Assembly Passes Waste Mgt, Marshal Bill

The Rivers State House of Assembly has passed the Rivers State Waste Dumping Prohibition and Environmental Marshals bill(HA-13) into law.
The passage of the bill follows last weekend’s public hearing and submission of Committee Report led by Hon Dumle Maol of Gokana State Constituency on the floor of the House on Monday.
Majority Leader, Hon. Martin Amaewhule led the debate as he argued that the bill would not duplicate subsisting laws but will rather enhance enforcement and penalties of defaulters. He ruled out fear that it will duplicate extant laws already existing.
His argument stems from contrary views expressed by Hon. Michael  Okechuwku Chinda of Obio/Akpor II and Hon. Christain Ahiakwo of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni 1 State Constituency.
Both Chinda and Ahiakwo were of the view that all extant laws should be reviewed such that they will not conflict with the new law.
Defaulters of the new proposed Waste and Sanitation Marshal Bill will face summary trial according to the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Amaewhule.
He noted that, “the bill will not function in isolation. Some aspects are already in existing laws. What we are doing here today is to avoid contradictions. The sanitation marshals will be provided with powers to arrest and the Magistrate Courts will sit to try those who default.”
Amaewhule further disclosed that scavengers and others who pose problems to the waste management would be arrested and tried so they will serve as deterrent to others.
In a similar vein, a bill seeking to establish a State Security Trust Fund has passed first reading.
Debate on the bill was deferred until next sitting of the House.
As private member bill, when passed into law will boost funding and efficiency in security apparatus of the state.