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RSG Beefs Up Security In ONELGA: Warns Kidnappers …Uncovers 8,000 Ghost Workers
The Rivers State Government, says it has beefed up security in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) to stem the incessant kidnap cases that have rocked the area in recent times.
Permanent Secretary, Government House, Mr Fortune Oguru gave the indication on Monday when protesting lecturers and students of the Federal College of Education Technical, Omoku marched down to Government House over the frequent abduction of lecturers in the school.
Mr Oguru while assuring the protesters of government’s prompt action, said government was on top of the situation since the state valued security of its citizens above everything.
The Permanent Secretary further assured, ‘ what you are going through, we know, but give us sometimes, and we would act.
He lauded the protesting students and lecturers for their peaceful conduct during the protest, while urging them to go back and support the security agents in fishing out the hoodlums in the area.
Mr Oguru submitted that so far, the state government had spent huge sums in strengthening the security of the state in the acquisition of equipment and training of policemen, and therefore assured them that their plight would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for quick action.
Earlier, leader of the protesters and chairman of the college’s chapter of Academic Staff Union, Comrade Chima Geofrey decried the incessant abduction of lecturers of the institution.
“Just Tuesday last week, one of our senior colleagues, Director of Degree Programme, was also kidnapped but was released yesterday”, Comrade Geofrey lamented.
So far, he stated that no fewer than nine lecturers were abducted by the kidnappers, while the whereabouts of one Dr Ihua Maduenyi kidnapped last year was yet to be unravelled.
The Academic Staff Union chairman lamented that “we are only left to our fate. The local government and security outfits cannot do anything to check the menace”.
Comrade Geofrey, therefore, demanded that the security outfit of the area be overhauled, while calling on the governor to draft more security personnel to the area.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon Raymond Nwokocha has called for calm over the incessant kidnapping in the area.
Hon Nwokocha while responding to allegations made by protesting staffers of Federal College of Education Technical, Omoku at Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday, explained that the council authorities had not rested on their oars over the security threat.
Said Nwokocha, ‘ we are not relenting in tackling the situation… the DPO and other security personnel have been tackling and arresting these hoodlums on a daily basis”.
The ONELGA chairman, while expressing sadness over the development, called on the residents of the area to support government’s efforts to check the malaise, stressing, ‘no human being has the right to tamper with the life of another human being”.
Meanwhile, the former Head of Service (HOS) in Rivers State, Mrs Esther Anucha, says the state government discovers 8,000 ghost workers in its service.
Anucha disclosed this in Port Harcourt on Monday at a send-forth ceremony organised in her honour by Etche indigenes in the state civil service.
She said she fought the ghost worker syndrome in the state civil service and reduced the work force from 54,000 to 46,000.
Anucha, who was the first female head of service in the state, said her administration was characterised by industrial peace and harmony.
She said she served the state wholeheartedly and meritoriously, saying “selfless service pays”.
Anucha said that she spare headed the building of the Public Service Institute (PSI) at Chokocho, in Etche Local Government Area of the state and also introduced inter-ministerial sports competitions.
According to her, she retired a fulfilled woman having laid a solid foundation for a vibrant state civil service, and advised Etche indigenes in the service to be good ambassadors of their community.
In his address, chairman of the organising committee, Mr Innocent Anyanwu said Anucha’s administration had brought many Etche indigenes into the state civil service.
Anyanwu said Anucha’s administration had also trained and retrained civil servants, and noted that training and retraining were very essential for success in every human endeavour.
He said that the retired Head of Service had worked hard and left a legacy of harmonious, robust and success-driven civil service and rewarded hard work in the state.
Anyanwu said that many Etche indigenes employed as cleaners, gardeners, security guards and messengers had retired on the same designation after serving for 35 years.
He said such development should be corrected in the state civil service.
Our correspondent reports that Anucha retired in September, 2012.
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.