RSHA Yet To Commence Proceedings

The Rivers State House of Assembly is yet to commence sitting in plenary after the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The House had taken a short break few days to the Christmas and New year celebrations as it ended activities last year with the passage of the 2020 budget.
Shortly after passing the bill into law, the lawmakers proceeded to present it for the governor’s assent after which they got their official car presentations by the State Chief Executive at the Government House.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi -Owaji Ibani hailed the governor for the gesture and further pledged collaborative support to the executive arm.
Consequently, lawmakers commended the governor for the car gift and promised to ensure that legislative activities will be enhanced in the coming year.
Recall that the governor, Chief Nyesom Wike presented a budget of over five hundred and thirty billion naira(N530billion) to the Assembly for the 2020 Fiscal Year on 17th December, 2019.
The governor told the Assembly that the focus of the budget was to enhance his infrastructural drive and speed up the state’s growth process.
Wike, while explaining the budget breakdown and sectoral allocations, said capital expenditure would take three hundred and seventy four billion naira whereas one hundred and fifty six billion would be for recurrent expenditure.
According to the governor, the State’s budget for 2020 tagged ‘Budget of Reassurance’ was fifty billion naira higher than the 2019 budget and was expected to generate more growth in the economy of the state.
In response, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon.Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani commended Wike for ensuring that the budget estimate would focus more on the real sectors of the economy and promised him of more cordial relationship of the Assembly with the Executive arm.
Few weeks before Christmas, the Assembly Adhoc Committee on Violence Against Persons bill (VAP)2019 held a public hearing.
In the same vein, one of the initiators of the bill and Leader of the House, Hon. Martin Amaewhule said the bill is an offshoot of an earlier one passed by the National Assembly but with a variation to reflect the realities in the state.
Stakeholders made up of women groups and other non- governmental organisations attended the hearing held at the Assembly complex.
Chairman of the Adhoc Committee, Hon. Enemi George Alabo said the forum was organised to get public input and ensure the bill meets public expectation.