Gov Uzodinma assents to bill extending teachers’ retirement age in Imo

 Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodinma has, assented to a bill extending teachers’ retirement age to 65 years or 40 years of service in the state. 

Before now, the retirement age for teachers in the state was 35 years of service or 60 years of age.

Mr Uzodinma, after signing the bill into law on ,ednesday, said the new law would encourage teachers in public schools to “have a sense of work security and be more effective and efficient in their duties.”

 “Having given the teachers extra five years,’ the governor said the teachers are expected to “work harder to give Imo children the best form of teaching and learning and graduate them as the best in Nigeria.”

The governor, who described the gesture as “value addition”, challenged the teachers to show more commitment and seriousness in their job. He said the new law was a follow-up to a similar bill extending teachers’ retirement age to 65 years or 40 years of pensionable service in Nigeria which was signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari in April 2022.

“This decision aligns with my steadfast commitment to preserving the wealth of experience and knowledge within our educational system,” Mr Uzodinma said.

The speaker commended the governor for showing concern for the welfare of Imo Stste people.

He said that the bill was “well thought-out” and described its passage and signing into law as historic.

Tinubu receives Uzodinma, Ododo over election victory

 

President Bola Tinubu on Friday received Governors Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, his Kogi State counterpart, Yahaya Bello, and the Kogi State governor-elect, Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State in his office in Abuja.  

They visited the president over the victories recorded by Messrs Uzodinma and Ododo in the 11 November governorship elections in Imo and Kogi states, respectively.

While Mr Uzodinma’s victory earned him a second term in office as Imo State governor, Mr Ododo’s success secured his right to succeed Mr Bello as the next Kogi State governor.

Mr Uzodinma, who briefed State House correspondents after the meeting with President Tinubu, said that the visit was to intimate the president on their victories and appreciate him for his support.

‘’As the leader of the party, we came to meet with our president in respect of the victory the party had at the polls in Imo and Kogi.

‘’The elections were an affirmation that the people have identified the quality leadership that the All Progressive Congress has been offering them.

‘’The victory is also an affirmation of the acceptance of the leadership style of Mr President in the last few months of the administration.

‘’By the victory of the APC in both Imo and Kogi states, Nigerians have demonstrated that the Tinubu administration would be given the needed support to succeed,’’ Uzodinma said.

He said that the victory given to the APC in the state would be replicated with resounding development and people-oriented programmes and projects in the coming four years of his tenure.

The Imo State governor also commended the residents of the state for the support and solidarity at the polls, adding that their trust would be repaid with more dividends of democracy.

Similarly, Governor Bello of Kogi State said that the support given to the APC in the state would translate to more development and better living standards for the people.

He said that the governor-elect would hit the ground running in taking Kogi State to a new height, adding that as the outgoing governor he would not interfere in the administration of the new governor.

‘’As Governor Yahaya Bello nobody dictated to me. I carried my cross and I believe the same thing would happen to Ahmed Usman Ododo as a governor.

“I will not interfere in the government and he also has to carry his own cross just as I did.

‘’What I will assure the people of Kogi is that they have a competent person to rule them and I have full confidence in his ability to govern well.

“The state will have a smooth transition into an efficient administration,’’ he said.

The governor-elect, Mr Ododo, also gave the assurance that his administration would ensure a smooth transition from the good works of Bello, adding that all the people of the state are in for a new treat.

Imo government orders revocation of illegally acquired lands

Imo State Government has disclosed that it will revoke all lands illegally acquired by individuals or organizations in the state.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, stated this at a media briefing after the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Owerri last week.

He said the council, presided over by Governor Hope Uzodinma, resolved and directed that in view of the discrepancies uncovered in land acquisition, the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Physical Planning, Enyinnaya Onuegbu, should revoke all such illegally acquired lands. It also directed the Commissioner for Education, Professor B. T. O. Ikegwuoha, to query the Vice Chancellor, Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, Professor Adaobi Obasi, over the institution’s failure to pay February and March salaries.

He explained that in spite of subventions released to it, including revenue from fees, Obasi failed to pay salaries, directing that the company responsible for the collections, Tennesy, should stop collecting fees on behalf of IMSU.

In the same vein, the council comprising Governor Uzodimma and the commissioners resolved to engage all stakeholders in taking critical decisions on the state’s education sector.

