Rivers Assembly Overrides Governor Fubara, Passes House Of Assembly House Service Bill

… Gives First Reading To Public Procurement Amendment Bill

The Rivers State House of Assembly, on Friday, at its 125th Legislative Sitting has overridden Governor Fubara’s assent to pass the Rivers State House of Assembly (Amendment) Bill into Law.

Recall, that the House passed the Assembly Service Commission (Amendment) Bill on the 15th of February, 2024, and transmitted same to Governor Siminialayi Fubara for assent.

Displeased by the Governor’s failure to assent to the Bill within the constitutional window of thirty days, the House decided to override the Governor’s Assent

Remarking on the Bill which was represented by the Majority Leader, Hon. Major Jack, and debated by Members, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, cited Section 100(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as altered, which empowers the House to override the Governor, where the Governor withholds his assent.

The Speaker then put the question, and in accordance with the constitutional provision of two-third majority votes, 24 Members present unanimously agreed to override the Governor.

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Commenting further, Rt. Hon. Amaewhule described the amendment to the House of Assembly Service Commission Law as one that merely returned the power donated to the House by the Principal Law in the appointment of the Chairman and members of the Assembly Service Commission; stressing that the amendment is in the best interest of staff of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and wondered why the Governor refused to give assent to the Bill.

The Speaker reiterated the House commitment to the continuous strengthening of institutions in the State; adding that with the passage, the Bill has now assumed the garb of law by virtue of section 100(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as altered.

Earlier, the House gave First Reading to the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2024, sponsored by Hon. Lemchi Nyeche, Member representing Ikwerre Constituency. The Bill seeks to amend the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment) Law No. 1 of 2021 and other related matters.