The crisis in Rivers State deepened as the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, led lawmakers to enact three laws without the assent of Governor Sim Fubara.
The Assembly invoked Section 100(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to bypass the governor, citing his alleged refusal to assent to the bills within the stipulated timeframe.
Laws Passed Without Assent
The three bills passed into law include:
– Rivers State Education (Return of Schools) (Amendment) Bill
– Rivers Electricity Market Bill
– Rivers State Commissions of Inquiry Bill 2024
Speaking during plenary, Amaewhule accused Fubara of undermining the state’s development by withholding his assent.
“The governor cannot hold back the state as a result of his indolence and ineptitude. Rivers State must move forward,” Amaewhule declared.
The Speaker referenced Section 100(5) of the Constitution, which empowers the legislature to override the governor’s veto.
“This Assembly will not allow Rivers State to be stagnant due to a governor who sees himself as above the Constitution, the judiciary, and the laws of the state,” Amaewhule added.
The Majority Leader, Major Jack, re-presented the bills during plenary, where they were debated and passed in accordance with legislative procedures.
In a statement by Amaewhule’s Special Assistant on Media, Martins Wachukwu, the Assembly asserted that it had fulfilled its constitutional duty by passing the bills into law.
“Our actions are in line with the Constitution and in the best interest of Rivers people,” the statement read.
The relationship between the governor and the Assembly has been fraught with tension. Both sides accuse each other of constitutional breaches.