Paradise News

Category: Politics

  • Cross Riverians, ‘Stop Crying over Spilt Milk and Study the realities of Ayade’s Dreams of Industrialisation’

    By Inok Solomon

    The world dependence on Bailout Funds is a sign of the  Rich getting richer and the poor pushed  far more below poverty level.

    Let take one example. In 1971 according to a US publication, President Richard Nixon changed the rules of money: without the approval of Congress, he served the US dollar’s relationship with gold. He made this unilateral decision during a quietly held two day meeting on Minot Island in Maine,  without consulting his State Department or the international monetary system.  

    One analyst stated that with that America in everyday terms, was going bankrupt.  Spending more than they earned. US could not pay bills as long as their bills were to be paid in gold. By freeing the dollar from gold, and making it illegal to directly exchange dollars for gold, Nixon created a way for the United States to print its own way out of debt.

    Another analyst stated that with the rules of money changed, the door to the world’s biggest economic boom in the history of the world began in the early 1971. The boom continued as long as  the world accepted America funny money, money backed by nothing but a promise by the taxpayers to pay the bills.

    Nigeria had her share of the boom. But inflation took off. Party was on, Champaign was on the air. Blinded by greed and easy credit, however, many people either didn’t see or ignored the dire warning signs such  system created.

    What happened in the 80s? Nigeria economy collapsed with blames on the Politicians who only danced along the party. When President  George W. Bush took over, there was such an overwhelmingly bad economy, He pushed through a landmark Bailout plan aimed at saving the economy, saying, “This legislation will safeguard and stabilise America’s financial system and put in place permanent reforms so these problems will never happen again.”

    Many took a sigh of relief, thinking finally, the government is going to save them! But analyst pointed out that those are not the words of president George W. Bush. Those are the words of his father, George H. Bush. In 1989 according to reports, the first President Bush asked for $66 billion to save the saving and loan industry.  The $66 billion did not solve the problem, it rather disappeared. On top of that, the estimated $66 billion rescue package eventually cost taxpayers over $150 billion more than twice the amount originally estimated. Where did the monies from Babaginda’s Structural Adjustments Programmes go to?

    The Federal Reserve System gave politicians the power to borrow money, rather than raise taxes. Debt, however, is a double edged sword that results in either higher taxes or inflation.

    Today, we are still where we are with our Imports higher than our exports, bad situation creating hardship for the poor common man and making the rich richer.

    Ayade administration is saying, enough is enough. If we must feed in Rice, let produce the rice we feed on first to be enough for us and export instead of import. If we must wear clothes, let us make our clothes enough for ourselves and export instead of import. American economy dropped when production cost became higher and other countries like Japan and today China took advantage. No matter how the monetary policies is manipulated,  a production exporting  country is far well positioned to face economic crisis than an importing consumption country.

    It is therefore, imperative that we turn our creative and thinking skills towards Ayade Industrialisation Policies and save our future generations from extinction.

    Cross Riverians, enough of lies and blind politics, let face economic realities.

  • Reasons Cross Riverians Need not Ignore the Efforts of Governor Ayade’s Administration

    By Inok Solomon 

    “Leaders are pioneers, people who are willing to step out into the unknown.” 

    Our past had one weakness and that was the Oil money. Debauching our currency through Oil money suddenly made people mostly politicians rich. Shopping became the national sport. Holidays abroad was like going to toilet.  many felt enough is enough, let build our tourism centres. Many in the middle class became what one writer called, “Pseudomillionaires.” Capital Gain values where at the increase while cash flow ventures were overlooked.

    Many came to believe their retirement would be financed by profits in the stock market. People took out Home equity for family vacations. Instead of one car, families had assorted cars, Mercedes, Minivans, and SUVs. Men married many wives and children went to school with fat bank accounts.

    Because of the New found wealth, middle class celebrated by dinning in fancy restaurants, dressing in designers clothes, driving Porches, and living in Mansions all Financed by DEBT.
    Everyone celebrated with the tourism centres, Hotels, Marina and TINAPA and Obudu Ranch Resort were all joyous points for Debt Monies to be spend.

