Rivers State House of Assembly has amended the state Local Government Law to allow unlimited tenure for Caretaker Committees, CTCs, in the state.
House Leader Martin Amaewhule had presented an executive bill seeking to amend section 9 of the Principal Law, which has to do with tenure of caretaker committees in the state
Debating on the bill, which was given first hearing last week, lawmakers argued that the new law, when it becomes operational, would reward hard work.
In their separate debates, Amaewhule, House Whip Evans Bipi and Hon Deeya Barine, respective, called for an accelerated hearing of the bill.
According to Amaewhule, the principal law as it is can no longer move the state forward.
Also, Barine pointed out that the essence of the amendment was to encourage consistency and reward diligence.
When a vote was put across by the speaker, Rt Hon Dabotoru Dima, all 15 members of the House present at the sitting voted in favour of the amendment.
The principal law provides two tenures for caretaker committees.
However, with the amendment, the governor at his discretion can reappoint someone who has served two tenures as chairman or member of CTC.
“A caretaker committee appointed under sub-section 4 shall oversee the affairs of the local government for three months. The governor in his discretion can reappoint such person for chairman or member, notwithstanding that the person has served two tenures,” the amended section read in part.
