News
RVHA Moves To Sanction Firms …Flays Illegal Workers’Sack …Goes Tough On Rape, Battery, Others
The Rivers State House of Assembly (RVHA), has warned companies operating in the state against unconditional retrenchments and severance of workers without benefits.
The Leader of the House, Hon. Martin C. Amaewhule, who gave the warning yesterday, while addressing protesters of National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO) against the retrenchment of its members by Daewoo Construction Company in Port Harcourt, said no company would be allowed to maltreat citizens of the state and go scot free.
Amaewhule, who tasked the association to submit official petition against the company to the House, assured the protesters that the House will do justice to the matter without delay.
He thanked the members of the association for their peaceful demonstration instead of resorting to causing crisis in the state.
According to him, the House will take over the matter and address it to its logical conclusion with the company.
It would be recalled that some retrenched workers of Daewoo Construction Company, under the umbrella of National Association of Plant Operators, an affiliate of Trade Union Congress (TUC) embarked on a peaceful protest to the Rivers State House of Assembly with a plea for help over an alleged unconditional retrenchment and maltreatment of its members by the company.
Speaking on behalf of the workers, the Acting President of the NAPO, Rivers State chapter, Comrade Harold Bristol, told the House of Assembly, that the Daewoo Company sacked some of the members of the association without any severance benefits as enshrined in the agreement between the company and the workers.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State House of Assembly, yesterday, read a bill for a law to raise penalties and punishment for any person who commits any offence of rape, marital maltreatment and other related offences on women, child and less privileged in the state.
The bill before the House also sought to eliminate and prohibit all forms of violence in private and public life of persons in the state.
The bill titled: “Rivers State Violence Against Persons (Prohibitions) Bill 2016”, was sponsored by the House Leader, Hon. Martin C. Amaewhule, and the lawmaker representing Emohua Constituency, Hon. Samuel Ogeh, in the House in Port Harcourt.
Presenting the bill at the plenary session of the House, Ogeh said the bill would provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims of rape and other related offences in the state.
According to him, the bill will increase the years of imprisonment for gang rapists to 20 years without option of time.
It also reviewed to 14 years imprisonment for persons less than 14 years of age without option of fine.
The bill further proposed imprisonment of not exceeding three years or option of N500,000.00 fine to any person who abandons a wife or husband, children or other dependants without any means of sustenance.
According to Ogeh, the 46-page bill would reduce violence among vulnerable women and children as well as protect the less privileged persons from unnecessary maltreatments in Rivers State.
However, the bill passed first reading at the plenary session.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adams Dabotorudima, who lauded the sponsors of the bill, said the proposed bill was a welcome one to increase penalties against offences on less privileged persons in the state.
Enoch Epelle
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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