House of Reps Sets Up Ad-Hoc Committee to Oversee Rivers Emergency Administration

House of Reps Sets Up Ad-Hoc Committee to Oversee Rivers Emergency Administration

Exponent News Akure,April 16th 2025 – In response to the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, the House of Representatives has inaugurated a 21-member Ad-Hoc Committee to oversee governance and ensure transparency during the emergency administration in the state.

This move follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proclamation of emergency rule in Rivers State—ratified with key amendments by both chambers of the National Assembly—and reflects the House’s commitment to protecting constitutional order and the will of the Nigerian people.

The inauguration, held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, was attended by House leadership, principal officers, and committee members. The committee is chaired by House Majority Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), with the Minority Whip, Rep. Ali Isa J.C. (PDP, Gombe), serving as deputy—a configuration underscoring the House’s bipartisan resolve.

According to the mandate, the committee will monitor the implementation of federal directives in Rivers State, ensure legal compliance by the caretaker administration, and safeguard public interest while guiding the transition back to full democratic governance. The committee’s role is anchored in Section 5 of the 2025 State of Emergency Proclamation and Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution.

Speaking at the event, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, reaffirmed the legislature’s authority under the Constitution to act when democratic institutions are suspended. He cited historical precedents in Plateau (2004), Ekiti (2006), and the North-East states during the 2013 insurgency.

“The National Assembly is not replacing democracy but acting as a constitutional bridge to restore it. Our intervention is lawful and necessary given the suspension of both the Governor’s Office and the State House of Assembly,” the Speaker said.

He stressed that the Administrator appointed by the President, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd.), is expected to function within a limited mandate—ensuring law and order, sustaining basic governance, and reporting directly to the National Assembly.

“The Administrator must uphold the highest levels of transparency and accountability. He is to report to us on matters relating to the peace, order, and good governance of Rivers State,” Abbas added.

Notably, the National Assembly amended the President’s proclamation to vest oversight authority in itself rather than the Federal Executive Council (FEC), reinforcing democratic safeguards and institutional checks during the emergency.

Certified True Copies of these resolutions are to be forwarded to the committee, while the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has been tasked with implementation.

Committee Members: