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Tag: Nyesom Ezenwo Wike

  • Rivers Govt. gives N3.6 billion to SMEs, civil servants

    Rivers Govt. gives N3.6 billion to SMEs, civil servants

    The Rivers state government has approved an annual interest-free loan disbursement to the tune of N3,600,000,000.00 (three billion, six hundred thousand naira) for small businesses and civil servants in the State.

    The State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, made this known in an address during the 2018 Workers Day celebrations in Port Harcourt, where he also charged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to occupy Nigeria.

    “We have approved an interest-free revolving loan scheme for civil servants. The annual sum earmarked for this programme is N1,200,000,000.00 (one billion two hundred naira) only, with a monthly disbursement of N100,000,000.00 (one hundred million naira only).

    “We have also approved another interest-free loan for owners of small businesses to access to enhance their businesses, create jobs and grow the economy. An annual sum of N2, 400,000,000.00 (two billion four hundred million) only, has been set-aside for this purpose with a monthly disbursement of N200, 000,000.00 (two hundred million naira) only,” the Governor said.

    He said the State is investing in building a strong economy that will enable workers earn decent wages, empower entrepreneurs to create jobs and provide improved livelihood opportunities for Rivers people.

    The governor said that his administration is already working to fix some of the subsisting challenges, including the contributory pension scheme, the contributory health insurance scheme and the payment of gratuities to retired civil servants.

    At the Workers Day celebration, the Governor also announced a donation of N100 million to the NLC and the TUC and said the State Government will construct State Secretariats for the different labour unions.

    In her address, the Rivers State Chairman of the NLC, Mrs Beatrice Otubo commended Governor Wike for his regular payment of salaries and pensions.

    ALSO READ | Gov. Wike urges NLC, TUC to ‘Occupy Nigeria’

    She urged the governor to take steps to resolve the challenges surrounding the contributory pension scheme and gratuity to retired civil servants. The labour leader also commended the Governor for his outstanding developmental strides.

    Chairman of the TUC in Rivers State, Mr Austin Jonah lauded the Rivers State Governor for his numerous infrastructural and development projects across the state.

    The Workers Day was marked by parade by all the affiliate trade unions in the state, with Governor Wike taking the official salute.

     

  • Gov. Wike urges NLC, TUC to Occupy Nigeria

    Gov. Wike urges NLC, TUC to Occupy Nigeria

    Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have failed Nigerians by refusing to act in the face of unbridled killings of defenceless Nigerians across the country.

    The Rivers State Governor made the declaration in an address during the 2018 Workers Day celebrations in Port Harcourt and said it is not in national interest for labour to be only concerned about salary increment when their kith and kin are mauled to death on a daily basis.

    “Labour is only after the increment of wages and emoluments without showing concern for the mass killings going on across different states of the Federation.

    “Labour is quiet in the face of deaths. Of what benefit will increment of salaries be when all your children, friends and relatives are killed in the course of this national insecurity?

    “It is incumbent on labour to rise up in defence of Nigerians by demanding for immediate cessation of killings,” Wike said.

    He stressed that labour has a duty to work towards the progress of Nigeria as they battle for their welfare, saying labour must rekindle their pre-2015 posture when they participated in occupy Nigeria during the Jonathan era.

    The governor urged labour to defend the nation’s democracy which is under threat by the failure of the APC Federal Government to respect the rule of law and democratic tenets.

    “Be vigilant and defend our democracy in 2019. That is what labour is known for. Labour thrives under democracy. Without democracy, labour will run into challenges,” he said.

     

    ALSO READ | Wike makes N100m donation to NLC, TUC; approves N3.6bn for SMEs, civil servants

     

  • Wike blames FG for collapsed national security

    Wike blames FG for collapsed national security

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has stated that the total collapse of national security is a fallout of the political interference of the Federal Government in the operation of security agencies.

    Speaking during a Courtesy Visit by the participants of Senior Executive Course 40, 2018 Study Group Three from the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru at the Government House Port Harcourt on Monday, Governor Wike said that the deliberate political actions of the Federal Government compromise the security architecture of states.

    Governor Wike said: “What we have seen in most cases is that security lapses are a result of political interference “.

    The governor said that the case of Rivers State is exemplified by the transfer in and out of Rivers State of newly promoted Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Akin Fakorede who was as an indicted election manipulator, between March 29 and April 4, 2018 for the purpose of carrying out criminal electoral activities.

    He drew the attention of the course participants to the indictment of ACP Fakorede as contained on page 66 of INEC Report into Rivers Rerun Elections wherein the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Akin Fakorede was indicted for electoral fraud, violence and ballot box snatching and abduction of INEC officials.

