Politics
8th Assembly Ends With Valedictory
It was an emotional moment last weekend for some legislators as the Rivers State House of Assembly held its valedictory session for the 8th assembly.
But before the House began its valedictory session, two bills were passed into law: the Rivers State Environmental Protection and Management bill 2018 and the Rivers State Health Care Facility Registration bill 2018.
The Rivers State Health Care Facility bill seeks to re enact the State Hospital laws Cap 65 and Health and Allied Registration laws of 2001.
Thereafter, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani opened the floor as he reflected on the milestones in the last four years.
Ibani said, “ We have sojourned together in the last four years as the 8th Assembly and I believe that each and everyone has contributed his or her quota to the development of Rivers State. “
Legislators who would not be part of the 9th assembly gave their final speeches as they recollected the friendship and intellectual benefits they got from the assembly.
Deputy Speaker,Hon Marshall Uwom averred that the 8th assembly asserted itself and made tremendous achievements in the area of making laws and providing support to the executive to work.
He noted that his constituency also benefited in the last four years, as he fought to end the oil spill and power outage in Abua /Odual State Constituency.
Uwom said, “ We will leave with pleasant memories.”
Another legislator who will be bidding farewell to the House, and Minority Leader, Benebo Anabraba said, “ I came into the 8th Assembly under controversial circumstances but I was able to surmount the challenges “.
Anabraba thanked his colleagues who stood by him in the past four years, describing them as a family, despite differing opinions on issues.
The outgoing minority leader challenged the incoming 9th Assembly to ensure they avoid the pitfalls in the 8th Assembly by working to exceed expectation of Rivers people.
Former Speaker, Rt Hon. Adams Daboturudima representing Okrika State Constituency expressed happiness that he was opportuned to be part of the leadership that stirred the house in the 8th Assembly.
He said, he will remain eternally grateful to God, the governor and his colleagues who reposed their confidence in him during his leadership in the House.
Oyibo legislator and elected House of Representative member, Chishom Dike said he was going to miss his friends and fellow lawmakers, though he was going to higher chambers. Adding that,” I must not fail to thank the speaker who gave everybody an equal opportunity.”
Other legislators who gave their valedictory speeches include, Hon. Josiah John Olu of Eleme, Dr. Innocent Barikor of Gokana, and Tekena Granville Wellington of Asari Toru 1.
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.
