A CALL ON THE RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY TO REPRESENT RIVERS PEOPLE
Rivers State House of Assembly is the legislative branch of the Government of Rivers State inaugurated in 1979. It is a unicameral body with 32 members elected into 32 state constituencies. The current Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly is Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi O. Ibani and this is the 8th Assembly.
According to the Rivers State Government website:” Its functions at the State level are relative to those of the National Assembly at the Federal Level, (1) Creating laws for the good governance of the State, (2) as well as acting as a check and balance on the powers and actions of the State’s Chief Executive.”
For the purpose of elaboration of the duties of the Assembly , I hereby borrow a from a Cross River Watch Publication which succinctly captures it as :“The State House of Assembly has these functions:
• Law Making
Principally, the State House of Assembly is obligated to make laws in order to ensure peace, order and good governance in the State, in respect to matters not in the exclusive legislative list, but in concurrent list. It could also legislate on other matters in which it is empowered by the Constitution to do so.
• Representative Function
Membership of the State House of Assembly is based on constituency arrangement of the State for effective representation of the populace. Each member therefore represents a section of the people in the State (Constituents) for avoidance of marginalization in the scheme of things.
• Deliberative Function
Before any bill is passed into law, or a resolution taken on any matter before the House, members must procedurally, engage in a careful and meticulous deliberation of all the facts therein, to arrive at definite and worthy decisions.
• Administrative Function (Confirmation of Appointments)
The House of Assembly participates in the appointment process. Under Section 192(2), persons nominated for appointment as Commissioners, State Chief Judge, Board members and Chairmen of parastatals etc., require the confirmation of the State House of Assembly for such appointments to be valid.
• Oversight Investigative Function
This function is contained in Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution. Here the State House of Assembly is empowered to carry out investigations within its competence to prevent and expose corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws. It is empowered to procure evidence, written or oral, direct or circumstantial as it may deem necessary and also to examine any witness whose evidence may be material to the subject matter. The primary aim of this function is to promote efficiency, transparency and due process in the running of the affairs of the State.
• Quasi-Judicial Function
The State House of Assembly performs this important function through the impeachment and removal from office of members of the executive. Under section 143 and 188 of the 1999 Constitution, the State Governor and his Deputy are liable to impeachment. This is the process by which the legislature formally brings charges against the Governor or his Deputy with a view to his trial and removal from office, if found guilty as charged.
• Judicial Function
The State House of Assembly is empowered to regulate its proceedings including control over the conduct of members during sessions. Such members or even non-members may be tried summarily for contempt and punished without the right of appeal to law courts. Again the State Assembly can conduct a trial as if it were a Court of Law. It may thus issue a warrant to compel the attendance of any person who, after having been summoned to attend, fails to do so.”
Following from the above ,all arms are in agreement with the duties of the Rivers State House of Assembly as a larger representation of the people and the ‘Eyes of the people”.
THE RIVERS STATE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY :
The Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) was created by law by Dr. Peter Odili
“The Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) is a strategic intervention programme of the Rivers State Government set up under a legal framework to re-focus development actions targeted at poverty alleviation, rural development and youth empowerment.
The RSSDA emerged from the Rivers State Sustainable Development Program (RSSDP), which was an ad-hoc implementation committee set up by the Federal government to accelerate grassroots development in Rivers State. RSSDA was later formally established in 2008 as an autonomous entity under the office of the Executive Governor of Rivers State.
The years 2008 - 2010 were the formative period for the agency. From 2010, the Agency went through transformation and sharpening of its strategy for better performance. A new vision was launched, and programme portfolio streamlined to reposition the agency as a truly ‘development organization’ that is professional and performance driven.” credit V-Connect.
PERFORMANCE OF RSSDA:
A couple of years ago, I challenged the agency about its accomplishments as i felt they were in some instance straying and even duplicating the efforts of some MDAs (The civil servants could not stand them) and some of the following were put before me :
i. RSSDA built the largest expanse of government supported rurl based farms in Rivers State, spanning over 1,000 Hectares ( for Agricc & Aquaculture production)
ii. RSSDA produced the highest tonnage of Cassava in the state through its 13 or more Cassava belts farms , in which farmers receive cassava production incentives and training.
iii. RSSDA was the largest producer of eggs from its poultries in Rivers State, which at that time stocked over 45,000 layers .
iv. RSSDA was the largest producer of fingerlings in Rivers State , with its hatcheries producing over 1 million fingerlings every 6 weeks for fish multiplication in the state .
RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY & RSSDA :
Today the emphasis is not on the performance or non-performance of the agency, it is about the non-payment of 2 years (welfare) salaries of the Rivers people, who work in a Rivers State Government Agency in Rivers State, and are being represented in the Rivers Sate House of Assembly, by Elected Rivers men & Women who took an oath, to ensure that Rivers money is spent for/on Rivers people.
The staffs of the RSSDA cover the 32 constituencies represented by our honorable members, who as at today have looked the other way while their people suffer as there is no official statement of position of the Assembly on the matter as at today ,despite approving budgets for the agency in 2016 and 2017.
May I remind the Speaker and his members that :
i. The Agency was created by law for Rivers people and it is your duty to protect it and its resources which includes staff.
ii. That the law provides for 5% of the State’s Recurrent budget to be provided for its funding for Rivers people
iii. That you and your members represent the staff of the Agency & own it /them.
iv. That you have oversight responsibility over the funding and performance of the Agency and its staff.
v. It is your duty to appropriate and monitor/measure Budget performance and compliance.
vi. It is your duty to ensure that funds duly appropriated for agency in the 2016 and 2017 budget are not diverted to other uses as is the case here which technically amounts to Virement and quietly call for correction.
vii. It is your duty to reach out to the Party hierarchy and meet the Governor behind closed doors, so as to stop the punishment of Rivers people working in that Rivers State Government agency owned by Rivers people.
viii. That if the Governor fails to respond to your pleas behind closed doors that you are supposed to stand with the people you represent and publicly call the Governor to order .
