News
NGE Inducts 28 New Members …Re-Elects Adesina As President
Mr Nelson Chukwudi of The Tide Newspapers and Paul Damgbo of Rivers State Television (RSTV) were among 28 new members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) inducted last Saturday into the elite club of Editors in the country, with a charge to comply with the Code of Ethics of the Journalism Profession and the Constitution of the NGE while ensuring absolute respect for rights and privileges of Nigerians in the discharge of their sacred duties.
Former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Bonnie Iwuoha, who gave the charge while performing the induction of the new members at a dinner/gala to mark the end of the 2015 Biennial Convention of the NGE in Lagos, last Saturday, admonished the new inductees to exhibit high sense of integrity and professionalism in the management of their various media organisations, just as he warned that the Guild would not take likely to any member who, by his or her conduct, brings the reputation of Nigerian Editors into disrepute.
Iwuoha reminded the new NGE members that their induction at a critical time of transition in the nation’s democratic experiment, demands that they bring their wealth of experience and expertise to bear in contributing to the promotion and sustenance of the nation’s democracy, and urged them to open new windows of interaction to improve relations with their older colleagues to ensure harmony and growth of the Guild.
The 28 new members, who swore oath of allegiance to the Guild as part of the induction, were given certificates of membership and a copy of the NGE Constitution each.
Earlier, Mr Femi Adeshina was on Saturday re-elected unopposed as the president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE.
Adeshina, along with some executive members of the association, were returned unopposed during the 2015 Biennial Convention of the NGE held in Lagos at the weekend.
The other executive members re-elected were Garbadeen Mohammed as deputy president, Mr Suleiman Gaya, as vice president North, Mr Victor Agusiobo, as vice president East and Mr Steve Ayorinde as vice president West.
Others are, Asst. General Secretary, Mrs Mary Atolagbe; Treasurer, Mr Ogbang Akwaji and Social and Publicity Secretary, Mrs Funke Egbemode.
However, the post of national secretary was contested for by Mrs Victoria Ibanga and Mr Mustapha Isah.
Ibanga won the position with115 votes against Isah’s 103 votes.
A Deputy Editor-in-Chief with the News Agency of Nigeria, Malam Sani Adamu and Fred Fabor of Bayesa Broadcasting Service were among the seven persons who won membership of the Guild’s Standing Committee.
At the opening ceremony, President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, in a goodwill message, lauded the media for its roles in facilitating Nigeria peaceful and credible elections.
Represented by Vice President-elect, Porf Yemi Osinbajo, Buhari said that any meeting of the Guild of Editors was very important because of the role Editors play in nation-building.
He charged the media to monitor the activities of his incoming administration to ensure sustainable democracy.
Ex-information Minister, Tony Momoh stated that any editor who compromises in discharging his or her duties was a disgrace to journalism, and challenged editors to monitor the performance of government officials at all levels in line with their statutory obligations
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State urged editors in the country to set agenda for political discussions that would guide future election campaigns.
Fashola, while receiving executive members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in his Alausa office, said future elections would be more peaceful and free of tension, if they are actually focused on national burning issues.
The governor said that with issues-oriented campaigns and elections, even children would freely participate in future election campaigns and town hall meetings.
Reminiscing on the last general elections, Fashola said year 2014 and the last few months were quite eventful for the country, given the election threats and tension that engulfed the whole country.
According to Fashola, “Though, there is no nation without conflicts, but I think in all that has happened, one thing was missing in this election; we didn’t see our children there.
“One question I’ve continued to ask myself is that if this is about the future, why do our children not come to the campaigns or the town hall meetings?
“Why don’t we have sessions where school children on excursion begin to get involved? How many parents can allow the children to come, given the atmosphere that we’ve created? Yet, we say this is about tomorrow.
“This is one of the issues we all must reflect on, and I hope that it will manifest itself even in your relations.
“You (editors) know better than all of us what the issues are. And we expect that you will tackle, as well as confine the candidates who are seeking to lead and see who best articulates the issues,” he said.
The governor said that he disagreed with popular school of thought that argued during the election that there was no difference among the contending parties.
“I disagree with that and vehemently so. I can argue for a whole year and give you 101 reasons why the parties are different.
“I hear some people say that ‘nobody is talking about issues’. But security was an issue, corruption, economy were all issues. What do we want to talk about again, if those ones are not issues?
“So, we need to raise the bar in political discussion in order to douse the tension, which has been about people who really don’t want political discussions to be about issues.
“The British election is coming and all the parties have released their manifestos. So, the public are now looking at who has the best plans to reduce the debt because the issue in that election is economic.
“We must also begin to put issues forward and nobody can set the agenda for discussion better than you (editors) because you decide what goes into the news,” he said.
The President of the Guild, Mr Femi Adesina, earlier said that the 14-man Executive Committee team had come on a courtesy visit ahead of their Biennial Convention, which begins today in Lagos.
Adesina said that three of such conventions had held in Lagos in the last six years, “which confirms the State government’s affinity with the press.”
He appreciated Fashola’s contributions to the state and said that he would be sorely missed.
The NGE president said that Fashola had always been with the Guild at its conventions, either in person or represented, and thanked him for his support.
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.