Rivers State Assembly Overrides Governor Fubara, Enacts Four New Laws

In a bold move during today’s plenary session, the Rivers State House of Assembly has overridden Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s veto to pass four new bills into law. The decision came after Speaker Martin Amaewhule read letters from the governor, expressing his refusal to give assent to the proposed legislations.

The legislative body, citing Section 100, subsection 5, asserted that gubernatorial approval is unnecessary for the bills to become law. The section specifically states that if the governor withholds assent and the bill is subsequently passed by a two-thirds majority, it shall automatically become law without requiring the governor’s approval.

Speaker Amaewhule accused Governor Fubara of intending to avoid local government elections in the state, emphasizing, “By the reasons given by the Governor, it means he doesn’t plan to conduct local government elections in the state.” The Speaker highlighted that one of the laws strips the Governor of the power to appoint Caretaker Committee Chairmen for Local Governments, a move that seemingly displeased the governor.

The four laws that have now been enacted are:

1. The Rivers Local Government Amendment Law
2. The Rivers State Traditional Rulers Amendment Law
3. The Rivers State Advertisement and Use of State-Owned Property Prohibition Repeal Law
4. The Rivers State Funds Management and Financial Autonomy Law.