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May Day: Don’t Victimise Workers Over N30,000 Minimum Wage -PDP …Calls For Collaboration To Sack APC …As NCSU Tasks FG On Employment
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said the N30,000 minimum wage should not be a justification for any form of bullying or victimisation against the workers by President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
PDP made the remark while saluting all Nigerian workers on the occasion of the 2019 Workers Day, for their service towards the stability and development of our dear nation.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party also acknowledged the “patriotism and resilience of the workers, particularly for remaining steadfast to the course of nation building, in spite of the harsh economic conditions foisted on them by the overtly corrupt, incompetent and grossly insensitive President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.”
“It is rather unfortunate that Nigerian workers found themselves operating under an inept administration that does not appreciate their inputs; that has no tangible strategy for their much-needed capacity building and reward system, but only relishes in Greek gifts and official bullying.”
PDP cautioned against “such unproductive tendencies, adding that the N30,000 minimum wage should not be a justification for any form of bullying or victimization against the workers.
“The Buhari-led APC administration must elevate its discourse in understanding that workers welfare is not tied to a minimum wage but in creating conducive working environment, established capacity building and reward system as well as a secure and economically viable environment that enable the workers, and indeed all Nigerians to meet their social and economic needs without stress; as contained in the AtikuAbubakar Master Plan.
“It is however unfortunate that at the time Nigerian workers should have been getting ready to enjoy the benefits of a new order under Atiku Abubakar, the nation is being set back by the ills of electoral manipulations,” the party stated.
The PDP urged the “Nigerian workers not to be despondent, as the mandate, which was freely given to Atiku Abubakar, will be retrieved at the tribunal.”
The party called on the workers, as patriotic Nigerians, to continue to put in their best in serving the nation even as it wishes them a happy Workers Day.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for collaboration of all political parties in the country to “rescue Nigeria from alleged misrule of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)”.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Diran Odeyemi, in a statement, yesterday, explained that three incidents that happened recently had shown that APC would never change its style of governance, which he claimed had brought Nigeria to her knees.
Odeyemi said the 10-day trip undertaken by President Muhammadu Buhari, without formally informing the National Assembly, goes beyond disregard for the legislative arm of government but remains gross violation of the Constitution.
He stated that Buhari and APC were hell-bent on foisting a leadership on the National Assembly so as to annex that arm of government, force a docile leadership on the parliamentarians and continue illegality that hallmarked the present administration since it came on board.
The PDP deputy spokesman also wondered why a party that had not justified a mandate it allegedly stole, would be talking about 2023 presidency, insisting that Nigerians must be ready to rescue the country and join hands with the PDP to stop APC and redirect the ship of the country to a safe harbour.
The statement reads, “Is it not sad that a party that stole mandate many Nigerians freely gave to the PDP, using all illegal means to perpetrate itself in office, even with its baggage of woes, misdeeds, missteps, jaundiced policies and wanton plundering of the nation’s treasury, would be talking about 2023 presidency in 2019?
“Has the party justified the temporary stay it is currently occupying let alone seeking another term in far away 2023? APC must have concluded that Nigerians are gullible.
“Only a president that has no regard for the governed would disregard for the law of the land and travel out of the country ‘on a private visit’ without delegating governance to the Vice President as stipulated in the constitution.
“We in PDP have demonstrated over and over again our readiness to lead the rescue mission that would safe Nigeria from her tormentors and safe once blossoming country made ‘poverty headquarters’ by APC. We are only calling on other parties to join hands with us to defeat our common enemies”, he added.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of replacing electronic servers in its headquarters and state offices.
The party, which has gone to court to challenge the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 23 election, said INEC was replacing the servers to obliterate the actual presidential election results transmitted from the polling centres.
A statement by PDP’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the development as “completely reprehensible”, saying it further exposed INEC’s culpability in the alleged manipulation and rigging of the 2019 presidential election.
The statement reads: “The PDP has been well briefed on how INEC’s leadership and officials of the Buhari Presidency became jittery and resorted to the desperate measure, after they realised that the servers have information of Atiku Abubakar’s victory at the election.
“Our party also has details of how INEC leadership and the Presidency agents procured and detailed computer experts to the commission’s offices to switch the servers, mutilate vital information in the system and attempt to erase all trails of transmitted results to the main server.
In a related development, as workers in the country troop out in their numbers to celebrate this year’s May Day today, the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Rivers State Council, has called on the Federal Government to put mechanism in place to create employment opportunities for Nigerians to stem the tide of criminality across the country.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU and State Auditor 1 of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Opuoyibo Lilly-West, who made the call in an exclusive interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt yesterday said in keeping with the theme of this year’s May Day celebration, ‘Another 100 Years Of Struggle for Jobs,’ the Federal Government should create employment opportunities for the teeming youths of the country, contending that the rate of criminality has increased tremendously in the country because of lack of jobs.
“We are using this opportunity to call on the Federal Government to ensure that jobs are created at all cost. When our youths are gainfully employed, nobody will think of criminality, “he said, adding that the May Day celebration would be anchored on social justice and job creation within the context of the country’s 100 years existence as a nation.
Lilly-West further indicated that the celebration, as it were, was expected to be a wake up call on government at all levels to begin to engage stakeholders, with a view to preparing the platform and process for the implementation of the N30,000 new minimum wage across the country, stressing that by virtue of the signing of the Minimum Wage Bill into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, state governments across the country were expected to automatically key in and begin the payment of the new wage to their workers.
He expressed delight that the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike would be at the venue of this year’s celebration as he did last year and celebrate with the workers, adding that the event was expected to be a colourful one, by virtue of the fact that the NLC in the state had just emerged from election of its new officers which he described as very peaceful.
Lilly-West disclosed that this year’s May Day celebration was expected to be his last as State Chairman of NCSU, having meritoriously served the union for a second term in office in that capacity.
He enjoined civil servants in the state to continue to support the Wike administration to achieve set goals, and expressed optimism that the governor would in turn do everything within his powers to improve the welfare of workers.
Donatus Ebi
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.