The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bayelsa State

  • Lecturers, others begin warning strike in Otuoke varsity

    Lecturers, others begin warning strike in Otuoke varsity

    Workers under the Joint Action Committee ( JAC ) of four trade unions of the Federal University, Otuoke ( FUO ), Bayelsa State, yesterday, commenced a five-day warning strike following allegations that the management of the school and the governing council were insensitive to their plight.

    The JAC, which undertook the action consisted of the Academic staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ); the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU ); the National Association of Academic Technologists ( NAAT ) and the Non-Academic Staff Union ( NASU ).

    The workers in a communique on June 22, 2017, cried out that the Senator Gbemi Saraki-led governing council was allegedly doing nothing about the issues of staff welfare, promotions, salary disparity, tax remitances, pension remission, statutory allowances, confirmation of appointment, among others.

    They also alleged that Saraki who is the Pro-Chancellor of the university was running the institution as her personal business.

    The workers in a notice sent to the Vice-Chancellor, FUO, Prof. Accra Jaja, and signed by the Chairman, JAC-FUO, Dr. Omororo Joseph, said that if their grievances were not addressed after the end of the warning, they would make the industrial action indefinite.

    The unions’ communique after their meeting said;  ”On behalf of the Joint Action Committee of the Federal University of Otuoke, we write to you (Vice-Chancellor). Having observed all due processess as well as relevant rules and regulations guiding the operations of the unions, we bring to your notice our warning strike.

    ”Sequel to the insensitivity of management and governing council of this university to the communique dated June 22, 2017, and associated reminders from JAC, a joint congress was held today (October 16, 2017) at the university auditorium, East Campus.

    ”In the light of the above, please be informed that JAC shall with effect from today, Monday, October 16, 2017, embark on a five working days warning strike.

    ”We hope that this action will give our communique the deserved response and attention in the interest of peace, harmony and stability of the university community.”

  • Mass sack looms as Bayelsa compiles names of payroll fraudsters

    Mass sack looms as Bayelsa compiles names of payroll fraudsters

    Panic has gripped workers in the Bayelsa State civil service following a directive by the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, that names of suspected payroll fraudsters should be compiled and removed from the system.

    The Committee of Civil Service Reforms (CCRS) set up by the governor to sanitise the public sector and clean up the payroll, was said to have received the backing of Dickson not to spare anybody indicted in the racket.

    Dickson inherited a wage bill of about N6bn when he took over the mantle of leadership in 2012 but battled to reduce it to about N3.5bn.

    A member of the committee, who spoke in confidence, said the war against the fraudulent civil service system was ongoing with ernest adding that names of the suspects were being compiled by the committee.

    Though the source refused to disclose the number of persons indicted so far, it was gathered that many civil servants had been fingered in the rackets and could be sacked and handed over to security agencies for prosecution.

    Some of the persons involved in the fraud were said to be collecting salaries simultaneously from different sources such as the local government areas, the Federal University, Otuoke and other agencies.

    It was gathered that Dickson on Monday directed his Deputy,  Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd), to ensure that those defrauding the state through multiple employments and other fraudulent activities were fished out.

    The source, who was privy to the directive, said Dickson insisted that the payroll fraud must be tackled under his administration to enable his successor inherit a sanitized system.

    He said the governor considered all the reports submitted on payroll fraud and formulate a state policy that would guide the government.

    He said: “The governor insisted that his deputy and his team should compile names of those involved and the amount of money the state will save from the eradication of the fraud.

    “The governor lamented that the fraud was rampant in the primary and secondary schools apart from the mainstream civil service and the parastatals”.

    Quoting the governor, he said: “I want us to reduce this voluminous report to a comprehensive government policy. There is need for specifics in the reports such as those who did not report for the verification exercise.

    “Who are the names being taken out; the salary component in the various places where these frauds are committed? How much will be saved from those taken out; I mean the total amount of money.

    “In the secondary and primary schools, we have two teachers and 30 non-academic staff, in some schools, we have two teachers to 15 non-academic staff. That cannot continue”.

    When contacted the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, confirmed that the governor held the meeting with the panel on civil service reforms on Monday.

    Though the commissioner failed to give details, he said that the governor was very serious about the issue of the reforms.

    “The governor will act in the interest of the citizens of the state, as it is aimed at sanitizing the system and re-positioning it for efficiency and greater productivity.

