The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has directed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, to report regularly to the National Assembly (NASS) for legislative approvals and oversight.
This directive follows the declaration of a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and the dissolution of the state’s House of Assembly.
To ensure oversight, the House inaugurated a 21-member committee, led by Majority Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), with Hon. Ali Isah (PDP, Gombe) as Deputy Chair. The committee is tasked with monitoring the caretaker administration and ensuring transparency, accountability, and adherence to federal laws and policies.
Speaker Abbas cited past emergency declarations in Plateau (2004), Ekiti (2006), and the Northeast (2013) to justify the constitutional role of the National Assembly in such times. He emphasized that the Ibas-led administration is temporary and must uphold basic governance functions until democracy is restored.
Abbas praised President Tinubu for taking patriotic and decisive action to ensure security and stability in Rivers State, calling on the oversight committee to act impartially and diligently in fulfilling their mandate under Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution.
