2014 Imo Carnival to hold on 6th May in Owerri

All is now set for the 2014 Imo Carnival.  The event scheduled to hold from the 6^th to 13^th of May, 2014 will feature youths, children/free education parade, command performance, contemporary music, up-coming stars and night of laughter/comedies.

Governor Rochas Okorocha who declared open the commencement of preparation for the event at the Government House, Owerri yesterday, said the essence of the carnival was to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Imo State to the outside world. 

 He said his administration will support the carnival which is geared towards boosting the economy of the state and called on Imolites to participate at the event.

Speaking further, the governor enjoined all entertainers to gear up for the programme, adding that markets will be closed from 2p.m. each day of the programme to make it a celebrated one.

The chairman of the event, Mr. Paddy Obinna, explained that the carnival which would also mark the freedom day was in commemoration of assumption of office of the present administration.

Mr. Obinna said the 7-day programme of activities will kick off from the Imo State University and terminate at the Freedom Square, adding that the event will feature floats by the governor, the wife of the governor and other dignitaries.

IBC retirees smile as Okorocha pays pension arrears

Comrade Chidi Madu in hand shake with Governor Okorocha

The members of the IBC Pensioners association have expressed their gratitude to Governor Rochas Okorocha for approving the payment of their 3 months pension arrears to kick start the process of clearing the 40 months pension arrears owed the Imo Broadcasting Coporation retirees.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, comrade Chidi Madu, he commended the governor for coming to the rescue of IBC pensioners and expressed delight that that the governor has approved the payment of the April pension to IBC retirees in line with his earlier pledge to pay them regularly henceforth.

Comrade Madu noted that the gesture of the governor has given IBC pensioners a sense of belonging as well as a source of motivation to serving IBC staff.

He also expressed gratitude to the Commissioner for Information, Dr Theodore Ekechi and his Internal Resource and Pension counterpart, Chief Nick Oparandudu for their untiring effort to ensure that the governors directive on the  payment were implemented.

Comrade Madu also commended the accountant General, Mrs Stella Udogwu and her staff for the humane and professional manner  in which here office implemented the governor’s directive.

Imo Govt stops all roads contracts, plans to use direct labour

The Imo State Government has stopped all rural roads contracts going on in the State and has resolved to use direct labour to complete the rehabilitation and supervision of the said roads.

This decision by the government is as a result of the attitude of most of the contractors handling the rural road projects in the State who after receiving over 80% of their contract sum, abandoned the jobs.

The Governor who bared his mind while interacting with members of his Executive Council, TC Chairmen, Traditional Rulers and Ministerial Heads at the new Banquet Hall, Government House, Owerri, yesterday, said “it is criminal to collect money for contract and abandon the work”

He said he was shocked at his findings during his tour of Local Government Areas where only very few contractors did good jobs on the roads and completed their work as agreed while the rest either did a skeletal work or totally left the roads undone. 

The Governor said he has resolved to take over the rehabilitation and supervision of the rural roads while every Committee previously in-charge remains dissolved. Said he, “I don’t want to leave any of my projects uncompleted before December this year.  No more awards of contracts. We shall now do the roads through direct labour in order to get the works done so that new roads can be embarked upon; I am in a hurry to make all roads in the State motorable.” 

Speaking further at the occasion, Governor Okorocha called on the citizens of the State to work in synergy with government to discourage and discipline people of dubious character who squander public funds meant for developmental projects while the poor masses who need such projects suffer.  “If we don’t fix Imo State now, it will be difficult to do so later; we must make sacrifices aimed at improving the lives of our people and the State” He said.

He also revealed his plans to employ over 25,000 youths as teachers through the Community Government Council so as to keep them responsible, noting that ‘an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.’ 

Also present at the occasion is the Speaker of Imo House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajimogu; the Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers,  HRH Samuel Ohiri and a host of others

N28bn roads contracts: Okorocha orders arrest of defaulting contractors

Governor Rochas Okorocha with Chief Valentine Iheanyichukwu Osuala, TC Chairman of Isu during the governor's tour of Isu LGA recently

The Imo state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has ordered for the arrest of some road contractors who failed to justify the mobilization fee paid for their contracts.

