Day: July 2, 2024

The Network of Water Rights Initiative (NEWARI), an NGO, has urged the Enugu State Government to ensure that the water being consumed by residents of the state is safe.

The Enugu Coordinator, Amb. Amaka Nweke, who made the call on Monday in Enugu, said that such step would avert the outbreak of cholera in the state.

Nweke said that the organisation was committed towards promoting access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services across Nigeria.

‘The network urges the Enugu State Government to adopt proactive measures to ensure that the water consumed by its residents is safe,’ she said.

It would be recalled that, Prof. Emmanuel Obi, the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, recently declared that the state had not recorded any confirmed case of cholera.

The NEWARI official said that the state government should deploy systems-change-approach to address the root cause of waterborne diseases.

She urged the government to monitor the quality of water being delivered by water tankers to households in the s
tate.

‘These suppliers are the primary sources of water for many households in the state. There is need to adopt household water treatment schemes such as filtration, boiling, and disinfection.

‘This will be a critical step to prevent an outbreak and spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases in the state.

‘It is important to effectively regulate the operations of water tankers to ensure that they provide safe and potable water,’ she said.

Nweke further suggested regular water quality testing, monitoring and citizen education on the dangers of unsafe water.

‘Our message is that the government can protect its residents from the scourge of cholera and other waterborne diseases by simply prioritising water quality and water services delivery.

‘As an organisation, we appreciate the government’s effort so far in water and sanitation issues, we cannot afford to be complacent at this time, we must remain resilient,’ she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Network of Water Rights Initiative (NEWARI), an NGO, has urged the Enugu State Government to ensure that the water being consumed by residents of the state is safe.

The Enugu Coordinator, Amb. Amaka Nweke, who made the call on Monday in Enugu, said that such step would avert the outbreak of cholera in the state.

Nweke said that the organisation was committed towards promoting access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services across Nigeria.

‘The network urges the Enugu State Government to adopt proactive measures to ensure that the water consumed by its residents is safe,’ she said.

It would be recalled that, Prof. Emmanuel Obi, the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, recently declared that the state had not recorded any confirmed case of cholera.

The NEWARI official said that the state government should deploy systems-change-approach to address the root cause of waterborne diseases.

She urged the government to monitor the quality of water being delivered by water tankers to households in the s
tate.

‘These suppliers are the primary sources of water for many households in the state. There is need to adopt household water treatment schemes such as filtration, boiling, and disinfection.

‘This will be a critical step to prevent an outbreak and spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases in the state.

‘It is important to effectively regulate the operations of water tankers to ensure that they provide safe and potable water,’ she said.

Nweke further suggested regular water quality testing, monitoring and citizen education on the dangers of unsafe water.

‘Our message is that the government can protect its residents from the scourge of cholera and other waterborne diseases by simply prioritising water quality and water services delivery.

‘As an organisation, we appreciate the government’s effort so far in water and sanitation issues, we cannot afford to be complacent at this time, we must remain resilient,’ she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Addis Ababa: Online consultation platform, code named E-Consultation, developed to gather public opinion on draft bills inaugurated today.

The online platform is prepared by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology in collaboration with Ministry of Justice and EU.

The online application would enable the public to post their opinions and recommendations on draft laws and regulation that are issued by various institutions prior to their final approval.

State Minister of Innovation and Technology, Yishirun Alemayhu said on the occasion that the online technology will be instrumental to redress grievances that might be voiced by the public and will help to enhance public participation by expressing their opinions on draft laws and regulation online before they are approved.

He added that the Ministry of Innovation and Technology is working with stakeholders to ensure equity in the administration of justice by using digital technologies.

Justice State Minister Belayehun Yirga said that the E-Consultation
will curtail physical presence of the public in their attempts to forward their comments and suggestions as it would enable them provide comment right from where they are.

He added that a directive that provides for the participation of the public on drafting laws is prepared to ensure that public opinions and comments are properly incorporated in the process of drafting bills.

Representative of the EU, Leul Habte for his part stated that the EU will continue to support Ethiopia’s efforts to increase efficiency on trade.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology and the Ministry of Justice have inked MoU pertaining to their collaboration to ensure the effective utilization of the new technology that has just been developed.

State Minister of Innovation and Technology, Yisherun Alemayehu and State Minister of Justice Belayihun Yirga has signed the MoU on behalf of their respective ministries.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: Online consultation platform, code named E-Consultation, developed to gather public opinion on draft bills inaugurated today.

The online platform is prepared by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology in collaboration with Ministry of Justice and EU.

The online application would enable the public to post their opinions and recommendations on draft laws and regulation that are issued by various institutions prior to their final approval.

State Minister of Innovation and Technology, Yishirun Alemayhu said on the occasion that the online technology will be instrumental to redress grievances that might be voiced by the public and will help to enhance public participation by expressing their opinions on draft laws and regulation online before they are approved.

He added that the Ministry of Innovation and Technology is working with stakeholders to ensure equity in the administration of justice by using digital technologies.

Justice State Minister Belayehun Yirga said that the E-Consultation
will curtail physical presence of the public in their attempts to forward their comments and suggestions as it would enable them provide comment right from where they are.

He added that a directive that provides for the participation of the public on drafting laws is prepared to ensure that public opinions and comments are properly incorporated in the process of drafting bills.

Representative of the EU, Leul Habte for his part stated that the EU will continue to support Ethiopia’s efforts to increase efficiency on trade.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology and the Ministry of Justice have inked MoU pertaining to their collaboration to ensure the effective utilization of the new technology that has just been developed.

