Receives Ghanaian President, Akufo-Addo Orders 24-hour power supply for Abia market
By Abdullahi M. Gulloma Abuja Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday set up a Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property headed by the Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, Chief Okoi ObonaObla. A statement issued by the Director of Press in the Offi ce of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, said the panel was set up by the Acting President in line with powers conferred on the President by the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act Cap R4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. Th e statement said the Acting President also approved the appointment of Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran as the secretary of the panel.
In a related development, the Acting President has approved the appointment of new commissioners and members of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission for a period of fi ve years. Th e commissioners are Mr. Ekpo Nta (full-time), who was relieved of his appointment as the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Off ences Commission (ICPC); Alhaji Dauda Yahaya (fulltime) and Garba Musa Gulma (Fulltime).
Other commissioners are Victoria Nnenna Chukwuani (part-time), Mr. Geoff ery Yeilong (Part-time), Professor Ropo Shekoni (part-time) and Ahmed Mahmud Gumel (part-time). Th e newly appointed members of the commission are the Permanent Secretary (Establishment) in Offi ce of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation; Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Labour and Employment, Comrade Isa Aremu, representing Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Mr. Chuma Nwankwo, representing N i g e r i a Employers Consultative Association (NECA). “Th e Chairman of the Commission is High Chief Richard Egbule while Mr. E. A.
Th ompson is the Secretary. Both were appointed in August 2014,” Director of Press in the Offi ce of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, said in a statement in Abuja. According to him, the new appointments are for fi ve years while the tenure for all the members commission is for a period of four years. Also yesterday, the Acting President received the visiting Ghanaian President, Nana AkufoAddo, at the Presidential villa, Abuja. Akufo-Addo arrived at the Villa at about 11.12 am and was welcomed by Osinbajo who ushered him into his offi ce through a red carpet.
Th e visit lasted for barely four minutes as the Ghanaian leader proceeded immediately to the National Defence College to deliver a lecture. Akufo-Addo won the Ghana’s 2016 presidential poll against the incumbent, John Mahama, by a margin of 9.45 per cent. He was inaugurated into offi ce on January 7, 2017. Meanwhile, Osinbajo has directed the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to intervene and ensure that the Ariaria International Market in Aba, Abia states, enjoys 24-hour power supply. Aba, the Abia state capital is noted for its huge commercial activities, while the Ariaria market is one of the most popular markets in the eastern part of the country. Osinbajo’s directive, according to a statement issued yesterday by the Presidency, followed a “strong and persuasive case” made for the market by the governor of the state, Okezie Ikpeazu.
A team from the Rural Electrifi cation Agency (REA) was said to had already visited the market for a technical study to collect data that would determine the market’s power requirements. Th e leadership of various clusters in the market was also said to had agreed to assist the REA with all the support required to implement the project. President, Aba Chamber of Commerce, Emma Nwakpadolu, thanked the Acting President, the federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, and the Abia state government for their plans for the market. Th e federal government’s delegation to Ariaria was led by the Managing Director, REA, Damilola Ogunbiyi, while the Abia government delegation was led by Chinenye Nwogu and the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications, Sam Hart.
