Niger Delta
Diri swears in 14 Commissioners, Revenue Chairman
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, on Monday, swore in 14 new commissioners and the newly-elected chairmen of the eight Local Government Areas in the state.
The Governor also swore in the chairman of the State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr Daniel Iniekezimene.
The Tide’s source reports that the ceremony took place inside the Council Chambers of Government House, Yenagoa.
Eight of the commissioners served during the first term of the Governor.
They are Biriyai Dambo (Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice), Moses Teibowei (Works and Infrastructure), Maxwell Ebibai (Finance), Dr Gentle Emelah (Education), Daniel Igali (Sports Development) and Preye Brodricks (Special Duties, Bayelsa East).
Others who returned but were re-deployed are Dr Ebieri Jones, who was assigned to Trade and Industry from Mineral Resources, and Flint George, who served as Commissioner, Special Duties, Bayelsa Central, but now assigned Budget and Economic Planning.
The rest of the commissioners are Mrs Ebiwou Koku-Obiyai (Labour and Productivity), Michael Magbisa (Special Duties, Bayelsa West), Elizabeth Bidei (Women Affairs), Peter Afagha (Mineral Resources), and Komuku Kharim (Power).
Diri said the ceremony marked a pivotal moment in the state’s journey as the administration begins its second term.
He said during the first tenure, the administration laid the groundwork for a prosperous Bayelsa across various sectors, but there was still much work to be done.
“As we embark on this journey, let us remember that our success will be judged not by individual accomplishments but by the collective impact we make.
“Your selection and election among a pool of highly qualified persons inspire confidence in your ability to serve with utmost commitment and distinction, fulfilling the aspirations of all Bayelsans”, Diri said.
He, therefore, charged them to initiate legacy projects and programmes in their various ministries to accelerate the development of the state.
The Governor admonished them to be prudent in financial management, ensure efficient utilisation of resources, and foster collaboration to achieve success.
He said the administration would come up with indicators for periodic evaluation of the performance of each commissioner.
Diri advised the commissioners to establish strong connection with people at the grassroots, understand their needs, and incorporate them into government policies.
To the council chairmen and their vice, the governor pledged to strengthen the local governments to foster development in communities.
“I want you to uphold the tenets of transparency, consultation and keep in touch with the people as you are the closest to the grassroots.
“Ensure that you live a peaceful and quiet life. We want to see peace and development in your local governments.
“We will not tamper with local government funds, rather we will assist you with your development, and l reiterate that local government chairmen should desist from obtaining loans with interest.
The new council chairmen are Lucky Febo (Brass), Isaac Oniye (Ekeremor), Tariye Isaac (Kolokuma/Opokuma ), David Alagoa (Nembe), Golden Jeremiah (Ogbia), Mrs Alice Tangi (Sagbama), Target Segibo (Southern Ijaw) and Boludisiye Ndiwari (Yenagoa).
To the revenue board chairman, Diri said the board must evolve strategies to enhance the state’s internally generated revenue.
“Our revenue falls short of expectations”, the Governor said, and challenged the board to block loopholes in the system and partner with relevant agencies to strengthen the tax system and revenue sources.
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The Governments of Bayelsa and Rivers States have resolved to jointly work towards strengthening security architecture to protect power and other critical national assets in their border communities.
This decision, The Tide learnt, followed the outcome of a meeting between the Acting Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, and the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof. Ngozi Odu, at the Brick House, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, Senator Ewhrudjakpo underscored the importance of effective collaboration between the two states to tackle power outage and its attendant socio-economic losses occasioned by criminal activities of vandals.
Lamenting that it cost Bayelsa so much political and financial capital to have power restored after a four-month period of blackout, the Acting Governor stressed the need for urgent and drastic measures to forestall the recurrence of such harrowing experience.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo seized the opportunity to thank the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and his Deputy, Prof Odu, for showing concern over the Bayelsa plight and indicating readiness for collaboration to curb the menace.
“For the past four months, the transmission lines between Bayelsa and Ahoada in Rivers State have been vandalized almost three times. And to fix it, TCN was telling us one story after another.
“So, we decided to take it upon ourselves to make sure we fix the line. But having fixed it, what we need to do is to have a team that provides surveillance for that facility so that it will not be easily vandalized again.
“We believe if we have this kind of joint collaboration, it will be easier for our communities to protect the facilities. So we need to have a joint committee that will monitor the line between Rivers and Bayelsa”, the Bayelsa Ag. Governor said.
