Niger Delta

Oshiomhole Sacks 20 Teachers

Published

13 years ago

October 12, 2012

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has on Tuesday
ordered the dismissal of 20 teachers from some schools in the state for
absenteeism, a statement said.

The governor gave the order when he paid unscheduled visits
to the schools in Benin, the statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr
Peter Okhiria, stated.

The governor had visited Asoro Primary School, Emokpae Model
Primary School, Western Boys High School and George Idah Model School as well
as Esonere Primary School, all in Benin City.

Seven Senior Secondary School teachers were absent at
Western Boys High School when the governor visited while five Junior Secondary
School teachers of the same school were not at their duty posts.

At Asoro Primary School, seven teachers were absent from
work, while one teacher was absent from work at Emokpae Model Primary School.

But all the teachers at George Idah Model Primary School and
Esonere Model Primary School were at their duty posts and arrived in school on
time as reflected in the attendance register, the statement stated.

It said the governor also ordered deductions from the
salaries of some teachers, who got to their schools after 8a.m.

The statement said the governor frowned at the lackadaisical
attitude of some teachers to work.

The governor said “the state government has provided
suitable environment in the schools, the teachers are paid good wages and
inducement allowances.

“These beautiful classrooms are useless if teachers don’t
teach the students.”

The governor, who was also at the Asoro Primary School by
7.45a.m., went through the attendance register and discovered that names of
teachers who were not present in school were registered.

He then directed that adequate punishment be meted out to
those who filled in the names of the absent teachers.

Oshiomhole said, “anytime a teacher does not show up in
school, the students will be wasting their time.

“The headmistress will also be queried because she has the
responsibility to explain to me why people are allowed to sign fraudulently on
the register when they are not present.”

Oshiomhole also queried the long stay of some teachers in a
particular school before being posted out to other schools.

He then directed the State Universal Basic Education
Board(SUBEB) to ensure fairness and transparency in the transfer of teachers.

At Western Boys High School, the governor condemned the
dress code of some teachers and stressed that “teachers should be role models in
their dressing by being properly-dressed.

“I am not happy with some teachers who are not punctual and
are in the habit of not coming to work. The government will take disciplinary
action against them.”

The governor said the state had responsibility to protect
the future of children with quality education and improvement of the school
environment, and urged teachers to complement the effort.

“”Those teachers who are absent from school will be
dismissed because we cannot continue to pay them.

“ We will employ those who are ready to work to earn their
wages, while those who are late will forfeit part of their pay,” he said.

At Emokpae Model Primary School, George Idah Model Primary
School and Esonere Primary School, the governor commended the teachers for their
punctuality.

The Chairman of SUBEB, Mr Joseph Emabino, and other members
of the board were in the governor’s entourage during the inspection.

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

2 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

2 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

2 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.