Wike assents to five bills passed by Rivers legislature

The Rivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has signed five bills passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly into law.

The bills included: Rivers State Education (Return of Schools) Amendment Number 1 Law, Number 1 of 2017; Rivers State Honours Law Number 2 of 2017, Rivers State Reserve Fund (Repeal) Law Number 3 of 2017; Rivers State University Law Number 4 of 2017; Rivers State University Teaching Hospital Law Number 5 of 2017.

Speaking after giving his assent to the five bills, the governor lauded the State House of Assembly for its commitment to the rapid development of the state.

He said that the Return of School law was vital because it would permit the State Government to intervene in mission schools already returned to their owners.

The governor said that the bill would help in the sustenance of the quality of education in mission schools returned by the State Government to their previous owners.

Governor Wike explained that the Rivers State Reserve Fund (Repeal) Law Number 3 of 2017 became necessary as the law was no longer relevant following alleged financial recklessness of the immediate past APC administration in the state.

According to Governor Wike, “that administration refused to respect the law as it indiscriminately withdrew funds from the fund meant for the future.

He alleged: “Between February 12, 2014 and May 27, 2015, the immediate past APC administration in the state withdrew N53billion from the fund without passing through due process.

“The State is today suffering from the financial recklessness of that administration as it squandered state resources through illegal withdrawals,” he alleged, addeding that the Rivers State University Law Number 4 of 2017 was done to avert the loss of accreditation of several courses by the University following recent regulations by the National Universities Commission.

Presenting the five bills to the Governor earier, the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Martin Amaewhule said that the House of Assembly passed the five bills because of their commitment to the development programmes of the state government.

In his remarks, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Ikunyi Ibani said tha the Assembly would always put up its best in the interest of the state and commended the governor for his outstanding achievements, which he stated, had been complemented by the State Assembly.

In another development, the Rivers State Government has acquired gunboats and other security gadgets that would be rightly deployed to ensure safe travels on her waterways.

Speaking during a condolence visit to Bonny Island following a recent boat mishap which claimed seven lives, the governor stated that his administration was committed to the safe all-year round marine transport.

Represented by the Commissioner of Transport, Deacon Akie Dagogo T.Fubara, Governor Wike added that the construction of the Bonny/ Bille/Nembe Jetty by his administration was also targeted at improving safety and security on the waterways.

He said that the security of lives on the Bonny-Port Harcourt sea route remaineed a top priority, which the administration has been addressing.

While describing the boat mishap as tragic and painful, Governor Wike commiserated with the families that lost their loved ones.

The governor said that marine transport safety did not just end with wearing of life vests, but in ensuring that boats were certified to be sea-worthy, the drivers were well trained, and operators avoided sailing during turbulent weather conditions.

He said the Transport Ministry was investigating to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the accident to forestall a future occurrence, adding that a committee has been set up to investigate the accident and it’s report would be submitted in two weeks.

Speaking earlier earlier, the Bonny Caretaker Committee Chairman, Hon. Simeon Hart gave an account of the accident.

In their response, a leader in the Testimonial Bible Church, Mr. Ouda Rheem, thanked the governor for his commitment to marine transport safety.