The council would engage stakeholders including parents, wards and proprietors of private schools on safe reopening of schools in compliance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

Governor Uzodinma provides twenty SUVs for judges in Imo state

Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has procured twenty brand new Sports Utility Vehicles for use by judges in the state.

The vehicles were received by the acting Chief Judge of the state, Hon. Justice Ijeoma Agugua yesterday during a courtesy visit by judges to the governor.

The governor, who stressed the need for the judicial arm of government to join forces with the other arms, the executive and legislature, to move the state forward.

He said that the dividends of democracy can only be delivered to people when all the arms of government close ranks and work as a team.

While expressing his zeal to work with the judges, Uzodimma said the gifts of 20 brand new Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to the serving judges was a way of motivating them to work, promising to improve the welfare and working condition

He offered to take care of the outstanding entitlements of the retired judges and ensure that other retiring ones get their entitlements less than two months after retirement, a record which has not happened in the history of Imo State.

He restated his administration’s commitment to introduce modern techniques to quicken justice dispensation and urged the judges to key into the administration and do their work without fear or favour.

Imo govt to partner with OMPAN on media and publicity

From R-L, Ebere Inyama (pioneer chairman of OMPAN, Imo chapter,and publisher of Global News Alerts) Henry Uwalaka (publisher of the Educator newspaper,), Mrs Amaka Okafor ( SA to the governor on Electronic and new Media) , Mr. Ikechukwu Anyanwu, ( Chairman of OMPAN, Imo chapter and publisher of Arise Afrika Magazine)

Imo State Government has expressed its readiness to partner with Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Imo state chapter in the dissemination of information about government programmes.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Electronic and New Media, Mrs Amaka Okafor, made this known when she hosted the executives of the association in her office on Wednesday May 13,  2020.

Speaking during the meeting, the Special Adviser said too many people create platforms on the internet and claim that they are online practitioners and this has made it difficult for the members of the public to ascertain who the real practitioners are.

The SA expressed satisfaction that the meeting offered her opportunity to identify with the real online Media Practitioners in the state.

Responding to questions from members of OMPAN, Mrs Okafor said that her office is working on a strategy whereby a forum can be created to keep the people of the state abreast with the policies and programmes of the government.

She also said her office documents a Weekly Review of Government Programmes, adding that a feedback mechanism will be built into the government website so that people can as well make their contributions.

The SA assured that the governor will do his best to carry the people of Imo state along and to engage in people-oriented projects and programmes.

Mrs. Okafor formerly was a reporter for CHANNELS TV, during which time she covered Nigeria Defence beats in Mali, Liberia, Burkinafaso and later, Sambisa forest.  She also covered a beat at the National Assembly, and later, the  judiciary before her appointment as the SA on New Media to Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma.

In a vote of thanks, the Chairman of OMPAN, Imo Chapter, Mr. Ikechukwu Anyanwu commended the SA for considering to work with OMPAN and assured her that the association's competence to timely publish all government activities via credible online Media platforms.

It will be recalled that in on March 30 - 31, 2018, the National Convention of OMPAN took place in Owerri, Imo State and shortly after, various government and non - governmental organizations including the Nigeria Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) set up a working relationshipwith the association.

Also present at the meeting were Mr. Henry Uwalaka, Amb Prince Ukwu, Hon Finnan Chuks, Chibueze Chukwukere, Obiajulu Okwuosa, Chukwuma Anurunkem and the pioneer chairman of the association, Mr. Ebere Inyama

Hope Uzodinma signs two bills into law in Imo

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma,has signed two bills – the Imo Waste Management Agency Bill and the Consolidation of Land Use Charges Bill – into law.

Mr. Oguike Nwachukwu, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, disclosed this in a statement issued Saturday in Owerri.

The governor said: “The bill establishing the state Waste Management Agency would help to address the issue of indiscriminate dumping of refuse. It will also help in converting waste into wealth and also create sanity in the state.”

He said by the provisions of the bill, offenders would be subjected to heavy penalties, adding that the signing of the bills would help convert waste to wealth in the state

According to him,  the second bill which bordered on land use and property would end the issue of land grabbing in the state.

He said property owners in the state would be required to present their Certificate of Occupancy for validation, adding that the bill also recommended that all landowners must pay for land use charges.

