Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says it is too early in the day for the Council of Legal Education to ignore the Dr. Nabo Graham-Douglas Campus of the Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt.
The governor wondered why the campus is allowed to suffer a lack of regular provision of electricity and water supply when the Rivers State government had already donated commercial property and N400M take off grant to ensure maintenance of the campus.
Governor Wike made the observation at a public function on Thursday.
He explained that his administration did not want the Dr. Nabo Graham-Douglas Campus to suffer on the grounds that the Council of Legal Education has not received money from the federal government to cater to such needs.
“When we handed over the Law School to the Council of Legal Education, the (Rivers) State government gave out N400M, and said look, put it in an account for the maintenance of the structures.
“We gave them property that they can use to make money to keep the school. We didn’t want a situation where they will say the federal government has not released money or the money they released is too small.
“We said okay, let the federal government be paying your salaries, take this money to keep and maintain the school. I was told the other day that there was no light, there was no water. I can’t understand our system.”
Governor Wike attributed such attitude to the poor maintenance culture that has pervaded every facet of public life in Nigeria, wherein nobody care enough to maintain public property.
The governor therefore, advised the Rivers State Chief judge not to allow the newly constructed Magistrates Court Complex to suffer such fate.
Governor Wike assured that financial provision will be made, which should cater to the maintenance needs of the complex for at least, the first one year.
“As I am leaving office, in this one year, when I come here, I don’t want to see and hear that it is dilapidated or it has deteriorated it will be unfair.
“So each month, you’ll get N20M to maintain this place. So, we will give you one year (money) in advance so that you’ll keep this place well.”
Governor Wike also told the Chief Judge: “it will be unfair that in your tenure that you cannot maintain this edifice. It will be quite unfair.
“Put it in your budget. I will plead with my successor that he should be releasing this money to you. Let them give it out to those whose responsibility is to keep it clean.”
