A faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly has confirmed five commissioners-designate as members of the State Executive Council.
The people who were cleared include Austin Emeka Nnadozie (Etche), Roland Obed-Whyte (Degema), Samuel Anya (Abia State), and Samuel Eyiba from Ahoada, Ilamu Arugu (Abua/Odual), who appeared before it for screening on Tuesday.
Following a letter from the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to the divisive Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, regarding their eligibility to serve as members of the State Executive Council, they were confirmed.
During Tuesday’s plenary session in the state capital of Port Harcourt, the auditorium designated for legislative activity was the venue where the Speaker read the governor’s letter.
The governor’s request read, “Request for the screening and confirmation of nominees for admission: Pursuant to Section 192 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it is my pleasure to forward the underlisted nominees to the Rivers State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation as commissioners and members of the Rivers State Executive Council.”
Shortly after reading the letter, the five commissioner-nominees were ushered into the chambers of the House, where they answered questions from lawmakers on various issues of state policy before being led out of the floor of the Assembly by the Sergeant-at-Arms, David Wariboko.
With the confirmation of the commissioners-designate, following a voice vote of members, after a heated debate, the Speaker, Oko-Jumbo, directed the clerk to convey the resolution of the House to the state governor, for their possible swearing-in as members of the State Executive Council.
The House later reverted to the business of plenary, where they opened debate on the Rivers State Vocational and Technical Training Bill 2024 to move it through second reading.
