Rivers State House of Assembly passes Bill seeking to establish state anti-corruption agency

A bill seeking to establish the Rivers State integrity and accountability commission has been passed at the state House of Assembly.

The executive bill seeks to domesticate the functions of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Rivers state.

Leading the debate in favour of the bill on Tuesday, the leader of the House, Martins Amaehule said the law is aimed at providing a legal framework in the fight against corruption in the public service.

He said the bill will also promote accountability and good governance in the state.

The House leader also believes the bill when passed into law will end federal agencies alleged interference in the state.

After calling for votes in favour of the proposed law, the speaker, Ikuiyi Owaji-Ibani said, when signed into law, the bill will give the state powers to fight corruption in its domain.

He said “Nigeria is the only state that is operating a federalism with a unitary constitution and the time has come after 20 years of uninterrupted democratic rule for some of those laws to be tested”.

“I think that this bill is very important, infact it is even a window that is open for the federal government, for us to commend the Rivers State House of Assembly and the government of Rivers State that we are actually giving impetus to the federal structures that are in place”.

Rivers State House of Assembly passes Bill seeking to establish state anti-corruption agency