News

RVHA Suspends Oyigbo LG Boss For Misrepresentation, Budget Improprieties

Published

15 years ago

December 1, 2010

The Rivers State House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman of Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state, Hon Precious Oforji, for what the lawmakers described as a misrepresentation of the House. The Oyigbo LG boss also incurred the wrath of the Assembly because of alleged budget improprieties. Following the suspension, the House has directed the Vice Chairman of the council to take over the administration of the affairs of the local government area in the interim.

These decisions followed the appearance of members of Oyigbo legislative arm (councillors) on the floor of the House, Monday, on the invitation of the members of 23 local government legislative arms by the state legislature.

Oyigbo councillors had told the Rivers lawmakers that their legislative chamber had been under lock and key since August 2010, stating that the situation arose when the councilors detected alleged fraud in the 2010 budget estimate of the council forwarded to the House for consideration.

The councillors also accused the chairman, Hon Precious Oforji of expending from the 2010 council estimate without the House giving a legal backing by way of passing the budget into law.

The Rivers Assembly legislators, angered by the disclosure of Oyigbo councilors against the council chairman, moved that the council should be put on hold till the crisis between the executive and legislative arm in Oyigbo was resolved.

Moving the motion for the suspension of the Oyigbo council boss, the leader of the House, Hon Chidi Lloyd told his colleagues that there was urgent need to amend the state local government law to fix a minimum qualification for councillorship position in the state.

Lloyd urged the House to declare a warrant on the Oyigbo council chairman for abetting the rules of budgeting, adding that as a former member of the House for eight years, he should have been a true ambassador of the House.

In his words, “there shouldn’t have been any problem in the local government legislative arm, considering the fact that he (Precious Oforji) had served as a member of this House for eight years.”

Supporting the sentiments expressed by the House leader and the call for suspension, Hon Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja (Opobo/Nkoro) and Henry Ogiri (Abua/Odual) stated that the issue involved was a serious matter and should be given the attention it deserved.

The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry, who presided over the sitting put the motion into vote. 13 legislators voted for the suspension of Hon Precious Oforji from office while one lawmaker voted against and four absented. Following this development, the vice chairman was directed to take over the administration of the council till the resolution of the matter.

Meanwhile, Speaker Tonye Harry last Monday, walked-out the suspended chairman of Oyigbo council, Hon Precious Oforji from the Assembly chambers.

The speaker spoke pointblank to Oforji who came the House upon hearing the news of his suspension by the lawmakers that he cannot be allowed to enter into the hallow chambers of the house against until his suspension is lifted by the House.

“We have taken a resolution on the floor of the House today to suspend you, you cannot sit with us again until your matter is resolved,” he said.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

5 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

5 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

5 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.