Rivers
Commissioner Hails Water Sector Dev Law
The Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Wogu Boms, has described as revolutionary and ground breaking the Rivers State Water Sector Development Law.
Barrister Boms who said this during the Rivers State Water Sector Development Conference 2013 in Port Harcourt also said that the effective implementation of the law will ensure sustainable water supply in the State.
Highlighting some aspects of the law, the Attorney General said that the new law has outlaw the activities of night soil men as well as commercialized the production and distribution of water.
He said that, the law also empowers the Port Harcourt water corporation to collect all forms of water rates from consumers.
The commissioner said that the law which establishes the Rivers State Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Agency also seeks to involve the communities in the protection of water service as well as the formation of Water Consumer Association.
He said that laws also compels owners of boreholes to pay rate to the government as well as renews their licences.
Hon Boms urged for the support of the people to ensure the success of the law, stressing that its effective implementations depend on the support and cooperation of the people.
In her lecture entitles, “Water Cooperation: A Key To Socio-Economic Development, Poverty Eradication, Social Equity and Gender Equality,” Mrs Priscillia Achakpa lauded the State Water Sector Reform, stressing that the reforms will enhance the distribution of water in the State.
Mrs Achakpa who is the National Coordinator Water and Sanitation collaborative Council, said that the reforms also seeks to enhance quality of water distribution in households.
Rivers
Rivers CJ To Sanction Lawyers Who Refuse To Comply With ADR Compliance
The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.
Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .
He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.
Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.
NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.
In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.
The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.
He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.
The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.
Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.
Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.
Akujobi Amadi