    The realities of such a boom period is facing us all today. We are all coming out of the economic debt boom period.
    The Boom was a problem because it was cause by Debt, not Money; by Inflation, not production; by borrowing, not working.
    “In many ways it was money for nothing, because money was nothing.” Keynes once said, “our money was debauched. We looked rich, but society as we knew it was collapsing.”

    Cross Riverians, with each bailout, we surrender more of our financial freedom and our share of public debt grows and grows.  In our state, we have limitless resources, we must not therefore continue to yield ourselves to a consuming society alone. Our perfect docility is not weakness but an advantage. Our heritage and diversity is never a curse but a blessing.

    Until we understand these and channel our efforts towards Production, rebranding our educational systems to teach us about money and emancipate us from the shackles of going to schools only to get good jobs rather than creating and owning jobs. Freeing us from begging for Job security instead of financial security.

    Today, we do not need money to make money. We simply need knowledge bedded in Ideas. Our Information Age must be balanced with the Industrial Age. Our educational system need grow from Industrial Age to the present Information Age.
    To balance all these, Governor Ayade is taking us through a process of Economic Revolution. A period when we wake seeing the source of tomorrow greatness. Sleep and dream of ideas that will add light to our dark tunnels.

    To enhance our potentials, we must use our resource potentials right. And the best is to change them to technological finished goods.

  • Health Insurance Bill: A positive Call for the Bill on Decentralization of Schools of Nursing in CRS

    Dr. Inyang Asibong (Photo Left) and Governor Ben Ayade (Photo Right) 

    By Inok Solomon 


    The Governor, Senator Ben Ayade with strong desire to see Cross Riverians healthy and strong is implementing programs that will make sure all gain access not only to health care but better and timely health care delivery.

    With the Health Insurance Bill sign into Law and the AyadeCare program, there is a positive step in rebranding the state health care system.

    But the fears of Cross Riverians are on Manpower, being that the Schools of Nursing in the state are closed down for some time now.

    On that note, the Commissioner for Health Dr. Inyang Asibong said, “with the efforts of the Governor, the State Schools of Nursing had finally been accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. She further stated that at present, Admission Forms are on sale for School of Nursing Itigidi, Calabar and School of Midwifery Ogoja.

    On the issue of closing down School of Nursing Ogoja, the commissioner said, “let all concern be patient as the Governor is doing everything possible to reopen the schools given the growing population of the state, desire for professional schools and demand for more Nurses in our various Hospitals, most especially the planned Specialist Hospitals in the three Senatorial districts to enhance the Health Insurance Scheme. There is therefore, need to put a bill to decentralize Schools of nursing since a bill on centralization is already in place.”

    It is therefore hopeful that in a very short time, the School of Nursing Ogoja and School of Nursing Obudu will be reopened as the Bill on Decentralization of Schools Nursing is on the way.

    In another development, as part of the HRH project’s support to pre-service training institutions, the HRH project partners (World Health Organization [WHO] and Population Council) paid a courtesy call to the Commissioner for Health – Dr. (Mrs) Asibong.

    During the visit, printed copies of the Curricula, Procedure Manuals and Student Handbooks for the School of Midwifery, Calabar and School of Nursing, Itigidi, (which the HRH project supported the schools to review and revise) were presented to the Commissioner. In addition, a sample of the Scattergram for the School of Midwifery, Monaiya-Ogoja were also presented to the Commissioner by the HRH Project Director for Population Council – Pharmacist Ekechi Okereke.

    On her part, Dr. Inyang thanked the team and said the presentation of the documents is timely with the recent accreditation and ongoing admission of students.

