News
…Slams FG Over Environmental Disaster Management …Swears-in New HOS
Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Governor of Rivers
State, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi, has lashed out at the Federal Government,
saying the measures it put in place to combat environmental challenges in the
country are gassy.
The governor, who was speaking against the backdrop of
worrisome environmental degradation, and rampaging floods in the Niger Delta,
wants the Federal Government to quickly put in place ‘’workable measures’’ that
would adequately address the growing problems of environmental degradation and
flooding in the region and the country as a whole.
Amaechi passed this seeming ‘Save Our Souls’ message to the
authorities in Abuja, through the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology.
Members of the committee, led by the Chairman, Dr. Bukola
Saraki, had paid the governor a courtesy visit at the
Government House, Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, where Governor
Amaechi argued that if adequate measures were not urgently put in place to
address the problems suffered by oil producing communities in the region,
‘’state resources will not be enough to contain the humanitarian crisis that
will arise from official inaction’’.
According to the chairman of the governors’ forum, ‘’we all
know that derivation funds are paid to the states, but all of us must work
together and ensure that the problems faced by these communities should be
addressed.
“We should do something fast to help our people, that is why
I said, you need to champion the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that addresses
issues of oil producing communities, and that is our concern because it will
bring succor to our people”.
He said the issue of flooding had become worrisome in the
oil and gas region and called on the central government to take urgent steps to
remove silt from River Niger in a bid to address the menace of flooding.
‘’The reason why you have flooding is because the Federal
Government need to remove silt from River Niger, and if we don’t do that, we
can’t stop flooding”, he said, while thanking the Senate committee for their
concern and commitment to finding a lasting solution to the environmental
challenges suffered by the people of the region.
Earlier, Committee Chairman, Sen. Saraki had said they were
in the state as part of their oversight functions to verify complaints relating
to issues of environmental pollution and devastation in oil producing
communities in the state.
Saraki expressed disappointment over the level of oil
pollution in Obite, Ebubu, Bori and Joinkrama communities in Rivers State.
‘’We visited some oil producing communities where there were
complaints of oil degradation and devastation of their water, farmlands and
environment, and the people could do nothing for their livelihood, because no
remediation was paid to them by those oil companies’’, the Senate committee
chair said.
He stated that, it was wrong for host communities to suffer
such level of pollution from oil companies operating in their areas without
adequate compensation paid to those affected.
Saraki also stressed the need for the speedy passage of
NOSDRA Amendment Bill 2012 before the National Assembly to address problems of
compensation, polluter pays and spill affecting oil producing communities in
the Niger Delta.
He commended Governor Amaechi for restoring peace in the
state, and thanked the oil affected communities for their cooperation and for
making their inspection visit a success.
Meanwhile, barely two weeks after erstwhile Head of Service
bowed out of office, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has sworn-in Barrister
Samuel Long-John as the new Head of Service, as he urged him to drive his
administration’s bid for an efficient civil service.
Rt Hon Amaechi said the appointment of Long-John is in line
with service rules, since according to him he is the most senior permanent
secretary.
Long John has so far put in 17 years before his recent
appointment, as he joined the state civil service in 1995.
Amaechi while speaking during the swearing-in-ceremony of
Barrister Long-John at Government House, Wednesday in Port Harcourt,
congratulated the new head of service on his appointment, and assured him of
his administration’s commitment to make the civil service an effective and
efficient body to ensure stability in the current political dispensation.
“I have made the decision to stabilize the civil service.
Right from the time I took over power in 2007, I thought of putting in place an
efficient and effective civil service to ensure stability. We have chosen
Barrister Samuel Long-John as the most senior civil servant, this is not the
time to play politics, and we have taken the best decision so far”, Amaechi
said.
Governor Amaechi also charged the new head of service to
improve on the good works of his predecessor, Mrs Esther Anucha and set up
useful structures that would enhance standards in line with the vision of his
administration.
“As the new head of service, you need to continue the
overhaul of the civil service, by ensuring that it is pro-ICT. You have the
duty to make them understand that every civil servant should be ICT-compliant”,
Amaechi further said.
The state chief executive also expressed the commitment of
his administration to enforce the distribution of computers to every ministry,
department and agency to ensure full compliance by all civil servants for
effective service delivery.
On his part, the new Head of Service, Barrister Samuel
Long-John said, he would put in his best to ensure that the vision of Governor
Amaechi is achieved.
“We all know that the civil service is the engine room of
government, and we will do everything possible to sustain it to serve the
current administration better than expected”, he said.
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.