Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has inaugurated a 21-member ad-hoc committee to temporarily legislate in place of the suspended Rivers State House of Assembly.
This comes days after the Green Chamber warned the Rivers Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, had no legislative powers to make laws for the oil-rich state despite his appointment by President Bola Tinubu.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, brought together lawmakers drawn from Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.
In his address, Speaker Abbas charged the committee with a non-partisan mandate, urging its members to prioritize the interests of Rivers State above politics.
“Your task is to oversee Rivers State following Mr President’s emergency proclamation. You must not be partisan or biased,” he said.
The committee is chaired by House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, with Hon. Ali Isah (PDP, Gombe) serving as Deputy Chairman.
Other members include Idris Wase (North Central), Aliyu Muktar (North East), Sada Soli (North West), Iduma Igariwey (South East), and Shehu Rijau.
Also on the list are Wole Oke, Akarah Amadi, Patrick Umoh, and Isa Anka, among others.
However, James Faleke, who was designated to represent the South West, was notably absent.
The committee’s formation follows President Tinubu’s emergency proclamation concerning the political crisis in Rivers State.
