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We’ve Made RSUTH Best Teaching Hospital In Nigeria, Wike Declares

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has declared the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) as the best of such medical facility in Nigeria.
Wike made the declaration given the huge investment his administration has made that was strengthening the capacity of the specialist hospital in the training of medical personnel, research and medical innovations.
The governor spoke at the inauguration of the twin buildings housing the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences and the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, performed by the Chairman of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Prof. Abba Hassan in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
“Go to the university teaching hospital, you have the best of equipment you can talk about. I don’t see any teaching hospital in this country today that can compare with what we have at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.”
Wike noted the several other separate health service providing facilities that are integrated into the teaching hospital for holistic service delivery.
The governor enthused that even the medical personnel and students alike do have the best of medical equipment that would expose them to contemporary medical practice.
Wike explained that soon, the Renal Centre and the hostel for medical house officers that have been completed would soon be inaugurated.
With such huge investment made, Wike charged the teachers and students to take their work and studies seriously so that there would be sustained excellence in the health sector.
“We are commissioning the Renal Centre and the house officers’ hostel, which have been completed and furnished soon.
“But it beats my imagination that a teaching hospital has no Renal Centre. Go and see the Mother and Child Hospital; the gynaecology and paediatric sections. Those of you who will be using the teaching hospital for your learning, you are getting the best equipment for your practical. What you see overseas is what you are seeing here.
“So, you must count yourselves to be lucky that you came at a time you won’t say we don’t have laboratory. You have everything now. So, there will be no excuse from you. All you need to do is to concentrate.”
Wike also reassured that he would not leave office without completing projects his administration has awarded, but noted that should any be left without being inaugurated, he was confident that his successor would, in the spirit of continuity, complete them for inauguration.
“I will not leave any project unfinished. I will make sure all the projects we have started are finished. If they are not finished, maybe at 90 or 95oercent completion, when my successors, Siminialayi Fubara and Prof. Ngozi Ordu come, they should use them for their first 100 days in office projects and commission them.
“This isbecause; they are part of what we are doing. When I say my successor, you know they will win. You know they will win because our report card is there to show what we have done. We are in the period of operation show your report card.”
Speaking further, Wike directed the commissioner for special projects to visit the site for building of hostels for medical students of the Rivers State University, and assess what was required to complete the project in the next two months.
Wike also insisted that the Pathology Department of the university should be ready for inauguration in January, 2023.
Performing the inauguration of the project, Chairman of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Prof. Abba Hassan, noted the audacity of Wike to sustain regular training of over 300 medical and other auxiliary staff.
These, he said, were also paid regularly higher than any government, including the Federal Government.
“Governor Wike has invested satisfactorily in this entire tripod starting with the development of manpower in the health sector, giving a foundation to sustain the investment in the infrastructure and equipment procurement.
“It will also provide opportunity for research and invention. I learned that over 300 medical and staff had been trained and are being paid regularly higher than any government, including the Federal Government. This will certainly help to forestall the cancerous brain drain in this sector.”
Hassan expressed his excitement to be part of the event when he said, “I’m privileged to be invited on this occasion to commission one of the projects in health sector among several projects that had been commissioned so far.
“For us in the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria as regulator in training and practice of medicine and dentistry, wish to note with satisfaction the developmental so far done in this sector by your government.
“Healthcare training and services are anchored on a tripod of consisting of personnel, infrastructure and equipment procurement.”
On his part, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing council of the university, Justice IcheNdu (rtd), recalled how on November 29, 2019, representatives of the National University Commission (NUC) were on resource verification at RSU College of Medical Sciences.
During the visit, they insisted, he said, that before the university would be accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to proceed to the clinicals, commitments should be shown in building such faculty building.
He thanked Wike for his support that has actualised the requirement needed for full accreditation.
In his speech, Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof. Nlerum Okogbule, said the university was appreciative of the sagacity and commitment shown by Wike towards the improvement of medical study and services in the institution.
In his address, Commissioner for Education, Prof Chinedu Mmom, said it took the audacity of the governor to break the jinx by establishing the College of Medical Sciences at the Rivers State University.
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FG To Seize Retirees’ Property Over Unpaid Housing Loans

The Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board says it has begun the compilation of list of retired civil servants who have defaulted on the full repayment of housing loans obtained.
Head of Information and Public Relations, FGSHLB, Mrs Ngozi Obiechina, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, yesterday.
Obiechina quoted the Executive Secretary of the Board, Mrs Salamatu Ahmed, as saying that the move was aimed at recovering mortgaged properties from retirees who failed to meet their loan obligations.
Ahmed noted that the decision followed a recent memo issued by Mrs Patience Oyekunle, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
According to her, the memo reminded public servants of the mandatory requirement to obtain a Certificate of Non-Indebtedness to the FGSHLB and MDA Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society as a precondition for retirement.
The Executive Secretary said that the board would take necessary legal steps to repossess properties where applicable, in line with the terms of the loan agreements.
She said this was in line with the provisions of the Public Service Rules 021002 (p), issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
“I am directed to bring to your attention the provision of Public Service Rule (PSR) 021002 (p), which mandates all public servants to obtain a Certificate of Non-Indebtedness as a prerequisite for retirement.
“The Federal Government will commence the seizure of mortgaged properties belonging to retiring federal public servants who have failed to fully repay housing loans obtained from the board,” she said.
Ahmed explained that the FGSHLB reserves the legal right to repossess any mortgaged property in cases where a public servant exits service without fully repaying the loan.
She reiterated that the directive also applied to already retired officers who were still indebted.
She urged all affected public servants to regularise their loan status and obtain the required clearance certificate without delay.
“The board is currently compiling a list of such retirees, which will be forwarded to relevant regulatory agencies for debt recovery.
“The FGSHLB remains committed to enforcing compliance and ensuring proper loan recovery procedures are followed, “ she added.
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FG Begins Induction For New Permanent Secretaries, Accountant-General

