Anambra State Children’s Parliament recently through a bye-election elected Rt. Hon Victory Ekwunife as the new speaker and as well constituted the ninth assembly. The sitting which took place at the Ministry of Women, Children Affairs and Social Welfare saw children parliamentarians drawn from different schools representing the 21 Local Government Areas.
* Ndi Nimo, a community in Njikoka local government area of Anambra state on Saturday, May 27, 2023 came out in their large number to resolve the lingering Owa land dispute. ANN reports that the members of the community together with developers, land surveyors, went on an inspection at the controversial obodo-owa land.
* The Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has described Anambra children as highly talented. Governor Soludo stated this during the 2023 Children’s Day Celebration at Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka on Saturday, May 27, 2023. ANN reports that Soludo charged Anambra children to be good ambassadors of the state, Nigeria, and Africa by abstaining from all social vices.
* The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Echeng Echeng has ordered investigation into a video of a policeman seen at a checkpoint collecting bribe.
* Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has said his administration will build correction centres to eradicate cultism, drug addicts and other criminal elements in the state. He said the state correctional centres are where any arrested cultists, drug dealers and other hardened criminals will be tried and possibly prosecuted, if he/she is found guilty. He said the government under his watch will not allow the above mentioned persons to continue to obstruct the already existing peace in the state.
* Anambra State Government has warned that henceforth any traditional ruler, presidents-general or community leaders that get involved in revenue diversions would be arrested and prosecuted. Government frowned at a situation where touts and other revenue scavengers would be arrested and kept in custody and traditional rulers and the like in the communities would make phone calls demanding their immediate release on the ground that the suspects are their boys.
* Anambra based veteran journalist, Tony Okafor, has called for government legislation banning infants from serving as house helps in the state. He also canvassed for the establishment of bodies saddled with the responsibility of regulating engagement of house helps and sundry services in the state. He said: “The two cases involved are about infants. Therefore, there should be government legislation banning infants from serving as house helps in the state. This will make it a strict liability offence for anybody engaging the services of an infant as house help.
* The Chairman, Anambra State Board of Internal Revenue Service, AIRS, Mr. Richard Madiebo has restated the present administration’s policy in paying all levies, revenue and taxes through digital process. Mr. Madiebo who stated this during a joint press briefing of the Board, Transport Ministry, and Heads of enforcement units in the state, stated that when payment is made, it will give the payer digital and quick response that will help to verify if it is genuine or not.
* Minister for Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige recently stated that despite the campaign of calumny and hostility against South East members of the All Progressives Congress APC, the commissioning of the Second Niger Bridge and the construction of capital projects by the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari have vindicated their choice of party. Ngige who disclosed this in Awka, contended that the Igbos of the South East should stop putting their eggs in one basket at every political dispensation.
* Anambra State Commissioner for Transport, Mrs. Patricia Igwebuike, has stressed that every commercial bus operator should be enumerated to enable them know the exact amount payable to government every month adding that all payments are made digitally and not by cash transaction. Igwebuike while speaking in Awka recently noted that the state revenue courts would soon be operational, even as she pointed out that traditional rulers and presidents-general had some sort of baptism they gave to illegal revenue collections across the state.
* Managers of hospitality firms in Anambra State have been advised to register and obtain their licenses from the Anambra State Ministry of Culture, Entertainment and Tourism to avoid court action. The State Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Comrade Don Onyenji who disclosed this in a radio
programme, “ISSUES” monitored by ANN, told them that from next week any hotel that fails to register with his ministry will be charged to mobile court set up by the government.
The Chairman, Anambra State Board of Internal Revenue Service, AIRS, Mr. Richard Madiebo has restated the present administration’s policy in paying all levies, revenue and taxes through digital process.
Mr. Madiebo who stated this during a joint press briefing of the Board, Transport Ministry, and Heads of enforcement units in the state, stated that when payment is made, it will give the payer digital and quick response that will help to verify if it is genuine or not.
