The House of Representatives has reminded the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), of his constitutional obligation to report directly to the National Assembly in the management of the state during the current emergency period.
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, issued the reminder in Abuja on Tuesday while inaugurating the House Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State, stressing that transparency, accountability, and constitutional compliance must guide Ibas’ interim stewardship.
President Bola Tinubu had on March 18, 2025, declared a six-month emergency rule in Rivers State following a political standoff between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly. Both parties were suspended, and Vice Admiral Ibas was appointed to oversee governance in the state, a decision ratified by both chambers of the National Assembly.
“It is paramount to note that the current administration in Rivers State is inherently temporary,” Speaker Abbas said. “The administrator is required to operate with the highest levels of transparency and accountability, reporting directly to the National Assembly on all matters that pertain to peace, order and good governance as prescribed by the constitution.”
The Speaker referenced Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the National Assembly to legislate on behalf of any state legislature unable to perform its statutory functions.
The 21-member ad-hoc committee, chaired by House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, is tasked with overseeing the implementation of federal directives in Rivers State, monitoring expenditures, and ensuring the caretaker government acts within constitutional limits.
Speaker Abbas charged the committee to remain objective and resist all forms of partisanship.
“This committee has a clear and non-partisan mandate. Your oversight must be conducted in accordance with the constitution,” he said. “The National Assembly’s intervention is not an act of political vendetta but a constitutional necessity to safeguard peace, security, and democratic order.”
Drawing parallels to past emergency declarations in Plateau (2004), Ekiti (2006), and the northeast states in 2013 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Abbas said the legislature had always played a vital stabilizing role during crises.
“The eyes of all Nigerians are upon us,” he said. “This assignment is a mission of national significance.”
In his response, Committee Chairman Ihonvbere pledged the panel’s commitment to objectivity and diligence.
“With the caliber of members in this committee, I assure you we will not disappoint the National Assembly or Nigerians,” he said.
The emergency administration in Rivers State is expected to last until September 2025, with the ad-hoc committee playing a central role in ensuring that the interim governance structure remains accountable and legally compliant.
