RIVERS PROBE | ABBAS CHARGES REPS’ PANEL AGAINST PARTISANSHIP

Speaker Abbas Urges House Panel to Maintain Impartiality in Oversight of Rivers State Governance

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has called on the 21-member Ad-Hoc Committee set up to oversee the governance of Rivers State to carry out their duties with impartiality, free from bias and partisanship.

In a statement, Abbas reminded Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, of his constitutional obligation to report to the National Assembly. The Speaker emphasized that the current administration in Rivers is temporary, following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the entire state House of Assembly. A caretaker administration has been put in place to manage state affairs during this period.

Referencing previous National Assembly interventions in states such as Plateau, Ekiti, and Borno, Abbas highlighted the constitutional authority vested in the National Assembly under Section 11(4) to legislate in such exceptional circumstances.

However, he made it clear that the committee’s mandate is to be “clear and non-partisan.” Its primary responsibility, according to Abbas, is to monitor the implementation of federal policies and directives in Rivers State, ensuring that the caretaker administration adheres to the rule of law, protects the public interest, and facilitates the restoration of full democratic governance.

“While we have the constitutional mandate to intervene, the purpose is to ensure that governance is conducted within the bounds of the law,” Abbas said, urging committee members to conduct their oversight with integrity and in strict accordance with the Constitution.

The Speaker reiterated the importance of avoiding any form of partisanship or bias in the committee’s work, stressing that their actions must reflect the National Assembly’s commitment to safeguarding the public good and advancing democracy.