Niger Delta
Commissioner Tasks DeltaVarsity On Workers’ Salaries
Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, has directed the management of Delta State University (DELSU), to ensure that all its promoted staff earned salaries commensurate with their new positions.
Muoboghare gave the directive in a statement signed by Mr Dennis Medi, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the ministry and made available to newsmen on Saturday in Asaba.
The commissioner spoke when the leadership of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU), DELSU chapter, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Asaba.
He said the idea of promoting staff without backing it up with salaries commensurate with the new ranks was not proper.
The commissioner noted that the practice resulted in arrears of payments that accrued to such positions accumulating for a very long time.
He said that promotions should be carried out as at when due, stressing that prolonged delay caused unnecessary problems for both the establishment and the beneficiaries.
Muoboghare however reminded the SSANU leadership that in ideal situations, promotions were subject to availability of vacancies unlike what obtained currently where staff got promoted to positions whether they existed or not.
He admonished the unionists to seriously engage the university management on discussions in order to find meaningful solution to the issue of stagnation of the non teaching staff.
He noted that the state university was well funded when compared to other state universities across the country.
According to Muoboghare, the university’s monthly subvention was enough to run the institution without any problem.
Mr Monday Izu, Chairman, SANNU, implored the commissioner to use his good offices to ensure that the state government constituted a visitation panel to evaluate the university administration every four or five years as done in federal universities.
Niger Delta
Make God Your Anchor To Fulfill Destiny, Cleric Charges Christians … As Jaja Marks 70th Birthday
The Lead Pastor at Jesus Appointed People’s Bible Church, Ozogbe, Ikwerrengwo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Promise Nwaelele, has urged Christians to make God the anchor of their lives in whatever position they find themselves, in order to attain the destinies set for them by God.
Pastor Nwaelele, who gave the charge recently in a sermon he preached at the 70th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service of Sir Donald Michael Jaja, a veteran journalist in Rivers State, said this is because any genuine child of God is a permanent target for destabilization and destruction by the devil.
Taking his text from the Bible book of Mark 4:16-17, the preacher stated that fulfilment in life for a child of God required faith, obedience to God’s word, humility and grace to withstand trials and temptations.
According to him, temptations and afflictions are bound to happen in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“No wonder the Bible said that those that endure till the end shall be saved”, he said.
The Clergyman said God prospers believers who are humble, not proud and conceited, and leads them to destiny fulfilment.
“David said in Psalm 51:17, that the sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit, not an impatient or proud spirit”, the preacher said.
He called on Christians not to allow persecutions and afflictions to sway them from the love and blessings of Jesus Christ.
On his part, Jaja, a seasoned Journalist who retired as an Acting Editor of the Rivers State Government-owned The Tide Newspaper, gave thanks to God for honouring him by giving him the grace of attaining 70 years.
“I cannot capture what the good Lord has done for me in my entire life in this fleeting moment of thanksgiving. But, I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have been who I am today, in all spheres. Therefore, my joy knows no bounds as I give thanks to my creator today, alongside my family. Praise be His holy name”, Jaja said.
