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Wike: Public Service Delivery Beyond Political Undertone
One significant attribute of the present administration in the Rivers State is the serial demonstration by Governor Nyesom Wike, that public service delivery shall be driven by extant laws and procedures, and not on the basis of political partisan loyalty and patronage. A most dramatic demonstration of this positive was played out during the interactive session between the State Governor , Chief Nyesom Wike and the complement of sanitation contractors engaged by the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), to handle the various street cleaning jobs in the state last week, and who were inherited from the previous administration.
Worried by the apparent abdication of their contractual obligations and the attendant spread of filth across the state capital, Port Harcourt, as well as the virtually riotous state of affairs with respect to street trading, the government’s resolve to deal decisively with the situation manifested firstly in the passage of new laws; namely; the ‘Rivers State Environmental Protection and Management Bill’, ‘Rivers State Street Trading, Illegal Markets and Motor Parks (Prohibition) Bill’ and the ‘Rivers State Healthcare Facilities Registration Bill’. Expectedly, these laws will put into perspective, the roles of various stake-holders in the environmental soundness of the state. Not done with that, the Governor in his characteristic resort to moral suasion in promoting the policy targets of his administration, summoned to an interactive session, the respective sanitation contractors whose abdication of their legitimate responsibilities, led to the sorry state of sanitation in the first place.
It was at the forum that Wike let the world know that many of these contractors were not appointed by him but as has been stated earlier, were inherited from the previous administration of Rotimi Amaechi. According to Wike, “I was not the person who awarded the contracts. I don’t even know the contractors. I have not restricted contracts to my supporters. Several of you are from opposition parties.
But we must make sure that all parts of the state capital remain clean”. This homily from the governor should be seen properly as going beyond a mere advisory for erring contractors, but testifies eloquently to a more fundamental, welcome political vision and orientation which holds that administrative obligations of government, should be separated from the murky terrain of whimsical tendencies that often drive partisan politics. The separation of politics from administration has remained accentuated by copious, classical scholarship – right from the earliest days of intellectual enquiry into the circumstances of formal organizational behaviour. Among the numerous definitions of politics, remains the reductionist explanation of it as the complement of activities that border on seeking political power for the purpose of earning capability and legitimacy to serve a constituency, in representative and leadership capacities.
Such a process involves a whole gamut of activities – including the efforts aimed at earning the acceptance of the constituents. It is in the context of seeking the endorsement of constituents that some unscrupulous actors mis-present themselves as well as facts to the public, through making false claims and promises, that have no grounding in reality.
Administration however runs on a different track as it entails the actual implementation of government policies, programmes and projects in line with extant laws and procedures. In fact, it remains plausible to contend that the translation by a government, of political promises to tangible dividends for the governed, through the machinery of effective administrative processes, remains the acid test of any administration throughout the civilised world. And this is the terrain where Wike’s successes in governance lie. With characteristic missionary zeal, he had launched an administrative course of action in his first term, which featured a clear departure from the status quo, and saw him recording landmark progress in programme implementation and projects execution.
Against the backdrop of the foregoing, the respective RIWAMA contractors do not need further sermons to spur them into action pursuant to lifting Port Harcourt back to its hitherto enviable status as the Garden City of the country. Given the elaboration involved in the exercise of redeeming Port Harcourt – that is counting from the due process of enacting relevant laws for maintaining environmental soundness in the state, the interactive session between Wike and the contractors as well as the down to earth administrative machinery already mobilised, the ball is now in the court of the contractors. Needless to point out that as sanitation contractors, they are also partners of the government in spreading the message of a cleaner environment.
With the governor’s revelation that the Rivers State was spending as much as N6 billion annually to evacuate wastes, all Wike is asking for is the delivery of value for money, spent on waste management.
The Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has assured the commitment of Rivers State government to workers’s welfare and industrial harmony in Rivers State.
The Sole Administrator gave the assurance after meeting with leadership of organized labour unions at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Ibas reaffirmed government’s policy of prompt payment of salaries and pensions to workers and retirees, stating that all local government employees are not receiving the approved minimum wage.
He disclosed that approval has been given for payment of newly employed staff at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the Judiciary, while medical workers in Local Government Areas will now receive correct wages.
Ibas explained that, Government is reviewing implementation challenges of the Contributory Pension Scheme ahead of the July 2025 deadline, adding that Intervention buses have been reintroduced to ease workers’ transportation ,with plans to expand the fleet.
