By Abiola Olawale
Following the expiration of a three-year tenure of local government Council chairmen of Rivers state and the subsequent directive by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers state that heads of Local Government Administrations should take over affairs, the Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo led Rivers State House of Assembly is currently set to screen those who made the list of a Caretaker Committee (CTC) for the 23 Local Government Councils.
It was gathered that the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of Oko-Jumbo has invited the Caretaker Committee members, which consists of Chairmen and other members for screening and assessment today, Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
This was contained in a memo signed by the Clerk of the House, G.M. Gills-West.
The memo reads in part: “The Rivers State House of Assembly hereby invites the following nominees for screening and confirmation as Chairmen and members of Caretaker Committees of the Twenty-Three (23) Local Government Areas of Rivers State, under Section 9(5) of the Rivers State Local Government Law, No.5 of 2018.
“Names of Nominees and their Local Government Areas (See Attached): Date: Wednesday, 19th June, 2024. Time: 8:00 a.m. Venue: Hallowed Chamber, Rivers State House of Assembly, Auditorium, Admin. Block, Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt.
“The nominees are to come along with twelve (12) sets of their Curriculum Vitae (CV) and, the originals and photocopies of their credentials.”
The New Diplomat reports that Rivers State has been experiencing a period of political turmoil following a fallout between Fubara, and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The duo have been involved in heated exchanges but the situation has been calm for a while.
The latest crisis emerged after the pro-Wike faction of Rivers State House of Assembly extended the tenure of the local government chairmen by six months.
The Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly had amended the law to enable LG chairmen to extend their tenure by six months over the alleged failure of Fubara to conduct local government elections.
However, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had granted an order voiding the Local Government Law No.2 of 2024, which seeks tenure extension for local government chairmen in the state.
The court in its ruling declared that Local Government Law No.2 of 2024, which extended the tenure of local government chairmen by six months, is inconsistent with the 1999 constitution and Section 9 (1) of Rivers State Law No. 5 of 2018 which fixed three years for local government chairmen and councillors.
In the early hours of Tuesday, Fubara instructed Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to immediately assume control of the 23 council areas in the state following the expiration of the three-year tenure of elected local government officials.
