Rivers State Assembly Overides Governor Fubara, Passes Public Procurement Bill Into Law

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have bypassed the assent of Governor Siminialayi Fubara to pass the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment)Bill 2024 into law.

The house took the decision to pass the bill into law at its 173rd legislative sitting on Monday, May 6.

This was contained in a statement titled- ‘Rivers Assembly Overides Governor Fubara’s Assent, Passes Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill into Law’ with a sub-title ‘ Gives Electricity Market Bill, Local Government (Consolidation) Bill First Reading’

The statement was issued by the media aide to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Martins Wachukwu, and made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday.

The statement recalled that the House had passed the procurement bill on March 26, 2024 and transmitted same to the governor for assent, which was declined.

The statement added, “The Speaker, Martin Chike Amaewhule, reiterated the essence of the bill, which is to secure taxpayers money and to ensure that taxpayers money are not spent on frivolities and twisted contracts.”

The statement added that the speaker bemoaned a situation where due process is relegated to the background, and contracts awarded without legal backing.

He added that despite all the malfeasance, the House will continue to uphold the laws of Rivers State and the 1999 Constitution, stressing that if the governor continues to breach the laws of the state, the House will at the appropriate time take more stringent measures.

This is the latest veto is coming on the heels of five previous vetoes during which the Assembly has overridden the governor to enact laws.

In April, the House of Assembly vetoed Governor Fubara and enacted an amendment to the Rivers State Local Government Law.