Governor Uduaghan made the call Wednesday, January 07, 2015, in Asaba during the inauguration of the Delta State PDP Campaign Committee.

The Chairman of the PDP in the state, Chief Edwin Uzor performed the inauguration which took place at Government House, Asaba with the governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and members of the Committee in attendance.

He reminded members of the party that time for celebration of the party primaries was over and it was time to prepare for the main elections, stressing that members of the party should embark on a door to door campaign to sensitize Deltans on the need to vote comprehensively for PDP candidates.

According to him, “the celebration of the primaries is over, what is important is the main election, put what happened at the primaries behind us, come together as a family to deliver our candidates at the 2015 elections because we have to give 100 percent support and maximum vote to President Jonathan and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa”

“This is not time for negative media propaganda, use your talents to deliver our candidates, it is going to be a door to door campaign, we have the structure on the ground, we have a lot of achievements both at federal and state levels to market to our people, let all our leaders who are active at both wards and unit levels be mobilized to embark on this campaign”, Dr. Uduaghan added.

The governor informed the gathering that the state PDP campaign would kick off on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at the Oghara Township Stadium while the National Campaign train which will include President Goodluck Jonathan would berth in the state on February 4, 2015.

Also Speaking, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa urged members of the campaign committee to take their assignment seriously and mobilize all Deltans in the nooks and crannies of the state to vote for the party.

He stressed that “elections are close, we must campaign vigorously, we will have rallies to let our people know that we are on ground, door to door campaign is imperative so as to sensitize the electorates and bring out the votes”.

The gubernatorial candidate harped on the unity and peace of the state and urged the party faithful to embark on issue based campaign.

He commended the transformation agenda of the President Jonathan’s administration and its level of tolerance and the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for working to achieve success for the party at both national and state levels and called for cooperation of all to achieve this goal.

Earlier, the state PDP Chairman, Chief Edwin Uzor said that the inauguration ceremony would enable the committee start working to ensure victory for all PDP candidates at the polls and called for the support of all PDP faithful in ensuring that the committee achieve its goal.

On the eve of New Year, December 31, 2014, Renowned Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka of Catholic Adoration Centre in Enugu, Enugu State, stunned all Catholic faithful and Nigerians with his attack on the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Mbaka, who regretted that the ‘goodluck’ has turned to ‘badluck’ for Nigeria, had called on President Jonathan to quit office to enable Nigerians experience desirable change..

Below is the full transcript of his New Year message:

“In the year 2014, we had a lot of bloodshed in this country. People were dying like rats without anybody asking about them. This country suffered a lot of blood experience. Many of us witnessed that people were in tears. Just like the ancient world, the year 2014, the 4 in it had the queen in it, which had to do with death. Our leaders failedus with reckless abandon and nobody asked them question.

“The so-called democracy was a hidden autocracy. It was deceptive and questionable quack miler. Nigerians suffered hunger unnecessarily. We heard about oil subsidy being removed and added, whatever be(is) their jargon, nobody understood them. We heard about minimum wage, the civil servant suffered, the minimum wage was not paid and we were all calm. In 2015, Nigerians will not be calm again (shouts of AMEN!).

“We need change. Whatever it will be, let it be. This is my golden message to my beloved country. What actually is happening (Ogini nne me?). The multitude of our youths, the quality young men, quality young women, brilliants youths but nobody has plans for any of you. Our so-called leaders should come and apologize. In 2015, it shall not continue like that (shouts of AMEN).

“By the grace of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are announcing spiritually, change! 2015 should not be a year of any hooligan maneuvering to hijack power. This is our New Year message. Listen, when you go home, tell anybody you see that from the oracle of the Holy Spirit, we are announcing change (AMEN). Can somebody help me to shout change (shouts of change by the congregation) in Jesus holy name.

“Look at what it’s like, as I’m yet to bless your families, bless your industries, bless your destinies. Come 2015, your plans are blessed, your vision are blessed, your locomotive society are blessed. I cover this year with the blood of Jesus. I seal this year with the blood of Jesus.

My message is in two branches (folds). Number one branch, the theme of this first message to my fellow countrymen is from good luck to bad luck. Once upon a time, the whole countrymen were crying for a leader who will help us move forward with our economy, have an authentic democracy, give our unemployed youths jobs, enable our power to be steady, who will industrialize Nigerians, who will encourage mass education and agriculturalize Nigeria. Having in view that oil will soon drop, give us security in a maximum level. By the grace of God, there emerged a Goodluck, all of us were happy, the Goodluck met Yar’ Adua and Yar’ Adua died. May the Holy Spirit help me as I utter this message, I know many will misunderstand it, but it will stand the test of time and you will know I’m speaking the truth.

“The Goodluck met Yar’Adua and Yar’Adua died. Before you know it, the Goodluck met our oil and the oil had a bad luck and poured away, before we knew it, the Goodluck met our naira, our naira had a bad luck. Where are we going? What is the fate of this country? Shall we continue like this, we need change (shout of change from the congregation).

“As I’m speaking with you, most of our civil servants did not celebrate their Christmas. The Christmas season that should be a Goodluck time became a bad luck time for our Nigerians forgetting that very soon, from 3rd January, the children will go back to school and the parent are going to pay school fees. From where? Are they going to use their urine to pay? (Shout of NO from the congregation). But where is the good water even if they are going to use their urine. Are they going to use their stool to pay the school fees of their children? (Shout of NO from the congregation). You have to eat well to defecate.

“What is the fate of our children? Tears fill my eyes when I see our young graduates hoping and walking our streets. What is the meaning of kidnapping? Kidnapping is the grandson of unemployment. Boko Haram is a grand great child of the same unemployment, mass looting, and poor governance.

“I’m not saying that Goodluck is a bad man. He is a good man. But he cannot lead Nigeria. As things stand right now, from the oracle of the Holy Spirit, Jonathan should honourably resign quietly and let Nigeria be. The destiny of Nigeria is greater than Goodluck Jonathan. The Goodluck in Jonathan has become a bad luck to Nigerians. Whatever brought him in should send him back and let Nigeria be.

“By this time in few months to come, many are going to lose their jobs and there is no alternative. During election, Jonathan will answer Azikiwe, Ebele and become an Igbo man and after election, the Ebele, the Azikiwe and Goodluck will vanish from his identity. Who is fooling who actually?

“Look at our federal roads, we are not even asking for new ones, roads built by Buhari and Babangidas — the so called Hausa people— cannot be maintained. Follow Enugu here to Onitsha, children born some years ago do not know that there was a lane along the other side of Isiagwu and we are all saying continue. The continuity of Jonathan means disaster to Nigeria.

“We need change. May the Holy Spirit help me to vocalize what he has shown to me while I was waiting on him to give me a message for my people? I’m worried about the future of you my children. Go to school, go to school, mention any government school functioning in Nigeria now? Our schools are dilapidated. Nigeria is like an egg about to break in the hands of Jonathan Goodluck and we cannot allow it to happen. It is so unfortunate that pastors are becoming vultures around the president. Pastors are becoming hawks around him, eating the porridge of Jacob and selling their prophetic rights. And anointing is being merchandised in Aso Rock, carrying our nairas, turning it to dollars and carrying it in jets moving out of the country.

“Listen, this is the voice on the pulpit: all these men of God, who are telling Jonathan to continue because they are benefitting one thing or the other, you should question your apostolic, prophetic anointing. What the Bible say is that Samson did not know that the Holy Spirit had left him. Let them watch if the Holy Spirit is still in them.

“Listen, they will begin to tell us this one is a Christian the other one is a Muslim. I don’t believe in that. Who is a Christian more than Judas? Did Judas not betray Jesus? Judas was not just a Christian, he was not just a mere apostle, he was a super apostle like a cardinal but at a time he messed up and Bible says his office, let another take. That is the normal thing.

“The way Nigeria is going right now, the office of Goodluck Jonathan let another take. I’m not campaigning for anybody. I’m filled with tears over what is happening in Nigeria. Some of us who have nongovernmental organisations funding charity, I know what I’m suffering. The more they are looting our resources, the more they are rending you unemployed, the more some of us suffer the more. If I have been paying for the school fees of 500 people, it would now jack up to 3000, or more.

“What the government should do, individuals are struggling to achieve. When there is no road, no power, all this fake promises… where is the power? That Onitsha Bridge, has it now been built? No. After 6 years, and Goodluck has what it takes to do whatever. He surrounded himself with hooligans. By the time he comes down, he won’t have anybody to work with. He played himself into the hands of hooligans.

“My interest is about the wellness of this country. Nigeria must survive what we are passing through by the help of God. The same God who saved us from Ebola will save us from this bad luck season (shouts of AMEN from the congregation).

“Look at it, there was a time there was an argument about pension fund – such billions. Who is talking about it now? Billions and we were hearing it… from excess crude oil money, where is the impact of the excess crude oil money? Now from oil boom, it has met a bad luck; it’s now oil doom. If my father will be my leader and my siblings will all die, let a stranger be my leader and let my family be. All I’m trying to tell you is that we have not entered into any covenant with anybody.

“Last time, the First Lady came here. We are not partisan; we welcomed her. We did a spiritual drama here. Lifted four birds to fly up, the main one that should fly up refused to go. I did everything possible and that one is the healthiest of them all but refused to fly and the spirit of God said, don’t disturb him.

“When God rejected Saul, David took over. Let me tell you, in the history of Nigeria, we have never experience bloodshed as we have in the time of Goodluck. If Goodluck means bloodshed for Nigerians are you waiting until your own blood is shed? (shouts of No from the congregation).

“We need change, however God will do it. Look at the insecurity if you go to the northern part of Nigeria.

“My fellow priest, my fellow pastors, don’t just stand up to attack this message, because you have mouth. Think well before you put your mouth, the voice is beyond your own contribution. Listen, are you waiting for your own church to be bombed before you speak out? If you go to Maiduguri, some parishes have closed down. Go to Potiskum. People no longer go to church on Sundays in many parts of this country. Now imagine a scenario where a president cannot fight a simple insurgence. This is not an external country attack o. It is not like another country invaded Nigeria. It is an intra distraction. And many of us are claiming that it was because Buhari said that he was going to make Jonathan’s government ungovernable. Listen, let’s assume Buhari said something like that, even though it’s not Buhari who said it. So if you are the president and somebody say something like that, will you not arrest such a person”?

Recall that Buhari and other candidates are undergoing screening by INEC Verification Committee and the electoral body is yet to display Buhari’s academic qualifications, like that of other candidates at the headquarters of INEC in Abuja.

Despite Buhari’s claims that all his academic credentials were with the Military Board, the Army have denied keeping the certificates of serving or retired officer or soldier.

In the affidavit, which he deposed to at a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Buhari had insisted that all his certificates were with the Secretary, Military Board.

The affidavit dated November 24, 2014, was stamped and received by INEC on December 18 2014.

“I am the above-named person and deponent to this affidavit therein. All my academic qualifications documents as filled in my presidential form, President APC/001/2015, are currently with the Secretary, Military Board as of the time of presenting this affidavit. The affidavit is made in good faith and for record purpose,” Buhari had stated.

But the Military, according to dependale sources has said: ‘’The Army can not keep anybody’s original certificate because it is the personal property of the owner.’’ 

“The original certificate of any officer or soldier is only needed at the point of entry into the service either as a cadet officer entering the Nigerian Defence Academy, or the recruitment officers when interviewing recruits to be sent to the depot for training. That is so, because they are needed to verify what were in the photocopies supplied by them or from the necessary examining bodies.”

His sterling performance in health signposted by the free medical care for children and the elderly as well as the free maternal care for pregnant women, and the micro-credit scheme where over 111,000 Deltans have been empowered to set up their own businesses were highlighted as part of the programmes Nigerians who traditionally votes for the winner elected Uduaghan the winner.

