The political crisis rocking the Rivers State on Friday took a new dimension as the State House of Assembly ruled against Governor Siminalayi Fubara to enact the Assembly Service Commission Law.
New Telegraph reports that the decision was made in an impromptu sitting at the State Assembly complex on March 22.
It would be recalled that this marks the second time in less than one year that the state lawmakers have overridden the governor’s approval of bills.
Earlier in January, the House also ruled against Fubara’s approval of four Bills that had been previously passed and sent to him for assent.
Details of the assembly’s impromptu meeting was made public in a statement made available to journalists today by the media aide to the Speaker of the State Assembly, Martins Wachukwu.
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According to the statement, the lawmakers decided 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.
During the debate, the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, referred to Section 100(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended. This section grants the House the authority to surpass the Governor’s refusal to give 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 presented, debated, and voted upon. The unanimous decision was made to override the Governor’s assent.