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Wike Approves Promotion Of 4,000 Civil Servants In Rivers

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As workers across the world celebrated the International Worker’s Day, on Monday, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has urged the people of the State to remain committed and work together to protect and advance the socio-economic interest of the State.
Wike, in an address presented at the 2023 Workers Day Celebration held at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt, commended all workers in the State for their resilience, sacrifices and input towards building a better and prosperous Rivers State for future generations.
The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Wenike Danagogo, said the theme of the 2023 Labour Day, ‘Workers Right and Socio Economic Justice’, reflects the socio-economic plight of workers and ordinary citizens in Nigeria’s mismanaged economy.
“We believe the private sector is the engine room of economic growth and enabler of prosperity. As a government, our role is to capitalise the private sector to create good job and employ our citizen. Accordingly, we have improved the ease of doing business, primarily tackled insecurity and created an enabling fiscal regime for businesses to thrive in the State.
“We recently directed the Civil Service Commission to initiate the employment process of 10,000 workers into the State Civil Service as part of our measures to reduce unemployment in the State. This is in addition to the approval we gave to heads of State Tertiary Institution to fill all existing job vacancies in the state.
“The State Civil Service Commission has recently concluded the workers promotion exercise. We have approved the promotion of over 4,000 eligible civil servants to their appropriate levels and directed the Commission to issue the beneficiaries with their promotion letters immediately,” he stressed.
Wike also disclosed that the State Government has resolved the initial challenges to pay gratuities and death benefits to retirees and statutory beneficiaries.
“Statutory and death benefits have since resumed with the monthly disbursement of the sum of N1billion to beneficiaries. I assure you that we will clear the State of all its burden as soon as possible and requested workers’ unions patience and understanding”, he added.
He promised that the promotion of other categories of civil servants including teachers would soon commence as soon as the Governing Board to carry out the exercise is constituted, assuring that the entire promotion exercise will be concluded before the end of his tenure.
The governor noted that critical priority areas such as roads, bridges, flyover, education, healthcare, justice delivery, urban renewal, security, rural development were some veritable sectors vastly imparted.
“We are proud of the foundation we have laid, the services and contribution to our states’ progress and citizen welfare. Since government is continuum, we believe our successor will consolidate these achievements and prioritise other critical development areas”, he said.
Wike further thanked the organised labour for voting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) back into power in the State during the 2023 General Elections.
“Fortunately, the Governor-Elect was a civil servant and belongs to your constituency. I assure you, he will do well and make your constituency proud. All that is needed is your cooperation, prayers and support. State building is a continuous process. I employ you to work with the new patriotic hand to build our dream Rivers State where no one is left behind and the workers enjoy their socio-economic rights,” he said.
Earlier, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Alex Ikechi Agwanwor, had appreciated the governor for approving the implementation of the accumulated promotions.
He appealed to Governor Wike to domesticate the Federal Government new retirement age of teachers to 65 years and 40 years length of service.
The Tide reports that the Federal Government has signed into law a new retirement age of 65 for teachers and 40 years of service through the harmonized retirement age for teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022 having been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Ikechukwu Foster Onyefuru, appreciated Governor Wike for his intervention to curb crude oil theft, pipeline vandalization and soot in the State.
“Your actions triggered stakeholders’ interest and crude oil production improved from below 1m barrels per day to about 1.4m barrels per day,” he said.
He called on the governor to review workers salary upwards due to rising inflation and increasing high cost of goods and services.

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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

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The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

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Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their  living conditions.

This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.

Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s

She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.

According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.

The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while  bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.

Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.

Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.

According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.

He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.

Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may  lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.

During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.

The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.

He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.

They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.

At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.

King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.

Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.

Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.

At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.

He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.

Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.

 

John Bibor

 

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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman 

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The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.

Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.

Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.

In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.

However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.

Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.

Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.

“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.

 

 

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