Rivers

NULGE Lauds LG Chairman’s Workers-Friendliness

Published

3 years ago

May 15, 2023

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Andoni Chapter has lauded the Chairman of Andoni Local Government Council Erastus Awortu for being labour-friendly and sensitive to the wellbeing of workers of the Council.
Chairman of NULGE in Andoni, Idante John Ishmael, made the remark during the handover of a parcel of land to the union at Ngo by the Council Chairman for the construction of convinience for workers of the Council and visitors alike.
He said the gesture comes after the procurement and presentation of an official Vehicle to the union by the Council Chairman to enhance the mobility and productivity of the workers.
The NULGE Chairman commended the Andoni Council boss for his goodwill towards the workers since he assumed office, pledging “the unwavering support of the workers to the Awortu administration”.
“It is on record that on the 1st of May this year the Chairman, through the Secretary of Council, yielded to the request of NULGE for the allocation of a portion of land for the construction of a public convenience for Staff of the Council, politicians and visitors alike.
“Today we are here to acknowledge receipt of the parcel of land. As a union, we are really grateful.
“For sometime now we have never seen an administration that is this labour-friendly, that is this worker-friendly.
“Last year, the union requested for an official vehicle among other requests and it was granted, it was handed over to us by the Secretary.
“This year we requested for a portion of land for the construction of public convenience, and the Chairman has graciously approved it for us.
“We want to really appreciate the Chairman because he has shown us that he is a labour-friendly Chairman. We also want to appreciate the Secretary of Council, who has been in the system and he knows the way the system is going.
“I want to appreciate the Management of Council. It is really not easy, as a union we promise to give him our unalloyed support, especially in enhancing the development of Andoni Local Government”, the NULGE boss stated.
The Andoni Council Chairman, who was represented by the Council Secretary, Dimiari Franklin, noted that the sole purpose of Government is the security and welfare of the people as enshrined in the constitution.
He said the Awortu administration considers the workers as critical stakeholder in the delivery of good governance to the people and therefore places premium on their wellbeing.
Franklin asserted that governance is collaborative and this informed the decision of the Council Chairman to partner with NULGE to construct a befitting convenience for the workers and visitors alike to enhance the sanitary condition of the Council Secretariat for enhanced service delivery.
“Government is a collaborative effort, that was why when NULGE came with the idea of constructing convenience for the workers, the Council Chairman gave approval, given the importance of such project to the health and sanitary condition of workers of the Council and visitors alike.
“This is indeed a good omen, it shows the harmonious working relationship that exist between the workforce and the executive. It also shows that the Council Chairman attaches importance to the wellbeing of the workforce for enhanced efficiency and productivity.
“On behalf of the Council Chairman, let me assure the leadership of NULGE that this Council under the leadership of Barr Erastus Awortu, would continue to work for the betterment of all Council workers for the overall development and happiness of Andoni people”, he said.

By: Theresa Fredrick & Charity Amiso

Niger Delta

CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

Published

3 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the people of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State have called for government’s urgent intervention to end the suspected underwater gas eruption in the community.

The groups, under the aegis of the Environmental Rights Action and Social Action, made the call during their advocacy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), in Port Harcourt.

The Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action, Mr. Kentebe Ebiaridor, said the visit was to seek clarity on the response efforts of the regulators to the development in the community.

Ebiaridor expressed concern over what he described as “inadequate response from regulatory agencies and the government concerning the incident”.

He said discussions with some officials revealed that there was still no clear timeline for action to address the situation.

According to him, in the absence of clear ownership of the facility linked to the incident, companies operating within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 should be held accountable.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had in a statement issued on March 20 by its Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the commission had commenced an investigation into a gas bubbling incident in Bille Community.

Eyesan said the commission expressed concern over the development and assured residents of its ongoing efforts to address the situation.

Also, the Resource Justice Manager of Social Action, Dr. Prince Edegbuo, warned that the situation could escalate into a public health emergency, if urgent steps were not taken.

Edegbuo called on relevant authorities to release the results of the tests reportedly conducted in the area, stressing that residents had the right to know the condition of their environment.