Governor Okorocha issued the order at the Town hall meeting with the people of Isu and Njaba Local Government Areas yesterday.

The Governor, who stated that his Rescue Mission government is poised to bringing about positive change and rapid development in the State, stressed that the era of carting away public funds without execution of contracts was over.

He said that the verification tour of the 27 local Government Areas which is in progress is geared towards ascertaining the level of completion of contracts awarded in each Council area and appealed to the people to collaborate with government in ensuring that contractors justify the over 28 billion naira already paid on rural roads.

The Governor thanked the people for their continued support and urged them to resist politicians whose stock in trade is to loot and despoil the State treasury.

At the Isu Local government, the Transition Committee Chairman, Chief Val Osuala described the achievements of Governor Okorocha as unprecedented pointing out that about 9.6 Km rural roads in the area have already been asphalted.

He however appealed to the Governor to intervene in the ravaging gully erosion at Ekwe as well as approve construction of a magistrate court and a police station in the area.

The Njaba Council boss, Chief Bon Nnaka while thanking the Governor for remembering Njaba, said the Council has began the construction of a drainage system to save the area from flooding.

He noted that the verification tour of the Governor would make contractors not to abandon their jobs as it is no longer business as usual.

Contributing, Air Commodore Ndubuisi Obiefula (Rtd) and Chief Okey Nnaka commended the development strides made by Governor Okorocha especially in the council areas and called for creation of more job opportunities to engage the teaming Imo youths.

Also present at the occasion were, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof Uba Nnabuo, the members representing Isu and Njaba State constituencies in the House of Assembly, Hon. Ikenna Emeh and Hon. Chino Obioha and a host of others.

Imo Govt Launches PTCAM programme for quality education

 

Gov Owelle Rochas Okorocha in a warm embrace with little Chioma Nnabuihe during his tour of Izu LGA recently

Determined to encourage a healthier relationship among the teacher, parent and the child as well as ensure qualitative education, the Imo State government has launched the Parent/Teacher/Child Assessment and Mentoring (PTCAM) Programme.

 

The programme which was fashioned to create a platform for collaboration between the teachers, the parents and the school children is anchored on the continuous assessment on the welfare of the children with a view to ensuring their proper upbringing while ‘Mentors’ of the schools are people who volunteered to provide moral and financial support to pupils and students and regularly visit the schools to discuss their common problems. 

 

Speaking during the launch of the programme held at the Owerri City School recently, Governor Okorocha appealed to the Teachers, Principals and other Heads of schools in the State to keep their communication line with the parents and their pupils in order to know the position of the child at any given time, adding that the State government introduced the payment of N500 and N300 monthly stipends to secondary and primary school students respectively in order to appreciate and motivate the school children.

 He further charged them to ensure that every child gets the school sandals, canvas, stockings and other materials donated by the State government.

 

Adding his voice, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, enjoined the pupils to go through their school with resolve and determination to overcome every challenge of life.

He assured them that with determination and hard-work, they will achieve success in their life endeavours.

 

Earlier, the wife of the State Governor, Her Excellency, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha expressed joy that Imo children are being positioned to be future leaders by the present administration and commended the pupils and students for their good conduct. 

 She appealed to parents and teachers to collaborate with government in ensuring a better welfare of the Imo child.

 

Responding on behalf of the students of Owerri City School, Miss Blessing Nwele thanked the State government for the love shown to pupils and students by providing free education, school uniforms, desks and payment of monthly stipends. She said that they will reciprocate the gesture by studying hard and being law abiding.

 

The Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, and the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Anwuka were inaugurated as Mentors of Owerri City School and Township/Development Primary Schools respectively.

Imo State Govt to employ over 26,000 youths

As part of measures to reduce the high youths unemployment ravaging the nation, the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has restated his resolve to engage over 26, 320 Imo youths in the Youth Must Work (YMW) programme of his Rescue Mission government.

 

Governor Okorocha disclosed this while addressing the first batch of beneficiaries of the Youth Must Work programme at the Heroes Square, Owerri recently.

Speaking during the occasion, the governor explained that the YMW programme is fashioned in a way that that people can be paid according to their labour input, adding that government was doing employment rationalization to make sure that everyone gets a job to do. He stressed that the programme targets at engaging every unemployed Imo youth to keep them away from crime and other anti-social behaviours.

