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.