The Rivers State Government has reaffirmed that the work-free day for workers in the state declared by Governor Nyesom Wike for today has not been cancelled.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr. Austin Tam-George, the government emphasised that the work-free day was not declared by the governor for the postponed re-run elections, initially scheduled for tomorrow.
The statement, therefore, urged all workers in the state, especially those in the employment of the government to observe today as a work-free day, and commended them for their support and cooperation.
It called on the workers to continue to show understanding and ensure that they play their roles in the effort to realise the government’s vision for a new Rivers State.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has congratulated the Governors of Akwa-Ibom State, and Abia State, Udom Emmanuel and Dr. Okpezie Ikpeazu, respectively, over their victory at the Supreme Court.
In a statement issued by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr. Austin Tam-George, the governor said the Supreme Court judgments that upheld the elections of Emmanuel, and Ikpeazu, were a milestone that ensured the restoration of the mandates delivered to them by the people.
The governor reassured that since power belongs to God, the mandates of the people could only be upturned by God, and not man.
Meanwhile, the Rivers Government, has banned all illegal trading on the streets of Port Hacourt and other 22 local government Area of the state.
The commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Hon Chinyere E Igwe, who stated this when members of Rivers State Traders Unions paid a solidarity visit  in his office, said the state government was poised to discourage illegal trading in the state to enable it maintain the physical plan of the state capital and other developing cities in the state.
Igwe frowned at a situation where traders abandon stalls which government built and allotted them inside the markets and resort to street trading, thereby causing traffic congestion in the city.
The commissioner said that government promulgated laws establishing markets which should be upheld, assuring members of the union of enforcement of such laws.
According to him, the ministry of Urban Development is ready to partner with you to ensure that traders do not sell on the streets of Port Harcourt and other local government areas of the state.
“Igwe enjoined members of the traders union to advice their colleagues to make use of the stalls and avoid streets trading, stressing that laws of the land must prevail”.
He, however, urged them to remain calm and maintain law and order as they go about their legitimate businesses.
Earlier, the union chairman, Chief Maxwell Nwala, said that they were in his office to partner with the state government to stop illegal trading and ensure compliance to the use of the stalls in the markets.
Nwala decried the deplorable condition where traders who obey government rules and regulations were denied access to their businesses as the illegal traders sell same products in the streets thereby denying them access to customers.