By Stanley Uhegbu

…GIVES FIRST READING TO RIVERS STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION (AMENDMENT) BILL

The Rivers State House of Assembly at its 120th Legislative Sitting, on Wednesday, further amended the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018 and other matters connected thereto.

Before passing the Bill, the House debated on the pros and cons of the Bill; and thereafter, in line with the rules of the House resolved into Committee of the Whole and gave the Bill clause by clause consideration.

Contributing on the Bill, Members commended the sponsor of the Bill, describing it as an essential amendment that will engender smooth and uninterrupted democratic administration at the Local Government level.

Commenting on the Bill, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule posited that the intendment of the Bill is to amend Section 9(2), (3) and (4)of the Principal Law to empower the House of Assembly via resolution to extend the tenure of elected Chairmen and Councilors, where it is considered impracticable to hold Local Government elections before the expiration of their three years in office; adding that the amendment is
to ensure that Local Government elections are conducted before the expiration of the outgoing Local Government administration.

Adumbrating further, the Speaker stated that upon the expiration of the tenure of the outgoing Local Government administration, the Governor shall swear in the newly elected Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the Councils, but where the Governor is unable or fails to perform the duty, the House shall by resolution mandate Judicial Officers or Magistrates to perform the task; stressing that the progressive intendment of the Bill cannot be overemphasized.

In a similar development, the House gave First Reading to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (Amendment) Bill, sponsored by Hon. Linda Somiari- Stewart, Member representing Okrika Constituency; which is a Bill for a Law to amend the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law No 2 of 2018.

Presenting the Bill, Hon. Linda Stewart submitted that the Bill seeks to amend Section 20 of the Principal Law, and when passed may be cited as the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (Amendment) Law, 2024.

Signed

Martins Wachukwu
S. A Media To The Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly

https://elanhub.net/rivers-assembly-passes-local-government-amendment-bill/

Nawao.all this gragra sef.till today the budget was never represented and noting happened

Are these ones still meeting?
Fubara should just striffle them of funds. With the ebimpawa in town, soon they will join the GDI to curse Wike.

By this act they are forcing the governor to swear in the present Chairmen as caretaker by fire by force.

Kai if na me, I for don discipline those guys very well

ozo13:
Nawao.all this gragra sef.till today the budget was never represented and noting happened

Budget have been passed and signed into law


That's old story, the governor is moving forward and can't be dragged

Governor should just wait till 2 days before their tenure expires, then go to court and obtain an order forbidding him doing these things.

As soon as their tenure expires, he stops sending 1 kobo to them.

Period.

I will see wether they will use their personal money to run local government.

Lol the comments on this thread are so stupid. I really dont understand why Nigerian culture is filled with beta male butt kissers. Everyone saying the governor needs to stifle the bill can't tell you why they're against local governments.

ddippset:
Governor should just wait till 2 days before their tenure expires, then go to court and obtain an order forbidding him doing these things.

As soon as their tenure expires, he stops sending 1 kobo to them.

Period.

I will see wether they will use their personal money to run local government.

many of you are just sentimental ,emotion and unreasonable when you comment on this platform. Instead of you people to encourage same for other states and governors that made local government irrelevant BCS of their selfish agendas. Many of you failed to know that local government ortonomy is the best thing that can give Citizens the dividend of Democracy .

adekolaelect:
many of you are just sentimental ,emotion and unreasonable when you comment on this platform. Instead of you people to encourage same for other states and governors that made local government irrelevant BCS of their selfish agendas. Many of you failed to know that local government ortonomy is the best thing that can give Citizens the dividend of Democracy .

Such law can only be passed by the national assembly and not house of Assembly. I like how the governor allowed them to be messing up. He should just wait for them at the gate and use one law to rubbish all the evil plan of wike

Ofunaofu:


Budget have been passed and signed into law


That's old story, the governor is moving forward and can't be dragged

they need to just calm down and work to benefit for the masses

adekolaelect:
many of you are just sentimental ,emotion and unreasonable when you comment on this platform. Instead of you people to encourage same for other states and governors that made local government irrelevant BCS of their selfish agendas. Many of you failed to know that local government ortonomy is the best thing that can give Citizens the dividend of Democracy .

Obviously one who is far from Rivers state.

We are here in Rivers state... And this is one specific example of a state where it is better not to hold LGA elections now than to hold them.

We are trying to rescue the state from the grip of one man who wants to own and possess the state.

One man who bought forms for hundreds of aspirants across all electoral constituencies to contest the last elections.

Rivers must be rescued.

Yes, using caretakers is bad for the local government but one man having the state in his pocket is worse..

Let the man be defeated first, then we will stand against caretaker.

So abobi shift.

obataokenwa:
Such law can only be passed by the national assembly and not house of Assembly. I like how the governor allowed them to be messing up. He should just wait for them at the gate and use one law to rubbish all the evil plan of wike

Don't mind that Agbadorian.

He knows that the House Members are not working for the betterment of the local government as he claims.

But because of Wike, he wants to sound intelligent.

obataokenwa:
Such law can only be passed by the national assembly and not house of Assembly.

Section 7 (1) disagrees with you.

(1) The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the Government of every State shall, subject to section 8 of this Constitution, ensure their existence under a Law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils.

More: https://jurist.ng/constitution/sec-7