    “The man was given special promotion as as a reward for the job he did for the Police in Rivers State during the rerun. He has been been transferred back to the state in preparation for their planned manipulation of the 2019 General Election. They brought him back because of his expertise in ballot box snatching and election violence.

    “The Federal Government has laid the foundation for crisis and violence in 2019. They are the ones who perpetrate crisis. We are peace makers that is why we are drawing the attention of the international community to these actions”, the governor said.

    Commenting on the Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Governor Wike said that the agency was established to complement the work of Federal Security Agencies.

    He said that the organisation which was fashioned in line with an existing model in Lagos State under the leadership of respected retired military, police and paramilitary senior officers.

    The governor said while the Federal Government allowed the Neighbourhood Safety Corps to thrive in Lagos, Nasarawa and Kaduna States for political expediency, they oppose it in Rivers State.

    “The Federal Government Security Agencies lack the personnel and equipment to provide security for all communities. The neighbourhood safety corps will complement their efforts. Apart from payment of salaries, the State Government funds the logistics and operations of the security agencies “, he said.

    In his remarks, Leader of the Senior Executive Course 40, 2018 Study Group Three from the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Rear Admiral Ahamefule Eluwa said that the group is working on how to profffer solutions for the security challenges facing the country.

    He said the theme of this year’s course as approved by the President is: “Strengthening internal security framework and community policing in Nigeria: Models, Policy Options and Strategies “.

    He said that the NIPSS Study Group will study the Neighbourhood Safety Corps established by the Rivers State Government for the security of the state. According to him, as everyone is seeking for effective security models, Rivers State has already taken bold steps to secure the state.

     

  • Invasion of Senate was plotted by FG says Gov. Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the invasion of the Senate was an official plot by the Federal Government to overthrow the Senate Leadership.

    Governor Wike also declared that the Federal Government is still plotting to frame him, saying that the latest plan hatched by the Federal Government is for someone programmed by the Security Agencies to claim that he received $3million from the Rivers State Governor.

    He spoke during 105th Annual Convention of the Nigerian Baptist Convention at Ndele, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State on Sunday.

    The governor said: “They plotted to overthrow the leadership of the Senate, but they failed. What you saw was a horrible design to remove the senate leadership.

    “If you know the Security architecture of the National Assembly, nobody can go in easily and leave easily without the gates being shut. These people entered and left unchallenged.

    “When the Senate gave the Police a 24hour ultimatum to find the mace, our Nigerian Police became so efficient that they traced the Mace to where it was left under the bridge”

    The governor said it was unfortunate that the President went abroad to de-market the country by claiming that the youths are lazy.

    He said no investor will invest his resources in a country where the youths lack productive capacity.

    Governor Wike called on Nigerians to work towards a new administration at the Federal level in 2019, noting that the collapse of national security, welfare and development are enough reasons for a change of direction.

    “We are not looking for people who will give us excuses. Since they cannot work, they should allow those with capacity to take over in 2019,” he said.

    In his sermon, President of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev Sampson Ayokunle directed all churches in Nigeria to process around their worship centres to call for the end of senseless killings in the country.

    The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria said the procession will also serve as a call for the release of Leah Sharibu and the remaining Chibok girls held in captivity.

    Rev Ayokunle decried the rate at which the Federal Government allow senseless killings to fester across the country.

    Speaking further, he said that it was disheartening that persons without the requisite qualifications gain authority beyond their capacity. He said the governance process has been stagnated due to the lack of capacity.

    Ayokunle called on Christians to actively participate in the forthcoming general election to ensure that a responsible government is enthroned in 2019.

    Prayers were said for Nigeria, Rivers State and Governor Wike. The Nigerian Baptist Convention attracted thousands of Baptist Members to Ndele, Rivers State.

     

  • Rivers Govt to commission 34 projects as Wike marks 3rd anniversary

    Thirty Four (34) projects will be ready for commissioning during the third anniversary of the Wike administration, the State Government has announced.

    This was one of the resolutions of the State Executive Council Meeting presided over by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Thursday.

    Briefing journalists after the meeting, Information and Communication Commissioner, Emma Okah said all the 34 projects are at their final stages of completion.

    He informed that a State Executive Council Committee has been set up for the disbursement of the Monthly N200million Interest Free Loans set aside for traders and young entrepreneurs.

    TheNewsGuru reports the State Executive Council urged interested traders and youths to take advantage of the loan facility to boost their businesses.

    The State Executive Council was also briefed on the completion of the fencing of Bishop Okoye Street to keep street traders away from the road.