  • Ayade’s CRS Government, For, Against or Indifferent: We Shall All Sail Across Together or Sink Together with our Greatest Capital – Ukoyonoh

    Cross River State Logo

    Our Greatest Capital, By Eugene Ukoyonoh

    A few months into my company’s arrival in Kano State to contribute to the successful implementation of the CBN Northwest Entrepreneurship Development Centre (CBN NWEDC) project, I received a SMS message  from the GM of the multi-billion naira Kano five-star  🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟  Grand Central Hotel, Hajiya Amina Jibrin, who was on her way out of the country, requesting a meeting in a fortnight to consider a problem she felt we could solve for her organisation.  A colleague’s husband and banker had given her my contact.

    On the appointed day,  I sat in her office in company of Malam Nasiru Lawan Idriss – then BDS Manager of the NWEDC – listening carefully to the GM whose accountant was unavoidably absent explain their organisation’s critical need, and considering how we could help.

    The parting remarks of Hajiya Jibrin at the close of that maiden meeting left an indelible scratch on my mind, not because it was strange anyway.

    She said “Mr. Eugene, I have no question regarding your capability of handling, or commitment to solving, our problem when we finally reach a common ground on charges and payment terms. To answer your question before you voice it out, it was not until you demonstrated a  sense of thorough understanding of our situation and gave handy insights into the solution approaches, which only proved right our link man’s (the banker) edification of your capability, that I developed such confidence.

    Rather, your self-introduction as originating from Cross River State during our acquaintance session instantly shifted my focus from questioning your capability and commitment, to ‘how we could reach a common ground on financing, irrespective of the team you may employ doe the project’. Yes. I have worked with people across multiple backgrounds and cultures in my over 20 years active engagements in local and international assignments at managerial roles, and I know who is who. If you have walked in here with other applicants: one from the east, one from the west and your companion, Malam  Nasiru, to feel a vacant position, you would be readily contracted provided you were qualified.

    The reason is simple. Every single person from your place I have encountered have performed very well with absolute reliance on  ‘high intellectual capability and self-determination’ because they know they do not have godfathers to fall to.”

    I looked at her, nodded and parted. Neither was I flattered nor did I take it lightly. I had encountered several gifted negotiation artists in my career.

    ******
    Applying Our Greatest Capital

    In a recent agribusiness meeting Mr. Mark Asu Ob in his Bompai residence, the amiable Cross Riverian bemoaned why Cross Riverians would be “high flyers wherever you may encounter them individually at different frontiers but can hardly fly together as a team,” citing several instances to substantiate his claim.

    I could not agree more, especially on the premise that I had only met Mr. Mark for the first time ever – in my over a year’s stay in Kano – sitting as the Diocesan Projects Committee Chairman with the Catholic Bishop of Kano, His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. John Namaza Niyiring (OSA) in a seasoned panel to which we pitched and defended the blueprint of Rev. Fr. Felix Chom Yari championed proposed multi-million naira diocesan youth business complex.  

    We should have met earlier, if at least, there was a functional CRS Catholic Community (I heard of a defunct CRS-Akwa Ibom Catholic Community) in the diocese,  before talking of Association of CRS Indigenes in Kano.

    Meanwhile as a member of nearly one hundred social media groups of different states across the country and some African countries, I have yet to find one group with superior intellectual engagements than Cross River’s.

    Arguments and counter arguments; battles upon battles; attacks and counters; defensive attacks and counters; class stratification based on acclaimed intra intellectual superiority lines;…

    “Ogagagu’ago o”!

    Obviously, as Hajiya Amina Jibrin would infer (whether you consider it mockery, ridicule, insulting or simply a negotiation trick, depends on your perspective), our greatest natural endowment as Cross Riverians is intellectual capital and self-determination.

    However, seeking to shine individually with our high intellectual capital and self-determination is our pride.

    _Seeking to outshine ourselves, one another, each other, for individual vain glory seems to be our appealing order.

    Harnessing and harmonising our greatest capital to fly as a team to our common advantage as Mr. Mark would wish has hitherto proven to be our weakest limb.

    Our greatest capital, a blessing or a curse? A strength or a weakness?

    We have a common entity called Cross River State.

