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Niger Delta

‘My Govt Not Responsible For LG Workers’ Salary Arears’

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9 years ago

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Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, has said that his administration is not responsible for huge salary arrears owed to staff of local government councils in the state explaining that, the third tier of government enjoys financial autonomy in Bayelsa.
The government has approved the immediate release of N2 billion, as its counterpart funds to the office of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
The approval, which was part of decisions reached at the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, provided N1 billion for each of the two agencies to improve community development and basic education.
Presiding over the meeting, Governor Seriake Dickson, explained that, the approval was made as part of his administration’s resolve to provide basic social amenities to the people, particularly in the rural areas, in spite of the financial constraints.
The governor, who reassured Bayelsans of his commitment to the development of the state, described as unfounded, rumours making the rounds that, the state government had received the second tranche of the London/Paris Club refunds.
His words: “I have made a promise to the workers that when we do receive the subsequent payments of the Paris Club refund, we will keep to our promise and we continue to be transparent about it and see what we can do in the area of salary arrears as much as we can take. But the solution is not blackmail, propaganda and not to incite the unsuspecting workers who may not have the full details of the refunds.”
Governor Dickson, however, assured workers of the state that the government would handle the payment of backlog of salaries as much as it could, whenever it receives the second tranche of the Paris Club refund.
He, therefore, called on the people of the state not to be swayed by the propaganda and blackmail orchestrated by political opponents to discredit his administration, but show more understanding for the common good of the state.
Briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite said, council expressed commitment to completing all on-going projects as most of them had reached 90 per cent  completion.
Hon. Obuebite also noted that, council ordered the cessation of dredging activities around the Ox Bow Lake Resort, as their operations are inimical to the natural landscape of the area.
The Information Commissioner was quoted as saying that, “Also council discussed the issue of dredging activities around the Ox Bow Lake. We have just built and completed the Ox Bow Lake Pavilion and in the next few weeks ahead, fencing will commence in order to provide security for that massive investment to boost tourism potential of the state.
“So government has decided that all owners of dredgers within that vicinity should immediately move out of that area so that we will be able to preserve what we have done and this directive is a follow up to a formal notice that was extended through the Ministry of Environment to all the dredgers.

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Niger Delta

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

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6 days ago

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March 2, 2026

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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.
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Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

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6 days ago

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March 2, 2026

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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.
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Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

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6 days ago

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March 2, 2026

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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.
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