Earlier, the Rivers State Deputy Governor had assured the Bayelsa delegation of her state’s preparedness to contribute meaningfully towards the fight against transmission lines vandalism.
“We must do something about it because you don’t leave your problems or sweep them under the carpet. If you sweep them under the carpet, they remain there. You have to bring them out and find the strategy that works best to solve them”, Prof. Odu said.
Briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, and her Rivers State Local Government Affairs counterpart, Prince Charles Beke, disclosed that both states had resolved to establish anti-vandalization taskforce committees that will work jointly to check the activities of power vandals.
Mrs. Koku-Obiyai, who emphasized the need for active community engagement in the security arrangements, informed that Bayelsa had already constituted and inaugurated a 10-member anti-vandalism taskforce, which has since commenced operations in the state.
Government officials who accompanied Senator Ewhrudjakpo to the meeting which was at the instance of the Governors of Bayelsa and Rivers State were, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Hon. Peter Akpe, and the Commissioner for Power, Engr Kumoko Kharin.
Others included the Commissioner for Community Development, Hon, Watson Belemote; the Mayor of Yenagoa City, Mr. Bulodisiye Ndiware; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, CP Agberebi Akpoebi (Rtd); and the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Anti-Vandalization Taskforce, CP Mary George (Rtd).
The Chairman of Ahoada West, Mr. Iyekor Ikporo, and that of Ahoada East, Mr. Chibudum Ezu, were part of the Rivers team, while the Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) was represented by Engr Juliet Ndidi at the meeting.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Magistrates in Cross River State have threatened to embark on an indefinite strike last Monday over alleged poor welfare and other conditions of service.
This is contained in a release jointly signed by the State Chairman of Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN), Godwin Onah, and his Secretary, Solomon Abuo.
The Tide’s source reports that the Magistrates noted that the strike will not cease until their demands are met by the government.
They had earlier embarked on a 3-day warning strike to press home their demands and also warned that they will commence an indefinite industrial action should the government fail to meet their demands.
They said the government has failed to implement their promotions and see to their overall welfare and working environment.
According to the statement dated December 8, following the expiration of the warning strike, the magistrates have decided to embark on indefinite strike from Monday, December 9.
“Furthermore, sequel to our letter to the Governor of Cross River State dated 11th November, 2024, where the notice of strike, was extended to Friday 22nd November, 2024 to enable the State Government to attend to our demands, and having failed to do so till date, we hereby issue this bulletin.
“In line therefore, with our congress resolution to proceed on a three days warning strike is hereby declared by the state chapter of the Magistrates.
“This action in the first instance, will be effective from 6am of Wednesday, 27th November 2024 to Friday , 29th November, 2024.
“If the State Government fails to meet our demands, an indefinite strike shall be embarked upon until all our demands are fully met”.
Before the warning strike, the magistrates had earlier in November issued a seven days ultimatum to the state government to effect promotion for its members that have remained stagnant since 2015.
The magistrates also decried the payment of N15,000 as monthly impress to magistrates in the state when compared to magistrates in neighbouring states that receive between N200,000 and N250,000 monthly.
While also demanding for the rehabilitation of magistrate courts across the state, the association further condemned the government for none provision of official vehicles to it members.
It further demanded immediate implementation of promotion and regularisation of magistrates in the state with necessary financial benefits across all cadres as well as the implementation of all accrued arrears.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Edo State has staged a walk to educate the public on the importance of protecting national assets and infrastructure from being vandalised.
State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Gbenga Agun, who led the sensitisation walk, said it was meant to intimate the public of its role in ensuring the protection of the assets at all levels.
“It is to sensitise the people on the importance of guiding our properties, that is, critical national assets and infrastructure from being vandalised”, he said.
Agun noted that protecting national assets was a collective responsibility because it encompassed everyone.
According to him, vandalism can be natural or man-made, and that the economic situation in the country can push some people to engage in destructive activities.
The NSCDC boss, however, encouraged the public to report cases of vandalism at any of the divisional offices in all local governments or the outpost stations.
Also speaking, the Head of Department, Critical National Assets and Infrastructure of the command, Mr Sule Muhammed, called for intelligence sharing on vandalism of any national assets for prompt action.
The Tide’s source reports that the walk, which featured the distribution of leaflets to motorists, shop owners, and passersby, began from the command headquarters at the Blessed Avenue in Benin and covered several major roads in the city.
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