 

He said the programme was designed to bring about professionalism, while making sure that every unemployed graduate is engaged in the productive sector of the economy especially the teaching profession.  According to him, the State government is recruiting 10,700 teachers to meet up the needs of schools in Imo State. He assured applicants that the employment is based on qualification and competence rather than on godfatherism. Said he; “People must be given their due place and opportunity once they excel.”

 

Speaking further at the occasion, Governor Okorocha stressed that his administration will continue to place priority on education to ensure that Imo State emerges the best in in Nigeria.  According to him, “if 70% of resources go back to education, I will not have any regrets in my life because I believe there can’t be a tomorrow without education today.”

He therefore encouraged the YMW teachers to revive excursion programmes and other social activities in schools to make schooling more interesting, while making efforts to bring out the potentials of every child in the school.

Imo State govt to relocate street traders from the State capital

The Imo State Government is to relocate street traders from Owerri , especially those along Douglas Road to Relief Market, to restore sanity to the state capital.

The State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha who said this while inspecting over 400 shops built by his administration at Relief Market, disclosed that the shops were put in place to accommodate all street traders who constitute road nuisance and to allow for maintenance of road and drainages along Douglas which are in bad state.

He said the shops will be completed before the 2^nd week of April this year, adding that shanties and street trading along Douglas road will no longer be tolerated by the State government.

He disclosed that necessary awareness will be made and directed for the release of forms for the acquisition of the shops which will be at a very low cost to enable interested traders do obtain it.

Governor Okorocha warned traders who display their wares along the road to desist forth with stressing that with this current development, goods along the road will be confiscated and given to motherless homes and prisons. He warned against indiscriminate dumping of refuse and solicited cooperation from the general public to bring sanity in our environment.

Imo govt to engage retirees in Volunteer Service

 

Rochas Okorocha in a handshake with Mr Chidi Madu, Chairman IBC Pension Association during their visit to Govt. House, Owerri recently

The Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has disclosed plans to engage retirees of the state government in volunteer service to tap the wealth of their experience for the growth and development of the state.

He stated this during a breakfast meeting with pensioners of Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) in Government House Owerri recently.

Speaking during the meeting, the Governor restated his love and concern for elder-statesmen and noted that engaging them in volunteer service would give them a new lease of life as they keep their minds and body active.

Rochas Okorocha in a group pix with executives and Members of IBC Pension association during their visit to Govt. House, Owerri recently.

 

He expressed regrets that the IBC pension arrears accumulated for up to 40 months owing to communication gap and directed the immediate payment of the January, February and March 2014 pensions of retired staff of IBC, while assuring that the backlog of the 40 months arrears would be paid in subsequent installments.

He further lamented the spate of corruption within the Pension Management system and the Civil Service, stressing that government was doing everything to deal with corrupt practices and ensure that ghost workers and pensioners are flushed out of the system.

  

Speaking on behalf of the IBC pensioners, the Chairman, Mr Chidi Madu thanked the governor for wading into the IBC pension matter and appealed for the payment of 50% of the 40 months arrears to enable the pensioners take care of their pressing financial needs.

While commending Governor Okorocha the numerous sacrifices he made to ensure that Imo State witnesses rapid transformation in terms of infrastructure and education, Mr Madu observed that pensioners have on their own part given the better part of the youthful period to the service of the state and urged government to always consider them in the scheme of things.

Okorocha woos Deeper Life ministry, Seventh Day Adventist Church

Rochas in hand shake with Pastor Kumuyi during the latter's visit to Owerri recently

The Imo State governor, His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has appealed to the General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor W.F. Kumuyi to establish the Zonal Headquarters of their church and a mission school in Imo State, assuring him of government’s readiness to provide land for the church projects.

 He made this appeal while interacting with the members of Deeper Life Christian Ministry led by Pastor W.F. Kumuyi when they paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Owerri recently.

Speaking during the occasion, Governor Okorocha noted that if not for the Church, the level of crime in the nation would have increased by 100% and called on religious leaders to intensify their prayers and carry out programmes that will restore hopes in the people.

