Rivers
Publisher Tasks NUJ Exco On Unity, Members’ Welfare
The Publisher of National Network Newspaper, Pastor Jerry Needam, has charged the newly elected executive of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, to make the unity and wellbeing of all journalists in the state a top priority, as they settle down to pilot the affairs of the union for the next three years.
Needam made the appeal when the newly elected officers of the NUJ, led by the Chairman, Job Stanley Job, paid him a ‘Thank You’ visit at his newspaper office in Port Harcourt, during the week.
The publisher urged them to reach out to those who lost out in the polls in order to build the bridge of friendship and brotherhood for which journalists are known.
He pointed out that since elections come with winners and losers, it is imperative for both sides to reach out to each other in friendship and love. He maintained that the real winner is the NUJ in the state.
The man-of-God cum publisher, who described the visit as an honour to him, told the team that although the elections have come and gone, he remains the happiest person as the National Network chapel had given its full backing to the candidature of Job Stanley Job and his Consolidation Team.
“I am very delighted to receive you for two reasons; one, God Almighty took the glory, and two, a formal thanksgiving in church is on the way”, he said, while assuring the new executive of his support and that of National Network newspaper chapel”, he said.
Needam who is also the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Sole Administrator of Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), Bro. Felix Obuah, commended the Consolidation Team for their gender friendliness, having three females in the executive.
The publisher who was flanked at the occasion by the General Manager/Editor-in-chief of National Network, Chris Konkwo and Editor, Ken Asinobi, seized the moment to commend members of the Rivers State Independent Publishers Association (RIVPA) for their massive participation in the election.
He reasoned that the outcome of the polls has so far justified their claims that the private media are an indispensable factor in the affairs of journalism in the state.
Earlier in his speech, Chairman of the NUJ in the state, Job Stanley Job, thanked the publisher and National Network chapel for throwing their weight behind the Consolidation Team which culminated in the landslide victory recorded during the election.
“Your support and encouragement were second to none. We pledge to pay back by giving out good governance, and we pray that God won’t let us disappoint you”, he said.
The NUJ Chairman was accompanied on the visit by his vice, Okechukwu Maru; Secretary, Ike Wigodo; Assistant Secretary, Esther Obialor; Auditor, Ominini Leslie Wokoma; Treasurer, Doris Tams Morrison, and Financial Secretary, Fubara Miebaka Amadi.
Also, on the train was the Director-General of Consolidation Team, Boye Salau, his deputy, Anita Ogona, and the State Chairman of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Sussan Serekara-Nwikhana.
By: King Onunwor
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