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Wike Has Set Rivers On Threshold Of Dev -Nsirim …Urges Journalists To Be Part Of NEW Rivers Vision History
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has set the state on the threshold of a development agenda that catalyses progress in all facets of life, the state Information and Communications Commissioner, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim has said.
He, therefore, charged journalists in Rivers State to work to be part of Governor Nyesom Wike’s agenda to build a society where everyone would be safe and happy.
The commissioner was speaking at a dinner he held for members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Port Harcourt, last Friday night.
“Governor Wike stands tall among governors in the country. He has used the NEW Vision blueprint to progressively rewrite history that has made every Rivers citizen proud.
“Governor Wike’s legacy projects speak for themselves. As Information Commissioner, I don’t need to embark on propaganda because the facts speak for themselves.
“We as agenda setters for the world must always rise up against partisanship and pecuniary benefits to speak the truth at all times.
“Journalists must not allow themselves to serve as dump sites for unverified information that anoints those who play to the gallery as social crusaders.
“As preparations for 2023 general election begin, the Media should not succumb to yellow journalism by promoting campaign of calumny.
“Media practitioners have a God-given assignment to promote good governance and every practitioner’s role will be judged by posterity,” he stated.
The commissioner advised journalists to adhere to the rule of thumb for media practitioners which states that facts are sacred, comments free.
Nsirim also called on journalists in the state to uphold the highest level of professionalism in the discharged of their duties.
He said Governor Nyesom Wike not only believes in a free press, but that media practitioners should be partners in progress, saying that journalists in Rivers State must protect the integrity of the profession.
“What we write will one day stand as a witness for us.
“We must use our God-given assignment to help build a society where everyone will be safe and happy”.
Nsirim urged journalists in the state to strive to make inputs that would speak for them as people who also contributed to the development of Rivers State during the administration of Wike.
The commissioner thanked journalists for being such wonderful allies in the past two years, noting that as agenda setters, journalists must not shy away in holding politicians accountable.
Nisirm, who said he was one of the luckiest commissioners in the country, said he owed journalists a huge debt of gratitude, and thanked journalists in the state for the cooperation given to him since he assumed office as commissioner for information.
Speaking on behalf of the Rivers State Independent Publishers Association (RIVPA), the Publisher of the Port Harcourt Telegraph Newspaper, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, thanked the commissioner for recognising the role of journalists and bringing them together in such a forum.
He expressed the commitment of members of the association to the realisation of the development agenda of the state government under Wike.
Nwuke said private media would work hand-in-hand with the government-owned media outfits to propagate government policies and programmes for the benefit of the people of the state.
The Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the NUJ in the state, Mr. Amaechi Okonkwo thanked the state government for the gesture, and pledged the cooperation of journalists towards building a better Rivers State.
Okonkwo described Nsirim as a major stakeholder in the NUJ in Rivers State, and urged the commissioner to sustain his relationship with the council.
The Vice President, South-South of the NUJ, Mr. Opaka Dokubo called for unity among journalists in the state to achieve set goals, and commended the state government for the gesture.
By: John Bibor
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.