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Rivers Assembly Gets SOS Over Stool

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L-R: APC  Deputy  National Chairman, South, Mr Segun Oni, National Auditor, Dr George  Moghalu, APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun and  Deputy National Chairman, North,  Alhaji Lawan Shuaibu, during the APC National and State Auditors Workshop in Abuja, yesterday

L-R: APC Deputy National Chairman, South, Mr Segun Oni, National Auditor, Dr George Moghalu, APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun and Deputy National Chairman, North, Alhaji Lawan Shuaibu, during the APC National and State Auditors Workshop in Abuja, yesterday

As the Ad hoc Commit
tee on Chieftaincy of the Rivers State House of Assembly prepares to submit its report, the people of Ken-Khana Kingdom, have raised alarm over plans to downgrade its chieftaincy stool to second class.
The Ken-Khana people in khana Local Government Area of Rivers State raised the alarm and warned that the plan if carried out may create disaffections among the people.
They gave the warning recently in a communiqué issued after a meeting of Ken-Khana Kingdom Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs held in Kenwigbara district Council, following issues raised recently at the public hearing on the amendment to the chieftaincy law of Rivers State 2014.
The communiqué which was made available to The Tide and the Ad hoc Committee of the State House of Assembly, noted that Ken-Khana chieftaincy area is distinct and autonomous with its own administrative structure and status attached to the present incumbent ruler who was selected according to established procedures accepted by the people, adding that a submission by one Chief Suanu Baridam of Nyo-Khana Kingdom was misleading as they called on the State Assembly to discountenance the call to downgrade the stool of Kenwigbara.
The communiqué signed by Chief Ueyaagu Leyira, Chief Nwidag Anthony Bywhite, Chief Keenam B. Chris and the Secretary, Ken Khana Council of Chiefs, Chief Koko Stephen, explained that the stools of the Gbemene Ken Khana, Mene-Bua Bom, Mene Bua Baem, Mene Bua Yaasere and Mene Bua Kenwigbara were inexistence before the advent of colonial rule in Nigeria and were subsequently recognized by the Eastern Nigerian government and also accorded recognition as first class, second class and third class respectively by the Rivers State government.
The communiqué argued that there has not been acrimony among the incumbents on the status of any of the stools in the various communities of Ken-Khana Kingdom especially on the upgrading of the Kenwigbara stool to second class status, insisting that the incumbent, Mene Barile Y. Deebom, was duly selected, installed and coroneted by his people and given recognition by the Rivers State Government according to laid down rules and procedures of the laws and customs of the people.
The communiqué noted that the Gbenemene Ken Khana, HRM M.S.H Eguru Gbala 11 recommended the upgrading of the Kenwigbara stool to second class status and was accepted by the Rivers State Government.
According to him, “we are surprised that Mene-Bua Bangha, HRH Suanu Baridam who is from Nyo-Khana Kingdom area council whose area of jurisdiction does not extend outside his district council went on air and before the Committee on Chieftaincy Amendment Law 2015 of the Rivers State House of Assembly not only to cast aspersions on the status of kenwighara stool and its occupant, Mene Deebom with a view to deceiving the committee to down grade the stool”.
The communiqué, however, dismissed allegations that the elevation of the stool of kenwigbara to its present status has political motives, describing Chief Suanu Baridam’s submission as false, malicious, vexatious and capable of creating disharmony to satisfy his alter ego.
“We wonder why Suanu Baridam did not concentrate his energy on his Nyo-Khana Kingdom area where there is a new second class stool and was given recognition as Mene Bua Baa bringing the total number of tools to two than to dissipate his energies on denigrating the only one upgraded in ken-Khana area”.
The Communique however called on the state government and the state House of Assembly ad hoc committee to not only continue to recognize the kenwigbara stool as second class but to extend the upgrading exercise to Bua-Bom, Bua-Baen and Bua-Yaasere stools of Ken-Khana as second class.