State Minister of Innovation and Technology, Yisherun Alemayehu and State Minister of Justice Belayihun Yirga has signed the MoU on behalf of their respective ministries.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Chief Samuel Onuigbo, a former member of House of Representatives, says in spite of challenges Nigeria has turned the curve in pursuit of good governance through a democratic government.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that the country was fine-tuning its `democratic skills` and learning from past mistakes.

He spoke against the backdrop of 25 years of interrupted democracy and the annulled watershed June 12 1993 presidential election which birthed the present democratic dispensation.

Onuigbo is a member of the Board of the North East Development Commission representing the South East.

‘For instance, the judiciary was dormant during the military rule, same as the legislature, which is the first victim of military intervention.

‘Also, there has been an improvement in the running of a unified local government system. Yes, there are challenges in the areas of autonomy, elections and fiscal allocation.

‘Hopefully, we will have a local government system that functions and serves th
e wishes and aspirations of people at the grassroots.

‘After a quarter of a century of unbroken democracy, agitations such as resource control and true federalism persist among Nigerians’ he said.

Onuigbo, who sponsored the Climate Change Act, said recent agitations for restructuring were part of the democratic process.

He said such agitations will not go away because they reflect inconsistencies in sub-national governments which compel the citizens to demand what they considered fairness and equity.

‘What I can tell you is that democracy is a work in progress. The aim is to achieve and attain good governance for everybody.

‘During military rule, politicians are forced to leave. So, the task of protecting our democratic process is for everybody.

‘Those who are looking up to our leaders should also support the system and help us to continue to build,’ he said.

On whether the legislative arm of government sometimes acts as an appendage of the executive, Onuigbo said the independence of the legislature wa
s guaranteed.

However, he said collaboration and partnership with the executive was important for dividends of democracy to be delivered to the people.

He also told NAN that there were misconceptions about the budgetary allocation to the legislature.

He attributed it to prolonged military rule during which the legislature was a major casualty.

He said, for years during military rule before the return to democracy in 1999, there was no proper development for the law-making arm of the government.

‘There was no structure, no legislative institutions; no commission, no library, no institute for legislative studies, and so on.

‘Remember that the National Assembly is an arm of government, not a department of the executive.

‘If you compare the budget of NASS to that of only one ministry, which is not an arm of the government, people won’t be scrutinizing the budget of NASS as they are doing now.

‘It is up to the media to educate the people on this misunderstanding, because this is what we need to explain,’ h
e said.

He said the legislature, as an arm of government, was still growing after disruptions during the military.

On the calls in some quarters to the adoption of unicameral legislature as against the current practice of bicameral legislature, as a cost-saving measure, Onuigbo said the main issue was the type of legislature in use.

He said the most important thing was to ensure that the best hands were elected to represent the people and that the legislatures should deliver on their responsibilities.

‘If their people deem them fit to represent them, then it should be an honour to serve on a part-time basis.

‘When someone is called upon to serve, it is expected that such a person goes there with ideas, policies and ways to help his or her people,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Chief Samuel Onuigbo, a former member of House of Representatives, says in spite of challenges Nigeria has turned the curve in pursuit of good governance through a democratic government.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that the country was fine-tuning its `democratic skills` and learning from past mistakes.

He spoke against the backdrop of 25 years of interrupted democracy and the annulled watershed June 12 1993 presidential election which birthed the present democratic dispensation.

Onuigbo is a member of the Board of the North East Development Commission representing the South East.

‘For instance, the judiciary was dormant during the military rule, same as the legislature, which is the first victim of military intervention.

‘Also, there has been an improvement in the running of a unified local government system. Yes, there are challenges in the areas of autonomy, elections and fiscal allocation.

‘Hopefully, we will have a local government system that functions and serves th
e wishes and aspirations of people at the grassroots.

‘After a quarter of a century of unbroken democracy, agitations such as resource control and true federalism persist among Nigerians’ he said.

Onuigbo, who sponsored the Climate Change Act, said recent agitations for restructuring were part of the democratic process.

He said such agitations will not go away because they reflect inconsistencies in sub-national governments which compel the citizens to demand what they considered fairness and equity.

‘What I can tell you is that democracy is a work in progress. The aim is to achieve and attain good governance for everybody.

‘During military rule, politicians are forced to leave. So, the task of protecting our democratic process is for everybody.

‘Those who are looking up to our leaders should also support the system and help us to continue to build,’ he said.

On whether the legislative arm of government sometimes acts as an appendage of the executive, Onuigbo said the independence of the legislature wa
s guaranteed.

However, he said collaboration and partnership with the executive was important for dividends of democracy to be delivered to the people.

He also told NAN that there were misconceptions about the budgetary allocation to the legislature.

He attributed it to prolonged military rule during which the legislature was a major casualty.

He said, for years during military rule before the return to democracy in 1999, there was no proper development for the law-making arm of the government.

‘There was no structure, no legislative institutions; no commission, no library, no institute for legislative studies, and so on.

‘Remember that the National Assembly is an arm of government, not a department of the executive.

‘If you compare the budget of NASS to that of only one ministry, which is not an arm of the government, people won’t be scrutinizing the budget of NASS as they are doing now.

‘It is up to the media to educate the people on this misunderstanding, because this is what we need to explain,’ h
e said.

He said the legislature, as an arm of government, was still growing after disruptions during the military.

On the calls in some quarters to the adoption of unicameral legislature as against the current practice of bicameral legislature, as a cost-saving measure, Onuigbo said the main issue was the type of legislature in use.

He said the most important thing was to ensure that the best hands were elected to represent the people and that the legislatures should deliver on their responsibilities.

‘If their people deem them fit to represent them, then it should be an honour to serve on a part-time basis.

‘When someone is called upon to serve, it is expected that such a person goes there with ideas, policies and ways to help his or her people,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria