Rivers Crisis: Assembly Rules Against Gov Fubara, Enacts Service Law

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Rivers Crisis: Assembly Rules Against Gov Fubara, Enacts Service Law

On Friday, the Rivers State House of Assembly voted against Governor Siminalayi Fubara's proposal to enact the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission Law.

The House ruled against Fubara after convening an impromptu sitting.

This is the second time the state lawmakers will override Fubara’s assent on bills.

In January, the House ruled against Fuabara’s assent to four Bills that were earlier passed and sent to him for assent.

The House decided to override the Governor’s assent during its 99th legislative sitting at the Assembly quarters.

This was contained in a statement issued by Martins Wachukwu, media aide to the Speaker of the State Assembly and sent to newsmen.

The statement said the lawmakers decided after the Governor withheld his assent to the four Bills via letters to the House, which were read on the floor of the House; stating that such amendments would create confusion and breach constitutional provisions.

Remarking on the Rivers State House of Assembly Fund Management Bill, which was re-presented by the Majority Leader, Major Jack, and debated by members, the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, cited Section 100(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as altered, which empowers the House to override the Governor, where the Governor withholds his assent.

In like manner, the Rivers State Local Government Law (Amendment) Bill, the Rivers State Traditional Rulers’ Law (Amendment) Bill, and the Rivers State Advertisement and Use of State-owned Property Prohibition (Repeal) Bill were all represented, debated, and voted upon with a unanimous decision to override the Governor’s assent.