing their programmes, “But beyond this, we shall be a part of the drive of this advocacy and anytime you call upon us we will assist you both logistically and being in the field with you and letting the people know the importance of your programmes in the state.

Orji required also a robust proposal on the objectives of SOMTEC, what it has done so far, its constraints, and what government can do to call the attention of UNICEF to see how they can assist.

On her part, the UNICEF Desk Officer, Udu Chineye Azu, pointed out that the purpose for the advocacy was to make the commissioner aware of effort to reactivate the SOMTEC Desk Office in the ministry and to solicit support of the commissioner to carry out more activities which will in turn attract recognition from UNICEF.

She pleaded with the commissioner for SOMTEC to be funded to enable the committee carry out its functions of child protection and survival and to help the committee reach its target audience through the provision of vehicles for sensitization when needed, also, to approve the committee’s proposal on nutrition and effects of cultism.

Leaders of South East zone will meet in Ebonyi this November to address pertinent issues concerning the zone.
The two-day leadership program is slated for November 22 and 23 and is designed to chart a new course for Ndigbo.

The retreat is Organised in collaboration with Nzuko Ummuna, an Igbo Think Tank of committed professionals at home and the Diaspora and it is expected to attract National Assembly members; members of the state Houses of Assembly, former top public officeholders among others.

In a release made available to newsman by the Secretary of Retreat Planning sub- committee on Media and Publicity Committee, Collins Ugwu, he noted that Governor Umahi who is the host, will roll out Ebonyi’s hospitality to welcome his brother governors to the epoch retreat.

He noted that the governors had all individually been engaged and they endorsed the programme as timely and, one that should be supported to produce enduring outcomes.

Stating that former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Enwo Gary-Igariwey who is chairman of the main organising committee, will next week fully unveil the concept of the retreat.

“Aside all the governors and all federal legislators of Alaigbo expected, other critical stakeholders of the entire Igbo collectives are upbeat about the prospects of this gathering, because they are being reached methodically and comprehensively”, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, the Association of South East Town Unions (ASETU), a major Igbo grassroots umbrella and advocate of regional development through economic integration, has queued behind the noble idea, calling for all hands to be on deck to give it the success it deserved.

ASETU in its emphatic goodwill message to Nzuko Umunna, stated that the synergy being pioneered by the retreat organisers was in tandem with their declared philosophy to accelerates the development of South East region with a purpose-driven, think-home investment initiative also known as Aku ruo ulo.

…Label her accusers Impostors

Divine mandate pastors have come to the rescue of Pastor Eunice Oyeyemi, of the Christ Embassy Church, following allegations of fraud by some pastors of the group against her.

She was accused by pastor Ifeanyi Igwe and Ernest Anayo under the umbrella of concerned members of the Divine mandate Pastors forum, of leadership imposition, high-handedness, corruption.

They alleged that Pastor Oyeyemi planted men and women she felt could protect and defend her interest at the state and local government levels in the Forum, claiming that most of them were members of the Christ Embassy church.

Those defending activities of Pastor Oyeyemi’s leadership, in a communique issued on Tuesday, dismissed the allegations stating that Ifeanyi Igwe and his chorts were fake pastors as their recent screening has indicated.

Noting that Ernest Anayo and Ifeanyi Igwe are impostors and are not members of the Divine Mandate Pastors forum.

They maintained that before any pastor is admitted to the forum, such person must have a pulpit which according to him Ifeanyi and Ernest don’t have pulpit.

They reiterated that the accusers were admitted to the forum in error, and that the group is presently screening all it’s members in other to fish out fake pastors among them.

The communique was signed by Rev. Odu Paul Ozoemenam, Eluu Ifeanyichukwu, Blessing Ali, Mike Nwankwo, Njoba Ambassador, Oyari Michael, Christian Igbala, Stanley Ori, Offor Godwin among others.

Reiterating that there are no crisis in the forum, while urging members of the public to disregard the allegations as they were false.

“We the members of the Divine Mandate make bold to say that the allegations are baseless.

“Divine Mandate Pastors forum is not in crisis and we are more than ever committed to the vision of His Excellency for setting up the forum.
“Every Monday, we gather together at the government house chapel to pray at different locations in the state, and that has not changed.

Meanwhile, Divine Mandate Pastors is made up of over 2,500 clerics pastoring in various churches in the state, and it was formed in 2015 to support the election bid of Governor David Umahi through prayers.

…State Govt. Spits fire

Female students of Special School for the Blind, Opefia in Izzi local government area are reportedly been molested by some people from the villager.

This report got to the state government which prompted the Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Affairs, Mrs. Chinyere Udoku to visit the school.

During her visit, Mrs. Udoku assured the students that the state government will provide them with a conducive environment.

It was gathered that the female students of the school were being sexually molested by some people in the area who often times invade the school through various entrances because of lack of perimeter fencing.

The SA charged the students not to panic as the state government would look into their plights.

She also condemned the action of the villagers against the female students, stating: “I visited you people because of the reports I am getting about our female students here. You don’t need to panic because the state government under the leadership of our dear Governor Engr. David Umahi will look into your plights.

“Some of you will be President, Governors, Doctors, Engineers and so many other things. All you need to do is to remain focused in your studies despite any challenge you may be facing”.

In his remarks, the Senior Prefect of the school, Anigor Chirstian called on the state government to urgently fence the school premises to save the students from further molestation.

“The challenges we face in this school are numerous. We don’t have perimeter fencing; we are facing the challenge of fencing. Sometimes, the villagers will just troop in here requesting one thing or the other and molesting our female students”, he said.