Rivers Assembly Scowls At Gov. Fubara’s Appointments

… Declares Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency As Unknown Legal Entity

Displeased by what they described as illegal appointments, the Rivers State House of Assembly on Thursday, at its 41st Legislative Sitting of the Second Session, frowned at the purported appointment of some individuals as Chairman and members of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency.

The House expressed its displeasure when the Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, Hon. Gerald Oforji, presented a Report on the purported inauguration of the Board of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency by Governor Fubara.

In its Report the Committee stated that 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 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.

ALSO READ: Afabor Appreciates Heritage Oil, WSLC For Awarding Scholarship To Oteghele Indigenes

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.

Speaking on the purported appointment and inauguration of the Board of the Agency by the Governor, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike 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.

The Speaker wondered why Governor 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.

Rt. Hon. Amaewhule also recalled a similar action taken by Governor Fubara when he professed to have appointed some persons into the Board of the Bureau for Public Procurement, and other appointments without regard to the provisions of extant laws guiding such appointments.

When the Speaker put the question, the House voted in the affirmative and condemned in strong terms the actions of the Governor which it declared illegal and questionable.