The Rivers State House of Assembly has confirmed receipt of a list of commissioner nominees from Gov. Siminalayi Fubara and invited nine of them for screening and confirmation.
The nominations come about three weeks after Fubara dismissed eight commissioners who were not affected by a Supreme Court of Nigeria ruling recognizing Martin Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the Assembly. The governor also sacked all his special advisers.
The nine nominees are believed to be the first batch, with additional names expected.
In a special government announcement dated March 3 and signed by Clerk of the House Dr. Emeka Amadi, the Assembly asked the nominees to submit 40 copies of their curriculum vitae, credentials and proof of tax compliance.
The nominees are Prof. Datonye Alasia, Tonye Bellgam, Prof. Temple Nwofor, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Charity Deemua, Tamuno Williams, Lekue Kenneth, Otonye Amachree and Amairigha Edward Hart.
The Assembly did not specify a date for the screening.
Efforts to reach House Committee on Information and Complaints Chairman Enemi George for comment were unsuccessful as of Tuesday evening.
None of the recently dismissed commissioners was included on the list.
Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike , now minister of the Federal Capital Territory, are believed to have resolved their differences following repeated intervention by President Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu also halted impeachment proceedings initiated by 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike against Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu. Amaewhule earlier announced that the Assembly had withdrawn the impeachment process in line with the president’s directive.
