Rivers Assembly Holds Public Hearing On Bill To Create Emergency Management Agency

The Rivers State House of Assembly has said it is poised to make formidable laws that will guide the State.

The Deputy Speaker Mr Timothy Orubienimigha stated this at a one day public hearing on the Rivers Emergency Management Agency Bill 2024.

Timothy Orubienimigha who said the importance of the bill cannot be overstated explained that the goal of the bill is to create a comprehensive framework that will help effectively address emergencies and minimize their impact in the communities.

He however assured participants that their contributions would be considered.

Stakeholders at the public hearing commended the Rivers State House of Assembly for the noble feat saying that the bill is apt especially that the time when the rain is becoming serious.

Stakeholders including the National President Society of Professional Disaster Risk Management of Nigeria, Dr Nwiyor Jerry, Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Rivers State, Dr Diamond Tamunokuro, Representative of Nigeria Labour Congress Elvis Oraka, Chairman Rivers State Civil Society Organization Enefa George will, Commissioner for women affairs Roseline Uranta and the Representative of the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA among others all supported the provisions of the bill with some amendments.

According to them the provisions of the bill should synchronize with that of NEMA to avoid variance with the national agency.

They said there is need for non state actors to be part of process adding that the law is a good one that should be passed immediately for the people to benefit.

The National President Society of Professional Disaster Risk Management of Nigeria, Dr. Nwiyor Jerry said the bill in line with international best practices while noting that it is important that every State should have State Emergency Management Agency SEMA

Also speaking the Representative of former lawmakers Mr Leyi Nwanne commented the leadership of the tenth Assembly for it’s transparency in following the procedures of lawmaking.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Emergency Management Agency bill which is a private member bill seeks to provide for the establishment of the Rivers State Emergency Management Agency.

Rivers Assembly Holds Public Hearing On Bill To Create Emergency Management Agency is first published on The Whistler Newspaper