In furtherance of good governance in Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike, yesterday signed five bills passed by the House of Assembly, into law.
The bills include Rivers State Education (Return of Schools) Amendment Number 1 Law, Number 1 of 2017, Rivers State Honours Law Number 2 of 2017, Rivers State Reserve Fund (Repeal) Law Number 3 of 2017, Rivers State University Law Number 4 of 2017 and Rivers State University Teaching Hospital Law Number 5 of 2017.
Governor Wike lauded the Assembly for its commitment to the rapid development of the state.
He said Return of School Law was vital because it would permit the government to intervene in mission schools already returned to their owners.
The governor said the bill would help in the sustenance of quality of education in mission schools returned by the government to their previous owners.
He explained that the Rivers State Reserve Fund (Repeal) Law Number 3 of 2017 became necessary as the law was no longer relevant following alleged financial recklessness of the immediate past All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in the state.
Wike alleged the administration refused to respect the law as it indiscriminately withdrew funds meant for the future.
He said: “Between February 12, 2014 and May 27, 2015, they (immediate past APC administration in the state) withdrew N53 billion without passing through due process.
“The state is today suffering from the financial recklessness of that administration as it squandered state resources through illegal withdrawals,” he said.
He added that the Rivers State University Law Number 4 of 2017 was done to avert loss of accreditation of several courses by the university following recent regulations by the National Universities Commission.
Earlier, Majority Leader, Mr. Martin Amaewhule, said the Assembly passed the bills because of their commitment  to the development programmes of the state government.
In his remarks, Speaker Ikunyi Ibani said the Assembly would always put up its best in the interest of the state.
He commended the governor for his outstanding achievements, which he said had been complemented by the Assembly.