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Rivers NCSU Tasks New National Officers On Performance …As President Extends Olive Branch To Aggrieved Members
The Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Rivers State Council, has expressed delight over the emergence of new national officers to pilot the affairs of the union in the next four years, with a charge to them to surpass the achievements of the immediate outgone leadership of the union under the watch of Chief (Comrade) Lawrence Uchechukwu Amaechi.
This is even as the new National President of the union, Comrade Oluwole Adeleye Sunday has extended the olive branch to some aggrieved members of the union as a way of fostering peace, unity, oneness and harmony within the union.
The Rivers State Chairman of the union, Comrade Chukwuka Osumah, who spoke with newsmen in Port Harcourt said the 12th delegates conference of the union last Tuesday in Abuja, which threw up the national officers was a consensus exercise, and thanked God for enabling the union to successfully hold the conference inspite of some initial challenges.
While expressing confidence in the capacity of the new elected national officers to effectively discharge their duties, Osumah enjoined them to surpass the achievements of their immediate predecessors, stressing that the union does not expect less from them.
According to him, all the NAC members are well known to him as he could also vouch for their capabilities.
The union leader, however, asserted that the Comrade Amaechi-led National Administrative Council left worthy legacies which the present NAC members need to emulate and even surpass.
He went ahead and cited as an example a massive estate constructed for members of the union by the former leadership, and called on the present NAC to emulate the footsteps of the remarkable performance and achievements of its predecessor.
Osumah further expressed gladness that a son of Rivers State in the person of Comrade Peaceman Horsfall was elected as the National Auditor of the union, describing his choice as a great privilege bearing in mind that not all the 36 States in the country were lucky to be so elected to be part of the present NAC, and expressed optimism that the National Auditor was going to make Rivers people proud.
The NCSU Chairman extolled the sterling leadership qualities of the immediate past National President of the union, Comrade Lawrence Uchechukwu Amaechi, describing him as a true father indeed, who has listening ears.
He further indicated that it is rare to see a leader like the former National President, whom he said carried all the union members along, and equally took phone calls of everyone even at the risk of his own comfort.
Osumah also enjoined other states in the country to emulate the good example of the Ondo State Government, which he said sees industrial unions and workers as partners in progress rather than members of opposition political parties.
According to him, the Ondo State Government had expressed its readiness to host the NCSU’s delegates conference and equally foot the bills.
On his part, Rivers State Secretary of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuma Ofoegbu paid glowing tributes to the Comrade Amaechi-led NAC, and congratulated the new national officers on their successful election.
Ofoegbu expressed happiness that the union was able to successfully organise the conference which threw up the officers, and charged them to always toe the path of peace and harmony as well as carry all members along in the scheme of things, in order to truly make the union strong and formidable.
He particularly commended the National President Emeritus for his exemplary leadership qualities, which ensured that the union was able to achieve set goals during his administration.
In his acceptance speech, the new National President of the union, Comrade Oluwole Adeleye Sunday commended the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba for his solidarity and fence-mending efforts towards the union, describing the beginning of the struggles which finally culminated in his emergence as a long walk to victory, contending that “ God was and is still the bedrock of the collective struggle and our collective emergence.”
The National President, while extending the olive branch to all aggrieved and dischanted members of the union, pleaded with them to come back home for an amicable resolution of issues as a one big family, and assured that the present NAC would via legitimate means pursue peace by bringing everybody on board in a way that would not jeopardise the administration’s collective vision and mission for the union.
He also promised that his administration would ensure that the rights and privileges of members are restored in the interest of peace and oneness, contending, however, that the union today needs urgent and immediate measures to bounce back and take its place of pride in the comity of unions, assuring that the new leadership would run an open door administration as well as welcome constructive criticisms and vibrant engagements from altruistic and sincere members.
Among other officers elected at the conference included Comrade Okechukwu Egwumba, National Deputy President; Comrade Jibrin K. Bancir, Deputy National President, Comrade Ibrahim A. Bomoi, General Secretary; Comrade Jerome A. Ilokwu, National Vice President (South-East); Comrade Alice Odjeri, National Vice President (South-South); and Comrade Peaceman Horsfall, National Auditor.
Others are Comrade Kabiru Kwaru, National Auditor; and Comrade Lydia O. Agaji, Chairperson, Women Commssion; among others.
Top dignitaries who graced the occasion included the President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba; Representative of the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Bosede Olaniyi; and the Registrar of Trade Union, among others.
By: Donatus Ebi
Spokesman to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Segun Sowunmi, has advised his principal, Atiku, to learn from President Bola Tinubu on how to form a coalition.
The Tide reports that in a bid to wrest power from President Tinubu in 2027, Atiku has been leading the movement by opposition politicians to form a coalition of political parties ahead of the next general election.
Last month, opposition politicians set up a team comprising former Minister of Transpiration, Rotimi Amaechi, and former Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, to decide whether to float a new party or fuse into an existing platform.
While the main opposition party, PDP, struggles with a perennial leadership crisis, the former Vice President is bent on establishing another political force to take power from the ruling party in 2027.
