Niger Delta
Dep Gov Hails Media Practitioners’ Support, Effective Reportage
Deputy Governor of Bayesla State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has commended media practitioners in the State for what he described as their unrelenting support and effective reportage of the policies and programmes of the Prosperity Administration so far in the state.
Ewhrudjakpo, who gave the commendation when members of the Bayelsa Independent Publishers Association (BIPA) paid him a courtesy call in Government House, described BIPA as “a friend and partner in progress”.
He thanked the leadership of the association for its detailed appraisal of the developmental strides of the present administration of Governor Douye Diri in the state, noting that BIPA had been in the forefront of the media telling the Bayelsa story to the world.
While recalling how he worked closely with them when he held sway as the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, he promised to convey their requests for the procurement of an 18-seater bus and the resuscitation of their printing equipment to the Governor for consideration.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who pledged to support the foremost indigenous publishers in the State, in his own little way, charged them to sustain the prevailing congenial government-media relations in the state.
“I feel excited to welcome you, my very good old friends, to Government House on this visit. I thank you for the appreciation of what your government has done in Bayelsa State.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank media practitioners in Bayelsa for your support to government and your effective coverage and reportage of policies and programmes and happenings in Bayelsa.
“We appreciate your support. Let us maintain our relationship. Remember, when I was Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, I made sure the Bayelsa media publishers were part of our field trips for project site visits and inspections.
“We will look into your rent issue and that of the printing machine. On your request for procurement of a bus, I will convey the request to the Governor for consideration. We will also look into the suspended stipends and do something about it”, the Deputy Governor said.
Presenting the Association’s address, the Publisher of Izonlink Newspapers, Mr. Alfred Egbegi, highlighted some of the challenges confronting the members of the association, such as bad printing press equipment, absence of operational bus, and high cost of printing materials, among others.
Egbegi, applauded the Governor Douye Diri-led Administration for its remarkable strides in infrastructure, security, education and the civil service, saying the Association is well pleased with the performance level of the State Government.
While assuring the Deputy Governor of a better working relationship, he appealed to the State Government to reinstate their monthly stipends that were suspended since 2016 in the wake of the nationwide economic recession.
“All through the first tenure culminating in the eventual elections, and now, half way into the first year of your second tenure, we have keenly followed your leadership style and effort at changing the narrative in Bayelsa State.
“We never expected the kind of development we are seeing today. You know me. For me to say this it means, you and your principal, His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri have done wonderfully well.
“We are living witnesses of the revolution on roads around all over the State. Just to mention a few critical ones; the Nembe-Brass Road in our estimation is going to open up the state’s economy.
“A very welcome development is the creation of the Marine and Blue Economy”, Egbegi said.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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.
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