Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has scheduled a meeting with the 27 members of the state House of Assembly.
Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, announced this in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, dated March 7, 2025.
Danagogo said the letter followed a directive from Fubara to write to the House of Assembly after acknowledging the receipt of a Certified True Copy (CTC) of March 5 ruling of the Supreme Court.
At the meeting slated for Monday – tomorrow, March 10 – issues to be discussed include presentation of the budget and sundry matters, as well as payment of all outstanding remuneration or allowances of lawmakers.
Also to be discussed include provision of a befitting space for the Assembly’s sittings and any order matter(s), as may be necessary, to chart the way forward in the interest of the state.
“I hereby write in furtherance of His Excellency’s promise stated in my letter dated 5 March, 2025 to notify you that His Excellency has received the (CTC of the) Supreme Court judgment, and has therefore directed me to invite you and your colleagues – the Honourable members of Rivers State House of Assembly, to a meeting,” Danagogo wrote.
Fubara’s proposed meeting with the lawmakers came well after the expiration of the 48-hour ultimatum the House gave him to present the 2025 budget on or before Wednesday 5, which the Governor did not honour.
At the Friday plenary, Speaker of the House, Amaewhule, had noted the Governor’s refusal to honour their invitations, declaring that the House would address the infractions squarely.
Similarly, the legislators had on Wednesday, directed the Governor to send the list of his commissioner-nominees for screening, which was also ignored.
On Friday, the commissioners serving under Fubara, who are not recognized by the 27 Assembly members, went to a Rivers State High Court to obtain a restraining order for appearance before the House.
Hearing on the matter was adjourned till April, this year.
