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Tag: Rivers Assembly

  • Rivers Assembly passes N480b budget into law

    LAWMAKERS in the Rivers State House  of Assembly(RSHA), yesterday passed into Law the N480 billion appropriation bill of the state Governor Nyesom Wike for the 2019 fiscal year into law. Governor Nyesom Wike presented the budget document christianed ” Budget of sustainable growth and development.” to the lawmakers, December 24, 2018 for consideration and possible approval. Debates on the bill was held last Wednesday with all the Lawmakers who contributed  supporting the passage of the bill. In their separate submissions, they believed that the 2019 budget proposal of the Governor was fair to all the 23 local government areas of the state, as it captured the infrastructural needs of the areas, just as it equally accommodated the senior citizens pension and the workers new  minimum wage.

    According to them, the budget if approved into law and fully implemented would affect positively the economic and capacity of the citizens of the state, but urged the government to take seriously the issue of agricultural development in the state for job creation and food security.

    The equally supported the budget for its interest on capital projects and infrastructural development of the state, hence the big gap between the capital expen diture and the recurrent expenditure among others. The document was later committed to committee on Ethics and appropriation/ Supplies for defense by state ministries and agencies. Further debates on the committee reports was held yesterday with lawmakers highlighting some sectoral issues in the budget and made some observations hinging on the need for speedy passage of the budget estimate as was presented.

    Before the passage, the Speaker of the House, RT. Hon. Ikwuiyi Owaji-Ibani reeled out the high points of the reports of the Committee on Supply and said, “Members of the Committee on Supply agreed that the appropriation bill as presented by Governor is a balanced one having taking to account the economic realities in the country presently and the forecast and projection made. “That they now considered at arriving at a figure a little above N480 billion as appropriate for the 2019 budget. “Members considered the work of the appropriation committee based on the observations and recommendations of the committee and that even some of tje requests which members identified in the committee of supply, if you look at the provision on the 2019 estimate can also take care of such requests during the implementation of the bill when passed into law.” Speaking further the Speaker recalled that the recurrent expenditure in the bill as appropriated is N157, 122, 354, 563, while capital expenditure is N323, 288,970,084.00, totaling N480, 411, 324,647. He pointed out that according to the budget estimate before the House, “the budget is expected to be funded from Internally generated revenue (IGR) which is targeted at N120, 492, 891, 302, statutory allocation over N73 billion, 13 per cent oil mineral production fund over N145 million then Value Added tax over N26 million, refunds to government over N27 million, local credits over N45 million, while international credits is N30 million.

    “Also capital receipt is N300 million, estate earning N8million among others. “The committee on appropriation agreed that the budget must addressed all the sectors, as follows, administrative, Economic, law and justice, social sector, among others.” At the end of the deliberations, a voice vote on whether the budget estimate for the year 2019 fiscal year be passed as presented, the 22 members present voted in favour that it be approved with no one saying otherwise, then the Speaker pronounced the 2019 budget estimate of N480 billion passed by the state Llawmakers for the running of the state in the fiscal year.He noted that the document would be transmitted to the state governor for his assent.

  • Rivers: INEC suspends poll, as violence mars 
 bye-election

    Heavy gunshots, thuggery, violence and snatching of electoral materials marred yesterday’s bye-election for Port Harcourt Constituency 3 in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    Soldiers, policemen and other security personnel forced residents to raise their hands on the streets of Port Harcourt, the state capital, where the election took place.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner Obo Effanga in a statement said “As a result of widespread and wanton disruption of  the electoral process reported,” the elections have been suspended.

    Thugs operated freely despite Rivers Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Zaki’s announcement that 1,500 policemen would be deployed for the poll with the Nigerian army, Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCSC) also enlisted.

    They unleashed mayhem, beating innocent persons many of whom were critically injured.

    As at press time, collation of results was ongoing at St. Andrew’s Primary School, Emenike Junction Mile One, Diobu, Port- Harcourt with the area and adjoining roads condoned off by fully-armed security personnel.

    Candidates of many political parties took part in the bye-election, but the real contest was between Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) ChiemekaMerukini and All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) Mr. Deacon Worlu.

    The then representative of Port Harcourt constituency 3, Victor Ihunwo of the PDP, resigned in June to contest as Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council, which he won.

