City Crime
UBEC, RSUBEB Begin Five-Day Training For School Monitors In Rivers
In a bid to equip quality assurance officers with the necessary skills that would enhance effective performance in basic education institutions and monitoring, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and the Rivers State Basic Education Board (RSUBEB) have commenced a five-day capacity training workshop for school monitors drawn from local government education areas (LGEAs) in Rivers State.
The aim of the five-day workshop, which has the theme: “Effective School Evaluation, A Panacea for Improving Learning and Strengthening of the School System”, is among other things, to ensure that quality assurance officers follow standards and behaviours for evaluation of schools in the state.
Speaking at the opening ceremony in Port Harcourt, last Monday, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi said that capacity building was crucial in other to enhance and develop competencies and skills that would make staff more effective and committed.
Represented by Mr Alabi Baba Asaju, the executive secretary said that it was the reason UBEC has been very passionate and committed towards providing the necessary interventions for states in various facets in the sub-sector.
Bobboyi urged the participants to give the training workshop all the seriousness it deserves because there were a lot of lessons to learn from the facilitators who themselves have worked so hard to put up quality contents that are “fit-for-purpose”, bearing in mind that professional development of education managers must be accompanied by organizational development and improvement in schools.
He used the opportunity to commend the chairman, management, staff and all quality assurance officers for the efforts put in to ensure that effectiveness and efficiency were entrenched in basic education schools in the state.
Also speaking, the Director, Quality Assurance in UBEC, Mal Mansir Idris, said that the assessment of quality assurance officers done in 2017 (first level) training meant to ascertain officer’s understanding of the contents vis-a-vis quality assurance activities saw some officers scoring far below 50per cent mark, adding that the situation called for more proactive measures to assist such officers acquire the desired knowledge and skills for effectiveness.
Represented by UBEC State Coordinator, Mr Isaac Ichenwo, the director said any quality assurance officer who failed to meet up with the required marks after the three levels of training may be recommended for transfer to other departments, and expressed optimism that the outcome of the training would further strengthen their capacity to function effectively.
Declaring the workshop open, the Executive Chairman of the RSUBEB, Ven Fyneface Akah, said the effectiveness of the evaluators in school monitoring would impact and improve the education standards in the state.
Represented by the Commissioner in charge of Administration, RSUBEB, Chief Faith Amaso, Akah warned not to compromise in their responsibilities, saying that they represent the eyes of the board in monitoring the activities and performance of teachers in the various schools across the state.
“Decadence in our schools is as a result of compromise by school evaluators. They represent the board at the grassroots, and their work has tremendous impact on the development of education, if they do their work very well. They should do their work without compromise”, he stated.
Earlier in her address of welcome, the Director, Quality Assurance, RSUBEB, Mrs Edith Jack said the significance of the second phase of the training cannot be over-emphasized, adding that the school evaluators were being equipped for effective school supervision as well as to enable them know what to look out for in performing their responsibilities.
She thanked the executive chairman for his support to the department through regular training, prompt implementation of policies and recommendations, and urged the participants to take the training seriously to improve on their job performance.
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Rivers State Government has vowed to enforce strict compliance with approved building plans by property owners and developers in the State to guarantee safety and adherence to regulatory standards.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi, in his inaugural meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Directors and staff of the Ministry, said he would ensure full implementation of the Physical Planning Development Law of the State.
He warned that the Rivers State Government will no longer condone a situation where developers make deliberate adjustment or completely deviate from approved building plan in the execution of their projects without recourse to the Ministry.
Hon. Bipi solicited the cooperation of the civil servants of the Ministry while promising to run an open door policy and be easily accessible.
He also promised to right the wrongs, make a positive impact and leave an enduring legacy in the Ministry.
He promised to enhance the physical landscape and aesthetic of Old and New GRA as well as other parts of Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Surv. Wisdom Hebron, assured the Commissioner of maximum cooperation to foster a harmonious working environment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the payment of N85,000.00 as the new minimum wage for civil servants in the employ of the Rivers State Government.
