Speaker Abbas inaugurated a 21-member ad-hoc committee on Rivers State emergency rule and charged them to prioritise transparency and non-partisanship
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, on Tuesday, inaugurated a 21-member ad-hoc committee to oversight the emergency rule in Rivers State.
The committee is chaired by the Majority Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere (APC Edo), with the Minority Whip, Rep. Ali Isa J.C. (PDP Gombe), serving as Deputy Chairman. Other key members include the Deputy Majority Whip, Rep. Isiaka Ibrahim (APC Ogun), former Deputy Speaker, Idris Ahmed Wase (APC Plateau), Rep. Aliyu Muktar Betara (APC Borno), and Rep. Sada Soli (APC Katsina).
Additional members of the committee are Reps. James Abiodun Faleke (APC Logos), Igariwey Iduma Enwo ( PDP Ebonyi), Shehu Saleh Rijau (APC Niger), Wole Oke (PDP Osun), Akarachi Etinosa Amadi (APC Imo) , Patrick Umoh ( APC Akwa Ibom), James Barka (PDP Adamawa), Alex Egbona (APC Cross River), Isa Anka (APC Zamfara), Amos Daniel ( PDP Kaduna), Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu (APC Delta), Onuh Onyeche Blessing (APC Benue), Fatima Talba (APC Yobe), Chris Nkwonta (APC Abia), and Ebibake Marie Enenimiete (PDP Bayelsa).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on March 18, 2025 invoked section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended declared a state of emergency in Rivers State over the political crisis in the state.
This declaration led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.
The president appointed Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), as the state’s sole administrator to run the affairs of the State
According to the president, the administrator was not to make any new laws. However, he was free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state.
However, the Senate and House of Representatives approved the proclamation on March 20, 2025 and amended the proclamation to ensure that regulations issued under the emergency rule would be overseen by the legislature line with the provisions of section 11(4) of the Constitution rather than the Federal Executive Council.
Inaugurating the committee, Abbas said the action reaffirmed parliament’s constitutional commitment to transparent governance as empowered by Section 5 of the State of Emergency (Rivers State) Proclamation 2025 and pursuant to Section 11(4) of the Constitution.
He said the panel has a clear and non-partisan mandate to monitor the implementation of federal directives and policies in Rivers State, ensure that the caretaker administration adheres to the law, and protect the public interest while facilitating the re-establishment of full democratic governance in the state.
According to the speaker, the state of emergency in Rivers state has generated widespread interest across the nation, saying the eyes of all Nigerians were upon the lawmakers as they await to see if the National Assembly can live up to the high expectations placed upon it.
He added that the task before the committee is not routine but a mission of national significance that will serve as a litmus test for the House commitment to democratic principles and constitutional governance.
The speaker added that the importance of the assignment placed considerable burden on the chairman and all members, as every action taken will be subject to national scrutiny.
He charged them to approach the assignment with the highest standards of professionalism, impartiality, and diligence and conduct the oversight in strict accordance with the constitution and avoid all forms of partisanship or bias.
“It is imperative that you monitor every aspect of the caretaker administration’s conduct, scrutinise public expenditures, and ensure that all federal directives and policies are implemented as intended,” the Speaker said.
He also stressed that the committee is expectated to regularly report their findings to the House in a transparent manner with a bid to continuously assess the impact of the emergency measures and to take further legislative action if necessary.
“Beyond mere oversight, your work must actively support efforts to restore lasting peace and re-establish a fully functioning democratic system in Rivers state,” the speaker said.
He noted that the National Assembly’s intervention in Rivers state is not an instrument of political vendetta but a constitutional necessity as it embodied the legislature’s collective duty to safeguard peace, security, and the rule of law.
In his response, the ad-hoc committee’s chairman, Rep. Ihonvbere pledged the total commitment of the panel to the task, saying it would commence work immediately, operate transparently with diligence and unbiased.
“If I am not wrong, this is probably the strongest ad-hoc committee ever set up since 2019. With the experience, exposure, and dedication of this team, I assure you on behalf of my colleagues that we will not disappoint the Speaker, the National Assembly, or the Nigerian people,” he said.
