Month: August 2023

Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, expressed disapproval of the appointment of Comrade Asu Okang as the State’s Commissioner on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board.

The Speaker made these remarks while speaking to members of the Cross River State All Progressives Congress (APC) support group, who had organized a protest at the House of Assembly in response to Okang’s recent nomination. Okang previously served as the State’s commissioner of information.

The Speaker praised the protesting APC members for their peaceful conduct during the protest and assured them that the legislative body would back the State APC’s demand for the cancellation of the nomination.

“We appreciate that the protesting APC members have conducted themselves peacefully during this demonstration. We are not pleased with the decision and find it quite objectionable. The Cross River State APC has been treated poorly, and we cannot endorse this injustice inflicted upon our Governor.”

“The appointment, released while the SGF (Secretary to the Government of the Federation) was in Germany, resides in the office of the SGF.”

The Speaker expressed disappointment, stating that the state had experienced a similar treatment during their time with the PDP, which prompted them to join the APC. Cross River has alternatives and if the Governor chooses to leave the APC, everyone will leave with him. Governor Otu is widely adored by the people of Cross River and can win elections in any political party.

“Yes, Asu Okang is from Cross River, but if he desires a position, he should switch his allegiance to another party, and there are proper protocols for doing so,” Ayambem stated.

Earlier, the former Chairman of Calabar municipal, Hon Nta Eke, argued against the appointment of a PDP member as the NDDC representative, claiming it is unacceptable. He implored the Speaker to direct their concerns to the “appropriate authorities,” emphasizing that those who contributed significantly to the party’s success should be rewarded, rather than someone who openly opposed them.”

Dr. Edem Ubong, the chairman of the APC Support Group, expressed his sadness and deemed the nomination of Okang as “abnormal” due to his strong affiliation with the PDP. He strongly believed that Okang should not be allowed to take what rightfully belongs to the APC.

The protesters demanded that Okang’s nomination be revoked and mentioned that they had locked the NDDC office in Calabar as a demonstration of their discontent. They believed that the nomination was unfavorable for the APC in the state.

Some placards held by the protesters had messages such as “Asu is rejected by the APC”, “We do not want Asu”, and “The monkey does the work, but the baboon gets the reward” among others.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, made this known when she met the World Bank Country Director, Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri at the Bank’s headquarters in Abuja.

The Minister expressed gratitude to the World Bank Country Director for the continuous support extended to Nigeria especially in the areas of Education, Health, Agriculture, Private Sector Development, Social Services among others.

Edu reminded the World Bank team of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that led to the renaming of the Ministry to Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to directly focus on the people and lift them out of poverty.

“The flexibility of World Bank to accommodate the re-focused agenda of the Ministry to eliminate poverty is a welcome development.

“The Ministry is preparing to host the Humanitarian Dialogue as well as creation of the Renewed Hope Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund (HPATF).

“The Trust Fund is expected to come from Federal Government Budgetary Provision and Allocation, Development Partners, International Community, Taxes, Private Sector Contribution among others.

“The Ministry needs the support of World Bank to verify and expand the National Social Register (NSR) and offer your technical support in order to work with the Ministry to achieve Mr President’s target” she stated.

Speaking on the visit, the World Bank Country Director, Mr Shubham Chaudhuri, pledged to provide all the needed support for the new Minister to deliver on the new focus of the Ministry.

“The proposed disbursement of $800M for the Social Safety Nets Project will commence soonest.

“We will support the verification and scaling up of the National Social Register, provide technical support in the preparation of the Ministry to attend UNGA and give specialized backing for the establishment of the Trust Fund.”

Rhoda Ishaku Iliya
Deputy Director, Information
FMHAPA.
31st August,2023.

Cross River State Commissioner for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Justin Atiang Beshel has charged staff of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department to embrace CRS civil service code of conduct while discharging their responsibilities as staff of the ministry.

Dr. Justin Atiang Beshel made this known on Monday, in an inaugural meeting with the ICT staff at his office, in Calabar.

In his address, Beshel admonished the staff on the necessity to be punctual, diligent, and devoted to work, synergise with various departments and agencies, and to come up with innovations to foster the growth of the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Technology.

He also assured the staff that the government of Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu is prepared to pay dividends to the people of Cross River State, by ensuring that Cross Riverians benefit from ICT. He added that the staff of the ICT department who come up with feasible projects and innovations will not go home unrewarded.

The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ignatius Egere in his remarks charged the ICT staff to be up and doing while executing their official duties, assuring them of Dr. Beshel’s readiness to stimulate and reinvigorate the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology for the overall development of the state.

The ICT staff trumpeted Dr. Justin Beshel’s initiative of meeting with them, saying that the session has allowed them to express their challenges which include poor funding and neglect by the previous government, and proposed some workable ideas for the department, while assuring the Commissioner of their readiness to attain the current administration’s goals for the state.

The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, joined the people of Bakassi to celebrate the outstanding leadership of Hon. Eyo Bassey. The Special Thanksgiving Service, held at Lady Of Fatima Parish in Ikang Town, witnessed a gathering of legislative colleagues, dignitaries, and stakeholders.

Rt. Hon. Ayambem, addressing the audience, spoke highly of the role Bakassi plays in the rich history of Cross River State and emphasized how blessed the people are to have a leader like Hon. Eyo Bassey. He highlighted the collaborative efforts between the Tenth Cross River State House Of Assembly and the State Government, underlining the determination to rejuvenate Bakassi’s developmental processes.

