The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, has officially deemed the recently established Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency, created by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, as illegal.
During the Assembly’s 41st sitting in Port Harcourt, members expressed their concerns, noting that there is no legal framework supporting the agency’s formation, nor had there been any prior communication regarding its establishment. This stance aligns with the House’s loyalty to Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, who has been a vocal opponent of the governor’s decisions.
The controversy escalated when Gerald Oforji, Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, presented a report labelling the agency’s inauguration as “purported.” The committee recognized that while a properly instituted agency could foster business growth in the state, the absence of governing legislation invalidates its current status.
The report further indicated that any valid agency would require candidates nominated for positions to undergo confirmation by the House, a step that has not been adhered to. Members voiced their discontent, asserting that the governor’s actions reflect a disregard for decency in governance.
Speaker Amaewhule condemned the governor’s maneuvers to appoint individuals to an unlegislated agency and cited similar infractions concerning appointments made to the Bureau for Public Procurement. Following a vote, the House unanimously resolved that the governor’s actions were illegal and raised substantial concerns about the legitimacy of his governance practices.
