Ameachi Talks about the state of Affairs in the state(Press Confrence)

After addressing the Oil dispute issues yesterday during the Governors press conference  he took the Opportunity to talk about the state of affairs in the state starting with the Contributory Social Services Levy(CSSL), Roads, Security, Power, Monorail EtC



On the controversial Rivers State Contributory Social Services Levy (CSSL), which workers have been complaining about, Amaechi, who earlier yesterday met with the civil servants at the State Secretariat Complex, said he had ordered the stoppage of deduction from their pay.

He expressed displeasure that the deductions were made before Christmas, without considering the hardship the workers would face.

The governor said allocations of Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre local governments areas had been seized in the last two months over their refusal not to ensure a clean environment, especially for being unable to curtail the dirt from auto mechanics.

As soon as the mechanics’ workshops and the local government areas are kept clean, he would direct the release of the allocations, said the governor.

According to him, the action is to ensure a clean Rivers state, especially the state capital and its environs .

Amaechi said the government, next month, would obtain a N100 billion bond, to fund the 2013 budget.But, he promised not to leave any debt for his successor.

The governor stated that the monorail project, for now, would be from the old Port Harcourt Township, popularly called Town, to Waterlines Bus Stop on Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway, which he described as economically viable.

The dualisation of the Garrison-Trans-Amadi Road in Port Harcourt has been awarded for N47 billion. Ada-George Road and the road off Peter Odili Road, which is to link Ogoni axis and Aba Road were his priority road projects.

The NGF chairman said Port Harcourt roads were being rehabilitated and would later have asphalt overlay to last for 15 years, with the reconstruction beginning immediately after the rains.

Amaechi noted that he targeted the construction of 750 model primary schools, but he decided to slow down a bit to furnish the completed 250 model primary schools. New ones would be storey buildings because of land constraint.

He assured that three of the model secondary schools in Eleme, Etche and Saakpenwa would soon be admitting students. The foreign teachers have arrived, with the local teachers being hired. He said schools would be completely free.

On power, the NGF chairman assured that the promise of uninterrupted electricity supply in Rivers State next month would be fulfilled, stressing that his administration was having challenges with the Power Holding of Nigeria (PHCN), which did not allow the state government to hook up to its system.

The governor said there had been improvement in the security situation in Rivers State, with no successful robbery in Port Harcourt in the last two months.

He, however, admitted that there had been security challenges outside the state capital, especially kidnapping.

Many policemen have been sent to Omoku, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.