Rivers
NMA Boss Explains Doctors, Strike Option
The Nigerian medical Association (NMA), says it is committed to serve the interest of Nigerians even as the body insists on going on strike by Monday, January 6, 2014.
The Chairman of NMA, Rivers State, Dr. Ibitrokoemi Korubo made this disclosure in a chat on the reasons for the association’s full scale strike action to be expected come January 6, 2014.
Korubo said, “we want the public to trust us, our agitations are not based on remunerations, but for safer, informed and enhanced healthcare delivery services for all Nigerians, we need equipment, manpower development, adequate funding of hospitals and support for research projects”.
The NMA boss called on the federal Government to look into the issues raised by the doctors and point out where they have erred or were being selfish.
“Government need to invest in health, government must live up to its responsibility; they should look into our document and do what they would do or come up with evidence that we are being selfish”, he said.
Korubo noted that doctors in Nigeria have done very well and can compete successfully with their counterparts in the developed world adding, “We have had two cases of sure for suckle cell in Nigeria by Nigerian doctors, we don’t want withdrawal of our services, we must our patients with quality service or no service at all”, he continued.
He urged the Federal Government looks into their matter before January 6, 2014 stating that doctors would have not choice but to down tools after the deadline.
The doctors had declared a five-day warning strike from December 18, to 22, 2013 and threatened to embark on total nationwide strike by January 6, 2014 if their demands were not met.
Earlier in his remarks, the President of the National Union of Ogoni Students (NUOS), Comrade Kpuinen Meedubari, pledged continued support to Governor Amaechi and Senator Abe, in appreciation of their contributions to the development of students in the state.
Tonye Nria-Dappa
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