President Bola Tinubu has applauded the National Assembly for its “patriotic approval” of the emergency rule in Rivers State.
The approval solidifies the government’s suspension of elected structures and transfer of power to a sole administrator for six months.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga on Thursday, Tinubu commended the lawmakers for prioritizing the security and welfare of Rivers State above partisan interests.
“The crisis in Rivers State was at a perilous tipping point, threatening the security of vital oil and gas installations and undermining the national economy,” Tinubu said.
Tinubu noted that the emergency measure is necessary to safeguard livelihoods, secure critical infrastructure, and restore democratic accountability.
“Today’s decision exemplifies what our nation can achieve when unity of purpose and patriotism guide the action of leaders,” he added.
The Nigerian leader’s commendation comes after the National Assembly approved his request for an emergency rule in Rivers State, following a near-total collapse of governance and threats to federal economic assets.
Persecondnews recalls that barely an hour after the House of Representatives’ approval, the Senate gave its nod to the state of emergency imposed by President Bola Tinubu on Rivers State three days ago.
The decision, which was announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, was adopted unanimously by senators
after a closed-door session that lasted more than an hour on Thursday.
The approval included a resolution “that Section 11 of Section 4 of the Constitution be invoked to provide the National Assembly the authority to set up a joint ad hoc committee of both chambers to oversee the administration of Rivers State henceforth.”
Section 305(6)(b) states that a proclamation issued by the President under this section shall cease to have effect “if it affects the Federation or any part thereof and within two days when the National Assembly is in session, or within ten days when the National Assembly is not in session, after its publication, there is no resolution supported by a two-thirds majority of all the members of each House of the National Assembly approving the proclamation.”
The Senate said the emergency rule should not last more than six months.
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