Governor Siminialayi Fubara has invited the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule to a meeting.
The meeting follows the Governor’s receipt of the Certified True Copy of a recent judgement of the Supreme Court.
The apex court had on February 28, upheld an order by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, which barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers State. It further ordered the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly and other elected members of the House to forthwith resume sitting, unhindered. This is as it invalidated the October 5 local government election in the State.
On Monday, the Amaewhule-led Assembly directed Fubara to re-present the 2025 budget, which the Governor presented on 30th December 2024 to the Oko-Jumbo-led Rivers Assembly.
Amid tension and in obedience to the court judgement, Governor Fubara in a letter addressed to Martins Amaewhule, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, has invited the lawmakers for a meeting scheduled for Monday, at 10 am, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, to address all the lingering issues in the state.
The letter from the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, noted that the governor received the CTC of the Supreme Court judgement on Friday, and wants the meeting to discuss the Presentation of the 2025 state budget and payment of all lawmakers’ allowances.
It read: “I hereby write in furtherance of His Excellency’s promise stated in my letter dated 5th March 2025 to notify you that His Excellency has received the Supreme Court Judgement, and has therefore, directed me to invite you and your colleagues -the Honourable members of Rivers State House of Assembly, to a meeting to discuss:-
“Provision of a befitting space for the Assembly’s sittings. Payment of all outstanding remuneration or allowances of the Honourable members. Presentation of Budget and sundry matters;
“Any other matter(s), as may be necessary, to chart the way forward in the best interest of the State.
“Sequel to the above, I hereby humbly invite the Rt. Hon. Speaker, and all the Rivers State House of Assembly members to a meeting with the Governor as follows.”