According to press release issued by the Silverbird Group, owners of Silverbird Television network and Rhythm FM, the governor’s massive investment in infrastructure and his success at restoring and sustaining peace and security in the state won the admiration of Nigerians who voted for him. 

The award, according to Mr. Pius Mordi, Special Assistant to Delta state Commissioner for Information, was decided through popular vote open to all Nigerians and is the latest in the critical appraisal of Uduaghan’s administration by the media.

The award comes on the heels of the three he won in the final weeks of 2014. 

They include the BusinessDay Governor of the Year award in health category in its Good Governance and State Competitiveness Award, the Pilot newspaper Governor of the Year award, the BEN Television award in micro-credit and job creation and Africa Independent Television (AIT) award as Governor of the Year.

Speaking on the latest award, Chike C. Ogeah, Delta State Commissioner for Information, said it is a just reward for a man that has devoted his energy to creating a new national mentality on development through his Delta Beyond Oil initiative. 

“While others concentrate on projects that would have immediate impact, Uduaghan looks at the big picture with an eye on the future. Without losing sight of the need for short term projects, he has given Deltans a new belief in their ability to venture into profitable businesses through the Delta State Micro-Credit Scheme. 

“Many of the beneficiaries have become employers of labour and with the N500 million recently pumped into the scheme through the collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, more ventures will be set up in various parts of the state. Young budding entrepreneurs are very upbeat about this because Dr. Uduaghan has paid the interest on the entire amount upfront. In effect, beneficiaries will get the loan interest-free”, Ogeah stated.

The commissioner said that having superintended a crisis and rancour-free primary, in the state, Uduaghan will continue to work assiduously in delivering the dividends of democracy to Deltans until the final day of his tenure.

Past winners of the prestigious Silverbird Man of the Year Award which is now in its 10th year, include late Professor Dora Akunyili, former Minister of Information; Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, one-time Minister of the Federal Capital Territory; Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Dr. Mike Adenuga, chairman of Globacom and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.  

Others are Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi and former CBN Govermor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who is now the Emir of Kano. 

The Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Right Hon Peter Onwusanya, who gave the advise in his New Year message, expressed the hope that the year 2015 will enhance the political and economic fortunes of Nigeria and Nigerians.

“The position of the opposition in the current political and economic situation is becoming unpatriotic. Every Nigerian must see co-operate to find solution. Those who are consistently opposed to government policies without preferring solution are not helping the country. Therefore we must all appreciate the need to support the Government so that Nigerians would smile”, he stated.

Hon Onwusanya who represents Oshinmili South Constituency, commended the people of Delta State for their peaceful disposition that had paved the way for the administration at both the state and federal levels to excel.

While saying that Delta State has remained one of the peaceful states in the federation, he attributed the situation to the co-operation of the residents who were law abiding and ready to support government programmes and policies.

He said the state House of Assembly will cash-in on the peoples co-operation to ensure that laws are made for the betterment of the populace, stressing that it is the belief of the lawmakers that Deltans would reap marginally the benefits of democracy.

The Speaker urged Nigerians to live in hope because 2015 will bring better things and prove cynics wrong as contrary to negative predictions, the country will overcome the subsisting challenges.

According to him, his defection was to fully support Senator Okowa who is the only candidate from Delta North contesting for the governorship position of Delta State.

“I urge every Ndokwa and Delta North person to call APC people to order, they should respect the principles of equity and justice,” he said, adding, “it is clear that the Ndokwa and by extension Delta North governorship quest is most popular and widely and overwhelmingly supported within and outside Delta State.”

Also, Ndokwa National Youth Vanguard (NNYV) at the occasion described the emergence of Senator Okowa was a dream come true.

According to the National President of NNYV and Secretary, Hon. Ozegbe Adoh and Nwabueze Mbanugo respectively, “we are celebrating the first man in Delta North to fly the flag of the winning and the biggest party in Africa, PDP, his achievements and empowerment in different offices he has occupied is a clear testament of the new Delta State.”

The group observed that the defection of Odanike and his followers was a good omen for the victory of the PDP.

Chairman of the PDP in the area, Hon. Dan Ossai, Chief Theophilus Adoh, Ward 1 Chairman, Dr Iwegbue, Chief Nduku who is a former leader of APC in the area, Hon. Azuka Azaka, member representing Ndokwa West Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, among others who spoke at the occasion welcomed the decampees and assured them that the PDP was large enough to accomodate everybody.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates –Dec.29, 2014 >>>>>>>>
 
Blank NEWS Online can authoritatively report that the Ministry of Interior in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has dedicated its local and international civilized milestones to the Emirates and its wise leadership, as well as to the local public from all segments. 

According to the ministry, these achievements were made possible primarily as a result of the leadership’s support and the society’s precious confidence and cooperation with the MoI’s security and service entities.

Following are some of the most significant milestones achieved by the ministry across its journey towards more excellence and development, in line with the progress that the whole country is witnessing across all fields:

Excellence Festival

The Ministry of Interior won the lion’s share of awards and medals at the Sheikh Khalifa Government Excellence Program. And for this great achievement, the ministry held a celebration called ‘Excellence Festival.’ Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, described this milestone as the result of mutual cooperation and solid belief in the mission of UAE’s citizens who work at the Ministry of Interior.

The Ministry of Interior also received the global Stevie Award, one of the most prestigious awards internationally in the field of creativity, corporate excellence and international businesses; the Platinum Accreditation Certification for Institutional Suggestions System; the international “Excellence Through People” award (“ETP”); three international awards within the Summit Marketing Effectiveness Awards competition; and the Distinguished Air Wing Department award from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in the United States of America (USA). The ministry has also succeeded in entering the Hall of Fame of the Palladium Group for its excellence in the competition of Balanced Scorecard (BSC) and Strategic Alignment applications, becoming the second ministry to enter the Hall of Fame internationally following the Ministry of Interior in South Korea. The MoI is the first to receive such recognition on both Arab and regional levels.

Strategic Plan

Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior launched the MoI Strategic Plan for 2014-2016, in addition to the ministry’s strategy on its social media websites. This strategic orientation reflects the vision of the MoI to seeing the UAE as one of the safest, most secured countries in the world.

Security Milestones

The Ministry of Interior succeeded in solving the mystery of most crimes took place this year. It was able to arrest these crimes’ perpetrators and bring them to justice. In crimes related to drug trafficking, the ministry slapped the traders of these poisons as it succeeded in foiling the trafficking and promoting of 4.5 million drug pills. Carried out by a professional team from the Abu Dhabi police (ADP), the Dubai Police and the Ministry of Interior, the operation was called ‘Wooden Doors.’

The Abu Dhabi Police also arrested the ‘Niqab’ woman, a suspect in Al Reem and Corniche crimes. ADP was able to identify the woman in less than 24 hours and arrest her in less than 48 hours. The police also arrested dozens of violators, from thieves and forgers to assaulters, reckless people and fraudsters, saving the society from their evil. It also presented the most significant criminal methods to the public, in order to immune and educate the society.

Environmental Milestones

The Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters achieved record levels of energy consumption saving, with 6% decrees in the second quarter 2014, thanks to the restless efforts of its departments and employees. These efforts aim to protect natural resources. ADP is one of the first official entities to take the initiative in implementing the resolution of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council to transform 25% of total government vehicles to run on natural gas. The Transport and Workshops Department at the Directorate General of Finance and Services succeeded in transforming a number of police vehicle to run on natural gas.

E-Milestones

The Ministry of Interior succeeded in implementing the eye scan system to protect the society against wanted people and their evil. Since its launch in 2003, the system detected 388,399 cases of deported people who tried to renter the country. The total number of deportations as of now is 1,421,656. In 2014, the Ministry of Interior provided 320 e-services via its website www.moi.gov.ae and 30 smartphone services (UAE MOI) via all platforms, including Apple, Android, Blackberry and Windows.

Media Milestones

The Security Media Department reflected the message of the Ministry of Interior on transparency with the public via different medial outlet. The department introduced the public to the services and the achievements of the ministry, as they represent partners in protecting the security and safety gains. As the ministry’s media arm, the department prepared and executed 507,948 different media works this year, including TV, radio and printed material, in addition to media and awareness messages via social media websites in Arabic, English and Urdu.

I greet and felicitate with you all once again as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

I join all of our Christian compatriots in giving thanks to God Almighty for the divine gift of Jesus Christ the Messiah whose earthly incarnation we commemorate today.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ who the Prophet Isaiah heralded as the Prince of Peace and Wonderful Counselor, I believe it is very appropriate that we all, Christians and non-Christians alike, reflect more deeply on the virtues and ideals which the Messiah espoused during his earthly mission.

To my mind, there can be no doubt that the greater internalization of the virtues of love for our fellowmen, tolerance, Godliness, honesty, fairness to others, selflessness, and peaceful co-existence with others, by all adult Nigerians, and the inculcation of the same in our youth, will definitely help our dear nation to overcome most of its present challenges.

Peace and love for others, especially, were a constant refrain in the Messiah’s teachings and admonitions to mankind.

Therefore, as we celebrate his birth, I urge all Nigerians to offer special prayers for a greater manifestation of divine peace in our country and the vanquishing of all demons of hatred, divisiveness and disunity in our midst.

As we celebrate Christmas, let us also remember and offer special prayers for all of our countrymen, women and children who have suffered and continue to suffer untold hardship, deprivation and death at the hands of terrorists and insurgents.

Let us also continue to pray for our gallant soldiers and security agents who remain at the forefront of the national effort to overcome terrorism and violent extremism, even as the rest of the nation celebrates Christmas and the coming New Year.

In this season of goodwill, I urge all patriotic Nigerians to rededicate themselves to doing all within their powers to support the brave men and women of our armed forces in the ongoing war against terrorism, and also support the Federal Government’s efforts to provide more succour to the hapless victims of terrorist atrocities.

The Victims’ Support Fund which we have established to raise additional funds to assist our compatriots who have been adversely affected by continuing insecurity in parts of our country remains active.

I call on all individuals and corporate organisations who have not yet done so, to donate more generously to the Fund which is being efficaciously deployed to ease the sufferings of victims of terrorist violence in the country.

Dear Compatriots, we are also celebrating this Christmas against the background of preparations for next year’s general elections.

I seize this opportunity to reassure the nation that my administration will give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) all necessary support to ensure that it delivers very free, fair, credible and acceptable elections in 2015.

National security agencies will also be given all necessary support to enhance their ability to ensure that the elections which should strengthen democracy in our country are peaceful and violence free.

I urge our political class to be law- abiding and place the greater interests of our nation above all personal or sectional interests in the countdown to the elections.

Let us all be more statesman-like, conduct issues-based campaigns, and eschew the promotion of falsehood, division and hatred of others as we seek the votes of our countrymen in what should be a peaceful competition among contending points of view for the progress and development of our dear nation.

I remain convinced that God Almighty is still with us as a nation even in the midst of our current challenges which we shall surely overcome with greater unity of purpose, dedication, commitment and perseverance.

Let this year’s celebration of the birth of Christ the Messiah rekindle, strengthen and reaffirm our faith in our national ability to overcome all challenges, with God on our side.

I wish you all very happy Christmas celebrations.

As Christians all over the world celebrate Christmas, Delta state Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Peter Onwusanya have respectively called for further entrenchment of sustainable peace as a unifying factor for national growth, especially ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, in his goodwill message to mark the celebration, urged Nigerians to use the occasion of the Christmas Celebration to demonstrate the virtues of peace and love that Jesus Christ personified.

He observed that Christians and all celebrating Christmas were under obligation to eschew all acts of violence that negates the subject and object of the season- Jesus Christ the Lord.

