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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.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chief of Staff (CoS) to carry out their duties with discipline, loyalty and a firm commitment to the success of the administration and the wellbeing of the people of Rivers State.
The governor warned that any involvement in unauthorised nocturnal meetings or any conduct capable of embarrassing the government will attract immediate dismissal.
Fubara gave the warning yesterday shortly after the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Dagogo S.A. Wokoma and the new Chief of Staff (CoS), Barrister Sunny Ewule, were sworn in at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House, Port Harcourt.
As part of the ceremony, the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi administered the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office on the duo before the governor gave his charge.
Addressing the appointees, Fubara reminded them that their elevation to the new positions was a call to service and not a platform for political grandstanding or the pursuit of personal ambition.
He stressed that their foremost responsibility should be to themselves and to the people of Rivers State, stressing that their conduct must always reflect integrity, restraint and dedication to public good.
Speaking directly to Dr. Wokoma, whom he described as an accomplished academic and mathematician, the governor expressed confidence in his intellectual depth and capacity to deliver on the new assignment.
The office of the Secretary to the State Government, Fubara stressed, demands thoroughness, discipline and a deep sense of responsibility. He charged the SSG to represent the State with honour at all times.
“Your duty includes representing the state government. You need to represent us in a way and manner that will bring honour to us.
“What is important to this administration is to see that the good works that we started and the ones that we met, are concluded in a way that will bring progress and development to our dear state,” he stated.
Turning to the new Chief of Staff, the governor explained that he is expected to ensure smooth administrative coordination, managing official engagements effectively and safeguarding the image of the Government House.
He underscored the sensitive and personal nature of the role and emphasised that the position operates strictly under the authority of the governor.
Fubara stressed that the role does not permit independent political engagements or private strategy meetings without his knowledge and consent.
“Let me sound it here very clearly. Your duty is to make sure that you handle the administrative duties and image making roles perfectly well, liaising with whoever is coming for any official assignment here.
“If you involve yourself in nocturnal meetings and all those things, I will sack you. I’m very serious. What is important to me today is peace, progress and prosperity of this state. I’m not going to compromise anything for it,” he said.
The governor cautioned that involvement of the new appointees in any action capable of bringing the government or his office to disrepute would attract appropriate sanctions.
While congratulating the new appointees, Fubara expressed optimism that they would justify the confidence reposed in them.
He called on all public officials to work together in unity, observing that collective success is stronger and more enduring than individual achievement.
The governor who also addressed the Permanent Secretaries present at the ceremony, directed those of them who have reached retirement age to start preparing their handover notes without delay.
The notice, he said, was not intended to scare anybody but to prepare their minds towards the inevitability of exiting the service one day and to pave way for an orderly transition.
He warned against any attempt to engage in financial misconduct or last-minute irregularities, stressing that he was closely monitoring the system to ensure strict enforcement of accountability rules.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has dissolved the State Executive Council.
The governor announced the cabinet dissolution yesterday in a statement titled ‘Government Special Announcement’, signed by his new Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi.
Governor Fubara directed all Commissioners and Special Advisers to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most Senior officers in their Ministries with immediate effect.
He thanked the outgoing members of the State Executive Council for their service and wished them the best in their future endeavours.
The three-paragraph special announcement read, “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State, has dissolved the State Executive Council.
“His Excellency, the Governor, has therefore directed all Commissioners and Special Advisers to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most Senior officers in their Ministries with immediate effect.
“His Excellency further expresses his deepest appreciation to the outgoing members of the Executive Council wishing them the best in their future endeavours.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday told the National Assembly that it requires N873.78bn to conduct the 2027 general elections, even as it seeks N171bn to fund its operations in the 2026 fiscal year.
INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure while presenting the commission’s 2026 budget proposal and the projected cost for the 2027 general elections before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja.
According to Amupitan, the N873.78bn election budget covers the full conduct of national polls in 2027.
An additional N171bn is needed to support INEC’s routine activities in 2026, including bye-elections and off-season elections, the commission stated.
The INEC boss said the proposed election budget does not include a fresh request from the National Youth Service Corps seeking increased allowances for corps members engaged as ad-hoc staff during elections.
He explained that, although the details of specific line items were not exhaustively presented, the almost N1tn election budget is structured across five major components.
“N379.75bn is for operational costs, N92.32bn for administrative costs, N209.21bn for technological costs, N154.91bn for election capital costs and N42.61bn for miscellaneous expenses,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chief noted that the budget was prepared “in line with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the Commission to prepare its election budget at least one year before the general election.”
On the 2026 fiscal year, Amupitan disclosed that the Ministry of Finance provided an envelope of N140bn, stressing, however, that “INEC is proposing a total expenditure of N171bn.”
The breakdown includes N109bn for personnel costs, N18.7bn for overheads, N42.63bn for election-related activities and N1.4bn for capital expenditure.
He argued that the envelope budgeting system is not suitable for the Commission’s operations, noting that INEC’s activities often require urgent and flexible funding.
Amupitan also identified the lack of a dedicated communications network as a major operational challenge, adding that if the commission develops its own network infrastructure, Nigerians would be in a better position to hold it accountable for any technical glitches.
Speaking at the session, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) said external agencies should not dictate the budgeting framework for INEC, given the unique and sensitive nature of its mandate.
He advocated that the envelope budgeting model should be set aside.
He urged the National Assembly to work with INEC’s financial proposal to avoid future instances of possible underfunding.
In the same vein, a member of the House of Representatives from Edo State, Billy Osawaru, called for INEC’s budget to be placed on first-line charge as provided in the Constitution, with funds released in full and on time to enable the Commission to plan early enough for the 2027 general election.
The Joint Committee approved a motion recommending the one-time release of the Commission’s annual budget.
The committee also said it would consider the NYSC’s request for about N32bn to increase allowances for corps members to N125,000 each when engaged for election duties.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Simon Along, assured that the National Assembly would work closely with the Commission to ensure it receives the necessary support for the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections.
Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun, also pledged legislative support, warning INEC to be careful about promises it might be unable to keep.
He recalled that during the 2023 general election, INEC made strong assurances about uploading results to the INEC Result Viewing portal, creating the impression that results could be monitored in real time.
“iREV was not even in the Electoral Act; it was only in INEC regulations. So, be careful how you make promises,” Balogun warned.
The N873.78bn proposed by INEC for next year’s general election is a significant increase from the N313.4bn released to the Commission by the Federal Government for the conduct of the 2023 general election.
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