Rivers Assembly Rejects Fubara’s Nominees, Demands New List in 48 Hours

 The Rivers State House of Assembly has rejected Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s nominees for commissioners and demanded a new list within 48 hours.

Furthermore, In a letter dated March 5, the assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, accused Fubara of unlawfully swearing in 19 commissioners without legislative screening and confirmation, alleging a violation of the Constitution.

The lawmakers claimed the governor made several other appointments into offices requiring assembly approval before assumption of duty. They cited the appointment and swearing-in of Dagogo Iboroma as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice without prior legislative confirmation. 

In the same vein, Other alleged infractions include the swearing-in of Lawrence Oko-Jaja as Chairman of the Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement and Goodlife Ben as chairman of the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission, both without screening and confirmation by the assembly.

The assembly urged Fubara to comply with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and other laws governing the state. They requested a new list of nominees for appointment as commissioners into the Rivers State Executive Council, as well as nominees for appointment to fill vacancies in other offices requiring assembly approval.

In a related development, the Supreme Court last Friday ordered the Amaewhule-led assembly faction and other elected lawmakers to resume sitting. The apex court also upheld a Federal High Court ruling barring the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Accountant-General of the Federation from releasing statutory allocations to Rivers State. Additionally, the court nullified the local government election conducted in Rivers State on October 5, 2024.