    The poll took place in Rumuokowu, Ihuwo-Orogbu, Rumuokara-mati, Rumuelechi, Oro-obaziolu, Rumu-enyika, Rumuopareli, Rumuobiekwe, Rumukpalukwuozu, Rumuogbarawehu and Rumuwoji communities, all in Port Harcourt with police announcing restriction human and vehicular movements from 7 am to 6 pm, which was enforced by security personnel.

    There were accusations and counter accusations between members of PDP and APC about persons involved in the violence.

    Rivers Publicity Secretary of APC, Chief Chris Finebone, blamed PDP members for the violent acts.

    He said: “The Rivers chapter of APC notes with sadness how the PDP resorted to large-scale violence across the units and wards of Port Harcourt Constituency 3, state House of Assembly, during the bye-election today (yesterday).

    “It is unfortunate that what should be a mere state constituency bye-election witnessed unprecedented voter intimidation, harassment, vote-buying and shooting activated by the PDP, in line with their usual character of rigging elections through killing and maiming of APC members.

    “It is encouraging that the people of Port Harcourt constituency 3 stood their ground and resisted the intimidation by PDP leaders in the area. It signifies that PDP will no more have its way, as was the case in the past years.

    “The talk that the Rivers State Chairman of APC, Hon. Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, was engaged in any form of activity in the constituency during the election is mere façade created to mask the evil machinations of the PDP during the bye-election.”

    Pastor Jerry Needam, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Rivers Chairman of PDP, Chief Felix Obuah, however didn’t respond to calls and text messages to his MTN line as at the time of filing the report.

    Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), also did not answer calls from 6:30 pm while text sent to the same line at 6:37 pm had not been replied as at press time.

     

  • Rivers Assembly rejects local govt autonomy

    Rivers Assembly rejects local govt autonomy

    The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday approved nine of 15 items in the constitution alteration bill of the 1999 amended constitution.

    The National Assembly recently transmitted the document to the Assmbly for its input.

    Some items rejected by lawmakers include councils’ financial autonomy and power for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct by-elections and de-register political parties

    Of 28 members present, 27 persons voted against  the alteration seeking  to  permit councils to operate separate accounts. But the  lawmaker representing Port Harcourt  1, Victoria Nyeche, voted in favour of the bill.

    Explaining the  rejection,  House Committee Chairman on Information and Communication Sam Ogeh  said  lawmakers did not consider it an item of urgency.

    “We are in a county that is moving on on daily basis and as events unfold,  we will try to improve and better some things,” he said.

    Nyechie said granting financial  freedom to councils would  strengthen and deepen democracy.

    She said: “The local government autonomy is very critical because by its independence, they can be more accountable, power should revolve from the centre to the grassroot. I also voted in favour of INEC independence and power because as an electoral umpire, it should be able to hire and fire, as well as deregister political parties.”

    The House also rejected the alteration seeking to provide for independent candidates, among others.

    It approved the alteration  outlining the process for an amendment if the President witholds his assent.

    The lawmakers okayed  the alteration, which provides for reduction of age for qualification to contest as President, governor, National and State Assembly seats.

    The Assembly voted to approve an alteration, which permits immunity for legislators  during sitting and to strengthen  the legislative process.

    Also approved was another alteration specifying the period within which the President or governor must present an appropriation bill to the legislature  for consideration.

     

    The House also voted to approve alteration number 4, which confers financial autonomy on State Assemblies  and alteration number 2, which reduces the period that the President or  governor can spend money before the passage of the next budget from six months to three months.

     

    Speaker Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, who presided over the voting of the 15 alterations of the Constitution (Fourth Alteration)  Bill 2017 , urged the National Assembly to revisit the issue of devolution of power, stating that  too much powers were concentrated at the federal level and making the country to drift to a unitary system.

     

    Ibani directed the  clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly to immediately transmit the resolution of the House to the National Assembly for necessary action.

     

  • Rivers Assembly okays 15 for CTC chairmanship 

    Rivers Assembly okays 15 for CTC chairmanship 

    The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday screened and confirmed 15 persons as  Caretaker Committee (CTC)  chairmen.

