From Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
Towards advancing agrarian practices in Ebonyi, Governor David Umahi's led administration has sought a subsidiary loan pact with foreign development agencies to build rural access and agricultural marketing projects in the state.
Ebonyi Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barrister Orji Uche Orji stated this, Thursday while briefing journalists after the Executive Council members' meeting at the new Exco-Chambers, Government House, Ochudo Centenary City, Abakaliki.
Orji said the state "executive council noted a report on the signing of the subsidiary loan agreement between Ebonyi State Government and European Government/French Development Agency for Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project."
He said that "a total of five hundred and seventy-five (575) Kilometre-road across the State and six (6) Agro-logistics Centres were scheduled for the project under this agreement."
*Swearing in of New Agric Commissioner
Orji earlier said that the State Governor, Engr David Umahi sworn in Prof. Humphrey Nwobasi as the new Commissioner for the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
The Governor, according to him, performed the swearing-in of the new commissioner during the state exco-meeting following the resignation of the former Commissioner, Moses Ogodo-Ali Nome to pursue his political ambition.
Umahi charged the new Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources to step up agricultural activities in Ebonyi and to carry out a campaign against the use of fake fertilizer products in the state.
*Memorandum of Agreement
The Information Commissioner said that the executive council also witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between David Umahi University of Medical Sciences Uburu and Health Invest Partners Africa Limited for the management of the Cancer Centre at the institution.
He announced that the operation of the company (Health Invest Partners Africa Limited) would commence by the 1st week of September 2022.
*Facility Management Agreement
He further disclosed that "the executive council also witnessed the signing of the Facility Management agreement between Ebonyi Investment and Property Company Limited and 3rd Retail Solutions Limited for the Facility Management of Ebonyi Shopping Mall."
He said: "The Facility Manager (3rd Retail Solutions Limited) had submitted a tender for the management of the Shopping Mall by specifications.
"Ebonyi State government had also accepted the said tender in line with this agreement from the Facility Manager to manage the Shopping Mall to the satisfaction of the State Government and by the specifications.
"The mall shall be handed over to the company by the 1st week of august and business activities shall commence in the mall by September 2022.
*Newly Completed Flyover
Speaking on the ongoing projects, the Commissioner said, that the State Executive Council received a report that the deck works of the 29-Span Iyere Flyover have been completed.
Orji said according to the report made available to the executive council members, the parapet works will soon be completed and they shall be ready for commissioning in August 2022.
*President Muhammad Buhari International Airport
He stated that the "Ebonyi State Government is committed to completing President Muhammadu Buhari International Airport Project.
He added that "the State government hopes that the first flight shall land at President Muhammadu Buhari International Airport by October 2022"
*Re-validation and Re-verification of Pensioners in Ebonyi State
The commissioner also announced that the Executive Council received a memo on the re-validation and re-verification of Pensioners in Ebonyi State due to a continuous increase in wage bills.
The office of the Head of Service, in his words, had made discoveries of payments made to deceased pensioners in the State and this is one of the reasons for this verification exercise.
The Executive Council, he said, has "approved the re-validation of all pensioners in the State beginning with the retired Permanent Secretaries and Directors in the State.
"EXCO also further approved that payment of pensions to these pensioners be suspended until the end of the exercise which will not exceed twenty (20) working days after which payments to all cleared retirees will be reinstated."
*Establishment of Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law
Nevertheless, Commissioner Orji stated that the Executive Council received a memo to establish a Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law in the State from the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
He said that the Executive Council members were directed to study the draft law and make their contributions during the next Exco-Meeting.
*Empowerment
Concerning the report on NG-Cares Empowerment Programme, the State Executive Council members have directed over 35 associations to make nominations under FADAMA and MSMEs.
The groups according to Orji including
The Town Union Executives, Wives of Traditional Rulers, Former APC and former PDP Executives, New APC Executives, Rachel Umahi Women, Women in Mining, Market Women, Market Men, Christian Association of Nigeria, Divine Mandate Pastors, Muslim Communities, Ebonyi State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mining and Agriculture, Hausa and Yoruba Community, Security (Local), Ebubeagu, Akubaraoha Youths, NGOs- 1, NGOs –2, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Labour Leaders (NUT, NLC, TUC, and NUJ).
Others include the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists, Wives of Security Agencies, Former Technical Assistants, Former Councilors, Former Development Centre coordinators, Pensioners, Nigeria Youth Parliament, Legions, Widows, Ebonyi Export clubs, Hospitals, Disabled, Nigeria Youth Council, Ebonyi women entrepreneur and National Association of Nigeria Students.
Each of the groups and associations was asked to nominate 10 FADAMA farmers and 10 entrepreneurs under Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Orji said the list should be forwarded to the office of the Deputy Governor.