“Hon. Eyo Bassey’s tireless dedication to the cause of Bakassi is truly commendable,” Rt. Hon. Ayambem stated, describing the relationship between the assembly and Hon. Eyo as a productive and prosperous one. “As an assembly, we stand united with Hon. Eyo to ensure Bakassi’s brilliance shines once again.”

Responding, Hon. Eyo Bassey expressed his delight, applauding Rt. Hon. Ayambem for prioritizing and honoring his invitation even at short notice. The event had in attendance Members of Cross River State House Of Assembly, the Honourable Commissioner For Power And Renewable Energy, Prince Eka Williams, Bishop Margaret Ene-Ita (formerly Vice Chairman of Bakassi and now Honourable Commissioner For Social Welfare And Community Development), Hon. Dominic Aqua Idem (former Deputy Speaker from Bakassi), and Hon. Saviour Uyom (Former Member Representing Bakassi), Traditional leaders and other stakeholders.

The Faculty of Basic Medical Science Students, University of Calabar, has congratulated Dr. Justin Atiang Beshel on his appointment by the governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, as the state’s Commissioner for Science, Innovation, and Technology.

In a statement signed by the President of FABAMSSA, Comrade Afebende Barrycassper Ashi, and released to newsmen in Calabar, he described Dr. Justin Beshel as a man whose intellectual prowess and political expertise have placed him in a euphoria of influence and impact in the society.

Afebende explained that the faculty was proud of his accomplishments and wished him the best in service to the people.

“I write to officially congratulate you on your appointment as the Commissioner for Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Your Intellectual prowess and political expertise have placed you in the euphoria of influence and Impact, and the entire Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences University Of Calabar is proud of you.“

Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu has restated President Bola Tinubu’s determination to eradicate poverty in Nigeria in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs target.

The Minister who made the assertion during an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja assured that every strata of the society including women, men, children, and people living with disabilities would benefit from the various poverty alleviation schemes of the government which would soon be unveiled by her Ministry.

According to her, “President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has a clear vision on what he intends to do to eradicate poverty in line with the SDGs which states that poverty should be eradicated by 2030 and Nigeria is one of the Countries that signed onto the full implementation of SDG.

“This explains why the president is fully committed to pulling Nigerians out of poverty”

Tinubu, the Minister said, “believes that by the end of his administration, there wouldn’t be any Nigerian living under one dollar ninety five cents a day ”

Dr. Edu explained that President Tinubu has put in place a very robust poverty alleviation and humanitarian plans that will pull vulnerable Nigerians out of poverty.

“We’ll be looking at job creation in their millions, providing succor to Nigerians, looking at providing palliatives down to households in the most remote areas in Nigeria.

“So far, the president has set the ball rolling with the release of funds to all the States as a cushion to the effect of subsidy removal as well as some palliatives in form of food items across the States and distribution is ongoing in various states,” she said.

Continuing, the Minister disclosed that “a lot of interventions will come under the humanitarian plan with one important one being the commencement of humanitarian trust fund where there ‘ll be a full-blown resource mobilization that will help Nigerians meet their need”

Edu,who is the youngest Ministers in the Tinubu cabinet, commended the President for “defying the norm by bringing young people like myself and several others into governance and for increasing the participation of women in politics”

The Cross River State Commissioner for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Dr. Justin Beshel, has felicitated with the Obanliku nation on the occasion of their New Yam Festival 2023.

In his goodwill message, Dr. Justin Beshel, who hails from Kakwalaka village in Obanliku Local Government, described the people of Obanliku as kind, hospitable, resourceful, innovative, and enterprising people who have over the years made titanic contributions to humanity.

He said, “The New Yam Festival is an annual event to usher in and celebrate one of our most important food crops, and also a way of preserving and transmitting the rich cultural heritage of the Obanliku nation from one generation to another.”

“As we embark on this cultural revivification, I urge us all to spurn all activities that will not cut short our unity and progress as a nation but to nurture the norms that will unite and develop our nation.”

“I wish you all a new yam festival full of contentment, and I pray the good Lord continues to lavish us with wisdom and blessings today and beyond.”

Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, the Senator representing Cross River South Senatorial District, expressed his heartfelt condolences and support during a visit to the victims of the tragic gas explosion that occurred on 22 August, 2023, at No. 10 Tete Street, Off Garden Street.

The incident injured a couple, Mr. & Mrs. Effiom Etim, their one-year-old infant, and another individual. The victims were caught in a blaze caused by a suspected faulty gas cylinder that exploded at night. At the same time, Mrs Effiom sustained critical injuries while bravely attempting to rescue her child.

Senator Ekpenyong, represented by his aide Mr. Eyo Ita, visited the victims currently receiving medical treatment at Peace Medical Centre, Calabar. During this visit, Senator Ekpenyong extended his compassion and solidarity with the affected family.

In a heartwarming gesture, Senator Ekpenyong made a financial donation to the hospital for the treatment of the victims, underscoring his commitment to alleviating the financial burdens faced by the victims and their families. The emotional event took place in the presence of the victims’ families, as the Senator emphasised his dedication and continued support.

Mr. Eyo Ita conveyed Senator Ekpenyong’s sentiments, saying, “This tragic incident has deeply saddened Senator Ekpenyong. It is truly devastating, but we are grateful to God that no life was lost in the explosion. Every constituent, and indeed every life, matters to the Senator. I am here on his behalf to assist where necessary. Above all, we pray for a quick recovery for the victims.”