Fubara’s Consent To Four Bills Is Overridden By The Rivers Assembly

The Rivers State House of Assembly members and Governor Siminalayi Fubara are still at odds over four bills that were passed earlier and forwarded to the governor for assent. On Friday, the House overrode the governor’s dissent on these bills.

The House decided to override the governor’s assent on Friday during its 99th Legislative Session, which was held at the Assembly building on Aba Road.

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 indicated that the lawmakers took the decision 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 presented afresh by the Majority Leader, Major Jack, and debated by members, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. 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.

“The Speaker then put the question and the 24 members present at the sitting unanimously agreed to override the governor.

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.

Speaking about the House’s decision on the bills, Speaker Amaewhule emphasized that the governor’s justification for delaying ratification of the Local Government Amendment Bill seemed premeditated and intended to create an environment that would make holding elections in the state untenable, as the amendment limited the governor’s authority to remove local government council chairs and appoint caretaker committees.