BREAKING: Rivers Assembly overrides Gov Fubara, enacts service law

The Rivers State House of Assembly took a decisive stand on Friday, ruling against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and enacting the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission Law.

This move came after the Assembly hastily convened for an impromptu sitting, marking the second time the state lawmakers have overridden Governor Fubara’s assent on bills.

Earlier in January, the House had rejected Fubara’s assent to four Bills that had been passed and sent to him for approval.

During its 99th legislative sitting at the Assembly quarters, the lawmakers opted to override the Governor’s assent following his refusal to approve the four Bills, as communicated in letters to the House. The Governor had expressed concerns that the proposed amendments could lead to confusion and violate constitutional provisions.

In a statement released by Martins Wachukwu, the media aide to the Speaker of the State Assembly, and disseminated to the press, it was revealed that the Assembly’s decision was based on these grounds.

Speaking on the re-presentation of the Rivers State House of Assembly Fund Management Bill by the Majority Leader, Major Jack, and subsequent deliberations among members, the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, referenced Section 100(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). This section empowers the House to override the Governor’s decision in cases where he withholds his assent.

Similarly, 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 reintroduced, discussed, and put to vote. The outcome was a unanimous agreement among the members to override the Governor’s assent.