House Of Reps Sends Fresh Warning To Rivers Administrator
House Of Reps Sends Fresh Warning To Rivers Administrator, Ibas
The House of Representatives has issued a reminder to Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.), asserting that he lacks the constitutional authority to make laws or draft a budget for the state.
This statement follows Ibas’s recent announcement of plans to prepare a new budget after a state of emergency was declared in Rivers in March.
In an interview with Punch on Sunday, the Deputy Spokesman for the House, Philip Agbese, emphasized that the Sole Administrator does not have the legal mandate to perform legislative functions in the current context.
“The Sole Administrator does not have the authority to carry out the National Assembly’s function of making laws under the current circumstances,” Agbese clarified.
He further stated that the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, is consulting with House leadership to form a committee that will oversee the administrator’s activities and ensure that the interests of Rivers State are properly represented.
Agbese also noted that the House of Representatives had already communicated their stance on the administrator’s appointment and mandate to President Bola Tinubu. He warned that if Ibas oversteps his constitutional boundaries, the House would take necessary actions, including potentially passing a vote of no confidence, to uphold the rule of law.
The political situation in Rivers State, triggered by a dispute between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly, led to the declaration of a state of emergency by President Tinubu in March. This resulted in the suspension of both the governor and the state legislature for an initial six-month period.
In response, Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibas as Sole Administrator. Last week, Ibas revealed plans to create a new budget to manage the state’s affairs for the next six months. While hosting a delegation from the Rivers State National Assembly caucus, Ibas reiterated his commitment to the people of the state and detailed his budget plans.
“We’ve acted swiftly following the Supreme Court verdict on the state’s budget and decided to formulate a new budget that reflects our priorities in healthcare, education, social services, and infrastructure development,” Ibas explained.
He added that the new budget would prioritize job creation and investments in critical sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, and technology, aiming to improve the lives of Rivers State citizens.
Ibas stressed that the budget would be transparent, inclusive, and expedited to ensure timely investments in the state’s future, assuring the public that no time would be lost in the process.