Imo Government announces partial lockdown relaxation

Imo state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has announced that the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic within the state will be partially relaxed from Sunday.

In a statewide broadcast Friday evening, Uzodimma said only food markets, food vending, supermarkets and pharmaceutical shops would be permitted to open.

He said while free movements would be allowed, anyone seen outside without face masks would be arrested and prosecuted.

“We must all understand that although we have not suffered any deaths from Coronavirus, COVID 19 is a reality and we must continue to observe all the necessary safeguards even as I ease some of the restriction that we have put in Place.

“In this regard, I wish to announce that effective Sunday May 3rd 2020, all food markets and food vending supermarkets and pharmaceutical shops are permitted to open for business.  Large markets will however remain shut”, the governor said.

Uzodimma disclosed that massive disinfection of major public places such as markets and public squares was currently on going and will end on Saturday.

He said that there is no entry into or exit from the state. In the unlikely event that any person manages to gain entry into the state, he or she must immediately report to the COVID 19 taskforce for mandatory checks and quarantine. Those who illegally gain entry into the state and those who assist or harbour them shall be arrested and prosecuted.

“The wearing of face masks is mandatory by the law of the state. Consequently any person caught without face mask shall be arrested and prosecuted

“Also, effective Sunday, May 3rd, 2020 public gatherings not exceeding 50 persons at a time shall be allowed. However the rule of social distancing must be strictly adhered to.

“If such gatherings must hold, there must be sufficient provisions for bucket stands for regular washing of hands in running water.

“Hand sanitisers must also be made available for regular use by the people so gathered. Equally every person in the gathering must wear face mask”, he said.

The governor however maintained the dusk- to- dawn curfew in the state remains in place.

Governor Uzodinma releases 36 prisoners in Imo

Governor, Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has released 36 prisoners as part of efforts to decongest the prison following the threat of COVID-19 pandemic.

The governor also directed the Acting Chief Judge of the State, Mrs. Ijeoma Aguguo, to immediately commence accelerated trial and release of inmates who are on awaiting trial on minor charges or allegations.

A statement issued on Friday by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Declan Emelumba, said the governor also directed that trials must observe all COVID- 19 safety measures, including wearing of face masks and social distancing.

He directed the prisoners granted pardon are those serving three years with less than six months to go.

Others are convicts who have spent up to 25 percent of their prison terms and minor offenders with three months to six months imprisonment.

FUTO Donates Sanitisers to Imo State Government to fight Covid-19

Expectations of the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma is being met on daily basis as delegation from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) registered their presence with donation of cartons of sanitizers to the State Government to assist in the fight against Coronavirus disease.

Receiving the team at the Government House, Owerri on Tuesday, the governor stated that the response of the FUTO team to the clarion call of the state government demonstrates their determination to help in the growth of the state, especially now that the state is battling with the Covid-19 situation.

Expressing delight on the provision of 2,000 pieces of 100ml sanitizers which were produced by the institution, Governor Uzodimma charged them on result-oriented research to further develop other scientific items to save our people from coronavirus scourge and other diseases.

The Governor noted that Covid-19 has given every Dick and Tom a sense of worry globally, to the extent of casting doubt in the credibility of our scientists.

He thanked FUTO for rising to the occasion, adding that the sensitization awareness to students and their host community was not a waste of time and their ‘FUTO-made’ sanitizers are further proof that they are in tune with world standards. The Governor assured that the products will be put to proper use.

Earlier, leader of the delegation and the Vice-Chancellor of FUTO, Prof. Francis C. Eze stated that partnering with the state government through their support and encouragement is the way to go in order to surmount the attendant economic stress that COVID-19 has brought upon the lives of the people.

Prof. Eze further pledged the support of FUTO in the areas of public awareness and sensitization. He urged the government to always count on the university’s support and prayed that the pandemic would soon be done with.

Hon. Speaker IMHA pays courtesy visit to Dr. Bados Nwadike, S A Political to Imo governor

Yesterday, the Speaker Imo House of Assembly Rt.  Hon. Dr. Collins Chiji paid a courtesy visit to the S.A. political to Imo Governor Dr Batos Nwadike. In company of the Speaker was a political leader of Okigwe zone and S.A. to Imo Governor, Chief Regis Uwakw