    ****
    It has become more imperative now than ever:

    _that, while many quarters of the nation are clamouring for confederation, we buckled up  for a substantive IGR within our sub-region;

    _that while we all continue to fight, work and pray for a great united Nigeria, we as well adequately prepared for the eventuality of disintegration of our union.

    Is CRS too small to become an independent nation state should it become inevitable?

    In case you are in any doubt, look up Estonia, the birth place of Skype. That proud Eastern European country  has only a little above half a million citizens.
    ******

    Our Situation

    While PDP is currently putting all efforts into reclaiming Edo State as a precursor towards reclaiming power at the centre, APC stalwarts are fighting tooth and nail to claim CRS their party ahead of 2019.

    And the tides are high indeed with intellectual battles and counter battles, in some cases, in favour of, in some cases, unclear and in other cases,   to the detriment of, our common entity – dear Cross River State.

    I think that a formidable opposition devoid of selfishness will be very healthy for our state polity but however feel that our most important concentration for now should be on how we can emerge stronger and smarter from these hard times of national and global recession to become the envy of nations.

    I read a commentary by the Speaker of the CRSHA  somewhere thus:

    “My concern about the recession is that it may just last longer than we expect and go deeper into the fibre of our economics. The fundamental framework of our economic resources are fragile, sometimes faulty and deceptive.

    From my study and understanding of Revenue of states in Nigeria, I am concerned  that very soon most states will collapse because their IGR will be worst hit by the continued Recession. Take for instance PAYE TAX, collected by states, the PAYEE accounts for over 40%  of the IGR Revenue of states.

    With recession, jobs will go, salaries will remain unpaid, and so will remittance from Payee . The other Tax Revenue items are tied to economic activity and growth, consumption etc. ..which are virtually going comatose.  My Take is that we need to deploy strategies that are beyond Fiscal policies. .We need to urgently do something that we have not done before. .something is missing.”
    *****

    My Submission

    # It is high time we had two sets of manifestoes and developmental governance blueprints pre-elections.

    Before clarifying on the that:

    # Ahead of politicking and electioneering lie governance, the most important of all.  We have clocked nearly 16 months into Prof. Ben Ayade’s CRS government. Hence, this is no election time anymore.

    # All and sundry should harmonise and channel our intellectual capital into collaborative determination to help Gov. Ayade implement the manifesto and blueprint that rode his team into office. The success of our common entity should be our focus.

    # Gov. Ayade’s team at government should be, and remain increasingly, accommodating to criticisms,  adjusting to constructive criticisms, extracting from seemingly destructive criticisms,  while welcoming destructive criticisms as a beauty of democracy.
    I read an impressive response (appreciating and promising to look-up with her team on issues raised) by Dr. Betty Edu to Dr. Princewill Odidi’s quality additions/review commentary to her post on AyadeCare Health Insurance bill. That is democracy.

    # Gov. Ayade’s government should immediately take deliberate steps to foster an internal collaborative teamwork culture to curb the unhealthy menacing and demeaning loops of intra team power tussles (or outright selfishness within its ranks) as regularly washed publicly to us on social media.

    # I feel, besides the huge revenue generation potentials of free flow of commodity and human traffic into and out of Cross River,  that tapping the full potentials of the state tourism industry is strongly tied to  enabling intra country and international transport pathways.

    Back to sets of pre-elections governance blueprints:

    # Political parties and their flag bearers should have their manifestos and leadership blueprints as it were (or should be).

    # The masses should have their own well documented continuously improvable blueprints for their expectations from governments at all levels. This should include support bills for legislations.

    #  The masses blueprints will serve as benchmarks to measuring the weight and feasibility of politicians political manifestos to enable their objective decision prior to elections. It will also serve to measuring, shaping and directing governance when leaders are finally elected into offices.

    # Hence, a real social impact calling is beckoning on us: NGOs, civil societies, the private sector, youth and women mobilisers at all levels,  development experts and so on to act now. Let us begin to educate groups, organise townhall meetings, etc to harmonise our intellectual prowess to working out governance blueprints for our dear state.

