Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, on Tuesday, inaugurated a 21-member ad-hoc committee to oversight the emergency rule in Rivers State.
President Bola Tinubu had appointed Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd) as sole administrator for the state after suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state House of Assembly for initial period of six (6) months.
The House had during the approval of the declaration of state of emergency by President Tinubu resolved amongst others, that the National Assembly should take over legislative functions of the Rivers state House of Assembly in line with the provisions of section 11(4) of the Constitution.
The committee has the majority leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere as chairman, and minority whip, Hon. Ali Isa J.C. as deputy chairman while deputy majority whip, Hon. Isiaka Ibrahim, former Deputy Speaker Idris Ahmed Wase, Hon. Aliyu Muktar Betara and Hon. Sada Soli will serve as members.
Other members of the committee include Hons James Abiodun Faleke, Igariwey Iduma Enwo, Shehu Saleh Rijau, Wole Oke, Akarachi Etinosa Amadi, Patrick Umoh, James Barka, Alex Egbona, Isa Anka, Amos Daniel, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, Onuh Onyeche Blessing, Fatima Talba, Chris Nkwonta, and Ebibake Marie Enenimiete.
Inaugurating the committee, Abbas said the action reaffirmed the House constitutional commitment to transparent governance as empowered by Section 5 of the State of Emergency (Rivers State) Proclamation 2025 and pursuant to Section 11(4) of the Constitution, adding that the panel has a clear and non-partisan mandate.
He said the committee’s mandate is to monitor the implementation of federal directives and policies in Rivers State, ensure that the caretaker administration adheres to the law, and protect the public interest while facilitating the re-establishment of full democratic governance in the state.
The Speaker noted that the state of emergency in Rivers State has generated widespread interest across the nation, saying the eyes of all Nigerians were upon the lawmakers as they await to see if the National Assembly can live up to the high expectations placed upon it.
He added that the task before the Committee is not routine but a mission of national significance that will serve as a litmus test for the House commitment to democratic principles and constitutional governance.
The Speaker added that the importance of the assignment placed considerable burden on the Chairman and all members, as every action taken will be subject to national scrutiny.
He charged them to approach the assignment with the highest standards of professionalism, impartiality, and diligence and conduct the oversight in strict accordance with the Constitution and avoid all forms of partisanship or bias.
“It is imperative that you monitor every aspect of the caretaker administration’s conduct, scrutinise public expenditures, and ensure that all federal directives and policies are implemented as intended,” the Speaker said.
He also stressed the expectation to regularly report their findings to the House in a transparent manner with a bid to continuously assess the impact of the emergency measures and to take further legislative action if necessary.
“Beyond mere oversight, your work must actively support efforts to restore lasting peace and re-establish a fully functioning democratic system in Rivers state,” the speaker said.
He noted that the National Assembly’s intervention in Rivers state is not an instrument of political vendetta but a constitutional necessity as it embodied legislature’s collective duty to safeguard peace, security, and the rule of law.
In his response, the ad-hoc committee’s chairman, Rep Ihonvbere pledged the total commitment of the panel to the task, saying it would commence work immediately, operate transparently with diligence and unbiased.
“If I am not wrong, this is probably the strongest ad-hoc committee ever set up since 2019. With the experience, exposure, and dedication of this team, I assure you on behalf of my colleagues that we will not disappoint the Speaker, the National Assembly, or the Nigerian people,” he said.
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