News

Why Etche People Should Vote APC – Amaechi …Assures On Payment Of Pensioners’ Benefits

Published

11 years ago

January 23, 2015

Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi has called on the people of Etche to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the party will ensure the return of their lost oil wells, and deliver more infrastructure in the area.
Speaking during the APC guber rally at Okehi, headquarters of Etche Local Government Area yesterday, he reminded the people that the People Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government has failed to develop or site any project, in Etche and has denied them their resources by ceding their oil wells to Abia State.
Amaechi said, “I will tell you why President Jonathan dislike the Etche people. You can see that the road from Igwuruta to Abia State is a federal road, and the road from Omerelu to Omuma also belongs to the Federal Government, but none of these roads have been reconstructed”.
Amaechi held that on assumption of office in 2007, he embarked on massive transformation of the area, and assured that before he exits office on May 29th, work on the Igbo-Etche Road would commence.
On the request by the PDP to use the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium for its presidential campaign, he said, “we will not release the newly built Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium to the PDP for their campaigns. This is because the PDP denied the APC from using the Eagle Square in Abuja for their campaigns. There must be law and order in this state, where Iam the governor. The PDP should go and use the Elekahia Stadium”.
He also dispelled claims over the authenticity of APC Presidential candidate, Gen. Buhari’s school certificate, accusing the PDP of diversionary tactics in addressing corruption. The Peoples Democratic Party should tell Nigerians why they have refused to eradicate corruption in President Jonathan’s administration. Our economy is so bad that the PDP-led government could not account for the missing N2.3 billion.
“And so far, on Buhari’s certificate, he has produced the certificates he obtained in Provincial College, Katsina”.
Amaechi, who is also the Director-General of Gen. Buhari Campaign Organisation challenged the PDP guber candidate in the state to an accountability contest, expressing fear that the resources of the state will not be safe if he is elected governor.
The governor said, the APC candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside remains the best choice for Rivers people in order to sustain development, peace and unity in the state, adding that Peterside is known for prudent management of resources under his care.
On his part, the APC candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside urged people of Etche to come out enmasse to vote for its presidential and other candidates during next months’ elections.
Peterside said, “the people of Etche know the difference between light and darkness. We shall complete all projects embarked upon by Governor Amaechi, we will do more in Etche. I promise to bring zero-tolerance to violence in Etche. We will support small scale farmers and lift people out of poverty”.
The Eli 1 of Okehi Kingdom in Etche, His Royal Majesty, Eze S.E. Ukaegbu prayed for peaceful polls next month, and later conferred the chieftaincy title of Ogumba 1 of Etche Kingdom on Governor Amaechi.
Meanwhile, Pensioners in Rivers State have been assured of receiving their entitlements before the end of February.
The state Governor, Chibuike Amaechi gave the assurance when he appeared live on a local radio station yesterday in Port Harcourt.
He blamed the backlog of stipends owed to the senior citizens on the dwindling state allocation, stating that the current wage bill of civil servants stands at N9.2 billion monthly.
Amaechi said “the pensioners are suffering but we will try and assuage their sufferings.”
The governor blamed the Federal Government for the dwindling state allocation, stating that unless the level of corruption at the centre is curtailed, the country will continue to suffer economic woes.
Amaechi used the medium to comment on the recent outbreak of Cholera in Andoni Local Government Area and the bird flu in some parts of the state, noting that he has directed that all affected birds be slaughtered in the affected farms.
Reacting to the Cholera outbreak, the governor remarked, ”our water scheme is robust in Andoni, but we have not been able to go to all the villages.”
Hinting of plans to construct boreholes in some of the villages, Amaechi assured of government’s readiness to curb the menace.
Meanwhile, Governor Amaechi has picked holes in the recent slash in fuel pump price from N97 to N87 by the Federal Government last weekend.
In his view, the price needs to be further slashed to reflect the slump in the price of crude oil in the international market.
He maintained that the price of fuel is supposed to hover between N40 and N50, and therefore, called on the citizenry to demand accountability from the government.
The governor further urged the people to vote out the ruling Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government in order to rescue the national economy from worsening.

