Chukwudi Akasike, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused the Federal Government of refusing to embark on developmental projects in the state.
Wike said that the refusal of the Federal Government to execute projects in Rivers was because the state had never been considered in its (FG) development programme.
The governor maintained that his administration took over the responsibilities of the Federal Government in Rivers State not because it had excess resources but because it was committed to the rapid development of the state.
Wike made this remarks on Wednesday during the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the National Industrial Court, which would be funded by the Rivers State Government.
He said, “All the facts point to the fact that Rivers State does not count in the development programme of the Federal Government. And this has sadly been the situation for decades.
“Yet, we produced the bulk of the resources used in sustaining the entire country and funding multi-billion naira development projects in other states of the federation.
“So, our position is that while we shall continue to demand for a fair treatment and commensurate recompense for our contributions to the national pool of resources, we cannot but endeavour to put our development destiny in our own hands, even if it means spending money on projects that should be initiated, funded and maintained by the Federal Government or its agencies.
“The point needs to be made that we are taking these important steps and bearing such huge costs because of the need to create, recreate and reinforce the enabling social and economic environment for the continuous development of our state.
“It is not because we have too much money to throw around on federal projects; it is because of our love, passion and commitment to develop our state and because we realised that the Federal Government has since abdicated its development responsibility to Rivers State.”
The governor explained that the Rivers State Government was embarking on the project because 90 per cent of the cases in the Yenagoa Division of the National Industrial Court emanated from Rivers State.
He said that the project, when completed, would serve the purpose of creating access to justice for litigants and also reflect the transformational legacies of Rivers State.
“The need, therefore, to have a functional NIC in Port Harcourt to peacefully settle labour and industrial relations disputes, enhance industrial harmony and engender economic development cannot be overstated,” Wike stressed.
President, National Industrial Court, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, said that the Rivers State governor had shown his colleagues the way to go by his commitment to the project.
According to Adejumo, when the National Industrial Court in Port Harcourt comes on stream, it would resolve the challenges and risks faced by litigants from Rivers State who are compelled to travel to Bayelsa and Imo states.
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