    ****
    Finally, for Prof. Ayade’s CRS government, let us work together and support him to succeed because whether we are for, against or indifferent to the government, we shall all sail across together or sink together with our greatest capital.

    Long live Cross River State!
    Long live Nigeria!!

    Eugene Ukoyonoh is a Cross Riverian 
    based in Kano State. 
    eutherolemodel@gmail.com

  • Cross River State launches own version of CHANGE BEGINS WITH ME Campaign (Photos)

    The Cross River government through her Ministry of Information and Orientation on the 15th of September, 2016 in calabar launched its own version of CHANGE BEGINS WITH ME Camapign led by the Federal Government of Nigeria. 

    The Campaign is meant to charge all Cross Riverians to support and beileve in the administration of Governor Prof. Ben Ayade to serve them better and ensure the realization of all the signature projects.
    Meanwhile, another focal point of the campaign is to inspire Cross Riverians to believe everything is avaiable under the government of Prof Ayade even with the heavy economic recession the nation is facing…. 
    See photos below…. 

  • NHIS Praises Cross River State Government on SHIS

    By Eval Asikong

    Many researches have established highly positive correlation between health and wealth. Therefore, any society with the aspiration for wealth creation must be devoted to prioritize the people’s health-being. It is in appreciation of this that the Ben Ayade-led-administration’s topmost priority is skewed towards health, with several health programmes and intervention schemes running as evidence to this commitment. The administration has attracted many commendations for its aggressive reforms in health sector.

    Pursuant to this lofty intents and sacred cause, there have been provisions of sound legislations like Ayadecare, the Primary Health Care Law and etc to revive and give life to the health sector in the state.

    In furtherance of such commendations, the Executive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Mr Usman Yusuf, when he paid a courtesy call in  the office of the  Health Commissioner last Thursday, had equally expressed excitement over the passion and commitment of Cross River State Core Implementation Team (CIT) headed by Dr Inyang Asibong, Commissioner for Health, Cross River State when compared with the experience in other states. He also lauded the courage demonstrated by His Excellency, Senator Prof Benedict Ayade in assenting to the bill which will be health care affordable and acceptable.

    Mr Yusuf encourage CIT to engage in more advocacy visit to sensitize members of the state on the importance of the scheme, how it will go a long way to reduce financial burden on everyone as a result of paying for Health services.

    Dr Yusuf added that it will reduce the level of poverty in the state and increase productivity in the state. He also promised to support the State in accessing all the available take off grant and technical support needed to achieve the success and sustainability of the scheme in the state.

    Earlier in the opening remark, Hon Ekpo Ekpo Bassey who is the Chairman House Committee on Health and a member of Cross River State Core Implementation Team (CIT)  who received the Executive Security in the absence  of the  Health Commissioner who was absent due to official assignment as the Chairman of the CIT gave credit to His Excellency, Senator Prof Benedict Ayade for His interest in improving the health of Cross Riverians by supporting the establishment of the state Health Insurance Scheme.

    The Chairman House Committee on Health said his experience with the health care financial training at Lagos built his capacity, couple with the technical support from His Excellency, the Honorable Commissioner For Health and, other members of the health sector inspired him to sponsor the bill that is now a law establishing Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme.

    Dr. Ekpo calls for support of NHIS to strengthen the State Government financially and technically for the sustainability of the scheme in Cross River State.

    Eval Asikong is the Special Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade on Social Media

  • Governor Ayade to open Pharmaceutical Company in Calabar, Partners Dana Pharmaceuticals (Video + Photos)

    PHOTO: Governor Ayade’s visit to Calabar Pharmaceutical Company Site and Cross River Garment Factory with the MD of Dana Group. To further broaden the frontiers of investment in Cross River, Governor Partners Dana Group of Companies on Airline/Pharmaceutical Company

    Speaking to newsmen during his visit to the proposed site, Governor Ayade said; “What you are seeing here is the Calabar Pharmaceutical Company Site. The original intention and spirit of this factory is to provide the drug demand for the proposed Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme.

