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Tag: Wike

  • Why uniform minimum wage is unrealistic in Nigeria – Wike

    The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, said on Friday a uniform minimum wage is unrealistic in Nigeria because states vary in their financial capacity.

    He noted that Nigerian workers would be better off when states are allowed to fix their separate minimum wages in line with their financial capacity.

    Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), spoke in Port Harcourt at a  public hearing on the new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

    He said: “The single national minimum wage system is yet another lie that betrays the distortions in our federation and the structured dislocation of the states in the power equation between the Federal Government and the federating states.

    “It is our view that the country and its workers would be better off, if states are allowed to fix and pay their own minimum wages, indexed to the prevailing cost of living and ability to pay.

    “When this happens, it is possible that some states may go beyond the minimum threshold to pay a living wage, which is what our workers truly need.”

    The Rivers governor also said the previous review exercise failed to give maximum weight to the existing disparity in economic potential and capabilities among the 36 states of the federation, stressing that it had been difficult for most of the states in Nigeria to implement the existing N18,000 minimum wage.

    He noted that majority of the states were within the fringes of financial viability and unable to meet their salary obligations to civil servant without bailouts from the federal government.

     

     

  • Port Harcourt to host Super Eagles versus Congo Friendly

    The Rivers State Government has announced its  readiness to host the International Friendly between the Super Eagles and the  Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the  Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on May 28, 2018.

    The agreement for the hosting of the Super Eagles and Democratic Republic of Congo in Port Harcourt on May 28, 2018 was reached after a high-profile meeting between the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinick and Super Eagles Coach, Gerhard Rohr at the Government House Port Harcourt on Thursday.

    Addressing journalists after the meeting at the Government House, Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Boma Iyaye said that the state government will do everything possible  to ensure that the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium is ready for the International Friendly.

    The State Government thanked  the Nigeria Football Federation for their collaboration targeted at the  development of football in the country.

    He said: “Governor Wike has done well in terms of funding national sporting events.  He hosted the African Wrestling Championship on behalf of the Federal Government.  Now he is hosting the Super Eagles and Democratic Republic of Congo on behalf of the Federal Government.  This is something that is worthy of commendation”.

    Also speaking, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick commended the Rivers State Government and the people of the state for their unflinching support for the Super Eagles.

    He said that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is happy with the state of facilities at the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium.

    “We are playing on the 28th of May, 2018 against the Democratic Republic of Congo. After the match, the Rivers State Governor will host the two teams to a dinner”, he said.

    He said that the CAF President will watch the International Friendly  in Port Harcourt.

    “Everywhere is home to the Super Eagles.  Lagos, Port Harcourt, Uyo, Kano, Kaduna or Minna. They are Super Eagles of Nigeria and every part is integral to the development of football “, Pinick said.

    The NFF President outlined the World Cup preparation programme of the Super Eagles, saying that the target of the team is to lift the World Cup.

    Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr said that the Super Eagles need three major international friendlies to be prepared for the World Cup.

    Rohr said that he expects the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium to be fully ready for the Congolese  friendly by the next  four weeks.

    He said that some key players of the team are injured, adding that those on the injury list will be nurtured to fitness ahead of the World Cup.

  • Wike: Fed Govt plotted Senate invasion

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the Federal Government of plotting the invasion of the Senate to overthrow its leadership.

    Wike added that the government is still plotting to frame him, saying the latest plan is for someone programmed by the security agencies to claim he got $3 million from the Rivers State govenrment.

    The governor spoke yesterday during the 105th Annual Convention of the Nigerian Baptist Convention at Ndele, Emohua Local Government Area.

    He said: “They plotted to overthrow the leadership of the Senate, but 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 24-hour ultimatum to find the mace, our 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.

    According to him, no investor will invest his resources in a country where the youths lack productive capacity.

    Wike called on Nigerians to work towards a new administration at the Federal level in 2019, saying 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 added.

    President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Sampson Ayokunle, decried the rate at which the Federal Government allows senseless killings to fester

    According to him, it was disheartening that persons without the requisite qualifications gain authority beyond their capacity.

    The cleric urged churches to hold procession round their worship centres to call for an end to senseless killings in the country.

    According to him, the procession will also be a call for the release of Leah Sharibu and the remaining Chibok girls.

    He also urged Christians to participate in the 2019 elections to enthrone a responsible government.

  • Rivers people will not allow political robbery in 2019 – Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said the people will not allow any form of political robbery in 2019.

    Speaking during the grand reception for Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, by the Anioma Nation yesterday in Asaba, Governor Wike said that Rivers people will be very vigilant during the 2019 general election.

    He said the actions of the APC and their accomplices  will not work in the state because the APC Federal Government has done no projects for the people.

    The governor said that his political disposition changed when he realised that the leaders of the APC lack maturity and fairness.

