Rivers

Fear Grips Council Workers Over Zero Allocation

Published

11 years ago

November 7, 2014

Palpable fear now hangs in
the air at the 23 Local Government Councils in Rivers State over a possible return of the councils to the zero allocation” era when workers were owed up to 24 months salary arrears.
The workers are wallowing in fear due to the fact that the Rivers State government is yet to rescind its recent decision that councils’ allocation should be deducted at source in spite of the 3-day warning strike embarked upon by the workers to protest the decision.
The workers feared that a return to the ‘zero allocation’ era would spell doom for them, as they lost some of their colleagues during the period, occasioned by hardship, with some of them who are alive withdrawing their children from school due to their inability to pay school fees.
Making their feelings known, amidst heightened fear, during an interactive session with Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees’ State Officers led by the President, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo who were on a tour of the Councils’ branches of the Union, the workers said they would resist the move if implemented and expressed the hope that the government would see reasons why it should rescind its decision.
The workers include those of ONELGA, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Akuku Toru, Abua/Odual, Degema, Asari-Toru, Emohua, Oyigbo, Omuma, Etche, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City Local Government Councils who were visited and interacted with, between Monday and yesterday by the Barr. Ajinwo led NULGE state officials.
The “zero allocation’ period was the period that witnessed the establishment of the Schools Management Board, which was mandated to pay teachers salaries after deduction of Local government allocation at source for the purpose, but it turned out that figures were alleged to be inflated by the Board so much that council Chairmen returned from the monthly JAAC meetings with N0,00 allocation and could not pay workers’ salaries.
They said, the decried what they considered a ploy to systematically return them to the ugly past.

Secretary General, Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) Mr. Femi Balogun (standing), with Rivers State Chairman of the institute, Mr. Aniforwose Abayomi (left) and the Vice Chairman, Mr. Edighoman Isaac Ewa, duirng a workshop in Port Harcourt recently. Photo: Eberi A. Sampson

Schools Management Board which stifle us of our funds with the Board members building estates around Port Harcourt and growing fat”.
The Council workers that attended the meeting were led by their Branch Chairmen; Mrs Priscilia Okere (Omuma), Comrade Egbe Roman (ONELGA), Comrade Okorite Bob-manuel (Akuku-Toru), Comrade June Bell-Fiddo (DELGA), Comrade (Ogbeti) Florence Nwala (Etche), Comrade Kubi Enyim (Abua/Odual), Comrade James Lugard (Ahoada West), Comrade Ibali Ferdin and (Ahoada East) and Comrade Onuegbu (Emohua) as well as Asari-Toru branch Chairperson and Comrade Friday Kpulor (Oyigbo).
Responding to the fears expressed by the workers, Ajinwo recalled how the state governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi took over the payment of teachers’ salaries and stopped the deduction of Local Government salaries at source for the purpose, which is why Councils no longer owe salaries till date and commended the governor for the kind gesture, while expressing the hope that the governor would have re-think on the current issue to allay the workers’ fears assuring the workers however that if the decision is implemented NULGE will resist it as demanded by the workers.

Justus Unye-Awaji

Rivers

Don, Stakeholders Urge Environmental Laws In N’Delta

Published

39 minutes ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

A lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Ibibia Worika, has called for stronger implementation of legal and policy frameworks to address the conflicts and environmental challenges facing the Niger Delta region.

Worika, who is the Director of the University’s Centre for Advanced Law Research, Faculty of Law, made the call during a stakeholders’ workshop held in Port Harcourt, with the theme, “Building Peace in the Fire.”

Worika, a Professor of Comparative Petroleum and International Environmental Law and Policy at the University of Port Harcourt, said the workshop was aimed at promoting dialogue to enhance the utilisation of legal and policy provisions.

He explained that such provisions were designed to combat extractive industry-related conflicts in the Niger Delta region.

In his paper titled “Addressing the Challenges of Hydrocarbon Mining and Related Conflicts: Towards Promoting Rights-Based Actions for Combating Climate Change in Rivers State”, he noted that pollution and environmental degradation in the region were widespread and well documented.

According to him, deliberations at the workshop focused on Nigeria and international legal frameworks that support oil extraction, while safeguarding environmental responsibilities and human rights.

Worika explained that although Nigeria’s Constitution did not expressly provide for enforceable environmental rights, the domesticated African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights contained provisions on environmental rights that courts could enforce when necessary.

He urged multinational oil companies operating in the region to comply with established international norms, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

“These companies are largely from OECD member countries. They should internalise biodiversity safety measures and other international standards in their operations in the Niger Delta,” Worika said.

The Professor also urged the Federal Government to establish an environmental remediation trust fund for the Niger Delta, similar to the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project set up for Ogoniland.

He noted that while one billion dollars had been earmarked over 25 to 30 years for the Ogoni clean-up, other parts of the region suffering similar environmental damage required comparable intervention.

Worika further called for the effective implementation of the Host Community Development Trust provisions under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), with minimal political interference and equitable representation of host communities.

