Pro-Wike Rivers Lawmakers Pass Financial Autonomy For Rivers LG

The 26 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to the former Governor of the state and current Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have passed a bill mandating “Financial Autonomy” for the Local Government Administrations in the state.

The pro-Wike lawmakers had their sitting at its Legislative Sitting in the auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters at Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

Recall that TheNewsDesk, earlier reported that Pro-Wike Lawmakers hold plenary in the House of Assembly Quarters against the wish of the state Governor Siminalayi Fubara who has demolished the State House of Assembly Complex to prevent their sitting.

Factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule passed the bill to law after Hon. Major Jack gave the house the report of the committee setup for the bill. The bill received unanimous votes from all the 26 lawmakers present at the plenary.

The passage of the Rivers State House of Assembly Funds Management (Financial Autonomy) Bill, 2023, interestingly, marks a new port to the political crisis rocking the state but the effectiveness of the law requires the signature of the Governor.

However, if Governor Siminalayi Fubara fails to assent to the law within the constitutional time using his “veto power”, the House of Assembly has the power to “pocket his veto” with the simple majority votes this automatically turns the bill into law, and Governor Fubara lacks jurisdiction to tamper the law.