Rivers
Perm Secs Begin Capacity Enhancement Programme Abroad
In furtherance of the resolve of the Rivers State Government to continually improve the service delivery capacity of the civil service workforce, nine Permanent Secretaries are to embark on a capacity enhancement programme in the United Kingdom.
The programme, which is under the umbrella of the BRACED Commission, is sponsored by the Rivers State Government.
Briefing the beneficiaries in his office in Port Harcourt last Wednesday, the Head of Service, Barr. Samuel LongJohn said the programme was in fulfilment of the promise made earlier in the year by the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to enhance the capacity base of workers in the state civil service.
He advised them to take full advantage of the programme, participate actively and utilize knowledge gained for the benefit of the system.
Barr. LongJohn congratulated them for being in the first batch of beneficiaries and expressed the hope that by the end of the year, a greater number of permanent secretaries would have had the opportunity to participate in the enhancement programme and to boost the service delivery potential of the workforce.
Responding on behalf of the Permanent Secretaries, Mr. Promise Njiowhor, thanked the Head of Service for his efforts at actualising the promise made by the state governor, pointing out that the programme would expose them to new trends in the discharge of their duties.
Other Permanent Secretaries in the first batch of the programme include Dr. George Nwaeke, Mr.Lambert Ekwueme, Mr. Emeka Wobisike, Dr. George Nwolu, Mr. Minabelem West, Dr. Someari Isaac-Harry, Mr. Alex Hart and Mr. Richard Ofuru.
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