Nigeria’s House of Representatives has passed President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State, following its contentious debate on Thursday. The passage, which was with some significant amendments, was confirmed through a voice vote, with Speaker Abbas Tajudeen declaring 243 members present at the sitting.
The approval was predicated on a letter by President Tinubu, read by Speaker Tajudeen to the House before the debate. In granting the state of emergency, the lawmakers made an amendment, which stated that the sole Administrator to be named for Rivers State would report to the National Assembly, and not to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
This amendment, founded on Section 11, Subsection 4 of the Constitution, emphasizes the House’s demand for oversight functions in the matter. The voice vote, bypassing the traditional headcount procedure, sealed the ruling, which was a decisive move in taking charge of the unfolding drama in Rivers State.
The amendments suggest the House’s intention to maintain a sharp eye on the handling of the emergency rule, with accountability to the legislative arm.
