The House of Representatives’ special committee assigned to oversee developments in Rivers State has not yet received official guidance on how to carry out its role, nearly a month after its formation.
The 21-member committee was set up following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a six-month emergency rule in Rivers State on March 18, 2025. The emergency rule came in response to an ongoing political conflict between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly.
As part of the emergency measures, both the governor and the lawmakers were suspended, and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) was appointed as the state’s Sole Administrator. The National Assembly approved this decision shortly after it was announced.
The committee, led by House Leader Professor Julius Ihonvbere, was officially inaugurated at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Tuesday. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas conducted the inauguration. However, several members have said they are still waiting for detailed instructions.
Patrick Umoh, who represents the Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom, confirmed the delay in briefing. “The committee has just been inaugurated today (Tuesday). We are yet to be fully briefed on the modalities and rules of engagement. We hope the clarifications will be provided in due course,” he told reporters.
Another member, who asked not to be named, described the first meeting as largely introductory. “Nothing took place at the meeting. We listened to the charge by the Speaker during the inauguration and we are prepared to hit the ground running. The meeting was for members to familiarise with one another,” the member said.
During the inauguration, Speaker Abbas reminded the newly appointed Sole Administrator that he is expected to report to the National Assembly as required by the Constitution. He also noted that the emergency setup in Rivers State is only temporary and should not be seen as a permanent solution.
“It is paramount to note that the current administration in Rivers State is inherently temporary. With the suspension of the state governor, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, and the entire House of Assembly, a caretaker administration has been installed under the stewardship of Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.),” he said.
Abbas further explained that the Sole Administrator’s role is limited to maintaining law and order and ensuring that basic government functions continue during this transitional period. He noted past emergency interventions in states like Plateau, Ekiti, Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa as constitutional precedents for the current situation.
“This committee has a clear and non-partisan mandate. Its purpose is to monitor the implementation of federal directives and policies in Rivers State, ensure that the caretaker administration adheres to the law, and protect the public interest while facilitating the re-establishment of full democratic governance in the state,” Abbas noted.
He urged the committee members to remain neutral and act within the boundaries of the law. “You must conduct your oversight in strict accordance with the Constitution and avoid all forms of partisanship or bias. The National Assembly’s intervention in Rivers State is not an instrument of political vendetta but a constitutional necessity,” he added.
In his brief remarks, Professor Ihonvbere expressed confidence in the panel’s ability to carry out its duty. “This is probably the strongest ad hoc committee ever set up since 2019. This will make our work a lot easier, and with the experience, exposure, dedication, and commitment to unbiased dispositions on national issues, I assure you, on behalf of my colleagues in the ad hoc committee, that we will not disappoint you, the National Assembly and Nigeria.”
