Gov Fubara demands more discipline in legislative services from controversial new commission

Gov Sim Fubara moved to appoint new members of the Rivers State Assembly Commission immediately after the Supreme Court dismissed his appeal on request.

As the opposition was jubilating that the defected lawmakers had been returned by the Supreme Court, Fubara said it was not the meaning of the suling. He moved to appoint new commission members and sent them to the faction of the House that is loyal to him. This brought consternation to the opposition.

Now, Gov Fubara has charged them to achieve greater productivity, promote highest standard and insist on best practices in the discharge of Legislative services.

Gov Fubara also urged them to ensure that parliamentary staff are put through disciplinary conducts in the discharge of their duties in the service.

He gave the charge shortly after the chairman and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) Service Commission were sworn-in at the Executive Chamber of Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.

The governor also sworn-in the chairman and members of the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission.

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Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja is the chairman of RSHA, with Kennedy Ebeku, Soberekon Clark, Jones Ogbonda, and Kingston Sylvanus as members.

For the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission, GoodLife Ben will serve as the chairman, with Emmanuel G. Jaja, Betty Warmate, Jerome Chimenem, Prince O. Ohochukwu, Philip Okparaji, and Christian Amadi as members.

Gov Fubara explained that the constitution and swearing-in of the respective commissions were delayed with the hope that all former members of the political block will come back together but quickly added that such expectation is dashed now as governance has to move on.

He said: “As it stands now, our position is very clear. The ship that we are onboard is clear, and the activities of governance have to continue.

“So, this swearing-in is to give these two units of government – particularly, the House of Assembly Service Commission, a formal commission so that you can start carrying out the activities of promotion, discipline and every other thing that has to do with the legislative staff activity.”

Gov Fubara emphasised: “This assignment is not business as usual. You have to take full charge, and you have to ensure that there is discipline in the service.”

Speaking on the Local Government Service Commission, Governor Fubara said an acting Chairman was previously appointed to hold brief while the situation was being studied but quickly added that as it stands now, a full fledged commission has to be constituted to steer affairs.

Gov Fubara stated that the various Local Government Councils have been mandated to commence payment of the N85,000.00 Minimum Wage to their workers.

However, Gov Fubara said that mandate had met with series of complaints about ghost workers or inflated payroll staff list, which required proper scrutiny in order to ensure that only genuine workers benefit.

He said, “You must ensure that you support the Local Government Chairmen to get rid of those fake names in the payroll, so that when they implement the N85,000.00 Minimum Wage, it will not be too much burden on them.

“I am not saying you should go and dismiss people who are genuinely employed. Hear me very well: there must be proper scrutiny to be sure that whoever is there must be a genuine civil servant employed by the commission, and must have met all the conditions.”

Gov Fubara also directed the commission to address the issue of staff stagnation on a particular grade level, which is an ugly practice, and make sure those due promotion truly benefit from statutory progression in the service.

He said, “The second side is, you have the issue of promotion, you must also ensure that they are adequately promoted so that they can start enjoying like their counterparts in the mainstream.

“There is too much dragging of their promotion, for somebody to be on Grade Level 4 for over 30 years is not good. It is not good news.”

Gov Fubara maintained: “I believe strongly that you will not allow yourselves to be corrupted like those stories that we used to hear. Make sure that there is acceptable level of discipline and standard in the Local Government Service Commission.

“I also believe strongly that you are already prepared for this assignment, and since you are prepared, I will charge you to go do what you know how to do best. Be assured that the government will give you all the necessary support.”

Gov Fubara noted that the task before them could seem Herculean but they should be assured of support from his administration to drive the assignment given to them to reckonable success.