News
ALGON Holds NEC Meeting In Lagos On Paris Club Refund, Others
The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) last Friday held its National Executive Council meeting in Lagos to discuss the Paris club refund and other critical issues affecting the association.
In his welcome address, Mr Alabi David, ALGON’s President and Chairman, Bariga Local Government, said that the NEC was to take critical decisions on the report of the committee assigned to look into the issues.
According to him, those issues are the comprehensive primary health care centres built in local governments, and the intriguing legal matters particularly in pleltora of cases that confront the association.
“The committee for breast cancer case transaction will also have to present its findings and recommendations in the course of today’s deliberation.
“The status of the ALGON American hospital is also part of what we have to discuss today.
“The issue that is also in the kitty that we also want to discuss is the Paris club refund and also our income from our investment infrastructure bank.
“Among what we also have to discuss is the transition programme,” he said.
The president charged members of the association to demonstrate affable astute disposition and the need to eschew violence, bitterness and bigotry in the country.
David said that the daunting task ahead required collective responsibility and cooperation to further intensity efforts in clamping down all manner of social vices which indeed had monumental consequences in our various communities.
“You are welcome to this important meeting, the very first holding after the 2023 general elections
“Significantly as it were in many ways and in spite of the precarious impliction and presumptuous instability occasion by the just concluded elections.
“Let me retreat my special appreciation to you all in your obligation to ensure predictability and peaceful coexistence in our various communities within the grandiose of loving our neighbors as ourselves.
“With nostalgic thought, however, I am not unmindful of our colleagues who had emotionally invested their time and resources in quest to strife to higher grounds in public service.
“They were unfortunate in this by the unexpected circumstances of the elections.
“On the other hand, I seize this opportunity with the utmost humility to convey my warm felicitation to our colleagues who were victorious by the will of God and the propensity to drive their thoughts for the betterment of Nigeria.
“Hearty congratulations to those my colleagues that triumphed,” he said.
In an interview with The Tide source, Mr Gidado Abdusalam, ALGON Chairman, Adamawa, said the meeting was to strategise and give reports on various states as well as discuss the outcome of the 2023 general elections.
According to him, the association is seeking very good working relation with all state governments in the incoming dispensation.
“It is a routine activity as chief executive or security officer of our various local governments, we have an obligation to meet time to time to review issues.
“Most especially the elections that was just held, there were some issues in some other states and the transiting programmes that are transiting to another government.
”Hence we see the reason to come together and strategise and give report of our various state and local government.
“We are always determined to make impact in our people’s lives as local government chairmen, grassroots mobilisers and grassroots politicians, in making good efforts particularly in terms of security and welfare,” he said.
Also, Mr Isah Taifeeq, ALGON Chairman, Kogi, said that members of the association were at the meeting to discuss and dialogue on how to bring good dividends to the people.
He added that the association would maintain the perfect relationship with state governments and the incoming administration.
Speaking on local government autonomy, he said that with the coming of the president- elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu, Nigerians should expect very good governance.
“Tinubu is a democratic, Nigerians should be expecting good governance from the president-elect,” he said.
He commended the ALGON president for his leadership style while assuring him of continuous support.
“ALGON has never had it so good, like this present regime, this is the best president this association has ever had.
”He is a fantastic leader. We are giving him all the necessary support,” Taifeeq said.
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.