Alphonsus Agborh, Author at Tribune Online

The Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has presented empowerment tools and a report card of achievements to the people of his constituency. At the ceremony held at Oleh township stadium, Isoko South Local Government Area, the Senator provided 150 cassava grating machines, 230 grinding machines, 170 deep freezers, 50 sewing machines, 200 cutlasses, 200 safety boots, 200 hand gloves, 200 insecticides, 200 herbicides, and 200 knapsacks to beneficiaries. Other items included 250 safety life jackets, 250 fishing nets, 500 fishing hooks, 10 Yamaha outboard engines, 50 sewing machines, 60 starter packs for those trained in various endeavours, and 7,750 bags of rice. Addressing the constituents, the senator said, "This is the fifth empowerment we have made since I assumed office 18 months ago." "It is an ongoing exercise, and I want to appeal that for those who have not received now and those who have complained, we have noted them down, and we will make sure those who did not receive now will get theirs." On the scorecard, the senator quipped, "We have also appointed 280 persons ranging from senior special advisers, senior advisers, special assistants, and technical assistants, cutting across all the wards of the senatorial district for which we pay over N25 million monthly. "The main reason for this is to open up governance to as many people as possible in the senatorial district, and they have my mandate to interface with ministries, departments, and agencies of government on my behalf to perform my constitutional oversight functions. "And I urge those who have been appointed to take advantage of it and perform those oversight functions because it is mandatory and constitutional. "Within the same period, we have influenced over 23 projects; some have been completed while others are at various stages of implementation. "These included the construction of an ICT centre in Emede, electrification of Aviara-Irri, construction of internal roads in Ozoro, rural roads in Emede, supply and installation of 500 kVA transformers to selected towns, construction of Ayakoromo road, internal roads in Bomadi and Esama, among many others. "Emergency repairs of internal roads in Ellu, Olomoro, and Koko; rehabilitation and equipment of the Emede health centre; construction of a skill acquisition centre in Oleh; supply and installation of all-in-one solar lights in Gbaramatu, Bibopere, Oporoza, and Patani. "I want to remind us that I am not occupying an executive office but a legislator, and all these have been possible because our president understands your plight and made constituency projects available to the National Assembly. "I align myself with the President of the Senate, who emphasised the importance of constituency projects to Mr. President in his budget speech. Constituency projects are not new to Nigerians because it is the only way legislators can complement the effort of the executive in meeting the yearnings and aspirations of our constituents." Joel-Onowakpo Thomas said that the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration and the APC government was on course. According to him, the reforms of the President were out to right the wrongs of many years of decay of the economy and reposition the country for greatness. "I want to assure you that with the renewed hope of Mr President, more will be done in the coming days to reduce the suffering of people as a result of the ongoing reforms." READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE