In a decisive move, the Rivers State House of Assembly has once more taken a stand against Governor Siminalayi Fubara by enacting the RSHA Service Commission Law, marking the second instance this year where the Assembly has exercised its authority to pass legislation without the governor’s approval.
Earlier in January, the Assembly had already demonstrated its legislative autonomy by overriding the governor’s veto on four separate bills.
The latest development was announced in a press release by Martins Wachukwu, the speaker’s media aide.
According to the statement, the decision was made following the governor’s refusal to grant his assent to the bills, citing potential confusion and constitutional conflicts.
During the session, the speaker, Martin Amaewhule, referenced Section 100(5) of the altered 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which grants the Assembly the power to override the governor in such circumstances.
The session also saw the reintroduction and debate of several amendment bills, including the Rivers State House of Assembly Fund Management Bill, 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.
All were unanimously passed, effectively overriding the governor’s withheld assent.
