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Easter: Buhari, Saraki Urge Peace, Social Justice

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President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to political actors and other stakeholders to resist any act that could mar the integrity of the nation’s electoral process but to work for peace and social justice.
The President made the appeal in his 2018 Easter message to the nation yesterday in Abuja.
He said the appeal had become imperative in view of the fact that political campaigns would soon commence across the country.
He reiterated the resolve of his administration to firmly resist those who might want to make cheap political capital out of the current national security challenges.
According to him, the dark days of Nigeria’s elections being manipulated by violence and rigging by corrupt politicians and their agents are over, saying such days are confined to the dustbin of history where they rightly belong.
He added that “as we approach the period of campaigns, I appeal to our political actors and other stakeholders to resist any act that could mar the integrity of our electoral process.
“I am optimistic that with God on our side, the dark days of Nigeria’s elections being manipulated by violence and rigging by corrupt politicians and their agents are over.
“They are confined to the dustbin of history where they rightly belong.
“I remain committed to bequeathing a legacy of supremacy of the people’s will through the ballot box.”
On the Dapchi schoolgirls, the President expressed delight that the released girls had been reunited with their families.
He expressed the hope that all others, including the Chibok girls who were still in captivity, would be safely released unconditionally to their families.
President Buhari urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the safe return of the girls and all others in captivity.
He said “thankfully, our Dapchi schoolgirls who were safely released recently after 30 agonising days in the hands of their abductors have been reunited with their families.
“I am optimistic that all others, including the Chibok girls still in captivity will be safely released unconditionally to their families.
“I urge you to continue to pray for their safe return.’’
The President stated that he had already given clear instructions to security agencies to prioritise safety in schools in areas where humanitarian and security situations were still dire, in addition to ensuring adequate protection of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Buhari thanked God for granting the citizens the opportunity to celebrate another Easter at a time of great promise and hope for the nation in spite of the current challenges in the country.
He noted that “I am indeed delighted to join our Christian brothers and sisters to commemorate this year’s Easter celebration.
“We thank Almighty God for granting us the opportunity to celebrate another Easter at a time of great promise and hope for our dear nation, in spite of challenges we also have.
“Easter, the season in which Christians mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ represents the triumph of good over evil; life over death.
“It is also a time to show love, forgiveness, compassion and renewed hope in the Grace of God.
“The Holy Scripture affirms that happiness and fulfillment in life do not flow from acquiring the best things in life, but in being richer in relationship with God and fellow human beings.’’
He urged citizens to use the opportunity of this special season to deeply reflect on how everyone could imbibe the profound teachings of Jesus Christ with renewed vigour.
President Buhari added that “in so doing and by placing the joy, comfort and happiness of others above ours, we will make a statement that vices such as hate speech, bigotry, corruption, banditry and terrorism have no place in our nation.
“We must do all it takes to love our neighbours and display increased spirit of tolerance and accommodation.’’
The President commended those who recognised and supported the unwavering efforts to prevent the spread of conflicts in the society, and to unite the country.
He also lauded them for checking wanton criminality and for steering the ship of state to steady path of economic growth, job creation and development.
President Buhari noted that his administration’s programmes and policies in the last three years had resulted in bringing down prices of staple crops; gradual improvement of road, rail and electricity infrastructure; and making Nigeria the preferred destination for investors.
He added that “more than ever before, we are ready to consolidate on these gains and ensure that we improve the lot of our communities in the years ahead.
“May this year’s Easter celebration bring us renewed hope and confidence as a great nation.”
Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has urged Christians and Nigerians across the nation to emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ as epitomised by his passion, persecution, death and resurrection during Easter.
In a message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu in Abuja, Saraki also urged Nigerians to constantly work toward promoting unity across all lines.
He said it was imperative for Nigerians to come together to build a country that both present and future generations would take pride in “just like the work of Christ which endured for over 2000 years and continued to inspire generations.
“This weekend, we join our Christian brothers and sisters across the world to celebrate
Easter.
“This commemoration is a time for deep reflection as it marks the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and his victory over death. It is a time to reach out to our brothers and sisters in need.
“It is also a time for all of us, regardless of faith or ethnicity, to come together and pray for peace in our nation. We must all remain constant in efforts to promote unity across all lines because our nation will remain stronger when united.”

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Group Doles out N13m To Market Women In Isiama 

