Rivers
Rivers Judiciary Workers To Resume Strike Feb, If…
The suspended Rivers State branch of the Nationwide Judiciary Workers Strike may resume in February if promises made to them are not met.
This hint was given on Tuesday by the Chairan of Judiciary staff Union of Nigeria, Rivers State, Comrade Ahiakwo Ugorji in an interview with The Weekend Tide.
Comrade Ugorji, who barred his mind on the eminent resumption of strike, stated that the strike was suspended in Rivers State in respect of appeals made by the Attorney- General, Mr. Ken Chikere and the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Hon. Magnus Abe and the State Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Chris Oruge.
“The Attorney General appealed to us with the promise that the Committee will be set up to handle the matter and come up with a resolution immediately, hence there was no need to continue the strike.
“In actual fact, though, it was after we embarked on the strike on January 4, 2010 that we received a letter informing us that the committee has been inaugurated by the SSG, and that the resolution of the committee will be communicated to us”, he said.
Ugorji, explained that within that same week, a fire-man committee was inaugurated.
“We were made to inderstand that the Attorney General and SSG were acting on the Governor’s mandate, and so we heeded their demand for us to suspend the strike.”
According to him, the 5-man committee, headed by Hon. Austine Nwakoh had the Permanent Secretaries in Ministries of Justice (Mrs M. Benibo), Establishment, Mr. Chima Ake and of finance, George Nweke as well as a Director in the office of the SSG as members.
:All these people appealed for the negotiation to suspend strike action before the committee will swing into action.
“But to our greatest surprise, the Rivers State Governor , Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi during the opening of this year’s legal week said he was not privy to what ever arrangement that was made and so will not pay anything”, Comrade Ugorji said.
He continued that, “This is why we are willing to give the government up till the month to at least have a rethink over the issue.
“We are still very ready to go into dialogue. We do not see strike action as the ultimate to arrive at resolution”.
It only applies where the Government is not responsive to the plight of workers.
“We are still pleading with the Government to have a rethink of his position knowledge that he has a lot of developmental challenges.
It will recalled that the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, under the auspices of the National Judiciary Institute called for the nationwide strike in November, 2009 following failure by state governments to implement the scheme of service and enhance welfare condition of service for all staff of the Judiciary in Nigeria.
The nationwide strike commence November 2, 2009. But in Rivers State, in response to intervention of the Attorney-General, SSG and NLC Chairman, it was suspended on 13th of November and commenced again on the 14th of January after promises made by the government was not fulfilled, according to Comrade Ugorji.
The Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) says it will commence Supplemental Immunization activities on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to vaccinate children from 0-5 years across the State.
The State Health Educator, Dr. Diana Babbo, who stated this during a sensitisation meeting with Media Advocate for Health, Rivers State, on the update of immunization exercise in Rivers State, said the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) is a re-enforcement of the routine immunization at the health facilities.
According to her, it is aimed at boosting polio immunisation against the circulating variance of polio virus currently threatening the total eradication of polio in the country.
She further stated that there are four pillars of polio eradication, namely routine immunization (administered on babies in the health centre), supplemental immunization activity (supplements to boost the babies), surveillance (searching for children that have weakness in their legs or some oart of their bodies), and outbreak response.
The Health Educator noted that the Novel Oral Polio Vaccination Type 2 (NOPV 2) will be administered to children under the age of 0-5 years, which targets a specific polio still in existence in communities and capable of causing paralysis among the stated categories of children, despite the country being certified a polio-free nation.
Dr. Babbo further stated that this year’s NIPDs will address the high number of unresolved non-compliance cases in the State.
She debunked what she tagged a false rumour by mischief makers which claimed that the vaccines are responsible for the development of autism in children.
She said, “vaccines are not known to be responsible for the development of autism. We’re just hearing that. The truth is that one cannot know everything.
“That aspect that has been found, have we looked into other aspects, such as genetically modified foods, drinks, and milks that our children are taking?
“Have we also looked at genetic compatibility between couples before we now say vaccines are causing x, y, z things?
“Are we looking at the environment where these things are happening, what they are peculiar to?
“It must not be peculiar to all the families, there could be something also that’s happening around that we have not known. Research is evolving, let us not accuse our precious vaccines that have succeeded so far in my knowledge, to keep as many sicknesses at bay.
“The reason we do not have small pox in our world today, apart from the lab (a bio-lab) is because we vaccinated to the point where we were able to move small pox totally out of existence from human beings. We can succeed with that same pattern with all kinds of viruses”.
She stated that the connection between autism and vaccination could merely be coincidence.
Babbo, therefore, urged all parents, churches, and school owners to avail their children/wards the opportunity to be vaccinated against polio the stated exercise.
Sogbeba Dokubo
Engr Obi Fortune, a renowned philanthropist, has donated 80 desks to four secondary schools in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. The donation is part of his commitment to advancing education in the area.
The schools that benefited from the gesture includes- Community Secondary School Umuoye.
Community Secondary School Akwa- Government Secondary School Ozuzu and Community Primary School Okehi 2 and all the schools got 20 units each of the desks.
Speaking during the brief handing-over ceremony held recently in okehi recently, Engr Obi stated that the donation fulfills his promise to use proceeds from his book sales to procure desks for schools in the LGA.
He disclosed that more desks will arrive soon and expressed his continued commitment to supporting education in the area.
Obi urged the schools to make good use of the desks and called on other individuals to contribute to the educational needs in the area.
This gesture demonstrates Engr Obi’s dedication to improving education in Etche LGA.
A professor of social and political philosophy at Rivers State University (RSU ) Nkpolu Oroworukwu port Harcourt, Prof Agha Eresia _Eke has emphasized that citizenship participation is crucial for achieving true democratic government. He stressed that citizens’ involvement in exercising their basic rights, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, is essential for a democratic institution to thrive.
Eresia _Eke stated this while presenting his inaugural lecture at the 111 university’s inaugural lecture series with the topic “Nigeria Democratic practices:a contextual paradox”held at the university senate auditorium in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
According to him, core democratic values which include:,- Respect for individual rights and freedoms, Protection of human rights and fundamental freedom, Equality before the law, Freedom of speech, assembly, and association, Protection of privacy and personal autonomy.
“Through out history, the problem that has agitated social and political philosophers has been to work _out a model for the realization of the common good of man.
Man has always sought and developed methods and systems of organising himself according to his true nature as a rational being.”he stated.
Eresia-Eke notes that Nigeria is not practicing a true federalism and highlights the importance of a pragmatic approach to democracy, where ideas and solutions are tested and refined in real-world environments.
He emphasized that citizens must hold their leaders accountable and demand respect for human rights, stressing that by doing so, citizens can undertake their civic obligations and responsibilities, strengthening society as a whole.
Earlier in his address, the Vice chancellor of the university, Prof Zeb _Obipi commended the lecturer for his brilliant performance, adding that he has justified and proven that he is a professor in his area of specialization.
The VC averred that the university has been consistent in the inaugural lecture monthly and assured that his administration will continue to continue to keep the trend.