The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martins Amaewhule, disregarded Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s veto and signed the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2024, into law on Monday, demonstrating legislative sovereignty.
The bill was originally passed by the Amaewhule-led Assembly on March 26, 2024, but Governor Fubara refused to sign it into law.
However, during arguments led by Major Jack and Amaewhule, the Amaewhule-led Assembly rallied around the bill’s aims, emphasizing the significance of protecting taxpayers’ money and preventing its misuse.
Amaewhule criticized the governor’s unwillingness to follow due process and warned of the consequences if such behavior continued.
According to a statement made available to journalists and signed by the Speaker’s senior adviser, Martins Wachukwu, the Assembly’s decision to enact the bill into law, which was supported by a two-thirds majority vote as required by the constitution, signals a firm stance against executive overreach and a commitment to legislative oversight.
According to the statement: “Thereafter, the House, in accordance with the provisions of Section 100 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered, voted, and with a two-thirds majority vote, passed the bill into law.”
In addition to passing the Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, the Amaewhule-led Assembly addressed pressing issues in the state’s local government system, with Hon. Ignatius Onwuka emphasizing the plight of Emohua Local Government Council employees who have gone months without pay due to administrative irregularities sanctioned by the governor.
The legislators also introduced significant proposals to improve the state’s energy industry and streamline municipal government.
The statement read: “On Monday, the House gave First Reading to the Rivers State Electricity Market Bill, 2024, sponsored by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule.
“It is a bill for a law to repeal the Rivers State Electricity and Gas Board Law CAP 50, Laws of Rivers State, 1999, and to enact the Rivers State Electricity Market Law to provide for electricity supply, power generation, transmission, and distribution within Rivers State, to establish the Rivers State Electricity Commission to enforce consumers’ rights and obligations, and for other purposes.”
“Similarly, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol, presented and read the Rivers State Local Government (Consolidation) Bill, 2024, for the first time. The measure intends to integrate all local government laws in the state for convenience of reference.”
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