He also said CSOs were prepared to intensify advocacy on the matter, urging the development of emergency response measures, including possible evacuation plans.

A legal practitioner and community stakeholder, Mr. Commission Deinbo, had, on March 20, said residents had continued to witness unusual signs on the waterways in the area.

Deinbo said the signs included boiling and bubbling from the ground and river, sometimes within residential areas, as well as fire outbreaks, which the residents had always managed to contain.

He appealed to relevant authorities to come to their aid and find a lasting solution to the problem.

In a response, the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of NOSDRA, Mr. Bello Augustin, assured the community that he would relate its concerns to the appropriate quarters.

Augustin also commended the CSOs for their advocacy and concerns to community development in the state.

By: Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick

Rivers

Dep Gov Seeks Collaboration, Transparency Between RIVCHPP, PHCMB

Published

3 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, has called for renewed commitment, transparency, and stronger collaboration among stakeholders in the health sector, particularly between the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) and the Primary Health Care Management Board.

She made the call today, during the First Quarter Review Meeting of the Task Force on Primary Health Care, held at Government House, Port Harcourt.

She emphasized the importance of honesty in addressing challenges within the healthcare system, urging all parties to remain open and truthful in their engagements.

According to her, transparency is critical to identifying and resolving underlying issues affecting service delivery.

“If we are not truthful, we will not cure the disease, but merely cover it up,” she stated.

The Deputy Governor recounted a personal experience at a primary health centre, where a patient, despite being duly registered under the RIVCHPP scheme with completed biometric capture, was still asked to pay for services.

She explained that intervention by relevant authorities later confirmed the patient’s eligibility, thereby exposing a communication gap between the scheme and healthcare providers.

Prof. Odu warned that such incidents could discourage community members from enrolling in the scheme and ultimately undermine its objectives.

“When this happens, we are disenfranchising our people. The message that goes back to the community is that even when you register, you are still made to pay,” she stated.

While commending the leadership and staff of the Primary Health Care Management Board, the Ministry of Health, development partners, and other supporting units for their efforts, Prof. Odu cautioned against complacency.

She urged stakeholders to continuously strive for improvement, raise standards, and ensure lasting positive impact within the healthcare system.

Rivers

Experts Converge To Tackle N’Delta Business Challenges

Published

3 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

As part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s economy, about 600 experts are billed to converge in Port Harcourt in a business conference to uplift middle-class businesses in the Niger Delta region.

The convener of the convergence, Lanre Oluseye, who disclosed this during a press briefing in Port Harcourt, said the conference, scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt for the first time, would equip middle-class businesses with the knowledge required to overcome challenges and scale up their businesses.

He explained that the convergence was conceived in response to challenges stalling business growth, particularly at the mid-level.

Oluseye noted that while Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) benefited from various interventions, middle-class businesses were often neglected despite facing significant constraints.

He added that the conference would bring together accomplished professionals and business leaders to mentor mid-level entrepreneurs on how to overcome barriers and attain greater heights.

“Convergence is a conference where thoughts, ideas and strategies come together to create a catalyst that enables business people to move to the next level.

“It is a platform that accelerates growth by bringing great minds together to chart a course for others to follow.

“Our objective is to move the Port Harcourt-based middle-class businesses to cross the barriers that are holding them down”, he said.

Oluseye continued that the conference, slated for April 18, would attract about 600 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and middle-level managers to address business challenges in the Niger Delta through innovative ideas and strategies.

He emphasised that the event would not be a mere social gathering, but a knowledge-driven platform designed to transform participants and provide networking opportunities to enhance their businesses.

He assured that participants would gain new insights, build valuable networks and engage with like-minded professionals.

Oluseye further said that top industry leaders expected at the conference included the Managing Director/CEO of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Leye Falade; former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; and the MD/CEO of Aradel Holdings Plc., Gbite Falade.

Others are Tope Aladenusi of Deloitte Africa; the Partner, Chief Economist and Lead, Strategy and West Africa, Segun Zaccheaus; and a global thinker and futurist, Olakunle Soriyan.

Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso