Government of Rivers State


The Government of Rivers State consists of elected representatives and appointed officials responsible for the government of Rivers State, Nigeria. Rivers State has a population of about 5 million people, and is one of the 36 states that make up the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The state government is composed of the executive, legislative, and
judicial branches, whose powers are vested by the
Constitution in the House of Assembly, the Governor and the High Court. The judiciary operates independently of the executive and the legislature. At the local level, elected officials are in charge of local government areas.

Executive

The executive branch is headed by the Governor, assisted by the Deputy Governor, both elected. The governor appoints the heads of parastatals, state-owned bodies, judicial officers, permanent secretaries and members of the Executive Council with the exception of the deputy. The Civil Service is administered by the head of service, a career civil servant, with each ministry managed by a permanent secretary. The commissioner is responsible for policy, while the permanent secretary provides continuity and is responsible for operations.

Governor

As the highest ranking-official in the executive, the Governor of Rivers State wields significant influence in matters relating to the governance of the state. As in most presidential systems, the governor is both the head of government and head of state. He or she is empowered by the Constitution to preside over the Executive Council, as well as to appoint, dismiss or reappoint its members–excluding the deputy governor–at will. In addition the governor may sign legislation passed by the House into law or may veto it, however, if he or she does not make a decision to sign or veto a bill, it automatically becomes law after 30 days.
A vote by a two-thirds majority in the House can overrule the governor. The same vote is required to initiate an impeachment process of the governor or his deputy. In all cases where the chief executive is unable to discharge his or her duties, the deputy governor assumes the office of Acting Governor until the governor resumes duty, or until election of a new one.
Since achieving statehood, Rivers State has had a total of 6 governors. Four of the former governors are still alive while only one has died. The longest serving governor is Peter Odili, a physician by profession. He spent 2,923 days in office.

Deputy Governor

The position of Deputy Governor
of Rivers State constitutes the vice-head of state and government, created when the federation returned to civilian authority under the Second Republic. Whoever holds the post is considered the second highest official in the executive branch. He or she is also seen as the first official in line to succeed the Governor of Rivers State, should that office be vacated.
The deputy governor is elected concurrently on a ticket with the
governor for a term of four years renewable once. The annual salary for the office as of 2009 is ₦2,112,215. Physician Ipalibo Banigo is the first woman to hold the position since it was established. Banigo, formerly a civil servant in the Ministry of Health, was chosen by governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike to be his running mate in the 2015 election.

Executive council

The executive council is currently made up of:
PositionIncumbent
GovernorEzenwo Nyesom Wike
Deputy GovernorIpalibo Banigo
Attorney GeneralProf. Zaccheus Adangor
Secretary to the State GovernmentTammy Danagogo
Chief of StaffChukwuemeka Woke
Head of ServiceRufus Godwins
Director-General of the Bureau of Public ProcurementIgonibo E. Thompson
ICT Special Adviser
Administrator Desmond Akawor
Commissioner of AgricultureDr Fred Kpakol
Commissioner of Budget and Economic PlanningCharles Gogo
Commissioner of Commerce and IndustryBright Jacob
Commissioner of Culture And TourismTonye Briggs-Oniyide
Commissioner of EducationKaniye Ebeku
Commissioner of Energy and Natural resourcesShedrack Chukwu
Commissioner of EnvironmentRoseline Konya
Commissioner of FinanceFred Kpakol
Commissioner of HealthOdagme Theophilus
Commissioner of HousingEmmanuel Okah
Commissioner of Information and CommunicationsAustin Tam George
Commissioner of JusticeEmmanuel C. Aguma
Commissioner of Chieftaincy and Community AffairsJohn Bazia
Commissioner of Land and SurveyHanny Woko
Commissioner of Local Government AffairsRodaford Long-John
Commissioner of PowerMike Anwuri
Commissioner of Social Welfare & RehabilitationHerbert D. Miller
Commissioner of Special DutiesMonday Onyezonwu
Commissioner of SportsBoma Iyaye
Commissioner of TransportAkie Dagogo Fubara
Commissioner of Urban DevelopmentChinyere Igwe
Commissioner of Water Resources and Rural developmentWalter Ibibia
Commissioner of Women AffairsUkel Oyaghiri
Commissioner of WorksHarrison B. Iheanyichukwu
Commissioner of Youth DevelopmentPrincewill Ogbobula

Ministries

Agencies and Parastatals

Agencies and parastatals, typically reporting to a ministry, include:
The Rivers State House of Assembly is the unicameral legislative body of the state government. It was established in 1979 by part II, section 84 of the Constitution of Nigeria, which states "There shall be a House of Assembly for each of the States of the Federation". Led by a Speaker, the House of Assembly consists of 32 members, each elected to four-year terms in single-member
constituencies by plurality. Its
primary responsibility is to create laws for the peace, order and effective government of the state.

