News
NCSU Backs Fubara, Urges Police To Vacate Council Secretariats
The Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has thrown its weight behind the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara over current events in the 23 local government areas in the State, following the expiration of the tenure of elected council chairmen and councillors on June 17, 2024.
It would be recalled that Governor Fubara had directed Heads of Local Administration to take charge of the councils, and subsequently announced the appointment of caretaker committees to run the affairs of the councils in the interim.But in a dramatic twist, the police barricaded the gates of the councils, thereby barring both the caretaker committees and workers from accessing the council secretariats.
Following this development, the NCSU said the actions taken by Governor Fubara to fill the void created by the expiration of the tenure of the former council chairmen and councillors were in order, since nature abhors a vacuum, and called on the police to vacate the council secretariats, without further delay.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who gave this indication in an interview in Port Harcourt, said Governor Fubara acted in good faith by not allowing a vacuum at the councils, and advised the former council chairmen and councillors to take the decision in good faith, since their tenure as elected officers of the councils had elapsed, as provided in the Constitution, in order to allow peace, law and order to prevail in the State.
Osumah noted that the former council chairmen in particular ought to have known, as people of good conscience, that they were not going to stay beyond one day in office after the expiration of their tenure, instead of banking on a non-existent extension of their tenure by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, saying the former council chairmen were supposed to be true democrats and not the other way round.
He further indicated that the former council chairmen had no moral justification for going to the council secretariats during a public holiday to challenge or contest the decision of the Governor, adding that those of them who visited the councils last Tuesday were supposed to be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in some of the councils.
While suing for peace, Osumah said the people of the State should give Governor Fubara all the support he needs to weather the current political storm, in order to continue to pilot the affairs of the State unhindered, reiterating that the Governor is fully in charge of governance in the State in spite of distractions.
The labour leader, however, regretted the recent loss of lives and property during clashes in Omuma Local Government Area, and called on all Rivers people, particularly the former council chairmen to give peace a chance.
While denouncing those calling for a state of emergency to be declared in the State, Osumah said such calls are made in bad faith by those who do not mean well for the State, insisting that the calls are unwarranted because the State has continued to enjoy unprecedented and unparalleled peace that has encouraged businesses and investments to thrive and flourish in the State, describing those making the calls as enemies of the State.
He said he was lending his voice to that of the organised labour in the State to call on the Inspector General of Police to immediately lift the siege placed on the local government secretariats across the State by ordering his men to vacate the councils without further delay, to enable council workers gain access to their duty posts.
He said the current siege on the councils by the police is an ill wind that does nobody any good, as it has effectively deprived the people the dividends of democracy which the Fubara administration has been providing to the people within the past one year, saying the governor needs all the support and concentration he could muster to continue to provide good governance to the people.
The labour leader urged civil servants in the State to continue to rally round Governor Fubara and his administration to continue with the good work of giving workers’ welfare top priority.
While commending Governor Fubara for the successful celebration of his one year in office, with commissioning and flag-off of numerous projects, Osumah noted that attempt to truncate the peace of the State by political gladiators is an attempt to truncate the opportunity and determination of the present administration to give governance a human face.
He also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be wary of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike over the lingering political crisis in Rivers State, and call him to order, as he is remotely stoking the flame that is burning in the State.
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.