Nation
Union Protests Police Retirees As PSC Chairmen
The Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Police Service Commission (PSC) chapter, yesterday in Abuja protested against the appointment of retired police officers as chairmen of the commission by the Federal Government.
Addressing newsmen, Chairman of the union, Mr Umar Sharubutu, said that the appointment of retired policeman as chairman of the commission was an aberration.
“It is constitutionally wrong to have an ex- policeman heading the commission,”Sharubutu said.
He explained that the Act establishing the commission defined it as a “civilian “oversight body on police.
He further said that a police officer was appointed as a Commissioner II on the board to serve as adviser on technical issues concerning the police.
The chairman said that appointing another police officer on the board was a duplication of police representation on the board, adding that the Act provided for the appointment of a civilian chairman.
He said that because of the background of the police, the junior takes order from his superior.
He alleged that members of staff of the commission were being treated like policemen to whom orders were being given as against the public and other extant rules applicable to civil servants.
“We are not policemen, we are civilian staff and the commission is a civilian organisation, the chairman should be a civilian.
“Our experiences under these former policemen had not been a palatable one as they clamp our colleagues into detention indiscriminately.
“We are using this medium to appeal to Mr President to give us a civilian chairman,” he said.
Sharubutu said that the union would lawfully resist further appointment of former policeman as chairman of the commission, adding that the commission has had enough of them.
He said that the commission under the pioneer civilian chairman, flourished without interference from the police.
“Under the civilian chairman in 2001 promotions were done strictly on seniority and merit.
“We are complaining now because we have endured believing that things will get better but matters are still difficult,”he said.
He said that the union had written to the President, the National Assembly, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the Secretary to the Federal Government.
The chairman also alleged that under the chairmanship of a retired policeman, issues of promotion in the commission had been abused.
In a reaction, the Head of Press and Public Relations of the commission, Mr Ikechukwu Ani, said that the issue of appointment of chairman was beyond the competence of the commission.
“Even though I have not been briefed by the management of the commission, I know that it is the prerogative of Mr President to appoint chairmen of the commission,”he said.
Ani said that the Act establishing the commission was very clear on this as there was no restriction for the president to appoint chairman for the commission.
the Inspector-General of Police.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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