Rivers
Salary Verification: RSG Saves N1.4bn
Rivers State Government says it has, as at may, 2013 saved over N1.4bn from the ongoing salary verification exercise in the State Public Service.
The Head of Service, Barr Samuel LongJohn disclosed this when the State Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Port Harcourt.
Barr LongJon who made some clarifications as requested by members of the NMA said the aim of the exercise was not to reduce anybody’s salary but to correct irregularities discovered in the system.
He pointed out that a situation where a staff who is supposed to earn N160,000 earns N500,000 is unhealthy.
HOS pointed out that the heavy monthly salary bill will affect projects and recruitment of staff in the service.
Barr. LongJohn who described the situation as haemorrhage, cited other instances where in a Ministry of 330 staff, 154 of them earn salaries of over N500,00 whereas only 10 of such staff should earn about N350,00.
He stressed that if the situation continues unabated, it would come to a time when the State Government would be unable to pay salaries as and when due.
The Head of Service said the bulk of those affected are workers in the Health sector and others who claim to be health workers.
He noted that the major hurdle to the success of the exercise is the inability of the respective departments to provide correct information to the verification committee.
HOS solicited the support and cooperation of Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments to provide comprehensive data of their staff as well as enlighten them on the essence of the exercise.
Barr LongJohn further pointed out that other areas that have affected the salaries of workers is the recommencement of deductions such as the Contributory Pension Scheme, the National Housing Fund and the implementation of the new tax regime where the entire take-home pay is taxed, including all allowances, as well as loan deals entered into by some staff relating to purchase of plots of land.
He said the new tax regime was a law that has been in existence over the years but was not implemented in the State before now.
The Head of Service, who reiterated the premium placed on the welfare of workers since his assumption of office, said he would do everything possible to protect their interests.
He cited the suspension of the Tenure Policy for Permanent Secretaries and Directors as one of such moves that has impacted positively on service delivery.
Earlier, the Chairman of the State Chapter of NMA, Dr. Ibitrokoemi Korubo had expressed gratitude to the Head of Service for his support in ensuring improved welfare of Medical Doctors in the State.
Dr. Korubo commended the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for his giant development strides especially in the Health and Education sectors.
He requested clarifications on perceived discrepancies in their salaries as well as the heavy taxation made on their allowances.
The Chairman also requested, among others, that the circular on the implementation of GL 17 for Medical Doctors be gazetted, fixing of retirement age of Doctors at 65, the completion of Doctors Residential quarters at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, and the inclusion of Ambulance Drivers in the Ministry of Heath in the Health workers salary structure.
Highlight of the visit was the handing over of salary charts to the NMA Chairman to enable his members make comparison with their salary payslips and enlighten them on the essence of the exercise.
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