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Local Content Bill For Aviation Industry Ready, Soon -Mark
Senate President David Mark has said that the National Assembly (NASS) would consider a revolutionary local content regulation for Nigeria’s aviation industry to improve the sector.
Mark said this in Lagos yesterday during the unveiling of 127 pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers trained by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta.
Represented by the Senate Deputy Leader, Sen. Abdul Ningi Mark said that the regulation would be passed into law in due course.
He said that the regulation would make it mandatory for both domestic and foreign airlines operating in Nigeria to employ a certain number of indigenous pilots and aircraft engineers.
He said that the proposed legislation would be part of efforts to deepen local participation in the aviation sector.
The senate president noted that the sector had witnessed influx of expatriates as pilots, aircraft engineers and other aviation professionals.
He said the regulation had become imperative as one of the ways of creating an avenue for Nigerian aviation professionals to secure jobs in the aviation sector.
Mark said that NASS would continue to support the Presidential Amnesty Programme for the training of youths in the country in order to close the gaps in manpower needs.
“The National Assembly will continue to support the programme.
“The legislation will make it mandatory for airlines, whether local or foreign, to employ a certain number of Nigerian professionals as pilots and aircraft engineers.
‘’This, we, will pursue as much as it does not conflict with international regulations,” he said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, said that the house would give speedy passage to the bill to be initiated by the senate.
Tambuwal was represented by the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta, Rep. Warman Ogoriba.
He said that the initiative was to protect the nation’s interest.
The speaker also said that regulation would facilitate job creation for indigenous aviation professionals.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation, Capt. Shehu Iyal said that aviation agencies would collaborate to ensure that pilots and aircraft engineers were absorbed into the sector.
Iyal described the type-rating of 66 pilots and 61 aircraft engineers as historic, adding that their engagement would help to fill the gap created by ageing of indigenous professionals in the sector.
“We will liaise with the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and indeed the Amnesty Office to provide jobs for these trainees.
“The office has its list and their qualifications. Some are pilots of helicopters; some are for fixed wings while some have more training to do.
‘’We know where we will place them. This is good for the development of the Nigerian aviation industry. The Amnesty Office has done very well.
‘’I have seen a bigger number sent for training. Kano sent 100 trainee pilots to Jordan for training,’’ he said.
Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Hon. Kingseley Kuku urged airline owners and players in the aviation and allied sectors to employ the young pilots and aircraft engineers.
Kuku said that the young professionals were competent and licensed, having been trained in some of the world’s foremost institutions.
He said that the 127 aviation professionals had been trained to a level that it would be difficult for any organisation to describe them as incompetent.
“The Nigerian Government will take further steps to complete ‘on duty training’ for these pilots and aircraft engineers to make it difficult for any employer to reject them,” Kuku said.
Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development Board, Mr. Ernest Nwakpa urged NASS to go beyond legislation and pursue enforcement of the Local Content Act.
He said that the enforcement would enable the young pilots and aircraft engineers to get jobs faster.
Chairman, AirPeace Airlines, Mr. Allen Onyema promised to engage 15 of the pilots in his airline on completion of their type-rating training at the CAE Oxford Aviation in the United Kingdom and Lufthansa in Germany.
Former Bayelsa Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha urged the pilots to demonstrate discipline and competence on their jobs so that their communities would appreciate Federal Government’s huge investment in them.
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.