The Rivers State House of Assembly has invited the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, to appear before it tomorrow on the preparedness of the state government to tackle the Ebola virus scourge.
It has also ordered the Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission and the Provost of the State College of Health Science and Technology and some aggrieved lecturers of the institution to appear over employment scandals.
The decisions were taken yesterday, during plenary at the old Government House Chamber, Port Harcourt.
The invitation to the Health Commissioner, followed a motion by the Deputy Leader, Robinson Ewor, that the commissioner should appear to brief the lawmakers on the plans put in place by the state government to contain the ravaging virus.
The lawmakers unanimously approved the summon, saying that proactive measures should be taken by the government against the disease including education of members of the public on precautionary measures.
In another development, the lawmakers have summoned the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Provost of the College of Health Science and Technology over a complaint made against them by some lecturers.
The invitation followed a report by the House Ad-Hoc Committee, which looked into the petition by part-time lecturers of the college, that after putting in over 10 years as casual workers, employment opportunity eluded them.
Chairman of the committee, Gift Wokocha, while presenting the report, described the lecturers’ condition at the institution as pathetic.
According to him, about 50 persons were affected and each of the lecturers earned N8,000 monthly, on a promise of employment whenever recruitment opportunity arose.
After much debate on the outcome of the report, the House was divided and, in a single majority vote, decided to invite the affected officers and some of the petitioners to the next sitting.
Meanwhile, in a bid to be proactive against the deadly Ebola virus, Edo State Government yesterday inaugurated a Rapid Response Committee as part of efforts to prevent its spread to the state.
The committee is charged with the responsibility of reviewing and approving the epidemic preparedness and response plan, mobilise resources for epidemic prevention and control.
Besides, the RRC would coordinate and monitor control activities during outbreaks, including information dissemination to the public and media.
Inaugurating the committee in Benin, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Aihanuwa Eregie, said its membership was chosen to reflect the diversity of the state to tackle the EVD.
Also, the House urged Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, to as matter of urgency, constitute the Governing Council of institution.
