Niger Delta

Subeb Takes Over Teachers’ Pay

Published

9 years ago

November 11, 2016

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has approved the transfer of pay point of primary school teachers from the Ministry of Local Government Affairs to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Stephen Odey, disclosed this at a meeting of the board with head teachers, education secretaries and the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), which held at Government Secondary School, Igoli, Ogoja.
Odey stated that the measure was part of government’s commitment to ensure prompt payment of salaries of primary school teachers as well as create an effective system of payment to check the existence of ghost teachers in the nominal roll.
The SUBEB boss, who directed all head teachers to submit the nominal roll of their teachers to the State Universal Basic Education Board for implementation of the directive, noted that, education was key to the development of any society, adding that Ayade was very passionate about education at issues, particularly teachers who are the key drivers of the sector.
According to him, “With the step we are going to take now, I assure you that the issue of non-payment of salary will be addressed. I believe that it is only when we work together that we can achieve this dream. While we strive to improve on the system of education in Cross River State, we will only accommodate those who are ready to drive the process, anybody who is not ready to do same will be shown the way out.”
He reiterated that teachers should not pay any amount of money to any SUBEB staff for any entitled benefits or intervention aids.
Speaking earlier, the Director of Administration, Mr. Emmanuel Ojong, said the interactive session which cuts across the three senatorial districts of the state was designed to find solutions to current challenges facing the teachers, and thanked them for the maturity displayed throughout the duration of the non-payment of salaries.
in the state are met at all cause, but quite unfortunately due to certain factors, we are aware that the payment of our teachers’ salaries has had hiccups in the recent past and government is not sleeping, it is doing everything to correct it.
Also speaking, the state Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Com. Eyo-Nsa Itam, said their action was not to negate government as they were not on strike, but to draw attention to the non-payment of teachers for some months which have made it impossible for them to go to work.
He thanked the governor for stepping in to salvage the situation and assured that teachers will definitely return to work, saying “The working condition of the teacher is the learning condition of the child.”
Speaking after the meeting, the executive secretary of Yala Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), some teachers as well as other NUT members, praised the governor’s decision to transfer the pay point from Ministry of Local Government Affairs to State Universal Basic Education Board.

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

17 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

17 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

17 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.