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We’ll Strengthen Civil Service For Optimum Productivity -Fubara

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured of his administration’s commitment to give civil servants their rightful place to strengthen the service for the growth and optimum productivity in the State.
This, according to him, stems from the fact that his administration understands and appreciates the plight of both civil and public servants in the State.
Fubara gave the assurance while addressing members of the Forum of Rivers State Government Teachers with Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), who were on a peaceful appeal-walk to Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday, to solicit their transfer from public primary and secondary schools to tertiary institutions in the State.
Represented by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, Governor Fubara, assured that his government would give proper attention to the issue, bearing in mind the cardinal objectives of the administration to always do what is right and proper in all circumstances to bring the best result to Rivers people.
According to him, “I think basically, the issue here is PhD holders who are under the employment of the State that are craving for proper placement. You are already Rivers State Government workers, but you have read to the level where you need to be promoted and actually, it is the desire of everybody.
“You must understand that our present Governor, given his background as a technocrat and civil servant, understands and appreciates the plight of civil and public servants in the State.
“When it comes to workers’ issue, we don’t advise him, he will rather advise us; and that is how it is because he went through it from the beginning of his days as a young graduate. He was also a teacher before he transferred to the mainstream civil service.
“So, he truly understands your plight. He is a man that in everything he does, he tries to look at what is right in the circumstances; what is proper in the circumstances; and what will bring the best benefit to Rivers State. So, your case can never be different.”
The governor also dismissed insinuations that Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Rivers State was a scam, urging the younger generation aspiring to acquire education to that level never to have that conception, as such narrative will never be associated with his administration.
He said, “When your forum coordinator spoke, he said that in Rivers State, PhD is a scam. PhD can never be a scam. Let the younger ones that are aspiring to get their PhD never get the feelings that PhD is a scam.
“What is a scam is the PhDs procured from Ariaria Market here and there. Those are the ones that you can say are a scam. If you genuinely studied for and got your PhD, nobody can actually take it away from you, because the human development you acquired in itself, by the grace of God, can take you to the zenith of whatever is your ambition in life.
“So, I want to assure you that, that narrative that PhD is a scam, this government will never allow it to happen.”
Fubara, however, advised them to prepare their minds towards screening in the eventuality of any action that would be taken to address the issue, which is the proper thing to be done.
He stressed, “But, one thing you must also understand, when it is time for employment in the tertiary institutions, you must submit yourself for screening, because these days, a lot of people who claim to have PhD, sometimes disgrace the PhD itself.
“So, that is why for every employment or transfer, you must subject yourself to proper screening, so that they will know that truly, your PhD is worth the paper, and you deserve to be properly placed as you ought to.
“I recall last time when some of you had this kind of issue, they were teaching in secondary schools. They have now read up to PhD level and they want to move to the higher institutions.
“Also, some of them who got employment even in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education and they were cut up in this problem we had in the institution. Then, they tried to come back to where they were, they were also having problem. His Excellency had to direct the board to properly look at it and report back to him. So, be assured yours will also be looked into.”
Earlier in his address, the Coordinator, Forum of Rivers State Government Teachers with PhD, Dr Thompson Ofuru, had said the peaceful Appeal-Walk was to solicit and appeal to the governor to use his good offices to transfer their services from public primary and secondary schools to any of the state-owned tertiary institutions.
He said, “Sir, our peaceful appeal-walk to you today is an offshoot of all our frantic efforts made to seek your attention and interface with you one-on-one that yielded no result.
“The transfer is to enable us maximize our research potentials, have job satisfaction, and also, to give back to the society in line with the 21st Century advocate.”
Dr. Ofuru, however, expressed gratitude to the governor for the N100,000 Christmas bonus to all civil servants in the state, of which they were beneficiaries.

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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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