Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State, on Thursday, signed five bills passed by the state’s House of Assembly into law.
The Bills signed into law by the governor included: Rivers State Education (Return of Schools) Amendment Number 1 Law, Number 1 of 2017,Rivers State Honours Law Number 2 of 2017, Rivers State Reserve Fund (Repeal) Law Number 3 of 2017, Rivers State University Law Number 4 of 2017 and Rivers State University Teaching Hospital Law Number 5 of 2017.
Speaking after giving his assent to the five bills, Governor Wike lauded the Assembly for its commitment to the rapid development of the state.
He said that the Return of School Law was vital because it permitted the state government to intervene in mission schools already returned to their owners.
The governor said that the bill would help in the sustenance of the quality of education in mission schools returned by the State Government to their previous owners.
He explained that the Rivers State Reserve Fund (Repeal) Law Number 3 of 2017 became necessary as the law was no longer relevant following the financial recklessness of the immediate past APC administration in the state.
According to Governor Wike, that administration refused to respect the law as it indiscriminately withdrew funds from the fund meant for the future.
He said: “Between February 12, 2014 and May 27, 2015, they (immediate past APC administration in the state) withdrew N53billion from the fund without passing through due process.
“The State is today suffering from the financial recklessness of that administration as it squandered state resources through illegal withdrawals”.
He added that the Rivers State University Law Number 4 of 2017 was done to avert the loss of accreditation of several courses by the University following recent regulations by the National Universities Commission.
Earlier, presenting the five bills to the Governor, Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Martin Amaewhule, said that the Assembly passed the bills because of their commitment to the development programmes of the state government.
In his remarks, Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Ikunyi Ibani, said the Assembly would always put up its best in the interest of the state.
He commended the governor for his outstanding achievements, which has been complemented by the state Assembly.