Bayelsa State Emergency Management (Amendment) Bill (BYSHA B.44) 2013 went through its reading on the floor of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly on June 19, 2013.
Moving the motion on the floor of the House, the Leader of the House, Hon. Peter Pereotubo Akpe, representing Sagbama Constituency I, said the devastating effect of last year flood is still very fresh in the minds of Bayelsans, informing that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) had issued a warning of an imminent devastating flood this year.
He said there was need for the House to liaise with relevant government agencies and departments within and outside the state, with a view to finding out the measures being put in place to mitigate the adverse effect of flood, reiterating that it was expedient for the House to look at grey areas in the existing law and amend such sections for effective management of any unforeseen emergencies that may arise as a result of natural disasters.
The House leader further explained that the proposed amendment in the existing state emergency management agency is intended to create a committee, in place of the existing council, to be headed by a Director General, with representatives from all local government areas of the state.
Hon. Akpe said the committee is to replace the existing council which was chaired by the state deputy governor, adding that the committee will be saddled with the onerous task of running the state emergency management agency.
The motion was seconded by the member, representing Yenagoa Constituency I. Hon. Egba Alfred in the House.
In his submission, Hon Monday Bubou Edwin, representing Southern Ijaw Constituency II, lamented that Bayelsans were yet to recover from the trauma they were subjected to, as a result of last year’ flood, which caused collateral damage in several communities in the state, pointing out that the last year flood was so devastating because the people were unprepared for such natural disaster and that it will take years for the flood victims in the state to fully recover.
He said the bill was a very important one and therefore urged his colleagues to support it.
Also speaking in favour of the bill, Hon. Baraladei Daniel Igali, representing Southern Ijaw Constituency III, submitted that if any member of the proposed committee retires, a replacement should be sought from the same local government area of the said retiring member to give the people a sense of belonging.
Hon. Gentle Emelah, representing Yenagoa constituency III, maintained that the state did not prepare for the last years’ devastating flood, making it cumbersome to mitigate its effect, resulting in the spending of huge amount of money for rehabilitation of the victims.
He pointed out that the proposed amendment will go a long way in helping our people, saying that the early passage of the bill is imperative for the agency to commence work in view of the earlier warning from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) on the impending flood this year.
While summarizing the motion, House leader, Hon. Pereotubo Akpe, representing Sagbama Constituency I, thanked his colleagues for the total support given to the bill. The bill was read for the second time.
Piriye Kiyaramo
S. A. Media to Speaker
June 20, 2013
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STATES MONTHLY ALLOCATION FOR THE MONTH OF MAY 2013 FROM THE FEDERAL GOVT & THERE HUGE DEPT PROFILES
Its time for you to ask your Governors what they have been doing with all their Monthly Allocations.
Below is the STATE ALLOCATION FOR MAY 2013
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