Echoes from the Senate: Senator Victor Umeh’s Second-Year Report Card (Distinction)

Distinguished Senator Dr. Victor Umeh, OFR, was inaugurated into the 10th Senate on June 13, 2023 following his landslide victory in the Senatorial Election in Anambra Central held on February 25, 2023.

Senator Victor Umeh, as a ranking Member of the Senate, having participated actively in the 8th Senate, immediately resumed hands-on with the job, making sure that the pulses of the people of Anambra Central Senatorial District are heard in the Senate and receive the necessary attention as well as ensuring that every of their entitlements, are procured and distributed to the people in fairness, honesty and transparency.

Despite being a Member of the Labour Party, the Senate in recognition of his rare and unique potentials in driving positive initiatives towards achieving good results, and his wealth of experience, enlisted him into 14 Standing Committees in the Senate namely:
(1) Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) – Chairman
(2) Housing and Urban Development – Vice Chairman
(3) Air Force
(4) Establishment and Public Services
(5) Agriculture Production, Services and Rural Development
(6) Education
(7) Employment and Productivity
(8) FCT
(9) Industry
(10) Land Transport
(11) National Security and Intelligence
(12) Rules And Business
(13) Agriculture Colleges and Institution
(14) Ecology and Climate change

Note, Senator Umeh is presently the Chairman, Senate Committee on National Identity Management and National Population Commission.

He was unanimously elected Vice Chairman of Southern Senators Forum in the Forum’s Election held on March 13, 2024.

As his most popular chieftaincy title (Ohamadike ) implies: “A Warrior Known To His People” as well as the honorary title (Ọnụ N’Ekwulu Ndigbo) conferred on him by the Anambra State Council of Traditional Prime Ministers (Ndị Onowu) in Awka, in 2018, which implies, “The Mouthpiece (or Spokesman) Of The Igbo People,” Senator Victor Umeh has also continued his resilient advocacy for a national cohesion; giving equal rights and privileges to all parts of the Country with particular reference to the sentiments of marginalization agitating the minds of the people of South-Eastern Nigeria.

In pursuance of this course, the people’s Senator strategically engaged more robustly in means of attracting very impactful Programmes and Projects geared towards improving the livelihood of the people of Anambra Central Senatorial District whilst eloquently and pragmatically exploring means of further enhancing their welfare through sound legislative actions.

He has continued to loudly condemn the Disruptive Nature of “Sit-At-Home” Demonstration in the South East and called for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

He so far Sponsored these very strategic BILLS IN THE 10TH SENATE:

* A Bill For An Act to Establish Federal College of Skills Acquisition and Technical studies Agulu Anambra State, and for other Related Matters, 2024, ( SB. 493 ) Sen. Umeh Victor Chukwunonyelu, Anambra Central. 1st Reading – 4/7/23. 2nd Reading – 27/11/24

* A Bill for An Act to Amend the Agricultural Research Council Act to provide for the Establishment of the Federal College of Agriculture Ebenebe, Anambra State and for other Related Matters, 2024, ( SB. 636 ) Sen. Umeh Victor Chukwunonyelu, Anambra Central. 1st Reading – 31/10/24

Further intervening to the yearnings of the people of Anambra Central, South East and Nigerians in general, he has so far moved the following critical MOTIONS IN THE 10TH SENATE:

* Urgent Need to Control the Erosion Ravaging Onitsha-Oba Section of the Onitsha-Owerri Federal Highway in Anambra State. July 18, 2023.

* Urgent Need to Protect Meter Manufacturers in the ongoing National Mass Metering Programme of the Federal Government. July 20, 2023.

* Urgent Need to Upgrade the Eastern Rail Line (Traversing Port Harcourt-Enugu-Maiduguri) from Narrow Gauge Rail Rail to Standard Gauge Rail. November 14, 2023. A motion he garnered the solidarity of 35 other Senators from South South, South East , North Central, North West and North East as Co-Sponsors.

* Urgent Need to Investigate the National Social Investment Programme Cash Transfer during the last administration. December 19, 2023,

OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS:

1. Senator Umeh used his Office to facilitate the resolution of the dispute between his Constituent, Igwe Chukwuemeka Cyprian, a final year student of University of Abuja, and a native of Ichida in Anaocha L.G.A of Anambra State who was at the risk of losing his admission in the School.

2. Concerned over the incarceration of Nigerian citizens in Ethiopian Prisons, he made concerted efforts in the Senate, through the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, in collaboration with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission—NiDCOM to facilitate their freedom or repatriation.

