Rivers

RSG Uncovers 1,000 Ghost Workers … Insists On Biometrics Before Salary

Published

10 years ago

May 16, 2016

National President, University of Nigeria Alumni Association (UNAA), Chief (Barr) Andrew Oru (right), welcoming the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo to the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association in Port Harcourt, recently.

The Rivers State
Government has uncovered massive fraud in its monthly wage bill through the on-going biometric data capture for civil servants in the state.
According to the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, over 1,000 workers collect two different salaries monthly in various ministries of the state.
Wike while playing host to members of the Governing Council of Kenule Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, at Government House, Port Harcourt, decried a situation where a handful of corrupt officials siphon half of the monthly wage bill into their pockets.
He, therefore, declared that salaries will only be paid to civil servants in the state who have concluded their biometric capture data.
While wondering why government will be paying over 50,000 civil servants monthly, and few people will be collecting half of the wage bill, Wike made it clear that he will stop the trend, as according to him, he has the political will to do so.
“I don’t know how we can have 50 something thousand civil servants we are paying salaries. As at yesterday, from the record I saw, we have gotten over 1,000 people who collect double salaries. The same persons, two ministries, taking two salaries, you can’t believe it.
“They say we have 50 something thousand; now we have gone up to 4,000, people are not coming to do biometrics, they must come. If you do not do your biometrics, no salary. If you like put it on the pages of newspapers, ‘workers have not been paid salaries’, I am not owing you. Go and do your biometrics.
“There are cabals in the civil service making money. I have the political will, and I will stop the trend whereby government will be paying over N5billion as salaries, and some people will be taking half of the money,” Wike added.
While noting the dwindling federal allocation to the state in view of the decline in oil prices and the state wage bill, Wike urged management of the polytechnic to strive to improve on their internally generated revenue.
“Source for your own revenue. No university or institution can survive by solely depending on government. It is not possible. Look at the oil price. As at last month, we got N3.5billion, which is like $10million and our salary is over N5billion. If we do not drive our IGR up, we won’t survive, and that is why we are seriously trying to reduce our wage bill,” he said.
Wike, said that the polytechnic was set up to produce middle level technical manpower to tackle the needs of the state.
as well as equip the workshops and laboratories to meet the desired standard of the institution.
He assured them of government’s desire to assist the institution in order to meet the required standard for accreditation of courses run in the institution.
Earlier, the Chairman, Governing Council of the Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka, said the priority of the council was to make the institution the best in the country.
He lauded the governor for his developmental strides, and solicited for government support to enable it tackle some challenges faced by the institution.

Rivers

NGO Builds Awareness On Digital Violence Against Women, Girls

Published

1 day ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

As part of activities marking 16 Days of Activism, A Non-Governmental Organizatio (NGO), OLEGH, has organised a one-day awareness creation workshop on digital violence against women and girls, for civil society and media groups in Rivers State.

OLEGH’s Executive Director, Henry Eferebo, said the programme was intended to draw attention to the theme for the 2025 16 Days of Activism tagged, “Unite To End Digital Violence against all Women and Girls.”

Eferebo said the event is an annual global campaign that focuses on violence against women, affords persons and groups all over the world the opportunity to embark on activities aimed at eliminating all forms of women and gender abuse.

“As individuals, we don’t pay attention to the things we see on the social media. We pay less attention to the abuse on the internet. Today, you can abuse a woman or a man physically, emotionally and otherwise, and go scot-free”, he noted.

According to him, women and girls have suffered the most from online violence and cyber-bullying, particularly on platforms such as TikTok, making them ready victims online and offline.

“So, in line with the United Nations principle on 16 Days of Activism and this year’s theme, there is a need for OLEGH Center to create awareness on issues resulting from the online abuse of women and girls.

“We decided to bring in a resource person who will tell us how to avoid being abused online”, he said.

He urged participants at the event to put hands together, rise up and speak against digital violence online.