    This followed the request by Governor Nyesom Wike to lawmakers to screen them for the position.

    The local governments are  Abua/Odua,  Ahoada-East, Ahoada-West, Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru, Bonny, Eleme, Etche, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpo, Ogu/Bolo, Omuma, Opobo/Nkoro, Oyigbo and Port Harcourt City.

    Presenting the request at plenary yesterday, the Speaker, Ikunyi Ibani said: “I have before me the request of his Governor  Nyesom Wike for the screening and confirmation of chairmen and members of caretaker committees from 15 local government councils.

    “Representing the aforementioned local government areas are Magidi Dickson, Beatrice Awala, Frank Rodgers Ogiri, ThankGod Lelee, Tabotamuno Dick, Cyril Hart, Godwin  Abbey Olor, Gearshon Awunanya, Sunny Woricom, Nobel Amadi, Francis Ebenezer, Tande Ewunchu, Bama Brown, Ugochukwu Ijiri and Orukwem Amadi.”

    The persons were screened and confirmed after a voice vote at the end of questioning and debate.

    House leader Martin Amehule, who led the debate, urged the nominees and members to serve their people diligently.

    Ibani urged the Port Harcourt City Chairman, Erukwem Amadi, to ensure that the state is kept clean.

    He said: ‘’Answers given by the nominees are considered by members of the house satisfying, the nominees for the Port Harcourt council represent the entire nominees from various caretaker committees, I will urge you that proper things should be done and that Port Harcourt LGA should always assist to make other community clean, it is proper and fit for council to do what it is suppose to do in ensuring  there is clean environment and residence conform to law, you must always show leadership to other caretaker committee,

    “What you do today will speak for you tomorrow and I urge you to do your best’’.

     

  • APC expels Rivers Assembly’s Minority leader

    APC expels Rivers Assembly’s Minority leader

    The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has expelled the Minority leader of the House of Assembly, Benibo Anabraba, for alleged anti-party activities.
    Anabraba, a lawyer, represents Akuku-Toru Constituency II.
    In a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by its Chairman, Davies Ikanya, APC said Anabraba was expelled for alleged anti-party activities, disobedience and negligence to obey the party’s lawful directives.
    The statement said: “The State Working Committee (SWC) of the APC in Rivers State, having invited you (Anabraba) three times to its meetings to discuss the allegations of your anti-party activities, disobedience and negligence in carrying out lawful directives of the party, and your refusal to attend any of the three invitations, the SWC, in its meeting of January 27 resolved that you are guilty of anti-party activities and guilty of disobedience and negligence in carrying out lawful directives of the party.
    “Your wilful and consistent refusal to attend the proceedings on the three occasions you were invited has confirmed your disrespect to constituted authority of the party.
    “The party considers your wilful and deliberate refusal to make yourself available to answer to the allegations against you as sufficient confirmation that the allegations against you are true.
    “Therefore, the party, pursuant to relevant provisions of the constitution of APC (October 2014, as amended), particularly Article 2l (A) ii, iii, hereby expels you from the party forthwith.”
    Efforts to get Anabraba’s reaction were unsuccessful last night.
    Calls to his mobile phone were not answered while he also did not respond to a text message sent to the number.