He emphasised transparency and accountability in managing the trusts, adding that communities should be fully informed about membership criteria and project implementation processes.

On the remediation of Ogoniland oil pollution, Worika advocated for greater community engagement and inclusiveness in project planning and implementation.

“I would like to see greater community engagement, especially in cases where agencies decide how and where to intervene without adequate consultation with those affected. That is certainly not a good approach”, Worika said.

He stressed that communities most impacted by environmental degradation should be included at the planning and design stages and integrated into the project implementation process.

According to him, while technical aspects may require specialised expertise, local residents can handle less technical tasks such as sand removal and soil excavation, thereby enhancing ownership and empowerment.

Similarly, the President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Mr. Olu-Andah Wai-Ogosu, attributed rising youth restiveness and communal conflicts in Ogoni communities to poor mentorship and leadership failures.

“Our youths today are so much in a hurry. They don’t take time to understand issues before taking sides. They are easily swayed by short-term benefits and often fall prey to politicians”, he said.

He added that the crisis in traditional and political leadership had contributed to conflicts in the area.

Wai-Ogosu used the opportunity to urge parents and community leaders to instil discipline and moral values in young people to promote sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta.

The workshop was organised by the Habitat Protection and Sustainabley Development Initiative, in collaboration with the Centre for Advanced Law Research, Rivers State University.

By: Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso

Rivers

KENPOLY Rector Promises To Prioritise Students’ Welfare

Published

40 minutes ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

The newly appointed Rector of Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori (KENPOLY), Dr. George Chile Wadike, has said he would prioritize the welfare of students by improving the learning environment.

Dr. Wadike, who disclosed this to The Tide during an interview in his office, said his administration would reduce acts of social vices in the Polytechnic and make it more learning friendly.

“We want to ensure that the school environment is more peaceful and friendly to all.

“We also want to curtail the act of social vices, especially cultism experienced in the Polytechnic”, he state.

According to him, under his watch as Rector, he would ensure zero tolerance for social vices on campus.

On the infrastructures, the Rector said his administration would improve in the existing infrastructures in the school to enhance adequate learning.

He also said his administration shall improve electricity supply on campus to enable students read their books and better their academic performance

Kenpoly, Wadike said, would compete globally with its counterparts in all fields of learning.

“I promise to sow the seed of hard work, learning and teaching amongst others in the Polytechnic as a Rector.

“We shall also improve the Polytechnic by working with its Alumni and improve students welfare. That is why we are really here”, he said.

He assured on protection for students of the school in their academic pursuit and urged them to take their academics seriously.

On cultism and other social vices, Dr. Wadike said his administration shall partner with security agencies and the host community to eradicate acts of cultism in the institution

He also appealed to the students to embrace peace and take their academics seriously, rather than indulging in acts that will be inimical to their life.

The Rector further promised to build a cordial working relationship with the host and neighbouring communities, noting that such relationships shall improve the activities of the Polytechnic.

Dr. Wadike, an Accountant, who promised to reposition the image of the Polytechnic globally, said the activities of the Polytechnic would be publicised to the international communities to earn more credibility.

By: Chinedu Wosu

Rivers

Lulu-Briggs Commends Tinubu On State Police, Peace In Rivers

Published

42 minutes ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

A former Accord Party Governorship candidate in Rivers State, Chief Dumu Lulu-Briggs, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinibu for his “pragmatic support” for State Police in Nigeria.

Lulu-Briggs lauded the President on Friday during an exclusive chat with Journalists at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, in Rivers State.

According to him, State Police will help in reducing criminal activities across the country, saying that the security of life and properities is essential and it is a collective responsibility.

The former Governorship candidate called on governments at all levels to support the State Police in order to make the society crime-free.

He said the State Police would not only reduce crime, but will also boost employments across the country.

Lulu-Briggs also used the medium to applaud President Tinibu for intervening in the face-off between the Executive and Legislative arms of Government in Rivers State.

He expressed happiness that peace has returned to the state, noting that the fued between the two organs of the governments has delayed the speed of developments in the state.

The two-time governorship candidate also expressed optimism that the peace accord will give more rooms for development and also create a better atmosphere for empowerment of the youths and Women.

“Now that peace has returned in the state, there is need to queue behind the peace to be sustained for the overall interest and betterment of all in the State..

“On the political tussle in the state, I thank President Tinibu on the recent reconciliation. Now that the problem has been settled by the aggressive parties, it is the responsibility of the people to embrace peace and work towards the growth of the state and continuous sustainability of developments in the state”, he said.

On 2027 election, the Kalabari-born politician said politics is not a do-or-die affair, and advised both the public and politicians to play politics in accordance with the rules.

“To me, politics is not a do-or-die affair, whoever that wins election is still our brother or sister, the important thing is that let them do the needful, they should develop the area and the people.

“The problem we are having in Nigerian politics is that some of our politicians in positions of trust sometimes abuse the opportunities given to them”, he said.

By: Enoch Epelle