Ibas 

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has directed the newly appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to report to the National Assembly for legislative approvals related to his administration’s actions.

The directive came during the inauguration of a 21-member House committee tasked with overseeing the affairs of Rivers State amid the current state of emergency.

Speaker Abbas charged the committee to closely monitor the administrator’s activities and ensure transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to constitutional guidelines.

This move follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and the dissolution of the state’s House of Assembly.

According to Vanguard, Speaker Abbas stressed that the National Assembly holds the constitutional authority to legislate for states whose legislative arms are unable to function.

“The administrator must report to the National Assembly regularly on his administration’s activities to ensure that the public interest is safeguarded.

“The ongoing emergency measures and oversight will be pivotal in ensuring the state’s smooth return to full democratic governance”, Abbas emphasized.

In his address, the Speaker highlighted similar precedents, citing past instances of emergency rule in Plateau State (2004), Ekiti State (2006), and Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States (2013), where the National Assembly played crucial roles in stabilizing governance and restoring constitutional order.

Abbas reminded the committee that the current caretaker administration, led by Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, is temporary and should focus on maintaining law and order and the delivery of essential governance services until democracy is restored.

“The administrator is required to operate with transparency and accountability, reporting directly to the National Assembly on all matters related to the state’s governance, as prescribed by the Constitution,” he stated.

He praised President Tinubu’s decisive action, describing the state of emergency as a necessary measure borne out of patriotic duty and a genuine concern for the welfare and security of the people of Rivers State and the country at large.

The newly inaugurated 21-member oversight committee is chaired by Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), with Minority Whip, Hon. Ali Isah (PDP, Gombe), serving as deputy chairman.

The committee’s mandate includes ensuring that the caretaker government adheres to federal policies and operates within the boundaries of the law.

Referencing the State of Emergency (Rivers State) Proclamation 2025 and Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution, Speaker Abbas outlined the committee’s primary mission: “This committee’s mission is clear and non-partisan.

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that Rivers State receives the governance it deserves, while protecting the rights and interests of its people,” he said.

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