    “I know that the governor held a meeting with the various panels, the one on the civil service, the tertiary institutions, the secondary and primary schools and the local government areas.

    “All I can say for now is that this governor has the political will to take on this evil which has held down this state for long. Very soon the reforms will be made public through a special broadcast to the State by Gov. Dickson”, he said.

  • Army responds to Bayelsa vaccination scare

    Army responds to Bayelsa vaccination scare

    The Spokesman of the 16th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, stationed in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Capt. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said the military was not conducting any vaccination exercise in the state.

    Danjuma, who is the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, said the military community relations activities like medical outreaches scheduled as part of the Operation Crocodile Smile II had not started.

    ‘When the time comes, the targeted recipients will be well informed. Members of the public should always verify information before acting,” he said.

  • Outbreak of new viral disease ‘monkey pox’ hits Bayelsa

    Outbreak of new viral disease ‘monkey pox’ hits Bayelsa

    … Doctor, 10 others quarantined

    A new viral epidemic known as “monkey pox” has broken out in Bayelsa State.

    A medical doctor and 10 other persons who came down with the monkey pox had been quarantined in an isolation centre created at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH) Okolobiri, Yenagoa local government area of the state.

    The isolation centre was reportedly created by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the epidemiological team of the state’s Ministry of Health to stop the spread of the disease.

    It was learnt that the NCDC and the epidemiological team were tracking 49 other victims, who had come in contact with the infected persons.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, who confirmed the development, said samples of the virus, had been sent to the World Health Organisation (WHO) laboratory in Dakar, Senegal, for confirmation.

    He described monkey pox as a viral disease caused by a group of viruses that include chicken pox and small pox, adding that the first case was noticed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and subsequently had outbreaks in West Africa.

    Saying the virus has the Central African and the West African types, the commissioner said the West African type is milder and has no records of mortality.

    “Recently in Bayelsa State we noticed a suspected outbreak of monkey pox. It has not been confirmed. We have sent samples to the World Health Organisation (WHO) reference laboratory in Dakar, Senegal. When that comes out we will be sure that it is confirmed. But from all indications, it points towards it,” he said.

    He said as the name implied, the virus was first seen in monkey, but could also be found in all bush animals such as rats, squirrels and antelopes.

    Etebu added: “The source is usually all animals. It was first seen in monkeys and that is why it is called monkey pox. But every bush animals like rats, squirrels, antelopes are involved. So, the secretions from particularly dead animals are highly contagious.”

    The commissioner listed the symptoms of monkey pox as severe headache, fever and back pain amongst others, adding that most worrisome of all the signs were rashes bigger than those caused by chicken pox.

     

     

  • Nigeria, Bayelsa have made progress, says Dickson

    Nigeria, Bayelsa have made progress, says Dickson

    Governor Seriake Dickson has advised the people of Bayelsa State and Nigerians in general not to despair, despite the challenges of the present times.

    The governor in a statement to mark the 57th independence anniversary of Nigeria and 21st birthday of Bayelsa, said the country and the state had made some progress despite the challenges.

    The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Francis Ottah Agbo, called on Bayelsans and all Nigerians to take advantage of the celebration to reflect on “where we were, where we are now, and where we ought to be as a nation.”

    He said:  “I therefore, urge all Bayelsans and indeed Nigerians to rekindle hope in the state and in our country. We might not have attained the height we expect, but it is also true that, we are not where we were.

    “Progress and development is block upon block. Gradually, but steadily, we are making good progress. Our vision and commitment to a better Bayelsa and a stronger Ijaw nation remain unwavering”.

    He also urged all Bayelsans and the Ijaw nation to rekindle their hope in the greatness of the state and the country, adding that, “if Bayelsa is great, Nigeria will be great again”.

    While paying glowing tributes to the founding fathers of Bayelsa state, Dickson acknowledged their immeasurable sacrifices that resulted in Bayelsa becoming a reality.

    “But for the sacrifice, zeal, commitment and dedication of our founding fathers, Bayelsa would have remained a mere dream.

    “As I reflect on their role today, I can only, but rededicate myself and the Restoration Government I lead to the development ideals of the Bayelsa founding fathers.

    “This inspires a renewed commitment to uphold, meet and even surpass the expectations of those who laid the foundation on which we are building on. My administration will never disappoint the founding fathers and the people of the state, who gave us this mandate, which to us is sacred”, he said.

