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COVID-19: Nsirim Charges Religious Leaders, Media On Roles
The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, has called on religious leaders and the media in the State to contribute towards prevention of the COVID-19, popularly called Coronavirus, in the State.
The Commissioner, who made the call yesterday as part of awareness creation and sensitisation for stakeholder groups to be fully involved in either preventing the virus from the State, or checking its spread, should the need arise, urged both the religious leaders and the media to be really involved in the campaign against the virus.
Noting that the need to work together against the Coronavirus became more imperative given the declaration of the World Health Organisation (WHO) of the disease as a pandemic, he urged the religious groups to take the message of the roles expected of them to their congregation.
“The whole essence is to bring everyone on board, because when something has been declared a pandemic by the WHO, it’s a serious issue. So, all hands must be on deck.
“As you get the message today, it’s important that you pass the message to people around you. For the religious leaders, we’re expecting that in their various churches and mosques they begin to pass this prevention messages”, he said.
He explained that the position of Rivers State as a commercial hub makes it vulnerable for the virus to be easily contacted, hence the need for all and sundry to be aware of preventive measures for the safety of all.
“Why this is important”, the Commissioner stated, ”is that Rivers State is a commercial corridor, Rivers State is like the commercial hub of Nigeria with the international airport, the seaports, and of course, the thriving hydrocarbon industry, which is the major revenue earner for Nigeria. You expect that a lot of people from all works of life would come into Rivers State.
“So, if we have the influx of people coming from all parts of the world to Rivers State, it’s important that those who are living and doing business in Rivers State also begin to adopt preventive measures, if perchance they come in contact with people from other parts of the world”, he said.
To the media, he said, “we understand quite clearly the pivotal role you’re supposed to play in information dissemination. As a major stakeholder group it is important that we call you to buy into sensitization program. Without the media we cannot achieve much. That’s why I’m quite excited that the ‘who is who’ in the media industry are all here to hear what we want to say.
“This is a call for collective action, it’s a call for social responsibility, and we want to invite you to please collaborate with the Rivers State Government to ensure that all those living and doing business in Rivers State get the prevention message, and ensure that Coronavirus doesn’t have a place in River State”.
Emphasising on the importance of religious leaders in the campaign against the virus, the State Commissioner for Health, Professor Princewil Chike, explained the impact of the Coronavirus as a pandemic, noting that given the position of religious leaders in the society, they stand a better chance of passing on the prevention message to their followers.
“If all the religious leaders follow the (Prevention) steps, the chances of infection will be greatly reduced”, he said.
Also speaking, the Director, Public Health and Disease Control, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Golden Owhondah, emphasised on the various steps required to prevent contacting the virus.
Beyond the greatly publicised hand washing, Keeping social distance from persons suspected to be portraying symptoms of the virus, and practicing good respiratory hygiene, the Director charged the media not to spread fake news.
“This is a time for facts, not fear. This is a time for rationality, not rumours. This is a time for solidarity, not stigma”, he said.
It will be recalled that the State Executive Council, under the leadership of His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, appointed a 5-man committee to carry out an aggressive awareness and sensitisation campaign on the Coronavirus, shortly after the WHO declared it a pandemic on the 11th of March, 2020.
The campaign started last Friday with the leadership of Community Development Committees (CDCs) of all the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.
Today’s campaign was in two sessions with religious leaders and the media respectively.
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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