For what it described as “gross
disobedience to the Employee Transport Law” of the state, the Rivers
State House of Assembly has come hard on construction giants, Julius Berger
PLC.
The law prohibits the use of trailers to
convey workers to their offices, and that companies and establishments should
provide suitable and safe transport for their workers.
The House, at its sitting on Wednesday,
noted with dismay that the construction company had refused to comply with the
law since it was promulgated.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Chubuike
Amechi, said Julius Berger had in defiance of the law continued the use of open
trucks to convey employees to places of work.
Amechi said the attitude did not show
respect for the state in which the company operated, adding that such method of
transportation was unsafe for the workers.
The House directed the Commissioner for
Transport, Mr. Elemchukwu Ogbowu, to ensure that the company complied with the
law.
The Speaker further said that compliance
with the law was necessary for the development of the state.
“Lawmaking should not be seen as an
effort in futility. Laws are intended to trigger positive changes, so they must
be obeyed,” Amechi said.
Copyright�
2004. All Rights Reserved.
Independent
Newspapers Limited
Block5,
Plot 7D, Wempco Road, Ogba, P.M.B.
21777, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. www.independentng.com
e-mail:
[email protected]