R-L: Vice President Namadi Sambo, Minister of Transport Senator Idris Umar, PDP National Deputy Chairman, Hon. Uche Secondus, Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Engr. Seyi Sijuwade during the official commissioning of Nigeria Railway Corporation at Port Harcourt Station recently. Photo: Egberi A. Sampson

News

Group Doles out N13m To Market Women In Isiama

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

The peaceful Town of Isiama in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State was at the weekend agog with activities following the donation of over N13million to market women by Engr. Justus Ngerebara in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiatives, a non-governmental organization, as part of its first phase empowerment programme.

According to Justus Ngerebara, who is also the Executive Director of the organization, the women, numbering 108, will receive various sums based on their business proposal.

He stated that the organization will carry out an annual review of the performances of the beneficiaries, with a view to rewarding those who put the money into good use.

According to him, the initiative was a collaborative effort between himself and his wife, Dr. Unyime Ngerebara, in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiative (FDI), an organization committed to youth capacity building and community development.

He said the family believe deeply in the transformative power of women’s empowerment as a catalyst for economic growth, especially in rural communities.

“As the saying goes, when you empower a woman, you empower a community. This truth resonate strongly with us, knowing that empowered women uplift households and inspire generational change”, he stated.

Ngerebara described the programme as the beginning of more things to come and urged the beneficiaries to view the gesture “as a reflection of our deep love for the community and our commitment to easing the burdens of economic hardship.

“We encourage you to invest wisely, channel these resources into your business not frivolities.

“We will continue to follow up with each participant to monitor progress and Offer guidance.

“It is our goal to see thriving business, creative solutions to households hunger and a ripple effect of prosperity through Isiama.

“We also call on the men to stand beside their spouses, offering support and encouragement to ensure these resources are maximized for growth”, he said.

In an interview, Ngerebara said the second phase of the empowerment programme will start very soon, stressing that since inception the organization has done so much for the community.

He listed some of the programmes carried out by the group in the community to include the installation of solar powered lights, and solar powered water.

While declaring the event open, a former coymmissioner for Works in Rivers State, Engr. Sampson Ngerebara, described the event as the first of its kind in the community.

Engr. Ngerebara said the programme will go a long way to improve the conditions of not only the beneficiaries, but also the entire Isiama Community.

He also charged them against wasting the resources on frivolities, adding that their success will attract more of such empowerment programme to Isiama community

Giving a brief talk on women empowerment, a lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Dr. Awajimogobo Felix MacLean, warned the beneficiaries to justify the effort of the donor by avoiding wastages.

Dr. MacLean also urged them to be consistent in their line of business as well as avoid unnecessary competition.

She also stressed the need for them to network among themselves, while working out ways of helping the community to develop.

Guest of Honour at the occasion, Professor Uriah Oboada Alafonye, said Engr Justus Ngerebara, the initiator of the programme, has set a standard for present and future generations of leaders both in the community and the rest of Andoni to follow.

Prof Alafonye who is of the department of Arts Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, also appealed to the beneficiaries to seize the opportunity provided by the programme to reduce poverty in the community.

Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Hebron Mercy Fyneface, a crayfish seller and an interior designer, said it was the first time she was receiving such gesture from any organization or government.

She thanked Engr Justus Ngerebara for remembering the women of Isiama and urged others to emulate him.

By: John Bibor

News

Fubara’s Return Excites NCSU … As Hope Rises For Civil Servants

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

The umbrella body of civil servants in Rivers State, the Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has expressed delight over the lifting of emergency rule in the State and the return to office of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Nma Odu and members of the State House of Assembly, saying, the development portends good omen for workers, the people and the State.

