Rivers State House of Assembly has defied Governor Siminalayi Fubara by enacting the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) Service Commission Law during an emergency sitting on Friday, March 22.
This decision comes after the Assembly ruled against Governor Fubara‘s stance, demonstrating the legislature’s independence.
The Assembly had previously passed a bill in February aimed at repealing the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission Amendment Law No. 3 of 2006 and amending the Principal Law of 1999.
During the deliberations, members of the House engaged in a thorough debate on the merits of the bill before proceeding to give it clause-by-clause consideration in line with the House rules.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, emphasized that the bill was designed to empower Assembly staff to advance in their careers, aligning them with their counterparts in other branches of government.
The Speaker highlighted that the 2006 amendment had curtailed the Assembly’s power to appoint the Chairman and Members of the Assembly Service Commission, transferring this authority to the Executive.
Therefore, the repeal of the 2006 Amendment Law was seen as crucial to consolidating the legislature’s independence.
