Governor Wike signs bill to extend tenure of LG officials to nine months into Law

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has signed into law two bills passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly.

They 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.

According to a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Simeon Nwakaud,u the Governor stated that the new Local Government Law will give the state government the leverage to extend the appointments of the caretaker committees up to nine months.

Speaking at the event in Government House, Port Harcourt, he said the extension of the tenure of the caretaker committees is aimed at ensuring stability in council administration.

Governor Wike said the criticism that the new law gives some caretaker committee chairmen third tenure is unfounded, adding that 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.

“Those in the APC who are criticising 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.”

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

#Wike