Politics
RVHA To Ensure Compliance To Environmental Laws
The Rivers State House of Assembly (RVHA) last week resolved to cooperate with the state Ministry of Environment and that of Justice to ensure strick compliance of companies operating in the state to environmental laws.
The House’s decision followed a motion by the lawmaker representing Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Constituency I, Hon. Christian Ahiakwo at the Assembly’s plenary session last Thursday in Port Harcourt.
According to Ahiakwo, the motion was to investigate the compliance of companies operating in Rivers State to environmental laws.
The motion prayed that the House should investigate the circumstances surrounding the black soot that has been noticed in the state and its environs.
The lawmaker, in his motion, also prayed the assembly to direct the Rivers State Ministry of Environment to furnish the house with details of compliance level with relevant laws by companies in the state.
Hon. Ahiakwo who noted that the situation portends serious danger for the citizens of the state and the generations to come, urged the assembly to make urgent decision to protect the interest of Rivers people.
The Speaker of the house, Rt Hon. Ikumyi-Owaji Ibani on the note, committed the motion to the House Committees on Environment and that of Justice to investigate and take legal steps on the level of compliance of relevant laws by companies and to solve the problem of black soot currently polluting the environment of the state.
At same Thursday’s plenary session, the 8th Assembly committed three bills to committee stage after an exhaustive debate in the house.
The bills include a bill for a law to amend the Rivers State Education (Returns of Schools) Law No 1 of 2005; a bill for a law to repeal and re-enact the Rivers State University of Science and Technology law, Cap 133, law of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999; and a bill for a law to establish the Rivers State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital in the state.
The speaker, Rt Hon. Ikumyi-Owaji Ibani directed the House Committee of the whole, education and health to handle the three bills within 14 days and submit their reports respectively.
Last Friday the lawmaker representing Bonny Constituency, Hon. Abinye Pepple, in company with some stakeholders of the local government council inspected the Bonny Vocational Centre in the area.
According to him, the vocational centre would be equipped with modern technology to stand the test of development in the country and the global areas.
Hon. Pepple who promised to support the rehabilitation of the centre, said the centre would go a long way to provide skills and engage youths in the area in meaningful employments.
The managing director of the vocational centre, Mr Micah Ibiama commended Hon. Pepple for his concern and support to the centre even before the inspection.
Enoch Epelle
The Senate yesterday received the 2026-2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper from President Bola Tinubu, marking the formal launch of the 2026 federal budget cycle.
In a letter addressed to the upper chamber, Tinubu said the submission complies with statutory requirements and sets out the fiscal parameters that will guide the preparation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
He explained that the MTEF/FSP outlines the macroeconomic assumptions, revenue projections, and spending priorities that will shape Nigeria’s fiscal direction over the next three years.
The letter was read during plenary by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), who urged lawmakers to expedite consideration of the document.
“It is with pleasure that I forward the 2026 to 2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper for the kind consideration and approval of the Senate.
“The 2026 to 2028 MTEF and FSP were approved during the Federal Executive Council meeting of December 3, 2025, and the 2026 budget of the Federal Government will be prepared based on the parameters and fiscal assumptions therein,” the President stated.
Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved the fiscal projections, pegging the oil benchmark price at $64.85 per barrel and adopting a budget exchange rate of ?1,512/$1 for 2026—figures expected to significantly shape revenue forecasts and expenditure planning.
After reading the President’s letter, Jibrin referred the document to the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), with a directive to submit its report by Wednesday, December 17.
The Senate adjourned shortly after to allow committees to commence scrutiny of the fiscal framework and continue the ongoing screening of ambassadorial nominees.
Tinubu’s communication to the Senate came less than 24 hours after he transmitted the same MTEF/FSP documents to the leadership of the House of Representatives.
The letter was read on the House floor by the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who also urged timely legislative action as required by law.
The MTEF and FSP are statutory instruments mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act and serve as the blueprint for Nigeria’s annual budgets.
They outline the government’s fiscal stance, macroeconomic assumptions, revenue frameworks, projected deficits, and sectoral priorities over a three-year period.
The Tide reports that approval by the National Assembly is a prerequisite for the executive to present the Appropriation Bill for the next fiscal year.
In a statement on Saturday, the former Senate Leader stated that the allocation of nominees across states and geopolitical zones falls short of the constitutional requirement for fair representation in the composition of the Federal Government.
The ex-Senate Whip warned that allowing the list to pass could deepen ethnic suspicion at a time when the administration should be consolidating national unity.
He highlighted disparities in the spread of nominees, noting that while some states have three or four slots, others have none. He also cited the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who reportedly died in July.
“The entire North-East states have seven nominees in the list. Further checks revealed that the South-West geo-political zone has 15 nominees, while North-West and South-East have 13 and 9, respectively.
“North-Central region has 10 nominees in the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominee while South-South parades 12 nominees,” Senator Ndume said.
According to him, such imbalances could heighten tensions and undermine Section 14(3) of the Constitution.
“My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list. At this critical juncture in his administration, he should avoid missteps that could undermine national unity and foster ethnic distrust.
“I know him to be a cosmopolitan leader who is at home with every segment and stakeholder in the country. He should withdraw that list and present a fresh set of nominees that will align with the spirit of the Constitution on the Federal Character Principle,” Senator Ndume added.
He accused the legislators of undermining the sanctity of the legislature and acting as instruments of destabilization.
“The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have, by their actions since they assumed office, shown that they are political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress,” Comrade Ememobong stated, adding that “They will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature.”
“So the easiest way to describe their action is a defection from APC to APC,” he said.
Comrade Ememobong announced that the party would deploy constitutional provisions to reclaim its mandate from those who have “ignobly and surreptitiously” abandoned the platform on which they were elected.
“Consequently, the PDP will take legal steps to activate the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) to recover the mandate gained under the banner of our party which these people have now switched to another platform,” he said.
He urged party members in Rivers State to remain calm and steadfast.
“We urge all party members in Rivers State to remain faithful and resolute, as efforts are underway to rebuild the party along the path of inclusiveness, fairness and equity,” Comrade Ememobong assured.
