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RVHA Rejects LG Autonomy …Votes For LG, Judiciary, Financial Autonomy
Rivers State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Chuma C. Chinye (right) in handshake with Administrative Director, MCC, Mr Nelson Jaja (left) at the public presentation of the Yellow Pages Directory organised by Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Portr Harcourt. Photo: Egberi .A. Sampson
The Rivers State House of Assembly has rejected local government autonomy even as the National Union Local Government Employees (NULGE) protested and called for Local government autonomy.
The State Assembly yesterday voted on the alteration to the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as it also rejected independent candidate in seeking for any elective office in the country.
The House which was presided by the Speaker, Rt. Hon Otelemaba Dan-Amachree also accorded and approved financial autonomy for state House of Assembly and judiciary across the country. It also approved pension for officers working in the state assembly.
It also voted in favour of section 45A, “Every citizen of the federal Republic of Nigeria is entitled to free education and right to health.”
Meanwhile, as the House was deliberating on the alteration of the constitution, NULGE, Rivers State chapter, carried out a peaceful protest to the state Assembly, appealing to the legislature to approve Local Government Council autonomy.
The State Deputy President of NULGE, Comrade Madighi Dickson who led the 23 local government councils to the temporary site of the assembly, said they came to request that the local government autonomy bill should be passed according to the wishes of the people.
According to him, “we came because we know that throughout the country, the States Assembly would make an alteration on the constitution today, (Tuesday) and they are requesting that autonomy should be granted to the local governments.
“We represent the 23 local government areas of Rivers State and we are here on a peaceful request, it’s not a demonstration or protest, we are aware that all over the states of Nigeria, they are passing the local government autonomy law today, we are here to request because we voted you to power, so we are requesting that the law be passed according to the wishes of Rivers people’’, he said.
Addressing the protesters, the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assemble, Hon Leyii Kwanee said there was nothing wrong with what they were doing.
Kwanee said the legislature was in the middle of passing the fourth alteration of the bill and amendment of various sections of the constitution.
He reminded them that lawmakers were in the assembly on the mandate of the people and would be accountable to the people, assuring that he will convey their message to the house.
According to him, “I want to be part of the history making occasion. To be a party to those who amended the 1999 constitution’. For some of us who may not be returning to the house, we want to make the ultimate use of it. I assure that I will convey your positions to the house’’.
While deliberating on the matter in the House, Leader of the State house of Assembly, Hon. Chidi Lloyd had argued that local government autonomy will lead to instability of governance at the grassroots.
The House had voted against independence of local council based on an argument put forward by Hon. Lloyd that there will be arbitrary impeachments of council Chairmen by councilors, thereby leading to unstable governance.
According to Hon. Lloyd the framers of the Nigerian Constitution gave the State Assemblies power to monitor activities of local councils, and that such powers should be maintained to ensure stability.
Also, workers under the aegis of National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Ondo State yesterday walked out of the Ondo State House of Assembly following failure of the Members of the House of Assembly to pass the autonomy for Local Government.
The autonomy of the council workers is in clause 4th Alteration Bill to amend the 1999 Constitution. A protest was thereafter staged at the premises of the assembly complex. The workers sang solidarity songs and demanding that they be given autonomy. They also threatened to vote against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the next election coming up in February 2015.
The Chairman of the ad hoc Committee on the Review of the Constitution, Hon. Afolabi Akinsiku, laid his report on the table and members did not debated or commented on it.
The Speaker Hon. Jumoke Akindele speaking on the matter said, “As a coronary to the motion that I should use my good offices to adopt the resolution of the members at the parliamentary session, we hereby adopt the decisions reached at the parliamentary meeting.”
After the speaker submission the House simply moved on to another business of the day but this irked the Local government workers who walked out. Efforts to speak with the Speaker after the plenary proved abortive as she was said to be attending another meeting.
But reacting to the development, the President of the Ondo Chapter of NULGE, Dr. Eni Ayewu, said there was no reason for the rejection of the autonomy clause by the house.
Ayewu said “Out of the 17 papers presented at the public hearing, only three were against autonomy for local governments, the others supported. So what is the basis for reaching that decision. This is not fair. They did not take the opinion of the people of the state into account. We shall meet in February.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has described the ongoing construction of the brand new 13.52-kilometre Ngo-Atlantic-Oyorokoto Road as a bold and visionary effort by his administration to open up the coastal region for economic growth and harness the full potential of the state’s blue economy.
The Governor made this remark during an inspection visit to the project site in Andoni Local Government Area. The road, being constructed by Monier Construction Company (MCC), cuts through challenging coastal terrain and leads to a newly identified beachfront facing the Atlantic Ocean.
Governor Fubara explained that while the original plan was to construct a road leading to Oyorokoto Town and its popular beach, his administration decided to expand the project to create an entirely new route that would open access to another pristine beachfront.
“We are doing another inspection today. This particular one is a virgin road, 13.52 kilometres of a new pathway to the blue economy,” Governor Fubara stated.
