Rivers State House of Assembly passed the LG Bill into law overriding the assent of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The Rivers State House of Assembly at the 159th legislative sitting passed the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Bill into law on Monday by overriding the assent of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Political commentators see this as a move by supporters of former Governor Nyesome Wike to checkmate his successor, Fubara, as both men have been in a lingering battle for political control of the state.
This was conveyed in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the media aide to the Speaker, Martins Wachukwu, and made available to journalists.
OrderPaper recalls that on March 13, 2024, the House passed the Local Government (Amendment) Bill and forwarded same to Fubara for assent, which the governor declined.
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The statement revealed that the members “determined to perform its Constitutional duties, the Bill was represented by the Majority Leader, Hon. Major Jack and debated upon”
“Thereafter, the House in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as altered, which empowers the House to override the Governor, where he withholds his assent; the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule put the question, and with a two-thirds majority vote, the House agreed to override the Governor and passed the Bill into Law. ”
One of the key provisions of the new law is the removal of the governor’s authority to appoint caretaker committees for local government areas. Additionally, it mandates the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to hold elections before the end of the term of local government chairpersons. Furthermore, if local government elections are unable to take place for any reason, the tenure of the current chairpersons may be extended for a maximum of six months.
In another development, the House screened and confirmed nominees for the position of Chairman and Members of the Assembly Service Commission.
Those screened and confirmed were Sampson Worlu as Chairman; Hon. Abinye Blessing Pepple, Mrs Blessing Belema Derefaka, Mr Gbaranen Robinson, and Madam Dorcas Amos as Members.
The statement recalled that on March 22, 2024, the House passed the Rivers State Assembly Service Commission (Amendment) Bill into Law, wherein the House gave to itself the power to appoint the Chairman and Members of the Assembly Service Commission.
Leah Twaki
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