News

NULGE Shuts Down Rivers’ 23 LG Councils …Declares 3-Day Warning Strike

Published

11 years ago

October 15, 2014

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has declared a 3-day warning strike, with effect from Monday, to press home its demand that money should not be deducted at JAAC to the Primary Health Care Management Board for the payment of health care workers’ salaries.
NULGE has also threatened to embark on a full-blown strike from Monday, October 27, if its demand is not met at the expiration of the warning strike.
Addressing a Press Conference on the decision reached at the end of its State Executive Council meeting, Monday evening in Port Harcourt, State President of the Union, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo said, “As a responsible trade union, with strong interest in the administration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, we cannot stand by and watch the Local Government System drift again into the era of debts and non-payment of salaries better known as zero-allocation.
“To this end, the State Executive Council of the Union during its meeting today, 13th October, 2014 at the NULGE Consultate, resolved, to resist, by all lawful means, attempts to destroy the Local Government System in the state by a few individuals using the Trade Unions as a platform”.
The union also resolved “to call on His Excellency.(Governor Amaechi) to reverse and rescind, within seven (7) days all decisions and directives to the effect that money be deducted at JAAC to the Primary Health Care management Board for the payment of salaries”.
NULGE also resolved, “to call out all local government workers in the State on a three-day warning strike from Monday, 20th – Wednesday, 22nd October, 2014 ie at the expiration of the ultimatum above to press home our demands”, and also “embark on an indefinite strike from Monday, 27th October, 2014 until the decision is reversed.
Our Correspondent reports that the stage for NULGE’s warning strike was set last Wednesday, following the decision that the salaries of health workers in the 23 local government areas of the state should be deducted at source by the Primary health Workers’ Board, with effect from this month end.
The decision to deduct the Health Workers’ salaries was taken last Wednesday at a meeting in Port Harcourt involving the 23 Local Government Councils’ Care-taker Committee Chairmen, Local Government Service Commission, Nigeria labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), health Workers’ Board and other stakeholders in Local Government administration in the state.
The interactive meeting which also had in attendance the Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, however, recorded the absence of NULGE – the Umbrella body of Local Government workers in the country which was attributed to non-communication of last minute information on the meeting by the Local Government Service Commission.
The decision at the meeting was made public by the Care-taker Chairman of Eleme Local Government, Prince Awalanta Ejire, and confirmed variously by his counterparts in Okrika, Hon. Amangi Sunday; Ogu/Bolo, Hon. Mina Tende Andoni, Deacon Emmanuel Ikwut; and Khana, Hon. Gordon Tornwe during a tour of the councils by the State Working Committee of NULGE, led by its President, Sir Barr. Franklin Ajinwon on Thursday and Friday , last week.
The Chairmen of Ogu/Bolo, Okrika and Khana LGAs were, however, emphatic that the governor was not supportive of the position canvassed by some of these at the meeting, as he queried the rationale behind it since there was no problem with payment of salaries at the councils, and workers have been paid upto-date, but majority of the stakeholders insisted that it was in the best interest of the system, prompting the governor to give approval that the Health Workers’ salaries should be deducted at source by the Board, with effect from this month.
Responding to the decision, Barr. Ajinwon said he was aware of moves by some people to deduct local government allocations at source for selfish reasons, saying that such persons were not comfortable with the policy of the state government that allows councils to pay staff salaries without deductions at source since the inception of the administration.
He stressed that the union will resist the decision to deduct the health workers’ salaries at souce, as it will cripple the entire local government system in the state, if allowed to be implemented.
“We want to tell you, Mr. Chairman that as a Union, we have sworn to an oath to protect the local government system. So we will not fold our hands and watch the local government being taken back to the era of ‘zero allocation’ where councils could not pay salaries, upto even 15 months because teachers’ salaries were deducted at source. We want to tell you that as a union, we will resist it”, Ajinwon told the Council Chairman.

Justus Unye-Awaji

News

Be Patient With Us, Diri Tells Bayelsans … Inspects New 60mw IPP …Expresses Confidence In Technical Partners, BECL MD

Published

20 hours ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has sued for patience on the ongoing installation of the state’s new independent power project.

The Tide gathered that the 60-megawatt gas turbine project, which installation commenced in October this year, was earlier scheduled to be completed by December but suffered logistics related delays.

The governor called on people of the state to have an open mind about the project, which he said now requires a new completion date due to unforeseen challenges.

?The Tide further reports that the State’s Chief Executive who undertook an on-the-spot-assessment of the project at Elebele in Ogbia Local Government Area on Wednesday, said like other citizens of the state, he was also disappointed that the December completion deadline could not be met.

However, he stated that his reaction to the delay had been that of understanding rather than being angry as had been noticed, particularly on the social media.

?”You can see I’ve gone round the whole facility. It was based on the working agreement and information available at my disposal that I gave the December date. But as it is with every human endeavor, we must all have an open mind, when it comes to issues, particularly technical matters like this.

?”I am as disappointed as any other Bayelsan because I believed that we were going to celebrate the 2025 Christmas with our own independent power, but it turned out not to be so.

?”I call on Bayelsans to have an open mind. These technical experts are working virtually 24 hours, but delays like this will certainly come”, he said.

He implored the people 9f the state to appreciate the work of the engineers, stressing that a minor mistake was capable of jeopardising the millions of dollars expended on the project.

?”For 29 years Bayelsa has been in darkness or has endured epileptic power supply. Now that we are getting close to the day of liberation, some people have become impatient.

“Let us not behave like the proverbial tortoise in the prison for years that asked to be released immediately as the place was smelling the moment he knew it would regain freedom the next day”, the governor added.

?The Bayelss Governor gave a thumps up to the technical partners, Jampur Group, and its team on ground as well as the Managing Director of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Ltd, Engr. Olice Kemenanabo, saying they were working round the clock to ensure the job was completed.

?”Those who have been following me on this inspection would know that work has not stopped even for one day since it started. I am sure the job is more than 90 per cent complete. So let us hold our fire.

“Engineer Olice, I am not putting you under any pressure. From the reports I have, Olice is one of the best electrical engineers in Nigeria”, governor Diri said.

The governor, however, hinted that the government was looking at inaugurating the project during its sixth anniversary in February.

The MD of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited, Kemenanabo, who also spoke, said the state was on the right track towards actualising the project and assured that the alignment of the entire system, including the gas generator and alternator were on course.

He also stated that the remaining two turbines would be delivered to the project site in a few days.

?Speaking on behalf of the Jampur Group, Mr. Sherrif Abu-Anif said the company was in good position to meet its own end of the bargain and appreciated the state government for playing its part very well.

By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

News

Akpabio Withdraws All Defamation Suits After Priest’s Sermon

Published

20 hours ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.

Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.

He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.

“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”

In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.

In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.

Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.

Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.

The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.

With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.

News

‘Best Way To Show Gratitude Is To Deliver Tinubu in 2027’

Published

20 hours ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.

Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.

He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.

“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”

Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.

He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.

“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.

Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.

In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.

She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.

Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.

“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.

In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.

He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.

The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.

Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.

Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.

Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.

By: Taneh Beemene