Assembly Approves RSG’s Request To Access N2.5bn Health Fund

The Rivers State House of Assembly has given approval to the Rivers State Government to go ahead and access the N2.5billion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Health Care Special Intervention Fund loan, which some states have accessed.
Speaker of the Assembly, Rt Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, who read the request letter from Governor Nyesom Wike, during plenary of the Assembly, remarked that the fund was an intervention fund from the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria that would be repaid in 10 years.
According to him, the fund was given to tackle the health challenges in states, and particularly, to address the COVID-19 pandemic issue, and to be repaid in 10 years.
He said that some states have accessed the funds and that Rivers State would be doing a disservice to itself, if such fund was not accessed.
He urged members to critically look into the request so made by the governor.
Before dividing the House after debate on the request, the speaker highlighted that the sitting was the 112th Legislative day, and added that Wike was prudent in managing the state resources, and has also highlighted the area the fund will be channelled to.
Earlier in his submission on the governor’s request, the Leader of the Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, representing Obio/Akpor Constituency 1, said his findings showed that many states have accessed the fund.
“This fund is needed and we should accept it as this is coming from the Federal Government, and it will be a disservice to the state if we do not access that fund.
“ In fact, Mr Speaker, the governor has even clearly stated areas the fund will be channelled to, such as to equip the Dr. Peter Odili Cardiovascular/Cancer treatment centre among others, and therefore, there is need to access the fund”, he said.
Meanwhile, the House at the plenary unanimously passed a resolution to follow up on the Federal High Court declarative order, stopping the Federal Government from making deductions from the Rivers State allocation, to fund the police.
The House in the unanimous resolution where all the 14 members present voted in agreement to support the motion raised by the Leader, Martins Amaewhule, to urge the Federal Government to obey all court orders, agreed that police matter is purely on Exclusive List, and should be funded by Federal Government.
The House Committee on Judiciary was mandated to liaise with the Attorney-General of the state to follow up on the matter, while the Clerk of the Assembly was mandated by the speaker to transmit the resolutions to the governor.

By: Corlins Walter