“The birth of Jesus Christ as contained in the Holy Scriptures in John 3:16 was necessitated by the love of God for mankind. Since Christ is the love of God personified, everyone marking and celebrating his birth is duty bound show love to his fellow man,” he said.

According to the governor, “Jesus Christ, in addition is the Prince of Peace. Therefore the period should remind us on the need to live at peace among ourselves.”

Uduaghan stated that his administration, in line with its peace and security agenda, would continue to promote inter-ethnic harmony and peace among various groups in Delta State before and during the 2015 general elections.

In particular, he said that the electioneering and transition period would be managed and  made as peaceful as possible.

He pointed out that Jesus Christ preached peace and love as bedrock for a better society, stressing that as followers of Christ, “Christians must emulate the virtue of Christ and work for peace in all that they do.”

According to him, “Nigeria as a nation is in dire need of peace especially this time that insurgency, struggle for power and elections are threatening peace and existence of the country. Christians must use this occasion of celebration of the birth of Christ to pray for peace in our country.”

Onwusanya advised political leaders to consider the interest of the country in all that they do and co-operate with spiritual leaders that are offering fervent prayers for peace the reign.

He expressed confidence that Nigeria will overcome the trials and insecurity that are threatening the polity, stressing that the country must come out triumphantly in 2015.

The group took the position during the inaugural meeting of its Delta State chapter coordinators held at Asaba on Tuesday, December 23, 2014.

Addressing the meeting, the facilitator, Alanza Uche Ugboma, noted that TAN which is a political pressure group under the PDP must work for the success of its candidates.

He informed the gathering made up of senatorial and local government coordinators from the 25 local government areas of the state that their primary responsibility was to sensitize and mobilize the people to deliver all PDP candidates.

Alanza Ugboma said the state coordinator of TAN Hon Ned Nwoko, has directed that all coordinators should reach out to real PDP members and others so they can achieve results.

The Deputy State Coordinator, Mr. Victor Agbateyiniro and a PDP chieftain, Chief Emeke Ohaegbunem, expressed confidence on Hon Ned Nwoko, saying that with him, the group will achieve their purpose.

Warri- Friday, December 19, 2014.

A one-day workshop on dissemination of provision of convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW) for journalists in Delta state has held in Warri.

The programme which was put together by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Delta state Ministry of Economic Planning, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development drew participants, mostly female media practitioners from.the print and electronic media.

In her opening remark, the Commissioner for Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, Mrs. Betty Efekodha urged participants to accord the seriousness the workshop the seriousness it deserves to become part of the change agents that will bring gender equality to roost in Nigeria.

The Commissioner, who was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Alice Akpoghene however lauded recent government efforts at all levels to entrench the 35 percent affirmative action to Nigerian women.

Also in a keynote address by the Program Director, UNFPA initiated programme, Mr. Brodrick Opuofeni noted that the workshop is aimed at enhancing journalists’ roles in their domains and ensure that they acquire the necessary skills to take o gender equality issues in their respective professional endeavours. He was represented by the Programme Director of Gender Equality, Mrs. Faith Okpoghoro.

A gender advocate and facilitator, Dr. Jewo Ibi while speaking on Gender Based Violence said it is often times directed at an individual based on his or her biological sex, gender identity, perceived adherence to socially defined norms of masculinity and feminity.

While asserting that women and girls are the most at risk and most affected by gender based violence, she listed types of gender based violence to include sex trafficking and forces labour, sexual coercion and abuse, neglect, domestic violence, female inventories, child sexual abuse, elder abuse as well as harmful traditional practices such as early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

Earlier, Chairman of Delta state Council, Comrade Norbert Chiazor urged media practitioners to improve on their roles in setting agenda for meaningful discourse, tasked journalists to sustain their public enlightenment campaigns in the interest of gender equality.

Unperturbed Amaechi is therefore expected to drive the party’s determination to wrest power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan come 2015.

APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement made available to Blank NEWS Online said “Amaechi’s outstanding reputation as a man of courage, principle, strength of character, decency and love of his country as well as his administrative prowess and organisational skills combined to fetch him perhaps the most important task in the quest for positive change in Nigeria.”

Amaechi, whose task is to ensure that APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo replaces Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Arch. Namadi Sambo at the Aso-Rock Villa, is known to have led lethal and venomous attacks on Jonathan, his Niger-Delta kinsman and has been widely adjudged a betrayer.
 
On the choice of Buhari and Osinbajo, APC said: “Now that we have presented Nigerians with the best possible choices for the exalted positions of President and Vice President, we expect that citizens, who have been yearning for quality leadership, will use their voting power to put Nigeria firmly on the path of greatness.

“A country seeking to be among the greats in the comity of nations cannot afford to have a mediocre leadership.”

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos  has declared that the Shipping Line Agency Charges (SLAC) levied and collected from Nigerian shippers by shipping companies since 2006 is illegal.

The Court therefore  ruled that the shipping companies should account and pay to Nigerian shippers all monies or fees charged and collected since 2006 as SLAC from shippers or users of shipping/port related services from 2006 to date which run into Trillions of Naira. 

In a major decision delivered by Buba J. sitting at the Federal High Court Lagos, in SUIT NO. FHC/CS/1646/2014 – ALRAINE SHIPPING AGENCIES (NIG) LTD & ORS Vs NIGERIAN SHIPPERS’ COUNCIL and SUIT NO. FHC/CS/1704/2014 – APAPA BULK TERMINAL LTD & ORS Vs NIGERIAN SHIPPERS’ COUNCIL affirmed the appointment of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) as the Economic Regulators of the Ports and dismissed the claims of Shipping Companies and the Terminal Operators. 

Pursuant to the appointment of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC)as the Economic Regulator of the Nigerian ports by the President, in line with his executive powers in February 2014, the NSC  issued Notices to both the shipping companies and Terminal operators to reverse all illegal charges levied on Nigerian shippers.

Dissatisfied, the shipping companies and the Terminal Operators, mostly foreign owned, filed these suits to invalidate the actions of the NSC.

The Nigerian Shippers Council represented by Olisa Agbakoba Legal filed a Counter Affidavits to the suits and Counter claimed in relation to the Shipping companies case  as follows:

1.                   A DECLARATION that by virtue of the provisions of Clause 2(a) and(b) of the  Memorandum of Understanding between Providers and Users of Shipping/Port and Related Services dated 28th March, 2001, the Plaintiffs do not have the powers or rights to unilaterally introduce and impose Shipping Lines Agency Charges (SLAC);
 
2.                   A DECLARATION that the unilateral introduction and imposition of the Shipping Lines Agency Charges (SLAC) by the Plaintiffs and collection of same from shippers or users of shipping/port-related services from 2006 to date is illegal, ultra vires, and therefore null and void;
 
3.                   AN ORDER directing the Plaintiffs to immediately stop collection of the Shipping Lines Agency Charges (SLAC) from  Users of Shipping/Port and Related Services; and
 
4.                   AN ORDER directing the Plaintiffs to account for and pay to the Defendant, with interests at the rate of 21% per annum, all monies or fees collected by the Plaintiffs as Shipping Lines Agency Charges (SLAC) from shippers or users of shipping/port related service from 2006 to date.
 
5.                   A Declaration that by virtue of Section 5 of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999; Section 4 of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council Act Cap. 133, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, Regulation 3 of the Nigerian Shippers Council (Local Shipping Charges on Imports and Exports) Regulations 1997 and the written directive from the Minister of Transport dated 20th February 2014, the Defendant can act as economic regulator of Nigerian ports to issue directives, ensure fair competition; take lawful steps to make the Ports user-friendly and attractive to business and regulate local shipping charges in Nigerian ports.

In well-considered judgments, the Court dismissed the claims of the shipping companies and the Terminal operator and granted the Counter claims of NSC. By this decision, shippers in Nigeria who have paid SLAC to the shipping companies between 2006 to date can now seek a refund.
 

The Federal High Court has declared unconstitutional the state based admission inequality in Federal Government Colleges also known as Unity Schools, ordering the Federal Government and Education Minister to apply uniform cut-off marks to all states

The declaration was made in a landmark Judgment delivered in Lagos, by Honourable Justice John Tsoho on Wednesday 17th November 2014, in Suit FHC/L/CS/1358/2013 filed by Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN against the Federal Government and Education Minister, to challenge the admission disparity. 

The case is based on Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution which prohibits administrative or executive actions by government that discriminates between Nigerians on grounds of ethnicity, gender, religion and place of origin. 

The Originating Application was filed on September 30, 2013, for the following Orders:
 
(1)        A Declaration that the administrative acts of the Respondents, particularly the 2nd Respondent which prescribes and applies different requirements including cut-off marks for candidates seeking admission into Federal Government Colleges, based on gender, ethnicity, states of origin etc. is discriminatory against Applicant’s grandchildren and the group/class they represent, on grounds of ethnicity, states of origin, gender etc. and therefore violates Section 42(1) of 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria:
 
(2)        An Order directing the Respondents, particularly the 2nd Respondent to apply uniform admission requirements, especially cut-off marks to all candidates seeking admission into Federal Government Colleges, notwithstanding their gender, states of origin, ethnicity etc.
 
(3)        An Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the Respondents, particularly the 2nd Respondent, whether by itself, its agents, servants, privies or otherwise howsoever from further acts of discrimination in admission to Federal Government Colleges.
 
(4)        Such Further Order(S) as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances
 
Dr Agbakoba stated in his 19 paragraph Affidavit to support theOriginating Application, that since the inception of the Unity Schools, the Federal Government has maintained great disparity in admission requirements for candidates wishing to be admitted into Federal Government Colleges. In particular, the Federal Government prescribes different cut off marks for different states, based on candidates’ gender and their states of origin.
 
The Federal High Court took argument of Counsel for the Applicant and Respondents on Monday, 12th November, 2014 and delivered Judgment on Wednesday 17th November 2014. In the Judgment, the Federal High Court declared that application of different cut-off marks based on states of origin and gender violates the candidates’ fundamental rights to freedom from discrimination guaranteed by Section 42(1) of 1999 Constitution. 

The Federal High Court then ordered the Federal Government and Minister of Education to apply uniform cut-off marks to all candidates seeking admission into Federal Government Colleges, irrespective of their states of origin.
 

The 2015 budget proposal stood at N327,682,982,917 for the services of Delta State in the 2015 fiscal year.

The amount, according to the governor, comprises N161,606,428,928 or 49.32% for Recurrent Expenditure and N166,076,553,989  or 50.68%for capital expenditure.

The 2015 budget proposal however shows a decrease of N123,055,244,165  or 27.30% when compared to the year 2014 approved budget of N450,738,227,082.

Uduaghan who emphasised that the 2015 budget would be his last budget since becoming the Governor of Delta State in 2007, said when this administration took over the mantle of leadership, he had pledged to provide an efficient government that will embody the vision of a politically united, socially integrated, stable, economically prosperous and well-organized State, with equal opportunity for all Deltans.

“In all modesty I believe we have tried to actualize this pledge given the plethora of infrastructural development and other achievements we have recorded in the socio-economic transformation of our beloved Delta State.

“We can with a good measure of certainty say that this administration has brought peace, tranquillity and accelerated development to the state.”

He said that despite some challenges faced by his administration, the state government has worked diligently to deliver on its promises.

Recalling the flood crises of 2012 and the Ebola outbreak in 2014, Uduaghan said the state survived the challenges because of the existing functional institutional structure put in place by his administration.

