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Workers Decry Cumbersome Process Of Accessing FG’s Subsidised Rice
A cross-section of civil servants at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, yesterday appealed to the Tinubu administration to create more platforms to ease the collection of its subsidised rice for workers.
The 50kg bags of rice are being sold at a flat rate of N40,000 each in furtherance of the Federal Government’s intervention to ameliorate the prevailing food crises in Nigeria.
Speaking with newsmen they said the process of accessing the product has become cumbersome and unwieldy due to inadequate distribution points owing to the huge number of people turning out to benefit from the scheme.
Mr Alex Luke, a civil servant, said that the special intervention by the Federal Government is a welcome development as it is aimed at easing the burden on Nigerians.
Luke said he was number 500 on the registration list as of yesterday morning and it took him two days to be able to just write down his name on the lists
“The challenge here is that the registration and the collection points are not enough, compared to the number of workers here at the Secretariat and those who are coming from other government establishments.
“It would be brilliant if the organisers could create other platforms or different points for other MDAs to get the rice. I think it will make the process organised and coordinated, “ he said.
Also speaking, another civil servant, Mrs Eunice Linus, described the special intervention of providing rice at the rate of N40, 000 per bag as a good omen for the people as many of them would love to have them.
She, however, said it was unfortunate that the process of accessing the product “has become a big challenge as it is wasting the time workers are supposed to be using to work in their offices”.
“When I got to the office this morning, I went straight to this place to write my name, and I saw many people there and it has been like that since we started the scheme.
“You know because rice is expensive at the market workers in particular would not want to miss the opportunity to buy a bag at N40,000 here. But the process is time-wasting.
“I believe there is an easier way to organise this than this chaotic process,” she suggested.
Expressing her view, Hajia Aisha Umaru, who lauded the Federal Government for the initiative, suggested that admin officers from different ministries should be assigned to write the names of interested workers and submit the lists at points designated for the distribution or sale of the product.
“I think it is a welcome idea but we have not been finding it easy even to write our names, let alone collect the bags of rice.
“As you can see, the place is crowded and it will get worse as more people are still coming to work.
“It will be very easy if different MDAs can assign officers from their offices to write the names of people and take them to collection points.”
On her part, Mrs Patience Yakubu, said the scheme might end up making many people commit their money only to end up not getting the products.
“You can imagine all of us that are working at the Federal Secretariat coming here and people from other places coming to queue up at the Head of Service for the collection of the rice.
“When would people finish writing their names and go back to work? It means we would use the whole day for this process which we are not even sure will succeed at the end of the day.
“There is a more organised way of making this a success if the government means well for us. “
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.
