The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to reschedule the meeting with the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Akin Rotimi disclosed this via a statement made available to Parliamentary Correspondents.
According to him, the 21-member Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight has “received a formal request from the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to reschedule the interactive session initially set for today, April 17, 2025, at 4:00 PM.
“The Committee has acknowledged the request and is in the process of coordinating a new date for the session, and will, in the spirit of transparent and effective oversight, promptly inform the public once the rescheduled date is confirmed.”
The Ad-hoc Committee chaired by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere had during its maiden meeting resolved to invite the Sole Administrator as part of its oversight function as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution, which States that: “At any time when any House of Assembly of a State is unable to perform its functions by reason of the situation prevailing in that State, the National Assembly may make such laws for the peace, order and good government of that State with respect to matters on which a House of Assembly may make laws as may appear to the National Assembly to be necessary or expedient until such time as the House of Assembly is able to resume its functions; and any such laws enacted by the National Assembly pursuant to this section shall have effect as if they were laws enacted by the House of Assembly of the State.”
On March 18, 2025, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing escalating political instability and security concerns. This action led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
In the same address, President Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibas as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
Ibas, who previously served as Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021, was tasked with overseeing the state’s affairs during the emergency period. The President emphasised that while the judiciary would continue its functions, the administrator would not enact new laws but could formulate necessary regulations subject to approval by the Federal Executive Council.
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