Rivers
RSG Debunks Rumours On Alleged Salary Deductions
The Rivers State
Government (RSG) has debunked rumours on alleged deductions from salaries of workers in the month of September, 2013.
A statement from the Office of the Head of Service signed by the Permanent Secretary, Policy/Strategy, Mr. Emmanuel Urang said the perceived deductions was a result of the completion of payment of accruing arrears of the 70 percent salary relativity and the N18,000 minimum wage approved by the federal government.
The statement explained that due to the huge amount involved, payment of the accrued arrears was spread over 10 months which began in November 2012 and ended in August 2013, noting that because of the long spread of payments, workers have gotten used to the figures as part of their monthly salaries.
It advised workers to ensure they collect their monthly payslips regularly from the Account Departments of their respective ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and verify the components of their salary stating that if any deductions order than the regular ones were noticed, formal complaints should be made to the Permanent Secretaries/Heads of Departments of their MDAS who will then forward the complaint to the Ministry of Finance for appropriate action.
The statement reiterated the premium placed on workers welfares by the state government and would do everything possible to protect their interests adding that the payment of arrears was in fulfillment of the promise made to workers and part of efforts to further enhance the welfare of workers to ensure improved service delivery.
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