  • Rivers Assembly set to repeal Reserve Fund law

    Rivers Assembly set to repeal Reserve Fund law

    •Peterside kicks

    The Rivers State Reserved Fund Law, Number 2 of 2008, will soon be repealed by the House of Assembly.
    The law, which was established under former Governor Chibuike Amaechi, was made to enable the state government compulsorily save N1 billion monthly from the allocation accruing to the state.
    This comes as the Executive, through House Leader Martin Amaewhule, yesterday presented a bill, tagged: Rivers State Reserved Fund Repeal Bill, 2017, on the floor of the Assembly at its resumed sitting.
    When passed into law, the bill stipulates that “…all monies standing to the credit of the Rivers State Reserve Fund are to be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state”.
    The Executive also presented a bill seeking to establish a Teaching Hospital for the State-owned Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST).
    The bill states that when the hospital is established, it will provide such facilities as are usually provided in medical schools and form part of the university for instruction of medical students in such subjects as are usually taught in such schools.
    The bill also states that the hospital, when established, shall also consist of RSUST Hospital and such other health facilities/institutions in the state as the government may from time to time designate as component units of the hospital.
    Also yesterday, another bill presented on the floor of the Assembly was the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2017, and Rivers State Education (Return of Schools) Amendment Bill, 2017, sponsored the Amaewhule.
    Speaker Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani welcomed lawmakers back from their Christmas and New Year vacation.
    He hoped they would have robust legislation this year.
    But a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, condemned Governor Nyesom Wike’s attempt to repeal the Reserve Fund law.
    In an online statement by his media team, Peterside noted that the bill before the House of Assembly was not well thought out.
    Peterside, who was APC governorship candidate in the 2015 election, expressed shock over Wike’s decision to repeal the law.
    He insisted that the governor lacked creative ideas about how to govern the state.
    The statement said: “At a time when countries of the world are working hard to secure a sustainable future for their people, looking for more avenues to increase their savings for future needs, when the Federal Government of Nigeria is doing all it can to increase our foreign reserves, Wike is doing the exact opposite.
    “Rivers people are worried that the governor lacks a sense of accountability and responsibility. This is a state where nobody saw the 2016 budget, where the 2017 budget, recently signed by the governor, is yet to be made available to anybody, including members of the House of Assembly. Wike should not make the future of our state seem hopeless.
    “Not too long ago, the Federal Government refunded over N15 billion to the coffers of Rivers State from excess deduction over Paris Club exit. Till date, the governor has not told Rivers people what he intends to do with the money. Nobody knows what has happened to the money. Doctors, teachers, firemen and pensioners, among others, are protesting unpaid wages and lack of working tools.
    “Here is a governor who has borrowed over N100 billion since he assumed office, but there is nothing on the ground to justify such huge amount. The same man is now seeking to repeal a law that makes it compulsory for the state to save monthly from its federal allocation.
    “Here is a governor who has not employed anybody since he came into office, but has rendered many people jobless and helpless. Workers of TIMARIV and RSSDA are still being owed till today, just as many of the primary health centres and primary schools built by the Amaechi-led administration have been abandoned.”

  • Rivers Speaker quits

    The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Adams Dabotorudima, resigned from the position on Friday.

    Dabotorudima has since been replaced by a member representing Andoni Constituency in the Assembly, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani.

    Ibani was the speaker until the Court of Appeal nullified his election into the House last year and he consequently resigned from the seat.

    He was re-elected in the December 10 legislative rerun elections in the state.

    Dabotorudima resigned shortly after administering oath of office on those declared winners of the rerun poll by the Independent National Electoral  Commission (INEC).

    Those sworn-in  included; Hon. Farah Dagogo, (PDP), Degema Constituency; Hon. Adonye Diri (PDP), Opobo/Nkoro Constituency; Hon. Victoria Nyeche (APC), Port Harcourt Constituency 1, Rt Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani (PDP), Andoni Constituency; Hon. Granville Tekenari Wellington (PDP), Asari-Toru Constituency 1; Hon. Enemi Alabo-George, (PDP), Asari-Toru Constituency II and Hon Abinye Blessing Pepple (PDP), Bonny Constituency.

    Others included Hon. Mathew Dike (APC), Tai Constituency; Hon. Josiah John Olu (APC), Eleme Constituency; Hon. Innocent Barikor (APC), Gokana Constituency; Hon. Friday Nubari Nke-ee (APC) Khana Constituency II and Hon. Azubuike Chikere Wanjoku (APC), representing Ikwerre Constituency.

     

     

  • Rivers Assembly amends local govt law

    The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday amended the state’s Local Government Law to allow unlimited tenure for caretaker committees.

    House Leader Martin Amaewhule presented the Executive Bill, which sought to amend Section 9 of the principal law on the tenure of caretaker committees in the state.

    During the debate on the bill, the lawmakers said the new law would reward hard work.

    House Whip Amaewhule, Evans Bipi and Deeya Barine called for an accelerated hearing of the bill.

    According to Amaewhule, the principal law can no longer fit into the state’s local government statute.

    Barine said the amendment was meant to encourage consistency and reward diligence.

    When the motion was put to voice vote by Speaker Dabotoru Dima, all 15 lawmakers at plenary backed the amendment.

