•Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has attended the ongoing plenary of the Rivers State House of Assembly to present the 2024 appropriation bill of the state.
The governor arrived at the plenary of the assembly under the speakership of Edison Ehie, around 9:00 am today. He was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, Commissioner for Finance, Isaac Kamalu, Commissioner for Information and Communications Joseph Johnson, and other members of his cabinet.
The State Executive Council had in its 5th sitting, Monday, approved the estimated budget of over N800bn christened, Budget of Renewed Hope, Consolidation, and Continuity for the 2024 fiscal year, reports The Guardian.
In a related development, residents of the state woke up to the news of an ongoing demolition exercise at the state Assembly complex as bulldozers we seen stationed at the gate as early as 7:00 am today.
The development raised concerns from different quarters but the State Government explained that its decision to demolish and eventually rebuild the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex was in line with experts advice.
The government noted that the integrity of the structure has been lost due to the structural defects that arose mainly as a result of the recent explosion and fire incident at the hallowed chambers of the assembly and that the building has been rendered unfit for human use.
A statement issued by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information Mr Joseph Johnson said after the visit of the Governor to inspect the level of damage done to the building on the day of the fire incident, it became necessary to invite professionals to advice the government on the integrity of the building.
It would be recalled that on the night of the attack on the complex explosive dynamites were used to attack the complex which shook it to the foundation. There were visible cracks on the walls afterwards, and the entire structure looked frail and unsafe for legislative business
He said, noting that the government had tried all cost saving measures towards repair of the complex until it bowed to a superior view of rebuilding the complex to a more befitting edifice.
Johnson said: “After the assessment of the integrity of the complex, the experts warned the government that continuing to use the building in its present state would be disastrous.
“In the interim, the Rivers State Government has provided an alternative venue for the House of Assembly to conduct their affairs pending the rebuilding of the complex.”