“As we prepare to exit office next year, it is the avowed resolve and determination of this administration to finish strong. In this regard, it is gladdening to underscore that Delta State provides viable investment environment given its comparative advantages as a leading producer of oil and gas. The State is also strategically located and accessible to other parts of Nigeria by any means of transportation. Furthermore, Government has invested heavily in security to create a safe and secure environment. We have a breed of young, educated and active population. Accordingly, we are committed to striving assiduously to deliver on the provision of critical infrastructures which this administration has set out to establish to support investors and improve business environment in our State in pursuit of our vision of Delta Beyond Oil.”

It could be recalled that the 2014 Budget stood at N450,738,227,082 made up of a recurrent expenditure budget of N161,736,440,073 and and a capital budget of N289,001,787,009.

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, DR. EMMANUEL EWETA UDUAGHAN, CON, THE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE, AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR 2015 BUDGET PROPOSALS TO THE DELTA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, ON WEDNESDAY, 17 DECEMBER, 2014

Rt. Hon. Speaker,
Honourable Members,

I am delighted to present proposals for the Delta State 2015 budget to this Honourable House for consideration and appropriation. As you are all aware, the 2015 budget would be my last budget since becoming the Governor of Delta State in 2007. Today’s event therefore represents for me, a majormilestone in the life of my administration, which has already entered the concluding stages of its tenure.
2. Mr. Speaker, Honourable members, when this administration took over the mantle of leadership in 2007, I pledged to provide a more efficient government that will embody the vision of a politically united, socially integrated, stable, economically prosperous and well-organized State, with equal opportunity for all Deltans. In all modesty I believe we have tried to actualize this pledge given the plethora of infrastructural development and other achievements we have recorded in the socio-economic transformation of our beloved Delta State.
3. Indeed, Mr. Speaker, Honourable members, after a critical review of our performance, so far, it is refreshing to note that this administration has with the cooperation and understanding of all stakeholders been able to meet some of the critical challenges of our shared vision for Delta State.We can with a good measure of certainty say that this administration has brought peace, tranquillity and accelerated development to the state.
4. Although this is not an occasion for a valedictory speech – I believe I shall have the privilege of addressing this house before the end of this administration – I wish therefore to place on record my appreciation of the support I have enjoyed from this noble House,which contributed immensely to the remarkable achievements of this administration.I dare say that achievements recorded so far by this administration have been due to teamwork amongthe various arms of government.
5. Mr. Speaker, Distinguished Honourable members, in the years that we have been in office, we have faced challenges that stretched our resolve. We have worked diligently to deliver on the promises we made despite these challenges. The flood crises of 2012 and the Ebola outbreak this year cannot be easily forgotten. Luckily for us, we have a functional institutional structure that to a great extent helped in addressing these challenges. I am profoundly thankful to God Almighty for His mercy, grace, inspiration and guidance these past seven and half years.
6. As we prepare to exit office next year, it is the avowed resolve and determination of this administration to finish strong. In this regard, it is gladdening to underscore that Delta State provides viable investment environment given its comparative advantages as a leading producer of oil & gas. The State is also strategically located and accessible to other parts of Nigeria by any means of transportation. Furthermore, Government has invested heavily in security to create a safe and secure environment. We have a breed of young, educated and active population. Accordingly, we are committed to striving assiduously to deliver on the provision of critical infrastructures which this administration has set out to establish to support investors and improve business environment in our State in pursuit of our vision of Delta Beyond Oil.
7. At this juncture, Mr. Speaker, Honourable members of the State House of Assembly, permit me to quickly review the Year 2014 Budget before presenting to you an outline of the Year 2015 budget proposals for the State.

COMPONENTS OF THE 2014 BUDGET
8. In the 2014 fiscal year, a budget of N450,738,227,082 (four hundred and fifty billion, seven hundred and thirty eight million, two hundred and twenty-seventhousand, eighty-two naira) was approved for the services of the State Government. The amount is made up of a recurrent expenditure budget of N161,736,440,073(one hundred and sixty-one billion, seven hundred and thirty six million, four hundred and forty thousand, seventy-three naira) and a capital budget of N289,001,787,009(two hundred and eighty nine billion, one million, seven hundred and eighty-seven thousand, nine naira). The profile of the 2014 budget is as follows:

(A)   REVENUE
S/N
Sources
Approved 2014 Budget
 % Appropriation 
i
Internally Generated Revenue
62,493,600,528
13.86
ii
Statutory Allocation Including Mineral Revenue Derivation
229,315,948,494
50.88
iii
Value Added Tax
10,376,666,433
2.30
iv
Other Capital Receipts
148,552,011,627
32.96
 
Total
450,738,227,082
100.00
(B)       EXPENDITURE
S/N
Details
Approved 2014 Budget
% Appropriation  
i
Recurrent Expenditure
161,736,440,073
35.88
ii
Capital Expenditure
289,001,787,009
64.12
 
Total
450,738,227,082
100.00
 
YEAR 2014 REVENUE BUDGET PERFORMANCE (JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER)
9. The State Government, during the nine months of January to September, 2014, recorded total revenue receipts of N213.500bn,representing an overall revenue budget performance of 63.16% over expected proportionate receipts of N338.053bn.  Out of this amount, the sum of N144.677bn was received as Statutory Allocation from the Federation Account. The amount represents 84.12% performance in relation to the proportionate estimate of N171.986bn.  On the other hand, the sum of N7.235bn was recorded as receipts from Value Added Tax (VAT) out of the proportionate projected receipts of N7.782bn, representing a budget performance of 92.97%.
10. Furthermore, the sum of N32.715bn was recorded as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the period January – September, 2014, out of the projected revenue of N46.870bn, representing a budget performance of 69.80%.  Also, the sum of N28.871bn or 25.91% was received from other capital revenues against the proportionate budget of N111.414bn during the period under review. The breakdown of the revenue receipts from individual revenue sources is provided hereunder:

S/N
Sources
Approved 2014 Budget
Proportionate Budget Jan-Sept, 2014
Actual Revenue Jan – Sept, 2014
% Per
i
Internally Generated Revenue
62,493,600,528
46,870,200,396
32,715,528,774
69.80
ii
Statutory Allocation Including Mineral Rev. Derivation
229,315,948,494
171,986,961,371
144,677,769,773
84.12
iii
Value Added Tax
10,376,666,433
7,782,499,825
7,235,712,873
92.97
iv
Other Capital Receipts
148,552,011,627
111,414,008,720
28,871,107,589
25.91
 
Total
450,738,227,082
338,053,670,312
213,500,119,009
63.16

11. The above revenue receipts represent an aggregate increaseofN8.196bnor 3.99% over the sum of N205.303bn recorded for the corresponding period of January to September, 2013.  Statutory Allocation has a significant decrease of N9.549bn or 6.19% over the sum of N154.227bn recorded for the same period in 2013. Contained in this amount is the SURE-P fund of N10.666bn received for the period January to September, 2013. It is worrisome to note that there was a huge decrease of 15.60% in the receipts from the internally generated revenue from which N32.715bn, was received this year as against N38.761bn received for the same period in 2013.  In fact, it was the N28.871bn received from other capital receipts that accounts for the 3.99% increase.

YEAR 2014 EXPENDITURE BUDGET PERFORMAMNCE (JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER)
12. As for expenditure, a total sum of N188.791bn was spent during the period January – September, 2014. Out of this amount, the sum of N135.752bn was spent on recurrent items as against a proportionate approved budget of N121.302bn representing a budget performance of 111.91%. The breakdown is summarized below:
 
RECURRENT
Approved 2014 Budget
Proportionate Budget Jan-Sept, 2014
Actual Expenditure Jan – Sept, 2014
% Per
i
Personnel Costs
64,223,825,162
48,167,868,872
50,482,980,762
104.81
ii
Overhead Costs
59,181,061,650
44,385,796,237
41,055,190,712
92.69
iii
Con. Rev. Charge
38,331,553,261
q 28,748,664,946
44,214,078,203
115.35
 
Total
161,736,440,073
121,302,330,054
135,752,249,676
111.91

13. The sum of N289bn was budgeted for Capital Expenditure.  During the year, actual expenditure for the period, January-September, 2014 was N53.039bn as a against the proportionate budget figure of N216.751bn representing a budget performance of 24.47%. A breakdown of the Sectoral performance for the period is as follows:
 
Capital
Approved 2014 Budget
Proportionate Budget Jan-Sept, 2014
Actual Expenditure Jan – Sept, 2014
% Per
i
Economic
97,930,944,353
73,448,208,265
12,180,511,865
16.58
ii
Social
58,844,493,420
44,133,370,065
7,537,315,076
17.08
iii
Environmental
58,215,211,681
43,661,408,761
5,049,890,417
11.57
iv
General Administration
34,011,137,554
25,508,353,166
9,719,153,034
38.10
v
DESOPADEC
39,000,000,000
29,250,000,000
18,552,469,276
63.43
vi
Contingency Fund
1,000,000,000
750,000,000
–
0.00
 
Total
289,001,787,009
216,751,340,257
70,120,349,301
24.47

YEAR 2015 BUDGET
14. Mr. Speaker, distinguished Members of the House, having given a brief review of the implementation of 2014 budget and taking into consideration the vagaries in crude oil prices with its consequences for revenue receipts from the Federation Accounts and the fact that this administration is winding down, I wish to announce a budget proposal of N327,682,982,917(three hundred and twenty seven billion, six hundred and eighty two million, nine hundred and eighty-two thousand, nine hundred and seventeen naira) for the services of Delta State in the 2015 fiscal year. This amount comprises N161,606,428,928(one hundred and sixty one billion, six hundred and six million, four hundred and twenty-eight thousand, nine hundred and twenty-eight naira) or 49.32% for Recurrent Expenditure and N166,076,553,989 (one hundred and sixty billion, seventy six million, five hundred and fifty-three thousand, nine hundred and eighty-nine naira) or 50.68%for capital expenditure.
15.      The year 2015 budget proposal shows a decrease of N123,055,244,165 (one hundred and twenty three billion, fifty five million, two hundred and forty-four thousand, one hundred and sixty-five naira) or 27.30% when compared to the year 2014 approved budget of N450,738,227,082 (four hundred and fifty billion, sevenhundred and thirty-eight million, two hundred and twenty-seven thousand, eighty-two hundred naira)
16. The 2015 budget is driven by the successes recorded in various sectors of the State’s economy in the past seven years up to the 2014 Budget of Consolidation, Sustainable Economic Growth and Development. The 2015 budget is aimed at consolidating the achievement of 2014 budget as well as completing all on-going projects and programmes that will facilitate the fulfilment of the administration’s goal of making Delta State one of the most industrialized and developed States in Nigeria by 2020. Priority is given to the completion of on-going projects in the areas of rural and urban road network and infrastructure, security of life and property (including logistics support for law enforcement), healthcare and education. Other focal areas are transportation, rural and urban electrification, the environment, agriculture, youths and sports, culture and tourism.