The House should also note that in the era of RT.Hon.R.R.Briggs, Chris Oji, Rotimi Amechi ,Tonye Harry and Otelemaba Amachree (I hope I did not omit any speaker) the Executive did not trample on them like this , but ensured sometimes after heated (behind the doors )quarrels that the Rivers State House of Assembly did not look like a lame duck.
My dear Speaker of the 8th Rivers State Assembly Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi O. Ibani should note that it is public perception that he has shirked his responsibilities and no longer represents the people (FOR NOW) as this punishment remains unabated until the withholding of Rivers money, from Rivers people, in a Rivers people owned Agency is stopped .
The ball is in your court to change this negative perception of the Rivers State House of Assembly as the buck stops at your table; RT.Hon. Ikuinyi O.Ibani I appeal to you to rise and do what is politically expedient and ensure posterity be fair on you.
GOVERNOR NYESOM WIKE & RSSDA:
His Excellency, You applied and pleaded to be the number one Public Servant of the state. The responsibility when you accepted it meant you will inherit the assets and liabilities of your predecessor RT.Hon Chibuike Amaechi . You were quick to inform us that he refused to hand over but unexpectedly you also refused to audit his tenor and make the assets and liabilities you inherited public to support your claims for ease of measurement.
One of the hallmarks of that government was the RSSDA because it was for a while regularly funded by his government and they were able to achieve strides the Ministry of Agriculture had not been able to achieve in over two decades of its existence.
On your assumption of office we expected you to have audited the RSSDA and come up with a policy on how to use the agency to overcome the obvious dearth of jobs that is the main driver of crime in the state.
The recent nationwide call for states to diversify their revenue sources reinforced the need for “an RSSDA” to be given priority attention as it would have even absorbed all the people you granted amnesty who on a daily basis besiege radio stations with their cries of being abandoned by the state after its celebrated Amnesty program, the consequences of not engaging them is not far-fetched.
We expect that even if you are dissatisfied with their performance, funding nature or earnings that after two years these issues should have been dealt with by now and a clear direction for Agriculture & Youth empowerment based on the cardinal objectives setting it up.
On May 29 , 2015 as one of those who voted for you I was brimming with pride as you looked resplendent in your ‘Rivers-blue attire’ and publicly swore to uphold the Constitution that empowered the electorate to elect you and empower you to uphold their rights . The non-payment of the salaries of the staff of RSSDA for two years according to them is a clear breech of your Promise to Rivers people.
I wish to remind you about your duties with the following quote from a former Governor :
“In the Nigerian National Polity, governors are the chief executives of their States and the Chief Security and Law Officer. The role of governors and all other organs of Government conferred with Executive Powers are provided under Chapter 10, sections 13-18 of The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and broadly articulates the followings;
1. Promotion of democracy and social justice in the State
2. Promotion of security and welfare of citizens as the primary purpose of Government.
3. Promotion of the participation of the people in their governance, and in accordance with the Constitution
4. Promotion of inclusive governance that embrace diverse sections of the citizens, and that respect their cultural diversity and belief systems.
5. Promotion of the integration of all peoples of the State, devoid of any form of discrimination
6. Provision of adequate facilities, goods and services that improve the well-being of all citizens
7. Elimination of all forms of corrupt practices and abuse of power
8. Promotion of State economy and efficiency in such a manner as to secure maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of all citizens
9. Promotion of planned and balanced economy to ensure equity in the distribution of resources to all citizens, and the decentralization of the means of production and exchange in the control of many citizens.
10. Provision of adequate shelter, food, resources, wages, education and health facilities to all citizens, including those with special needs.
11. Provision of easily accessible, independent and impartial Court of Justice, etc
Beyond these constitutional provision of roles for governors, it is true that the extent that each governor succeeds in performing his role will depend on the quality of programs articulated, the dedicated professional team available to the governor beyond the existing bureaucracy, the degree and quality of leadership available, the applicable manifesto of the Political Party in power which is often non-existent, and the integrity and drive behind the total leadership.
In short, no successful role of a governor is without its challenges, but above all other things else, it must be anchored on the delivery of good governance, and this connotes –collective participation, consensus building, accountability, transparency, responsibility, equitability, inclusiveness, and more especially, it must be built on the rule of law( See Kayode Fayemi, The Challenges of Change: Democracy and Development in Ekiti State, Nigeria).” His Excellency, Chief T. A. Orji (Ochendo)
One of the things that endeared some of us to you during the fierce political campaigns was your fight for social justice for judicial workers in the state and we celebrated it when you reopened them, to confound your political foes you have invested a lot in worship centers and have shown willingness to support the body of Christ; but this your non-payment of the wages of the staff of RSSDA for 2 years completely negates the scripture .
On behalf of Rivers People, I once more appeal to you to remember all those people God used to help you as you journeyed through life : that you chose to honor God and pay these people their salaries .
My bother in Lord Jesus Christ may I remind you of the scriptures as I close :
1. "You must not muzzle an ox while it is treading out grain," and, "A worker deserves his pay." (NIV) 1 Timothy 5:18
2. “Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation” Romans4:4(NIV)
3. 2 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, …“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
Nota Bene:
“Rivers State is 50+ years old and why is it that only one former Governor can drive himself round the town and beyond without Police escort”(…in the voice of Govenor Wike )