The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has confirmed the release of withheld local government allocations for the state.

Ibas assured that necessary steps will be taken to ensure the prompt payment of workers’ salaries.

He spoke on Friday during a meeting with Heads of Local Government Administrators in Port Harcourt.

Ibas described the gathering as a pivotal moment in the collective effort to restore stability and progress in the state.

The sole administrator decried the economic hardship in the Niger Delta, saying that despite the region’s wealth of natural resources, its people continue to suffer.

“This is unacceptable,” he stated, emphasizing the need for transformation and accountability.

The administrator expressed concern over the delay in salary payments across local government areas, acknowledging the struggles of affected workers.

“I feel the pain of the workers,” he said, assuring them that the withheld allocations had been released and that his administration would ensure that salaries are paid without delay.

Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Ireti Kingibe has declared her stand on the voice voting procedure used by the red chamber to okay the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement on Friday, Kingibe, who was elected under the platform of the Labour Party, said she strongly opposed the procedure adopted by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

She explained that the Nigerian Constitution “explicitly mandates that a state of emergency proclaimed by the President must be ratified by a “two-thirds majority of all the members of each House of the National Assembly”, and not through voice vote.

According to her, a voice vote, where members of the National Assembly express agreement by saying “Aye” or “Nay,” “cannot precisely measure the required two-thirds majority”.

She insisted that such a procedure is insufficient to determine a two-thirds majority in the upper and lower chambers especially for an emergency proclamation.

She noted that a “formal recorded vote is crucial to confirm the exact number of lawmakers in support”.

“A two-thirds (2/3) majority is required for significant decisions like approving an emergency proclamation in the National Assembly, and this level of consensus CANNOT be accurately determined by a voice vote.

“According to Section 305(2) & (6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), an emergency proclamation must receive the approval of at least two-thirds of all members of each House the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“When a supermajority like two-thirds is needed, a recorded vote — whether through division voting, roll call, or electronic voting is necessary to ensure compliance with constitutional requirements.

“The Senate Standing Orders and House Rules generally mandate a roll call or electronic voting system to accurately determine numerical compliance for decisions of this magnitude”, the statement added.

Just after the Flag off of The construction of nkwo Oraifite-Nkwo Nnewi road, the business tycoon, sir Emeka throws much accolades on governor Soludo for his works in Anambra. He further stated that he is standing with the governor to continue this good works. He quoted that;

“God brought governor Soludo for a purpose, and he must accomplish that purpose before he leaves “

“We are solidly standing with him, this is our destination. he is just 3 years in office and we are looking forward to his second tenure which by then, Oraifite would have become London.

“I am happy to announce that Gov Soludo is my friend and brother, let’s follow the right and moving vehicle, you don’t need to ask questions before entering a vehicle that has my support and presence “