SOURCES OF FUND
17.      The main sources of funds for the 2015 budget are:
 
Sources
Proposed Budget 2015
Percentage %
i
Internally Generated Revenue
61,807,557,497
18.86
ii
Statutory Allocation Including Mineral Revenue Derivation
208,873,059,258
63.74
iii
Value Added Tax
12,489,588,002
3.81
iv
Other Capital Receipts
44,512,778,161
13.58
 
Total
327,682,982,917
100.00

INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE  
18.      Mr. Speaker, Honourable members of the House, given the vagaries in the global oil markets, it will be imprudent for us to make ambitious revenue projectionswithout appropriate alternative sources of generating revenue. The Board of Internal Revenue (BIR)is beingstrengthened to improve its revenue generation machinery. Some strategic measures we took to support the BIR in revenue mobilization include the granting it autonomy to the Board; the reorganization of the Board’s management and administrative structure; the automation of the Board’s revenue collection mechanism; the establishment of a good Database Management System (DBMS) and Tax Administration for the Board. With the passage of the Delta State Internal Revenue Consolidation Law 2009, our revenue generationimproved remarkably. The trend recently however, shows a marginal drop in the IGR. It became obvious therefore, that we need to take another look at the provisions of the law, to accommodate new revenue sources that have been identified, but not contained in the law and review rates to meet current economic realities. During 2015 fiscal year, our Revenue Services will increase its focus on yet to be exploited revenue sources.We are taking steps to ensure that taxes are paid as at when due and more importantly, encourage a culture of voluntary compliance through constructive engagement. We are also exploiting strategies that will minimize leakages in the system. I therefore, wish to sincerely appeal onceagain toour people to obediently meet their civic obligations to the State.
19. It is in view of thevarious measures we are taking towards improving our internally generated revenue, that we are expecting the sum of N61.807bn or 18.86% expect revenue receipts from Internally Generated Revenue in 2015out of total projected revenue as against the sum of N62.493bn under the 2014 budget. The IGR estimates for 2015 is marginally lower than the 2014 approved estimates by N686m or 1.10%.

STATUTORY ALLOCATION
20. The sum of N208.873bnor 63.74% of projected total revenue is expected from Statutory Allocation from the Federation Account in the 2015 fiscal year. This amount is less than the sum of N229.315bn budgetedfor 2014 by N20.442bn or 8.91%. Thedecrease is attributed to projections consequent on thedecreased revenue performance at the end of third quarter of 2014owing todeclining crude oil prices.

OTHER CAPITAL RECEIPTS/MISCELLANEOUS
21. In 2015 budget proposal, Capital Receipts have been scaled down from N148.552bnin 2014 to N44.512bn in 2015( i.e. reducedby N104.039bn or 70.04%).The position is underscore by the need for caution and desire to instil greater fiscal discipline into the system. With the Delta beyond oil mantra, we hope to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) which will also in turn increase our revenue base. We are counting on improved revenue receipts from our internally generated revenue sources.

RECURRENT EXPENDITURES
22. The aforementioned total recurrent expenditure estimates for 2015 of  N161.606bn ismade up of personnel costs of N68.531bn (sixty eight billion, five hundred and thirty one million naira) or 42.41% and overhead costs of N51.337bn (fifty one billion, three hundred and thirty seven million naira) or 31.79%. The Consolidated Revenue Fund Charges has a proposed sum of N41.696bn (forty one billion, six hundred and ninety six million naira) or 25.80%. On the whole, the recurrent proposal for 2015 is lower by N130m or 0.08% when compared with the sum of N161.736bn approved for 2014.The recurrent expenditure estimates is summarized hereunder:

 
Items
Proposed Budget 2015
Percentage %
i
Personnel Costs
68,531,968,520
42.41
ii
Overhead Costs
51,377,979,541
31.79
iii
Consolidated Revenue Fund Charges
41,696,480,867
25.80

Total
161,606,428,928
100.00

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES
23. The proposed capital expenditure estimates for 2015 is N166.076bn (one hundred and sixty six billion, seven six million naira). The proposal is N122.925bn (one hundred twenty two billion, nine hundred and twenty five million naira) or 42.53% lower than the 2014 capital budget of N289.001bn (two hundred and eighty nine billion, one million naira). The sectoral breakdown of the capital expenditure estimates is as stated hereunder:

 
Sector
Proposed Budget 2015
Percentage %
i
Economic
50,322,824,859
30.30
ii
Social
29,202,566,209
17.58
iii
Environmental
25,438,731,940
15.32
iv
General Administration
26,112,430,982
15.72
v
Delta State Oil Producing Areas Dev. Commission
34,000,000,000
20.47
vi
Contingency
1,000,000,000
0.60
 
Total
166,076,553,989
100.00

24. Mr. Speaker Sir, and Honourable Members, May I at this juncture highlight some salient areas of the capital proposals as contained in the estimates of the 2015 draft budget.

SECTORAL HIGHLIGHTS
ECONOMIC SECTOR
Agriculture
25. We have sustained our focus on agriculture as a tool towards achieving our drive on a Delta beyond oil. We are encouraging our youths to invest their energy and resourcefulness on farming activities through which unemployment, hunger and malnutrition would be reduced. We are implementing a well-articulated agricultural and poverty alleviation programmes for Delta State and this we are doing in collaboration with the Federal Government and the private sector. To further boost mechanized agriculture and improve the productivity of farmers through our extension services, we procured modern tractor and implements for sale to farmers at subsidized rate across the State. These include 82 Units each of farm tractors, tillage implements (Plough, Harrow and Ridger), tipping trailers, combine maize planters, Rice planters and Rotary slashers.
26. Mr. Speaker, Sir, fish farming has become a major source of employment. We promote the growth and development of fisheries activities through fisheries surveillance and direct assistance to fish farmers and this has improved the lives of our people immensely. Today we have about 4,780 fish farmers in the state as against less than 200 in 2007. This is a reflection of the awareness created on the economic potentials of fish farming. The sums of N500m and N1bn are proposed for the Agricultural Youth Development Programme and Procurement of Modern Tractor Equipments for farmers respectively for the 2015 fiscal year.
Finance and Investment
27. Delta State is growing steadily, and for us to achieve the vision of Delta beyond oil, we invested massively in the state’s economy. The development of Delta Leisure Resort at Oleri and the Animal game reserve at Ogwashi-Uku are two foreign direct investments in the tourism industry. On completion, both projects will have employment capacity of about 6,000 people as well as increase our internal revenue generation. The sum of N500m is provided to sustain the development of the Resort in 2015.
28. Our vision in taking Delta beyond oil is about creating opportunities for private enterprises to prosper. It is also about stimulating the ingenuity of our people to do well. In doing this, we have institutionalized a legacy of prosperity in the state by developing skills to enhance human capacity, boost production and export of quality non-oil products that will diversify the economy as well as improve the lives of our people. This we have done through our Micro Credit and SME Schemes. The scheme as at date has empowered a total of 10,810 cluster groups of entrepreneurs made up of 111,312 persons. Of this number, 67,861 are females, while 44,854 are males empowered in various small businesses.Our people naturally, are blessed with entrepreneurial spirits that can be used to explore competencies in creativity and exploit emerging business trends. To further strengthen the scheme, we keyed into the CBN’s N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund. The Fund is meant to assist and support enterprise development by providing entrepreneurs with access to low cost fund with a single digit interest rate of about 9%. For administrative efficiency, the Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency was established and backed by appropriate legislation in accordance with the Central Bank guidelines for participation in the CBN’s N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund.
29. We are looking forward to the completion of the massive Delta City Mall currently under construction in Effurunwhich will host the international shopping facility ‘Shoprite’ amongst other businesses. It will improve the economic activities of the State. The construction of the City Mall at Asaba has also commenced. Both malls will provide job and business opportunities, not only to Deltans but non-Deltans as well.
30. Another critical initiative of this administration is the Warri Industrial Business Park (WIBP). It is conceived as one of the key strategies of this administration to diversify the State’s economic base, attract new businesses into the oil city and stimulate business. Construction Work on the startup area has commenced. Other development partners have keyed into the project in the areas of power, gas and real estate development. On completion, the Park will be an environment friendly mix-use industrial park that will provide a range of services for both industrial and service companies. It will offer unique investment opportunities in the free market environment. Incentives will be available to local/foreign investors. The sum of N2.5bn is provided to continue the development of the Warri Industrial Business Park in 2015.
31. Mr. Speaker, Delta State is at the forefront in Information and Communication Technology. Beyond the deployment of appropriate software for the automation of our financial management system, we embarked on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Park.The concept of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Park was nurtured to diversify the domestic economy of Delta State beyond oil. To demonstrate the importance of the park, the Nigerian Communication Commission, one of the core tenants has commenced the buildings of the Digital Bridge Institute for South South region. Other investors have also indicated interest to be part of the initiative. The sum of N560m is set aside for the ICT Park in the 2015 fiscal year.
Energy
32. We have invested in the massive acquisition of power supply infrastructure throughout the state. Our intention is to ensure that our people enjoy efficient service delivery in electricity supplyin all communities in the State and enhance the standard of living as well as drive socio-economic and industrial growth and development. As you are well aware Mr. Speaker, State Governments in the past had no roles in the electricity power supply sector except by interventions in the provision of power distribution infrastructure due to poor performance of PHCN in connecting communities to the national grid, expanding and maintaining existing power supply network to meet growing demand.
33. We get about 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity power from the national grid which is far short of the about 1008 mw required. To address this shortfall, this administration has implemented over 415 power supply projects in the State since its inception in May 2007 up till date. These include theBulk Purchase of additional 262 (Nos) Transformers to complement the injection of over 2000 distribution transformers of various capacities. Also, 48 injection power transformers of various capacities namely 15MVAs, 7.5MVAs, 2.5MVAs and construction of more than 1,500km of 33kv and 11kv overhead high voltage lines using 5,500km of aluminium conductor as well as 1,100km of low voltage lines using 5,000km of aluminium conductors were executed. A notable project of the State Government in the power sector is the development of a 128 MWDelta State Independent Power Plant (IPP) project at Oghareki, Delta State, which has attained an advance stage of completion.
34. We introduced the use of generator powered street lights, which has attained national prominence due to power shortage and today we have 6,126 street light poles made up of generator and solar powered street lights. I can confirm that security at night and night life itself has been greatly enhanced with this initiative; Government shall continue to pursue vigorously efforts aimed at illuminating our cities, towns and communities with both conventional and renewable energy system. The state also has investments in some of the recently privatized power companies such as TranscorpUghelli power plant, Vigeo power plant and Eurafic power plant with sizeable shareholding in them.We can safely say Delta State is well positioned to adjust to the dynamics of the post PHCN era.A total sum of N7.351bn has been allocated to boost electricity supply throughout the State in 2015. Out of this amount, N4bn is set aside for the completion the IPP project.
Roads/Bridges
35. We have worked tirelessly towards having good network of roads across the state. We have constructed over 1,206 kilometres of road, 663 kilometres of concrete-lined drains, 17 bridges of various spans have been completed and another 25 bridges are in various stages of completion. Some noteworthy roads that we are constructing are the 149 kilometres Asaba-Ughellidualisation, the 24 kilometre Trans Warri-Ode Itsekiri access roads with 22 bridges, the dualisation of the 33.6 kilometres Ugbenu-Koko road and the Effurun-Osubi-Eku road amongst others. As part of Government’s effort to improve traffic between the Asaba Capital City and the satellite towns, work has commenced on the dualisation of Asaba Okpanam road with drainage aspect since recession of the 2014 rains. The drainage which are intended to arrest the devastating erosion in that area as well as ameliorate flooding in Okpanam road and environs in Asaba metropolis. The Asaba Okpanamdualisation road project which is scheduled for substantial completion in May 2015 will eliminate the traffic gridlock during peak hours and substantially reduce induced man-hours losses while its drainage aspect will arrest the devastating flood and erosion along the route. Also under construction are the Nnebisi/Okpanam/Anwai road flyover and Effurun Roundabout flyover which are due for completion early next year. The construction of Airport Road by Okumagba Avenue flyover will commence soon. Mr. Speaker, in the 2015 fiscal year, the sum of N7bn has been provided for the Ughelli-Asaba Dual carriageway, N3bn for the Trans-Warri Roads project, N2bn for the Ugbenu–Koko road, N3bn for the Effurun-Osubi-Eku Road, N5bn for the Completion of Fly-Overs in Warri/Asaba and N600m for Construction of Umeh Road, among other critical road projects. 
Transport Development
36. We can proudly say we have recorded remarkable success in the transport sector. As an important component of the State Economy, our policy on transport is to provide safe, reliable, sustainable, effective, efficient and integrated transport operations and infrastructure that will best meet the needs of passenger and freight services. In pursuit of this policy, Government purchased and distributed 170 Taxis, 805Nos. 18- Seater Toyota Hiace Buses, 9Nos. 38 Seater Nissan Civilian Buses, 50Nos. Marcopolo Buses, 30Nos. Innoson-IVM6125 Series Customized Buses and 10Nos. Tata Buses. This resulted to mass removal of almost all the rickety buses and taxis in the State and has given a facelift to the roads in the Urban Centres.
37. Mr. Speaker. You will agree with me that at a point, commercial motorcycles (popularly called Okada) riders became a threat not only to the safety, but security of our people and so became necessary to ban them. To ameliorate the hardship which the people would face after the ban on Okada riders, we had to consciously and systematically deploy 3,073 units of tricycles. This has resulted in the reduction of accidents and robbery cases in the affected areas.
38. We have also made significant progress in riverine transportation. So far we have constructed 31 concrete jetties. We have also procured and distributed 130 boats for the riverine mass transit scheme. As part of our urban renewal scheme and enhancement of the transportation system in the state, the state government is constructing 30 bus shelters and four city bus terminals. Of special interest are the Ultra-modern Bus Terminals in Asaba and Warri for which the sum of N1.3bn has been allocated.
39. We have also made notable in-road into air transportation. The Asaba International Airport which is fully owned by the Delta State Government and the Osubi airstrip with a 1.8km runway, built by Shell, and operated in partnership with other oil companies are two airports located in Delta State.We have started the construction of a second runway of 4.2km of the Osubi to accommodate bigger aircrafts. The Asaba international airport serves Delta State, as well as the neighbouring Eastern States. With the location of the two airports in the State, air transportation is within easy access to Deltans. Facilities at the airports will continue to be upgraded to meet international standards. In this regard, a total of N2bn and N3bn are proposed for the Asaba and Osubi airports respectively.
Education
40. We have recorded huge returns on our investment in education as a major component of the human capital programme of the three point agenda. We are reducing burden on parents by introducing various scholarship schemes which include Delta students in Law school, Aviation, overseas postgraduate, first class degree, children of deceased civil servants, and the physically challenged. So far, a total 1,651 Deltans have benefited from government full scholarship. We are also paying bursary allowance of N20,000 to Delta State students in the tertiary institutions across the country.
41. We have also made huge impact in the provision of infrastructures required for the effective and efficient administration of our tertiary institutions. The Faculty of Engineering, Delsu Oleh campus; male students accommodation at Asaba campus; the Senate/Administrative building Delsu Abraka; the library complex at Asaba campus, amongst many others. In response to the increasing demand for tertiary education, the State Government approved the setting up of additional four new polytechnics at Sapele, Bomadi, Aboh and Abigborodo which are gradually being developed. Our basic and secondary schools have also received a sizeable government attention by making sure that education is almost free with qualitative and quantitative improvement all around. Over 142 primary schools and 34 secondary schools have been reconstructed and remodelled with modern facilities.
42. Also, 13 selected secondary schools have been upgraded to international standards. To meet the growing demand for education, we have to build additional 147 primary schools to add to the existing 1,146 public primary schools in the state bringing the total public primary schools to 1,293 schools. Furthermore, 54 new secondary schools were added to the existing 412 public secondary schools making it 466. Besides, government has been responsible for the payment of all levies and fees for pupils and students in the state including external examinations conducted by WAEC and National Business and Technical Examinations Education Board (NABTEB) since 2008. To strengthen capacity of our teachers, 32,565 primary school teachers were trained to improve their teaching abilities.
43. Mr. Speaker we have through Education Marshals initiative contained rising incidence of out-of-school children in the state. This programme is aimed at eradicating ‘Street Culture’ to bring about ‘Learning Culture’ Our target is to reduce the presence of our children in the street and take them into class rooms. So far, a total of 196,180 out-of-school children have been rescued from the streets and returned to schools. This is made up of 97,944 boys and 98,236 girls. Expectedly, it has helped in the implementation of the Child Rights Act, 2010. The Delta State Education Marshal Bill which is in its final stage of legal draft will further strengthen the initiative. In the 2015 fiscal year, the sum of N3bn is budgeted for primary and secondary schools infrastructure developmentand N2bn for the four New Polytechnics in the State.
Health
44. Healthcare is a key part of the Human Capital Development. Our objective is to make quality health care delivery available, accessible and affordable to all Deltans and other residents. We have substantially reduced mortality and morbidity in the State. Our approach is holistic, and focuses on the upgrade of health infrastructure in the urban and rural areas through the provision of specialized health care system.
45. The Rural Health Scheme, in particular has facilitated health care services to the door-steps of our people, particularly those in the rural and riverine areas at little or no cost to them. The Free Maternal Health Programme supports the pursuit of Goal 5 of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). The target is to reduce maternal mortality rate of about 800 per one hundred thousand births in the State. The programme covers ante-natal care, normal delivery, provision of routine drugs throughout the duration of pregnancy and up to six weeks after delivery including caesarean sections.
46. Most of the older hospitals in the State have undergone physical renovation, and new ones built in areas (particularly Local Government Headquarters) where none existed, bringing the total number of functional hospitals in the State to sixty-three (63). The renovated and newly constructed hospitals have been progressively equipped and re-equipped with both basic and specialized equipment and ultra-modern patient care facilities.
47. Our healthcare system performance has been encouraging and in many aspects within a touching distance of the MDG goal. For instance, maternal mortality rate in 2008 was 395 per 100,000 live births, in 2013 it came down to 188. Ante-natal clinic attendance was 166,061 in 2008, and with advocacy and health education programmes in 2013, ante natal clinic attendance increased to 372,441. Infant mortality rate is now 12 per 1000 live births. The progress is encouraging and very positive. Through our rural healthcare programme we have also touched lives of the vulnerable groups in the society.