This is the agreement reached during a closed door meeting presided over by the Governor and attended by representatives of organised labour under the auspices of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council in the State at Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, who spoke on behalf of the Government, affirmed that Governor Fubara has graciously approved a new minimum wage of N85,000.00, adding that the government will begin in November, 2024.
Dr George said, “He (Gov Fubara) has pronounced a figure that is higher than the National Minimum Wage. He pronounced a sum of N85,000.00, which is higher than the minimum wage that was prescribed nationally.
“So, as the Head of Service and a major stakeholder in the labour family, I am very happy to say that the Rivers State Civil Servants have never had it this good since the inception of this State.
“The labour union leaders and all the other major stakeholders were happy with this development,” he added.
Responding to possible payment of arrears, Dr Nwaeke, said it is yet to be determined because a technical committee has been set up to critically work out a tenable payment chart, which will cater to issues of arrears.
He clarified, “Issues of arrears will be worked out by the committee that I am going to be Deputy to the SSG. We are already going to work on it in a technical committee that will now get the nitty gritty of the payment and inform the press later.”
On his part, the Rivers State Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Emecheta Chuku, explained that this is their first meeting with Governor Fubara to discuss the issue of the new minimum wage as approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Comrade Chuku pointed to the fact that the gracious approval of N85,000.00 new minimum wage is very appeasing to the labour leaders, adding that it demonstrates love for the workers.
He explained, “For the Governor to come, against all the crisis, against all the things that he is facing and more, to say he will pay N85,000.00 minimum wage, I think our hearts are full of joy.
“Of course, we have no doubt, knowing the kind of person we have as our Governor. He is a decent man; very responsible enough; and grew through the rank and file of the system. He understands what it takes to earn a living salary; he understands the difference between gifting money and paying somebody salary that can sustain him or her from the first day to the last day of the month.”
Also speaking, the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers State Chapter, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, noted that the amount approved by Governor Fubara puts Rivers State Government ahead of Lagos State as the highest minimum wage paying State to civil servants in Nigeria.
He stressed, “Why do I say that? Lagos State said N85,000.00 and Rivers State is paying N85,000.00. The IGRs of Lagos State and Rivers State are not the same. So, for the Governor to agree to pay the same rate with Lagos, that means we are at the top of it.
“We are the best, and we want to continue to commend the Governor. We assure him that, as far as this State is concerned, labour is going to stand with him. We will be with him even until the next eight years.
“I want to commend His Excellency, Executive Governor of Rivers State, our own Number One Worker in Rivers State, he has, once again, proven that the workers in Rivers State gave him an award on May Day as the Champion of Labour, as the Most Labour-Friendly Governor in Nigeria. He, again, has shown that to us today, and I want to commend him.”
He added that they were returning to the State Secretariat Complex to inform workers of the Governor’s magnanimity and benevolence towards civil servants in the State.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has felicitated Muslim faithful as they celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad, urging them to show love, tolerance, perseverance, patriotism and commitment to the growth and development of the State.
Governor Fubara, in a message in Port Harcourt, the State capital, urged the Muslim Ummah to use the lessons of the 12th day of the third month of Rabi’ al-Awwal to reflect on the core teachings of the Holy Prophet, and interceed for one another as exemplified by the sacrifices He made for humanity.
The Governor charged the faithful in the State and across the country to commit to ensuring that they continue to benefit from the genuine policies and programmes of government put in place to make live easy for all living and doing business in the State, without discrimination.
He said, “I, on behalf of the government and good people of Rivers State, heartily felicitate all Muslim faithful on the occasion of the Eid-el-Maulud celebration, to honour the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, and urge for prayers for the revival and unity of Nigeria.
“The occasion, yet again, provides an opportunity to reflect deeply on the need for greater application of the Prophet’s teachings bordering on piety, charity, patience, resilience, justice and peaceful coexistence,” he added.
Governor Fubara assured the Muslim community in Rivers State, and indeed, all residents of the resolve of his administration to sustain the tempo of providing critical projects and social services to improve the quality of life of the people.