    The governor solicited the cooperation and support of all Bayelsans and the Ijaw nation irrespective of political differences, noting that, building a great state required the support of everyone.

    Dickson appreciated the goodwill of the people and promised to consolidate on the  gains of his administration in the last five years.

    He assured that, he would continue to run an all-inclusive and open government for all Bayelsans.

    He called on all Bayelsa leaders, in different capacities not to wage unnecessary battles of division, that had stopped the state from attaining its full potential, but to use their time and resources to support the development of the state for benefit of all and sundry.

    Dickson equally congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians on the country’s independence anniversary.

    While reiterating his call on Nigerians not to give up on the country, he noted that, the challenges confronting Nigeria were surmountable.

  • Victims of Bayelsa fire outbreak beg for help

    Victims of Bayelsa fire outbreak beg for help

    Patrick Nmerigwe and his wife are in a deep trouble. Their world collapsed recently. The husband and wife have not stopped crying. Fire outbreak brought thick gloom and darkness into their lives. The fire has turned them into beggars.

    Their business, which hitherto, thrived at the popular Swali Market in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, has been turned into sand and ashes. The midnight fire left nothing for them to start life again. A once prosperous family is now a shadow of itself.

    The downcast Nmerigwe, who could not control his emotions, broke down in tears as he relieved the ugly event of Weenesday last week. Speaking to the Niger Delta Report (NDR), he pointed at the debris of his goods, shook his head and shuddered in silence. He was a known dealer on frozen foods such as chicken and fish.

    “In my shop, I had 12 freezers, four air conditioners, one 5000watts stabilizer, seven 2000watts stabilizers, generators and many other things. The chicken and fish worth about N2.5million. Each freezer now cost N280,000. Everything I lost here amounts to about N7million”, he muttered tearfully.

    In fact, Nmerigwe is lost. The fire also consumed all the goods in his wife’s shop. His wife was also in his line of business. He said the fire started at other shops and spread to their stalls.

    On the fateful day, at about 1am, he said a driver in the business of delivering goods to him woke him up from sleep through his telephone call. The caller informed him about the incident and he along with his wife raced down to the scene.

    “But before we got here, everything was gone. It happened very fast. I don’t know the cause of the fire. All I know is that it came from other shops to my own”, he said.

    Some persons affected by the fire had started rebuilding their shops. But Nmerigwe could only watch with his hand in his chins. “I don’t even know where to start from”, he cried.

    “I have nothing left to start again. I am a father of three children. My first child is nine years old. We came to Bayelsa in 2007. It’s my wife’s shop. We have been struggling before God made us bigger. I don’t have anyone to call for help.

    “I am begging everyone who feels touched by this to please help me just for the sake of God. It’s not easy at all and we have practically nothing to start all over because we just spent almost everything to buy the frozen foods before this happened. Please help me with anything you can just for us to start over again”, he said.

    With a swollen face, his wife, Chidimma could only beg for help. She said she started her business two years ago. “I don’t even know where to start but I wish to start again. Please help me. I need your help to start again.

    “This is our source of livelihood. We have lost everything in this fire outbreak. Bearing this is painful but I don’t have a choice”, she begged.

    Indeed, neighbours are canvassing support for the devastated family. Mrs. Peter Igbe, who trades at the market described the condition of the victims particularly Nmerigwe as terrible. She begged people to come to their aide.

    She said: “A neighbour called me and screamed that there is fire but before we came here, everything was burnt. Some of these people who are victims have helpers and others don’t.

    “The Patrick’s family are very wonderful people ,very nice and gentle. It is painful that they are in serious difficulty as this. Please whosoever can help should help them. It is not easy to be in this kind of situation”.

  • Bayelsa, German team develop plan to curb European migration

    The African Tide Union (ATU) is worried about high level of unemployment in Nigeria especially in the Niger Delta region. ATU, a German-based organisation blames desperation among the youths of the Niger Delta to travel abroad on lack of employment opportunities in their states.

    But the union has taken time to develop an actionable plan to create jobs and discourage migration to Europe through illegal routes. The Bayelsa State Government is interested in the plan. The government of Mr. Seriake Dickson, wants the union to use Bayelsa as a launching pad for the project.

    A 10-member team of ATU, led by the union’s President, Roselyn Dressman, recently presented the Niger Delta Master Plan for the job-creation project to the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) in Government House, Yenagoa.

