The Rivers State House of Assembly has overrided Governor Siminalayi Fubara to pass four new bills into law.
The lawmakers took the decision during plenary on Friday January 26 at the House of Assembly Quarters after the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule read four letters addressed to him by the governor.
Fubara had written to the Speaker to notify him that he has declined his assent to the four new bills which had been sent to him for assent.
The lawmakers 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 relied on by the lawmakers stated as follows:
“Where the Governor withholds assent and the bill is again passed by two thirds majority, the bill shall become a law and the assent of the Governor shall not be required”.
The Speaker at the plenary further accused the governor 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”.
“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”, the speaker said.
Here are 4 Laws passed by the House:
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.
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