The Victor Oko-Jumbo and Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly have continued to hold separate sittings and conduct legislative business.
On Friday, the Oko-Jumbo-led Rivers House of Assembly screened and confirmed Lawrence Oko-Jaja (SAN) as Chairman of the Board of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RSBoPP).
Also screened and confirmed as members of the board were Dr. Ernest Ibekwe Ekwe; Dr. Mina Ogbanga; Iseleye Amachree; Adokiye Oyagiri; Gift Alex-Hart; Mrs. Grace Osaronu; and Selinah Amoniea.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara had in a letter addressed to Oko-Jumbo nominated the eight of them, urging the assembly to screen and confirm them for the job.
The lawmakers by voice votes confirmed the nominees, describing them as fitting for their appointments during the plenary at the Hallowed Chamber of the Assembly Auditorium of the Administrative Block, Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt.
Oko-Jumbo in his admonition reminded the nominees to always know that they would hold their trust and loyalty to the state government to diligently harmonise best practices with quality performance while enforcing probity and accountability in all procurements handled by the Bureau.
Similarly, the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly in Rivers State on Friday passed the Electricity Market Bill, 2024, into law.
The bill was sponsored to repeal the Rivers State Electricity and Gas Board Law CAP 50, Laws of Rivers State 1999.
A statement by Amaewhule’s Special Assistant Media, Martins Wachukwu, said what the lawmakers did would positively impact the investment climate in Rivers State for the benefit of the people.
The statement noted that the he Rivers State Electricity Market Law would provide for electricity supply, its power generation, transmission and distribution within Rivers State and would establish the Rivers State Electricity Commission for the enforcement of consumers’ right and obligation.
While debating on the report presented by the chairman of the House Committee on Power, Frankline Nwabochi, the lawmakers lauded the committee for a job well done.
The legislators stressed that the level of stakeholders’ participation in the Public Hearing spoke volumes on the acceptability of the bill and urged the House to pass the bill into law.
Commenting on the Report of the Committee, Speaker Amaewhule commended the committee and members for their robust debate on the importance of the bill.
He stressed the benefits of the bill, saying it would allow the electricity market to flourish and that the bill, when passed into law, would attract foreign investors and open windows of opportunities for Rivers people.
Amaewhule expressed the hope that given the importance and benefits of the bill, the governor would assent to it when passed.
The Electricity Market Bill was committed to the House Committee on Power on the 8th of May, 2024; and in line with Legislative practice and rules of the House, the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole and gave the bill a through consideration before reverting to plenary to give the bill third reading.
