Education
Ocean Surge Destroys Homes In Bayelsa Community
Chairman of Odioama Council of Chiefs, Chief Marlin Omiemunafa, has raised an alarm over persistent existential threat to the community by an ocean surge that has wiped off about 250 homes.
Odioma community in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, sits on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.
Hundreds of community dwellers have already been displaced as their homes have been washed off by the frightening ocean surge.
Omiemunafa raised the alarm while receiving Governor Douye Diri to the ocean threatened community.
He told the Governor that the people were facing an existential threat and urged the government to intervene urgently.
Earlier, Governor Diri said his administration will begin immediate remedial work, while waiting for the Federal Government to intervene for a permanent solution.
Accompanied on the visit by Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere; Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange; Commissioners and other officials, he assured that the state government will embark on a 1.5km shore protection project.
Diri said the government would commence the shoreline project while awaiting Federal Government’s collaboration.
Diri said engineers in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure will on Wednesday brief the State Executive Council on the cost of the project.
The Governor called for the intervention and support of the Federal Government on the shore protection project, stating that the Federal Government needed to reciprocate Bayelsa State’s immense contribution to the economic wellbeing of the country.
“l did not come here for political campaign, but rather to see the plight of the Odioama people and have first hand knowledge of what is happening to the community.
“I cannot sit in my office to hear that houses are giving way. I have been taken round and seen houses that are giving way to the ocean surge.
“We call on the Federal Government that while we use our meagre resources to start something, we want them to also collaborate with us in stopping the sea encroachment in Odioama and other communities.
“Bayelsa State has given so much to Nigeria and so, let the Federal Government also reciprocate.
“While we use our meagre resources to construct shoreline protection, I like to call on the Federal Government to be part of the story in checking the perennial environmental problems of erosion and flooding ravaging our communities.
“Whatever we are doing here will be like a drop in the ocean. But together with the Federal Government, there is so much we can achieved”, Diri said.
Education
Committee Embarks On Schools Assessment In Etche
The representatives of Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State on “Educational Needs Assessment Committee, Rivers State”, Ministry of Education have embarked on assesement of government- owned schools across the local government.
The leader of the team, Mr Amadi ThankGod Iheayichukwu, who led other members of the group to assess the conditions of public schools in the local government area, said the exercise was in response to the state government’s desire to make every public school in the State functional and conducive for learning.
He stated that the assessment was to actually find out the conditions of schools as directed by the state government and report back to the state Ministry of Education .
According to him, the visit was in line with the state government’s special focus on healthcare, education and agriculture for the development of the State.
It is the responsibility of the State Committee to carefully assess all schools in Rivers State, to enable the Governor, through the Ministry of Education prepare a State-wide system to immediately enhance the teaching and learning business within the State.
Recall that the immediate past administration of the State paid little or no attention to public schools and even the educational sector in general.
The exercise continues and has till the end of this week to submit all reports.
Etche LGA has about 80 primary schools, 25 Junior Secondary Schools and 23 Senior Secondary Schools and about 93 per cent of all, are out of place or completely below standard.
“The educational sector in Rivers State, will soon wear a new look and standard, he said.”
By: Akujobi Amadi
Education
UNIPORT SSANU, NASU Protest Non-Payment Of Withheld Salaries
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and its Non-Academic Staff Union(NASU) counterpart in the University of Port Harcourt, under the auspices of the Joint Action Committee(JAC), last Tuesday embarked on a peaceful protest around their campuses to protest against non-payment of four months owed salaries by the Federal Government as directed by their national secretariats.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the protest,the Chairman of SSANU, Comrade Bernard Ezechukwu, said they embarked on the protest to press on the Federal Government to pay their four months withheld salary arrears,fallout of their last national strike, saying the strike was in line with the directive of their national leadership.
According to him, the university system cannot work effectively without the contributions of all the unions on campus.
“We called out our people today on the plight of the workers, as regards our four months salary arrears owed to us by the previous adminstration.
“The university cannot function effectively without the contribution of all the unions on campus. “As non-teaching staff we do our best administratively, the teaching staff also do their beat to keep the system running, so why would the Federal Government trivialise our role or position?”, the SSANU Chairman asked.
He accused the people working with the President of refusing to pay the owed salaries even after the President had given order to that effect.
Ezechukwu said the protest was to notify the Federal Government of the proposed strike,which he said would be total.
Also speaking,the Chairman of NASU,UNIPORT Chapter, Comrade Osorochi Ogbegbe, said the protest was to drum support for the payment of their withheld four months salary arrears.
He queried why the non-academic staff should not be paid when their academic staff counterparts have since been paid.
By: Akujobi Amadi
Education
RSG Distributes Science Equipment To Secondary Schools
Rivers State Government has distributed science equipment worth over N180 million to all Senior Secondary Schools in the State.
The reception and distribution ceremony took place last Monday at the Senior Secondary Schools Board( RSSSSB) office, Emekuku Street, D/Line, in Port Harcourt.
The State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ovy Chinedu, who flagged off the event, said the science equipment were to improve learning, mostly on science subjects in schools.
According to him, the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, is committed and determined to take education to the next level, adding that the Governor has passion for quality education.
“ I appreciate the Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, as he approved and released the money to make this happen.
“He has great passion to deliver quality education and take education to the next level in the State. It was sleepless nights for us to ensure that the equipment arrives so that students can use them for their exams and learn”, Dr. Chinedu said.
The Commissioner urged teachers to put more effort to deliver equality education, saying that they can request for whatever thing needed to improve the system in terms of education and Government will respond immediately, hence they want to give students the right of training and learning.
Earlier in his address, the acting Chairman of the Board and Director of Administration, Ikechi Godpower, said, since the inception of this administration led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, education in general, particularly teaching and learning is wearing a new look in the State.
He explained that despite the rough terrain the Governor found himself for the past one year of his administration, he has continuously proved to the world that education is the bedrock of growth in our society.
According to him, the last time the board experienced such was in 2019, during the tenure of late Dame Grace Okwulehie, adding that since then six acting Chairmen have headed the board without this favour.
“ I thank the Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for giving education priority, mostly the elevation of seven teachers to the position of permanent secretary, to makeup the counsel of Ahithophel to support the administration, This is the first time since the creation of Rivers State.
“Thank you, Governor Fubara, for giving us a resourceful , diligent and dutiful commissioner of education, who shared the same character traits with you and has uncommon passion for education”, Godpower said.
Speaking on behalf of the principals, while receiving the equipment the Principal of Government Secondary School, Borikiri, Port Harcourt, Mr. Nwala Henry Uzoma, pledged to use the materials.
He thanked the governor through the commissioner of education to have provided the science materials to aid learning, saying that this will certainly improve the knowledge of science students.
By: Tonye Orabere
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