Niger Delta
Delta Gov’s Wife Promises Creche For Breastfeeding Mothers
Wife of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, Tobore, has promised to establish a creche at the Government House, Asaba, to encourage exclusive breastfeeding among workers.
Oborevwori said this at the launch of the 2023 breastfeeding week at the Asaba Specialist Hospital on Friday.
The Governor’s wife said the gesture was aimed at encouraging exclusive breastfeeding among workers in the state.
“This will help nursing mothers who have to go to work and still creat time to take care of their babies in terms of exclusive breastfeeding.
“With the understanding that our mothers need to work and still fend for their babies, I promise to make an avenue in the government house where staff can at least go to breastfeed their babies for an hour and still continue work.
“I commend the management of the Asaba Specialist Hospital who have already implemented this and I hope that other offices borrow a cue from this”, she said.
The reports that beastfeeding week was being celebrated from Aug. 1 to Aug 7 every year to create increased awareness on breastfeeding.
Oborevwori said available statistics revealed that there were lesser number of women who engaged in exclusive breastfeeding and attributed it to their working condition.
She also advised nursing mothers to take seriously, the task of feeding their babies on breast milk exclusively for the first six months, and continuing till two years.
She said this would help to provide ideal nutrients for the babies, adding that breest milk contain all that the babies needed for healthy growth and development.
In her remarks, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Peace Ighosevwe, said in spite of the numerous health benefits of breest milk, only 29 per cent of mothers engaged in exclusive breastfeeding.
“This can be attributed to high cost of living, as most mothers have to engage themselves in work to support their families, while a number of persons are also ignorant.
“The hospital had to establish a creche at a subsidised rate to encourage our staff to continue breastfeeding their children,” she said.
The Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RSBOPP), says efforts are being made to strengthen the existing procurement processes leading to the award of contracts and jobs execution in the state to enhance service delivery.
The Board chairman of the RSBOPP, Lawrence Oko-Jaja, disclosed this while speaking to journalists in his office in Port Harcourt, after a meeting with staff of the agency, last Friday.
Oko-Jaja who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) stated that procurement had become a global issue, stressing that without a proper procurement plan, it would be difficult for any state or nation to move forward in the attainment of its developmental strategies and goals.
The chairman said that the Board had observed some improprieties in the procurement processes and assured that they would take every measure to ensure full compliance with the state procurement laws.
“We will ensure that the laws are followed and we have value for money. We must ensure that money is used for contract execution and not to enrich people’s pockets. We’ll ensure that the money being quoted for any job or contract corresponds with the prevailing market price. We are going to strengthen the monitoring and evaluating team of the Board to perform their duties; going to markets, verify the prices quoted for and also ensure compliance.
“We are going to look into the procurement laws to see how we can close the existing gaps noticed that are not in line with global practices. These measures will also affect local government councils in the state to ensure there is value for money and save money for the state government. And in doing so, the government can spread its services across the state and not in one place.
“His Excellency, the governor of the state has a mantra, “Rivers first”. We are going to ensure we assist him and the state government achieve this policy by ensuring that the procurement laws are complied with and things are done rightly. That is why we are here,” he said.
Oko-Jaja assured that members of the Board would justify the confidence reposed in them by the state governor for the benefit of the state.
Earlier, in an interactive meeting between Board members and staff of the agency, the Board chairman of RSBOPP told the excited workforce that the Board had approved the merger of some departments, namely Legal, Ethics Human Resources and the Facility Management departments to ensure maximum output and efficiency in service delivery.
He said that the Legal and Ethics departments had been merged as one department, adding the Human Resources and Facility Management departments had also been merged.
He told them that going forward every department would also be accountable for its responsibility and announced that the Board had also approved that conditions of service should be put in place for the staff of the agency so that they would grow like their counterparts in the state mainstream civil service.
Akujobi Amadi
The Rivers State Government says it would continue to address the needs of Civil Servants in the State.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara stated this during the Rivers State Civil Service 2025 New Year Thanksgiving Service, at the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
Speaking through his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, Governor Fubara said his Administration is willing and ready to do what will make Civil Servants happy, more hardworking, and more distinguished.
“I want to tell you that you have our ears, and you can tell because when the Head of Service gave his address, there were no demands because while you were yet asking, it was already executed. We want you to know that to whom much is given, much is expected. We do not take your love and support for granted.” Governor Fubara stressed.
The State Chief Executive urged Civil Servants to redouble and rekindle their energy to ensure that the Rivers State Civil Service becomes the envy of Civil Service in Nigeria, noting that the State Government is pleased to work as a family with Civil Servants.
He implored them to continue to uphold his Administration in prayers, which according to him has kept him thus far, adding that prayers would lead them for years to come while asking them to be proud of whom they are as Civil Servants.
In his address, the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nweke, expressed gratitude to Governor Fubara for the implementation of the enhanced minimum wage, payment of Christmas bonus, improved retirement benefits, and creation of employment opportunities amongst others, as well as issuance of SME loans facility to deserving Civil Servants in the State.
Dr Nweke who said the theme of this year’s thanksgiving “Peace Be Still” reminds us that even amid turmoil and uncertainties you can find peace and calm in God’s presence while urging them to pray for continuous peace and development in the State.
In his sermon, the Dean Church of God, Anglican Communion, the Most. Rev. Blessing Enyindah who spoke on the theme “Peace Be Still” drawn from Mark 4:35-41, said storms of life may manifest in different ways and forms, causing us anxiety and sleepless nights but with Jesus Christ by our side, there is hope.
