Two bills passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly has been signed into law by Governor Nyesom Wike, on Monday, June 21.

The bills include the Public Procurement (amendment) Law No.1 of 2021 and Contributory Health Protection Programme Law No.3 of 2020.

Governor Wike, who assented to the bills at the Government House, Port Harcourt, believes that with the signing of the Contributory Health Protection Programme bill into law, residents and people of the State who want health insurance can now participate in the scheme.

According to a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, the Governor said, “Let me on behalf of the Executive Council sincerely thank the Speaker and members of the State Assembly for passing into law Public Procurement (amendment) Law and Contributory Health Protection Programme Law, particularly the second one that has to do with health.

“This is something that has become a reality today. We have had a lot of pressure from people and also Nigeria Medical Association so as to give health insurance to those who would want to participate. It is not compulsory for those who want to leverage of it in order to promote their health system.”

Governor Wike advised civil servants to take advantage of the Contributory Health Protection Programme to boost their health status.

Speaking on the Public Procurement Law, the Governor explained that it would enable the State government fulfill its contractual obligations.

According to the statement, “Government ought to pay a lot of penalty, because under the law, if a contractor is not paid as at when due, there ought to be sanction against the government.”

Wike said the need for the State government to expedite and fulfill its contractual obligations necessitated the amendment of the Public Procurement Law.

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