A heavy crisis is looming in Rivers State as the Speaker of the State Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, has passed the Local Government (LG) Bill into law, overriding the veto of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The House had initially passed the bill and sent it to the governor for assent on March 13th, 2024, but he declined to approve it. The bill was reintroduced by the leader of the Amaewhule-led Assembly, Major Jack, representing Akuku/Toru Constituency 1.
A statement by Martins Wachukwu, an aide to the Speaker, revealed that a two-thirds majority of House members voted to override the governor and pass the bill into law. In addition to this development, the House also screened and confirmed nominees for the positions of Chairman and members of the Assembly Service Commission. The confirmed nominees are Sampson Worlu as Chairman, Abinye Pepple, Blessing Derefaka, Gbaranen Robinson, and Dorcas Amos as members.
It is worth mentioning that on March 22nd, the House had passed the Rivers State Assembly Service Commission (Amendment) Bill into law, granting itself the power to appoint the Chairman and members of the Assembly Service Commission.
In an official statement, the Rivers State House of Assembly said, “The Rivers State House of Assembly, on Monday at its 159th legislative sitting, has passed the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Bill into law by overriding the assent of the governor.”
The statement further explained, “Determined to perform its constitutional duties, the bill was represented by the Majority Leader, Hon. Major Jack, and debated upon by members. 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 when he withholds his assent, agreed to override the governor and pass the bill into law with a two-thirds majority vote.”
Regarding the Assembly Service Commission, the statement stated, “The House screened and confirmed nominees for the position of Chairman and members of the Assembly Service Commission. The confirmed nominees were Barr. Sampson Worlu as Chairman, Hon. Abinye Blessing Pepple, Mrs. Blessing Belema Derefaka, Mr. Gbaranen Robinson, and Madam Dorcas Amos as members.”
The statement concluded with the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amaewhule, announcing the sad news of the demise of Mr. Lucky Amadi, the husband of Hon. Emilia Lucky Amadi, the honorable member for Obio/Akpor Constituency II. It was also mentioned that the members would pay a condolence visit to their colleague.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