Powers

There are numerous powers the Constitution expressly and specifically granted to the House of Assembly as they are necessary for its relevance. These include the powers to approve budget estimates presented to it by the executive; to make laws establishing the chargeable rates and the procedure to be used in assessing and collecting the rates charged by each local government council; confirm gubernatorial appointments, oversee and monitor activities of government agencies, review policy implementation strategies of the executive, summon before it and question a commissioner about the conduct of his or her ministry especially when the affairs of that ministry are under consideration and to initiate impeachment proceeding in order to secure the removal of the governor or the deputy.

Current Representatives

The legislature consists of elected representatives from each constituency. As of June 12, 2015 they were:
ConstituencyRepresentative
Abua–OdualMarshal Stanley-Uwom
Ahoada East IMartyns Mannah
Ahoada East IIEhie Edison
Ahoada WestOkpokiri Nwanaka
Akuku-Toru IMajor Jack
Akuku-Toru IITonye Alalibo
AndoniIkuinyi Owaji Ibani
Asari-Toru IEnemi George
Asari-Toru IIGranville Wellington
BonnyAbinye Pepple
DegemaDagogo Farah
ElemeJosiah Olu
EmohuaOgeh Samuel
Etche IOpurum Nwuzoma
Etche IITony Ejiogu
GokanaIsrael Ngbuelo Lebura
IkwerreAzubuike Wanjoku
Khana IDeeyah Bariene
Khana IIDinebari Loolo
Obio-Akpor IMartins Amaewhule
Obio-Akpor IIMichael Okechukwu Chinda
Ogba–Egbema–Ndoni IChristian Ahiakwo
Ogba–Egbema–Ndoni IIUwaji Nathaniel
Ogu–BoloEvans Bapakaye Bipi
OkrikaAdams Dabotorudima
OmumaKelechi Godspower Nwogu
Opobo–NkoroDiri Kelly Adonye
OyigboChisom Promise Dike
Port Harcourt IOgbonda Jones Nwene
Port Harcourt IIAdoki Tonye Smart
Port Harcourt IIIVictor Ihunwo Nyeche
TaiNgbar Sylvester Amuele
Clerk of the HouseMr. Alex E. Nwala

Judiciary

The administration of justice in Rivers State is one of the fundamental duties of the judiciary of the state. This branch of government explains and applies the laws by hearing and eventually making decisions on various legal cases. It has a regulatory or supervisory body known as the Judicial Service Commission, which takes care of appointment, promotion and disciplinary issues of the judiciary.
The Chief Judge of Rivers State is the appointed head of the judicial branch. The chief judge is also the most senior judge and presiding member of the High Court of Justice. Among other responsibilities, the chief judge has the ceremonial duty of administering the oath of office of the Governor of Rivers State. In modern tradition, the chief judge retires voluntarily at sixty years of age, or statutorily at sixty five.
Most appointments to the judiciary are made by the governor, but acting upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council. At present, there are about 10 judicial divisions within the High Court of Justice, and about 26 judges carrying out their professional work.

Elections and voting

Local government

Local government areas handle local administration, under an elected Chairman.
Rivers State is divided into twenty-three local government areas :
LGA NameArea Census 2006
population		Administrative capitalPostal
Code
Port Harcourt109541,115Port Harcourt500
Obio-Akpor260464,789Rumuodomanya500
Okrika222222,026Okrika500
Ogu–Bolo8974,683Ogu500
Eleme138190,884Ogale, Nchia501
Tai159117,797Sakpenwa501
Gokana126228,828Kpor501
Khana560294,217Bori502
Oyigbo248122,687Afam502
Opobo–Nkoro130151,511Opobo Town503
Andoni233211,009Ngo503
Bonny642215,358Bonny503
Degema1,011249,773Degema504
Asari-Toru113220,100Buguma504
Akuku-Toru1,443156,006Abonnema504
Abua–Odual704282,988Abua510
Ahoada West403249,425Akinima510
Ahoada East341166,747Ahoada510
Ogba–Egbema–Ndoni969284,010Omuku510
Emohua831201,901Emohua511
Ikwerre655189,726Isiokpo511
Etche805249,454Okehi512
Omuma170100,366Eberi512