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Don’t Give Or Collect Bribe, Avoid Cutting Corners, DG Urges Corps Members
The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim has warned corps members to stop cutting corners while reminding them that their services to the nation transcends beyond service year.
The director general disclosed this to the 2021 Batch ‘B’ (Stream 1) corps members during the virtual meeting, yesterday morning in all orientation camps and NYSC formations nationwide.
Ibrahim encouraged the members of the service corps to remember always the last line of the Oath of Allegiance sworn to during the Swearing in Ceremony and abide by it.
The one star General, who is an associate professor urged corps members to live with the reality embedded in the said portion which says ‘always remember the motto and strive continuously to live up the ideals of the National Youth Service Corps during and after my service year’.
“My dear children in the national service, I am addressing you this morning as a father and director general of NYSC. You have to use your participation in this laudable programme to promote national unity and integration. The government at all levels have invested much in you and you have to be patriotic.”
“I want to admonish you not to cut corners and desist from offering or taking bribe as both persons are liable in the court of law. NYSC keeps records and any negative thing you do today will hunt you in the nearest future”.
“NYSC has continuously been building for leadership, crop of disciplined, honest and detribalised Nigerians who are well groomed and cerebral right from the orientation camp and indeed throughout the service year and beyond to ensure that the unity of this country is sacrosanct and non-negotiable,” he said.
The NYSC DG warned that corps members should desist from embarking on night journeys as this is extremely dangerous for the corps members, and brings negative publicity to the scheme when unforeseen circumstances happen.
He also commiserated with the management of the scheme, state governments and families of the five prospective corps members who lost their precious lives recently, praying such will never happen again.
“However, I wish to let you know that the unfortunate incident occurred late into the night but I am using the opportunity provided by this address to reiterate our commitment to providing adequate security and welfare to all our corps members nationwide”, he promised.
In closing remarks, the NYSC Number One Corps Member admonished the corps members to take their personal security and well-being seriously by taking the Covid-19 vaccine as against the conspiracy theory circulating on social media.
“NYSC loves you just like your parents do. There is no harm in taking the vaccination. Ensure that you take Covid-19 vaccine to protect yourselves and others around you because the nation wants you alive.
“Disregard all the fallacies that the social media is churning out concerning the effects of the vaccination. I have taken the two jabs likewise all the officers that are travelling to the camps with me. We don’t want to keep you perpetually at home and that is why the Federal Government is investing hugely to protect you right at the point of entering the service and indeed throughout the service year,” he said.
The NYSC helmsman of the leading youth organisation in Sub-Saharan Africa, enjoined corps members to use social media to promote the objectives and advance the cause of the scheme.
“Don’t promote fake news or forward every news or reports sent to you without verification but use it to promote our national unity. You are expected to use the platform to preach unity and love and not to use it to discredit the activities of the scheme”
“NYSC has various social media handles and accounts you can use to verify all that you need to know about NYSC but if you go against this advice, you will be culpable for your actions”, he concluded.
He wished the corps members a successful orientation course and a fruitful service year with admonition to them to serve the nation diligently and with unflinching commitment and steadfastness.
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.