Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly Declares That Investment Promotion Agency Constituted By Gov. Fubara Illegal, Unknown To Law

The Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly has said the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency recently constituted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara is illegal.

The House loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, also said all appointments made by the governor on account of the board are unknown to law.

The House at its sitting held at the Assembly official quarters in Port Harcourt on Thursday said there was no law allowing the creation of the agency as no communication to the house to that effect.

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

This came following remarks by the Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, Gerald Oforji, who presented a report on what it termed the ‘purported’ inauguration of the Board of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency by Governor Fubara.

According to the statement, the committee in the report said such an agency if properly established would create a conducive climate to attract and grow businesses in the State; but regretted the absence of any law known to the Rivers State House of Assembly, establishing such an agency.

The statement read, “The Committee maintained that if such law exists, the individuals so nominated would have been subjected to the confirmation of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Relying on the findings of the Committee, Hon. Members commented on the Report, pointing out that the Governor in the exercise of his powers has relegated decency in governance to the background.”

The Speaker, Martin Amaewhule maintained that the action of the governor in appointing some individuals to an agency not known to any legislation in the state is condemnable.

Amaewhule wondered why Fubara would continue to deliberately act in defiance of extant laws and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered, knowing that such acts constitute misconduct; emphasising that such infractions will be properly addressed.