    He said: “I used to be a gentleman.  But when I saw these *** (expletive) people, I said let me keep my gentleness aside. These political armed robbers cannot succeed in Rivers State. We are prepared for credible elections and we shall remain vigilant.”

    Wike thanked the Anioma Nation for their overwhelming endorsement of Okowa for re-election.  He said that the Delta State Governor has no opposition because of his outstanding performance.

    “Okowa should be preparing for the next swearing in ceremony.  I have not seen any other political party in Delta State.  There is no other political party to contest against Ifeanyi Okowa, “ he said.

    In his remarks, Senator Okowa said that his election sent a message that Delta State is united.

    He said that the rest of Delta State considered equity and competence, instead of population in their consideration of his emergence.

    Deputy Senate President, Dr Ike Ekweremadu said that the emergence of Okowa is a product of equity for the Anioma Nation.

    He said Nigeria will continue to have problems unless there is justice across the country.  Ekweremadu thanked the people of Delta State for bringing to Nigerians the essence of justice.

    National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, said that Okowa has performed creditably over the last three years.

    Former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori said his people will support the re-election of Okowa because of his performance and equity.

  • Rivers APC lambasts Wike over soot saga

    THE Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday flamed Governor Nyesom Wike for blaming the Federal Government for the soot in the state. The APC described Wike’s remark as a mere facade to cover his ineptitude. The Rivers APC, yesterday in Port Harcourt, separately through its Publicity Secretary, Chief Chris Finebone, and the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media/Public Affairs Consultant to its state chairman, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, accused Wike of bad governance asking that he should be voted out in 2019. Wike had during the week said the APC-led Federal Government should be blamed for soot in Rivers, while alleging that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was deliberately using the soot to depopulate the state.

    The Rivers APC, through the Publicity Secretary, Finebone, said: “The truth is that under Wike, everything in Rivers State is going from bad to the bizarre and this includes logical reasoning. The governor is simply being disingenuous. We are not surprised that Wike made the mendacious statements. “It is really bizarre for a state governor to blame the Federal Government for deliberately using any means (and in this case soot) to depopulate any part of the country. What can anyone say? Wike believes in extreme politics based on total lack of morality, dishonesty and naked lies. We will rather leave Wike and his statements to Nigerians and posterity.

    Obviously, the statements are beyond comprehension by any rational mind. “The issue of environment is on the residual list in the Nigerian constitution. Hence, the inability of the Nigerian parliament to make its legislation on the environment binding on states and local governments. Despite the setting up of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) by the Federal Government, states and local governments reserve the right to or not to set up State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Local Government Emergency Management Agency (LEMA) respectively.

    Rivers State does not have SEMA and LEMA. While also speaking on behalf of Rivers APC, Eze declared that Wike was the main destructive machine decimating the population of Rivers state’s people and not the APC-led Federal Government. The Rivers APC chairman’s spokesman described as most unfortunate, despicable and disheartening that Wike could use the visit of a delegation of an international body like the United Nations to degenerate and lampoon the APC-led Federal Government as being behind the soot currently ravaging Rivers state, insisting that by the act, Rivers governor had exposed himself as an unpatriotic, despicable, ignorant character and unfit to occupy the exalted office.

    Eze said: “Wike has not ceased to use any forum to expose his unpatriotic mind and hatred for the APCled Federal Government, just because the party truncated the ambitious plot of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to continue to loot our common patrimony with impunity for the next 50years. Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Chief Emma Okah, yesterday in Port Harcourt, stated that Wike’s government had done its bit to stop the causes of the soot in the state, stressing that the Federal Government also needed to do its bit. Rivers commissioner for information and communications, however, stated that Wike’s administration had set up a committee on the soot, collated data, recharged the Rivers ministry of environment and seized used tires, to avoid burning and extraction of copper wires. Okah said: “We (Rivers State government) have closed asphalt plants that emitted dangerous thick smoke. We have engaged the Nigerian security agencies and informed them of the need to change style in destroying the smoky and lucrative illegal refineries.

    We have also complained to the National Assembly. In all these, the Federal Government appears not to care. “The Port Harcourt refinery is emitting much harm too, but it is a federal asset. What of the oil majors? Are they free from blame? Until we have free air to breathe, nobody is safe.” The Rivers governor had earlier alleged that the Federal Government was strictly responsible for the degradation and pollution of the Rivers environment, claiming that his administration had done all that it was supposed to do, including advocacy and enlightenment campaigns, with no action from the Federal Government.

  • Wike calls on Assembly commissions to improve staff welfare  

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has called on national and state legislative service commissions to improve the wefare of parliamentary staff.

    The governor spoke during a visit by chairmen and commissioners of national and state legislative service commissions on Tuesday.

