Anita Ogona
The Rivers State House of Assembly has overridden the assent of Governor Siminialayi Fubara for the third time in three months to pass the Rivers State Public Procurement Bill
In March, the assembly had ruled against Fubara to enact the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) Service Commission Law.
It took same measure in April by passing the local government amendment bill into law despite the refusal of Fubara to give his assent.
On Monday, the lawmakers passed the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment)Bill, 2024 into Law and threatened to to take stringent measures against the governor “if he continues to flout the laws of the state”.
The house said it acted in consonance with the provisions of Section 100 (5)of the 1999 Constitution voted, and with a two-third majority votes passed the bill into law.
The lawmakers had passed the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment)Bill, 2024 on the 26th of March, 2024, and transmitted it to the governor for assent, which he declined.
Speaking on the bill , the speaker, Martin Amaewhule, said it is to secure taxpayers’ money and ensure that it is not spent on frivolities and twisted contracts.
Amaewhule bemoaned a situation where due process is relegated to the background, contracts awarded without legal backing and the state being governed in a “dictatorial panache”.
The speaker added that despite “all the malfeasance”, the house would continue to uphold the laws of the state and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
However, he said the house would not stand aloof and watch the governor breach laws.
In another development, the Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government, Hon. Ignatius Onwuka, presented a preliminary Report on the petition by two Local Government Chairmen, wherein he stated the agony of staff of Emohua Local Government Council, who he said have not been paid salary for two months on the directive of the Acting Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission to those responsible for signing requisite documents.
Hon Onwuka described the Acting Chairman as an imposter, stressing that such position is not known to law in the State.
Commenting on the Report, the Speaker condemned what he described as the recalcitrance of the official who he said parades himself as the Acting Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, adding that it is the result of administrative lawlessness being encouraged by Fubara.
The Speaker emphasized that the House would not fold its arms and see staff of Emohua Local Government Council suffer, and therefore resolved to mandate the Committee to invite the Commission’s Secretary, saying that where he fails to appear before the Committee, the House will invoke its powers by issuing warrant of arrest.
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