Rivers Assembly overrides Fubara to pass four bills into law

By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on Friday voted to override Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s objection to four bills into law.

The lawmakers took the action after the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule read four letters addressed to him by the governor on the four bills.

Fubara had in the letters informed the lawmakers that he was declining assent to the four bills sent to him for assent.

However, the House relying on Section 100 subsection 5 said the assent of the governor is not required for the passage into law of the said bills.

The section stated that “where the Governor withholds assent and the bill is again passed by a two-thirds majority, the bill shall become a law and the assent of the Governor shall not be required”.

Speaking further, the Speaker accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of not planning to conduct local government elections in the state, saying “by the reasons given by the Governor it means he doesn’t plan to conduct local government elections in the state”.

Amaewhule said, “the key thing here is that this law removes the power of the Governor to appoint Caretaker Committee Chairmen for the Local Governments, the Governor is not happy that we’re removing his powers to appoint caretaker chairmen,” Amaewhule said.

The 4 Laws passed are:

1-The Rivers Local Government Amendment Law

2-The Rivers State Traditional Rulers Amendment Law

3-The Rivers State Advertisement and Use of State Owned Property Prohibition repeal law.

4- The Rivers State Funds Management and Financial Autonomy Law.