ABUJA – The House of Representatives yesterday condemned the action of the Nigeria Army by invading the training ground of the Rivers State Neighborhood Safety Corp, branding them a militia group and subsequently arrested the all the participants.
Moving the motion under matters of urgent public importance, Hon. Kingsley Chinda stated that the Corp members have been legally and duly employed by the Rivers State Government.
He reminded the House that other States have such legally constituted groups aimed at strengthening community security without interruption from the Nigeria Army or Police, he wondered why Rivers State was being singled out for this intimidation.
The Corp he stated had the twin advantages of helping to provide security as well as providing job opportunities to the teeming youth in Rivers State.
He called for the strong condemnation of the invasion and subsequent release of the arrested participants to reverse the situation and also called for the House Committee on Army to investigate the reasons behind the issue.
As an Investigative Motion it was Voted on and Passed
Meanwhile, Hon. Edward Pwajok Moved the Motion on the disruption of the sitting of the National Assembly from sitting on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 by Permanent Staff of the National Assembly due to the lack of payment of their entitlements.
This he noted was due to the non-release and implementation of the 2018 Appropriation Act and stated that the National Assembly as well as the Judiciary are on first-line and their funds should not be withheld for any reason.
He called for the House Committee on Finance to engage the Minister of Finance to ascertain why the Judiciary and the Legislative Arms of Government would go through such financial neglect. The Motion was also Voted on and Passed.
