Rivers
Jonathan’s Aide Hails Amaechi
The Special Adviser to the President on the New Partnership
for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Amb. Turifi Olagunji has commended the
Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi for his exemplary leadership
and support for the on-going Peer Review on NEPAD programmes and activities.
The Peer Review is the review of implementation of National
programme of Action in the states and local government areas as well as
effective participation of the private sector and civil society on NEPAD
activities and programmes.
Amb. Olagunju made the commendation Tuseday in his goodwill
massage at NEPAD sensitization conference for Focal Point Officers (FPOS) and
local Government Liaison Officers in Port Harcourt.
“It is note worthy that His Excellency, Rt.Hon. Rotimi
Amaechi, the Governor of Rivers State is providing exemplary leadership on the
on-going State Peer Review.
“This is an innovation, a commendable practice similar to
what the Head of State and Government of African counties have committed
themselves to, in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)”. Amb Olagunju said.
Earlier, Amb Olagunju had said the conference was all about
updating the officers of NEPAD in the State Ministries, Agencies and local
Government areas on the forthcoming State Peer Review in the country.
He reminded the officers, particularly, the focal point
officers of their roles as to facilitate the implementation and coordination of
NEPAD priority programmes and activities at the Ministries, Agencies and local
government areas.
In a paper, the executive Director, Niger Delta Budget
Monitoring Group, George-Hill Anthony attributed over bloated budgetary
allocation for projects to lack of linkages amongst ministries, departments and
agencies at the federal, state local government areas.
Also speaking at the conference, the Director, NEPAD
Nigeria, Mr. Ayodele Omotoso said there are no true Planning and Research
Departments with qualitied statisticians in the country, rather what they have
are administrative officers.
The conference also recommended that NEPAD law should be put
in place for effective implantation of the National Programme of Action.
Enoch Epelle
Rivers
Rivers CJ To Sanction Lawyers Who Refuse To Comply With ADR Compliance
The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.
Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .
He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.
Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.
NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.
In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.
The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.
He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.
The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.
Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.
Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.
Akujobi Amadi