There is sign of relief for distraught retired civil servants in Rivers State whose entitlements have been the subject of continuous protests as the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Friday, assented to four key bills passed by the State House of Assembly, including the pension reforms bill.
The bills signed into law by the Rivers State Governor include: Rivers State Multi-Door Courthouse Law(No 2 of 2019), Rivers State Arbitration Law (No 3 of 2019), Rivers State Pension Reform Law (No 4 of 2019) and Rivers State College of Health Sciences and Management Technology Law (No. 5 of 2019).
According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the governor on new media, Simeon Nwakaudu, Governor Wike said that the (No 3 of 2019), Rivers State Pension Reform Law (No 4 of 2019) will help in resolving the challenges generated by the Contributory Pension scheme.
He said that the State Government is committed to ensuring that civil servants and pensioners are catered for, with the challenges they faced completely addressed.
The Governor said that the Arbitration Law will help in the resolution of several legal conflicts without resorting to litigation.
He, however, informed that he is likely to seek an amendment of the Rivers State College of Health Sciences and Management Technology Law (No. 5 of 2019) because some stakeholders have raised concerns.
He commended the Rivers State House of Assembly for their commitment to the development of the State.
“If you are given the privilege to serve, put in your best for the people. These four years given to us , we will do more for our people.
“I urge the House of Assembly to continue to make laws for the development of Rivers State”, he said.
He called on the State House of Assembly to pass more bills during his second term.
