RVHA Probes Multinational Firms

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Otelemaba Amachree has constituted a 10- man adhoc committee to investigate the activities of multinational companies operating in the state in terms of compliance to international best practices and the Rivers State Employment Law passed by the Assembly in 2000.

The committee which is chaired by the House Leader, Hon Chidi Lloyd has the Deputy Leader, Hon Nname Ewor, Hon Onari Brown, Hon Lucky Odili, Hon Kelechi Nwaogu, Hon Aye Attamah Pepple and Hon Augustine Ngo as members.

Others include Hon Victoria Nyeche, Hon Irene Inimgiba and Hon Martins Amaehile.

According to the Speaker who presided over the session, the committee is expected to investigate sensitive  issues bordering on environmental pollution  and the employment of Rivers indigenes as stipulated in the state employment law.

The constitution of the committee followed a motion moved by the Deputy House Leader, Hon Nname Ewor who urged the Assembly to check the activities of multinational establishments in Rivers State in terms of their corporate social responsibilities.

The motion also wants the Assembly to demand the list of Rivers people in the employment of the various companies in conformity with the state employment law, which makes it mandatory for the companies to employ Rivers people as junior staff.

The motion read in parts, “ considering the fact that our environment today is highly polluted by the activities of oil and gas , the following companies operating in the State such as SPDC, Agip, NLNG, Total E&p, Intel Services, Eleme Petrochemical, Saipem, Schlumberger BJ Services, Grinaker, Cheveron, Trans Ocean, Halliburton, Ibeto Cement, Dangote Cement, and  ZB Joint Venture should be invited to abreast Rivers people on their activities.

The motion which was seconded by Hon. Irene Inimgba, (Port Harcourt II), received the overwhelming support of members of the Assembly.

Taneh Beemene