48. At the tertiary level, this administration completed the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, which can compete favourably with other teaching hospital in the West African Sub region. Following the breakthroughs we had with knee replacement surgery and kidney transplant at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara our healthcare system achieved national prominence. The institution is serving as manpower development centre and referral to other health institutions within and outside the State. Government has also rendered assistance to patients by providing 75% subsidy for renal dialysis.
49. We have completed the 100-bed Integrated Mother and Child Care Centres (MCC) at the Central Hospitals Warri and Ekpan. We have rehabilitated and remodelled Eku Government Baptist hospital and equipped with state of the art equipment. Worth mentioning Mr. Speaker, is the construction and remodelling of the Asaba Central Hospital, which is near completion. To sustain our effortsthe sums of N2bn each is set aside for the Teaching Hospital, Oghara and Central Hospital, Asaba. In addition, N500m each is provided for Eku Baptist Hospital, and Maternal and Child care Centres in Warri and Ekpan.
50. May I, Mr. Speaker, use this opportunity to once again thank Nigerians for their cooperation in addressing the Ebola crises, especially those in the healthcare sector who risked their lives to curb the spread of the deadly disease. I wish to commend the Federal Government in particular for the timely response to curtail the spread of the virus. I am proud to say that due to our institutional structures, we in Delta State were fully prepared to contain the spread. In 2015, we intend to establish a Public Health Laboratory in the State to combat communicable diseases such as the Ebola virus Disease (EVD), HIV and tuberculosis. The reference laboratory shall be fully equipped with the latest functional medical facilities to serve the above diagnostic needs of the State.
Social Development and Sports
51. Mr. Speaker, Sir, after the 2012 Olympics where Nigeria had her worst performance, it became apparent that we needed to chart a new course for our sports development. A first step towards this was the first National Sports Summit hosted in Asaba by the Delta State Government. It had in attendance the best brains in sports administration in Nigeria. The fallouts of the summit are being systematically and strategically implemented by Government. Our number one position in sports in Nigeria today is incontrovertible and this laudable achievement is coming on the backdrop of sports development being undertaken by this administration. Government will continue to support sports men and women, both nationally and internationally.
52. We have impacted positively on the wellbeing of our people in the rural areas through our community driven development intervention programmes. This we have done by providing access to social amenities and infrastructures like markets, schools, health centres, rural electricity and waterprojects to enhance their welfare. We have through this programme encouraged our communities to participate effectively in governance. We have also embarked on the training of people in these communities to equip them with requisite knowledge and skills for effective execution, maintenance and sustenance of these projects. This has increased awareness in community ownership and involvement in project execution and sustainability. It will also interest you to note Mr. Speaker, that there has been tremendous increase in sensitizing the rural populace in the area of participation in governance as to identification and prioritization of needs of their communities.
53. We have also made remarkable impact on youth development where we have committed huge resources, in view of its importance as a tool for promoting and sustaining peace and security in the State. The youth programs are designed to change the repentant youths and school dropouts to make them self-reliant, in so doing taking them off the streets. To facilitate this, twelve Youth Development and Skill Acquisition Centres across the State have been built and equipped by this administration. To further strengthen our human capital programme, we sent 147 youths recently, to Trinidad and Tobago for skill acquisition in areas that will impact the state’s economy. This will improve the skill sets of the youths and replicate lessons from Trinidad and Tobago in Delta State. A total sum ofN2.7bnhas been allocated to this sub-sector.
ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR
54. Our dream for tomorrow is to have a cleaner, healthier and sustainable environment particularly, in our homes, streets, markets and schools. We are also monitoring and controlling flood and coastal erosion, encouraging tree planting to regenerate our forests, landscaping and beautification of streets and highways. The global issue of climate change adaptation and mitigation has also remained in the front burner of this Administration.
55. You will recall Mr. Speaker Sir, the 2012 flood crises that ravaged our cities and towns. That incidence opened our eyes to adopt pre-emptive measures toward addressing flood and erosion issues. We shall continue to clear the drains and creeks in major towns and cities across the State. This will allow for the free flow of run-off water and thus preventing flood and erosion in major towns and cities. In fact, you would have observed that the continuous clearance of drains and canals across the state in the past three years has drastically reduced the incidence of flooding as was recorded in the past. We have not lost sight of the degradation process of our coastal region and to this end we are adopting strict environmental protection policies that would ensure the protection of our shorelines. The sum of N2.1bn each has been allocated for the Warri and Asaba drainage projects.
56. In our resolve to address the problem of waste management and create jobs and wealth for our people, we are establishing an Integrated Waste Management Facilities for the recycling of glass, rubber/plastics, compost biodegradable waste and incineration of waste in Asaba and Igbogidi, near Warri. The Asaba plant is already undergoing test running, while that of Igbogidi is under construction. The sum of N1.1bn is provided for the completion of the project in 2015.
57. To ensure enforcement of our environmental sanitation laws, we introduced the Environmental Sanitation Marshals in some selected towns across the State namely Warri, Asaba, Ughelli, Sapele, Agbor, Ozoro and Oghara. The marshals has mandate to act as public watchdogs in the area of Environmental Sanitation such as checking of indiscriminate dumping of refuse in streets, drains, checking of street trading, etc.
58. Mr. Speaker Sir, Distinguished Honourable members, as you may have observed, our cities and towns are progressively wearing new looks. We are resolute on our drive tokeep Delta State clean and beautiful. Apart from the aesthetic value, our beautification project is associated with; it also helps to reduce the effect of global warming, improved public health through cleanliness & disease control, economic opportunities through provision of jobs & wealth creation. Some of the activities include landscaping, erection of important monuments, provision of fruit stands and snack shops, placement of identification signage, construction of gardens & recreation parks, ornamental tree planting major roads in the State, etc. To continue with the beautification of our towns, the sum of N1bn is set aside for the junction improvement projects.
Housing
59. We are grappling with increasing demand for housing, particularly in Asaba. This is not surprising as Asaba is regarded as the fastest growing new city in Nigeria today. It is also a transit town for travellers. Last year, we embarked on the construction of low and medium housing scheme for civil servants. It comprised of 50 units of 1 bedroom, 50 units of 2 bedroom, and 30 units of 3 bedrooms. It will ease the pressure on public officers when they are allocated these houses on completion and give them a new lease of life. This is aside several other housing schemes located in other parts of the state. The sum of N500m is earmarked for the completion of the housing estate in Asaba next year.
Special Infrastructure Development
60. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this administration created a Directorate for Special Infrastructure to fast track infrastructural development in the state. Some projects classified as ‘Special’ are excised from the responsibilities of other Government Agencies and executed through separate Project Implementation Committees. Some of the special projects are being financed with the Delta State Development Bond. With this strategy, we reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks and improve on the infrastructure development in the State.
Infrastructure Development Bond
61. The desire by the State to accelerate infrastructure development and ensure a better life for all Deltans put some level of financial pressure on the State as it tried to prudently allocate resources for competing needs. In a bid therefore to finance its revolutionary infrastructural development initiatives, the Government considered the option of tapping into the domestic debt market to raise adequate funds to help bridge the funding gap between funds from both internally generated sources and the Federal Government’s Allocation and the States actual funding requirements, based on its developmental plan.The choice of bond as a funding option, therefore Mr. Speaker, was informed by the fact that they were cheap, fiscally prudent and convenient source of funds with longer tenor that tend to offer liquidity advantages. The projects executed from the bond proceeds include Road & Bridges, Schools, Hospitals, High and Customary Courts, Industrial Parks, Water, and Transportation. The bond has been efficiently utilised. So far a total of 103 projects have been completed.
DELTA STATE OIL PRODUCING AREAS DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION DESOPADEC
62. This administration through DESOPADEC, has impacted on the oil producing communities by building infrastructures such as roads, schools, hospitals, electricity, water, which in the past had been neglected. It is gladdening to note that the Commission has been well positioned to support our development efforts. In line with the funding requirement therefore, the sum of N34bn (thirty four billion naira) representing 50% of projected derivation revenue receipts from oil accruable to Delta State, is set aside for the development of oil producing communities in the 2015 fiscal year.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
63. We have made considerable efforts at improving our office infrastructure, fit for working comforts. With the completion of the new State Secretariat Annex and acquisition of other public buildings, Government has substantially reduced its presence in rented private owned buildings. The construction of a new Government House and the completion of Office of the Head of Service Complex at Asaba will further improve the office accommodation situation in the State.
64. For effective administration of justice in the state, we embarked on massive construction, rehabilitation, furnishing and equipping of High Courts, Magistrate Courts and Judges’ Quarters’ throughout the state. The state’s Justice System has grown positively particularly in the areas of advocacy, promotion of criminal justice and conflict resolution through mediation to ensure that the agenda of Government is achieved.
65. The State currently is peaceful and safe and we will not relent in our commitment to the security of lives and properties of Deltans as this is a basic requirement for ensuring the continuing growth and development of the State and well-being of its citizens. To sustain this situation, over 241 operational, patrol, Armoured Personnel Carrier and other security vehicles have been provided to support security agencies. This is aside other logistics support, financial assistance as well as security gadgets and equipments that were provided.
66. We embraced the full automation of our financial management and reporting processes. The system is currently undergoing upgrade and expansion as part of the public financial management reforms driven by the World Bank. The project, on completion, will improve transparency and accountability in managing our resources.
67. Mr. Speaker Sir, this administration knows that observance of enacted appropriation law, high fiscal discipline, strict adherence to due process and the exercise of a good measure of control over expenditure are necessary ingredients for the achievement of desired results. These virtues have been the driving force behind it in the past seven years.
CONCLUSION
68. Mr. Speaker, honourable members of the House, I sincerely express my deepest gratitude and that of the entire executive arm of this government to you for your support these past years. Indeed, the entire people of Delta State have immensely befitted from the peaceful and cordial relationship between this honourable House and other arms of government. We greet you all. I wish to also use this opportunity to thank all public and civil servants for their untiring and unwavering support these past seven and half years.
69. As we steadily and gradually move towards the termination of this administration, I want to assure all Deltans that we are leaving behind institutional structures that the incoming administration would build on. We remain dedicated to the promotion of the best interests of our people. We will carefully and strongly follow the path of honour in the pursuit of our objective of providing qualitative infrastructure and services for our people.
70. Having restored peace and security during these past seven years, I wish to remind us all, Mr Speaker, honourable members that we need to sustain the energy and resources in building peace and harmonious co-existence in the State. We are one big family; let us continue to live as one.
71. Mr Speaker and distinguished members of this honourable House, I thank you for your kind attention. I wish you peace, love and God’s protection and guidance in all your present and future endeavours. Merry Christmas and happy New Year in advance!
72. Thank you and God bless us all.