    “As you are well aware, the Health Insurance Bill has been passed by the House of Assembly and I am going to be signing it into law by Monday or Tuesday. 
    “The idea therefore is that if Cross River State will be having huge demand for drugs for her citizens who will be covered under the comprehensive insurance scheme, it therefore means that we cannot continue to depend on Lagos and imported drugs to be able to support our people and that only as government we concealed this idea of Calabar Pharmaceuticals and set up CalaPharm. 
    “With the coming of CalaPharm, we partnered with a Pakistani firm that has been majorly involved in this construction work. As you are well aware too, Dana Pharmaceuticals, one of the outfit of Dana Group of companies have been into the production of quality pharmaceutical goods. So at this point, we move into a serious phase now that the bill is ready to be signed into law, having been passed by the Cross River State House of Assembly. 
    “It is important that we get somebody who have a deep skin in the business environment here in Nigeria, to also have somebody who is a strong industry player in Nigeria, who has good grabs and while we are not throwing away Pakistani partners who will also be at the background to give technical support. 
    “We think that this factory will be a complete game changer in the pharmaceutical business. What is critical is that, the entire South-South and the whole of South-East, stretching to Cameroon and western part of Cameroon, stretching to the borders of Northern Nigeria does not have a major pharmaceutical factory and so most of the drugs come from South-West Nigeria and find their way here. 
    “This will be the manufacturing outfit for the south-south and of course because it is going to be a major outfit with a strong partner on ground, the quality control will be excellent and so reliable, affordable quality drugs to cover our insurance programme and stretch beyond the borders of Cross River State, to carter for other states and neighbouring countries, that is the critical focus of the Calabar pharmaceutical Factory. 
    “This is part of the concept in ensuring that we reduce the dependence on foreign based drugs and therefore reduce the pressure on our Naira. I am sure that in the next 2-3 months, you will all see Dana Air flying ton Calabar. Governor Ayade concluded.
    Watch Video Extract of Governor Ayade’s visit to Calabar Pharmaceutical Company Site, with the MD of Dana Group below…

  • Cross Riverians hails AYADECARE Law, Says it gives hope to the Poor

    Governor Ben Ayade signing the Ayadecare bill into law

    By Emmanuel Ulayi


    The recent signing of the Ayadecare, medical insurance bill into law, by Governor Ben Ayade has been described by Cross Riverians as a climax of the Ayade led administration welfare policies. Most Cross Riverians noted that with the Bill coming into law, it is a vehement demonstration of the present government’s commitment to better the lives of her people. Expressing her excitement on the law, madam Helen Okon stated Ayade with this law has given hope to the poorest of the poor. According to her it is new dawn for the people of Cross River State and a clear confirmation that Ayade’s focus is to give the people a better and prosperous life. 
    Also speaking on the matter, Ofem Eyong said Ayade with this law has restated his early commitment to build the capacity of the people. 

    His word:” Governor Ayade understands that a healthy people are productive people and the greatest asset of any society that wants to develop and make meaningful progress.” 

    In his own submission, Chief Edet ita said it is a very positive initiative with massive potentials to move the state forward and ensure her people are healthy and safe. It would be recalled that the governor signed the medical health insurance bill into law last week with the desire of ensuring quality and affordable health care across the broad spectrum of the citizenry. 
    The law, Tagged: “Ayadecare”, seeks to provide medical insurance cover at primary, secondary and tertiary levels for the old, the young, including the weak and the strong in the state.

    When it comes into operation, the law also provides for a mandatory monthly fee of N1000.00 from every adult citizen and resident of not less than 18 years.

    Performing the ceremony at Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office Calabar, Ayade disclosed that the intent of the bill will ensure that “the strong pays for those who are medically challenged,” adding that “the law provides very expressly that a minimum of N1000.00 monthly, will be paid by every Cross Riverian as well as those residing in the state.”

    Continuing, the governor explained that “the N1000 becomes your insurance for that month and that gives you access to full medical attention including diagnosis, transplant, surgeries among others.”

