News

Confab: 20 Committees Submit Report …Recommend State Creation, 36 Ministers, Graft Court …Plenary Resumes Monday

Published

12 years ago

May 16, 2014

The National Conference Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government yesterday, recommended the creation of more states based on merit.
In its final report, yesterday the committee attached a list of requests for additional 32 states and one for a change of name.
The committee resolved by consensus that “there shall be created an additional state for the South East zone.
“That all other requests for state creation should be considered on merit.’’
The “List of Proposals for State Creation” was signed by rapporteur of the committee, Chief R.I. Chris-Garuba.
The 32 proposals for state creation include Aba, Adada, Amana, Apa, Anioma, Anim, Orimili, Oduduwa, Ijebu, Yemen, New Delta, Okun, Edu and Lagoon.
Others are South Plateau, Confluence, Etiti, Njaba, Oke-Ogun, Toru-Ebe, New Oyo, Hadejia, Ose, Ogoja, Okura, Ugwuaku, Ghari, Sombreiro and Old Calabar, Savannah, and Warri.
There was also a proposal for “Change of Name of State” from Adamawa to Gongola, its former name.
However, the National Conference Committee on Public Service recommended the reduction of appointed ministers from 42 to 36 to reduce the cost of governance as the committee rounded -up its work.
Chairperson of the committee, Mrs Bello Okeke, who is also a retired Head of Civil Service, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen yesterday in Abuja.
Okeke said that high cost of governance was not caused by the number of people in the civil service but that of public service.
Public servants according to her, include executives in Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the three arms of government as well as the military and para-military and their aides.
Okeke also said that the committee recommended the establishment of a special court to prosecute people indicted of corruption.
She said that the move was to ensure that such people were immediately apprehended and brought to book.
The chairperson said this was important as some people had arrogated to themselves the pension money meant for people who retired from service.
Okeke said that the committee was also recommending upward review of pension.
The chairperson said that the committee was also recommending the re-investment of pension fund in the provision of housing for workers.
The chairperson also said that the committee had recommended proper data collection in the country to prevent falsification of records.
The chairperson said that the committee had recommended that physically challenged persons should also be provided with access into public buildings with a certain percentage of employment slots.
Meanwhile, twenty standing committees of the National Conference have concluded their work and are ready to proceed to plenary on May19, an official said.
The committees, which had gone through four weeks of thorough deliberations on the terms of references given to them by the conference secretariat, commenced sitting on April 22.
The committees conferred with senators, ministers, ambassadors, chief executives of parastatal agencies as well as other relevant stakeholders on various burning issues.
The committees, which were divided into two groups, with each group made up of 10 committees, met at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) and NICON Luxury Hotel.
The first 10 committees that sat at NJI were committees on Devolution of Power, Political Restructuring, National Security, Environment, Politics and Governance.
Others were Law, Judiciary and Human Rights, Social Sector, Transportation, Science Technology and Development as well as committee on Agriculture.
The second set of 10 committees that sat at NICON Luxury Hotel were those on Civil Societies, Labour and Sports, Public Service, Parties and Electoral Matters, and Foreign Policy and Diaspora Matters.
Others were Land Tenure and National Boundaries, Economy, Trade and Investment, Energy, Religion, Public Finance and Revenue and Immigration and related matters.

LR: Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Margaretta Wahlsrom; Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Muhammed Sidi; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim and Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, at the 5th Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Abuja On Tuesday

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.