‘Angry’ Rivers Assembly members write Fubara to represent 2024 budget
Factional Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly Martin Amaewhule presiding over the meeting at the auditorium at the auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters at Port Harcourt-Aba Road, Port Harcourt on Thursday morning.
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
…Rivers Assembly also frowns Accountant-General inability to present 2022 audited Accounts
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
The Rivers House of Assembly, on Tuesday frowned at the failure of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to represent the 2024 Budget and State’s Medium Scale Framework at its legislative sitting held on Tuesday Port Harcourt-Aba road residential area.
The House also unanimously resolved to write to the governor in the that regards.
Fubara had earlier presented the 2024 Appropriation Bill which was passed into law by former Speaker Edison Ehie led four members faction of the Assembly.
The budget which was passed by the Lawmakers within 24 hours was immediately signed into law by Fubara.
But representation of the budget to the 27-member faction of the Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule was one of the terms of the peace deal between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Speaking during the plenary on Tuesday the Speaker Amaewhule hinted that the Rivers State House Assembly is yet to receive the State’s Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the 2024 Appropriation Bill.
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Consequently, the lawmakers unanimously voted to write to Fubara, to notify him of the delay in presenting the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the 2024 Appropriation Bill for consideration of lawmakers in line with the 1999 Constitution as amended.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chike Martin Amaewhule , cited relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, that empowered the State House of Assembly to receive Report of the audited account of the State, and therefore urged the House Committee on Public Accounts to investigate why the Auditor-General of the State has not submitted the 2022 audited account of the State to the House.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Hon. Major Jack had requested the House to give the Committee more time to enable it carry put further inquiry and consultation before submitting its Report. The committee has been given three weeks to submit its Report to the House.
The House also asked its Commitee on Public Accounts to investigate delay by the Accountant-General to present the 2022 Audited Public Accounts to lawmakers
The lawmakers also deliberated on the First Reading to a Bill which seeks to amend the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Law No. 4 of 2015.
Amaewhule said the Bill sponsored by the Majority Leader, who is also the Member representing Akuku Toru Constituency I, Hon. Hon Major Jack seeks to amend some sections of the Principal Law, and when passed, will make the traditional rulers’ law be in tune with current realities.
In the same vein, the House gave First Reading to a Bill which seeks to repeal the Rivers State Advertisement and Use of State-owned Property (Prohibition) Law No.7 of 2022. The Bill was sponsored and presented by the Member representing Port Harcourt Constituency II, Hon Tonye Smart Adoki.
