The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has officially inaugurated a 21-member ad-hoc committee tasked with overseeing the operations of the suspended Rivers State House of Assembly. The event, which took place at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, was attended by members designated from each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
In his address to the committee, Speaker Abbas emphasized the importance of the panel’s role, reminding them that their mandate is entirely non-partisan. He urged the members to carry out their duties with the aim of promoting good governance, peace, and prosperity in the oil-rich state. “Your task is to oversee Rivers State following Mr. President’s emergency proclamation. You must not be partisan or biased,” Abbas said.
The 21-man committee is led by the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, who also serves as the chairman. The deputy chairman of the committee is Ali Isah, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from Gombe. Other members include Idris Wase (North Central), Aliyu Muktar (North East), Sada Soli (North West), Iduma Igariwey (South East), and Shehu Rijau, among others.
Notably, James Faleke, the representative from the South West, was absent from the event due to unavoidable circumstances. The committee’s formation follows a presidential emergency proclamation aimed at addressing issues within the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Further details on the committee’s work are expected to be released in due course.
