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RSG Tasks Hoteliers, Businessmen On NAFEST 2018

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8 years ago

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The Rivers State Government has called on hoteliers, fun spots and other business owners operating in the state to key into the forthcoming National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) 2018 billed to kick off in Port Harcourt, this weekend.
The State Commissioner for Information, Barrister Emma Okah, who made the call in Port Harcourt said the event has been scheduled between 20th and 27th of October, this year.
Okah who is also the Chairman, Publicity and Media Sub-Committee, NAFEST Rivers 2018, stated that despite stiff interests from other states in the country to host the event, Rivers was able show a more impressive record and capacity to be able to once again host this year’s edition of the arts and culture festival.
He said, “This is the second time Rivers State will be hosting this event. It has become very interesting at this time, particularly in 2018 to look at the competition and the stiff desires by other states in the country to host the event.
“But at the end of the day, Rivers State was able to show a better impressive record and capacity to be able to host the nation in the festival for arts and culture 2018. So that is a good one for the people of Rivers State”.
The Commissioner further said that the state government has put everything in place to ensure comfort, the safety and the success of the event, saying the state was putting finishing touches to preparations and plans as the event draws closer.
“As a matter of fact, we just hosted the National Convention of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP and the economic significance and good image it gave to Rivers State cannot be quantified in terms of money.
“So, we are happy that the people keyed into the economic activities that came with that convention. So, in the same way we are calling on the people of Rivers State especially those who own hotels, those who run social outfits, night clubs, bars, restaurants, pleasure parks and all sorts to get ready again and key into this National Festival for Arts and Culture which will host all contingents from the various States from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including Abuja.
“So, it is a huge challenge. It is also a very fantastic opportunity to tell Nigerians once again that we are Rivers State and we are different and we have capacity to host them,” Okah said.
The commissioner noted that aside promoting the arts and culture of Rivers State, the event would also enhance national cohesion, inclusiveness and an accommodating spirit which the NAFEST brings to bare on the people of the Federal Republic, saying, “it is difficult for anybody to write it off as not very important.”
“You never can tell where this takes us to outside the shores of Nigeria. So, it is as important as any other segment of our life as a people and as a state”.
He expressed happiness that practically every ethnic group and every Local Government in the state has something of great significance that any tourist would like to see, such as the King Jaja of Opobo Palace and Monuments and the first Anglican Church in Bonny and so on, adding that Team Rivers was already gearing up to clinch the Gold Medal at the week-long event.
“We (Rivers State) have rich food which we can showcase to other parts of the country and be proud of to do so. We have very formidable costume and cultural identification that are unique to the people of Rivers State and that is our pride and heritage that we shall be showcasing to the world.
“Everybody is given the opportunity to participate. Local entertainers are also in the same bracket. They have opportunity to participate and showcase what they can do. I know as it were that the ‘Team Rivers’ which is the umbrella body that is packaging what Rivers State will be showcasing to the world is an amalgamation of different talents and people who have something to showcase to the world in terms of arts and culture. So, anybody who has what it takes to be different is given the opportunity to do so,” Okah said.

 

Dennis Naku

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

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6 days ago

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May 18, 2026

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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.
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?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
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Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

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6 days ago

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May 18, 2026

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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
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FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

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2 weeks ago

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May 13, 2026

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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.
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