Counting the gains and cost of 643 Pension Pay Points in Imo State
Payment of pension at Community Government Council (CGC) offices is six months old from April 2013 to September 2013. Its rejection was spontaneous the moment His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha (OON) announced it at the Heroes Square where thousands of pensioners gathered to hear from his good news about payments of gratuity, pension arrears, pension reviews and pension, harmonization. When they heard a totally strange policy that as from April 2013 they should go to their villages to receive their pension their reactions ranged from visible shock to incredulity. Since then their ears have been itching to hear the gains of moving them from sub-treasuries to CGC offices. Imo State Government does not starve the…
No regret serving Under Rochas – Nnanna Okoro; As Governor grades ex-commissioners, aides
The erstwhile Commissioner for Community Government Council (CGC) and Chieftaincy Affairs, Imo State, Barr. Lady Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro said she enjoyed her tenure while it lasted and that she would not feel disappointed if she was not re-appointed. Nnanna-Okoro, popularly called the Lady of the Masses, spoke to THE LEADER while handing over to the Permanent Secretary, on Friday, July 19 as directed by Governor Okorocha. The Governor had earlier dissolved the enlarged executive council, comprising commissioners and senior aides. Lady Nnanna-Okoro said dissolution of cabinet is a normal process of administration, explaining that dissolution is not “sack” as some press would like to put it because the chief executive could dissolve the cabinet for several…
Ministry to wade into Umunwaku CGC crisis
The Ministry of Community Government Council and Chieftaincy Affairs has disclosed plans to investigate the claims and counter claims that forestalled the inauguration of Umunwaku Community Government Council (CGC) in April this year when the councils of other communities in the Ohaji/Egbema LGA were inaugurated at Mmahu, the council headquarters. The Chairman of the Committee on the Resolution of CGC crisis, Pastor Onyema Ubaka, who represented the Commissioner for Community Government Council and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lady Barr. Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro at a meeting convened on July 9, 2013 at the ministry in connection with the crisis, disclosed this fact. He assured them that the disagreement will be peacefully resolved. It would be recalled that two rival…
I begin every programme with Novena – CGC Commissioner
The Commissioner for Community Government Council (CGC) and Chieftaincy Affairs, Imo State, Barr. Lady Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro has attributed the success of her ministry so far to the power of Novena. A Novena is a series of prayers that are said for nine straight days, usually as a prayer of petition. Speaking during an interactive session with the press on the ongoing chieftaincy dispute resolution in the state, Barr. Nnanna-Okoro said God is using Governor Rochas Okorocha to bring peace to several communities most of which have been in turmoil for decades following ezeship tussles. Emphasizing the efficacy of Novena prayer, Mrs. Nnanna-Okoro, a Lady of St. Mulumba, said trouble laden communities now enjoy peace, adding…
Community appeals to Njaba SOLAD over abandoned road projects
The Okponakuma Community in Njaba Local Government Area, Imo State, has appealed to the Sole Administrator of the local government, Rtd. Captain Chris Ibekwe to look into the deplorable state of the roads in the area and direct the contractors who abandoned the projects to return to site. In an address read during the familiarization visit to the community, they decried the abandonment of some roads by the contactors handling the projects, especially the road that passes through the secretariat leading to their neighbouring towns Umuokpo and Nkume, the road from Timber Market through their community to Umunama-Atta on which they said work was started but abandoned among others. They said the community did not…
Widow, family members, others escape death from food poisoning in Ohaji
-As couple dies after meal in PH The Ministry of Community Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has relocated to its permanent office at No. 14 Orlu Road Owerri, after being commissioned by Governor Okorocha. Commissioning the office complex, Owelle Rochas Okorocha said that Community Government Council (CGC) is government of the people for the people and by the people. He further said that development can only be achieved if powers are decentralized to the communities for them to manage their affairs. Responding shortly after the commissioning of the office, the Commissioner for Community Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lady Barr. Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro reaffirmed her determination to actualize the ideals of CGC in the state. In another development,…
Justice Not Sympathy for Imo State Pensioners
Recently the democratically elected government of Imo State declared that with effect from April 2013 retired civil servants will be paid pension only at the Community Government Council offices of their home communities where the traditional rulers are to identify them as genuine pensioners. The general meaning of this directive is that government gazettes of appointments, promotions and retirements of these pensioners as well as the series of biometric capturing exercises held since 2006 are unreliable records until they are confirmed by traditional rulers who have no records to verify the claims of the pensioners. No wonder that in its editorial comments of May 2, 2006 “The Guardian” said that in advanced societies the respect…
Imo CGC begins payment of pensions in rural areas -As Ada and Opara Imo competition holds tomorrow
