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Rivers Saves N130million Monthly
The Rivers State Government says it saved over N130 million in the month of March from payment of salaries and allowances to staff not entitled to such payments.
The Head of Service (HoS), Barrister Samuel LongJohn disclosed this at a meeting he held with members of the Committee on Salary Verification, Permanent Secretaries, Directors of Finance and Accounts, Directors of Administration and Pay Roll officers in Port Harcourt.
Barrister LongJohn, who described the situation as very grave, said if nothing was done, a time might come when government might not be able to pay salaries as and when due, adding that a committee had been set up to look into the matter.
He noted that on completion of the work of the committee, the savings would be far higher than what had been realised.
The Head of Service cited instances where some staff who are supposed to earn N160,000 earn up to N500,000 monthly, stressing that the problem could only be solved by being directly involved in the preparation of nominal rolls such as permanent secretaries, who are the accounting officers, directors of finance and accounts, and directors of administration.
Barr LongJohn said Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) would now be directly involved in salary preparations, emphasising that nominal rolls originated by the MDAs would be countersigned by the accounting officers to confirm their authenticity.
“You know very well that the payroll starts with the nominal roll. If your nominal roll is correct, the payroll will be correct, but if your nominal roll is not correct, there is no way the payroll would be correct,” he pointed out.
The Head of Service challenged any staff who claimed that his/her salaries or allowances have been reduced, saying, the necessary refund would be made if found to be true.
The meeting which involved an interactive session, was attended by the Account-General of the state, Sir Ngozi Abu.
The Head of Service also met with registrars and bursars of state-owned tertiary institutions where he also explained the situation on ground, and directed them to submit copies of salary structures used in computing their salaries as well as other related documents.
It would be recalled that the Head of Service had in February, this year, set up a 21-member salary verification committee to determine, among other things, the validity of the various salary structures used in payroll preparation, whether they are correctly applied to the various cadres they relate to, as well as the accuracy of the nominal rolls prepared by the MDAs.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said the 33.5-kilometre Elele–Umudioga–Egbeda–Ubimini–Ikiri–Omoku dual carriageway is nearing completion and will be ready for inauguration by early May.
Speaking after inspecting the project last Wednesday, the governor disclosed that the N80.8 billion road project, currently at about 90 per cent completion, is on track for delivery before the end of April.
The project, which links Ikwerre, Emohua and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas, was awarded to Craneburg Construction Company with a 24-month completion timeline.
Fubara expressed satisfaction with the pace of work, describing the road as a landmark achievement of his administration.
He noted that beyond infrastructure, the project symbolises progress and purposeful governance.
Highlighting its economic and security value, the governor said the road serves as a vital link to Omoku, a major gas hub, and would significantly enhance business activities in the area.
He recalled that the corridor was previously notorious for kidnapping and armed robbery but said the ongoing development had transformed the security outlook.
According to him, improved accessibility will enable security agencies to respond swiftly to emergencies, effectively curbing criminal activities that once plagued the route.
Fubara commended the contractor for adhering to the project timeline, expressing confidence that the road will soon be completed and opened to the public.
Recall that the governor had, during the flag-off ceremony in May 2024, disclosed that the project is funded from the State’s internally generated revenue savings.
Nigerians were among more than 140 residents injured after Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at the United Arab Emirates, at the weekend.
This raised fresh fears for thousands of Nigerians living and working in the Gulf nation.
The UAE Ministry of Defence disclosed last Saturday that its air defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones fired from Iran, describing the attack as a major escalation in the ongoing regional tensions.
In a statement posted on its official X handle, the ministry said its air defence units engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones during the latest assault on March 14.
It added that the attacks left six people dead and 141 others injured, including foreign nationals.
“The UAE air defence systems on March 14 engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 UAVs launched from Iran,” the ministry stated.
“Since the onset of this blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,600 UAVs launched from Iran,” UAE added.
According to the ministry, those killed in the attacks included citizens of the UAE as well as foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
“Although the authorities did not specify the exact locations where the casualties occurred, the ministry said the injured victims were from several countries, including Nigeria.
Others affected include residents from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The list also included Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden.
The Tide reports that this development has sparked concern among Nigerian communities in the UAE, where thousands of citizens live and work in sectors such as construction, hospitality, logistics and trade.
Data from Nigeria’s diaspora commission shows that the UAE remains one of the largest destinations for Nigerian migrants in the Middle East, particularly in the emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The Nigerian government had in recent years raised concerns over the safety and welfare of its citizens in the country following diplomatic tensions and visa restrictions affecting Nigerians.
Saturday’s attacks have now heightened anxieties within the diaspora community, especially as the Gulf region faces growing military confrontations.
In its statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence said the country remained fully prepared to confront any threats to its security.
“The Ministry of Defence remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability, and safeguards its national interests and capabilities,” the ministry said.
In a separate update, the ministry noted that its defence systems were still actively intercepting missiles and drones.
“UAE air defences are dealing with Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles and drones,” it said.
Regional media reports indicate that the attacks form part of a wider escalation of hostilities between Iran and Western-backed forces in the Middle East.
According to Al Jazeera, Iran has continued sustained missile and drone strikes across the Gulf despite protests from neighbouring states.
The strikes were said to be in retaliation for military operations launched by the United States and Israel against Iranian positions in the region.
Tehran targeted several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, late on Friday and into Saturday.
The attacks also caused infrastructural damage in parts of the UAE.
Meanwhile, Iran’s elite military wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that US interests in the UAE would remain legitimate targets.
Iranian state media reported that the group issued the warning after US forces attacked Iranian-controlled islands.
The IRGC specifically mentioned ports, docks and military installations linked to the United States as potential targets.
It also urged residents in the UAE to evacuate areas around ports and military facilities to avoid civilian casualties.
Security analysts say the growing exchange of threats and strike across the Gulf could destabilise the region’s economic and aviation activities if the conflict escalates further.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the five new commissioners sworn-in last Wednesday to put in their best for the development of the State.
Fubara gave the charge during the swearing-in of the commissioners at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
This followed the successful screening of the five commissioners by the Rivers State House of Assembly, last Tuesday.
The five commissioners are Tonye Bellgam, Prof. Temple Nwofor, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Mr. Lekue Kenneth, and Sir Amairigha Edward Hart.
The Tide reports that the governor had sent nine commissioner-nominees to the Assembly for screening, but the Assembly confirmed only five nominees and rejected the nomination of four over various allegations.
Those rejected by the Assembly are Prof. Dantonye Alasia, Mrs. Charity Demua, Mr. Tamuno Williams, and Otonye Amachree.
The governor congratulated the new commissioners on their appointment, noting that their thorough screening by the Rivers State House of Assembly was a proof of their capabilities.
He urged them to deploy their wealth of experience in various fields and put the State on a fast lane of development.
“Ordinarily, I am supposed to charge you on your responsibilities and how to operate. But that has been taken care of by the screening at the Assembly.
“I believe that going through one of the most rigorous screenings, it is enough to say that for those of you who succeeded, you are fit and ready to deliver to our dear State.
“So there is no further charge. The screening was the charge, so I wish you the best as I don’t expect anything less than the best from you,” Fubara said.
