The House of Representatives will on Tuesday inaugurate an Ad-hoc Committee on Rivers States Oversight in furtherance of its constitutional mandate and commitment to transparent governance.
Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Akin Rotimi confirmed this via a statement made available to Parliamentary Correspondents, on Sunday.
The Ad-hoc Committee is to be chaired by the Majority Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere.
This is coming barely one month after Federal Government announced plans to release the River States’ allocations to the sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
Recall that the Rivers States sole administrator had on the 9th April, 2025 announced the appointment of 23 sole administrators for Local Governments, despite Court judgement which prohibits him from doing so.
In the same vein, the Sole Administrator announced the reconstitution of some boards of Agencies, Commissions, and Parastatals, who were earlier suspended.
ALSO READ: Emergency rule: Ex-NASS member drags Tinubu, Akpabio, Abbas, Ibas, others to court
Highlighting the House decision, Rep. Rotimi explained that the proposed Ad-hoc Committee was sequel to the “resolution of the National Assembly approving the Proclamation, with amendments, by His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, declaring a State of Emergency in Rivers State.
“The Proclamation presented to the National Assembly by Mr. President was subjected to rigorous legislative consideration and duly amended to strengthen democratic safeguards and uphold the principles of checks and balances.
“One of the most consequential amendments was the designation of the National Assembly – rather than the Federal Executive Council – as the oversight authority for all regulations issued under the emergency arrangement.
“In line with Section 5 of the State of Emergency (Rivers State) Proclamation, 2025, and pursuant to Section 11(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the House has constituted a dedicated Ad-Hoc Committee to monitor implementation and ensure that governance in the State remains within the bounds of constitutionalism and rule of law.”
Other members of the Ad-hoc Committee include: Hon. Ali Isa J.C. – Deputy Chairman; Hon. Isiaka Ibrahim; Hon. Idris Ahmed Wase; Hon. Aliyu Muktar Betera; Hon. Sada Soli; James Abiodun Faleke; Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo; Hon. Shehu Saleh Rijau and Hon. Wole Oke.
Others are: Hon. Akarachi Etinosa Amadi; Hon. Patrick Umoh; Hon. James Barka; Hon. Alex Egbona; Hon. Isa Anka; Hon. Amos Daniel; Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu; Hon. Onuh Blessing; Hon. Fatima Talba, while Professor Jake Dan-Azumi will serve as Head of Secretariat.
“This development underscores the resolve of the House of Representatives to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and ensure that the extraordinary measures undertaken during the emergency period remain subject to legislative oversight, guided by transparency, accountability, and the best interest of the good people of Rivers State,” the House Spokesman noted.
and then