The Rivers State House of Assembly, aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has called on the Nigeria Police Force to arrest anyone claiming to be a Caretaker Committee (CTC) Chairman or member in the state.
This action comes in response to the recent Supreme Court judgment, which outlaws the use of CTCs to manage local government affairs.
During Monday’s plenary at the Assembly’s official residence along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, the lawmakers, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, condemned the activities of the CTCs put in place by the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
They declared these activities a violation of the Supreme Court ruling and the provisions of the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2023, which prohibits Caretaker Committees.
“The Rivers State House of Assembly, at its 7th Legislative Sitting of the Second Session of the Tenth Assembly, Monday, deliberated on a statement by the House Leader, Hon. Major Jack, wherein he drew the attention of the House to the illegal activities of some persons in the State, masquerading as Chairmen and members of Caretaker Committees,” read a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the media aide to the Speaker, Martins Wachukwu.
The statement continued, “These individuals go about imposing and collecting fees, levies, and rates from unsuspecting members of the public, in breach of the recent Supreme Court judgement, and the provisions of the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2023 that prohibit Caretaker Committees in whatever guise or nomenclature.”
Speaker Amaewhule expressed concern that these impostors were withdrawing funds meant for Local Government Councils from banks, thereby squandering public resources under the guise of non-existing Caretaker committees.
“These individuals not known to the law go to the banks and withdraw money meant for the Local Government Councils,” he said.
The House urged the police and other security agencies to take immediate action and arrest these impostors to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the state.
They also warned banks, traditional rulers, government entities, non-governmental organizations, and businesses in Rivers State not to transact any business with these unelected individuals posing as Caretaker Chairmen.
Reiterating the Assembly’s stance, Amaewhule stated, “The Tenth Rivers State House of Assembly, in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered, mandates that only democratically elected officials are to manage the Local Government Councils.”
The statement further emphasized that Section 64(1) of the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018 empowers the House to direct that only democratically elected officials should manage the affairs of the councils.
Amaewhule concluded by asserting that the House would not tolerate any disregard for state laws and the Supreme Court’s judgment by these impostors.