Assembly Screens, Confirms Oko-Jaja, Seven Others For BoPP Board •Tasks Members On Rivers First Policy

Rivers State House of Assembly has screened and confirmed Opobo-born Barrister Lawrence Oko-Jaja, SAN, as Chairman of the Board of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RSBoPP).

Also screened and confirmed were Dr. Ernest Ibekwe Ekwe; Dr. Mina Ogbanga; Engr. Iseleye Amachree; Engr. Adokiye Oyagiri; Engr. Gift Alex-Hart; Mrs. Grace Osaronu; and Barrister Selinah Amonieah, who will serve as members.

The eight nominees had appeared for screening before the lawmakers shortly after the reading of the letter sent by the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, requesting the House to determine their suitability for appointment as members of the Board of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, read the letter by the Governor during plenary at the Hallowed Chamber of the House of Assembly, Auditorium of the Administrative Block, Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt, on Friday.

The Speaker read the Governor's letter, thus: "Request for screening and confirmation of the members of the Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement: Pursuant to the provisions of Section 1, Sub-Section 4 of the Rivers State Public Procurement Law No. 4 of 2008. It is my pleasure to forward the underlisted nominees to the Rivers State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation as members of the Board of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement."

During the screening, the nominees fielded a particular question on how they will replicate their wealth of experience in moving the State forward in relation to Government policy implementation, with Barrister Oko-Jaja assuring that if confirmed, the board under their watch, will ensure value for money for goods and services contracted by the State Government.

In his remarks, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, advised the nominees to always know that they will hold their trust and loyalty to the State Government, should they scale through and be confirmed, to seamlessly harmonise best practices with quality performance while enforcing probity and accountability in all procurements handled by the Bureau.

Shortly after the nominees were led out of the floor of the Assembly by the Sergeant-at-Arms, David Wariboko, the lawmakers, by voice vote, confirmed the nominees one after the other, as fitting for the appointment.

With the confirmation, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, directed the Clerk, Dr G. M. Gillis-West, to convey the resolution of the House to the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for possible swearing-in as members of the Board of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement.

The House, thereafter, adjourned the sitting to September 4, 2024.

Comments

2023: Nigeria Ranks Low, As IMF Names Countries With Highest Debt

The 2023 World Economic Outlook of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has named the countries with highest debt – Sudan 256 per cent, Japan 255 percent, and Greece 168 percent. According to the October index posted by Statisence X handle, while Nigeria has 39 percent, and China 83 percent, the U. S. has 123 percent and United Kingdom 104 percent. The above data shows that Argentina tops the list of 12 highest IMF debt burden with $44,433,379; followed by Egypt at $12, 521, 322,333; Ukraine $11,588,182,405; and China $9, 674,159, 560. Also on the list are, Pakistan $7,969,383, 344; Russia $7, 850, 147, 849; India $5,606,170, 345; Brazil $3, 995, 905, 562; Mexico $3,946, 241,133; Venezuela $3,534, 993, 686; Indonesia $2, 741, 057, 642; and South Africa $2,471, 131, 618. However, as of March 2023, Argentina led 10 countries with the highest debt burden, hitting $46billion; Egypt $18billion; Ukraine $12.2billion; Ecuador $8.2billion; Pakistan $7.4billion; Colombia $5billion; Angola $4....

2023 Census: We Won’t Ask Questions On Religion –NPC

2023 Census: We Won’t Ask Questions On Religion –NPC By Editor Ahead of the commencement of the 2023 census, the National Population Commission (NPC) on Wednesday said it will not ask questions on religious affiliation. In a statement on Wednesday by the Director of Public Affairs, Isiaka Yahaya, the commission said the decision to exclude religion along with ethnicity from the census questionnaire was taken in consideration of the sensitive nature of these issues within the Nigerian polity. He also stated that the need to save the census data from needless controversies and attention will compel the NPC to avoid questions bordering on religion. “For the avoidance of doubt, the commission wishes to state unequivocally that the 2023 Population and Housing Census will not canvass questions on religion and religious affiliations of respondents.” This comes amid a viral WhatsApp audio claiming that the religious affiliation of a person will be canvassed. The exercise is schedule...

FG Begins Payment Of Health Workers’ Salary Arrears

The Federal Government has commenced payment of the salary arrears to health workers under the expanded midwives service scheme. The development followed the report that the Federal Government, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and Sydani Group owed doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health extension workers under the scheme four-month salary arrears. The health workers under the eMSS lamented the untold hardship caused by the non-payment of salaries, coupled with the high cost of living in the country. eMSS was implemented by the Federal Government through the national primary healthcare development agency as part of efforts to improve maternal and child health in the country. The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NPHCDA, Dr. Muyi Aina, confirmed on Thursday that the Federal Government had begun paying the three-month arrears. Aina said, “We are aware that the workers have begun to receive payments of outstanding salaries for Au...

Nelly's SmartBriefs

Search This Blog