The NGO’s arrow head, also explained that OLEGH was working towards creating an online help-desk for victims of online abuse and digital violence.

He urged participants to improve their security awareness while online, and adopt security protocols that would protect them in the digital space.

The Resource Person, Jacob Iniodu, in a paper titled, “Understanding Digital Abuse within the 16 Days of Activism”, listed forms of online violence to include, cyber-bullying, dozing, cyber-stalking, and invasion of privacy.

By: King Onunwor

Rivers

Foundation Distribute Bags N5m Worth Christmas Gifts In Bundu Ama

Published

1 day ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Armslent Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), in Rivers State, has distributed Christmas gifts worth over N5million to aged mothers, orphans and less privileged persons in Belema, Bundu Ama (Community) in Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHALGA).

The Foundation also gave cash gifts of N150,000 to the Community.

Presenting the gift items, comprising 5 bags of rice,10 Cartons of indomie noodles,10 Gallons of groundnut oil, 3 bags of salt and cartons of maggie cubes, to Chairman of the Community, David Oba, and the community leaders, the founder of Armslent Foundation, Comrade Richard Boma Briggs, said the foundation decided to show love and togetherness to the community by providing the gifts.

He noted that the provision was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the community aimed at alleviating poverty and create a sense of belonging as Christian faithfuls celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Briggs described Bundu Ama as one of its pillars in partnership, stressing that the foundation was inspired by the spirit of love to impact and rejoice with the residents of the community.

“The foundation was moved by the spirit of Christmas to give these gifts and rejoice with the people of community”, Briggs said.

Accompanied by the Managing Director of the Foundation, Richard Osigbo, and other top Executive Members, Briggs called on the leaders of the community to always pray for the foundation, promising that in 2026, it would embark on a tangible project at UPE Modern Primary School Waterfront, Bundu Ama.

Receiving the items, Chairman of Bundu Ama, David Oba, thanked the foundation for empowering the less privileged persons, assisting physically challenged persons, and aged mothers in the past.

“The foundation had done a lot for this community and today we are witnessing these gift items for the Christmas celebration”,he emphasised.

He called on the leaders of the community, women group, youths and residents to emulate the humanitarian gestures of the foundation and pleaded that they also borrow a leaf from the gesture,in order to also give to society whenever they can.

Earlier the leaders of Belema Bundu Ama, led by Oba, former Chairman, Benneth Kalio, and Secretary, Promise Mangibo, presented an Award of Excellence to the Founder of the Foundation for his Humanitarian and selfless service to the community.

Highlight of the event was the offering of a special prayer to the management of the foundation by aged mothers, youths and leadership of the community.

By: Chinedu Wosu

Rivers

Youths Condemn Killings In Andoni

Published

1 day ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

The Obolo Youth Coalition, Rivers State Chapter, has condemned the recent spate of killings in Andoni Local Government Area, describing the renewed insecurity as alarming and constituting a threat to peace and stability in the area.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comr. Jonathan J. Eyina, the group expressed deep concern over what it described as brutal and senseless acts of violence, while extending condolences to the families of the victims.

The coalition said the resurgence of insecurity in Andoni has continued to undermine communal harmony and called for urgent steps to halt the trend before it escalates further.

It appealed to youths in the area to shun violence and embrace peace, stressing the need for tolerance, mutual respect and collective responsibility in safeguarding the community.

According to the group, restoring peace in Andoni requires a coordinated approach involving government, security agencies, community leaders and residents to identify and address the root causes of insecurity.

It noted that increased security presence, improved intelligence gathering, and sustained community engagement are critical to preventing further violence, adding that underlying social and economic challenges must also be addressed.

The coalition called on the Andoni Local Government Chairman, Hon. Lucky Promise-Otua, the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara, and the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju Adewole, to take decisive actions to restore security.

It further demanded that those responsible for the killings be apprehended and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

By: King Onunwor