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Our Policies Aligning With Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Mantra For Nigeria -Gov Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that his administration was working in tandem with President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government’s policies designed to make life better for Nigerians through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Governor Fubara stated that, in doing so, the Woji-Aleto-Alesa-Refinery Road, now 70 percent completed, was being constructed to provide a bypass to easily access the Port Harcourt Refinery and take off traffic from the East-West Road.
He made the remark when members of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee to Investigate the Turnaround Maintenance of Nigeria’s Refineries, led by its Chairman, Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah paid him a courtesy visit at Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday night.
The Governor said the purpose of governance was to make life easy for the people, and expressed delight that the Senate Committee’s investigation would result in making life easy and meaningful for Nigerians.
”We, as a State, before the commencement of the rehabilitation job, had a contribution that we wanted to make to support the work at the refinery because of the deplorable state of the East-West Road.
”There is a road: Woji-Aleto-Alesa Refinery Road. We are almost completing the bridge. It’s about 70 percent completed. We are doing almost the last part of it. With that road, it will help to decongest and reduce the trouble commuters face along the East-West Road while providing easy access, straight to the refinery.
”So, you can see that our Government is working in line, supporting the Administration of President Bola Tinubu to give our people hope and assurance that things will soon get better.
”And it is this role that you are playing, genuinely. And with the support of this State Government, that is the only way we can achieve the purpose of governance for everyone.
”The purpose of governance is to make life easy for the people. I am happy that your investigation would result in making life easy for the people,” he expained.
Governor Fubara pointed to the derivable benefits when the refinery is eventually revamped and becomes operational, both to the Federal Government and host Rivers State.
“When the refinery restarts production, there will be petroleum products available locally. The issue of importation will go down. We will now make impact, economy will grow, internally generated revenue will increase. More projects will be executed in this State. You can see that it’s a chain effect thing. So, I want to thank you”, he said.
Governor Fubara reiterated the obvious, saying: “We might be a State, as being presented that we have issues. But we don’t have any issues. Our eyes are on the ball to deliver for our people. Even in the face of this deliberate distraction, we will not fail our people because at the end, it is the impact we make on our people that counts.”
He warned that anybody who disrespects a man in authority either for his age or status, such person could succeed but temporarily because such insults would boomerang, coming with greater, bigger pain.
”I am aware that this is not the actual number of members of this committee. You are more than this. I am also aware that the senator representing, unfortunately, my senatorial district, didn’t want you to come here.
”But because you are men of integrity: the real ones who have integrity; you decided to come and do what is right. God will bless you.
”What you are doing is the right thing. Politics is a business of interest. Your worse enemy today can become your best friend tomorrow. It’s a business of interest. But the interest of the people should come first.
”Unfortunately, some people think it is something that has to do with life or death. And that is one mistake everybody makes when you take this business outside of the normal principles and rules.”
”Our Government has no business with politics of bitterness because we have the interest of our people at heart. We take their wellbeing as our priority, because that is why they gave us the mandate to govern them. So, their interest, which is the interest of the State, comes first in our scheme of things,” he said.
He reminded the Senators of the peaceful nature and hospitality of the State and its people, and urged them to feel free to interact with the State for the mutual benefit of all stakeholders.
In his presentation, the Chairman of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee to Investigate the Turnaround Maintenance of Nigeria’s Refineries, Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah (representing Anambra South Senatorial District), said they were at Warri Refinery on Thursday, and had come Port Harcourt to investigate the work that has been done and assess the level of preparedness of both the old and new Port Harcourt Refinery to recommence operations.
Senator Ubah said, “We will recall that the old Port Harcourt Refinery was the first refinery in Nigeria built in 1965, and the second one was built in 1989. And for so long now, they have not been in active operations.
”And with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, and also the desire of Nigerians and our determination; the Senate led by our President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, we had a resolution in the Senate to look at it and make sure that Nigeria’s refineries are working so that we shouldn’t be depending on importation of petroleum products”, he said.
Senator Ubah emphasised: “And that is one of the reasons that we are here, and as well to look into the contract and investigate the level of compliance vis-a-vis the contract specifications.