    The principal law provides two tenures for caretaker committees.

    But with the amendment, the governor, at his discretion, can reappoint someone who has served two tenures as chairman or member of the caretaker committee.

    “A caretaker committee appointed under Sub-section 4 shall oversee the affairs of the local government for three months.

  • Rivers Assembly approves N104.2b Supplementary Bill

    Rivers Assembly approves N104.2b Supplementary Bill

    The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday approved a supplementary budget of N104,287,285,108 billion for Governor Nyesom Wike.

    The Assembly passed the bill following a request letter the governor sent to the lawmakers.

    Wike said the supplementary budget would enable him to execute some capital projects.

    To give the bill express approval, the Assembly suspended Order 50 of its Standing Rule.

    The lawmakers noted that “since it is for capital-oriented projects”, they had to pass the bill into law without much ado.

    After a debate among the lawmakers, Speaker Ikwunyi Owaji-Ibani split the Assembly and the 22 lawmakers present unanimously voted for the bill.

    The Speaker said the budget was meant to cater for capital projects.

    He directed the Assembly’s Clerk to send an approval letter to the governor on the passed budget.

    On March 9, former Governor Chibuike Amaechi signed into law N335 billion for capital and recurrent expenditure.

    The former governor had presented on January 15 an Appropriation Bill of N335 billion, but the Seventh Assembly later increased it to N338 billion to enable the Executive execute vital projects.

    Also yesterday, the Assembly screened and cleared two commissioner-nominees – Dr Odamene Theophilus Mienebari and Dr Austin Tam-George.

    Based on Wike’s request, the Assembly also approved five additional special advisers for the governor.

     

     

     

  • Ibani: I’m still Rivers Assembly’s Speaker

    Ibani: I’m still Rivers Assembly’s Speaker

    Rivers State House of Assembly’s Speaker Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani has said Monday’s nullification of his election by the Rivers State Election Petitions Tribunal has not sacked him from office.

    Ibani, who represents Andoni, spoke yesterday at the Assenbly’s complex in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    The Speaker said it was erroneous for people to say that the tribunal had sacked him from office.

    He noted that the tribunal’s verdict only said the election that brought him into office had been nullified.

    According to him, “that does not mean that I have been sacked from office, because I am still the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly”.

    Ibani added: “I heard in the news that the Speaker and 20 others have been sacked by the election tribunal. But this is not true.

    “No member of the Assembly, not even the Speaker, has been sacked. The lower tribunal gave judgment… In their judgment, they argued that there should be a rerun within 90 days.”

    The Speaker said he, alongside other lawmakers whose elections were nullified by the tribunal, had instructed their lawyers to appeal the verdict.

    He said: “The judicial process in Nigeria is that when a lower court gives its judgment, you can proceed to a higher court. That is why we have asked our lawyers to appeal the matter immediately.”

    Ibani said he was confident that justice would be done in the matter because “we have faith in the Judiciary”.

    The Speaker queried the reason the card reader, which was not used to determine the case of Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the tribunal, should be used to determine that of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

    Besides Ibani, other members of the Assembly whose elections were nullified by the tribunal, are: Martins Mannah (Ahoada East); Jack Major (Akuku Toru I); Tonye Awari Alalibo (Akuku Toru II); Granville Wellington (Asari Toru I); Enemi George (Asari-Toru II) and Abinye Peple (Bonny).

    Others are: Dagogo Farah Doctor (Degema); Tony Ejiogu (Etche II); Ngbulelo Israel (Gokana); Oguguo Anselem (Ikwerre); Deeyah Barine (Khana I); Dinebari Loolo (Khana II) and Christian Ahiakwo (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni I).

    The election of House Leader Martin Amaewhule was also nullified with those of: Michael Chinda (Obio/Akpor II); Diri Kelly Adonye (Opobo/Nkoro); Adoki Smart (Port Harcourt II) and Ngbar Amuele (Tai).

    The survivors of the election nullification include: Deputy Speaker Marshall Stanley-Uwom (Abua/Odual; Chief of the House Evans Bipi (Ogu/Bolo); the only APC member in the Assembly, Olu Josiah John (Eleme) and 10 other lawmakers.