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NULGE Writes Amaechi On Strike
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Rivers State branch has formally notified the state governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi of its decision to embark on a 3-day warning strike, with effect from Monday, next week.
In a letter to Governor Amaechi, titled; “Deduction of Local Government Allocation for the payment of Primary Health Care Workers: Our fears and displeasure”, with ref. No. RV/NULGE/ADM/44/VOL.111/82, and dated October 13, NULGE said ordinarily, the directive by the governor for the deduction with effect from this month end shouldn’t have drawn the ire of the union but past experience has shown that it will only enrich a ‘cabal’ who uses trade union platform to destroy the local government system.
NULGE said in the letter, signed by its Ag. State Secretary, Comrade Patrick Ekpe for the State President, Sir Barr. Franklin Ajinwo that the directive will deal “a deadly blow on the future of the Local Government and the workers in the state”, regretting that the governor was “pressured into (taking) a decision that will not serve the State nor any well-meaning individual any good except for the few who are focused on what they are going to gain by swindling the councils”.
The union applauded the governor for not tampering with Council funds since assumption of office in 2007 but regretted that “this your decision and directive will rubbish this record in less than no time as those who pioneered it are set for the spoil and the damage would have been done before you realise it”.
NULGE likened the decision of deducting the medical workers salaries with effect from this month, without recourse to the umbrella union of the local government employees to “shaving a man’s hair in his absence” and advised the governor to rescind his decision in the interest of the local government system.
The 3-page, 13 paragraph letter affirmed that “On Wednesday, 8th October, 2014, Your Excellency had a meeting with the Chairmen of Care-Taker Committees and some Trade Union leaders in the state where you directed that salaries of Primary Health Care Workers be deducted at source for the Primary Health Care Authority to pay Primary Health Care Workers in the state.
“…We are aware that since 2010 when the law establishing the Primary health care Board was promulgated, pressure has been mounting on Your Excellency to execute this action which is a deadly blow…
“It might interest Your Excellency, to remember that the establishment of the Primary Schools Board and the decision of government to deduct at source Primary School Teachers Salaries from Local Government allocations created the zero allocation era when Local Governments were deprived of funds, as all funds accruing to the Local Governments were barely enough for the payment of Primary School teachers salaries. Local government workers were without salaries, some for upwards of 24 months …
“Needless to inform you that some of these Labour Leaders who sat in the meeting with you and have been mounting pressure against your judgment on this matter were major players in the scam.
They fed fat on Local government allocations and want to deploy the same tactics now.
“— Before the creation of the Primary Health Care Board, and uptil now, the Local Government Service Commission has been in-charge of Personnel matters in all Local Government Councils. They (the Board) had no hand in the payment of workers’ salaries and yet all workers were being paid — since the establishment of the ill-conceived Board in 2010, pressure had been on the increase by a cabal for salaries of Primary health Care Workers to be deducted at source in order to service the parasites who saw this as a veritable avenue to feast on Local Government funds.
“— Primary Health Care Workers have shown resentment to the existence of the Board and called for its abrogation on several occasions but the same cabal using the trade union platforms in the state have constantly stifled their protests”, the letter warned.
Justus Unye-Awaji
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.