”We are pleased to note that what we saw is most encouraging as the refinery upgrade and full rehabilitation is almost at 90 percent completed. We are confident that the refinery will soon be operational before the end of the year,” Senator Ubah added.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged newly sworn-in chairman and members of the State House of Assembly Service Commission to achieve greater productivity, promote highest standard and insist on best practices in the discharge of Legislative services.
Governor Fubara also urged them to ensure that parliamentary staff are put through disciplinary conducts in the discharge of their duties in the service.
Governor Fubara gave the charge shortly after the chairman and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) Service Commission were sworn-in at the Executive Chamber of Government House in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
The Governor also sworn-in the chairman and members of the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission.
Hon Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, is the chairman of RSHA, with Dr Kennedy Ebeku, Hon. Soberekon Clark, Hon. Jones Ogbonda, and Hon Kingston Sylvanus as members.
For the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission, Hon GoodLife Ben will serve as the chairman, with Chief Emmanuel G. Jaja, Ms. Betty Warmate, Barrister Jerome Chimenem, Hon Prince O. Ohochukwu, Barrister Philip Okparaji, and Christian Amadi as members.
Governor Fubara explained that the constitution and swearing-in of the respective commissions were delayed with the hope that all former members of the political block will come back together but quickly added that such expectation is dashed now as governance has to move on.
He said: “As it stands now, our position is very clear. The ship that we are onboard is clear, and the activities of governance have to continue.
“So, this swearing-in is to give these two units of government – particularly, the House of Assembly Service Commission, a formal commission so that you can start carrying out the activities of promotion, discipline and every other thing that has to do with the legislative staff activity.”
Governor Fubara emphasised: “This assignment is not business as usual. You have to take full charge, and you have to ensure that there is discipline in the service.”
Speaking on the Local Government Service Commission, Governor Fubara said an acting Chairman was previously appointed to hold brief while the situation was being studied but quickly added that as it stands now, a full fledged commission has to be constituted to steer affairs.
Governor Fubara stated that the various Local Government Councils have been mandated to commence payment of the N85,000.00 Minimum Wage to their workers.
However, Governor Fubara said that mandate had met with series of complaints about ghost workers or inflated payroll staff list, which required proper scrutiny in order to ensure that only genuine workers benefit.
He said, “You must ensure that you support the Local Government Chairmen to get rid of those fake names in the payroll, so that when they implement the N85,000.00 Minimum Wage, it will not be too much burden on them.
“I am not saying you should go and dismiss people who are genuinely employed. Hear me very well: there must be proper scrutiny to be sure that whoever is there must be a genuine civil servant employed by the commission, and must have met all the conditions.”
Governor Fubara also directed the commission to address the issue of staff stagnation on a particular grade level, which is an ugly practice, and make sure those due promotion truly benefit from statutory progression in the service.
He said, “The second side is, you have the issue of promotion, you must also ensure that they are adequately promoted so that they can start enjoying like their counterparts in the mainstream.
“There is too much dragging of their promotion, for somebody to be on Grade Level 4 for over 30 years is not good. It is not good news.”
Governor Fubara maintained: “I believe strongly that you will not allow yourselves to be corrupted like those stories that we used to hear. Make sure that there is acceptable level of discipline and standard in the Local Government Service Commission.
“I also believe strongly that you are already prepared for this assignment, and since you are prepared, I will charge you to go do what you know how to do best. Be assured that the government will give you all the necessary support.”
Governor Fubara noted that the task before them could seem Herculean but they should be assured of support from his administration to drive the assignment given to them to reckonable success.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that the open dumping of wastes has to be replaced with a more innovative and efficient disposal method so that wastes can be taken off the streets and turned into income-yielding ventures.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while giving charge to the newly constituted Board of Directors of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) and its Managing Director at Government House in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
The Board members included Engr. Edward Namiesimagh as the chairman, while Hon. Bishop Best, Dr. Ipalibo Sogules, Richard Mazi, and Civian Y. Nwibari are members, with Hon. Orukwem Amadi-Oparaeli as the Managing Director.
