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RSG, PDP Disagree Over Workers’ Salary Delay
The Rivers State Government has expressed dismay at the deliberate falsehood and distortion of facts being peddled by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state over the salary status of civil servants. The government said the claim by PDP was meant to undermine the cordial relationship between workers and the Rivers State Government, and by so doing, turn facts and figures upside-down.
The state PDP, had in a statement, said that the Rivers State Government was owing civil servants months salaries, pledging that the incoming government would not owe workers their due salaries and allowances.
While the workers have not been paid their April salaries, a few have been paid March salaries.
The dismissal of the PDP claim was contained in a statement by Rivers State Commissioner of Information and Communications in Port Harcourt, Ibim Semenitari, who said the resort to deliberate falsehood by PDP shows mischief.
”We find it ridiculous that PDP and Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike’s media managers show lot of mischief and deliberate distortion of facts. We thought that if they lied during campaigns and electioneering, with election over, they would switch over to basic media style of information sourcing, verification and analysis. The rudimentary step in that is the sourcing and use of data, a critical segment available to even cob reporters”, the statement read in part.
The commissioner, who wondered where the PDP got its information of months of salary owed Rivers State civil servants, said that rather, it is PDP that owes Rivers people the return of its revenue diverted by the Federal Government to other states as well as the millions spent by Governor Chibuike Amaechi to fix federal government roads in the state.
“Governor Chibuike Amaechi has paid civil servants up to the month of March with plans to commence payment for the month of April. Amaechi had committed himself to the welfare of Rivers civil servants these past seven years and had exemplified that by regular payment of salaries in the face of dwindling national revenue” the statement noted.. Rivers State is one of less than five states in the federation that have been able to keep up with salary payments in the face of dwindling federal allocations”, it added.
While apologising on the recent delays in salary payment, Semenitari reiterated Gov. Amaechi’s stand that civil servants must receive their wages for each month. She traced the delay in payment of salaries to collapsing national economy due to PDP’s mismanagement.
“PDP’s mis- management of the national revenue as well as its elevation of corruption to a national religion has been responsible for dwindling federal allocation. In recent times, the Federal Government has had to withhold allocations meant for states, Rivers State being one of such unfortunate states”, she emphasised.
The statement, which accused PDP of crying wolf where there was none, described the statement as diversionary and meant to cover their obvious inadequacies.
“In its fatal admittance that it is approaching May 29 with more liabilities than assets, PDP sold the dummy to unsuspecting Rivers people and friends of the state to create an impression that Amaechi was leaving behind a pile of indebtedness. This is dummy sold ahead to lay foundation for the agony Rivers civil servants will face in their hands.
“By deliberately withholding civil servants’ wages, the party will claim it was because Amaechi had left a pile of debts and that they were sorting it out. This is a complete fallacy as the state’s debt profile is among the lowest in the country”, the statement said. “We will publish our records for Rivers people and the whole world to see”, Semenitari stressed.
“The Amaechi administration has nothing to hide. However, we must put the records straight as to the root cause of PDP’s paranoia. The party’s candidate, who was declared winner of the April 11 governorship election, with his team, is coming to loot the treasury of Rivers State. ”With several thugs hired to commit electoral malfeasances for the PDP – with about 11 ‘elected’ into the state House of Assembly – who must demand their settlement, the state treasury will be sucked dry. To begin to prepare the minds of civil servants who consequentially will be owed months of salary, PDP had to raise the falsehood, “the statement added.
The statement reiterated Amaechi’s commitment to t he wellbeing of civil servants in the state. ”Gov. Amaechi is going to pay all due salaries before he leaves office and hopes that whoever shall have taken over from him then, will follow in this step. Rivers State civil servants, who have been the engine room of Amaechi’s administration, deserve a great deal of respect from PDP which should not hide under any cloak to ridicule them or deny them their due”, Semenitari
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.
