A new law aimed at promoting the tourism and cultural potentials of Rivers State tagged, Rivers State Heritage Preservation Bill 2018, and four other bills have passed through the first reading on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The five bills are: Rivers State Community Development Committee Bill 2018, Rivers State Multi-Tour Court House Bill 2018, Rivers State Health Care Facilities Bill 2018.
The Rivers State Multi-Tour Court House Bill 2018 was among the two executive bills presented by the Majority Leader, Hon. Martin Amaewhule.
According to Amaewhule, the Rivers State Health Care Facilities Bill is to repeal the Hospital Management Law 1999.
The member representing Asari-Toru Constituency II, Hon. Tekenari Wellington, who presented the Rivers Heritage Preservation Bill and Rivers State Community Development Committees Bill 2018 submitted that the two bills were geared towards bringing development to the state.
Wellington posited that there was need to provide for the identification and preservation of heritage in the state.
He said if the bill was finally signed into law, it would foster tourism and engender a sense of belonging among the people of the state.
The legislator from Asari-Toru further stated that the proliferation of Community Development committees (CDCs) in the State would be regulated when the Rivers State Community Development-Committees Bill 2018 scaled through.
In addition to that, he maintained that it would also bring about accountability and ensure that the different Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) entered by the various multinationals will now be legally backed up, and made more effective.
Responding, the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Ekuinyi-Owaji Ibani lauded the legislators for their keen interest in transforming the State through effective legislation.
