Rivers
Forum Commends Amaechi On Tenure Policy Suspension
The Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has been commended for suspending the tenure policy for Permanent secretaries and directors in the state civil service.
This was contained in a communiqué made available to newsmen at the end of a two-day refresher course for substantive directors in the Rivers State Civil Service.
The communiqué said that the gesture was a sincere response by the governor to the fear and concern expressed by the entire workforce of the state civil service, thereby making him a leader. The forum, however, urged him to cancel the policy in view of its demoralising effect on the service.
It also commended the state Head of Service, Barrister S.T. LongJohn, for his tireless efforts in bringing about the suspension of the tenure policy, while labour leaders were also appreciated for their effort on the issue.
The communiqué which was signed by Chief Jonathan Gunn, Chairman Directors Forum and the Chairman, Communiqué Committee, Samuel B. Iyoyo, implored the governor to implement the payment of salary grade level 17 to all directors who have been on the rank for not less than four years as obtains in other states of the federation.
The participants also lauded the organizers for the course, describing it as the first of its kind in the state, but noted that to make the service driven, original copies of service rules be provided and most of them are procured as most of them are pirated.
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