    Already, ATU in partnership with the state government has organised an event to profile youths in the state and educate them on the need for them to embrace the programmes contained in the master plan.

    At the heart of the plan is the establishment of a craft centre with the capacity of training 800 youths on various skills every year. The centre is to be constructed with libraries, workshop centres, laboratories and production centres for various occupational skills.

    Dressman said African Tide is a certified educational content provider in Europe. She said the union’s educational centre is at the heart of Dortmund in Germany adding that the centre turns out 200 trained persons every year in Germany. She said the union was qualified to replicate and drive the project in Nigeria.

    She said the Niger Delta master plan entitled, Reduce Migration, Activate Returnees (Red-Mas) was developed to stop desperate migration of youths from the Niger Delta to European countries.

    She said having watched the Niger Delta crisis from a distance, the union worked for five years to package the plan to reduce frustration among youths and create comfort for them at their domains.

    She said the union was worried about the rising number of desperate migrants adding that last year 600,000 persons abandoned Nigeria for Europe out of which 70 per cent came from the Niger Delta.

    Dressman said the master plan when implemented would create series of activities and projects including a Handcraft Centre where youths would be taught vocational skills to enable them become employers of labour.

    She  said: “This migration is not good for us, it is draining our resources. You are a marginalised group and if you don’t wake up from your marginalisation by yourselves, you will never come out if it.

    “I employ everybody to join in this vision to find jobs for our youths, we have to make them comfortable in their own soil. In Germany or anywhere in the shores of Europe, there is nothing to take there. Things are not like the old times.

    “Finding feet in Germany is very difficult especially when the youths are not educated. I can show you disheartening pictures of youths trying to cross the Sahara Desert. People die while crossing the desert and the sea.

    “Apart from that, they ensalve themselves. Just imagine the old story of slavery coming back. We even give ourselves to them as slaves. Many of our children are out there in Mali, Libya wishing to come back home but they can’t come back because there is no means for them to come back.

    “Some of them are used even for sex slavery. That is why we should together look into how we can stop our children from embarking in this dangerous journey. As part of that we develop the Niger Delta Master plan. The problem is not only in Bayelsa, it befalls the whole of Niger Delta.

    “Today we present Red-Mas with different types of activities. African Tide is very successful. We are in different countries. We want to be here too. I am from Bayelsa State. It is my personal interest to see that it works. We have come here to curb the problems of migration from where it originated”.

    Also speaking, the union’s Youth Ambassador, Tarilaya Weber, said most Nigerian youths in Europe were heartbroken adding that African Tide maintains an asylum-seeking home to accommodate the frustrated youths.

    In his remarks, Jonah said the state government was excited at the partnership since its motive was to engage youths in meaningful ventures. He lamented dangers faced by youths, who tried to cross to Europe through illegal routes such as the deserts and the Mediterranean, saying it was time to build confidence among youths in the region.

    He said: “Some of these migrants end in Libya; they couldn’t cross, others venture into the Mediterranean and in most cases they don’t get across. The statistics is very frightening. They are so desperate at times that they don’t know about the risk, they just want to go.

    “There are also agencies that exploit their vulnerability, expose them to these dangers. I am happy with the Red-Mas. This is one of the opportunities you are creating for people to return back”.

    The deputy governor appealed to the youths to embrace the opportunity offered by the partnership adding that people must embrace the attitude of hard work.

    He said part of the problems was the neglect of the vocational skill components of the 6-3-3-4 educational system by the government.

    “The 6-3-3-4 system clearly on paper specified what should be done to overcome the deficiency in the educational system. But for one reason or the other we haven’t been able to follow it through.

    “This could be a very good example for others to follow so that vocational training is given to our youths so that when they finish they will become employers of labour. They have to restore their dignity back”.

  • Ohaneze cancels Igbo day celebration in Bayelsa

    Ohaneze cancels Igbo day celebration in Bayelsa

    The Bayelsa State chapter of the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Wednesday, cancelled this year’s Igbo Day celebration in the state.

    The Bayelsa President of the group, Chief Maurice Chinedu-Amaku, who spoke in Yenagoa shortly after the meeting of the council, said the decision to stop the event scheduled for September 29 was because of some recent ugly development in the country.

    He said there was nothing for the Igbo to celebrate this year following the calamities that had engulfed them in recent times.

    He said it would be inhuman for them to rejoice when Igbo people in some parts of the South-East were mourning.

