Rivers assembly passes three bills, adjourns plenary indefinitely
The Rivers State House of Assembly on Friday passed three bills into law before immediately proceeding on an indefinite recess.
The bills include the Rivers State House of Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Bill, and the Rivers State Local Government Bill, 2025.
Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, announced the passage of the bills during a plenary session in Port Harcourt on Friday.
The Powers and Privileges Bills seeks to grant the state lawmakers the authority, privilege and immunity necessary to carry out their legislative duties.
The RSIEC Bill aims to repeal the RSIEC Bill Law No. 2 of 2018, thereby redefining the establishment, composition, and functions of the commission.
The Rivers State Local Government Bill 2025 seeks to repeal the existing Local Government Laws of 2018, 2023, and 2024.
The deputy leader of the House, Lynda Somiari-Stewart, concluded the debate on the three committee reports before their final passage, having scaled the third reading.
Following the passage of the bills, Mr Amaewhule adjourned plenary indefinitely, effectively preventing Gov Sim Fubara from presenting the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
The governor had earlier written to the House on Thursday, requesting to present the state budget on March 19, following two previous failed attempts to meet with the lawmakers.
It remains uncertain whether the indefinite plenary adjournment is a deliberate attempt to further delay the budget presentation, despite the directive by the Supreme Court.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Diaspora
Names, charges of six Nigerian Black Axe cultists extradited from South Africa to U.S. over multimillion-dollar wire fraud
Their extradition comes about five years after South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), popularly known as the Hawks, arrested them in a 2021 raid.
Economy
U.S. govt lauds Nigeria’s maritime reforms
The U.S. government commended Nigeria for its maritime security reforms that led to the lifting of a 12-year restriction on Nigerian vessels.
Heading 2
Accord Party queries INEC over exclusion of candidate from 2027 presidential list
The party said Mr Olawepo-Hashim met the requirements to contest the election, including payment of the prescribed nomination fees, before emerging as consensus candidate.
States
Cross River commissioner for power dies in Abuja
The late commissioner’s brother, Nkang William, said he died on Saturday.
Heading 3
Why Northern Women Ulama endorsed Tinubu: Uba Sani
“They are not endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu based on sentiments; it is simply because of what he has done for Nigeria and for Northern Nigeria in particular,’’ he said.
NationWide
2027: Analysts urge Nigerians to look beyond party sentiments, assess presidential candidates’ records
Political analysts have urged Nigerians to critically assess the presidential candidates for the 2027 elections, following INEC’s release of the final list.
