RVHA Holds Retreat For Legislators

There was a lull in activities at Rivers State House of
Assembly (RVHA) Complex last week as the 8th Assembly members were at Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State for a three-day retreat to improve their legislative capacity building in the state and serve the electorate better.
The three-day retreat started Thursday at Le-Meridian Hotel with the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon Kenneth Kobani declaring the retreat opened.
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Wike tasked the lawmakers to use the good opportunity offered by the retreat to study more about new legislative developments in the act of legislation.
According to the Governor, the retreat was organised for lawmakers in the state to improve their skills of lawmaking in order to make good laws for the development of the state.
Also speaking at the opening ceremony last Thursday, the Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adams Dabotornolima commanded the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike for the retreat, expressing optimism that the retreat would at the end acquaint members of the 8th Assembly with the rudiments of legislation in the state.
On day two of the retreat, the former senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District, Senator George Thompson Sekibo spoke on the Topic, “Bill Types and Processes.”
Senator Sekibo said the topic was chosen to prepare and broaden the horizon in the state on the three types of bill like Executive, Judiciary and Private bill.
He tasked the members of the 8th Assembly to ensure that any bill introduced has an effect on their constituents and the state in general.
Taking his turn, Hon Ken Chikere, member representing Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 1, lectured the lawmakers on “Motion and Resolution, Floor Procedures.”
Hon Chikere, who dwelt extensively on the importance of motion on the floor of the Assembly tasked the lawmakers to treat every motion related to infrastructure, utility, natural disaster and others with utmost importance and urgency.
He advised the state House of Assembly to inaugurate a Standing Order Committee to ensure prompt and strict adherence to the House Standing Orders.
At the end of the retreat, serious issues of concern were raised in a communiqué.
In the communiqué read by the Leader of the House, Hon Martins Amaewhule advised members not to allow their personal interests to override the progress and development of the state.
The lawmakers resolved to make a difference and create positive changes that would rebuild the state legislative capacity for the common good of the society.
In his closing remarks, the Speaker, commended Governor Nyesom Wike for standing firm for the rights of the common people in the society.
He also thanked the government of Akwa Ibom for providing the lawmakers with adequate security and logistics for the retreat.
Dabotorudima expressed optimism that the retreat has sharpened the skill of the lawmakers for effective legislative business.

Enoch Epelle