Mohammed Shosanya
A faction of Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, led by Martin Amaewhule has ordered the suspension of all expenditure from the state consolidated revenue fund.
The lawmakers said the decision was taken following Governor Siminalayi Fubara flagrant violation of Sections 121 and 122 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered by spending from the consolidated Revenue Fund of the State without an Appropriation Law.
The position of the lawmakers comes after they gave the Governor a seven-day ultimatum to resubmit the 2024 budget, which has now expired.
This was as the Governor on Monday, said his administration had started the process of preparing the 2025 budget, dismissing the ultimatum by the Martin Amaewhule-led faction as a mere joke.
Governor Fubara noted that the lawmakers having defected to the All Progressives Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party platform on which they got election, their seats remained vacant, hence their demands holds no meaning.
But,the pro-Wike lawmakers in a statement signed by Martins Wachukwu Special Assistant On Media to the factional Speaker, Martin Amaewhule on Monday, quoted the lawmakers as insisting that they could no longer look the other way while the Governor consistently trample on the Constitution he swore to uphold.
The statement reads: “The Rivers State House of Assembly at its 4th Legislative Sitting of the Second Session of the Tenth Assembly, Monday, considered a statement by the House Leader, Hon. Major Jack, wherein he drew the attention of the House again to the fact that given the combined provisions of Sections 121 and 122 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered, Governor Siminialayi Fubara has flagrantly continued to violate the Constitution by spending from the consolidated Revenue Fund of the State without an Appropriation Law.
“Debating on the statement by the House Leader, members in unison and in strong terms condemned Governor Fubara’s wanton disregard to the Constitution, despite repeating reminders of the consequences of his actions; thereby expressing their support for the shutdown of expenditure from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state forthwith.
“Commenting on the House Leader’s statement, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, stated that, it is unfortunate that Governor Fubara now sees violation of the provisions of the Constitution and judgements of Courts as a way of governance; adding that as representatives of the people, the House would not look the other way while the Governor consistently trample on the Constitution he swore to uphold.
“The House therefore, resolved to write to the Governor, intimating him of the shutdown of all expenditures from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State.”
The lawmakers further noted that they have concluded modalities to notify federal government agencies and banks to stop forthwith any transactions with the state government, pending the resolution of matters relating to the 2024 Appropriation Law.
“The House further resolved to notify the Federal government, its relevant Agencies, banks, local and foreign donor agencies of the development, and to advise them not to have any transactions with the Government of Rivers State, pending the resolution of matters relating to the 2024 Appropriation Law.”