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The peaceful Town of Isiama in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State was at the weekend agog with activities following the donation of over N13million to market women by Engr. Justus Ngerebara in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiatives, a non-governmental organization, as part of its first phase empowerment programme.
According to Justus Ngerebara, who is also the Executive Director of the organization, the women, numbering 108, will receive various sums based on their business proposal.
He stated that the organization will carry out an annual review of the performances of the beneficiaries, with a view to rewarding those who put the money into good use.
According to him, the initiative was a collaborative effort between himself and his wife, Dr. Unyime Ngerebara, in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiative (FDI), an organization committed to youth capacity building and community development.
He said the family believe deeply in the transformative power of women’s empowerment as a catalyst for economic growth, especially in rural communities.
“As the saying goes, when you empower a woman, you empower a community. This truth resonate strongly with us, knowing that empowered women uplift households and inspire generational change”, he stated.
Ngerebara described the programme as the beginning of more things to come and urged the beneficiaries to view the gesture “as a reflection of our deep love for the community and our commitment to easing the burdens of economic hardship.
“We encourage you to invest wisely, channel these resources into your business not frivolities.
“We will continue to follow up with each participant to monitor progress and Offer guidance.
“It is our goal to see thriving business, creative solutions to households hunger and a ripple effect of prosperity through Isiama.
“We also call on the men to stand beside their spouses, offering support and encouragement to ensure these resources are maximized for growth”, he said.
In an interview, Ngerebara said the second phase of the empowerment programme will start very soon, stressing that since inception the organization has done so much for the community.
He listed some of the programmes carried out by the group in the community to include the installation of solar powered lights, and solar powered water.
While declaring the event open, a former coymmissioner for Works in Rivers State, Engr. Sampson Ngerebara, described the event as the first of its kind in the community.
Engr. Ngerebara said the programme will go a long way to improve the conditions of not only the beneficiaries, but also the entire Isiama Community.
He also charged them against wasting the resources on frivolities, adding that their success will attract more of such empowerment programme to Isiama community
Giving a brief talk on women empowerment, a lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Dr. Awajimogobo Felix MacLean, warned the beneficiaries to justify the effort of the donor by avoiding wastages.
Dr. MacLean also urged them to be consistent in their line of business as well as avoid unnecessary competition.
She also stressed the need for them to network among themselves, while working out ways of helping the community to develop.
Guest of Honour at the occasion, Professor Uriah Oboada Alafonye, said Engr Justus Ngerebara, the initiator of the programme, has set a standard for present and future generations of leaders both in the community and the rest of Andoni to follow.
Prof Alafonye who is of the department of Arts Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, also appealed to the beneficiaries to seize the opportunity provided by the programme to reduce poverty in the community.
Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Hebron Mercy Fyneface, a crayfish seller and an interior designer, said it was the first time she was receiving such gesture from any organization or government.
She thanked Engr Justus Ngerebara for remembering the women of Isiama and urged others to emulate him.
By: John Bibor
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Fubara’s Return Excites NCSU … As Hope Rises For Civil Servants 

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The umbrella body of civil servants in Rivers State, the Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has expressed delight over the lifting of emergency rule in the State and the return to office of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Nma Odu and members of the State House of Assembly, saying, the development portends good omen for workers, the people and the State.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who gave the indication in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the return of the Governor to office portends good omen and better days for civil servants in particular, stressing that the union heartily welcomes the Governor back to office, to resume his good works in the State, after six months of the emergency rule, as well as his deputy and members of the House of Assembly.
He noted that civil servants in the State are not only elated over the development but are also full of hope that the Governor would start from where he stopped in attending to their welfare needs.
He contended that the political crisis that recently engulfed the State and the six-month emergency rule had for over one year pulled the State backwards, but expressed delight that a permanent solution has been found to stem further political upheavals in the State, and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making this possible; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and leader of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike; Governor Fubara; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule; members of the House; and other stakeholders for agreeing to amicably resolve all contending issues.
The labour leader said this is the right time for all political gladiators in the State to bury the hatchet, work together and embrace peace and genuine reconciliation in the overall interest of the State.
He described as too hasty the resolution of the House, mandating the Governor to present a supplementary budget to it, and pleaded with members of the House to be calm, to tread with caution, and harmoniously work with the Governor.
He said the return of democratic governance in the State would fast-track progress and development in the State, and enjoined the people of the State, particularly civil servants to continue to give their support and cooperation to the Fubara administration.
Osumah expressed optimism that Governor Fubara would give prompt attention to challenges facing civil servants in the State, being a former civil servant himself, stressing that the workers truly have hope, now that the Governor has returned to office, and knowing the kind of Governor he is.
According to him, he is going to look into the controversial and contentious contributory pension scheme; rehabilitation of the State Secretariat Complex; recruitment into the state civil service; extension of service and retirement years for civil servants; provision of vehicles to industrial unions; as well as provision of befitting staff quarters for civil servants; among others.
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NDDC Organizes ADR Capacity Building for Staff

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The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has organized a one-day sensitization program for its personnel on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approaches to promote workplace compliance on transparency and due process.
The workshop, themed “Promoting Transparency and Due Process in the Workplace using ADR Approaches in Building a Culture of Accountability and Integrity,” aimed to equip staff with the skills to resolve disputes effectively.
Declaring the event open on thursday in port Harcourt,The NDDC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, emphasized the importance of using ADR mechanisms to resolve conflicts in the workplace.
Dr. Ogbuku  represented by his chief of staff,Rev Omeya Oworibo,noted that ADR approaches can encourage a culture of honesty, fairness, transparency, trust, and reduce conflicts among staff, ultimately promoting efficiency and productivity.
He averred that those disputes and quarrels if not proper resolved can derail the vision and objectives of the commission to the people, noting that the commission must as a team and unity as service provider in order to render a profitable service delivery to the people.
 “ADR approach will encourage culture of honesty,fairness, transparency ,trust  and reduce back bitting and the workforce, noting that such tendency would in turns promote efficiency and increase results in workplace.
 when integrity and honesty becomes the operandi of an organisation and employees begins to trust that their matters will be handled with fairness it will breed team work and increase in productivity.”he stated
He commended the department of DCR for organising the workshop and urged the participants to make good use of the opportunity and imbibe the culture of tolerance, integrity and teamwork in workplace.
Also speaking,the NDDC acting director of DCR ,Mr Godwin Ayewumi Ogedegbe noted that the theme of the captures the core of what the commission seeks to achieve a workplace where every action is expected to be guided by openness, fairness, and a steadfastness commitment to due process, where conflicts are not merely resolved, but prevented through structured,principled processes , and where accountability and integrity are not aspirational ideals but every day practice.
In his  keynote presentation on the theme “workplace Ethics and alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation,
Prof. Sylvester Odion Akhaine of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, delivered a keynote presentation on “Workplace Ethics and Alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation.” He stressed the importance of due process, transparency, integrity, and accountability in the workplace, noting that these values are essential for productivity and organizational goals.
The workshop aimed to promote a culture of accountability and integrity in the NDDC workplace. By equipping staff with ADR skills and promoting transparency and due process, the commission can build a more efficient and productive work environment.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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