The House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Emergency Rule Implementation has raised alarm over the deteriorating state of the Rivers State Secretariat complex, describing it as a serious safety risk to workers.
Following an emergency inspection tour led by Committee Chairman, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, lawmakers called for the immediate renovation of the ageing structure and the urgent relocation of civil servants to safer facilities. The tour also covered the stalled Rivers State House of Assembly building project.
Professor Ihonvbere highlighted multiple hazards within the secretariat, including weak and broken floor tiles, leaking roofs, exposed electrical wiring, and unstable structural elements. He noted the absence of basic amenities such as functional toilets, drinking water, and adequate furniture.
Declaring the sixth and seventh floors “unfit for human occupation,” the committee ordered their closure, the emergency transfer of staff, and a comprehensive overhaul of the entire complex to restore safety and functionality.
The chairman warned that leaving the building in its current state would be “a disaster waiting to happen,” stressing that government workers deserve a safe and dignified work environment.