He described his administration’s achievements within two and half years as a miracle and not an effort of man. “We saw Imo that was not working, but we know Imo can work and we think we can make it work; since we came into government, the Lord has been merciful”, he said.

  

Speaking earlier, Pastor W.F. Kumuyi of the Deeper Life Church said he was in the state for the 2014 National Convention held at Avu, in Imo State and expressed gratitude to God for blessing His people at the programme while he thanked Governor Okorocha for attending the programme on Sunday

Applauding the governor for his vision, the man of God said that  upliftment of the state is not in the hands of one man, rather all must unite and work as a team to move the state forward.   He declared that “the hand of God is on this state and I am believing that the state will go to greater height; let us unite our effort and our resources and make this state a model state: It can be better, it will be better, and it must be better, the Lord will help everyone involved”.

He called on all to receive, accept and believe the Lord Jesus Christ so that great things will happen in our lives and the sum total will be a great state. “We are going to unite together by prayers, working hard and jettisoning the things that are negative and evil.

 In a similar development, Governor Okorocha has expressed his administration’s resolve to partner with organizations and religious groups in providing qualitative education and capacity building for the people of the state.

The governor stated this when the World President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) called on him at the Government House, Owerri recently.

Rochas Okorocha in a handshake with Pastor [Dr] Ted NC. Wilson, the General Conference President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church Worldwide during their courtesy call to Govt. House, Owerri recently

In a speech at the occasion, Governor Okorocha noted that the state is the hub of education in Nigeria and the government has made education free in order to provide opportunity for the less privileged. He explained that “the best one can give to any child is education and proper exposure; but what is lacking in our nation and most part of Africa is the vision to turn around the gift of God to prosperity”

He stated his administration resolve to partner with the SDA particularly in the area of education through the establishment of a Seventh Day Adventist School in Imo State.

Imo to pay over N400,000,000 counterpart fund for success of CSDP in the rural areas

The Imo State Government says it is poised to extend the World Bank assisted Community and Social Development Projects (CSDP) to the 637 communities of the State by ensuring that both the State government and the Communities pay N400 million and N1 million respectively as counterpart funds to the Agency.

Making the assurance in a meeting held with the World Bank Sector Leader and Traditional Rulers in the State, the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha expressed satisfaction at some of the projects the Agency has executed in few communities of the State adding that it is a worthwhile venture that will strengthen the Community Government Council and boost developmental projects in the communities of the State.

Owelle Okorocha urged the World Bank to continue its intervention programmes in the State, not forgetting to encourage agriculture especially the palm planting and other projects capable of sustaining economic development.

Speaking earlier, the World Bank Sector Leader in charge of the Community and Social Development Projects, Mr. Foluso Okunmadewa explained that the CSDP provides funds to communities for micro project which they monitor and supervise in partnership with the Community Government Council that provides the oversight. 

He explained that already, about 160 projects worth N200 million have been completed ranging from classroom blocks to electricity supply, health centres, markets, halls and other needed facilities as requested by communities that remit their counterpart funds.  He cited the example at Owerri North where a community initiated a project to remove flooding from their environment and over 100 houses were rescued and lives saved.

Mr Okunmadewa said more projects will be implemented as soon as the State government and the Community Government Council (CGC) pay their counterpart funds to World Bank thereby solidifying the collaboration between the CGC and CSDP.    

He explained that the process ensures that after three years, the Agency hands over the ownership of the projects to the respective communities.

Contributing, some of the Traditional Rulers whose communities have benefitted from the project confirmed that each community contributed N1 million while World Bank brought N9 million to build three major projects in the community under direct labour and thanked Governor Okorocha for his determination to sustain the programme.

In a similar development, Governor Okorocha has thanked the Traditional Rulers in the State for being supportive of the Rescue Mission government and its programmes: ‘’you have firmly shown that you love me, God bless you;’’ he prayed.

The Governor informed the Royal Fathers of the dissolution of the Community Government Council Officials who were also directed to immediately hand over to them and the Civil Servants until the end of the forthcoming election when new Officials will be constituted.

He therefore charged them to maintain peace and orderliness in their respective communities and ensure a free and fair conduct of the CGC election holding simultaneously in the LGAs on Saturday, 8^th March 2014.