Wike signs law to appoint LGA chairmen for 9 months

Governor of Rivers State can now appoint council chairmen and keep them for nine months, a new law has confirmed. This is sequel to the Rivers State Local Government (amendment No.1) Law Number 5 of 2016. He also signed a law on criminal justice.

The two laws 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

Speaking at the event on Saturday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Nyesom Wike said the new local government law would give the governor the leverage to extend the appointments of the caretaker committees up to nine months.

He said the extension of the tenure of the caretaker committees was aimed at ensuring stability in council administration.

According to Wike, the criticism that the new law gives some caretaker committee chairmen third tenure was unfounded, as 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.”

He said: “Those in the APC who are criticizing 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.” 

Commenting on the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice No. 7 of 2015, the governor said it would help the state to fight crime and maintain law and order.

Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Dabo Adams, assured that the House would continue to perform its duties for the good governance of the state.

Majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, said the lawmakers passed the laws given their importance to the state.