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Interim Govt Plot, Futile Exercise -Mark …As Senate Summons Jega, Receives 8 Ministerial Nominees

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Senate has rejected the call by some politicians for an Interim National Government (ING), stressing  that such is not in any way in the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended.
The Senate also cautioned Nigerians, especially those involved in politics to avoid inflammable statements capable of destroying the very podium on which they stand.
The President of the Senate, David Mark, in his remarks at the resumption of plenary yesterday, said every insinuation to the imagined ING  should be disregarded while he expressed strong convictions that the general elections would hold as rescheduled.
“Interim National  Government is alien to the 1999 Constitution. Those calling for ING are pushing for an exercise in futility”, the Senate president said.
Speaking further, he said “This Senate is committed to the provisions of our Constitution which we swore to protect, and we will not do anything to sabotage the democratic process”.
Mark called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to continue to prepare to conduct a free, fair, transparent and credible elections as rescheduled, and emphasised that on the 29th of May, 2015, a democratic government elected through a free and transparent government would be sworn in for another term of four years.
The Senate president also charged politicians to rise up to the occasion and reduce the tension in the country, cautioning them to refrain from acts or statements that will aggravate the already heated polity.
Meanwhile, the Senate has summoned the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, to appear before it today  to explain the circumstances leading to the postponement of the 2015 general elections, which was earlier scheduled for February 14 and 28 for both national and state elections respectively.
Jega is expected to also explain to the Senate, and Nigerians by extension,  the workings of the card reader which the commission intends to use for the general elections.
The invitation  of the INEC chairman came on the heels of a resolution of the lawmakers following a motion raised by the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba which raised issues on the need for  Jega to appear before it at plenary to answer questions on how prepared the commission is to conduct the elections next month.
According to Ndoma-Egba, the Senate would also be availed the opportunity to get a firsthand information on whether the card readers being proposed by the commission, would work effectively in the elections.
In his contribution to the motion, Senate Minority Leader, George Akume,  recalled that the INEC chairman had repeatedly insisted that the  commission was prepared for the elections, until he was over- ruled by the security chiefs.
Senator  Akume insisted that the service chiefs should rather be summoned to explain why they claimed that they would not be able to provide security in the North East for just one day that the elections would be held.
However, Mark rejected this suggestion, saying that the Senate would listen to Jega first before it can determine if there is need to invite the service chiefs as argued by Akume.
Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday also received a list of eight ministerial nominees from President Goodluck Jonathan for confirmation.
The list include Senator Patricia Akwashiki (Nasarawa), Prof. Nicholas Akise Ada (Benue) , Col Augustine Okwudiri Akobundu(rtd); Abia, Zambia and Engr Fidelis Nwankwo (Ebonyi).
Others are Mrs Huawa’u Lawan (Jigawa), Mr Kenneth Kobani (Rivers), Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos) and Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya (Taraba).
According to the Senate’s Spokesperson, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the Senate would screen the nominees soon.

 

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi,Abuja

APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dr Dakuku Peterside,  shaking hands with enthusiastic traders at the popular Mile 3 Market in Diobu, Port Harcourt, during campaign visit, recently.

APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dr Dakuku Peterside, shaking hands with enthusiastic traders at the popular Mile 3 Market in Diobu, Port Harcourt, during campaign visit, recently.

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Group Doles out N13m To Market Women In Isiama 

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

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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.
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NDDC Organizes ADR Capacity Building for Staff

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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
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