ISTC: OSLGA, Firm, Market Unions Committ To Partner

ISTC: OSLGA, Firm, Market Unions Committ To Partner

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

In its bid to support the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) policy of the state government, the Executive Chairman, Oshimili South LGA, Market Unions and a firm, yesterday, agreed that the Informal Sector Tax Collection  (ISTC) policy will be implemented successfully in the council area.

This agreement was reached when the leadership of Market Women & Men Association of Nigeria; Ogbogonogo Market Traders Association and top management of Queen Bridge Limited, paid a courtesy visit to the council boss at his office.

In her opening remarks, Mrs Blessing Osaje, deputy managing director, Queen Bridge Limited, informed the chairman that her firm came to inform him about the on going state-wide ISTC policy of the state government.

She noted that her firm also wants to cease same opportunity to seek the working partnership of both the Market Women & Men Association as well as Ogbogonogo Market Traders Association.

Responding, Hon Mrs Kate Okoh Onah, President, Market Women & Men Association of Nigeria, Delta State Chapter, unveiled some of the benefit attached to the ISTC policy.

Mrs Onah encouraged the leadership of Ogbogonogo Market Traders Association to share his association's committment to partner in the ISTC policy.

Speaking on behalf of the traders association, Chief Augustine Chigbogu Nwobodo, General Chairman, Ogbogonogo Market Traders Association, thanked the council chairman; leadership of Queen Bridge Limited; Market Women and Men Association Of Nigeria for convening the meeting.

He expressed his personal resolve to subscribe to the state government's ISTC policy and promise to work with his exco members at enforcing compliance.

Hon Sunny Obi Nwose thanked the visiting delegation over their Committment to partner with the state government with respect to the ISCT policy.

He assured them that all promised benefits attached to the policy, council will work round the clock with the state government to see that it gets to them.

Hon. Sunny Obi Nwose also urged the leadership of Ogbogonogo Market Trades Association to seek out opportunities to help the traders understand all the attached benefits of the policy.

Finally, the council boss, Hon Comrade Uche Osadebe, expressed his appreciation over commitment of all parties at ensuring that the state government's ISTC policy is effectively implemented in the council area.

The council chairman also urged the leadership of Ogbogonogo Market Traders Association to prevail upon their members who have not taken advantage of the on going continuous voters registration exercise to do so.

Please help us urge your traders to seek out time to go for voter's registration exercise, help them see the benefits for doing same, Hon Comrade Osadebe urged the market leadership.

SOURCE: ASABA POST NEWS WIRE (ONLINE)

IGR:How OSLGA Lost N71M Under Hon Obusom's Watch

*Ur Performance Is Poor....Legislators Told IGR Consultant
*Obusom's Actions Hindered Our Performance...Consultant

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba, Asaba

In order to fulfill their campaign promises, the executive arm of Oshimili South Council, is determined to strengthen the council's revenue system, structure & operations.

In the same light, the legislative arm is already alive to her duties as they have outlined various oversight activities to help the council's revenue revamped.

Recently, the council's law makers invited to their plenary a revenue consultant during the Hon John Chuks Obusom's administration.

Mr Deji Oderinde, lead consultant, C.S.D.C Consulting, was the consultant contracted by Hon Obusom's administration to manage Oshimili South LGA revenue system.

At the plenary session, the house leader, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwosa, and other councillors took turn to ask the consultant questions pertaining to his performance.

The consultant in his defence told the law makers that before commencing operations, he was briefed that the council on it's own mopped up about N50 Million form  revenue engagements.

He also informed the house that at commencement, the council's leaders then allotted 17 revenue bits to his company.

Mr Oderinde lamented that sooner than his contract commenced the Hon Obusom led administration downsized the number of revenue bits contracted to his firm and also allowed some council staff and other sub agents to parrelle their legitimate revenue mobilisation functions.

He also reported to the legislative arm that his firm entered into a four years contract agreement with the council under Hon Obusom's administration.

Our firm in the first year of operation was able to generate over N35 Million and in the second year was able to generate about N41 Million for the council, despite all the challenges I mentioned earlier, Mr Oderinde told the law makers.

Apparently not satisfied with his score card, the law makers outrightly made it clear to the consultant how unsatisfied the house was with his performance, bearing in mind that without a consultant the council could mobilize up to N50Million.

WhWhen the house questioned the consultant about their engagement with the council's revenue courts as a means to aid recovery of targeted defaulting revenue slots, the consultant regrettably recounted his firms many limiting hurdles the Hon Obusom's administration mounted against his performance.

