President Bola Tinubu has lifted the emergency rule imposed in Rivers State.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the president directed Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor, to return to office on Thursday, September 18.

Tinubu also instructed Ngozi Nma Odu, the deputy governor, along with members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, to resume their official responsibilities.

The state had been under emergency rule for the past six months.

More to come…

Members of the Lagos State Assembly have called for financial autonomy for the legislative arms of the Local Governments (LGs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) throughout the state.

The call was made at Plenary session on Tuesday, September 16, presided over by the Speaker, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa.

The motion, titled “Call for Financial Independence for the Legislative Arms of Local Government Areas and LCDAs in Lagos,” was introduced by Hon. Sanni Babatunde, the Chairman of the Committee on Local Government Administration, Chieftaincy Affairs, and Rural Development.

Hon. Babatunde underscored that the legislative arm at the local level plays a crucial role in Nigeria’s democratic framework, bearing constitutional responsibilities for law-making, oversight, and constituency representation.

Contributing to the discussion, Hon. Obafemi Saheed highlighted that the 1999 Constitution emphasizes the separation of powers, asserting that granting autonomy at the local level would enhance representation, oversight, and independence, aligning it with practices at the state and federal levels. He argued that such measures would foster good governance at the grassroots.

Hon. Temitope Adewale, OON, who supported the motion, stressed that councilors perform functions comparable to those of state legislators. He expressed concern that many council leaders often face undue influence from local government chairpersons due to their financial reliance. He proposed that training for local government legislative leaders should involve cooperation between the Ministry of Local Government and the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Further insights were shared by Hon. Bonu Solomon, who commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing financial autonomy to local governments through direct allocations from the federation account, which has reportedly improved their operational efficiency. He insisted that similar financial independence should also be granted to local legislative bodies.

Hon. Aro Moshood added that empowering local government legislatures is essential for effective governance, suggesting that lawmakers should actively observe local legislative sessions to understand the issues faced by councilors without autonomy.

The lawmakers decided to urge Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to instruct the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs, and Rural Development to formulate a strategy for the independent financing of Legislative Councils within Lagos State.

Speaker Obasa echoed the importance of financial independence for councilors to effectively perform their oversight roles. He noted the increased allocations to local governments and emphasized the need to empower grassroots legislatures to maintain proper checks and balances for the benefit of the citizens.

The House resolved to instruct the Commissioner of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs, and Rural Development to prioritize ongoing training and capacity-building programs for councilors in financial management, budgeting, and legislative practices. They also urged the Ministry to pursue the enactment of a self-accounting law that would secure financial autonomy for the legislative arms in all local governments and LCDAs.

The Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly has dismissed suggestions that it has the authority to decide whether suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, can resume her legislative duties.

In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the Director of Information, Mullah Bi-Allah, speaking on behalf of the Clerk, explained that the office functions strictly as an administrative arm of the legislature and cannot review or overturn resolutions of the Senate.

“The Clerk does not possess the authority to review, reverse or interpret Senate decisions,” the statement read.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, a first-term lawmaker elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was suspended by the Senate on March 6, 2025, for six months. Although she challenged the suspension in court, the Federal High Court declined to invalidate the decision, and the matter remains pending at the Court of Appeal.

Earlier this month, the senator had written to the Clerk of the National Assembly notifying the office of her intention to resume legislative duties. However, the Clerk clarified that such correspondence ought to be directed to the Senate President in line with parliamentary protocol.

According to the statement, the Clerk’s office subsequently informed the Senate leadership, which maintained that since the case is still in court, any change in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s status must either come from a new Senate resolution or a binding court order.

The Clerk’s office also expressed concern over a petition by the senator’s legal team accusing it of overreach, stressing that the determination of her resumption lies solely with the Senate.

“It must be emphasised that the question of whether Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan can resume her legislative duties without further resolution of the Senate following the expiration of her suspension lies with the Senate and not with the Clerk to the National Assembly,” Bi-Allah added.

The office reaffirmed its neutrality, stating that it remains guided by constitutional provisions, institutional respect, and the rule of law, and urged the public to allow the Senate and the courts to resolve the matter.