The Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly has declared that the recently constituted Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency by Governor Siminalayi Fubara is illegal.
The House, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, also stated that all appointments made by the governor related to the board were not recognised by law.
At its 41st sitting, held at the Assembly’s official quarters in Port Harcourt on Thursday, the House asserted that there was no law permitting the creation of the agency, nor had there been any communication to the House on the matter.
The position of the factional Assembly was contained in a statement on Thursday by the media aide to the Speaker, Martins Wachukwu.
The issue arose following remarks by the Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, Gerald Oforji, who presented a report on what was described as the “purported” inauguration of the Board of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency by Governor Fubara.
According to the statement, the committee’s report noted that while such an agency, if properly established, could create a conducive climate to attract and grow businesses in the state, it regretted the absence of any law, as recognised by the Rivers State House of Assembly, establishing such an agency.
The committee maintained that if such a law existed, the individuals so nominated would have been subjected to confirmation by the Rivers State House of Assembly”.
Relying on the findings of the committee, members commented on the report, pointing out that the governor, in exercising his powers, “has relegated decency in governance to the background”.
The Speaker, Amaewhule, maintained that Fubara’s action in appointing individuals to an agency not backed by any legislation in the state was condemnable.
He also recalled a similar action taken by Governor Fubara when he claimed to have appointed individuals to the Board of the Bureau for Public Procurement, as well as other appointments, without regard to the provisions of existing laws governing such appointments.
When the Speaker put the matter to a vote, the House voted in the affirmative and strongly condemned the actions of the governor, declaring them illegal and questionable.
