News
How Mild Drama Ensued During PDP South-South Gov Screening – Diri
Published
3 years agoon
By
Editor
The Governor of Bayelsa State and Chairman of the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party Governorship Screening Committee for the South-South, Douye Diri, has revealed that the exercise conducted at the party’s zonal secretariat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was not without some drama.
He said that the mild drama took place during the screening of one of the governorship aspirants from Rivers State, Siminialaye Fubara, who is the immediate past Accountant-General of the state.
Diri stated this while delivering his speech during this year’s Workers’ Day celebration by the Bayelsa State chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress at the Peace Park, Yenagoa, on Sunday.
According to him, the drama ensued when one of the screening committee members pointed out that Fubara was not qualified to contest the 2023 Rivers governorship election because he was the state’s accountant-general.
He said that his intervention as the chairman of the committee, however, saved the situation based on his legislative background as a former member of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Diri while addressing the workers said, “I like to share this with you. Just on Thursday, I was in Port Harcourt as chairman of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party South-South Governorship Aspirants Screening Committee.
“As you know, our state (Bayelsa) and Edo are off-season. So there are four states’ governorship aspirants that were screened by me and my committee members. But what I like to share with you is the emphasis on the selection of your theme for this year.
“Now, one of those aspirants that I screened from Rivers State, who is aspiring to be the governor of Rivers State was a worker, the Accountant-General of Rivers State. Does that surprise you?”
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He continued, “There was a mild drama in that screening as one of my committee members immediately noted that the officer that I’m about to screen was not qualified because he was the accountant-general of Rivers State.
“And with my legislative background, I quickly pointed out the section of the constitution that allows civil servants to participate in politics only if they resign 30 days before the election.”
The governor explained that he came up with the narrative to further buttress the aptness of the theme for the 2022 May Day celebration themed, ‘Labour, Politics and the Quest for Good Governance and Development in Nigeria’,
“I believe that even in this democratic era, workers have a key role to play to install a government that will be responsible to the people. Our constitution has liberated workers to participate in politics,” he added.
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News
Delta Govt, Communities Trade Words Over Infrastructure Deficit
Published
3 hours agoon
July 26, 2025By
Editor
The Delta State Government and some communities have disagreed over infrastructure deficits in their areas.
The Isoko and Udu communities raised an alarm and protested, demanding more government attention in their localities.
While the Udu people protested about being sidelined in recent infrastructure approvals by the Delta State Executive Council, Isoko youths claimed they had been neglected.
However, the state government described their allegations and agitations as misleading and not reflective of the administration’s equitable development agenda.
READ ALSO:Why Peter Obi Must Get Security Clearance Before Coming To Edo — APC Chair, Tenebe
Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Reuben Izeze, responding to complaints from residents about the pace of work and the perceived absence of contractors on-site, explained that the inspection visit was unannounced to allow for an honest assessment.
He reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration to equitable development across all parts of the state, dismissing claims that Udu LGA has been sidelined.
Speaking during an inspection tour of ongoing road projects in Udu, particularly the Bezi Road and drainage project linking Aladja to Ogbe-Ijoh, headquarters of Warri South West LGA, Izeze said the presence of the administration in Udu is a clear demonstration of its dedication to inclusive infrastructure development.
“We are here to assess the progress on this critical road. The initial design of the road failed to anticipate the volume of water in the area. However, upon discovering the inadequacy of the original drainage plan, the government promptly approved an additional 465 metres of drains to channel water to a nearby natural canal along the Ogbe-Ijoh–Aladja axis,” Izeze stated.
READ ALSO:Delta Commissioner Reveals Reason Two-storey Building Collapsed In Asaba
Again, Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration has continued to prioritise infrastructure development, healthcare, and education across all parts of Delta State, including the Isoko axis.
Aniagwu emphasised that, contrary to the claims, the Isoko nation has benefited immensely from the administration’s MORE Agenda, with over 53 strategic projects either completed, ongoing, or approved across Isoko North and Isoko South Local Government Areas.
He said the projects cut across road infrastructure, internal road networks in rural and urban communities, healthcare upgrades, and significant interventions in tertiary education.
(DAILY POST)

Medical doctors under the employ of the Lagos State government on Saturday declared a three-day warning strike in protest against what they described as an “illegal and disrespectful” salary deduction by the Lagos State Government.