“Initially, we were constructing a road to Oyorokoto Beach, one of the finest tourist centres in this area. But as we progressed, we discovered another beach directly facing the Atlantic Ocean. It became clear that we shouldn’t limit development to just one site. We want to harness this new beach front as part of our broader plan to develop the blue economy.”
The Governor emphasised that the project, once completed, will not only improve access to coastal communities but also stimulate tourism and economic activities, boosting revenue for Rivers State.
Describing the area’s difficult terrain as challenging, he commended the contractor for its dedication, and expressed confidence that the road would be completed and commissioned by March next year.
“You can see for yourself, it’s a brand-new road in a very difficult terrain, just like the one we saw yesterday. But I strongly believe we will overcome it. From what we’ve seen today, the contractor, MCC, is doing their best, and by next year, hopefully by March, we’ll have the cause to commission this project and give God all the glory,” the Governor affirmed.
Governor Fubara also visited Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area to assess the progress of work on the Epellema axis of the ongoing 5.2km Kalaibiama-Epellema road project featuring a 450-meter bridge.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed satisfaction with the level of progress recorded on the ongoing Trans-Kalabari Road project, revealing that about 75 percent of the critical piling work has been completed.
Governor Fubara made this known while addressing journalists after an on-the-spot inspection of the 12.5-kilometre road project, which will connect the state capital to several Kalabari communities across the sea.
The Governor rode on a boat from a jetty at Rumuolumeni in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area through the rivers and creeks on the project route during the inspection.
The project was awarded to Lubrik Construction Company Limited, on May 15, 2024, with an initial 32-month completion timeline.
The Governor said the visit was aimed at verifying reports from the Ministry of Works regarding the project’s advancement. He commended the contractors for their dedication, and described the progress as “a true reflection of hard work and commitment to excellence.”
“The first phase of the project takes us to Bakana, and features four major river-crossing bridges and nearly five deck-on-pile structures. The terrain is difficult, and the engineering work required is complex. But to the glory of God, I can confirm that the reports I’ve been receiving are accurate. Almost 75% of the piling job, which is the most critical part of the project, has been achieved,” Governor Fubara said.
He emphasised that the Trans-Kalabari Road is one of the most technically demanding infrastructure projects in the state due to its challenging marine terrain but reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to deliver it on schedule.
Governor Fubara highlighted the strategic importance of the road in connecting the Kalabari Kingdom to Port Harcourt, and stimulating economic growth across riverine communities.
“This is a key project that will turn around the lives of the Kalabari people immediately it is concluded. By the grace of God, in the next six months, if we return here for inspection, we might be driving across the bridge,” he said.
Governor Fubara assured Rivers people that his administration remains focused on delivering transformative infrastructure projects that will improve lives and bring lasting development to rural communities.
“We have made a promise to our people to embark on projects that will change lives and bring development, and this is a testament to that commitment,” he added.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, says that the impact of flooding and erosion on the inhabitants of Rivers State, especially those living in coastal communities, are of great concerns to the government.
Governor Fubara lamented the consequences of flood on both human and biotic life, which sometimes lead to loss of life, property, and degradation of the environment.
The Governor made the remark in Port Harcourt during the launch of a book titled, ‘Coastal Zone Flooding And Erosion in Developing Communities, Principles, Cases and Strategies,” written by Emeritus Prof. Wiston Bell-Gam.
According to the Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Benibo Anabraba, his administration, would continue to undertake and encourage adaptation strategies to combat flooding.
In his words: “The Rivers State Government will continue to undertake and encourage adaptation strategies, such as construction of seawalls and breakers, canals and channels, restoring coastal ecology and ecosystem for coastal resilience and where necessary, the relocation of communities on the coastline.
“These issues are currently receiving the much needed attention and intervention by the recent approval of the construction of shoreline protection along the coastlines of more than five communities in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and Opobo/Nkoro LGAs respectively.”
“It is important that as stakeholders in the protection and preservation of marine environment, we all act and advocate for mitigation strategies such as reduction in emission of Green House Gasses that causes climate change and rise in sea levels. Let us promote the use of clean energy and against fossil fuel.
Governor Fubara further cautioned residents to desist from building on waterways.
“We also need to encourage our people to stop developing buildings on and along natural water courses, indiscriminate sea mining and dredging activities on our coastline without consideration for mangroves and swamps,” he stressed.
He appreciated the author for his advanced contributions to the body of knowledge in both Rivers State and globally.
Also speaking, a former Military Governor of the old Rivers State and Amayanabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred Ditte-Spiff, who was Royal Father at the Event, stated that the book was timely to enable stakeholders manage the challenges of global warming.
“Global warming is real. If it’s not addressed globally, a time will come coastal areas will find themselves under water. The coastline of Nigeria is shocking with many mangroves gone,” he noted.
The Reviewer of the Book, who is also the Vice Chancellor of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Ondo State, Prof Temi Ologunorisa, explained that the 14-chapter book is timeous as it fills literary gaps between desire and available knowledge on coastal flood and erosion in developing communities.,
“A major beauty of the book that sets it apart is the detailed consideration of flood and erosion control from around the world,” he stated, adding that the book is based on detailed field investigation.