City Crime
Institute Moves To Eradicate Violence Against Women
The Centre for Conflict and Gender Studies University of Port Harcourt has said that it will not rest on its oars until all forms of violence against women in the country are eradicated.
The Acting Director, Centre for Conflict and Gender Studies (CCGS), University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Heoma Nsirim-Worlu said this during the 2021 International Women Day celebration in Port Harcourt at the week.
Nsirim-Worlu noted International Women’s Day offered women the opportunity to push hard in the society.
The opportunity when granted, she said, would avail women equal and full right to participate in leadership at all level of governance.
“To make the case that substantial the essential role of women, vision and achievement to realise humanity’s vital projects of sustainable development, peace and security” she said.
According to her, has in recent time, carried out activities geared towards elimination of all forms of sexual and gender-based violence within their precincts.
On how to achieve its goals, she informs that round table discussions and collaborations with United Nations women, European Unions and Economic Organisation of West African State (ECOWAS) as well as centre gender are prepared to fight for women freedom.
Within the communities, she noted, leadership role, institutions and documentary video are part of its strategies on the elimination of sexual and gender based violence campaign as carried out by the centre.
“As an institution, the Centre continues to produce translational research in peace, conflict and gender issues. Train and equip gender and development professionals with relevant skills required to make a profound change in the world, and women leadership”, she said.
The don recalled that currently that there were some eminent women who have broken glass ceilings, pushed the frontiers of women’s leadership and have paved the path for other women and girls to follow.
In his keynote address, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi who described women as powerful agent of societal development, added that women played a vital role during the lockdown period.
Akiyode-Afolabi, lamented that, in spite all the efforts by women, that they are subjected to various degree of molestations.
Such molestations, as noted, ranged from rape, sexual abuse, relegation, gender-base violence, cheating among other things from their male counterparts.
She charged women to rise up to the theme of this year celebration: “#Choose-To -Challenge,” as the best of the realisation of the goals.
“This year’s theme is the possible way to achieve the gender equality, affirmative action, women education, value orientation among others”, she said.
Earlier in his address, the Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Professor Stephen Okodudu, who spoke via the Registrar, Dr Dakuru Grandvile, tied women to the theme of their international anniversary, said, they are equal to the task and added that they have the capacity to both choose and challenge.
Meawhile, the special guest of honour and the Hon. Commissioner for Social Welfare, Mrs. Ineme Aguma, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. A. Chu, hinted that statistics had reviewed that women performed greatly when given the opportunity and called for greater participation in changing the narratives of the women.
By: King Onunwor
The Rivers State Government has vowed to enforce strict compliance with approved building plans by property owners and developers in the State to guarantee safety and adherence to regulatory standards.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi, in his inaugural meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Directors and staff of the Ministry, said he would ensure full implementation of the Physical Planning Development Law of the State.
He warned that the Rivers State Government will no longer condone a situation where developers make deliberate adjustment or completely deviate from approved building plan in the execution of their projects without recourse to the Ministry.
Hon. Bipi solicited the cooperation of the civil servants of the Ministry while promising to run an open door policy and be easily accessible.
He also promised to right the wrongs, make a positive impact and leave an enduring legacy in the Ministry.
He promised to enhance the physical landscape and aesthetic of Old and New GRA as well as other parts of Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Surv. Wisdom Hebron, assured the Commissioner of maximum cooperation to foster a harmonious working environment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the payment of N85,000.00 as the new minimum wage for civil servants in the employ of the Rivers State Government.
This is the agreement reached during a closed door meeting presided over by the Governor and attended by representatives of organised labour under the auspices of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council in the State at Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, who spoke on behalf of the Government, affirmed that Governor Fubara has graciously approved a new minimum wage of N85,000.00, adding that the government will begin in November, 2024.
Dr George said, “He (Gov Fubara) has pronounced a figure that is higher than the National Minimum Wage. He pronounced a sum of N85,000.00, which is higher than the minimum wage that was prescribed nationally.
“So, as the Head of Service and a major stakeholder in the labour family, I am very happy to say that the Rivers State Civil Servants have never had it this good since the inception of this State.
“The labour union leaders and all the other major stakeholders were happy with this development,” he added.
Responding to possible payment of arrears, Dr Nwaeke, said it is yet to be determined because a technical committee has been set up to critically work out a tenable payment chart, which will cater to issues of arrears.
He clarified, “Issues of arrears will be worked out by the committee that I am going to be Deputy to the SSG. We are already going to work on it in a technical committee that will now get the nitty gritty of the payment and inform the press later.”
On his part, the Rivers State Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Emecheta Chuku, explained that this is their first meeting with Governor Fubara to discuss the issue of the new minimum wage as approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Comrade Chuku pointed to the fact that the gracious approval of N85,000.00 new minimum wage is very appeasing to the labour leaders, adding that it demonstrates love for the workers.
He explained, “For the Governor to come, against all the crisis, against all the things that he is facing and more, to say he will pay N85,000.00 minimum wage, I think our hearts are full of joy.
“Of course, we have no doubt, knowing the kind of person we have as our Governor. He is a decent man; very responsible enough; and grew through the rank and file of the system. He understands what it takes to earn a living salary; he understands the difference between gifting money and paying somebody salary that can sustain him or her from the first day to the last day of the month.”
Also speaking, the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers State Chapter, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, noted that the amount approved by Governor Fubara puts Rivers State Government ahead of Lagos State as the highest minimum wage paying State to civil servants in Nigeria.
He stressed, “Why do I say that? Lagos State said N85,000.00 and Rivers State is paying N85,000.00. The IGRs of Lagos State and Rivers State are not the same. So, for the Governor to agree to pay the same rate with Lagos, that means we are at the top of it.
“We are the best, and we want to continue to commend the Governor. We assure him that, as far as this State is concerned, labour is going to stand with him. We will be with him even until the next eight years.
“I want to commend His Excellency, Executive Governor of Rivers State, our own Number One Worker in Rivers State, he has, once again, proven that the workers in Rivers State gave him an award on May Day as the Champion of Labour, as the Most Labour-Friendly Governor in Nigeria. He, again, has shown that to us today, and I want to commend him.”
He added that they were returning to the State Secretariat Complex to inform workers of the Governor’s magnanimity and benevolence towards civil servants in the State.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has felicitated Muslim faithful as they celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad, urging them to show love, tolerance, perseverance, patriotism and commitment to the growth and development of the State.
Governor Fubara, in a message in Port Harcourt, the State capital, urged the Muslim Ummah to use the lessons of the 12th day of the third month of Rabi’ al-Awwal to reflect on the core teachings of the Holy Prophet, and interceed for one another as exemplified by the sacrifices He made for humanity.
The Governor charged the faithful in the State and across the country to commit to ensuring that they continue to benefit from the genuine policies and programmes of government put in place to make live easy for all living and doing business in the State, without discrimination.
He said, “I, on behalf of the government and good people of Rivers State, heartily felicitate all Muslim faithful on the occasion of the Eid-el-Maulud celebration, to honour the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, and urge for prayers for the revival and unity of Nigeria.
“The occasion, yet again, provides an opportunity to reflect deeply on the need for greater application of the Prophet’s teachings bordering on piety, charity, patience, resilience, justice and peaceful coexistence,” he added.
Governor Fubara assured the Muslim community in Rivers State, and indeed, all residents of the resolve of his administration to sustain the tempo of providing critical projects and social services to improve the quality of life of the people.