But Sowunmi, who has been Atiku’s ally for many years, disagrees with his move, saying instead of forming a coalition with another political platform, he should coalesce opposition politicians into the PDP.
Speaking during an interview on TVC on Tuesday, Sowunmi, who was Atiku’s campaign spokesperson in the last election, asked his principal to learn from President Tinubu on how to form a coalition.
Sowunmi believes Atiku, having benefitted from the PDP as a former Vice President and getting the party’s presidential ticket twice, should not seek to form a coalition that will not have the PDP as its base.
He said, “I’ve always said to people, people love with their hearts. I love atiku with my bones. But I can’t help him against himself. You can’t run vice presidency on PDP two times with Obasanjo, get presidential candidate on that same party two times. I don’t agree with him that the next best thing is to be shopping for…(a platform) If you want a coalition, why are you not coalescing them into your party?” he asked.
The former PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State advised the ex-VP to learn from Tinubu on how to build a coalition without dumping his political party.
“Look at your rival, your friend. You guys started together. At best, even if you want to say he’s building a coalition is he not coalescing opponents into his place”? Sowunmi asked again.
The PDP chieftain, who recently showered praises on Tinubu after he visited him, said the President has an “uncanny ability to make everybody individually feel special” regardless of political affiliations.
His words: “That guy (Tinubu) is something oh, he has this uncanny ability to make everybody individually feel special. It doesn’t matter whether you are a former foe or a president’s friend, every moment you share with him, I don’t know how he does it, though you’re going to leave the place feeling that you matter, feeling that he gets it, feeling that what you guys are talking about is important. And there’s something about him, when he gives you his word, he will say something like ‘ko le ye’, meaning that to the best of human ability, it will stand.”
Meanwhile, there have been conversations about Sowunmi’s political stance as many questioned his relationship with Atiku, with whom he shares a longstanding political relationship.
Asked about his relationship with Atiku following his meeting with Tinubu, Sowunmi said he doesn’t know if the former Vice President is upset.
“I don’t know whether Atiku is upset or not upset, but I know a lot of our followers are talking a lot of nonsense, and I’m wondering how I became attached to Atiku when I’ve been in PDP since 1999 never leaving,” he responded.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to fix inconsistencies in tax services across its over 300 offices nationwide.
The move aims to make tax processes clearer, more transparent, and easier for Nigerians.
In a statement, Special Adviser on Communications and Advocacy to the FIRS Executive Chairman, Mr. Collins Omokaro, said the updated SOP is a key part of the agency’s plan to improve taxpayer experience.
He explained that, in the past, different FIRS offices used different methods, which often confused taxpayers.
“This is about people, experience, and impact. It’s a step towards a tax system that supports voluntary compliance and national development,” Omokaro said.
The new SOP provides a single guide for key processes like registration, payment, audit, and enforcement. This will ensure all FIRS offices follow the same steps, making the system fairer and more predictable.
FIRS Executive Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, described the SOP as more than just a set of rules.
“This SOP is not just a technical document; it is a declaration of who we are becoming as a service. It reflects our commitment to transparency and service to the Nigerian people,” he said.
The SOP also supports FIRS’s digital transformation, combining human and technological systems to deliver faster and more reliable services. It will also improve internal efficiency by providing clear guidance and better training for staff.
“With this rollout, every FIRS staff member has a clear mandate: study it, apply it, and embody it. That’s how we’ll earn the trust of Nigerians,” Omokaro added.
The reform is part of FIRS’s efforts to become a more service-driven organisation, focused on clarity, consistency, and national growth. The agency hopes the new SOP will make tax services better for Nigerians and increase public trust in the system.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, says the Federal Government is committed to building a world-class public service in Nigeria.
Walson-Jack made this known in Abuja, on Wednesday, at a World Press Conference ahead of the International Civil Service Conference and the African Public Service Week scheduled for June 25 to 26 in Abuja.
She said a recent study tour to Singapore was part of preparatory activities aimed at positioning Nigeria’s civil service for excellence and attracting global participation in the upcoming events.
“The study tour to Singapore was the first major activity we undertook under the collaboration between the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the Heads of Service of the 36 states and the FCT,” she said.
According to her, the visit, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), involved 20 State Heads of Service and was designed to benchmark best global practices and enhance Nigeria’s public service delivery.
“The idea was born out of our ongoing collaboration, where we share ideas and knowledge across federal and state levels.
“Singapore was chosen because it is globally recognised for excellence in public service,” she explained.
Walson-Jack noted that the second phase of the tour will involve the remaining 17 heads of service later this year.
She said the tour provided participants with the opportunity to engage with both public and private sector institutions in Singapore, compare administrative practices, and gain insights into global standards.
“It was an eye-opener and a capacity-building opportunity.
“Since our return, several state civil services have begun implementing reforms in collaboration with the federal service, particularly in areas such as capability development and digital transformation,” she added.
Walson-Jack further disclosed that Nigeria would host a reciprocal study tour during the upcoming African Public Service Week, where foreign delegates will engage with various federal institutions.
“They will see firsthand our digitalisation efforts, performance management systems, and other reform initiatives aimed at transforming our civil service.
“We hope the experience will inspire similar actions in their home countries,” she said.