He said specialized leadership training for top civil servants will commence within two weeks, while due consideration is being given to implementing the N32,000 consequential adjustment for pensioners and clearing outstanding gratuities.
Ibas commended Rivers State workers for their dedication to service and called for sustained partnership with labour unions to maintain industrial peace.
“This administration recognizes workers as critical partners in development. We remain committed to addressing your legitimate concerns within available resources,” he stated.
The State NLC Chairman, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, thanked the Administrator for the steps taken so far with regard to workers welfare while appreciating his disposition towards alleviating the transportation problem faced by workers.
He also expressed appreciation for the government’s openness to dialogue and pledged continued cooperation towards achieving mutual goals.
The Rivers State Government assured all workers of its unwavering commitment to their welfare and called for continued dedication to service delivery for the collective progress of our dear State.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers Council, has called for policies that will improve the economic situation of the country in order to ensure enhanced living standard for workers.
The State Chairman, Mr Alex Agwanwor, made the remark on behalf of the unions affiliated to Labour Congress during the 2025 workers day celebration in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Agwanwor highlighted the demands of the Unions which included the immediate payment of pension arrears, implementation of the N32,000 minimum wage for pensioners, and payment of gratuities and death benefits without further delay.
“We are calling for the regulation and protection of e-hailing drivers, implementation of increments and promotions, and resolution of long-standing issues in the polytechnic sector,” he said.
Agwanwor on behalf of the unions appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reinstate the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He stressed the importance of democratic governance and good working relationship with elected representatives.
According to him, the unions expressed disappointment over the imposition of taxes, increase in electricity tariff, and high cost of goods and services, which have further worsened the plight of workers.
“We urge the federal government to take measures to alleviate the suffering of citizens,” he said.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu is committed to unlocking Nigeria’s full potential and position the country as a leading force on the African continent.
Shettima stated this when he hosted a delegation from the Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, led by its Senior Fellow, Dr Rolf Alter, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja last Wednesday.
He said Nigeria was actively seeking expertise from the global best institutions to enhance policy formulation and implementation, particularly in human capital development.
The Vice-President noted that President Tinubu was determined to elevate Nigeria to its rightful position as a leading force in Africa.
“The current crop of leadership in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is ready and willing to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian nation on the African continent.
” We are laying the groundwork through strategic reforms, and at the heart of it, is human capital development.”
He described the Hertie School as a valuable partner in the journey.
According to him, Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, has track record and institutional knowledge to add value to our policy formulation and delivery, especially in this disruptive age.
Shettima reiterated the government’s priority on upskilling Nigerians, saying ” skills are very important, and with our Human Capital Development (HCD) 2.0 programme.
“We are in a position to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian people by enhancing their capital skills.”
The Vice-President acknowledged the vital support of international development partners in that effort.
” I want to thank the World Bank, the European Union, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and all our partners in that drive to add value to the Nigerian nation,” he maintained.
The Vice-President said human capital development was both an economic imperative and a social necessity.
Shettima assured the delegation of the government’s readiness to deepen cooperation.
” We need the skills and the capacity from your school. The world is now knowledge-driven.
“I wish to implore you to have a very warm and robust partnership with the government and people of Nigeria.”
Shettima further explained recent economic decisions of the government, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms.
“The removal of fuel subsidy, the unification of the exchange rate regime and the revolution in the energy sector are all painful processes, but at the end of the day, the Nigerian people will laugh last.
“President Tinubu is a very modern leader who is willing to take far-reaching, courageous decisions to reposition the Nigerian economy,” he added.
Earlier, Alter, congratulated the Tinubu administration for the successful launch and implementation of the Human Capital Development (HCD) strategy.
The group leader described the development as ambitious and targeted towards the improvement of the lives of the citizens.
He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his engagements since arriving in the country.
He applauded the zeal, commitment, energy and goodwill observed among stakeholders in the implementation of Nigeria’s HCD programme.
Alter said the Hertie School of Governance would work closely with authorities in Nigeria across different levels to deliver programmes specifically designed to address the unique needs of the country.
He, however, stressed the need for government officials at different levels to be agile and amenable to the dynamics of the evolving world, particularly as Nigeria attempted to successfully accelerate its human capital development aspirations.
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