Connect with us

Business

Body Condemns Call For NDDC’s Proscription

Published

12 years ago

on

The Association of Tra
ditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON) has expressed dissatisfaction with some leaders of the Northern bloc at the ongoing National Conference for calling for the proscription of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and downward review of the 13 per cent derivation fund as they urged participants at the conference to be positive minded in ensuring a One Nigeria agenda.
TROMPCON made the call last Monday in a communiqué issued at the end of its second quarter executive committee meeting held in Port Harcourt in which the state of the nation and other topical issues of the Niger Delta region were x-rayed.
The communiqué which was signed by the National Chairman, Eze Akuwueze Ikegwuruka, Paramount Ruler of Mgbirichi/Abakuru land, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State and the Secretary, HRH Etinyin Okon Effanga Edem, Cross River State described such call as grave and unrealistic demands as they advised Nigerian leaders to listen to the voice of reason and immediately retract their unpalatable request.
The group in the same communiqué commended the Federal Government for the approval given to TROMPCON’S first International Conference on curbing the social vices of oil theft and illegal oil deals, assuring that the Association would, without doubt, provide the enabling environment in all her domains for all agencies of government to deliver to her people the much desired dividends of democracy to which it has put in motion a machinery for sensitisation of her subjects on the evils of pipeline vandalisation and crude oil theft. The traditional Rulers also expressed dismay at the prolonged Boko Haram insurgency, noting that the nefarious activities of the terrorist group have tremendously kept the nation under siege and thus dented the image of the nation globally.
“Sea piracy, random bombing of places, mindless killing and maiming of innocent citizens of the country no doubt have kept the nation in a sate of tension”, he said.
It also frowned at the politicisation of the Chibok Girls abduction even as they pleaded with all perpetrators and executors of these crimes to stop embarrassing  the nation.
TROMPCON in the communiqué commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the courage and enthusiasm with which he has been fighting terrorism, calling on Nigerians to support the government in realising the desired peace in the country.
According to them, “The revival of the dead railways, the massive construction and rehabilitation of roads across the nation, the remodeling of airports, establishment of more universities and a lot of several other laudable achievements are quite attention arresting”.
The Association noted with delight the various development effort made by the federal government in the Niger Delta area partuclarly taking note of the establishment of a maritime university at Okerenkoko, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State and the continuous sustenance of the NDDC and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

 

Itode Elenwa

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Business

Boat Mishap Kills Pastor, Wife And Church Members  In Brass Water

Published

5 days ago

on

May 18, 2026

By

A boat accident in Bayelsa state has killed a serving Pastor, Wife and other church members along Brass waterways
The sad incident happened at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the Pastor, wife and  members of his church were in a programme.
?
?Tide confirmed that the lifeless body of the Pastor’s wife has been found and deposited in a mortuary while the remains of her husband ,the Pastor is yet  to be recovered
as search party are still ongoing.
Although the real cause of the boat Mishap is not yet known as at the time of this report,  our Correspondent gathered  that the identities of the Pastor, wife and church members were not disclosed to the public.
The mishap, Tide gathered occurred on Friday morning when the church members were on a boat transit
The Bayelsa State government and the state police command are yet to issue official statement’s  on the sad accident
By: CHINEDU WOSU
Continue Reading

Business

Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

Published

5 days ago

on

May 18, 2026

By

The Rivers State Council of  Nigeria Civil Service Union has called on the State Government to urgently scrap the contributory pension scheme, describing it as unfavourable to long-serving civil servants in the state.
Chairman of the union, Chukwuka Osuma, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt,  recently.
Osuma said the current pension structure has continued to worsen post-retirement hardship for workers.
He noted that  the contributory pension scheme had failed to provide adequate retirement security for workers who had spent many years in service, especially those approaching retirement age.
According to him, civil servants who had served for more than 20 years were among the worst affected under the scheme, insisting that many retirees could no longer cope with prevailing economic realities.
He also  informed that the Union has made moves to showcase their concerns, pleading with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to abolish the pension policy and introduce a more favourable arrangement for affected workers.
“The union was not opposed to pension reforms, the contributory scheme should only apply to newly employed workers or those with fewer years in service”, he said.
Osuma explained that workers who had already spent decades in the civil service ought to remain under a more secure pension structure capable of guaranteeing stability after retirement.
The labour leader further noted that inflation and the rising cost of living had continued to erode the value of retirement savings, thereby increasing the suffering of pensioners across the country.
He also appealed to the state government to consider extending the years of service in the civil service from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.
Osuma argued that such adjustment had become necessary in view of present-day economic realities and changing conditions in the workplace.
The unionist also reviewed that similar policies had already been adopted in some sectors and jurisdictions, expressing optimism that the State could also implement the reforms for the benefit of workers.
He however, commended Governor Fubara for approving an N85,000 minimum wage for workers in the state, noting that the amount was above the national benchmark of N70,000.
Osuma also acknowledged the government’s efforts in the area of workers’ promotions and bonuses, but insisted that pension reforms and extension of years of service remained critical to the long-term welfare and stability of civil servants in Rivers State.
By: King Onunwor
Continue Reading

Business

FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

Published

2 weeks ago

on

May 13, 2026

By

The Federal Government has launched the South-West zonal engagement and ministerial advocacy tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria share capital mobilisation, sensitisation and cooperative sector digitalisation.
 Reports say the initiative was launched through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
According to reports, the advocacy tour, organised by the ministry’s Federal Department of Cooperatives, began on Monday in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Abdullahi described the exercise as a strategic effort to reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity.
“Today represents a defining moment in our collective determination to reposition the cooperative sector as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity,” he said.
The minister noted  the modern cooperative movement in Nigeria originated in the South-West following the 1934 Strickland Report, which led to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Ordinance of 1935.
According to him, the decision to commence the sensitisation and share capital mobilisation tour in the region is symbolic, as it marks a return to the roots of cooperative development in the country.
Abdullahi said the advocacy tour was a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs held in Abuja in March 2026.
He said the council approved the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the cooperative sector and align it with the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.
“The reform programme focuses on seven strategic pillars, including governance reforms, cooperative financing and the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digitalisation, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities, and strategic partnerships,” he said.
He said the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and the digitalisation of the cooperative sector were the two major transformational initiatives under the programme.
“The Cooperative Bank of Nigeria is aimed at rebuilding a strong cooperative financial system capable of supporting cooperators, farmers, artisans, traders, SMEs, youths, women and persons with disabilities with accessible and affordable financial services,” he said.
Abdullahi emphasised that the proposed bank would be government-enabled but not government-funded.
“Government is not establishing the bank as an owner, nor will it rely on Treasury Single Account funds.
“The role of government through the FMAFS is to provide policy support, stakeholder coordination, regulatory facilitation and an enabling environment under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme,” he said.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to cooperative sector transformation.
She described cooperatives as critical tools for promoting inclusive growth, grassroots productivity, food security, financial inclusion and community wealth creation.
Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos State would continue to support reforms and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (2025–2030).
“Together, let us build a cooperative ecosystem that is modern, transparent, digitally enabled, financially inclusive and globally competitive.
“Let us build cooperatives that not only mobilise savings, but also mobilise prosperity,” she said.
Continue Reading

Trending