News
RVHA Summons LG Chairmen …Screens ONELGA Council Nominees
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday directed its committee on local government affairs to summon the 23 local government council chairmen, the Heads of Personnel Management (HPM) and the Treasurers to appear before it to throw more light on the issue of non-payment of severance benefits and other remunerations to past political office holders in their various council areas.
The directive followed a motion aimed at directing the state Joint Account Allocation Committee to deduct at source all severance benefits, remunerations and salaries payable to all past political office holders of the 23 local government councils in the state, brought before it by Hon. Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani.
Hon Igbani explained that the committee had received various memos and appeals from past political office holders over the non-payment of their severance benefits by their local government councils, adding that the refusal of the council chairmen to pay the affected political office-holders gave rise to the motion.
The lawmaker averred that the House Committee on local government affairs had on several occasions directed the local government chairmen to pay all debts owed former political office holders adding that such directives yielded no positive results.
According to the House Committee Chairman on Local Government Affairs, the severance benefits of past political office holders is statutorily provided for in section 3 and 4 of the State Public and Political Office Holders Salaries, Allowances and Fringe Benefits Law, No. 4, 2002.
He prayed among other things that the House should direct the state Joint Account and Allocation Committee (JAAC) to deduct at source all gratuity and severance benefits accruable to all past political office-holders in the affected local government councils and pay directly to the affected officers after confirmation of the status of debts as they affect each local government council. The payments would take effect from December, 2009.
Taking the lead during the debate, Hon Chioma Golden (Etche II) described the motion as a new year package for the former local government political office holders and urged his colleagues to give the motion the desired support.
In their various contributions, Hon Ogiri Henry (Abual/Odual), Hope Ikiriko (AWELGA), Chidi Lloyd (Omohua), Brown Onari (AkULGA I), Nwile Befil Charles (Khana) and Hon Jaja Tamunosisi Gogo (Opobo/Nkoro) commended the mover of the motion for his zeal and effort to bring succour to the plights of the past political offer holders in the third tiers of the government.
The lawmakers regretted that despite several directives given to the council chairmen in the state to pay the severance allowances owed to the past political officer holders in their various local government, the chairmen have continued to flaunt the directives.
The lawmakers however, urged the committee to attach a comprehensive financial statement showing the level of indebtedness as it affect each local government council adding that such financial statement would assist the House take final position on the matter.
Ruling on the matter, the speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry urged the House Committee on Local Government Affairs to get an updated records owed to the past political officer holders across the 23 local government area in the state as well as to invite the council chairmen, treasurers and Heads of Personnel Management (HPM).
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