    Ayade who described the bill as most spiritual, noted that “it derives its origin from a true communitarian African culture which enjoins us to provide a shoulder for others to lean on.”

    He added that “there can be no bill that is more humanitarian, human focused, sensitive and delicate like this. It is a message for all including residents in the state as they are captured in the bill, for we believe in the love for strangers and visitors.”

    On the management of funds accruing form the scheme, Governor Ayade explained that “government rose to the task in order to protect the vulnerable, sick, physically challenged and the weak,” maintaining that “the administration, as part of its policies, will have nothing to do with the funds that will emanate from the scheme, but will help to enforce payment.”

    While urging the state legislators to set up an operational committee that will draw the modality, the governor quipped: “Today, the medical challenges of our citizens have been taken away and placed on this platform that every one of us will now contribute to support our people.”

    He intimated that the law which provides for primary, secondary and tertiary medical services would ensure the setting up of specialist health care centres across the three senatorial districts of the state to provide for the medical challenges of the citizenry.

    Speaking on on the international dimension of the new law Governor Ayade further disclosed that “this is the kind of bill that the World Bank, United Nations, UNICEF will be quick to fund and support.”

    On the action plan, the governor charged the committee that is yet to be inaugurated to: “Let us first start by creating the infrastructure which is to set up an action team so that everybody gets involved. 

    Think of where in the Central, North or South are we going to set up these three medical centres of excellence. Once that is identified, the mechanism for collection starts, the design of the medical centres follow.” According to him, “once that is done, the world-class group will start the design and construction. All of these, of course, will be outside the control of government because I don’t want this government to be involved in touching a dime from this fund.”

    Watch Video Below…

  • Federal Government Approves Canadian International School for Obudu


    By Emmanuel Ulayi 


    The Government of Cross River State led by Senator Ben Ayade has been granted approval by the Federal Government of Nigeria to build a Canadian International School in Obudu local Government Area of the state.

    Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Barr. Stephen Odey who disclosed this in a press briefing at the conference hall of the Board along Murtala Mohammed Highway, Calabar, explained that the choice of Obudu as host to the proposed Canadian International School takes into consideration the proximity of the famous Obudu Mountain Resort, coupled with the fact that the Institution will attract patronage from across the country and outside Nigeria. 

    Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Barr. Stephen Odey 
    He explained that the school will have all the modern facilities including boarding for both teachers and students, standard recreational facilities, good network of roads, water, electricity, standard conveniences, among others in accordance with international standard and best practices.

    “Governor Ayade has charged us to ensure that we implement what is found in our Action Plan, and we have gotten approval to build a Canadian International School in Obudu and it has been by Abuja, and we want to take advantage of the proximity of the Obudu mountain Resort, and based on the fact that it is an International School it will attract patronage from across the country and outside Nigeria. Money for the project is already in our account.

    We are very set to go, set to transform our Basic Education sector. We also want to commence academic activities at the Model School that has been handed over to us at Abi Local Government Area, there is one in Yala, and after here I’m meeting with the commissioner for Education for us to perfect plans on how we are going to run the schools. You know, when you talk of basic education, our mandate end at the JSS level”, the SUBEB Chairman asserted.

    The Cross River State SUBEB Chairman who had earlier in the day held a meeting with staff of the Board to brief them on the progress done by the current Board and the activities soon to take place, also disclosed that money for the construction of the International School in Obudu has already6 been approved and captured in the Action Plan of the Board which has equally been approved by the Universal Basic Education Commission in Abuja.

    Odey further informed the newsmen that the governor of cross River, Senator Ben Ayade has given approval for the Board to recruit 1000 teachers to curb the dearth of qualified teachers in the system, explaining that over 520 cases of retirements and deaths have been recorded by the Board, stressing that this prompted the Board to write to the Governor for approval for the recruitment of more teachers which according to him has been graciously approved.

