The House of Representatives has told Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, that he cannot make laws or draft a budget, let alone start spending state funds without appropriation.
They reminded him that the Nigerian Constitution does not grant him the power to perform legislative functions.
Ibas recently said he would prepare a new budget for Rivers State.
Ibas came to the office on an emergency rule imposed by the president in which he suspended the democratically elected Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state House of Assembly for six months.
Ibas is running the state alone during this period. He said the new budget would focus on improving healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
“Since the Supreme Court verdict on the state’s budget, we have acted swiftly,” Ibas said.
“We decided to put together a new budget that reflects our commitment to healthcare, education, social services, and continued infrastructural development.”
He also said the budget would create jobs and focus on agriculture and technology. “We understand the urgency of this initiative,” he added. “We are committed to ensuring that they are implemented without delay.”
Reps Say Ibas Can’t Replace Lawmakers
But members of the National Assembly say Ibas cannot take on lawmaking powers.
Deputy Spokesman of the House, Philip Agbese, reminded the Sole Administrator that he was crossing legal boundaries.
“The Sole Administrator does not have the authority to carry out the National Assembly’s function of making laws under the current circumstances,” Agbese.
He explained that the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, is already talking with other House leaders, possibly to form a committee to monitor Ibas’s actions and protect the interests of Rivers people.
“The Speaker is consulting with the leadership of the House to establish a committee to oversee the administrator’s activities,” Agbese said. “We must ensure that the interests of Rivers State are represented.”
He added that the House had written to President Tinubu to express their concerns.
Agbese said if Ibas went too far, the House would not sit back. “If the Sole Administrator oversteps his constitutional boundaries, the House will take necessary actions,” he warned.
“This could include a vote of no confidence.”
Political Tension Lingers in Rivers
The crisis in Rivers State started when Governor Fubara and the state House of Assembly clashed over political control.
The disagreement got worse early this year. It led to the shutdown of the House of Assembly building and protests across the state.
Tinubu declared a state of emergency, purportedly to restore order which residents say was not absent under the leadership of Gov. Fubara.
It’s the first time since 1999 that a Nigerian state has been placed under a federal state of emergency due to a mere political power tussle.
Now, Ibas is the only one in charge. But lawmakers insist he must stick to executive roles, not legislative ones.
They say the constitution separates powers for a reason and no one person should hold both arms of government.
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