Editorial

Checking Illegal Task Forces In Rivers

Published

1 year ago

July 3, 2024

The operations of illegal task forces in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, have become a
major source of concern for residents and motorists. The task forces, which are not sanctioned by the government, have been accused of indiscriminately arresting vehicle owners and impounding their vehicles on the pretext that they violated traffic rules.
They often target vehicles parked in unauthorised areas or those that are allegedly driven recklessly. However, there have been numerous reports of vehicles being impounded even when the owners have not committed any offence. In some cases, the task force members have been accused of using excessive force and intimidation to coerce motorists into making unauthorised payments.
The confiscated vehicles are usually taken to Rivers Marine Company situate at Marine Base, a defunct firm owned by the Rivers State Government. The vehicles are held there until the owners pay a ‘fine’ to the task force. The amounts charged vary depending on the type of vehicle and the alleged offence. Many residents have complained that the task forces are making it difficult for them to go about their daily lives. They have also been accused of extortion.
Curiously, the hoodlums have found a sinister alliance with corrupt elements within the police force. They operate under the guise of police authority, using the uniforms of law enforcement to lend legitimacy to their nefarious activities. This unholy alliance has created a dangerous situation, where criminals are able to hide behind the facade of respectability, while engaging in their criminal enterprises.
Police Commissioner Olatunji Disu bears a heavy responsibility to restore order and protect the people from these criminals. He must take immediate action to identify and remove the corrupt officers who are working in cahoots with the hoodlums. A thorough investigation is needed to expose the extent of this collaboration and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara, upon assuming office, declared the disbandment of all task forces in Rivers State. However, recent events have raised questions about the continued existence and operation of these task forces. Their reappearance has sparked confusion and concern among the people, who are wondering how these entities can continue to function despite the Governor’s directive.
Task force proliferation has been a persistent issue in Rivers State, with various administrations attempting to address their perceived inefficiencies and negative impacts. The reemergence of these groups after the Governor’s disbandment order raises questions about the state’s commitment to implementing its own policies.
The continued existence of task forces despite the Governor’s directive undermines the credibility of the government and raises concerns about the rule of law in Rivers State. The government must take a decisive action to address this issue and ensure the arrest and prosecution of the culprits. The public deserves an explanation for the reappearance of illegal task forces in different parts of Port Harcourt and assurances that their activities will be curbed.
Gangsters’ infestation of Rivers Marine Company and other government facilities has reached an alarming level, demanding immediate and decisive action. These criminal elements have audaciously exploited the spaces as their operational strongholds, creating a pervasive atmosphere. The situation has deteriorated to a point where the legitimate operations of state-owned facilities are severely compromised.
It is unconscionable that such a vital government asset as Rivers Marine Company has fallen prey to these nefarious actors. The Ministry of Transport, as the custodian of this facility, bears the primary responsibility for ensuring its integrity and security. The current state of affairs is a glaring indictment of the ministry’s failure. The continued presence of criminals within the premises sends a dangerous message that lawlessness will be tolerated.
Swift and decisive action is paramount to reclaim the facility. The Transport Ministry must prioritise their immediate dislodgement from the company and other affected areas. This may require the deployment of security measures, including surveillance, access controls, and the establishment of a dedicated task force to combat gang activity.
Residents of the state who are approached by individuals claiming to be part of a task force should exercise extreme caution. These individuals may use aggressive tactics or make false promises to coerce payment. It is essential to remain calm and refuse to engage with them. Instead, they should promptly contact law enforcement authorities by visiting the nearest police station or dialing emergency hotlines, providing detailed information about the incident.
Creating job possibilities for young people is vital for fostering productivity and reducing crime rates within the state. If provided with meaningful employment, our youths will gain a sense of purpose and financial stability, which can deter them from engaging in illegal activities. Employment empowers youths to contribute to their communities and develop valuable skills, enhancing their future prospects.
Job creation policies specifically tailored towards youth can effectively address the unique challenges they face, such as lack of experience and limited access to training. These programmes can offer apprenticeships, internships, and on-the-job training openings, allowing youths to gain practical skills while earning a wage.
Furthermore, job opportunities provide youths with a sense of belonging and responsibility. When they have a stake in their state, they are less likely to engage in destructive or antisocial behaviour. Employment also promotes social inclusion and integration, reducing the likelihood of marginalised youth turning to sundry crimes.