    He appealed to Igbo sons and daughters in the state to dedicate the day to pray for the peace and unity of Bayelsa and country within the confines of their houses.

    Chinedu-Amaku said: ”The decision to make it a prayer day is born out of an agreement collectively reached by leaders and members of the Igbo community in the state.

    ”It will be recalled that before now, the Igbo Day was marked with so many activities that showcased the culture of the Igbo, but this year will be dedicated to prayers for a unified state and nation which will be done in the confines of their homes.

    ”We are therefore calling on all Igbo people to have a sober reflection on that day and hold prayers in their individual homes.

    ”In line with the resolution of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide and Ohaneze Ndigbo Bayelsa State, this year’s Igbo Day is aimed at committing the challenges of the Igbo ethnic nationality to God for divine intervention.

    ”We are all aware; none of us here is a stranger to the incidents that have been going on in this country in the past one month or two. Our people are mourning and because of that, we cannot come out to say we are celebrating.

    ”Are we celebrating over the graves and blood of our people? We are mourning and that is why we have decided to hold prayers in our closets to mourn our people.”

    Present at the meeting were His Royal Highness, Chief Anthony Uwakwe, Eze Igbo, Bayelsa State; special assistants to Governor, Chief Tony Madu, Chief Okwudiri Oko, and Chief Sunny Chukwuezi among other prominent Igbo sons and daughters in the state.

     

  • Pirates kill two in Bayelsa waterways 

    Pirates kill two in Bayelsa waterways 

    Gunmen suspected to be pirates have attacked a passenger boat in Bayelsa State killing two people.

    It was gathered that the bandits who struck along the waterways of Brass Local Government Area, left many other passengers critically injured.

    One of the passengers who survived the attack, identified as Saddam, said the ugly incident happened near the Obama Flow Station, in Okoromo, Nembe Local Government Area.

    He said: “One of the deceased is called Pale (male) and he hails from Akipelai community in Ogbia LGA, while the second person’s name is Doris (female) from Delta State.”

    He said they died when the pirates, after dispossessing the passengers of their valuables, shot sporadically while escaping from the scene.

    Gunmen have been laying ambush in the creeks and waterways of the state killing innocent citizens and security operatives.

    On Friday, suspected pirates ambushed an oil barge escorted by security operatives and killed two policemen, an operative of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and a civilian.

    The military has proposed a second phase of Operation Crocodile Smile to calm the tensed waterways.

  • Buhari means well for South-East, says Ikisikpo

    Buhari means well for South-East, says Ikisikpo

    Former Senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Mr. Clever Ikisipo, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari was passionate about developing the South-East and the South-South.

    Insisting that Buhari loved the geopolitical zones, Ikisikpo advised the people of the zones to forego their grievances and deep-seated suspicions to enable them benefit from the policies and programmes of the Federal Government.

    Speaking to the Nation in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Ikisikpo said Buhari was only interested in ensuring that peace reigned in the country adding that his push for peace and unity should not be misconstrued as hatred to a particular region.

    He said: “I call on all well meaning Nigerians especially the people of the South-South and South-East to give the PMB led government a chance and massively support the Change Agenda.

    “The people of this two regions will benefit a lot if they shelve outside their grievances and whatever suspicions they harbor and allow government policies and programmes mature”.

    He flayed persons criticizing Buhari’s speech at the just-concluded 72nd United Nations General Assembly saying the President’s speech was strategic.
    Ikisikpo said the speech was strategic for the international community grappling with security threats and for developing nations struggling to get looted funds repatriated to enable them fast track infrastructural development and economic growth.

    “Indeed, while we earnestly await the cooperation of the international community with the Buhari-led administration, all hands must be ready at home to help actualise the change agenda. The unity of Nigeria is important if we must maintain our giant status in Africa and pride of place in the world”, he said.

    He said the President was taking required steps to implement all the suggestions he made to the international community at home.

    He said: “The appealed to the UN to expand and consolidate on her peace and security roles in the globe, at home Buhari is practising peace by curbing insurgency and secessionist threats.

    “The President called on the UN to double her efforts on humanitarian crisis world over, at home is not turning blind eyes to Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) in the North-East and the Army/IPOB clashes in the South-East and Militancy in the Niger-Delta.

    “Hence he dispatched five northern Governors to the south on peace tour. The President is much interested in a restructured UN, at home the ruling party has set up a restructuring committee to address growing agitations in the country”.