Rivers
NULGE Probes Alleged Promotion, Posting Fraud

Former Governor of Rivers State, Chief Rufus Ada George (right) in a chat with former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi during the 80th birthday celebration of former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme at the Banquet Hall, Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Egberi .A. Sampson.
The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Rivers State Chapter, says it is making concerted effort to ascertain the true facts about the alleged irregularities in the recently concluded postings and promotions of some officers of the local Governments by the State local Government Service Commission.
The NULGE Chairman, Comrade Franklin Ajunwo gave the assurance Monday in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, said the commission was biased in its recently concluded posting and promotion exercises across the 23 Local Government areas of the State.
The NULGE Chairman, who confirmed that, the union has received series of complaints concerning the just-concluded posting and promotion exercises said, the union executive has scheduled a meeting with the authority of the commission, where the commission would present to the Union the criteria and facts about the controversial local government staff posting and promotion in the state two months ago.
He urged those officers affected in the posting and promotion exercises to remain calm pending when the union would conclude its findings with the commission.
“We are meeting the Commission to find out the truth and facts about the posting and promotion, and if there is any irregularity, the union will look for solution to correct it immediately”, Comrade Ajunwo said.
However, The Tide learnt that the recent postings and promotions made by the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission across the 23 Local Government areas of the state have not gone down well with some officers of the service.
An affected officer of the local government service, under anonymity told The Tide that he was demoted from the position of Head of Personnel Manager (HPM) to Head of a sub-department that is meant for a senior cadre, while an officer below his grade was made Head of Personnel manager without cogent reasons.
The officer described the treatment meted out to him by the commission as most unfair and bias of the highest order in the civil service system in the state.
Another officer on grade level 15 said, he was replaced by an officer of grade level 13 who does not merit directors position, if going by the local government civil service Act.
The affected officers called on the State Government and NULGE authority to wade into the alleged irregularities in the exercises by the commission.
Efforts to confirm from the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Chief Azubuike Nmerekini proved abortive, as access to him through phone or in person was impossible at the time of filing this report.
Enoch Epelle
Rivers
PHCCIMA Boss Lists Achievements In Office
The President, Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Mines , Industry and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Eze Mike Elechi, has credited 21 projects to his administration under one year in office.
Elechi made this known during the Chamber’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The achievements, he listed include, resuscitation of all structures of the Chamber, plus trade groups, working committees and improved regular networking and business advisory services.
According to him, it has also conducted three membership induction ceremonies and inducted 32 new members into the membership of the Chamber.
He also disclosed that they have unveiled the PHCCIMA Corporate Profile and Rivers State Investment Compendium, and what it described as continued dissemination of business news and information to members.
Another achievement of the Chamber under his watch, he said, is the resucitation of the Chamber Members’ monthly development fora for members’ enlightenment and business development.
“We have assumed the position of 2nd Deputy President Ex-Officio of NACCIMA. We have held an EGM for appointment of a new Auditor for the Chamber”, he added.
These, he stressed, would not have been feasible without the contribution and support of Chamber members.
The PHCCIMA Head, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Vintage Farms and Products, Elele, said part of the reason for the AGM was the presentation of its stewardship and the 2021 Audited Accounts of the Chamber and to fill the vacant position of the Council as an elected body.
“I appreciate everyone of you here for your valued contributions and support you have given me and my administration since our inauguration more than one year ago, and your commitment towards a sustainable growth and development of the Chamber”, he said.
Climax of the event was the election and subsequent swearing-in of Amb . Clement Akanibo as an elected Council Member of PHCCIMA.
Audit Account was also rendered by the Auditor.
By: King Onunwor
Rivers
LG Boss Vows To Replicate ‘Wike’s Performance’
Chairman of Bonny Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Anengi Barasua Wilcox, says her administration would continue to replicate what she called the ‘excellent performance’ of the Governor Nyesom Wike administration.
She said Rivers people owe a lot to the Governor for his purposeful leadership “which has brought the State to national limelight and prominence”.
Wilcox, who made the remarks in an interview with newsmen, said her administration would continue to replicate the excellent performance of Governor Wike in all ramifications.
While thanking Governor Wike for allowing somebody from the Rivers South- East Senatorial District to succeed him at the expiration of the tenure of his administration on May 29, 2023, the Council Chairman said “it was a strong indication that the Governor is a true apostle of power shift, particularly within the context of equity, justice and fairness”.
She expressed optimism that the Governor-Elect, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, when sworn into office would continue with the good works of the Governor Wike administration.
Wilcox further indicated that it did not come to her as a surprise that Governor Wike delivered all the candidates of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State during the just-concluded general elections owing to the good works of his administration, and promised to continue to replicate all the “bold and worthy initiatives of the Governor” in her local government council.
She said the successful election of Sir Siminialayi Fubara as Governor-Elect; Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo as Senator- Elect; and other PDP candidates were victories for democracy.
According to her, Sir Fubara in particular “has been tested, trusted and found worthy to continue from where Governor Wike would stop come May 29, 2023”.
She also noted that the emergence of Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo as a second female Senator in the State on completion of her term as Deputy Governor is a clear indication that Governor Wike means well for the women of the State and also that he truly loves them.
The council chairman, therefore, enjoined the people of the State to continue to identify and support the Wike administration to achieve set goals in order to successfully hand over the baton to hiss successor come May 29, and thanked the Governor for all that he has done for the State.
She explained that it was because of the good works of Governor Wike that made the people of Bonny Local Government Area not to hesitate in complying with the directive to deliver all the preferred candidates of the governor at the polls, stressing that all the elected PDP candidates have the capacity to put smiles on the faces of the people of the State.
Wilcox described the electorate who turned out in their numbers to vote candidates of their choice during the elections as the true heroes of democracy, and commended them for their comportment “which generally made the elections hitch-free and peaceful in the area”.
Rivers
Police Confirm Killing Of Six Persons In Ahoada West
The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the killing of six persons in Odiokwu Community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command ,Sp Grace Iringe-Koko, while confiriming the incident to our correspondent via telephone in Port Harcourt, described the killing as cult-related reprisal attack.
She, however, said investigation into the matter had begun and that the result would be made known soon.
Meanwhile, she said anti-riot policemen and other combatant operatives of the Command have been deployed to restore peace and security in the affected community.
An eye witness account has it that unknown gunmen, Sunday, invaded Odiokwu Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State and killed at least six persons.
The hoodlums were said to have stormed the community on motorbikes at about 11:00am, and gunned down five persons at different points, including a famous native doctor in the area, Ojukwu Ozor.
Reason for the heinous action was sketchy as at the time of filing this report, but an eye witness account said it was a reprisal attack linked to the manhandling to death of a dreaded cultist in Odiokwu Community recently.
Community source said the invaders opened fire on the unsuspecting youths and any person who attempted to run away on sighting them.
The community source added that many residents who fled the community during the Sunday operation were yet to return home.
Those killed in the attack were John Ikata, Godbless Sunday, Chidom Elems, Martin Augustine, Ozochi Man and Dr. Ojukwu Ozor from Delta State, who had been a resident of Odiokwu Community for over 15years with his family.
It would be recalled that an infamous cultist of Odiokwu Community, late Chidom Iyeumame, popularly known in the area as “Odey” was strangled to death early last month, and the body was thrown alongside Odiokwu–Ula Ehuda Road in the area.
Late Odey was said to have been the leader of a group of cultists terrorising Odiokwu and the surrounding communities.
By: Agimo, Emenike Benson
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