The Hon. Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly has passed the Rivers State Electricity Market Bill, 2024, which is a Bill for a law to repeal the Rivers State Electricity and Gas Board Law CAP 50, Laws of Rivers State.
Martins Wachukwu – Special Assistant on Media to Hon. Amaewhule disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
According to him, Amaewhule emphasized the benefits of the Bill, which he stated would allow the Electricity Market to flourish; adding that the Bill when passed into law would attract foreign investors and open windows of opportunities for Rivers people.
He said, “In its determined effort to positively impact on the investment climate in Rivers State for the benefit of the people, the Rivers State House of Assembly at its 32nd Legislative Sitting, Friday, passed the Rivers State Electricity Market Bill, 2024, which is a Bill for a law to repeal the Rivers State Electricity and Gas Board Law CAP 50, Laws of Rivers State, 1999, and to enact the Rivers State Electricity Market Law to provide for electricity supply, its power generation, transmission and distribution within Rivers State, and to establish the Rivers State Electricity Commission for the enforcement of consumers’ right and obligation and for connected purposes.
“Debating on the Report presented by Hon. Frankline Nwabochi, Chairman of the House Committee on Power on the Public Hearing of the Bill, Members lauded the Committee for a job well done, stressing that the level of stakeholders’ participation in the Public Hearing speaks volumes on the acceptability of the Bill, and urged the House to pass the Bill into law.
“Commenting on the Report of the Committee, the Speaker of the House, who is also the sponsor of the Bill, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, commended the Committee and honourable Members for their robust debate on the importance of the Bill.
‘The Speaker emphasized the benefits of the Bill, which he stated would allow the Electricity Market to flourish; adding that the Bill when passed into law would attract foreign investors and open windows of opportunities for Rivers people. Rt. Hon. Amaewhule expressed the hope that given the progressive import and accruable benefits of the Bill, the Governor would assent to the Bill when passed.
“Recall that the Electricity Market Bill was committed to the House Committee on Power on the 8th of May, 2024; and in line with Legislative practice and rules of the House, the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole and gave the Bill clause by clause consideration before reverting to Plenary to give the Bill Third Reading.
Friday, 30 August, 2024.
