Rivers
NDDC Boss Wants Contractors To Enhance Community Relations
The Acting Managing Di
rector of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. (Mrs) Christy Atako, has charged contractors handling various NDDC projects to enhance their relationship with their host communities to promote a fledgling partnership with them in course of carrying out the projects.
Mrs Atako gave the charge at the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, while speaking with newsmen shortly after attending an interactive session between the Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji and federal civil servants in Rivers State.
The NDDC boss said the host communities were entitled to information on the scope and specification of projects carried out by the contracting firms, stating that only contractors with ulterior motives would hoard information on projects carried out in communities.
She explained that the NDDC operated an open policy based on due process as information on projects are open for public affirmation and verification through tender process.
Mrs Atako urged contractors to respect the terms of agreement held with the commission to enhance efficiency in project delivery.
Commenting on the interactive session, the NDDC boss commended the Head of service of the Federation, for the initiative, noting that it would avail a sense of belonging in the process of governance.
She also called on the office of the Head of Service to make the interactive session a regular feature of the Civil Service, noting that this would boost productivity in the system.
Mrs Atako also reiterated the commitment of the NDDC to the development of the Niger Delta region.
Taneh Beemene
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