City Crime
NDDC Medical Service: Police Investigate Violent Disruption
Abia State Police Command has commenced investigation into the June 23 violent disruption of a free medical programme at the Okaiuga Nkwoegwu Autonomous Community (ONAC) civic centre, which led to the death of a female patient.
Also, a medical equipment (an electronic device) worth N1.5 million and cash belonging to Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) officials, organisers of the programme, were said to have been stolen by the irate youths. The youths destroyed canopies and torched several buildings. The free medical programme, targeted at the rural poor, was to run from June 20- 26.
Leaders of ONAC, who refuted claims by the traditional ruler of Umuosu Autonomous Community, Eze Nzenwata Mbakwe that ONAC youths were responsible for the violence, alleged that youths from Umuosu, a neighbouring community, disrupted the programme on its third day.
They said the youths beat up doctors, NDDC officials and chased away thousands of people who had come for treatment from across Abia and other states.
According to them, the woman who died hails from Ofeme, an Ohuhu sub-clan. A Special Adviser to the ONAC traditional ruler, Dr. Chijioke Odimuko, said doctors had already opened her tummy when the violence began and they were forced to abandon their patient and flee for their lives, even as the woman had to run with her intestine gushing out. She reportedly died two days later.
Odimuko said available evidence point to the fact that the attack by Umuosu youths was premeditated.
He said Umuosu is half of a village of the eight villages in ONAC, and since it has been accorded autonomous status, it should hands off facilities belonging to ONAC.
President-General of ONAC Welfare Union, Chief Emma Azubuine, accused the traditional ruler of Umuosu, Eze Nzenwata Mbakwe of fomenting the trouble because he was denied the honour of flagging of the programme..
Azubuine said Eze Mbakwe, who arrived the venue few minutes to the 12 noon period for the flagging-off ceremony on June 23, had told the NDDC officials that he was the authentic paramount ruler of the area and that they should deal with him only.
The ONAC President-General, who said his house was vandalised by Umuosu youths, who stole the sum of N800, 000 and a laptop belonging to his son from the building, added the civic centre venue of the programme belonged to the ONAC, where Umuosu had no jurisdiction.
He said NDDC did write to their traditional ruler, Eze Philip Owoghiri, whom they had asked to make adequate security arrangements, and come to flag-off the programme officially.
ONAC Youth President, Chukwemeka Aguocha, an Engineer, who gave graphic details of how the trouble started, having been piloting the effective crowd control put in place by ONAC youths, denied that Eze Mbakwe was pushed down at the civic centre as the monarch had claimed in a Press Briefing shortly after the incident.
He said the Eze was duly recognised but told by NDDC officials that he could not go into the civic centre with the crowd that came with him because it was which was being used as consulting rooms by doctors.
Aguocha said that about 50 Umuosu youths armed with dangerous weapons invaded the civic centre and destroyed everything that was in sight and even slapped NNDC doctors with matches less than five minutes after their monarch was taken into the civic centre.
Eze Owoghiri, whose convoy was attacked by the youths on his way to the venue, said the incident shocked him as he has always stood for peace.
He said he reported the matter to the Police after escaping from the mob.” If not for my tolerance, there would have been great bloodshed. I am praying that God will help us to have peace,” he said.
A senior police officer told The Tide that investigations into the violence has commenced.
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.
