Rivers Assembly overrides Fubara on LG Bill, bypasses gov on Commission

The proxy war between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike, deepened on Monday, April 22, 2024 as the Rivers State House of Assembly override the governor by passing the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Bill into law.

The House had on March 13, 2024, passed the Local Government (Amendment) Bill and forwarded same to Governor Fubara for assent.

The governor, however, declined assent.

Section 100(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) empowers the House to override the governor, where he withholds his assent.

Consequently, the Bill was represented by the Majority Leader, Hon. Major Jack, and debated by members on Monday.

Fubara: I’ll liberate Rivers people from bad governance, oppression

Thus the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, put the matter into voting.

And with a two-third majority votes, the House agreed to override the governor and passed the Bill into Law.

Also, House screened and confirmed nominees for the position of Chairman and Members of the Assembly Service Commission.

Those screened and confirmed were Barr. Sampson Worlu as Chairman, Hon. Abinye Blessing Pepple, Mrs Blessing Belema Derefaka, Mr. Gbaranen Robinson and Madam Dorcas Amos as members.

The House had earlier passed the Rivers State Assembly Service Commission (Amendment) Bill into law. The new law donated back to the House the power to appoint the Chairman and Members of the Assembly Service Commission.

As such the lawmakers bypassed the governor.

The Star