Office of the Governor,
Government House,
Asaba.

December, 2014.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta has made a breathtaking revelation by letting the cat out of the bag on how he personally averted several plots by yet to be named aspirants and their supporters to disrupt the last Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary by all means.

He said he also ensured that the exercise was held without chaos, as he had to deploy security operatives to nip all the plans.          

Recall that Senator Ifeanyi Okowa emerged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) PDP governorship candidate for Delta state after defeating 24 other aspirants in the primary election which held on Monday, December 08, 2014.

Uduaghan disclosed that there were plans by certain individuals to disrupt the primaries and where that failed there was another attempt to switch off the electricity during the counting of votes when it was obvious that Dr. Okowa was leading, stating he had to ensure that the security operatives nipped all the plans.

Uduaghan reiterated his commitment towards a peaceful transition process which according to him made him to sacrifice his Senatorial ambition in the interest of peace, stressing, “there is no position that is too much for us to sacrifice for security reasons, if one person dies you cannot bring him back but any position sacrificed can be regained.”

The governor made these  revelations when members of the Delta Political Vanguard visited him at Government House, Asaba on Monday, December 15, 2014.

Governor Uduaghan however expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the  gubernatorial primaries of the PDP in the state which led to the emergence of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as the candidate, observing that his greatest joy was the fact that none of the aspirants “as at today has said the process was not free and fair and PDP in Delta State is intact. We don’t have any faction, Dr Okowa’s victory was applauded by all and I am happy that we waded through this process, peacefully, intact and no petition against the election.”

DELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has charged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State not be carried away by the euphoria associated with the victory of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa in the gubernatorial primaries of the state but should work hard to win the main election which he described as “more challenging.”

Uduaghan therefore urged members of the party to put behind them the experience of the governorship primaries and start to work towards the victory of candidates of the party in the 2015 general elections.

The governor, who stated this while receiving members of the Delta Political Vanguard who paid him a solidarity visit at Government House, Asaba on Monday, December 15, 2014 also advised them to be magnanimous in victory by accommodating everybody.

“Getting the ticket is the easiest part, winning the main election is the more difficult part because of the complexity of Delta State where ethnicity is a major factor. I have experienced it and I have come out victorious, so, I know what I am talking about and by the Grace of God, we shall be victorious in 2015.

“The time of celebration is over, we have to extend our hands of fellowship to everybody, we must carry everybody along so that we can win the main election which includes the re-election of our President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan on February 14 and the election of our candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and after that, we can celebrate,” the Governor said.

The President of Delta Political Vanguard, Hon. Michael Diden said members of the group were in Government House to pledge their loyalty to Governor Uduaghan’s administration and to thank him for the role he played during the gubernatorial primaries of the PDP which led to the emergence of Senator Okowa as the party’s flagbearer.

THE Chairman of Delta State Council of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Ifeanyi Obi has said the consistency in transport fare ahead of Christmas celebration was because of the stability in the price of petroleum products.

Comrade Obi assured commuters that there will be no hike in fares as a result of Christmas celebration.

“This is Christmas, travelers will be apprehensive that transport fare will increase, but, we are not going to do that.
“Our President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has done very well for us, we can drive into any petrol station and fuel our vehicles without spending long hours on queue, we are also sure of the price of the products, no other President has achieved this for a long time, so, all of us will celebrate Christmas without fear of increase in transport fare.”

Chief Obi observed that there will be rush by commuters and stated that the NURTW was prepared for such, disclosing that all vehicles that load passengers from the motor parks must be certified to be okay before they are allowed to embark on journeys.

“The tyres must be okay, no driver will drink before driving and everything is being done to ensure the safety of passengers and their goods because for more than three years, we are recording accident-free celebration and we want to retain that record,” the Chairman of the driver’s union said.

He thanked Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration for providing vehicles for members of NURTW stating that such action contributed to reduction of transport fare in Delta State.

Chief Obi also praised the leadership qualities of the national President of NURTW, Alhaji Nasim Usman which he observed has made the union to be peaceful.

MEMBERS of Petroleum Dealers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN) has called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the PIB bill in the interest of Nigerians and the Nigerian economy.

The Chairman of ASABA chapter of PEDAN, Comrade Jerry Ojie made the call while speaking at the annual end of year party of the association in Asaba, Delta State.

According to him members of PEDAN in particular will benefit a lot with the passage of PIB bill, noting that members of the association are in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

“We are calling on the Federal Government to expedite action on the improvement of the power sector and it is very important that the PIB which is still before the National Assembly is passed into law,” he said, reiterating, “the downstream oil sector, the petrol stations should be given its rightful place in the economy.”

While commending Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration for credible performance, the PEDAN Chairman decried double taxation as a result and urged government “to constitute a joint task force to combat illegal revenue in the state.”

“We want government to provide a tanker park in Asaba to avoid embarrassing our members for parking along the highways, roads within the metropolis,” he added.

Comrade Ojie used the occasion to call for more partnership between PEDAN and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the NUPENG, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Environment, Local Government Councils and Environmental Health Officers, adding that security operatives should also speed up their activities to curb crime in the society.

He stated, “the Police should up the ante in combating the wave of violent crimes, including armed robbery, murder and kidnapping which are becoming the order of the day.” 

The Head of Department of Environmental Health Department, Mr Henry Obi informed members of PEDAN that health officers’s activities are backed by law, but, emphasized that it was important for people to keep their business premises and homes clean.

While calling for beautification of premises, Mr Obi also stated that it was important for premises to be fumigated regularly by qualified and accredited experts.

The occasion featured contributions on the way forward for the association.

The Management of Warri Wolves will meet on Monday, December 15, 2014 to deliberate on the forth coming season and review the activities of the Club in the just concluded one.

In a brief statement made available to Sports Writers by the Media Manager of the Club, Etu Moses, Management will also look into the performance of the players with a view to determining the players that will feature for the Club next season. 

Etu further  enjoined all those concerned to make themselves available for the meeting which will also discuss the CAF Confederation Cup assignment in which the Club qualified for after coming third in the just concluded Glo- Premier League.

Meanwhile, Warri Wolves wishes to assure all that the Club will do its best in the CAF assignment having featured in the last two editions hence there is need to be very careful this time around so as not make the same mistakes that led to our ouster in the last two editions..

“We are meeting on Monday to review the past season and also deliberate among other things the coming season and the CAF Confederation Cup assignment. We will also look at the issue of players to determine those who are going to be dropped and those that will remain. The Coach will also brief us on whether he needs to beef up the team with more players so it is going to be a marathon meeting.”

The outcome of the national convention of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where the convention voted to ratify the adoption of Goodluck Jonathan as the PDP presidential candidate ahead of 2015 elections and the official announcement of former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, as flagbearer of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 presidential election, has yet indicated that the duo will lock horns again in the February 2015 presidential election.

Recall that prior to the PDP convention which was attended by over 3,000 delegates from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, various organs of the ruling party had adopted Jonathan as PDP’s sole candidate.