Our firm was never allowed by the council's leadership to commence prosecution of heavy revenue defaulted.

We had written many letters to the council chairman seeking permission to continue legal actions against these revenue defaulters, that also met the chairman's objection.

At one point, Hon Obusom asked us, why do you want to prosecute revenue defalters, since when did your firm become EFCC?, the consultant told the law makers.

The consultant shockingly informed the house that more than N71 Million due the council via revenue drive is stalled at the revenue court as a result of the trial judge's in actions.

The consultant ceased the opportunity to ask the house in their report to the council chairman to allow him complete his four years contractual term.

The house leader promised that soon the house will in a report furnish the executive arm with their findings and recommendation.

He also told journalists during a private media chat that his leadership will strengthen the council's revenue bye law, exercise more oversight functions, to ensure that it all council's revenue leakages are blocked.

To be continued soon............

SOURCE: ASABA POST NEWS WIRE (ONLINE) 

Teachers, Students Revolt Against Principal

* My Enemies Are Instigating Them Against Me... Principal

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

As early as 8am yesterday, the premises of Zappa Mixed Secondary School, Asaba,  recorded an experience that is unbecoming of a teaching and learning atmosphere.

Our reporter's arrival at the school at 8am witnessed a school in total state of disorder, with students chanting anti-principal chants.

Teachers on duty were seen wearing long faces, harshly talking in low tunes about their displeasure.

According to some staff who agreed to speak off tape and anonymously, their case was that of too many poor leadership and the principal's high handedness at engagement with staff.

Trouble, they say broke out last Thursday, during the school's morning assembly session.

While interviewing the school's principal, Mrs C.K. Oraegbunam, she shared her bitter encounter, tales of violent attack and fetish mesmerized acts one of the teachers, Mr Uzor Isiuwa, unleashed about her car, upon arrival at the school's premises.

On the contrary, some staff in hushed tunes, speaking anonymously, maintained that the principal during the assembly was seen chasing Mr Isiuwa about the school's premises with her car.

The principal further told our reporter that Mr Isiuwa of late had become a tick in her flesh, after the post primary education board authorities discovered his many official absence from duty and effected some slash on his salary.

My Isiuwa had gone round telling all who cares to listen that I cut down his salary, I never did such, his salary was cut by the board authorities, not me, the principal said.

Attempts to meet and get opinions of Mr Isiuwa was not successful as our reporter was told he has gone to the board's zonal office to brief the authorities.

Our reporter was told that after the Thursday ugly experience at the morning assembly session, the leadership of State chapter of Nigerian Union of Teachers(NUT) and authorities the post primary education board intervened into the matter on Friday, and at the board's office the matter was resolved.

Mr Isiuwa was asked by both board and NUT leadership to apologise to the principal, with a marching order that on Monday, being yesterday, at the school's assembly ground, that he Mr Isiuwa before both staff and student must tender another apology.

Yesterday's trouble broke out during the assembly session, according to an eye-witness account, as the students and staff await Mr Isiuwa's apology, officers of the Nigerian police arrived the school compound demanding that Mr Isiuwa go to the police station with them.

Before one could say Jack, both students and staff resisted the police action and massive near violent protest rented the space, only intervention of NUT & Board's officials made possible the police movement out of the school compound.

The students improvised a chalk and slate protest insignia, demanding that the principal be transferred as well as other unfavourable statements against the principal.

Some staff interviewed accused the principal of zero cordial relationship with them, illegal staff salary deductions, unapproved demands of levies from parents.

They also shared that there is no cordial relationship between the principal and the members of the parents teachers association (PTA)

Some staff also narrated how with total disdain and with zero respect, the principal talks down on the teachers even before the students, they also narrated how in time past, she asked students to pay about N2,000 for procurement of classroom desks and chairs, saying that up it now none has being supplied.

Worried and confused, the teachers said they could not make any sense out of the principal's demand to the school prefects to light candlesticks during school hours, fearing that it could mean some evil fetish initiation proceedings.

On her own part, Mrs Oraegbunam, maintained that she is still in charge as the school head and that what played out was only the handiworks of her career enemies, whose sole aim is to tarnish her professional records.

About the police action that morning, the principal noted that with the NUT and board's intervention that she has forgiven Mr Isiuwa.

The student's protest against their principal and willing demand that she be changed and transfered continued till about 10am in the morning, as the presence of some NUT Executive members helped calmed the charged atmosphere.

Our reporter's attempts to meet with officials of the post primary education board met brick walls as the officials were engaged in various meeting sessions and could not share any official position on the matter at hand.

SOURCE: ASABA POST NEWS WIRE (ONLINE)