Speaker of the house, Martins Amaewhule, yesterday presided over the first plenary of the Rivers assembly in six months, at the conference hall in the legislative quarters, Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
At Thursday’s plenary, lawmakers demanded a review of how funds were dispensed by the sole adminstrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral on projects and programmes during the six-month emergency period .
The lawmaker noted that several contracts were awarded and funds spent from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Account by the outgone administrator, making it necessary to establish a clear picture of what transpired.
The motion, sponsored by nine members, including the House Leader, Major Jack, Deputy Leader, Linda Somiari-Stewart, and seven others, was unanimously adopted by all 26 members present.
Reading the motion, Mr Jack noted that the emergency rule officially lapsed at midnight on Thursday, restoring full democratic structures in the state.
The lawmaker recalled that one of the gains of the emergency period was the successful conduct of the 30 August local government elections that produced 23 chairpersons and councillors.
Mr Jack stressed the need for the assembly to work with Governor Fubara on a new financial plan that reflects the aspirations of Rivers residents, since the legislature neither saw nor contributed to the budget implemented under the emergency rule.
He urged the governor to forward the list of commissioner-nominees for the constitution of the State Executive Council, in line with the Constitution and the peace agreement that restored democratic institutions in the state. He also called on Mr Fubara to submit an appropriation bill for the remainder of the year. (Premium Times)
•Rivers Assembly sets legislative agenda for third session
Returning from a six- month emergency rule induced by the political impasse in the state in the recent past, the Rivers State House of Assembly, yesterday, at its 1st Legislative Sitting through a motion set the Legislative agenda for the remaining part of the third season of the 10th Assembly.
Moving the motion on behalf of eight co-sponsors, the Leader of the House, Hon. Major Jack averred that the Assembly considered it imperative to set the agenda to reflect current realities.
Commenting on the motion, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule commended President Bola Tinubu for restoring democratic institutions in the state; declaring that, going forward the Assembly will work with the Governor and abide by the terms of the peace parley and the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the interest of peace and good governance in the state.
A statement, yesterday, by the Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Martins Wachukwu, said the Assembly resolved to call on Governor Siminialayi Fubara to forward the list of Commissioner nominees to the Assembly for screening and confirmation in line with the Constitution and the terms of the peace parley.
The Assembly also called on Governor Fubara to commence the process of coming up with an Appropriation Bill to cover the remaining part of the year to address current realities; and ascertain what transpired in the last six months with regards to the award of contracts and expenditures from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund.
