The Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on Friday, 14th February, 2025, swore-in a team to drive Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission and another for the Local Government Service Commission with the charge on them to instill discipline in the service.
The five-man House of Assembly Service Commission is chaired by a former member of Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja, while the seven-man Local Government Service Commission has Hon. GoodLife Ben as Chairman.
The swearing in, the Governor noted for the Assembly Service Commission, is to give that unit of government, “a formal body to start carrying out activities of promotion, discipline and every other thing that has to do with the Legislative Staff welfare.
For the Local Government Service Commission, the governor said he had mandated the Local Governments to effect the N85,000 minimum wage but for the complaints of a lot of ghost workers or inflated payroll.
He therefore, tasked the Commission to ensure that they support the LG Chairmen to rid the payroll of those fictitious names, so that when they implement the N85,000 minimum wage it won’t be a burden on them.
According to him, “I am not saying sack genuine employees of the LGs, but there must be proper scrutiny to ensure whoever is there is a genuine civil servant employed by the commission and have met all the conditions.
“We have issue of promotion that has lingered. Ensure they are adequately promoted, so that they can also start enjoying like their counterparts in mainstream civil service. This footdragging on their promotions such that someone will be on Level 4 for over 30 years is not right.”
To both commissions, Governor Fubara cautioned, “This assignment is not business as usual. Take full charge and ensure there is discipline in the service and be assured government will give you all necessary support.”
Other members of the Assembly Commission include Dr. Kennedy Ebeku, Hon. Soberekon Clark, Hon. Jones Ogbonda and Hon. Kingston Sylvanus.
The Local Government Service Commission has as members, Alabo Emmanuel Patasi Jaja, Ms. Betty Warmate, Jerome Chimenem, Hon. Prince Ohochukwu, Philip Okparaji and Christian Amadi.
Meanwhile, Governor Fubara also inaugurated a new Board for the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) with the mandate to tackle problematic waste disposal in the state differently.
The Board has as Chairman, Chief Edward Namiesimagha with Hon. Orukwem Amadi Oparaeli as Managing Director as well as Hon. Bishop Best, Dr. Ipalibo Sogules, Richard Mazi and Civian Y. Nwibari as members.
Gov. Fubara said, “Today, I am putting a team together to look at this particular challenge (waste management) differently.
“Let it not be the regular pattern where at the end of the month, you come to collect money from the government, then you appoint friends as sweepers, dirt evacuators, and you start building hotels and buying big cars.
The governor said it must go beyond that tasking then to tap into the latent potentials of waste management, which is an area in the world with more opportunities for job creation and revenue generation.
“It is not just depending on government funding, not just the appointment but working for changes that we want to see in Rivers State. We brought you together from different backgrounds, some of you won awards as caretakers for keeping your area clean. We want you to replicate that on a bigger scale.
“Let’s see what we can do together to bring the beauty of Port Harcourt. It used to be called Garden City. If not our efforts today, some would have changed it to garbage City but God forbid, it won’t be in our own time.
He expressed displeasure with the waste dump site along Obiri Ikwerre road which is the first pot of call into the city of Port Harcourt charging the agency to urgently relocate it
“That particular place needs to be completely closed because it is the entrance to the city. Imagine the foul odour, hot and corrosive. So, as you start your assignment the first thing to do is for us to get a new place where we can relocate our waste.
Gov. Fubara further tasked the team to clean up Port Harcourt and also look into the issues of polythene bags that littered everywhere. “Endeavour to create a team to clear these polythene bags as they litter everywhere. So, you have a big job to do.”he concluded.
Responding, the Chairman of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency, Chief Engr. Edward Namiesimagha, thanked Gov. Fubara for the opportunity given to them to serve the State and assured that they will work to achieve the vision of his government.