FIC Report (Delta State) – A new Executive to pilot the affairs of the Committee of Heads of Federal Government Establishments (COHEADS), for the next two years in Delta State has been elected.
The eleven member executive led by the State Coordinator Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), Mr. John Onovroke as the new Chairman who was elected unopposed, replaced the Chairman of the former Exco led by the Geologist in-charge, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) Mr. Abraham Enukpere (Esq).
The election which took place on Tuesday 26th March. 2023 was held at the Federal Secretariat Boardroom Okpanam Road Asaba, following the expiration and dissolution of the former Exco.
The election had the newly posted Delta State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Sir. Etekamba Umoren, who was accompanied by the INEC State Administrative Secretary Dr. Andrew Akhigbe and other INEC Management Staff together with other COHEADS members that constituted the Electoral Committee.
The Vice Chairmanship position saw the nomination of two candidates; Engr. Kennedy Onyenobi, the State Manager , Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the State Coordinator of National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Mrs. Ifeoma Aniegbunem, with the latter securing fourteen votes to defeat her opponent who polled ten votes.
For the post of Secretary, Mr. Felix Ijomah, the Federal Information Officer, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation who was the Acting Secretary in the past Exco was nominated and overwhelmingly elected unopposed to retain his position while Odiyoma Lucia, the representative of the State Coordinator National Environmental Standard and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA), was also nominated and elected unopposed for the post of Assistant Secretary.
The post of Treasurer went to Mrs. Eucharia Ozulumba, the State Controller Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment who also got nominated and overwhelmingly elected without any challenger.
Similarly, Engr. Kennedy Onyenobi the NiMet Manager who earlier lost the Vice Chairmanship position, became the sole nominee for the Financial Secretary position and was so elected without a challenger.
Mr. Emmanuel Obasaju, an eloquent image maker and representative of Engr. Martins Eze, the Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer in charge of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Delta State, was also renominated and elected unopposed to retain his position as the Public Relations Officer (PRO).
Also, Barr. Solomon Adebowale, the Zonal Director Legal Aid Council of Nigeria South -South Office Asaba who though, unavoidably absent, was the only candidate nominated for the post of Legal Adviser. He was elected in absentia as the Legal Adviser a position previously combined by the immediate past Vice Chairperson and State Coordinator Legal Aid Council (State Office), Barr.(Mrs ) Flora Imo who alongside the immediate past Welfare Officer Mrs. Patricia Umunna of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) were both elected as Ex-Officio members while Mrs. Nkechi Ilonze the representative of the Curator, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), was nominated and elected unopposed for the portfolio of Welfare Officer in the eleven member Exco to run the affairs of Delta State COHEADS for the next two years.
The new Exco led by Mr. John Onovroke of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, later took oath of office administered by the immediate past Vice Chairperson and Legal Adviser, Mrs. Flora Imo of the Legal Aid Council (State Office).
In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman Mr. Onovroke, on behalf of his team, thanked members for choosing them. He stressed his administration’s desire and determination to transform COHEADS in Delta State and appealed to members for cooperation and support.
Mr. Onovroke stated that as elected Executives, they have been entrusted with responsibilities while noting that they would need all members’ suggestions and assuring members that the new Exco would be open to criticisms for the greater interest and benefits of all COHEADS members.
He further assured members that the new Exco would uphold transparency and accountability and to ensure that Delta State COHEADS achieve greater heights in the nearest future.
Earlier, the new INEC REC, Sir. Etekamba Umoren who incidentally attended the COHEADS meeting for the first time and presided over the election, congratulated the new Exco and promised to be an active member of COHEADS.
Meanwhile, in his valedictory address, the immediate past COHEADS Chairman, Mr. Abraham Enukpere(Esq.) Whose address was earlier delivered by Mrs. Flora Imo (Esq.), thanked members for the cooperation and support given to them and urged members to extend same to the new Exco.
He noted some of his Exco’s achievements to include the harmonious working relationship Exco and members on one hand and the Federal Controller Housing, had which he noted , resulted in the restoration of electricity to the Federal Secretariat Complex after many years of electricity outage in the complex.
Mr. Enukpere also noted that during his tenure, they were able to carry out the production of COHEADS Calendar for the past five consecutive years and also organised End of Year Get together among other achievements.
He however, noted the challenges of delay in payment of MDAs’ monthly dues as well as electricity bill payment among MDAs operating in the Federal Secretariat. He then called on MDAs to see the need to pay promptly to enable the new Exco to effectively and efficiently plan and execute programmes and activities of COHEADS Delta State.
It would be recalled that COHEADS is a Forum of interaction for Heads and Officers of Federal Government Establishments operating in Delta State.
The Forum membership cuts across substantive Heads and Representatives of Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) operating in the State including the Police and other Paramilitary Services.
It has its origin to Federal Government Circular Ref. No 58788/B.26/75 of 25th August, 1978 which came as a result of efforts to find solutions to communication gaps being experienced between Head Offices on one hand and the host State Governments.
Celestine Afokobah
Federal Information Centre Asaba.
