Rivers
Rivers NULGE Expels Two…Over Claims Of Caretaker Committee membership
Following a motion moved by the Chairman of Akuku-Toru local government Area (AKULGA) branch of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Mr Opubo S.D. Briggs, the duo of Mrs. Gladys Nweye and Mr Bright Agbovu, who parade themselves as chairman and secretary respectively of the Rivers State Caretaker Committee of NULGE, have been expelled by the State Executive Council, led by Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, as President.
In his motion during the meeting of the State Executive Committee of NULGE in Port Harcourt yesterday, Comrade Briggs highlighted the dangers inherent in the claims of Mrs Nweye and her group, adding that most members of the union at the grassroots level have suffered embarrassment which could lead to insecurity and destabilisation of the peace in the state, considering the high level of alleged anti-union activities involved in their claims.
Earlier, the President of NULGE in Rivers State, Barr. Ajinwo had highlighted the activities of some disgruntled elements in the union, recounting extensively the legal angles that arose after the disputed National Delegates’ Conference of NULGE in October last year.
Comrade Ajinwo, elected on Friday December 18, 2009, explained that there was no legal basis for caretaker committees at any level, stressing that Hon. Justice Sylvanus Chinelu Orji, of the Federal High Court in Abuja, was explicit in his ruling in Suit NO. FCT/HC/CV/1914/2009 which crushed any charge of contempt of court to substantiate claims that elections did not hold in Calabar during the National Delegates’ Conference.
Furthermore, Ajinwo stated that “if there was ever a reason to constitute caretaker committees, especially at the national level, all the state presidents would have been called to a meeting, as members of the National Executive Council (NEC) of NULGE, to ratify such action”, noting that “only seven dissident state presidents cannot take or ratify such organ”.
He warned against continued embarrassment of branch officials of NULGE in Rivers State by the purported Gladys Nweye-led caretaker committee and called on security agents, especially the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Suleiman Abba, to stop her in time before the workers revolt.
Interestingly, members of the caretaker committee of NULGE in Emohua local government area have dissociated themselves from the antics of Gladys Nweye and her group through a public announcement yesterday.
Comrades Isaiah Ordu, Enoch Amadi and Frank Amadi said that they would wish to “dissociate themselves from the NULGE Caretaker Committee, constituted by some lawless and selfish members of the union, led by Gladys Nweye, and would not be part of a plot to cease power by force nor polarise the union”.
The Rivers State Judiciary has denied a media report claiming that Justice Frank Onyiri of the State High Court issued an injunction order restraining the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), from inaugurating the newly appointed members of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission (RSCSC).
In a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Registrar in charge of litigation at the High Court, Menenen Poromon (Esq), the state Judiciary disassociated itself from the report, describing it as malicious and fabricated.
The statement emphasized that the report was a falsehood and a misrepresentation of what transpeared in the court.
Poromon clarified that no such order was issued by Justice Onyiri or any other judge of the High Court of the state and urged the public to disregard the information, as it lacked any iota of truth.
The statement however advised the public to verify any information concerning the state Judiciary directly from the office of the Chief Registrar, High Court of the State, to avoid spreading of misinformation.