Editorial

No To Political Office Holders’ Salary Hike

Published

9 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

Nigeria’s Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has unveiled a gratuitous proposal to increase the salaries of political and public office holders in the country. This plan seeks to fatten the pay packets of the president, vice-president, governors, deputy governors, and members of the National and State Assemblies. At a time when the nation is struggling to steady its economy, the suggestion that political leaders should be rewarded with more money is not only misplaced but insulting to the sensibilities of the ordinary Nigerian.

What makes the proposal even more opprobrious is the dire economic condition under which citizens currently live. The cost of living crisis has worsened, inflation has eroded the purchasing power of workers, and the naira continues to tumble against foreign currencies. The majority of Nigerians are living hand to mouth, with many unable to afford basic foodstuffs, medical care, and education. Against this backdrop, political office holders, who already enjoy obscene allowances, perks, and privileges, should not even contemplate a salary increase.

It is, therefore, not surprising that the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has stepped in to challenge this development. SERAP has filed a lawsuit against the RMAFC to halt the implementation of this salary increment. This resolute move represents a voice of reason and accountability at a time when public anger against political insensitivity is palpable. The group is rightly insisting that the law must serve as a bulwark against impunity.

According to a statement issued by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the commission has been dragged before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Although a hearing date remains unconfirmed, the momentous step of seeking judicial redress reflects a determination to hold those in power accountable. SERAP has once again positioned itself as a guardian of public interest by challenging an elite-centric policy.

The case, registered as suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1834/2025, specifically asks the court to determine “whether RMAFC’s proposed salary hike for the president, vice-president, governors and their deputies, and lawmakers in Nigeria is not unlawful, unconstitutional and inconsistent with the rule of law.” This formidable question goes to the very heart of democratic governance: can those entrusted with public resources decide their own pay rises without violating the constitution and moral order?

In its pleadings, SERAP argues that the proposed hike runs foul of both the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and the RMAFC Act. By seeking a judicial declaration that such a move is unlawful, unconstitutional, and inconsistent with the rule of law, the group has placed a spotlight on the tension between self-serving leadership and constitutionalism. To trivialise such an issue would be harum-scarum, for the constitution remains the supreme authority guiding governance.

We wholeheartedly commend SERAP for standing firm, while we roundly condemn RMAFC’s selfish proposal. Political office should never be an avenue for financial aggrandisement. Since our leaders often pontificate sacrifice to citizens, urging them to tighten their belts in the face of economic turbulence, the same leaders must embody sacrifice themselves. Anything short of this amounts to double standards and betrayal of trust.

The Nigerian economy is not buoyant enough to shoulder the additional cost of a salary increase for political leaders. Already, lawmakers and executives enjoy allowances that are grossly disproportionate to the national average income. These earnings are sufficient not only for their needs but also their unchecked greed. To even consider further increments under present circumstances is egregious, a slap in the face of ordinary workers whose minimum wage remains grossly insufficient.

Resources earmarked for such frivolities should instead be channelled towards alleviating the suffering of citizens and improving the nation’s productive capacity. According to United Nations statistics, about 62.9 per cent of Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty in 2021, compared to 53.7 per cent in 2017. Similarly, nearly 30.9 per cent of the population lives below the international poverty line of US$2.15 per day. These figures paint a stark picture: Nigeria is a poor country by all measurable standards, and any extra naira diverted to elite pockets deepens this misery.

Besides, the timing of this proposal could not be more inappropriate. At a period when unemployment is soaring, inflation is crippling households, and insecurity continues to devastate communities, the RMAFC has chosen to pursue elite enrichment. It is widely known that Nigeria’s economy is in a parlous state, and public resources should be conserved and wisely invested. Political leaders must show prudence, not profligacy.

Another critical dimension is the national debt profile. According to the Debt Management Office, Nigeria’s total public debt as of March 2025 stood at a staggering N149.39 trillion. External debt obligations also remain heavy, with about US$43 billion outstanding by September 2024. In such a climate of debt-servicing and borrowing to fund budgets, it is irresponsible for political leaders to even table the idea of inflating their salaries further. Debt repayment, not self-reward, should occupy their minds.

This ignoble proposal is insensitive, unnecessary, and profoundly reckless. It should be discarded without further delay. Public office is a trust, not an entitlement to wealth accumulation. Nigerians deserve leaders who will share in their suffering, lead by example, and prioritise the common good over self-indulgence. Anything less represents betrayal of the social contract and undermines the fragile democracy we are striving to build.