    The Information and Communication Commissioner said following the expiration of the grace period, the full implementation of the ban on street trading in Port Harcourt will commence.

    He said the State Executive Council Task Force will carry out the implementation of the ban on street trading.

     

  • #StopTheSoot: Gov. Wike directs ‘Rivers of soot’ blame to FG

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has called on those planning to demonstrate against the presence of soot to channel their protest to the Federal Government.

    He said the Federal Government is strictly responsible for the degradation and pollution of the Rivers environment.

    Speaking at the Government House Port Harcourt on Monday during the inauguration of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency, Governor Wike urged the #StopTheSoot campaigners to demonstrate against the Federal Government in the interest of justice.

    He said that the Rivers State Government has done all that it is supposed to do, including advocacy and enlightenment campaigns, with no action from the Federal Government.

    “I hear that people want to demonstrate that there is soot in the state. Help us demonstrate against the Federal Government and we will all be happy.

    “This is because we have no control over the sources of soot. Do I go to shutdown the Refinery? Will they not say that it is economic sabotage?

    “Do I even have the security? Do I control the Police or the Army to go and stop oil production at the refinery?” Wike stated.

    Governor Wike added that the State Government cannot stop the Nigerian Navy from destroying illegal refineries in ways that release dangerous substances to pollute the environment.

    He said all entreaties have fallen on deaf ears, and that nobody is happy about the presence of soot in the state as its effect is non-discriminatory.

    The governor said it is necessary to properly situate those with the responsibility of stopping the soot, rather than protesting for the sake of creating social tension.

    He, however, assured the people of Rivers State that the administration will continue to prevail on the security agencies and regulatory institutions to take the right step to stop the soot.

     

  • Electoral Act: Why Gov. Wike wants NASS to override Buhari

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has called on Nigerians to prevail on the National Assembly to override President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto of the 2010 Electoral Act Amendment Bill to guarantee free, fair and credible electoral system in the country.

    Addressing the 2018 Annual Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Section on Legal Practice Conference in Port Harcourt on Thursday , Governor Wike urged Nigerian legal practitioners to rise up and insist on the relevance of the amended Electoral Act 2010.

    “We must all stand up against the devilish efforts by some anti-democratic forces to kill the ongoing process to amend the 2010 Electoral Act on the whimsical excuse that the order of elections proposed in the Amendment Bill contravenes the discretionary powers of INEC, which, in any case, has not complained of any mischief occasioned by the new order.

    “Let me remind us that a defining feature of the legal profession is the commitment to promote both the substantive rules and the processes of the law, as well as, to defend the democratic values of our society,” he said.

    Governor Wike said though the 2010 Electoral Act was enacted to promote credible elections, the All Progressive Congress (APC) working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police manipulated the Act to rig the rerun elections in Rivers State.

    He said in view of the fraudulent activities of INEC, APC and the Police, the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal upheld results concocted by the Police for the Rivers Rerun Elections

    “We all saw how results sheets were duplicated with identical serial numbers and handed over to the police to entre fake results and returns in favour of the candidates of the APC in the said elections.

    “In spite of this law, we all saw how both the tribunal and the Court of Appeal anchored their verdicts on results that were generated and certified from the custody of the Nigerian Police, while the results from INEC, which conducted the elections, were branded irrelevant and accordingly rejected.

    “What all these mean is that a thousand Electoral Laws may amount to nothing for as long as the Federal Government, the INEC, the Police and other government agencies that may legally or illegally be brought into the election process, continue to disrespect the law and trample on our democratic rights to free and fair elections with impunity and without suffering any legal pains or punishment for their criminal conduct,” Wike said.

    Governor Wike urged the legal profession to constantly reinvent and reposition itself in response to existing and new challenges both in the theory and practice of the law.

    The governor also said lawyers must also rethink the way they practice to remain relevant in the profession and meet the needs of their clients and society in the most professional, diligent and efficient manner.

    Declaring the conference open, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onoghen represented by Justice AB Gumel said the timing of the conference is right as it will allow the bench and bar the opportunity to appraise emerging issues of justice delivery.

    He urged judges to adhere to the tenets of the law in their delivery of judgments.

    President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) said the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Law Practice is a vehicle for deepening professional practice in the bar.

    Chairman of NBA Section on Legal Practice, Mainnaya Essien (SAN) said recent ethical issues require an appraisal of practice and challenges.

    Highpoint of the conference was the presentation of a recognition plaque to Governor Wike by the NBA President for the outstanding contributions of the Rivers State Governor to the legal profession.

     

  • Rivers Govt. approves N200m monthly interest-free loan

    The Rivers State Executive Council has approved the setting aside of N200 million monthly as interest free loans to traders and young entrepreneurs.

