Rivers
RSG Wants States To Fix Workers’ Pay
The Rivers State government has advocated for fiscal federalism on the fixing of minimum wage for public servants in the states of the federation.
The state Head of Service, Mrs. Esther Anucha made call last Thursday when members of the National Committee of Experts on Parameters for Wage fixing in the Federal Public Service visited her in her office in Port Harcourt.
Mrs. Auncha said the idea of a national minimum wage for workers was wrong, arguing that states should rather be granted autonomy to fix minimum wage for their workers according to their peculiarities and fiscal ability.
She also advised that agitations for increase in salaries and wages by individual Trade Unions, Associations and certain cadre of workers should be discouraged and discountenanced as this had caused disharmony among workers and could pose a threat to industrial peace and harmony between workers and the government.
The Head of Service urged the Committee to look into the wide gap between salaries of political office holders and public servants, stressing that the situation may generate disharmony among workers if not addressed.
Mrs. Anucha who commended the Terms of Reference of the Committee, however, noted that the peculiarities of the Niger Delta states and the welfare of retired public servants were not taken into consideration.
She expressed the belief that the findings of the committee would further consolidate the rapport and synergy between the Federal and State Public Services for the overall development of the nation and also foster industrial peace and harmony in the public service.
In his speech, the Chairman of the National Committee of Experts on Parameters for Wage Fixing in the Federal Public Service, Professor Vremudia Diejomaoh said the Committee was set up by the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to find solutions to the incessant disputes on salary adjustments between the government and public servants.
He said the Committee was charged with the responsibility of developing a wage policy that would adjust itself automatically based on agreed principles and parameters to enable workers benefit from regular changes in the economy, and so eliminate constant agitations on ad hoc basis, as well as ensure greater productivity and efficiency in the country, among other issues.
Concerned about the wide gap between the emoluments of political appointees and public servants, Professor Diemojoah said the committee would also critically examine the political, public, and judicial office holders’ salaries and allowances Amendment Act 2008 and its impact on pay relativities in the Federal Public Service and also advise on any other matter related to the terms of reference.
The chairman, thanked the Head of Service for the warm reception accorded them, saying, the nation wide four aims at making a comparative analysis of the experiences in the states and other stakeholders.
Judges of the High Court, Rivers State state Port Harcourt have resumed their normal Court sitting on Wednesday 30th April 2025 after spending fifteen days this year’s Easter holidays.
It will be recalled that the State High Court Judges had proceeded on Easter vacation on Monday April 14 to 29th ,2025 on the approval of the state chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi.
A statement signed by the Chief Registrar, High Court Rivers State, Port Harcourt, David Ihua _maduenyi, esq said the judges are to resume court sitting on Wednesday 30th April, 2025 in line with the earlier directives from the state chief judge and urged the general public to take notice of the resumption date.
“This is to inform the general public that the judges of the High court of the Rivers state shall resume normal Court sitting after Easter vacation on Wednesday, 30th April, 2025.
“Recall that the chief judge of Rivers state, Hon justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi had earlier directed that judges of the high court of Rivers state, should proceed on Easter vacation from Monday, 18 April 2025 to Tuesday, 29th April, 2025.”
“The general public should take notice:the High court of Rivers state shall resume sitting on Wednesday, 30th April 2025.”
The Management of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, has approved annual free medical checks for all staff of the University. The move is to promote staff sound health and productivity at work place.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, disclosed this during the third edition of the “Walk for Life” health, wellness and fitness exercise, held last Saturday.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the new health policy will enable every staff member of the University to undergo free comprehensive medical check-up on their birthdays, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to promoting the health and wellbeing of staff members.
Professor Zeb-Obipi emphasized that regardless of whether a staff member’s birthday falls on a weekend, the initiative applies to all Rivers State University employees, expressing optimism that the Health Services Department has the required manpower and facilities to manage the novel health policy.
To achieve the policy, the VC said that the Establishment Division will liaise with the Health Services to compile the birthdays of all staff and send notification two or three days before the days their birthdays fall, reminding them to go for their free medical check-up.
Highlighting the importance of active leadership, the Vice-Chancellor stated that leadership requires direct engagement with the people, a principle he called “management by walking the floor,” rather than managing from behind closed doors. He emphasized that policies should be crafted from direct engagement with employees to understand their challenges.
He noted that this edition of the “Walk for Life” health fitness programme serves as a practical example of this management style, allowing him to interact with members of the university community and observe firsthand the need for regular health checks. He described the walk as a “worthy exercise,” pointing out that since most university work is sedentary, periodic physical activities such as the Walk for Life are crucial for the health and productivity of the staff.
The Vice-Chancellor also noted that this month’s “Walk for Life” coincides with the World Malaria Week, underlining the University’s commitment to supporting global health initiatives with the pledge that “Malaria must end with us.”.
Earlier, the Director of Health Services Department, Dr. Dagogo Cookey-Gam, charged the university community to visit the Medical Centre for testing before treatment of malaria. He said parents should watch out for children under 5 years because they can come under severe malaria attack, adding that pregnant women should also be mindful not to be exposed of having malaria due to their low immune system.
Dr. Cookey-Gam noted that malaria can be prevented by maintaining a clean environment and using mosquito nets.
On his part, the Director of the University Sports Unit, Prof. Joseph Vipene, thanked the Vice-Chancellor for sustaining the monthly “Walk for Life” initiative, assuring that the programme which has come to stay has placed the University in an enviable position for others to emulate.
The Police Command in Rivers State has confirmed the commencement of an investigation into the death of a police officer who allegedly took his own life in Port Harcourt.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.
“We received a report about an officer who allegedly killed himself.
“However, we are currently investigating the report to ascertain what transpired”, she stated.
Iringe-Koko reported that the Commissioner of Police in the Sstate, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for a thorough investigation.
According to viral reports Monday, Insp. Maxwell Zabu, formerly a security detail to Victor Ihunwo, a former Chairman of Port Harcourt City Council, allegedly shot himself at Ihunwo’s residence in Eagle Island, Port Harcourt.
A source familiar with the incident said the matter was reported to the Azikiwe Police Division in the area.
“Following the report, detectives from the division visited the scene as part of preliminary investigation procedures”, the source added.