The non-compliance of oil companies and corporate organisations operating in Rivers State with the State Employment Law has drawn the ire of Rivers State lawmakers.
Subsequently, the state House of Assembly has constituted a five-man ad-hoc committee headed by Hon Nnamdi Ihute (Oyigbo) with a view to sanctioning erring oil companies and corporate organisations in the state.
This development was sequel to a motion tagged “the non-compliance with the Rivers State Employment Law, 2000 by companies operating in Rivers State” brought at the floor of the House Wednesday, by Hon Anthony Okeah (Obio/Akpor II).
Hon Okeah stated that the objectives of the State Employment Law 2000 was exclusively to address the incidence of youth unemployment in the state, especially with regards to workers from grade level 01 to grade level 06.
The state lawmaker regretted that since the passage of the law in 2000 by the 4th Assembly, companies operating in the state have flagrantly flouted implementation in their respective organisations, noting that the lingering youth restiveness and militancy being witnessed in the state was attributable to the high rate of unemployment in the state.
He opined that the unfortunate thing was that rather than complying with the law, senior management personnel of the companies, who are not indigenes of the state, prefer to go to their villages to recruit their kith and kin to fill the positions meant for state indigenes.
He prayed, among other things, that the House should direct the Ministry of Youth, Economic Empowerment and Employment Generation to furnish it with the list of defaulting companies.
Other prayers sought include, that the House should invite the heads of the companies to appear before it to explain the reasons of non-compliance.
The state lawmaker also urged the House to direct any other measures which it might consider necessary in order to address the problem.
Seconding the motion, Hon Onari Brown (Akuku-Toru I) commended the sponsor of the motion, noting that it was timely, and called for total support so as to tackle the problem of unemployment in the state.
In their various contributions, Hon Victor Ihunwo (PHALGA III), Hon Benson Enyinda (Ikwerre), Hon Prince Uchechukwu Nnam-Obi (ONELGA I) supported the motion in its entirety, and commended Hon Okeah for the motion, noting that given the desired support it sought, the move was in line with the present government’s bid in tackling the unemployment syndrome in the state.
They called on their colleagues, to as a matter of urgency, pass the motion without further delay in the interest of their constituencies and the state at large.
In their views, Hon Ibani Owaji (Andoni), Hon Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja (Opobo/Nkoro), Nnamdi Ihute (Oyigbo), Ogbonda Jones (PHALGA I), Nwile Befil Charles (Khana I), Kamalu Isaac (Eleme) and Hon Tamuno Maureen (Ogu/Bolo) while commending the sponsor of the motion, noted that a vivid account of defaulting companies was not indicated in the motion, and advised the sponsor to ensure that the database of the companies and their employment profile were added into the motion as to enable the House take a proper position on the matter.
Ruling on the issue, the Speaker, Rt Hon Tonye Harry thanked the sponsor of the motion as well as members for their useful contributions on the matter.
He observed that the non-compliance with the law was as a result of the absence of the House committee on employment generation, and assured that the problem will be over as soon as the committees are inaugurated.
The speaker, while amending prayer I of the motion, urged the five-man ad-hoc committee to direct the Ministry of Youth, Economic Empowerment and Employment Generation to furnish the House with details of the operations of companies in the state with regards to the compliance on employment law, and report to the House in two weeks.
Other members are, Hon Ibani Owaji, Tamuno Maureen, Ogbonda Jones and Hon Anthony Okeah.