The Federal Government has kicked off a three-day induction programme for newly appointed Permanent Secretaries and the Accountant-General of the Federation, aimed at equipping them for strategic leadership and effective policy implementation.
The induction, according to a statement yesterday by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Eno Olotu, which commenced on Wednesday, is being held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening session, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, congratulated the new appointees and described their roles as pivotal to governance and national development.
“Permanent Secretaries are the engine room of the government. They are critical to driving policy implementation, institutional performance, and reform across the service”, she said.
The Federal Government has kicked off a three-day induction programme for newly appointed Permanent Secretaries and the Accountant-General of the Federation, aimed at equipping them for strategic leadership and effective policy implementation.
The induction, according to a statement yesterday by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Eno Olotu, which commenced on Wednesday, is being held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening session, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, congratulated the new appointees and described their roles as pivotal to governance and national development.
“Permanent Secretaries are the engine room of the government. They are critical to driving policy implementation, institutional performance, and reform across the service”, she said.
“The expectations are high, and the responsibility is immense. But with commitment and teamwork, we can deliver a more efficient, accountable, and citizen-centred public service.
“This final lap of FCSSIP 25 calls for urgency, accountability, and strategic focus. You must translate vision into measurable results,” she stated.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, described the programme as a strategic investment in leadership capacity and institutional effectiveness.
The sessions featured expert-led discussions, simulations, and strategic briefings facilitated by a distinguished faculty, including Engr. Suleiman Adamu, former Minister of Water Resources; Dr. Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination; Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice; Alh. Yusuf Addy, retired Federal Director; Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Amb. Mustapha Lawal Suleiman, Mr. Adesola Olusade, and Dr. Ifeoma Anagbogu, all retired Permanent Secretaries.
Participants include Dr. Obi Emeka Vitalis, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, Mr. Danjuma Mohammed Sanusi, Mr. Olusanya Olubunmi, Dr. Keshinro Maryam Ismaila, Dr. Akujobi Chinyere Ijeoma, Dr. Umobong Emanso Okop, Dr. Isokpunwu Christopher Osaruwanmwen, Mrs. Oyekunle N. Patience, Dr. Kalba U. Danjuma, Mr. Nadungu Gagare, Mr. Onwusoro I. Maduka, Dr. Usman Salihu Aminu, Mr. Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam, Mr. Ndiomu Ebiogeh Philip, Dr. Anuma N. Ogbonnaya, Mr. Adeladan Rafiu Olaninre, and Mr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammed, alongside the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi.
The induction programme will feature sessions on public sector leadership, policy delivery, ethics in service, digital transformation, and performance management.
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NNPCL To Undergo Forensic Audit Soon -FG

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has announced that a forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) will begin soon.
Edun revealed this at the ongoing Nigerian Investor Forum, held alongside the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC.
The minister explained that the recent changes in the NNPCL management are part of a broader effort by the Federal Government to clean up and examine the company closely.
While addressing top global investors, including representatives from J.P. Morgan, Edun shared key reforms the government has introduced to revive the economy and restore investor confidence.
He told the investors that the government’s bold economic steps have laid a strong foundation to attract private investment.
He stated, “Our goal is not just to maintain this momentum, but to accelerate it. We are targeting seven per cent annual growth, and we believe the policies we have implemented have laid the groundwork to achieve this.”
Edun highlighted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has rolled out major reforms that are already making a difference.
He added that the Nigerian economy grew by 3.84 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024 and recorded a 3.4 per cent growth for the year.
Edun further stressed the importance of the reforms, describing them as “unprecedented,” adding that, “We said we would do it, and now we have done it. This time, we’re staying the course.”
He pointed out signs of progress such as lower budget deficits, a better trade balance, and a more stable exchange rate.
He also said that the focus is now on growing key sectors, especially agriculture.
According to Edun, agriculture is at the top of the government’s agenda, with the aim of improving food supply and increasing productivity.
“We aim to close the food supply gap, not by importing more, but by enabling domestic producers to scale and innovate,” he said.
On infrastructure, Edun revealed that the government has rolled out 90,000km of fibre optic cable to improve internet access.
He said this move is crucial for supporting young Nigerians and tech startups.
He also noted that 4,000km of roads have been offered for private sector participation, with the first 1,000km already approved for construction.
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