By Abiola Olawale
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has issued a directive for a comprehensive audit of the financial records of the 23 Local Government Areas of the state spanning the last three years.
Fubara issued instructions to the Auditor General of the state on Wednesday, during the swearing-in ceremony of the Caretaker Committee Chairmen of the local councils at the Executive Council Chamber of the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The New Diplomat reports that Fubara swore in the new caretaker chairmen for the 23 local government areas of the state.
The inauguration came after the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo screened and confirmed the nominees.
Fubara had forwarded the list to the state House of Assembly on Tuesday and the nominees were invited for screening as early as 8 am on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by the Clerk of the House, G.M. Gillis-West.
Speaking during the swearing-in event, the Governor emphasized that the audit of the accounts is necessary to serve as a check for the incoming chairmen and make the local councils more accountable.
Fubara also charged the new caretaker chairmen to abide by the tenets of democracy and protect the interests of their people.
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.
