Rivers crisis: Assembly on collision course with governor, passes vetoed Assembly Service Commission Bill

The Rivers House of Assembly has once again rejected Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s decision to withhold his assent to certain bills.

In January, the legislature overruled the governor’s decision to veto four laws that the assembly had already enacted.

The governor had refused to sign the bills,claiming that the changes would be confusing and violate existing laws.

Speaking on the Rivers State House of Assembly Fund Management Bill, which was reintroduced by Major Jack, the Majority Leader, and debated by members, Speaker Martin Amaewhule referred to the amended Section 100(5) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 Constitution, which gives the House the authority to overrule the governor of he declines to give his consent.

Persecondnews recalls that the four bills were 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.

But on Friday, the House—led by Speaker—passed the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission Bill despite the governor’s withholding of assent.