Editorial

No To Political Office Holders’ Salary Hike

Published

10 hours ago

September 22, 2025

The Tide

Editorial

Rivers’ Retirees: Matters Arising

Published

2 weeks ago

September 8, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government deserves commendation for the manner in which it conducted the last biometric exercise for pensioners in the state. For the first time in many years, the verification process was not only efficient but also humane, a development that has brought relief to a category of citizens that often bears the brunt of neglect.

Unlike previous verification exercises that left pensioners exhausted and unattended, the latest exercise set a refreshing precedent. Retirees were given proper and sumptuous meals, and in addition, the government paid the sum of N10,000 into their accounts to cushion their transportation costs. Such gestures go a long way in demonstrating that those who had laboured for the state are not forgotten in their twilight years.

The measure was particularly necessary given that some pensioners had to travel long distances to reach their verification centres. For elderly men and women, such journeys come with physical and financial strain. By recognising these realities and easing the burden, the government has shown that pensioners deserve dignity, not disdain.

Beyond this laudable act of consideration, the authorities must reflect on the very structure of pension verification. The era of compelling retirees to be physically present for routine verification should be reconsidered. With digital tools and innovation, the government can adopt systems that capture and confirm data without the stress of physical assembly. This is crucial for pensioners residing in other states or even abroad.

While we acknowledge the importance of verification in cleaning up pension records, we cannot ignore the darker side of the matter. It is regrettable that some allowances continue to be paid to deceased pensioners, with relatives fraudulently collecting the funds. The latest biometrics, thankfully, exposed some of these sharp practices. The exercise, therefore, is not only about order but also about justice.

We urge families of deceased pensioners to be patriotic enough to inform the government of the deaths of their loved ones. It is deeply shameful that in some instances, individuals attempted to impersonate late pensioners during the biometrics. Such behaviour undermines the spirit of honesty and deprives genuine retirees of their due entitlements.

The exercise also revealed another important area of concern: the health of pensioners. It is reassuring to learn that the state government has reportedly promised to take over the medical treatment of some retirees who arrived for the biometrics in critical condition. This is a step in the right direction. Elderly citizens, after years of service, should have access to special health care facilities in the state. Setting aside hospitals or designated centres for the aged is not just desirable but necessary.

While pension payments in Rivers State have remained consistent, attention must now be directed towards gratuities. Senior citizens deserve to receive their retirement benefits without the bureaucratic hitches that have often marred the process. After years of loyal service, nothing is more demoralising than to see retirees languish for want of their gratuities. Every worker, as Scripture reminds us, is worthy of his wage.

Retirement, in any civilised society, should not be reduced to a sentence of suffering. In dealing with pensioners, government must consistently wear a human face. The humane manner displayed during this verification exercise should not be a one-off. It must become the norm in all dealings with retirees. Measures must continually be put in place to ensure that they do not feel abandoned by the state they served.

One welcome innovation has already been introduced. The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has altered the method of gratuity payment. Pensioners now receive their monies directly into their bank accounts, eliminating the cheque-based system that for years served as fertile ground for corruption. This reform is both pragmatic and forward-looking. Similarly, the implementation of the N32,000 pension harmonisation is also commendable.

Direct payments gratuities ensure transparency and drastically reduce the possibility of diversion of funds. More importantly, they restore confidence in the system and assure pensioners that their entitlements will reach them without interference. In this way, the government has not only safeguarded the process but also upheld the principle of accountability.

Seamless gratuity payment has a ripple effect on the workforce as a whole. When workers are confident that retirement will not plunge them into hardship, the temptation to falsify age in order to remain in service is eliminated. Such reforms, therefore, enhance efficiency, honesty, and productivity in the public service.

In sum, the Rivers State Government has struck a refreshing chord in its handling of pension verification. It has shown empathy, innovation, and accountability. However, the momentum must be sustained, and the focus must shift towards modernising verification methods and prioritising retirees’ welfare in health, gratuity, and dignity.

When retirees are treated with compassion and fairness, the message to those still in service is clear: faithful service to the state will not go unrewarded. The humane verification exercise, though a single event, offers a hopeful glimpse of what governance can look like when people, especially the elderly, are placed at the heart of policy.