Rivers
Union Hails RSG On Pension Law Abrogation
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has applauded the Rivers State Government’s decision to abrogate the contributory pension scheme law in the state, saying it would alleviate the suffering of pensioners.
The union is also appealing to the state government to resume the payment of gratuities of pensioners which was stopped from April 2016 as well as work out and pay the gratuities and benefits of pensioners under the contributory pension scheme from July 2015.
According to a communiqué issued at the end of its South-South Zonal meeting held in Port Harcourt yesterday, the union urged the State Government to pay the accrued initial pension arrears of those payrolled in 2017 while urging the payment of pension increases of 6, 15 and 33 percent respectively as approved by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Abuja in 2017.
The communiqué signed by the Zonal Chairman, Comrade Pullen Noruwa, Zonal Vice President, Comrade Benjamin Ettah, the State Chairman, Comrade Collins Nwankwo, State Secretary; Comrade Joseph J. Agbo and the Zonal Secretary, Obong Cosmos Essien urged the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to with immediate effect pay the balance of twelve months arrears of the 33 percent increase.
While urging the implementation of the circular Number PNA.32760/S.19/T1/31 of February 2003 transferring the responsibilities of payment of monthly pension of primary school retirees to their respective state governments, the Zonal Conference also urged the Rivers State government to harmonise pension as had been done by the Cross River government in 2014 just as it called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers State Council to do the needful by ensuring that the governor used the Paris Club refund for the settlement of all outstanding pension liabilities as was done in other states of the federation.
By: Shedie Okpara.
Rivers
PH Airport Users Lament Deteriorating Facilities
Users of Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa have decried continuous deterioration of facilities at the airport, saying that rather than improving, such facilities are deteriorating continuously.
Some of the airport users who interacted with The Tide on the matter pointed out that the state of some facilities like electricity at the airport, network of announcement, access to banking and access road network among others have seriously gone down.
Reacting to the situation while interacting with The Tide, a protocol officer with one of the multinational oil firms in Port Harcourt, Julius Nwoye said rather than improving, the state of electricity at the airport currently, is downwardly unimaginable.
According to him, an international airport like the Port Harcourt Airport, ought not to be experiencing continuous epileptic power supply, because of the business activities being undertaken.
“ For over six years, I have been in this airport, I have not witnessed this kind of situation where there will be outage of power every now and then, some time, up to three hours almost every day, since late 2023 till now, that is what have been experiencing here.
“ Before now, you will hear flights announcement at the VIP lounge, as well as at the Genesis Fast Food, and even at the car hires office, but now, even the announcement at the terminal building is not loud enough, and nothing is being done about it, and this is not so in other major airports in this country”, he lamented.
On his assessment, Mr Tonye Dokubo, a travel agent at the airport lamented over the state of banking at the airport, stressing that the UBA is now the only bank operating at the Port Harcourt airport.
According to him, there were four banks operating at the airport, but that the new tax regime has pushed them out of the airport, as well as other business outfits that have left the airport because of high taxation and rental charges.
Dokubo also lamented that the service being rendered by only UBA, is not enough for the entire airport, as compared to the volume of users, like other major airports in Nigeria, and urged the authorities to take urgent steps to address the setbacks.
Currently also, access to food and drinks has become difficult at the airport, as users are compelled to trek some distance to get them, as the management had ordered total relocation of the vendors, and this has forced prices of things higher.
Meanwhile, several efforts were made by aviation correspondents to speak with the Airport Manager, Michael Arewa on these issues, but he has repeatedly shown no interest to speak with the press.
By: Corlins Walter
Rivers
Indorama’s Jossy Nkwocha Wins Environmental Sustainability Award
Group Head of Corporate Communications at Indorama-Nigeria, owners of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals and Fertiliser group, Dr Jossy Nkwocha has won the maiden Distinguished Spokesperson’s Award in Environmental Sustainability.
At the International Conference Centre, Abuja, he was announced as winner of the Award among three finalists from other organisations in Nigeria. He was thereafter presented a gold-plated, plaque and a certificate.
Dr Nkwocha also emerged finalist in Oil and Gas category.
The Award ceremony marked the end of a three-day National Spokespersons’ Summit organised by the Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), which was declared open by the Vice President, Alhaji Ibrahim Shetima.
Various resource persons from abroad and Nigeria, all of whom were former spokespersons in the public and private sectors shared their practical experiences and perspectives in the art and science of being a spokesperson especially in crisis communication, stakeholder engagement, among others.
President of NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku said the 17 Awards categories were instituted to encourage Spokespersons in government and corporate organisations to be professional, responsive, ethical and creative in their Spokesperson’s roles and responsibilities to achieve impactful result.
“This healthy competition will produce impactful results,” he said.
Dr Nkwocha’s entry for the Award was how he and his team deployed the tool of stakeholder engagement to eliminate the false narrative that Indorama-Nigeria’s Petrochemicals and fertiliser operations were emitting soot in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The professional handling of the issue showed all the journalists, radio on-air personalities, the academics, professional bodies and concerned NGOs that Indoram’s operations were green and the company is environment friendly and environmentally sustainable.
Dr Nkwocha dedicated the prestigious award to his team members and management of the petrochemicals and fertiliser group.
Rivers
PH NiMECHE Inaugurates 9th Executive
The Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Enginers (NIMECHE) has inaugurated its nineth Executives with Engr Promise Jumbo as Chairman.
The investiture ceremony which took place in Port Harcourt has as its theme,” Challenges of Mechanical Equipment Maintenance and Abandonment in Nigeria”.
National Chairman of NiMECHE, Engr. Alhassan Muhammed praised the Port Harcourt Chapter of the body for contributing towards the growth of the institution in the country.
According to Engr Muhammad, who was chairman of the investiture ceremony, NiMECHE in Port Harcourt was a beacon of excellence as far as the institution was concerned.
Represented by Engr Dan Entire, he said the ceremony represents the transfer of responsibilities and charged the new executive to put in place measures that will further advance the interest of mechanical engineering in the region.
Also speaking chairperson of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Port Harcourt, Engr (Mrs) Idaeresoari Harriet Ateke said the event signified a major milestone in the growth of the institution not only in Rivers state but across the country.
While urging for full support to the new executive, the NSE chairperson expressed confidence in the ability of the new executive to take NiMECHE to greater height.
She also described the theme as apt, and urged them to put in place programms that will improve mechanical engineering contributions to Nigeria’s transformation.
In his inaugural address, NiMECHE new chairman Engr Dr promise Jumbo said the chapter is poised to distinguish itself as the best in the country.
“As a professional institution, our focus is to distinguish ourselves and be outstanding in our operations.
“We will strive to surpass the achievements of our predecessors and creat new heights for those coming after us to also surpass us”.
He said the institution will maintain cordial relationship with others, particularly the Nigerian Society of Engineers Port Harcourt branch, relevant Government Agencies and Allied Industries.
Jumbo said the chapter will carry out activities that will impact positively on the professional wellbeing of members and as well provide quality mentorship for the young professionals.
He also said the impact of NiMECHE is already being felt across the state as the institution had in the recent past embarked on career talks to schools and institutions as a way of giving back to the society.
The event was attended by people from all walks of life.
By: John Bibor
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