The Imo State Community Government Council (CGC) has begun payment of pensions in the 637 communities in the state. The Commissioner for Community Government Council and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. (Lady) Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro disclosed this while interacting with the press in Owerri on Monday. She said that cheques were being distributed to the pensioners in their various kindreds. Lady Nnanna-Okoro explained that pensioners who did not see their names were those who did not fill the forms distributed to pensioners in their various areas. Barr. Okoro announced that the grand finale of Ada and Opara Imo competition will take place on Monday, May 27 at the Ahiajioku Conference Centre New Owerri. The Commissioner said the contestants…
Ihitte Uboma: GLO canvasses support for CGC
The Community Government Council (CGC) of Nkwumeato Autonomous Community Ihitte-Uboma held an interactive session with the villagers on May 8, 2013 at Ezumezu Square Eke Elugwu. Hon. Friday Obasi, the Government Liaison Officer (GLO), informed the audience that the role of the community is to provide land for projects and also ensure that all projects are executed and built according to specifications. He used the opportunity to introduce the members of the CGC who include: Mrs. Ego Adiele, Woman Leader, Chief Patrick Ucheogo, Community Liaison Officer, Okechuku Okoro, Secretary and Onwuegebuchulam Okey, the Youth Leader. According to him, the overriding interest of the State Government in establishing the CGC is to ensure rapid development of…
CGC Umualumaku Umueze interacts with the people
The Government Liaison Officer (GLO) for Umualumaku Umueze Community Government Council (CGC), Engr. Patrick Mbaneme has informed the community that the present regime has invested over 400 million Naira on human capital development and provision of infrastructure for the community. Engr. Patrick Abaneme disclosed this during an inaugural meeting of the CGC and villagers which was held at Orie-Umualumaku on May 10, 2013. According to him, the members of the committee include HRH Eze Sir C.U. Okoro, the traditional ruler of the community as Chairman, Vitus Okaoma, the Secretary, Natty Igwe, Youth Leader, Mrs. Salomena Emereonye, the Woman Leader and himself, Engr. Patrick Abaneme, the GLO and Romanus Ike the Community Liaison Officer (GLO). The…
Town Unions and Community Governing Council In Imo State
A town union is an association formed by members of a particular community for the socio-economic development of that community. Accordingly, town union collaborates with traditional administration, government at all levels and sometimes non-governmental agencies to achieve its aim. Town unions existed in communities in Nigeria even before colonialism. Interestingly, when the colonial masters came to the country, they also associated with town unions and made adequate use of them to foster their mission. With the country’s independence and the constitutional provision on Freedom of Association, town unions became stronger institutions. Also, with the promulgation of the Companies and Allied matters Act, town unions are now incorporated as legal persons. Today, many town unions are…
Community Government: Is it viable?
Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha has on several occasions enumerated what Imo people stand to gain from embracing his Fourth-Tier System of Government, otherwise called, Community Government. The novelty of it all, being that the state power base will, as it were, relocate from Douglas House Owerri (Government House) to the various autonomous communities in the 27 local government areas of the state. According to the new structure, the duly recognized traditional ruler of each autonomous community will preside over the Community Government Council (CGC), which will include: a Government Liaison Officer (GLO), a Community Liaison Officer (CLO), a Woman leader, Youth leader and Secretary. The concept is to bring development close to the people as…
Town Unions and Community Governing Council In Imo State
A town union is an association formed by members of a particular community for the socio-economic development of that community. Accordingly, town union collaborates with traditional administration, government at all levels and sometimes non-governmental agencies to achieve its aim. Town unions existed in communities in Nigeria even before colonialism. Interestingly, when the colonial masters came to the country, they also associated with town unions and made adequate use of them to foster their mission. With the country’s independence and the constitutional provision on Freedom of Association, town unions became stronger institutions. Also, with the promulgation of the Companies and Allied matters Act, town unions are now incorporated as legal persons. Today, many town unions are…
Umualumaku / Umuihim CGC thanks God for successful installation
The Community Government Council of Umualumaku/Umuihim Autonomous Community in Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo State on April 12, 2013 gave thanks to God for successful inauguration at St. Joseph Catholic Parish Umualumaku. The Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Tony Dieme. In his homily the Parish Priest postulates that God loves man more than himself that is why he allowed his only begotten son to die so as to salvage mankind from destruction. According to him, God is the good shepherd, the resurrection and the life, adding that those who believe that God is their shepherd, he will provide for and those who call him redeemer, he redeems. He elucidates that David once said that,…
THE 2012 SUPREME CONVENTION IN OWERRI
Regarding the Supreme Convention held in Owerri in December 2012, the MGK, Bro. said that the Supreme Knight Bro. A.C. Onuh scored Owerri Metro 80% while the Supreme Executive Board rated the Metro, “First Class”. Continuing, the MGK said that part of the merit should be allotted to the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Anwuka (KSM) and the able Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Barr. Soronnadi Njoku (KSM). He commended the Governor in a special way for the grand reception he accorded the Supreme Executive Board members in the Government House and his (Governor’s) attendance to the opening session of the convention held at the…
