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Board Moves Against Fake Pension Administrators

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The Rivers State Pension Board says it would  close down sub-standard and unregistered Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) in the state before June this year.

The Chairman of the Board, Mrs. Edna O. Alekor disclosed this last Thursday at the Sensitisation and Enlightment Programme on the contributory pension scheme organised in Port Harcourt.

Mrs. Alekor said the board has already concluded plans with the Pension Commission (PenCom) in the state to ensure that pension agencies that do not have the requisite capital in its accounts are phased out of the state.

She called on all pension fund administration agencies in the state to comply with the rules and regulations of the National Pension Commission (PenCon), saying that the board would strictly supervise and screen all agencies before June 2012 to ensure sanity in the new system.

Mrs. Alekor who restated the genuineness and transparency of the new pension scheme noted that there was a lot of fraud in the former system.

The Chairman opined that the new pension scheme would erase the challenges of delayed payment after retirement.

According to her, the new system is to empower individual contributors and to ensure that retirees received their pension benefits as and when due.

She also explained that the pension scheme was to ensure that retirees have individual Retirement Saving Accounts (RSA) where workers contributions would be paid into every month as pension fund.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman, Rivers State House of Assembly Finance Committee, Hon. John Josiah Olu said the Pension Reform Act, which was passed into law in 2004 is to ensure that money contributed by workers was insured for immediate payment after retirement of both public and private workers in the state.

He said the state House of Assembly was committed to ensuring that the new board was monitored strictly to remove the challenges that killed the former system.

He assured all workers, especially civil servants in the state that the issue of delayed pensions payment would be over as the new board was committed to ensuring workers benefited from their pensions, immediately they retired.

 

Enoch Epelle

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Rivers

JONAPWD Elections: Commissioner Inaugurates 5-Man Committee 

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The Rivers State Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mr. Ilamu Arugu, has inaugurated a 5-man electoral committee to oversee the forth-coming elections of the Joint Association of Persons Living with Disabilities in the State (JONAPWD).
Members of the committee were carefully selected from five clusters, representing various categories of persons with disabilities, including visually and hearing impaired, spinal cord injury, physically challenged, and persons with albinism, to ensure that the electoral process is inclusive.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held in his office in Port-Harcourt, Mr. Arugu emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability, and fairness in the electoral process and charged the committee members to “conduct the election with integrity, impartiality, and the fear of God”.
The  Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Commissioner also tasked the committee with developing a comprehensive plan for the election within two weeks and to report any challenges they encounter within the same timeframe to ensure prompt solutions to facilitate a seamless election.
In his acceptance speech, the newly appointed Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mr. Nwankwo Ndubuisi, expressed his gratitude to the Commissioner on behalf of his colleagues for entrusting them with the mandate and pledged  to work tirelessly to ensure a free, fair, and credible electoral process.
“I’d like to thank the Commissioner for this opportunity, and I assure him that we’ll work diligently to ensure a successful election”, the Chairman said.
Mr. Ndubuisi also thanked his colleagues for their support and cooperation, saying, “We’re dedicated to making this election a reality, and we’ll work together to achieve our goal”.
This inauguration marks a crucial milestone in addressing the leadership vacuum created by the expiration of Mr. Kie Obomanu’s tenure as Chairman of JONAPWD.
A statement by the Head of Press, Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Martha Igbiks, said, “the Ministry’s initiative is a welcome development which demonstrates its commitment to promoting inclusivity, transparency, and accountability in governance, ensuring that persons with disabilities have a voice and are actively involved in the decision-making process”.
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Rivers

Orazi Gas Explosion: 3 Confirmed Dead

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Three persons have been confirmed dead in the Orazi Gas explosion in Port Harcourt , Rivers State, which occurred last weekend.
Recall that the Rivers State Government confirmed that 16 persons  were initially admitted into the hospital as a result of the  explosion.
According to information, the dead, which include a father and two of his daughters, were among those receiving treatment at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt, saying the 16 survivors from the incident were carried immediately to the RSUTH.
She also confirmed that some of them were in critical conditions when they were taken there.
“In fact, we are currently managing 16 patients that arose from the explosion at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.
“They have various degrees of burns and thankfully we have a highly specialized unit that is providing expert attention and care to the patients”, she said.
Dr. Oreh said the explosion took place in a residential area without proper guidelines.
“The gas explosion took place in a residential area without adherent to guidelines on how gas cylinders that are commercialized should be operated.
“This is definitely beyond the ministry of health and that emphasizes the fact of what we call social determinants of health and so we work very closely with other ministries”she said.
She also said the Rivers State Government, through the various ministries, is carrying out activities with the view to streamlining the activities of such service providers so that clear guidelines are communicated to them to ensure that the lives of and property of the people of Rivers state is protected.
John Bibor
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Rivers

Commissioner Commends Gov Over Support For Ministry

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The Rivers State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon Isreal Lebura Ngbuelo, has commended the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, over the practical steps taken and support given to the ministry during the just-concluded Abuja International Carnival, 2024.
Hon Ngbuelo made the commendation during the Ministry’s Thanksgiving Service to celebrate the State’s achievement as the over all best State at the just-concluded Abuja International Carnival, 2024, held at the Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG), Passover Parish in Port Harcourt.
He expressed gratitude to God for the support given to the ministry by the State Governor, noting that it contributed to the success of the Ministry at the Carnival.
“We are here to thank God for success He accorded us at the just-concluded Abuja International Carnival, 2024.
“We left Rivers State with over 700 contingent and emerged as the over all best winner for the Abuja International Carnival, 2024.
” We are here also to thank God for the staff of the Ministry and  the peace in the Ministry, which increased us as a people and we can attest to it that by the grace of God we have a Governor that has passion for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
“That we came back without any injury is a thing of joy”, Hon Ngbuelo stated.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Barr. Tomonialadieokuma  Ishmael, said the Ministry organized the Thanksgiving Service to express gratitude to God for successful outing at the Abuja International Carnival.
He said the success of the Ministry at  the event was another landmark for the state, adding that it was not the first time the ministry has been the over all best in the tournament, noting that “the peace in the State has been showcased to the entire world, not just Nigeria, that Rivers State is rich in culture and Tourism.
“We went to Abuja and emerged champions, so we are happy for State and for the ministry”, Barr Ishmael said.
Kiadum Edookor
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