3. He also facilitated the resolution of the dispute in the Abule Ado area of Festac, Lagos state where 677 houses were marked for complete demolition and 744 houses marked for partial demolition. But through his engagements with the Federal Housing Authority—FHA and the Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development, as well as his strategic engagements in the Senate through the Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development where he is the Vice Chairman, the disputes were resolved and demolitions suspended.

4. During his time as Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) experienced an unprecedented increment in the budget allocation for the Commission to enable it function more effectively.

5. Senator Victor Umeh on Friday July 7, 2023 visited the dreaded Oba Erosion Site which nearly splitted the Onitsha-Owerri expressway where he urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency on the erosion menace ravaging many communities in the south east especially in Anambra state. A gesture that yielded quick results as the fast spreading erosion was quickly contained and repressed.

6. Senator Victor Umeh on July 4, 2024 petitioned the Senate against the brutal murder of his Constituent, Mr Onyebuchi Anene, a native of Umuoroma village, Awka in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, by an Officer of the Nigeria Police Force around Kubwa in Abuja Federal Capital Territory on May 22nd 2024. He challenged the brutality by the police and sought justice for the victim as well as a compensation for the bereaved family.

7. The Senator on March 26, 2024, visited the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa, where the Consul General, Andrew Idi, received him, and he met and interacted with Nigerian representatives from South Africa and Swaziland discussing their challenges particularly immigration issues.

AWARD/RECOGNITION FOR GOOD PERFORMANCE

1. Senator Victor Umeh was in June 2024 named among the Top 10 Most Active Nigerian Senators in the 10th Senate by TALK OF THE TOWN Outfit, a body renowned for evaluation of the performance of Lawmakers. According to the Outfit, Senator Umeh has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to his duties, actively participating in plenary sessions, committee work, and sponsoring key legislation.

2. In December 2024, the Senate Press Corps specially recognized Senator Victor Umeh for his “Responsive Representation for Good Governance” with an Award of Excellence.

3. Senator Victor Umeh on December 14, 2024 received an Award from the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Anambra State Chapter, recognising him as the Best Performing Senator in Anambra State.

4. The Senator in June 2024 received the United Nation’s Mayor For World Peace Award from the United Nation’s Peace and Positive Living Awareness Centre (UN-PEPOLAC) for his untiring advocacy for justice and fairness in governance as a bedrock for achieving a peaceful society.

PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMES BY SENATOR VICTOR UMEH IN ANAMBRA CENTRAL:

1. On January 18, 2024, Senator Umeh distributed over 124 metric tons of rice totaling 129,000 kilogram of rice (surpassing the 124000kilogram provided by the federal government by 5,000 kilogram), and this happened after he had shared 40milion naira worth of rice (626 bags of 50kg and over 600 bags of 25kg) and matched it with cash support as palliatives to cushion the effects of the economic recession on the good people of Anambra Central Senatorial District.

2. On September 5, 2024, the Senator offered Scholarships of Thirty Seven Million Naira (N37, 000, 000) to 223 less privileged students carefully selected from the 58 communities in Anambra Central Senatorial District, in a bid to empower the Youth through Education. This however, is in addition to the existing beneficiaries of Victor Umeh Education Foundation—VUMEF (through which hundreds of people have gained Education for free and graduated in various disciplines (including post graduates) from various Universities across Nigeria).

3. Recognizing the bites of economic hardship and increasing hunger due to food scarcity, the Senator on Thursday, July 25, 2024, attracted and distributed 50kg bags of fertilizer number about 1,200 to the various communities in Anambra Central particularly to indigenous farmers, urging them to indulge massively in farming to achieve bountiful harvest and food supply as well as economics benefits

4. To further demonstrate his support for farmer and encouraging the people of Anambra Central to indulge in agricultural activities, the Senator facilitated a Four Days Agricultural Training and Empowerment Programme to over 500 Constituents in collaboration with the Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State. Participants after the training, were empowered with monetary incentives, livestock and other farming items/equipments.

JOB/EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Senator Victor Umeh has made his office accessible to Constituents who seek his assistance especially those in need of job. Consequently, he has granted recommendations to many job seekers and as well, facilitated employment opportunities for lots of ndị Anambra Central in various Ministries and Agencies of Government.

CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS

Senator Victor Umeh in 2024 attracted 45 strategic projects and evenly distributed them to the various communities across the 7 Local Governments in Anambra Central. These projects include Construction of some very important roads within the Constituency; Construction of Classrooms in schools to upgrade learning environments for students; Construction of Primary Healthcare Facilities to ensure a better healthcare for ndị Anambra Central as well as Provision of Pipe-borne Water, Rural Roads Electrification, among others.

Nonetheless, the Senator has equally enlisted 51 key projects for the 2025 fiscal year which would further impact significantly on the lives of ndị Anambra Central and reposition the Constituency gainfully.