    Wike said the workers were critical to the development of the legislative arm.

    He urged the chairmen and commissioners to work with lawmakers for success.

    The governor noted that the peer review conference in Rivers State will help them  identify important areas requiring improvement.

    He hailed the commissions for choosing the state for their  peer review as it will dispel the propaganda by the opposition that  the state is unsafe.

    “We are happy that this peer review conference is taking place here. This will give participants the opportunity to see that Rivers State is safe.

    “There is no need to politicise security  and governance.  We should see political parties as vehicles to take us to a destination.  Thereafter, the focus should be governance.  We cannot play politics endlessly”.

    He urged the chairmen and commissioners to place the interest of the country first.

    In his remarks, Executive Chairman of National Assembly Service Commission Dr Adamu Fika praised Wike for supporting the state’s Assembly Service Commission, which enabled the commission to build a befitting office complex and develop facilities.

    He hailed the governor’s development projects and investments  in security infrastructure.

  • Wike, Ganduje, Bagudu, Buratai, others for civil society awards

    The Nigeria Civil Society Coalition (NCSC) is to honour Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Chief of Army Staff  Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.

    Also to be honoured are  Mrs Christy Uba (director ICT, NYSC), Alhaji Umar Ibrahim (MD, NDIC) and Uche Ogar (CEO, Masters Energy).

    NCSC, which unveiled the nominees after its meeting  in Abuja, said it was satisfied with the manner in which the awardees conducted themselves and their achievements in office.

    “NCSC periodically recognises individuals and groups who contributed to development” , a statement signed by Abubakar Sadiq and  Chinaka Moses, awards commitee chairman and secretary said.

    The group lauded Wike, Ganduje and Bagudu, saying their governance style has turned their states to model states.

    It said statistics showed   how they genuinely impacted on their states infrastructure, citing Rivers and Kano, as well as the rice revolution in Kebbi.

    It called on privileged public servants to emulate Buratai,  Mrs Uba, Umar and Ogar, whose sense of devotion have impacted on the nation’s developmental quest.

    “NCSC  resolved to honour these compatriots, who have demonstrated a strong  sense of uprightness and tact in their responsibility,” it said.

    The event is slated for August 20.

     

  • 2019: How Rivers people ‘ll chase Wike out of power –Amaechi

    Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, said yesterday that the Rivers State electorate will put an end to what he termed Governor Nyesom Wike’s poor performance, bad governance and misrule, during next year’s election Amaechi who is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state spoke at a grand reception for him and the Director- General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA),Dr.Dakuku Peterside, by the Free Rivers Development Initiative (FRDI) at Opobo, headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State. Peterside hails from Opobo. Amaechi asked the people of Opobo to start mobilizing now with a view to ensuring that they produce the state’s next governor. “When we start (politics), we will compare my first tenure with Wike’s first tenure,” he said. “You must start mobilising now.

    You have not shown enough anger. You must show enough anger to chase him out of power. Show enough anger, such that if anybody warns you, you should chase the person out of Opobo.” The minister who was apparently taken aback by alleged summoning of Opobo chiefs to Government House,Port Harcourt,midway into the reception said: “Correct Opobo/Nkoro LGA’s chiefs, some of them came (for the reception), but many of them have run away (to Government House, Port Harcourt). “I then asked Ikwerre chiefs to join me to Opobo. One of them is Chief Chidi Lloyd (former Majority Leader of Rivers House of Assembly). When Ikwerre people wanted to produce governor (in 2007), they came together, were united and said they wanted governorship of Rivers State, not one of our (Ikwerre) chiefs escaped. If you (people of Opobo/Nkoro LGA) do not get governorship of Rivers State (in 2019), blame your chiefs.

    They have run away. “When things were extremely bad with me, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja (indigene of Opobo) was behind me. Not politics. He (Jaja) will agree that I introduced him to major politics. I was hungry, I had a wife and children, but no money to survive then as a young man, but Dr. Sam Sam Jaja stood firmly behind me, as things were very rough then. Ike Chinwo housed us and gave us food, before I met Dr. Peter Odili (former Rivers governor). Dr. Odili played important roles in my life.” Also speaking, Peterside who was the governorship candidate of the party in Rivers during the 2015 election, said Wike is running a failed government. The government, he said, is also petty and has democratized stealing.

