Rivers
Unions Hail Severance Package For PHCN Workers
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Rivers council and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) have lauded President Goodluck Jonathan over the approval of 384 billion naira severance package to the disengaged employees of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Plc.
Speaking to The Tide the State chairman of TUC Comrade Chika Onuegbu said the action of the president Goodluck Jonathan was a welcome development to the workers of PHCN.
He said the severance package would actually clear any ambiguity over the privatization of the PHCN and the plights of the disengaged staff of the PHCN.
The union boss said the payment of the severance benefit should commence immediately to take care of workers who had suffered for too long without payment.
He urged the federal government to honour the agreement reached with the labour headers over the absorption of the PHCN workers by the new companies.
Similarly, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) Chris Banigo has urged Journalists to get more detailed reports on the severance package as announced by the president Goodluck Jonathan.
In his response to The Tide, SMS message, he said “What will the fund do for the teeming workers of PHCN that have gotten public harassment with the supply of erratic power.
The Minister of Labour and Productivity Chief Emeka Wogu had said the payment would finally put an end to labour issues in the power sector.
Philip Okparaji / Ihuaenye Victor
Rivers
Rivers CJ To Sanction Lawyers Who Refuse To Comply With ADR Compliance
The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.
Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .
He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.
Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.
NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.
In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.
The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.
He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.
The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.
Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.
Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.
Akujobi Amadi