The House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Emergency Rule has ordered the immediate renovation of the deteriorating State Secretariat complex.
The committee also directed the immediate relocation of civil servants, citing the hazardous conditions in which they are currently working.
The directive came after an emergency inspection tour led by Committee Chairman, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, who evaluated the State Secretariat and the abandoned Rivers State House of Assembly project.
This was announced in a statement issued by the media aide to the State Administrator, Hector Igbikiowubo, and made available to newsmen on Friday.
Prof. Ihonvbere described the Secretariat’s state as “more deplorable than facilities in war-torn Gaza,” citing: structural hazards, weak floor tiles, leaking roofs, and exposed electrical wiring; absence of basic amenities, no functional toilets, drinking water, or furniture, and life-threatening environments, particularly on the 6th and 7th floors now declared “unfit for human occupation”.
The Committee Chairman directed that unsafe floors be closed immediately, staff be urgently moved to secure alternative offices, the entire secretariat complex undergo full renovation, and a contractor review meeting be held on the stalled Assembly complex project.
While criticizing the infrastructure decay, the committee commended civil servants for sustaining operations under “unbearable conditions,” especially those stationed on the upper floors.
According to Ihonvbere, he reported that, after the inspection, it was clear the contractor in charge of the State House of Assembly reconstruction would not meet the September completion deadline.
To this end, the statement noted that the government will hold an emergency meeting with contractors handling its projects to enforce strict supervision and consider possible sanctions.
“The current state constitutes gross workplace endangermentm We demand immediate alternative accommodations for displaced workers; Transparent bidding process for renovation contracts; and weekly progress reports to our committee,” Ihonvbere stated.
Furthermore, the State Government, under the leadership of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, is expected to begin implementing the compliance measures within 48 hours.
