Task Before Rivers State 8th Assembly

The governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom                Wike, on June 1, 2015 inaugurated the
8th Rivers Assembly, thereby bringing to an end the dishonourable and ugly incidences that led to the closure of the Assembly complex for nearly a year and the holding of plenary in Government House, Port Harcourt.
The incidences which were better not recalled, clearly eroded the integrity of the Assembly, undermined its effectiveness in making laws for the good of the people and its role as a check on the executive arm of government.
Recalling those dark era of the 7th Assembly, new Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani said in his post election speech: “As a legislature, we will set a new legislative agenda that will incorporate the interest of Rivers State. Never again will this Assembly under my watch suffer legislative Armageddon”
Indeed, events in Rivers State in the two or more years prior to the elections that brought in the new operatives in the executive and legislative arms, have left a huge challenge to the new Assembly men.
But the Assembly must first redeem itself by asserting its independence under the principle of separation of powers of constitutional democracy.
The 8th Assembly cannot continue in the unedifying path of the last Assembly during which many discerning citizens could no longer separate the legislature from the executive. While co-operating with the executive and judiciary arms of government within the spheres of its authority, the 8th Assembly must speedily reinvent itself, assert its integrity by being on top of its law-making job for the good of the state.
Given the harsh economic realities of the times, orchestrated by free-falling oil prices in the international market and inevitable drastic reduction in statutory allocation to states, it has become imperative for the legislature, and even the executive to think out of the box in order to address mandatory social responsibilities of government.
This calls for innovative laws that would explore and harness alternative natural potentials for improved revenue generation while fine-tuning existing revenue laws to check revenue leakages.
As of utmost necessity, the 8th Assembly must encourage and promote the diversification of the state economy with investment-friendly laws that would attract foreign investors.
The 8th Assembly is coming in at a time the state is witnessing a resurgence of cult violence, abductions and killing in parts of the state.
This malaise which has already taken heavy causalities in life and property is a deadly ailment that demands extra-ordinary therapy.
The 8th Assembly must stand to be counted in defence of not  only the new government but the people, the security of whose life and property is the sole essence of government.
We call on the Assembly to take a critical look at existing legislations in the state relating to secret cult activities and other related infractions on the safety of life and property of the citizentry by unscrupulous elements in the society with a view to checking the ugly trend.
Again, the growing army of the unemployed youth, most of them graduates and skilled, calls for the concern of the legislature. While the Assembly may not create jobs, enabling legislations that could revitalise abandoned and unhealthy government companies for the purpose of absorbing qualified youth is advised.
As it settles to business, the Assembly will do well to ensure that it  patriotically commits to its oversight functions. As is well known to all Nigerians, abandoned projects have become the legacies of government after government at all levels, just as corruption and governments’ lack of political will to ensure execution are responsible for the trend.
If Rivers State must develop and meet the welfare needs of its citizenry, the legislature must insist on value for money committed to people-oriented government projects. The 8th Assembly owe the people a duty to ensure accountability for the scare resources committed by government on projects in this period of economic down turn.
Interestingly, the 8th Assembly will not have difficulty working with the executive in the enactment of laws for the good governance of the state as it has 99% Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) membership.
Even though that in itself presents its worries-that of acquiescence to the executive’s every demand, but we believe that the new legislature will be guided by the lessons of the 7th Assembly and the overall interest of the electorate to always do what is in the best interest of the people.
Again, working with an executive (Governor) with a legal background and avowed commitment to the sanctity of the legislative arm gives added hope for credible performance.
Even so, we urge the executive arm to ensure that all statutory financial and other requirement, including non-interference are availed the 8th Assembly so that it will have no reason to fail the people.