As part of efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rivers State House of Assembly says all of its 32 members have donated their one month salaries to the State Government to support the fight.

Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, during a press briefing in Port Harcourt,  disclosed that this was a collective decision of all 32 members of the 9th Assembly of Rivers State.

“Recall that in our last plenary, the house directed two of its standing committees (Committee on Health and Committee on Information) to interface with the Ministry of Health and other agencies responsible for the fight against Covid-19 pandemic in the State and to continue to update the House periodically on the progress or otherwise.”

He further disclosed that “based on this directive and the feedback it received from the Joint Committee on the proactive measures put in place by the State Government and also acknowledging that the yearnings and aspirations of our people are part of our collective goals, we have resolved that one month salaries of all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly be deducted by the Rivers State Ministry of Finance and remitted to the Committee set up by his Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the Governor of Rivers State to combat the Covid-19 Pandemic in the State”.

Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Co-Chairman of the Joint Committee on Covid-19, Enemi Alabo-George corroborated the position of the Speaker that the move was a collective decision of the members of the House and waas done as a contribution to the welfare of Rivers people.

He said the committee was impressed with the proactive steps taken by the State Government in preventing the spread of the pandemic and also the preparation for management of cases should there be such eventualities. He commended the speed with which the state isolation and treatment centre was set up.

On sensitisation, he noted that the State Ministry of Information was doing a great job, encouraging the Ministry to keep up the good work and do much more in keeping Rivers people informed especially during this period while commending the State Governor, Nyesom Wike, for rising to the occasion and facing the COVID-19 challenge head on.

On his part, Chairman of the House Committee on Health and Co-Chairman of the Joint Committee on Covid-19, Sam Ogeh praised the Ministry of Health for its swift response in preparing to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. He commended the Governor for providing good leadership at a point it was needed.