The Ad-Hoc Committee of the House of Representatives on Rivers State Administration has mandated an immediate overhaul of the crumbling Rivers State Secretariat complex and the urgent relocation of civil servants from unsafe work environments.
The directive followed an emergency inspection led by Committee Chairman Professor Julius Ihonvbere, who assessed the deplorable conditions of the State Secretariat and the stalled Rivers State House of Assembly project.
Speaking to reporters in Port Harcourt, Professor Ihonvbere described the Secretariat as being in a state worse than facilities in war-torn Gaza, pointing to structural hazards, crumbling floor tiles, leaking roofs, exposed electrical wiring, and a complete absence of basic amenities, including functional toilets, drinking water, and proper furniture.
He further declared the 6th and 7th floors unfit for human occupation due to life-threatening conditions.
The committee, therefore, ordered the immediate closure of hazardous floors and the relocation of staff to secure alternative office spaces.
It also called for a comprehensive renovation of the Secretariat complex and an urgent meeting with contractors to address delays in the Rivers State House of Assembly project, which is now unlikely to meet its September completion deadline.
The committee expressed dismay at the infrastructure failures but praised civil servants for their resilience in working under such dire conditions, particularly those on the dangerous upper floors.
Professor Ihonvbere labelled the Secretariat’s condition as gross workplace endangerment, demanding swift action to provide safe accommodations for displaced workers, a transparent bidding process for renovation contracts, and weekly progress reports to the committee.
He also announced a review of contractor performance for the Assembly project, with possible sanctions for those failing to meet standards.
The Rivers State Administration has been given 48 hours to begin implementing these measures, signalling a critical step toward restoring safety and functionality to the state’s administrative infrastructure.
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