The Speaker Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly has enacted three laws in the state, bypassing the assent of the state governor, Siminialayi Fubara.
The lawmakers said their actions were in line with Section 100(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, and in furtherance of legislative positivism in the interest of the Rivers people.
It was gathered that the three bills were earlier passed by the lawmakers and sent to Fubara for his assent.
The lawmakers reportedly followed legislative processes to make the laws of Rivers following Fubara’s decision to withhold his assent.
The bills are the Rivers State Education (Return of Schools) (Amendment) Bill, the Rivers Electricity Market Bill, and the Rivers State Commissions of Inquiry Bill 2024.
A statement signed by Amaewhule’s Special Assistant, Media, Martins Wachukwu, confirmed the development.
The Majority Leader of the House, Major Jack, re-presented the bills, which were debated by members.
Amaewhule cited Section 100(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as the enabling provision that empowered the House to override the governor where he withheld his assent.
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The Speaker put the question to the members, and they answered in the affirmative.
Amaewhule emphasized that Fubara could not hold back the state as “a result of his indolence and ineptitude”, insisting that the state must move forward.
Amaewhule described Fubara “as one, who sees himself as above the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the judiciary and other extant laws of the state.
He maintained that the House would continue to hold on to the Constitution and democratic ethos.
