N’Assembly Committee Orders Emergency Renovation Of Rivers Secretariat

The House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Emergency Rule has mandated the immediate renovation of the dilapidated State Secretariat complex.

The committee also orders the immediate relocation of civil servants who they said are working in hazardous environments.

The directive followed an emergency inspection tour led by Committee Chairman, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, who assessed both the Secretariat and the stalled Rivers State House of Assembly project.

This was contained in a statement issued by media aide to the State Administrator, Hector Igbikiowubo and sent to newsmen on Friday and sent ro newsmen.

Prof. Ihonvbere described the Secretariat’s state as “more deplorable than facilities in war-torn Gaza,” citing: structural hazards, weak floor tiles, leaking roofs, and exposed electrical wiring; absence of basic amenities, no functional toilets, drinking water, or furniture, and life-threatening environments, particularly on the 6th and 7th floors now declared “unfit for human occupation”.

The Committee Chairman ordered immediate closure of compromised floors, emergency relocation of staff to alternative secured office spaces, comprehensive renovation of the entire secretariat complex and a contractor review meeting for the delayed Assembly complex project

While condemning the infrastructure failures, the committee praised civil servants for maintaining operations under “unconscionable conditions,” particularly those working on the upper floors.

Ihonvbere revealed that following the inspection, the contractor handling the State House of Assembly reconstruction will miss the September completion deadline.
To this end, the statement said the government will convene an emergency meeting of contractors handling its projects with the aim of carrying out strict supervision and possible sanctions.

“The current state constitutes gross workplace endangermentm We demand immediate alternative accommodations for displaced workers; Transparent bidding process for renovation contracts; and weekly progress reports to our committee, ” Prof. Ihonvbere stated.

It further said the State Government under the Administration, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, is expected to commence compliance measures within 48 hours.
( PUNCH)