- The Rivers State House of Assembly has invited nine commissioner-nominees submitted by Siminalayi Fubara for screening and confirmation
- The nomination follows the governor’s earlier dismissal of eight commissioners after a political and legal realignment influenced by the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruling
- Additional nominees are expected as the state moves to fully constitute the Rivers State Executive Council
The Rivers State House of Assembly has confirmed receipt of a list of commissioner-nominees from Governor Siminalayi Fubara and has invited nine of them for screening and confirmation.
Fubara earlier forwarded names of nominees to the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, to serve as members of the Rivers State Executive Council upon clearance.
The submission came about three weeks after the governor dismissed eight commissioners who were not affected by the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which recognised Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the House.
Fubara also relieved all his Special Advisers of their appointments.
The invitation to the nominees was contained in a special government announcement dated March 3 and signed by the Clerk of the House, Emeka Amadi.
The statement read, “The Rivers State House of Assembly hereby invites nominees for appointment as commissioners and members of the Rivers State Executive Council to submit forty (40) sets of their curriculum vitae, photocopies of credentials and evidence of compliance with tax obligations.
“The nominees are Professor Datonye Alasia, Mr Tonye Bellgam, Professor Temple Nwofor, Dr Peters Nwagor, Mrs Charity Deemua, Tamuno Williams, Mr Lekue Kenneth, Otonye Amachree and Amairigha Edward Hart.
“All documents should be forwarded to the office of the Clerk of the House at the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters.”
None of the recently sacked commissioners was included in the latest list forwarded to the lawmakers.
Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, are believed to have resolved their differences following the intervention of Bola Tinubu in their prolonged political face-off.
Tinubu had also intervened in the impeachment proceedings initiated against the governor and his deputy by 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike.
Amaewhule had, in a statement issued over a fortnight ago, announced the withdrawal of the impeachment notice against the governor and his deputy in line with commitments made after the president’s intervention.
More nominees are expected, as Rivers State has 23 local government areas.