Rivers
Pensions Bill Scales Through Second Reading
A bill seeking to provide for the payment of pension and other fringe benefits to public office holders in Rivers State, has been presented before the State Assembly.
Presenting the bill, Wednesday at the State House of Assembly, the leader of the House, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, said the bill provides that any person who held office as an elected Governor or Deputy Governor shall be entitled to the payment of Pension.
Hon. Lloyd said the bill provides the payment of pension at the rate equivalent to the annual basic salary of the incumbent governor and deputy governor and other benefits as contained in the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
According to him, “under the bill any person duly elected as public office holder shall upon the successful completion of his term be entitled to a grant of pension for life by the state”.
He noted however, that any person removed from office by the process of impeachment or for breach of any provision of the constitution shall not be entitled to these benefits.
The House Leader referred the lawmakers to the provisions of section 124 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria, stressing that the pension shall be payable at the expiration of the tenure of the holders of the office and charged from the consolidated Revenue fund of the state.
Hon. Lloyd explained further that should public Office Holder (s) vacate office before the expiration of the term of his office for reasons other than impeachment or breach of the constitution, he shall be paid pension on a pro-rata basis for the number of years he held such office.
Similarly in the event that the officer dies in office before the expiration of his tenure, his family or beneficiaries shall be paid Death benefits on a pro-rata basis while the passage of the bill would automatically repeal the earlier law, number seven of 2003.
The Speaker of the Assembly Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amaechree called for debate on Thursday when the bill was read for a second time before committing it to the finance committee of the House.
In his contribution, the member representing Port Harcourt constituencies 111 Hon. Victor Ihunwo opposed the bill on the grounds that the public officer holders get enough attention from the public funds and should no longer enjoy such benefits when they are out of office.
Rivers
Rivers High Court Restrain Trustees, Knights of St. John International, Others From Conducting Election
The High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has restrained the registered trustees of Knights of St John International, Supreme Subordinate Commandery, Nigeria, and four others from conducting elections into Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920 CIWA, Port Harcourt, District 48 Commandery elections, and Supreme Subordinate elections of the Knights of St John International, Nigeria, pending the determination of the substantive matters before them.
Justice G.C. Aguma and Justice V.C. Ugoji, in their separate interim orders of injunction issued in Suit No: PHC/4410/CS/2025 and Suit No: PHC/4359/CS/2025, respectively, restrained the defendants, whether by themselves, their privies, agents, servants, or any person or group of persons working under them, from conducting elections into Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920, CIWA Port Harcourt, District 48 Commandery, Port Harcourt Commandery, and Supreme Subordinate of Knights of St John International, Nigeria.
The claimants, Sir Njoku Chukwuemeka Andrew and Sir Chukwuemeka Martin Mba, in separate suits, through their legal representatives, dragged the defendants to court, seeking an order to restrain them from appointing or installing any interim caretaker executive or leadership to run or pilot the affairs of St John International, Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920, CIWA, Port Harcourt.
The defendants in the matter are: Registered Trustees of Knights of St John International, Supreme Subordinate Commandery, Nigeria; Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Ufuoma Okene, the Grand President, Port Harcourt Grand Commandery, Knights of St John International; Noble Brother Viktor Benebo, the Chairman Investigation Committee set up by the 2nd Defendant to investigate the claimants; Sir Architect Prempeh Ebiware, the District 48 Commander, Knights of St John International, Port Harcourt; and Sir Harry Oruma, member of Knights of St John International, Our Lady of Holy Commandery No 920, CIWA, Port Harcourt.
The two judges, after listening to the counsels in the matter, granted the claimants’ request and adjourned the matter to 10/12/2025 and 16/12/2025, respectively, for hearing of the motion on notice.