The medical doctors under the aegis of the Medical Guild said the warning strike is set to begin from 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 28, 2025, to 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2025, if the government fails to meet their demands.
They said the decision to embark on the industrial action came after all avenues for dialogue and reconciliation were exhausted without positive results.
Addressing journalists during a press conference held at the Guild’s secretariat in Lagos, Chairman of the Medical Guild, Dr. Japhet Olugbogi, said the crisis stemmed from a unilateral salary deduction implemented by the state government in April 2025, which affected all medical and dental practitioners in its employ.
READ ALSO:Doctors Warm Up For Nationwide Strike
“The development came to us as a rude shock. Our members were visibly aggrieved and agitated. Although many clamoured for an immediate strike, the officers’ committee chose the path of civility, pursuing advocacy and diplomatic engagement with relevant government agencies,” Olugbogi stated.
According to him, the funds were eventually reversed following what he described as “spirited intervention and strategic engagement,” and a six-member conciliation committee was set up, comprising three representatives each from the government and the Guild.
“We presented all relevant documents clarifying the calculation of the CONMESS salary scale, and it was agreed that the status quo would be maintained while the government deliberated internally and returned with a final position,” Olugbogi said.
However, in what the Guild termed a breach of trust, the Lagos State Treasury Office in July again implemented a salary cut, prompting the Guild to declare a warning strike set to begin from 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 28, 2025, to 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2025, if the government fails to meet their demands.
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The Guild is demanding the immediate reversal of the July salary deductions. It is also calling for the full payment of the 12-month revised CONMESS arrears owed to honorary consultants at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH. In addition, the Guild resolved to issue a 21-day ultimatum to the state government after the warning strike, and if the demands remain unmet at the end of the ultimatum, an indefinite strike will commence.
Olugbogi criticised the government for its actions, especially at a time of economic hardship and mass emigration of health professionals, popularly referred to as the japa syndrome.
“Let it be known that the most senior doctor in Lagos State employment does not earn up to $1,100.
“And yet, the government, in its wisdom, feels that reducing this meagre income is the best way to motivate the health workforce.”
READ ALSO:FG Suspends Circular On Doctors’ Allowances
He called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently intervene and prevent a total collapse of the state’s healthcare system.
“We are by this medium calling on our compassionate Governor to kindly intervene to ensure the reversal of the illegally deducted funds,” he said.
Over 385 doctors attended the emergency congress where the strike decision was ratified.
Also, the Guild’s Secretary, Dr. Adekunle Akinade, affirmed the union’s readiness to escalate action if their grievances are not addressed.

Constitutional and human rights lawyer, Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, on Saturday, maintained that most of the states that make up the Federal Republic of Nigeria today are not viable and, as such, saw no reason why more states should be created in the country.
Ozekhome, who blamed the condition of the states on the “skewed federal template” being operated in the form of a unitary system of government, called for a complete overhaul of the 1999 Constitution.
According to him, the present constitution is not only cumbersome, with the centre vested with too much power and too many responsibilities, but was also a product of the military class, which has ruled Nigeria for quite some time.
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He spoke at a “Walk for Wellness” campaign embarked upon by the Mike Ozekhome Chambers (MOC) in Abuja on Saturday.
“Some of us are now saying rather than create more states, we should collapse the present structure into about six geopolitical zones, which should serve as regional governments.
“A parliamentary system of government operating on a regional basis will be more beneficial to the people because it will catalyse development and competitiveness among the regions. Right now, no state is competing; all of them just go to Abuja at the end of the month to take from the federation account to share,” he said.
READ ALSO:AEDC Gives Reason For Blackout In Parts Of Abuja
The senior lawyer lamented that Nigeria has become a sharing country that is not baking anything because “they don’t care or even know how to bake anything.”
According to him, while Nasarawa has the highest mineral deposits of over 36 items, followed by Plateau with 28 items, with Sokoto and Kaduna States in that order, the entire country still relies on crude oil, which is fast losing its value across the world.
“I will suggest that if we are to retain the state structure, we should retain the states as federating units, thus having two tiers of government,” he said, leaving local government to the states.
He added: “The only state I will have said should be created right now should be in the South East, to bring them to equity with other geopolitical zones in the country.”
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