News
National Confab Begins On Shaky Note …Logistic Challenges Force Adjournment To Monday
National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers, protesting over the stampede that led to the death of some applicants during last Saturday’s recruitment into Nigerian Immigration Service in Kaduna, last Monday.
The much-talked about National Conference which was inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday in Abuja yesterday suffered setback as delegates adjoined on the first day of sitting to Monday, following logistics challenges.
The Tide gathered that the delegates will take advantage of the adjournment to sort out their logistics issues before settling down for the national business.
Delegates to the conference, some of whom did their accreditation on Monday morning, are optimistic that the conference will achieve its prime objective of re-inventing and re-enacting Nigeria by coming up with a new roadmap acceptable to all sections and making the nation the toast of the international community.
Announcing the adjournment after a brief session that was meant to integrate delegates into the business at hand, ensure compliance with the directive of President Jonathan that the indivisibility of Nigeria is non-negotiable and ensure that the three-month conference was hitch-free and successful, Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi said the adjournment was meant to allow delegates, most of whom live outside Abuja, to settle down for the national assignment.
Present at the conference’s maiden session were other members of the secretariat, including the Deputy Chairman and former external affairs minister, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, Secretary, Mrs Valerie Azinge and Assistant Secretary (Media and Communication), Mr James Akpandem.
After the adjournment, the 492 delegates were given conference materials in seminar bags in an orderly manner by Mr Akpandem, who is also an aide of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.
Those who expressed hope for the birth of a new Nigeria at the end of the conference in separate interviews with The Tide, include former military governor of old Rivers State, General Zamani Lekwot, former secretary to Rivers State Government, Chief Sampson Agbaru, former deputy governor of Lagos State, Senator Kofo Bucknor-Akerele, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, former chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator John Braimbeifa and Chairman, Abuja council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Chuks Ehirin.
Meanwhile, all delegates to the National Conference will earn same allowances, the conference’s Assistant Secretary, Administration and Finance, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said.
Yakubu also told the delegates, at their inaugural meeting yesterday in Abuja, that the secretariat would not disclose the amount that would be paid to each of them.
According to him, the payment covers accommodation, transportation and sitting allowances.
He said that the delegates would be notified by their respective banks.
“Everything (allowances) has been monetised. Every delegate will be paid through e-payment and will be alerted by their banks.
“The payment, that covers accommodation, transportation and sitting allowances, will be paid every two weeks.
“We will not disclose it but the delegates are free to do so when they receive their payment slips. The allowances paid are the same for everybody,” he said.
Yakubu said that the Federal Government policy did not allow payment in physical cash except through e-payment and every delegate would be notified by his/her bank.
The Secretary to the conference, Dr Valerie Azinge, said no provision was made for aides of the delegates.
She, however, said facilities would be provided for the physically-challenged and the elderly where necessary.
Some of the delegates complained about facilities at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), which they said were not very conducive for the conference’s proceedings.
Azinge, however, appealed to them to make use of the facilities available adding that it was the best facility they could get in Abuja.
She explained that the International Conference Centre (ICC) is currently being occupied by the ECOWAS Parliament and that the centre had a standing rule with ECOWAS.
She said other issues which were also noted not have been included in the president’s speech would form part of the agenda when the conference reconvenes.
Azinge said that the speech would also form part of the major business of the conference for the next two weeks before breaking into committees.
According to her, the presiding and principal officers have set out clear cut plans to achieve the purpose of the conference.
She, however, said that before Monday’s session the rules of proceedings would be presented to the House to endorse, reject or make amendments.
Justus Awaji, Abuja
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.