The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who gave the indication in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the return of the Governor to office portends good omen and better days for civil servants in particular, stressing that the union heartily welcomes the Governor back to office, to resume his good works in the State, after six months of the emergency rule, as well as his deputy and members of the House of Assembly.

He noted that civil servants in the State are not only elated over the development but are also full of hope that the Governor would start from where he stopped in attending to their welfare needs.

He contended that the political crisis that recently engulfed the State and the six-month emergency rule had for over one year pulled the State backwards, but expressed delight that a permanent solution has been found to stem further political upheavals in the State, and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making this possible; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and leader of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike; Governor Fubara; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule; members of the House; and other stakeholders for agreeing to amicably resolve all contending issues.

The labour leader said this is the right time for all political gladiators in the State to bury the hatchet, work together and embrace peace and genuine reconciliation in the overall interest of the State.

He described as too hasty the resolution of the House, mandating the Governor to present a supplementary budget to it, and pleaded with members of the House to be calm, to tread with caution, and harmoniously work with the Governor.

He said the return of democratic governance in the State would fast-track progress and development in the State, and enjoined the people of the State, particularly civil servants to continue to give their support and cooperation to the Fubara administration.

Osumah expressed optimism that Governor Fubara would give prompt attention to challenges facing civil servants in the State, being a former civil servant himself, stressing that the workers truly have hope, now that the Governor has returned to office, and knowing the kind of Governor he is.

According to him, he is going to look into the controversial and contentious contributory pension scheme; rehabilitation of the State Secretariat Complex; recruitment into the state civil service; extension of service and retirement years for civil servants; provision of vehicles to industrial unions; as well as provision of befitting staff quarters for civil servants; among others.

News

NDDC Organizes ADR Capacity Building for Staff

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has organized a one-day sensitization program for its personnel on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approaches to promote workplace compliance on transparency and due process.

The workshop, themed “Promoting Transparency and Due Process in the Workplace using ADR Approaches in Building a Culture of Accountability and Integrity,” aimed to equip staff with the skills to resolve disputes effectively.

Declaring the event open on thursday in port Harcourt,The NDDC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, emphasized the importance of using ADR mechanisms to resolve conflicts in the workplace.

Dr. Ogbuku represented by his chief of staff,Rev Omeya Oworibo,noted that ADR approaches can encourage a culture of honesty, fairness, transparency, trust, and reduce conflicts among staff, ultimately promoting efficiency and productivity.

He averred that those disputes and quarrels if not proper resolved can derail the vision and objectives of the commission to the people, noting that the commission must as a team and unity as service provider in order to render a profitable service delivery to the people.

“ADR approach will encourage culture of honesty,fairness, transparency ,trust and reduce back bitting and the workforce, noting that such tendency would in turns promote efficiency and increase results in workplace.

when integrity and honesty becomes the operandi of an organisation and employees begins to trust that their matters will be handled with fairness it will breed team work and increase in productivity.”he stated

He commended the department of DCR for organising the workshop and urged the participants to make good use of the opportunity and imbibe the culture of tolerance, integrity and teamwork in workplace.

Also speaking,the NDDC acting director of DCR ,Mr Godwin Ayewumi Ogedegbe noted that the theme of the captures the core of what the commission seeks to achieve a workplace where every action is expected to be guided by openness, fairness, and a steadfastness commitment to due process, where conflicts are not merely resolved, but prevented through structured,principled processes , and where accountability and integrity are not aspirational ideals but every day practice.

In his keynote presentation on the theme “workplace Ethics and alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation,

Prof. Sylvester Odion Akhaine of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, delivered a keynote presentation on “Workplace Ethics and Alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation.” He stressed the importance of due process, transparency, integrity, and accountability in the workplace, noting that these values are essential for productivity and organizational goals.

The workshop aimed to promote a culture of accountability and integrity in the NDDC workplace. By equipping staff with ADR skills and promoting transparency and due process, the commission can build a more efficient and productive work environment.

By: Akujobi Amadi