FG Releases Withheld LG Allocations To Rivers Sole Administrator

Sole administrator of Rivers State, Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) has announced that the federal government has released the withheld allocations to local government councils in the state.

Ibas, who announced this yesterday in Port Harcourt during a meeting with heads of local government administrators, assured that necessary steps would be taken to ensure the prompt payment of workers’ salaries.

The former Chief of Naval Staff described the gathering as a pivotal moment in the collective effort to restore stability and progress in the state.

He lamented the economic hardship in the Niger Delta region, noting that despite the region’s wealth of natural resources, its people continue to suffer.

Ibas expressed concern over the delay in salary payments across local government areas, acknowledging the struggles of affected workers.

The administrator assured the heads of the LGAs that the withheld allocations had been released and that his administration would ensure that salaries were paid without delay.

While warning that financial accountability would be strictly enforced, the former Naval chief directed all local government areas to submit their wage bills, supported by relevant documentation, through the office of the Head of Service.

He said his administration will not tolerate financial recklessness, vowing to scrutinise the handling of public funds and take action against any mismanagement.

Ibas said good governance is not just a slogan, but a commitment to changing the negative narrative within the next six months.

He further stressed the importance of collaboration with traditional rulers and security agencies to enhance security at the grassroots level.

Responding, the president of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and administrator of Port Harcourt Local Government Area, Clifford Paul, acknowledged the developmental strides made in the state despite political conflicts.

Paul commended the federal government for appointing the sole administrator, attributing the decision to his competence and leadership ability.

He pledged to support peace and stability while urging the administrator to prioritise workers’ welfare.

He explained that local government workers are currently owed two months’ salaries, but are hopeful now that the withheld allocations have been released.

He encouraged stakeholders to seize this opportunity to rebuild trust and foster unity in the state.

 

Security Agents’ Presence On Port Harcourt Streets Eases

Meanwhile, there is a reduction on the number of security personnel deployed on major streets and roads in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, in the wake of the declaration of state of emergency in the state by Tinubu.

When LEADERSHIP Weekend visited some major streets and roads surrounding the Government House, Port Harcourt, especially, Eastern By-Pass, Station Road, Moscow Road and William Jumbo Street, it was observed that the majority of the patrol vehicles and security personnel were no longer there.

However, Naval ratings from the Nigerian Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER were seen manning the three major entrances into the Government House, Port Harcourt.

Relatedly, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olugbenga Adepoju has tasked joint security personnel on patrol duty in the state to ensure that they are civil to members of the public and also respect human rights.

Adepoju, who disclosed this yesterday while briefing the joint security personnel, which comprises the Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NDDC) and the military before their departure for daily confidence building patrol, reassured residents of the state of their safety.

He said, “Considering the situation in the Command because of the political issue, we are embarking on confidence building patrol. We want to ensure people are safe. We will continue to ensure the town is peaceful.

“We have told our men to be cautious, civil and diligent. We have been talking to them even before they left their base. We have told them to respect human rights.

“As you can see, Rivers is peaceful. We have been working in synergy with other security agencies before now, so rivalry will not occur. We have been training together before now too. All the personnel are aware that they are working together and they know the purpose of the joint patrol and the goal.

“This patrol will last as long as we feel it should and to the dictate of the Sole Administrator.

The welfare of the personnel will be taken care of adequately,” he said.

 

In the meantime, the sole administrator of Rivers State, Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas has urged traditional rulers in the state to steer clear of partisan politics, emphasising their crucial role in fostering peace and stability in the state.

 

Ibas, who made the appeal yesterday during a meeting with government-recognised traditional rulers in Port Harcourt, assured that his administration would work tirelessly to return the state to a place of pride and stability.

 

He underscored his primary mandate to restore peace, stressing the need to curb the interest of a few who prioritise personal gains over the state’s collective well-being.

 

The sole administrator stated that the state is too vital to be left in turmoil, adding that, “A society without order is a society without progress.”

 

Responding, the chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Chike Worlu-Wodo, who assured the administrator of their support, described the appointment as a positive decision for the state, affirming that traditional rulers were committed to maintaining peace in their respective domains.

 

Worlu-Wodo said, “As traditional rulers, our primary duty is to ensure peace in our kingdoms, clans and communities.”

 

 

 

Ijaw Youths Ask ECOWAS Court To Restore Democratic Structures

 

Meanwhile, the federal government has been dragged before the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Court), sitting in Abuja, over the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State.

 

In the suit dated March 20, 2025 and marked ECW/CCJ/APP/18/25, the applicants asked the court to set aside and/or quash the suspension of elected officials and removal of the democratic structures and institutions in Rivers State as an imperative for the enthronement of a full-fledged democratic order.

 

The plaintiffs in the suit, Comrade Harry Ibiso and 11 others, sued the government on their behalf and that of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Eastern Zone. They also want an order of the court setting aside all decisions, actions, policies and directives given or issued by the sole administrator appointed by the defendant’s President on March 18.

 

In the application brought pursuant to Articles III and IV of the Supplementary Protocol Amending ECOWAS Court’s Protocol; Article II of the Protocol of the court and Article 33 of the Rules of the Court, the applicants averred that the respondent’s president (President Bola Tinubu), elected into political office, lacked the powers to remove or suspend the governor of a state, who was also elected into the office.

 

They held that by removing the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, the fundamental rights of the applicants and the people of Rivers State had been violated.

 

“By doing so, the defendant has unlawfully taken away the democratic rights of the applicants and that of the population of Rivers State both individually and collectively,” they said.

 

They therefore insisted that the actions of the president have not only drowned, diffused and collapsed the constitutional rights of the applicants and the people of the state in neo-junta governance but also put them into unconstitutional, undemocratic and arbitrary manner of governance which they cannot fit into.

 

“The implication therefore is that the applicants and the people of Rivers State have lost their existence and dignity as human beings, having been politically emasculated by the loss of the values that accompany democratic governance and deprived of leaders duly elected by them in the democratic space.”

 

The crux of the applicant’s complaint is anchored on the alleged infringements on their rights to have a government of their choice as people of Rivers State in their individual and collective capacities as the defining constitutional order under the framework of democratic values.

 

According to them, the actions of President Tinubu does not advance the course of democracy and human rights in their contextual and contemporary forms “when national presidents exhibit absoluteness in determining the existence and functioning of democratic systems in national sub-units by upturning and collapsing entrenched democratic systems.

 

“The deliberate disruption of the democratic order in any part of the national structure questions the democratic practice and constitutional authenticity of the nation state, as the forceful removal of popular sovereignty in a part or fraction of the national landscape translates to the non-existence of liberal democracy and non-application and conformity with constitutional norms in the entire federation.

 

“The enthronement of an illegal and unconstitutional order in any form within a constitutional democracy threatens the very idea of freedom and precipitates loss of genuineness on the part of the state and its institutions of any legitimate claim to a constitutional democracy.

 

“A state of emergency cannot be guise or subterfuge for the usurpation of the executive functions of the governor or the exercise of the law-making powers of the legislature.”

 

The affidavit was disposed to by a constitutional lawyer, Chief Festus Ogwuche and others.

 

The court has yet to fix a date for hearing the matter.