Governor Fubara said waste disposal and management have remained a major global concern, adding that over the years, successive administrations in the State had struggled to take wastes off the streets but ended up taking them to other dumpsites where they constitute nuisance and environmental hazards.
He said, “Today, I am here putting a team together to look at these challenges differently. Let it not be the regular pattern whereby at the end of the month, you come to collect money from me for payments.
“Don’t indulge in appointing your friends as sweepers, evaluators of debris, then you start building hotels, or buying big cars. Let us go beyond that and tap into the potentials of waste management.
“It is an area in this world that there is so much money in. It is an area that creates employment, and generates huge revenue. It is not just depending on what I will give to you. Consider what change you’ll bring to the work, that’s what I want to see in Rivers State.”
Governor Fubara told them that they were carefully selected because of the experiences they had garnered in their previous public assignments, and urged them to replicate their successes on a bigger scale with the new appointment.
The Governor advised them to work assiduously to bring back the beauty of Port Harcourt with effective waste disposal drive, and ensure the city is clean and green to reflect its old Garden City status.
Governor Fubara emphasised: “If not for our effort, today, some people could have even changed it to become Garbage City. But God forbid, it is not going to be in our own time.
“I want you to understand that I feel very unhappy with the sight I see. When you are driving into Port Harcourt, one of the first things that will welcome you is the waste dump that you see along the Obiri-Ikwerre-Airport Road. I don’t feel happy about it.
“Your first task should be to relocate it. That particular place needs to be completely closed because it is the entrance to the city. You need to get a new place where we can relocate our wastes.”
Governor Fubara urged them to be more responsible as they discharge their assignment, saying that it is more important to see results than being merely preoccupied with the aura of office.
The Governor warned that he will not hesitate to relieve anyone found wanting, and return the agency back to the era of a sole administrator running the affairs of the agency.
He noted, “This team cuts across all the Senatorial Districts, so that whatever you are going to do there, you ensure it spreads. While you are also carrying out this job, let it be known to the world that the interest of everybody in the State is accommodated.
“It shouldn’t be one-sided. Make sure that all our supporters who have the capacity and competence to do little jobs in the refuse area are also accommodated. I am serious. I have no doubt that you are going to impress us. So, I charge you to do all you can to make sure that the face of Port Harcourt changes when it comes to the issue of refuse.”
Governor Fubara told them to be good ambassadors of his administration as they interface with members of the public while also changing the face of refuse management in the State.
In his acceptance speech, Chairman of Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), Engr. Edward Namiesimagh, expressed appreciation to the Governor, on behalf of members of the Board, for finding them worthy to handle such difficult but surmountable task of keeping Port Harcourt clean.
He said, “When I see the calibre of people you assembled, all of us are happy, and I assure that with our period of experience in our fields and politics and interaction with people and the zeal that comes with this job, we assure you that we will do our best to make sure that the policy of restoring Port Harcourt to its lost glory is achieved with your support.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on Saturday, graced the solemnization of Sacrament of Matrimony between Engr Victor Kii, and his heartthrob, Engr Mercy Mankwe.
Engr Kii is the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture.
The wedding ceremony was held at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Chaplaincy, Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), along the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway, Rumuibekwe in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
In his Homily, the Chief Celebrant, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Most Rev Matthew Hassan Kukah, said marriage is an enduring union, ordained by God for two persons – man and woman – who have decided in love to live their lives together.
Bishop Kukah stated that people in such Christian marriage should know that they are in an indissoluble union, bounded by faith, and advised them to gladly make personal sacrifices in tolerance and care for each other so that they can have a healthy, successful and rewarding life together.
In his vote of thanks, co-celebrant, Very Rev Monsignor Pius Kii, showered commendations on the Governor for his fatherly support to the family, and the numerous landmark achievements in various sectors across the State.
The clergy and the church took the opportunity to pray for the success and good health of Governor Fubara and his administration, and urged God to protect, guide and defend him at all times.
The church also presented 50th birthday cake and gifts to the Governor, and also sang birthday songs to accentuate the celebration.
Highlights of the event were the signing of the marriage register by the new couple, Victor and Mercy, and the cutting of the 50th Birthday cake by the Governor.