March 20, 2025
The National Assembly, on Thursday approved the state of emergency which President Bola Tinubu, imposed on Rivers State on Tuesday.
The senate decision, was adopted unanimously by senators as announced by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, after a closed-door session that lasted for over an hour,
In giving the approval, the Senate said the emergency rule should not go beyond six months
The approval included a resolution “that Section 11 of Section 4 of the Constitution be invoked to provide the National Assembly the authority to set up a joint ad hoc committee of both chambers to oversee the administration of Rivers State henceforth.”
Section 305(6)(b) states that a proclamation issued by the President under this section shall cease to have effect “if it affects the Federation or any part thereof and within two days when the National Assembly is in session, or within ten days when the National Assembly is not in session, after its publication, there is no resolution supported by a two-thirds majority of all the members of each House of the National Assembly approving the proclamation.”
The Senate further resolved that a committee of eminent Nigerians be set up to reconcile the warring groups within the government of Rivers State within the period of the state of emergency in Rivers State.
It further resolved that a committee to reconcile the warring factions in Rivers State should consist of eminent Nigerians.
Akpabio, while announcing the approval of the emergency rule in Rivers State, noted that relevant sections of the Constitution and Senate standing rules had been complied with.
The House of Representatives had earlier in the day approved President’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The House approved the president’s proclamation after brief debate and amendments to the motion moved by the majority leader in a plenary session that was attended by 243 members and presided over by speaker Abbas Tajudeen.
President Bola Tinubu in a nationwide broadcast, Tuesday, declared a state of emergency in Rivers state for six month
The president also suspended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, as well as the members of the State House of Assembly.
Tinubu further nominated Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state for the period.
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has resumed office in government house Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
