Niger Delta
N’Delta: My Constituency Facilitated Amnesty, Benefitted Nothing – Ebokpo
A member representing Nigeria at the Economic and Social Council of the United Nation, ECOSOC, Barr John Ebokpo, of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency, Cross River State, has lamented that despite the role of his constituency in resolving the Niger Delta agitation, the area is yet to benefit anything from the government.
The House of Representatives aspirant, in a chat with newsmen in Abuja, said for the fact that his constituency has not benefited from the amnesty and other benefits attached to the laying down of arms by militants and agitators in the region, there is the need to ‘’position ourselves to be able to access the benefits of being part of the Niger Delta.’’
He said it was his local government that made it possible for the Nigerian government to receive the agitators where it had a one-on-one dialogue with the youths.
Ebokpo said, “Agitators were in my local government for as long as the government wanted them to be there, as far as the programme lasted and they were all empowered.’’
He questioned why the local government, since then, had not benefited anything from the government even after the agitators had given up their arms and Niger Delta returned to the path of peace.
‘’What has the local government or constituency benefited? Nothing. We could remember what was happening and how these agitators were killing and blowing off pipelines, causing economic havoc, but it was our constituency, my local government that was able to house them for the government to be able to interface with them, provide them succour, and most of them went on sponsorship by the federal government.
“But what has happened to the local government? What has happened to the constituency? The constituency also needs to feel the impact of the Niger Delta. It is not just coming to put street lights that are not really working but also to be able to impact the lives of the people.
“We have so many untarred roads in my constituency, no steady power supply, we can go for two weeks, three weeks without power; one month without power; water supply is a luxury.
“We do not have water. The people are living in total abandonment. This is the pitiable and sorry state of the constituency and until we come together, we partner, we lobby other stakeholders, companies, government, and agencies to see how these people can also benefit from the dividends of democracy, things will remain the same.’’
“I believe that people should be given the opportunity to prove their worth and Honourable Mike Etaba, the current member representing the constituency has done two terms now and he has done well to the best of his capacity and capability.
“I cannot fault him politically, but I can only say, he has done his best to the best of his ability. Are there things that he would have done differently? Yes.
“Were there ways he would have lobbied more for the constituency? Yes. Are there also several other things he would have done for the constituency for a better life? Yes. For Honourable Mike, he has done his beat and I feel it is better to leave the stage when the ovation is still high and allow someone else to step in,” he said.
The Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RSBOPP), says efforts are being made to strengthen the existing procurement processes leading to the award of contracts and jobs execution in the state to enhance service delivery.
The Board chairman of the RSBOPP, Lawrence Oko-Jaja, disclosed this while speaking to journalists in his office in Port Harcourt, after a meeting with staff of the agency, last Friday.
Oko-Jaja who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) stated that procurement had become a global issue, stressing that without a proper procurement plan, it would be difficult for any state or nation to move forward in the attainment of its developmental strategies and goals.
The chairman said that the Board had observed some improprieties in the procurement processes and assured that they would take every measure to ensure full compliance with the state procurement laws.
“We will ensure that the laws are followed and we have value for money. We must ensure that money is used for contract execution and not to enrich people’s pockets. We’ll ensure that the money being quoted for any job or contract corresponds with the prevailing market price. We are going to strengthen the monitoring and evaluating team of the Board to perform their duties; going to markets, verify the prices quoted for and also ensure compliance.
“We are going to look into the procurement laws to see how we can close the existing gaps noticed that are not in line with global practices. These measures will also affect local government councils in the state to ensure there is value for money and save money for the state government. And in doing so, the government can spread its services across the state and not in one place.
“His Excellency, the governor of the state has a mantra, “Rivers first”. We are going to ensure we assist him and the state government achieve this policy by ensuring that the procurement laws are complied with and things are done rightly. That is why we are here,” he said.
Oko-Jaja assured that members of the Board would justify the confidence reposed in them by the state governor for the benefit of the state.
Earlier, in an interactive meeting between Board members and staff of the agency, the Board chairman of RSBOPP told the excited workforce that the Board had approved the merger of some departments, namely Legal, Ethics Human Resources and the Facility Management departments to ensure maximum output and efficiency in service delivery.
He said that the Legal and Ethics departments had been merged as one department, adding the Human Resources and Facility Management departments had also been merged.
He told them that going forward every department would also be accountable for its responsibility and announced that the Board had also approved that conditions of service should be put in place for the staff of the agency so that they would grow like their counterparts in the state mainstream civil service.
Akujobi Amadi
The Rivers State Government says it would continue to address the needs of Civil Servants in the State.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara stated this during the Rivers State Civil Service 2025 New Year Thanksgiving Service, at the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
Speaking through his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, Governor Fubara said his Administration is willing and ready to do what will make Civil Servants happy, more hardworking, and more distinguished.
“I want to tell you that you have our ears, and you can tell because when the Head of Service gave his address, there were no demands because while you were yet asking, it was already executed. We want you to know that to whom much is given, much is expected. We do not take your love and support for granted.” Governor Fubara stressed.
The State Chief Executive urged Civil Servants to redouble and rekindle their energy to ensure that the Rivers State Civil Service becomes the envy of Civil Service in Nigeria, noting that the State Government is pleased to work as a family with Civil Servants.
He implored them to continue to uphold his Administration in prayers, which according to him has kept him thus far, adding that prayers would lead them for years to come while asking them to be proud of whom they are as Civil Servants.
In his address, the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nweke, expressed gratitude to Governor Fubara for the implementation of the enhanced minimum wage, payment of Christmas bonus, improved retirement benefits, and creation of employment opportunities amongst others, as well as issuance of SME loans facility to deserving Civil Servants in the State.
Dr Nweke who said the theme of this year’s thanksgiving “Peace Be Still” reminds us that even amid turmoil and uncertainties you can find peace and calm in God’s presence while urging them to pray for continuous peace and development in the State.
In his sermon, the Dean Church of God, Anglican Communion, the Most. Rev. Blessing Enyindah who spoke on the theme “Peace Be Still” drawn from Mark 4:35-41, said storms of life may manifest in different ways and forms, causing us anxiety and sleepless nights but with Jesus Christ by our side, there is hope.
