The Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly has declared the recently constituted Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency by Governor Siminalayi Fubara as illegal. The House, loyal to Minister Nyesom Wike, also stated that all appointments made by the governor related to the board are not recognized by law.
At its 41st sitting on Thursday at the Assembly’s official quarters in Port Harcourt, the House asserted that there is no law permitting the creation of the agency, nor has there been any communication to the House on the matter.
The position of the factional Assembly was contained in a statement by the media aide to the Speaker, Martins Wachukwu. The issue arose following remarks by Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, Gerald Oforji, who presented a report on the “purported” inauguration of the Board of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency by Governor Fubara.
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 establishing such an agency. The report stated, “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.”
Members commented on the report, pointing out that the governor has “relegated decency in governance to the background” by appointing individuals to an agency not backed by any legislation. Speaker Amaewhule condemned Fubara’s action, recalling similar actions taken by the governor in appointing individuals to the Board of the Bureau for Public Procurement and other appointments without regard to existing laws.
The House voted in the affirmative, strongly condemning the governor’s actions as illegal and questionable.