Jonathan, in his speech thanked party members for believing in him, assuring that all aggrieved members would be reconciled on the road to the general elections.

Meanwhile, APC’s presidential primary is held in Lagos State, where Buhari clinched 3,430 votes to trounce his four opponents to emerge the 2015 presidential candidate of the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former vice-president, got 954 votes to come third behind Kano State Governor, Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, who scored 974 votes. The other contenders, Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha and Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah got 624 votes and 10 votes respectively.

In his acceptance speech, winner of the presidential primaries, Buhari said: “The outcome of the presidential primaries is a demonstration of democracy at work. It is with deep sense of humility that I accept to be the candidate and flag-bearer of the APC. I stand before you and ask that you join me to bring about the needed change for this country. It is either we advance as one or we fail together.”

With the development, there will be a repeat contest between General Buhari and President Goodluck Jonathan, who is flying the flag of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 2015 election.

In the 2011 presidential polls, Jonathan polled 22.5 million votes to beat Buhari who garnered 12.2 million votes.

Buhari and Jonathan

 
It’s now official. Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.) is the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate for the February 2015 election.

He defeated four other APC aspirants –Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rochas Okorocha and Sam Nda-Isaiah – to clinch the party’s ticket at a national convention/primary that started on Wednesday in Lagos and ended about 7pm on Thursday.

Buhari’s victory sets him yet again as the number one challenger to President Goodluck Jonathan, who on Wednesday was formally handed the Peoples Democratic Party flag for the 2015 election.

Buhari, who was born on December 17, 1942, was Jonathan’s main opponent in the 2011 presidential poll. He first had a shot at the Presidency in 2003 against Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2007, he ran against Umaru Yar’Adua(now late).

However, the National Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has welcomed the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as the Presidential candidate of the APC.

In a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP urged the APC presidential candidate to be issue- based in his campaigns, adding, “We hope that this time round, General Buhari will conduct a campaign that is issue based and devoid of ethno-religious sentiments.”

Metuh said, “This will be the fourth time General Buhari will be contesting in the presidential elections. On each of the three previous occasions, he failed to articulate a vision of the future that was acceptable to Nigerians. On each occasion his brand of politics was rejected across Nigeria. Apart from changing to a dinner suit, General Buhari, has not changed the tired ideas and provocative utterances that Nigerians rejected in previous elections.”

As the subsisting strike action by workers in the Federal Medical Centers (FMCs) across the country continues to bite harder, the leadership of the workers in FMC, Asaba has raised the alarm over attempt by management to use quacks to attend to patients.

They alleged that management has employed and deployed unqualified hands to render health services which they were not trained or licensed to do.

The representatives of the workers under the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) raised the alarm in a statement after an emergency meeting to appraise the strike, yesterday.

In the statement endorsed by the chairman of JOHESU, Comrade Tony Asiodu, the workers advised the public being lured to patronize the hospital on the guise that personnel were on duty to be careful and not to play with their health.

“The management has thrown away tenets of professionalism/ethics of professional conducts in a bid to create a posture that the hospital is providing services when in actual sense, they are rendering unhealthy and quack services which poses a great threat to Delta State citizens and members of the public at large, because all the qualified professional whose job they are trying to mimic to do are on strike”, he state.

According to the statement, a situation where non-qualified and non-licensed casual staff were employed to carry out laboratory and nursing services is unacceptable and condemnable, urging the people to be wary of management antics.

Hon Onwusanya who made the observation in his congratulatory message to Senator Okowa who was declared the winner of PDP gubernatorial primaries held in Asaba on Monday, said the outcome underscores equity and fairness that are the desire of Deltans.

While describing the result of the election as fantastic, the speaker said Dr Okowa is a political father to many politicians in Delta State and implored him to be accommodative in victory.

While imploring him to extend a hand of brotherliness to aspirants who contested with him, Hon Onwusanya urged those who lost the primaries and their supporters to prepare to work with the PDP candidate to guarantee victory for the party in the main election.

Meanwhile, a former Commissioner for Lands in Delta State, Barrister Raymos Guanah, while congratulating Dr. Okowa for the victory, enjoined him to be magnanimous in victory.

Barrister Guanah, the Deputy Director-General of Olejeme Campaign Organisation, further urged all those who participated in the election to now sheath their sword and work with Dr. Okowa in the interest of PDP.

The returning officer, Hon Karim Sunday Steve, declared Okowa winner after having polled the largest number of votes in the keenly contested primaries which held amidst tight security.

Okowa polled 406 votes to beat Olorogun David Edevbie, alleged consensus candidate of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), who clinched 299 votes to come second while former Speaker of Delta Assembly, Victor Ochei coasted home with 185 votes to emerge third.

Other results as announced by the election returning Officer, Hon Karim Sunday Steve of the House of Representatives, were as follows: Ndudi Elumelu (50 votes), Godsday Orubebe (49) and Godwill Obielum (22). 

Professor Sylvester Monye, Ovie Omo-Agege,  Ngozi Elejeme and Sam Obi got 10 votes each;  Peter Okocha had six votes, Tony Obuh (five), Dr Festus Okobor got 5 votes and Sir Tony Obuh 5 votes., Charles Emetulu (four), Kenneth Gbagi (two) and Mike Uwaka (one vote) while one vote was voided.

Governorship aspirants present were Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Olorogun David Edevbie, Hon. Victor Ochei, Mr Tony Obuh,  Elder Godsday Orubebe, Chief Peter Okocha, Prof Sylvester Monye, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, Hon. Sam Obi, Charles Emetulu, Clement Ofuani, Mrs Esther Uduehi, Mrs Ngozi Olejeme, Dr Festus Okubor, Chief Mike Uwaka, Ovie Omo-Agege and Dr John Akwara.

Arthur Okowa Ifeanyi, a graduate of the University of Ibadan was elected Senator for Delta North, in Delta State, Nigeria, in the April 2011 national elections was born on July 8, 1959. 

Meanwhile, Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has congratulated Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa on his victory at the Monday Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries.

Uduaghan in a press statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sunny Ogefere, described the victory of Okowa who polled 406  votes to beat his closest  rival, Chief David Edebvie who scored 299 votes, as well deserving.

Governor Uduaghan who is leader of the PDP in the state , charged Okowa to demonstrate the spirit of sportsmanship by quickly extending a hand of fellowship to other contestants.

He also called on the other aspirants to note that the exercise was a family contest where there was no winner no loser, urging them to join hands with Okowa in positioning the party for victory at the general elections.

“Let all faithful members of our great party be reminded that now that a candidate has emerged, it is incumbent on us all to close ranks and work assiduously towards ensuring victory for the PDP in the general elections.

“I must also at this juncture commend the peaceful disposition displayed by all aspirants before and during the primaries. This is a testament to our peace and security agenda in the state,” he said.

Earlier, shortly after casting his vote as a delegate at 7.35 pm, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan urged losers in the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to support the winner in the interest of the party.

He said: “Losers should be ready to work with the winner,” describing the primary election as “peaceful, orderly and well organised.”

If you remember David in the bible, how he became king. What about King Solomon. You might be the smallest, the youngest, the weakest or the poorest but if it pleases God you could be the chosen one. 

A good contemporary political example of the fact that life “is not of him that willeth or runneth but of God that showeth mercy”   is Dr Ebele Goodluck Jonathan the president of Nigeria. With his case God has shown that He is not a respecter of persons. He does what He wants to do. He blesses whom so ever He chooses to bless without consulting or considering you or any other person. That is why it is, that one with God is majority.

It should be noted that one important thing about the men mentioned above is that they are humble. Call any other person you know that has been elevated by God, you will find that he is humble. That is why, if one humbles one’s self, God elevates him. 

If you are behind, God brings you forward and if you are too proud or forward God brings you back. It is to prove that God decides. 

A word is enough for the wise. The voice of the people is the voice of God. We want humility, God desires it, do not fight humility for you will be fighting God. Thank you for understanding.

00 4 G 2015 (GRASSROOT ALLIANCE)

When Blank NEWS Online team arrived at the Cenotaph, intended venue of the primary election, security operatives were mounted at every point to ward off unforeseen elements, while the Channels Television Outside Broadcast (OB) van, earlier stationed for a live coverage was subsequently dismantled, following the postponement.

Meanwhile, at the Delta South Senatorial District, incumbent Senator James Manager clinched the  ticket with 291 as against the 13 votes scored by Air Vice Marshall Terry Okorodudu (rtd), the only other contender in the senatorial primary held at the Warri Township stadium.

However, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who withdrew from the Senatorial race for the Delta South ticket a couple of days to the primary was present to cast his vote as a delegate and left almost immediately.

Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has been elected the winner of the Abia Central Senatorial seat in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries by polling 221 votes of the 222 votes cast with one voided vote. 

The Governor was the sole contestant for the position.

Announcing the results at the end of the primaries held at the Umuahia Township Stadium, the returning officer, Ndidi Okereke said a total of 222 delegates were accredited while there was one void vote.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Orji thanked God and all Abians who were instrumental to the success of the project.

He said that he was happy with the victory and stated that the decision to go to the Senate is not his making as he was merely responding to the call of Abians to represent them at the Senate.

Governor Orji pointed out that Abians have demonstrated their love in practical terms through their vote, adding that the process of democracy in the state has been deepened through the process.

He said that things will be better if all elections in the country went the same way the Abia Central senatorial primaries was conducted.

The Governor maintained that as a senator, he would see himself as a representative of the people, adding that he owes the people a duty to speak for the people and pledged not to disappoint the people.

The Governor said he would cherish the trust Abians have for him and implored Abians to help in different ways to build Abia.

In the same development, Governor Jonah Jang has also become one of the serving governors to be given a senatorial ticket. 

He got 273 votes to emerge as the PDP Senatorial candidate for Plateau North Senatorial zone. 

He defeated former Ambassador to Ukraine, Ibrahim Kasai who scored 18 votes. 291 delegates participated in the exercise.

Also, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom State, Sunday, emerged the unopposed Senatorial candidate of the PDP for Ikot Ekpene zone. 

The incumbent, Senator Aloysius Etuk had earlier stepped down for him as a result of  numerous consultations held with major stakeholders in Ini and Ikono Federal Constituency.

The people of Igbodo kingdom in Ika North-East Local Govt Area has reaffirmed their commitments to sustained growth and development of the Igbodo community.

To this end, a program tagged ”Igbodo Mass Return Home” is to be held in the community from 20th to 27th of December 2014 as part of steps by stakeholders to strategize on ways to moving the community to the next level of development.

The Chairman and Secretary of the planning committee, Dr Ndu Okonye and Comrade Nkem Nwaeke in a statement, says the one week program is to further seek ways of encouraging self help efforts among the people as well as attract the attention of govt and other development interventionist agencies towards meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the community.

The event would feature homage to the traditional ruler, crusade, free medical service, inter village football competition, lectures on career choice, cultural dance, launching of fund for an ultra modern palace as well as award and gala night.

Dr Okonye and Comrade Nwaeke in the statement disclosed that the program would attract sons and daughters of Igbodo kingdom across the globe as well as friends of the community.

Also being expected to grace the events are top govt functionaries, including officials of Delta State govt, members of the national and state houses of Assembly, officials of Ika North-East local govt council, traditional rulers and opinion leaders.

The Obi of Igbodo kingdom, Ikechukwu Osedume the first is the royal father of the events, while the Iyase of Igbodo, Dr Ifeanyi Unomah and the President-General of the community, Chief Peter Ozili Chiemeke are chief hosts.

RESULTS FOR THE PDP HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES PRIMARIES HELD ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2014 IN DELTA STATE AS COMPILED BY BLANK NEWS ONLINE