    The NIMASA D-G described Amaechi as a visioner and a leader, who has done a lot for the people of Opobo/Nkoro LGA and other parts of Rivers State Peterside said: “It is not always common to take up responsibility for other people’s challenges. Our leader (Amaechi), for a very long time, has taken up the challenge of the development of Opobo and Nkoro Kingdoms. Today, in Rivers State, the symbol of good governance is Rt. Hon. Amaechi. We must be grateful to him. “Today in Rivers State, soot is killing our people. The current government (of Wike) represents the mass looting of our commonwealth. Our schools are shut down. Our pensioners are being owed and they are dying daily. Our people have no means of livelihood, that is why they are taking to illegal refining of crude oil. Rivers State secretariat is stinking. “About three years ago, when Rt. Hon. Amaechi left office, the road to Opobo (Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road), remained less than two kilometres to complete. Till today, Wike’s government has refused to complete the strategic road. Before Rt. Hon. Amaechi left government, it was estimated that N6 billion would be needed to complete the road, but when Wike took over, instead of paying the contractor the N6 billion, the contract was cancelled, re-awarded to themselves and they inflated the figure to N14 billion.

    They have democratised stealing in government. “Rt. Hon. Amaechi believes that every Rivers person must be given an opportunity to participate in governance. He believes in equity, justice and fairness. Rt. Hon. Amaechi and his wife, Dame Judith, played great roles in my life. “In the elections of 2015 and rerun of 2016, they (PDP members) rigged everywhere (in Rivers State), but they could not rig here (Opobo). APC has never lost any election on this soil (Opobo). We have not had a government with this type of terrible record. The government (of Wike) has failed in every respect. We know what the votes will do. The people of Opobo/Nkoro LGA will speak (during 2019 elections) and they will speak very loud.” However,Wike, in his reaction, said he is a man of substance, with awards from all over the world. The Rivers governor, who spoke through Information and Communications Commissioner Emma Okah, alleged that Amaechi and Peterside had not attracted any development project to Rivers State, since their appointments.

  • Traditional rulers pass vote-of-confidence in Wike 

    Rivers State traditional rulers have passed a vote-of-confidence in  Governor Nyesom Wike for his developmental initiative, which is improving lives.

    The rulers, led by Chairman of Council of Traditional Rulers and Amayanabo of Opobo,  King Dandeson Douglas Jaja,  were in the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

    Moving the motion for a vote-of-confidence in Wike, Eze Ekpeye Logbo, Eze Robinson O. Robinson said the rulers were happy with the performance of the governor.

    King Job Williams Okuruket-Nnabiget XIV, Okaan-Ama Ngo, who seconded the motion noted that Wike has entrenched good governance in Rivers.

    He said: “As fathers of the state and custodians of our culture and tradition, we acknowledge your laudable achievements since you emerged Governor of our state.

    “Your achievements are legion and for want  of space, we cannot enumerate all of them in this address. But suffice it to say, you have done us proud.  For the achievements and the level of development in every sector  of our economy.  We jointly and severally move a vote of confidence in you and your government.”

    Responding, Wike assured the rulers that his administration will continue to develop all parts of the state.

    He said: “This vote-of-confidence will enable us serve the people of Rivers State better. Our success was made  possible  because of the synergy between the state Executive Council and the traditional rulers“.

    The governor thanked them  for their support and their commitment to the state.

    “I thank our royal fathers for this  honour. I urge all Rivers people  to work for the development of the state wherever  they may find themselves.  We will continue to protect the interest of the state”, he said.

    The governor noted that Rivers people  must never see themselves  as second-class.  He said if there are first-class people, it would be  Rivers, whose resources feed the nation.

  • Wike lied on Buhari’s achievements in Rivers – Peterside

    The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said on Thursday that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, is being economical with the truth by claiming that President Muhammadu Buhari didn’t record any achievement in the state in the last three years.

    Peterside, in an online statement issued by his media team, wondered why Wike chose to feign ignorance of the Federal Government’s giant strides in Rivers State.

    He said: “I listened to Wike lie that President Buhari has not done anything for Rivers State and I wondered if there is no such thing as truth anymore. Wike ought to know that he is entitled to his opinion, but not his own facts.

    “It is obvious to the least discerning that Wike, who has since bidden farewell to real development, has taken the war on truth to a new level. He knows that the Bodo-Bonny Road is the biggest construction project going on in Rivers State today, and the N70 billion expansion of Afam Power Project (in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers) is on a progressive course. These are dividends of President Buhari’s zeal to revive moribund projects in the state.

    “What of the Niger Delta Regional Hospital undertaken by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)? What of the Ogoni clean-up project, which was abandoned before now and the report (submitted to the then President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja on August 4, 2011) dumped on a shelf? President Buhari has revisited the coastal rail line project, with assurances that work will commence once the budget is passed. Work is nearing completion on the new Port Harcourt International Airport Terminal, while the new Port Harcourt International Airport’s Complex building will soon be inaugurated.”

    The NIMASA chief, who was the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) during the 2015 election in Rivers, also disclosed that President Buhari had directed the fixing of Elelenwo-Eleme Section of the East-West Road.

    He said Wike collected money from companies operating in the axis but didn’t fix the road.