Rivers
Etche Budgets N3.46bn For 2013
The Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State has proposed the sum of three billion, Four hundred and twenty five million naira (3,425,000,000), as budget estimates for the 2013 Financial year.
The budget tagged “budget of consolidation” would enable the council continue with its development strides, as well as to enable the council consolidates on the achievements of 2012 in the area.
Presenting the budget to the local government legislative arm at the legislative chambers Okehi last Monday, the chairman of the council, Barrister Reginald Ukwuoma said the estimated recurrent expenditure would gulp the sum of N1,781,510,443, while the sum of N1,643,489,557 representing 48% of the total estimates was for capital expenditure.
Barrister Ukwuoma also announced that the sum of N43, 900, 226, was projected on internally generated revenue adding that his administration had intensified efforts to ensure that the IGR was achieved.
The council boss stated that the present administration was committed to the upliftment of the people of the area adding that the budget was geared towards completing of the various projects under construction in the area.
“Since the present Administration is committed to uplifting the lives of the people of Etche, we intend to consolidate on the existing projects yet to be completed and also embark on the ones that will be realistic and reliable for our people” he declared.
He averred that the 2013 budget would concentrate on the Economic sector which according to him, would take care of the completion of Eketa Igbodo market, the police post, the health office as well as the mini fire service block, all in the market.
Barrister Ukwuoma averred that other sectors like education, health, information, social development, sports and culture would also receive serious attention in 2013 fiscal year.
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