Governor Wike signs bill to extend tenure of LG officials to nine months into Law

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has signed

into law two bills passed by the Rivers State

House of Assembly.

They are, the Rivers State Local Government

(amendment No.1) Law Number 5 of 2016 and the

Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice No.

7 of 2015.

According to a statement issued by the Special

Assistant to the Governor on Media, Simeon

Nwakaud,u the Governor stated that the new Local

Government Law will give the state government

the leverage to extend the appointments of the

caretaker committees up to nine months.

Speaking at the event in Government House, Port

Harcourt, he said the extension of the tenure of

the caretaker committees is aimed at ensuring

stability in council administration.

Governor Wike said the criticism that the new law

gives some caretaker committee chairmen third

tenure is unfounded, adding that the caretaker

committees are not elected officials.

He said: “Instead of three months or six months,

this amended law allows the governor to appoint

caretaker committees for nine months.

“It is not meant to keep the caretaker committees

in perpetuity. Once we have elected councils, the

elected officials will stay for three years subject

and for a maximum of two terms.

“Those in the APC who are criticising this
amendment have forgotten so soon that they
passed laws in two minutes while they were at the
State Assembly. This amendment has been done
for the good governance of the state.”
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly,
Dabotorudima Adams assured that the House will
continue to its duties for good perform
governance of the state.