The leadership of Rivers State House of Assembly has announced that one month salaries of its members has been donated to the Rivers State Government to help fight the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani while briefing the press said it was a collective decision of all 32 members of the 9th Assembly of Rivers State.
In his words, “recall that in our last plenary, the House directed two of its standing committees (Committee on Health and Committee on Information) to interface with the Ministry of Health and other agencies responsible for the fight against Covid-19 pandemic in the State and to continue to update the House periodically on the progress or otherwise.
“Based on this directive and the feedback so far received from the Joint Committee on the proactive measures put in place by the State Government and also acknowledging that the yearnings and aspirations of our people are part of our collective goals, we have resolved that one month salaries of all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly be deducted by the Rivers State Ministry of Finance and remitted to the Committee set up by his Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the Governor of Rivers State to combat the Covid-19 Pandemic in the State”.
Also speaking Hon. Enemi Alabo George who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and co-Chairman of the Joint Committee on Covid-19 set up by the House affirmed that the move was a collective decision of the members of the House and done as a contribution to the welfare of Rivers people.
He said the committee was impressed with the proactive steps taken by the State Government in preventing the spread of the pandemic and also the preparation for management of cases should there be such eventualities and commended the speed with which the state isolation and treatment centre was set up.
On sensitisation, Enemi George who noted that the State Ministry of Information has been doing a great job, enjoined the Ministry to keep up the good work and do much more in keeping Rivers people informed especially during this period.
He further lauded the Governor for rising to the occasion and facing the Covid-19 challenge head on. On his party, Hon. Sam Ogeh, the Chairman of the House Committee on Health and co-Chairman of the Joint Committee on Covid-19 commended the Ministry of Health for its swift response in preparing to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. He commended the Governor for providing good leadership at a point it was needed.