 

Ike Wigodo

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Reps Urge FG To Pay ASUU, NASU’s Withheld Salaries

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The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to pay the withheld salaries of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU).
This followed the adoption of a Motion of Urgent Public Importance by Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa) during plenary on Wednesday.
Presenting the motion, Fulata said that the government must accede to the unions’ demands because they were genuine.
Adopting the motion, the House urged the President to direct the relevant bodies to come up with modalities for negotiation with both ASUU and NASU.
The House said this would enable them to come up with workable, implementable and final agreement to be signed by both parties.
The House urged the president to direct the Ministry of Finance, to ensure full implementation.
The House mandated its Committees on University Education, Polytechnic Education, Federal Colleges of Education, Labour and Productivity, Finance, Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.

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Bill To Prescribe Salaries, Allowances Of Judicial Officers Pass 2nd Reading

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The bill seeking to prescribe salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of Judicial office holders in Nigeria has passed second reading at the Senate.
This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill by the sponsor, Sen. Lola Ashiru (APC-Kwara) at plenary on Thursday.
Presenting the bill, Ashiru said the bill, an executive bill, was forwarded to the two Chambers of the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, in accordance with provisions of Section 58(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.
He said the bill, in a nutshell, seeks to prescribe salaries, allowances and fringe benefits for judicial officers in order to nip in the bud, the prolonged stagnation in their remuneration.
This, he said was to reflect the contemporary socio-economic realities of the time.
Ashiru said the bill intends to unify the salary structure, allowances and fringe benefits of judicial officers holders both in the Federal and at the State levels.
“This proposed legal framework, undoubtedly, will bring about significant improvement in the welfare, capacity and independence of the Judiciary, which have been contentious issues of public discourse over the years.”
He said that the intent of the bill was in conformity with the current administration’s resolve to strengthen the country’s Judiciary and the criminal justice system .
This, he said was to ensure its independence in the performance of its constitutional role, as the arbiter of the temple of justice.
He urged the senators to support the expeditious passage of the bill in view of its importance to the socio-economic and political development of this country.
Sen. Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno), who seconded the motion said it was necessary to ensure adequate remuneration of Judicial officers was in line with the current economic reality.
He said that there was the need to provide an adequate remuneration that would prevent judicial officials from being tempted for corruption.
Sen. Orji Kalu (APC- Abia ) commended the executive for presenting the bill to prescribe a remuneration for the judicial arm of government, saying that no right thinking Nigerian would want to oppose it.
He urged the officials to ensure that justice is dispensed rightly to Nigerians.
He also urged the government to improve remuneration of other sectors given the economic reality.
Deputy President of Senate, Barau Jubrin (APC-Kano) said the President has done creditably well by presenting the bill for remuneration of the judicial officials.
He said the judicial officials had suffered in silence for as they were not disposed to speaking up on the issues, just like the labour unions.
He said it was cheery and commendable for President Tinubu to have brought the bill, which was designed to enhance the salary and welfare of the judicial officials.
President of Senate, Godswill Akpiabio said presentation of the bill was a right step in the right direction by President Tinubu.
Akpabio, referred the bill to the committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative inputs and to return back to plenary in four weeks, after the bill was read for the second time.

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Court To Hear Suit Against Ganduje’s Suspension, May 28

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Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano, has fixed May 28 for hearing in the substantive application filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Dr Ganduje is challenging his suspension from the party by factional ward executives led by one Basiru Nuhu Isa.
He was first suspended by APC Ganduje Ward executives led by one Haladu Gwanjo on April 15. Another faction emerged and also announced suspension of Dr Ganduje on April 20.
The Tide source reports that the secretary of the party in Kano, Zakari Sarina, said the suspension by the faction was another case of impersonation.
Dr Ganduje is seeking a declaration that his suspension from the party without giving him opportunity to defend himself amounts to violation of his fundamental right to fair hearing.
He is also seeking a declaration that his suspension by the faction was unlawful, null and void.
Counsel for the embattled APC chairman, Hadiza Ahmad, applied for service on the respondents by substituted means which the court granted.
Justice Liman adjourned to May 28 for hearing in the matter.

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