RVHA Tasks INEC On Voter Registration

Even as the absence of plenary session at the Rivers State House of Assembly continued last week, the legislative complex still recorded a swarm of visitors and other official engagements by the Assembly personnel.
For Assembly Press Corp, it has been like squeezing water out of stone to keep public abreast of goings-on in the Assembly.
However, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, last Tuesday, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the Continuous Voters’ Registration exercise which commend nationwide last week is devoid of discrimination, manipulation and intimidation in the state.
The Speaker who made the call at a press briefing at the Assembly Complex in Port Harcourt also called on the Nigerian Police to ensure adequate security of lives and property during the exercise, saying that some selfish politicians may decide to do anything on the law to sabotage the exercise for selfish political reasons.
Ibani also called for drastic punishment for any person or group of persons caught engaging in acts inimical to the successful conduct of the exercise.
The Speaker appealed to persons of voting age to go to their various registration centres for registration and collection of permanent voter card (PVC).
Also on Tuesday, the member representing Opobo/Nkoro Constituency, Hon. Adonye Diri represented the House at the celebration of the World Malaria Day urging concerted efforts of both individuals and governments to create an enabling environment to reduce the prevalence rate of malaria in the state.
The Assembly regretted that despite government investments in health care sector, recent statistics indicate that Rivers State is one of the malaria endemic states in Nigeria.
Same Tuesday, the Assembly Committee on Environment played host to the Nigerian Bottling Company, manufacturers of coca-cola drinks at the Assembly Complex in Port Harcourt.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Christian Ahiakwo tasked the company on the state environmental laws, saying that the Assembly was liaising with the state Ministry of Environment to ensure complete compliance with the state environmental laws by companies operating in the state.
Ahiakwo said, the Assembly would soon commence the monitoring  of oil and gas companies in the state to ascertain their level of compliance to environmental  laws.         On their part of the company, both the principal consultant, Dr  Celina Enville and the regional public affairs and communication manager, Mr  Ekuma Eze commended the Assembly for doing a good job and assured that NBC will continue to comply with environmental laws and policies of the state government.
Last Friday, the Assembly Committee on ICT led by its Chairman, Hon. Nwanaka Okpokiri visited Ignatius Ajuru University of Education as part of its over sight functions.
The Chairman, Okpokiri commended the management of the institution for its effort on developing the ICT education department, saying that the establishment of ICT department and the equipment so far provided will go a long way to improve information technology in the school.
Also speaking, member of the committee and legislator representing Asari-Toru Constituency ll, Enemi George called for synergy between the management of the University and the Assembly to enhance ICT development in Education in the state.
Vice Chancellor of the Institution Professor Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele represented by the Deputy VC Academics, Prof. Vincent Asuru appealed for more budgetary allocation to enable the institution meet up with demands of robust ICT developments in the state.

Enoch Epelle