    The State Executive Council also approved a direct empowerment scheme for 10,000 women from the 23 Local Government Areas who will be financially supported by the Rivers State Government to improve their respective businesses.

    TheNewsGuru reports the governor directed the State Ministry of Women Affairs to ensure the fair representation of all local government areas.

    The Rivers State Executive Council at its Wednesday Meeting Presided over by Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike said that the interest free loan will be disbursed monthly to the traders and young entrepreneurs for them to carry out small and medium-sized enterprises.

    Briefing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House Port Harcourt on Wednesday, State Information and Communication Commissioner, Mr Emma Okah said that the Council approved the recruitment of 2000 young men to work with the state government to stop illegal street trading in Port Harcourt and its environs.

    The young men will work with the State Executive Task Force to clear the streets of illegal traders

    The council also approved the recruitment of 1000 women for the regular sanitation of Port Harcourt and its environs.

    The Rivers State Executive Council also approved an extra seven days of grace for all illegal street traders to vacate the roads.

    The additional week of grace expires on April 18, 2018.

    The government said it approved the extension following entreaties by traders and other Nigerians. The traders were urged to find alternative trading venues.

    The Executive Council also approved the elaborate celebration of the third anniversary of the Wike administration.

     

  • Gov. Wike inaugurates Rivers State Honours Advisory Committee

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has inaugurated the Rivers State Honours Advisory Committee with a charge to the committee to honour indigenes and non-indigenes who have contributed to the development of the state.

    Inaugurating the committee at the Government House Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Governor Wike said that the Rivers State honours event will henceforth hold annually after the successful ceremony during the State’s 50th Anniversary.

    He said: “After Rivers at 50, we resolved that these honours should be bestowed on Rivers sons, daughters and non-indigenes on an annual basis. Those to be honoured are people who have made the state proud.

    “You are to recommend those that you think have made worthy contributions to the development of the state. This will serve aa an encouragement for them to make further contributions “.

    He said that the State Government appointed men and women of proven integrity into the committee, because the honours will be strictly on the premise of merit.

    Governor Wike thanked members of the Committee for accepting to serve the state.

    Responding, chairman of the Rivers State Honours Advisory Committee, Chief Ferdinand Anabrabra said Rivers State has an abundance of talents in various fields of human endeavour.

    He said the honours will be conferred on the people in line with their contributions and in recognition of their roles to develop the state.

    He said: “The significance of the honour is that it will spur people to the greater service of the state. It will encourage people to build on their successes ”

    Chief Anabrabra said the committee will deliver on the assignment in line with the law.

     

  • ‘Alamieseigha treatment’ plans against me’ll fail – Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has raised the alarm that there are plans by the federal government to treat him the way late Chief DSP Alamieseigha was purportedly treated.

    Wike alleged the Federal Government and her agents making plans to frame him up by planting illegal items on him in any of his trips outside the shores of Nigeria, and have him quizzed and embarrassed by foreign security agencies.

    Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media made this known in a statement, noting that investigations by the Rivers State Governor revealed the Federal Government is using her security agencies to plan the set up anytime the governor travels abroad.

    “My investigation reveals that the Federal government using her security agencies is planning to set me up anytime I am travelling outside the country. They plan to organise security to storm the hotel I am staying and say they found xyz cash in my possession; after which they would say I was arrested for currency trafficking or whatever offences outside the country.

    “They will then precipitate crisis in my state and other parts of Nigeria. They will plan demonstrations to demonize me and claim I have gone outside to embarrass the country. The public odium is meant to smear me before my people and other Nigerians. It is unfortunate, wicked and unfair.

    “What they plan is similar to what was once done to the late Chief DSP Alamieseigha. They are planning what they call the ‘Alams treatment’ for me. But, by the grace of Almighty God, they will fail,” the statement read.

    Governor Wike said, though he was neither scared nor disturbed over the plot, he felt the need to alert the nation and the world to the evil and dangerous dimension politics had degenerated in the country.

    “I am using this opportunity to alert the world of the sinister plot. I am a law-abiding citizen of this country and countries I visit in the course of my work or holidays. I have never dabbled into anything illegal. So, any attempt to frame me up on trumped up charges or alleged offences is bound to fail.

    “What they are doing is just cheap politics. They want to intimidate the opposition into silence as they are already doing with their so-called ‘looters’ list’. It won’t work. We can’t all be intimidated.

    “What we expect government at the centre to do is to showcase to the people their lists of achievements; why they should get a second chance. But they have nothing to show; so they are embarking on intimidation and arm-twisting tactics of the opposition,” he said.