    He said that dateline for the submission of applications by applicants ended last Friday and the applicants would be required to go through rigorous aptitude test, oral interview and thorough certificate verification exercise to ensure that only the best and the very best are employed at the end of the day, taking into consideration the strategic position which basic education plans in the development of any nation, explain that it was based on this premise that the Board embarked on staff verification which many ghost workers were uncovered with 252 teachers found to possess fake certificates.

    The SUBEB Chairman said that he has warned staff of the Board against collecting any money from any applicant in the name of securing employment for them, stressing that the days of doing that including replacing names of death as well as retired staff without passing through the right channel/ due process were over and that only the best would be employed, adding that the 220 UBEC teachers who were not converted by the previous leadership now have the opportunity to apply and go through the aptitude test, interview and verification/ authentication of certificates as other to secure employment about the 1000 to be employed, as standard would not be compromised.

    Dr. Odey who commended the state governor, Senator Ben Ayade for realizing the sum of N3.8 Billion as counterpart funding to the Board to enable it access the UBEC marching funds from 2012-2015 staked away in the Central Bank of Nigeria, and that the Special education Fund which hitherto was not accessed has been accessed by his Board through the support of the Governor, and explained that as a result of the availability of funds, they have commenced procurement process and advertisement for more than 200 jobs and have emphasized due process, prudent, transparency and capability as basis to secure job by any contractor, just as contractors who have records of abandonment of projects need not to apply, while disclosing that a total sum of N7.5Billion is now in the Board account for the said projects.

    He said that procurement of some Hilux vehicles, computers, staff training programmes, vehicle for the Board Chairman, among others are part of the projects to be executed, among others and that it is only those projects that are captured in the Action Plan and verified and certified by UBEC that would be carried out and that the funds under the Board will be judiciously appropriated as provided in the Action Plan.

    The Cross River SUBEB Chairman equally disclosed that he has written a letter to EFCC, ICPC and the Attorney General of the Federation notifying them of the Board procurement of projects for 2012-2015, as he is aware that some over-zealous contractors would want to write spurious petitions.

    “I have written to the security agencies in charge of financial matters, such as the EFCC, the ICPC and the Attorney General of Nigeria, notifying them of our procurement of projects for 2012-2015 grant inviting them to send their officials if need be to come and audit the procurement process because we are aware that some over-zealous contractors may write spurious petitions”.

    Odey thanked the staff for keying into the Board agenda of new SUBEB and for the support given to his administration so far while assuring them that each staff would be given opportunity to go out for monitoring exercises. 

  • Cross River is overcoming the recession with intellect and innovation – Gov Ayade

    By Emmanuel Ulayi 


    So Cross River State expect a lot to happen, there is a lot of energy, steam, excitement in the air because people truly know that Cross River State will definitely make a difference when there is recession, Governor Ben Ayade speaking. 
    “When the finances becomes challenging, when the society get threatened by economic downturn, that is when the intellect and the best of everybody comes out and I think Nigerians will see this challenge as a great opportunity that this administration has offered us to think and go beyond the scope of our normal lifestyle, to find from the depth of our intellect, capacity and knowledge, to bring in new prosperity, new visions, change manufacturing processes, depending on foreign inputs, cut down all up, focus on Nigeria, reconstruct a new economy, new lifestyle, new consumption pattern that can take Nigeria out of the woods. 
    “But most critically is ethical change and that’s the first change we need, attitude, orientation, thinking, philosophy, mentality, until that is changed, then we start preparing Nigeria for a new tomorrow.
    “When that change do not come and when people imagine that pumping money into the economy is what will bring change; when you pump in so much cash into the economy without a proper ethical and attitudinal change, leakages will take all of that money and we will still cry. 
    “That’s why I feel that the real change mantra should start with attitude. Cross River is creating new platforms, new businesses, new vitalities, that will open a horizon and landscape of opportunities for young people to exploit. 
    “Tourism cannot stand alone, tourism has to beckon on industries, there have to be factories, manufacturing, huge construction activities to support tourism. The greatest person to patronize you is yourself.” Ayade concluded.