In a significant step toward strengthening governance in Rivers State, the Nigerian Senate has begun the screening of 17 nominees forwarded by President Bola Tinubu. These individuals are nominated to lead three pivotal commissions: the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, the Civil Service Commission, and the Local Government Service Commission.
Before the Senate screening, all nominees underwent rigorous security vetting by the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Police Force. Additionally, they fulfilled the constitutional obligation to declare their assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Leader of the Senate and chairman of the 18-member ad hoc committee overseeing the screening, disclosed these details during the ongoing exercise. The committee also oversees the activities of the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd).
President Tinubu submitted the nominees’ names to the Senate just a week prior to the commencement of the screening. The nominees for the Rivers State Civil Service Commission include Dr. Barikor Baribuma as Chairman, with Lot Egopija, Ms. Maeve Ere-Bestman, Mrs. Joy Obiaju, and Mrs. Charity Lloyd Harry as members.
For the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, the seven nominees are Dr. Michael Ekpai Odey (Chairman), Mr. Lezaasi Torbira, Prof. Arthur Nwafor, Prof. Godfrey Mbudiogha, Prof. Joyce Akaniwor, Dr. (Mrs.) Olive A. Bruce, and Prof. Chidi Halliday.
The Local Government Service Commission nominees consist of Israel N. Amadi (Chairman), Linus Nwandem, Lady Christabel George-Didia, Dr. Tonye Willie Pepple, Richard Ewoh, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ofik (retd), and Sammy Apiafi.
The nominees were presented to the Senate committee by Basheer Lado, the President’s Special Adviser on Senate Matters, who grouped them according to their respective commissions.
Senator Bamidele reassured the public of the committee’s thoroughness, noting, “Let me quickly inform distinguished colleagues and members of the public that the nominees who are seated before us have gone through security screening by the various security agencies, including the Department of State Security as well as the Nigerian Police. And none of them had any issue with security clearance, which is germane to what we are doing here.”
He also highlighted the importance of asset declaration, saying, “Members of the public are also to be told that we have also insisted that they should go through the constitutional requirement of going to do their assets declaration by the Code of Conduct Bureau, which they have also complied with.”
The committee has not received any petitions against the nominees, and the screening process will culminate in recommendations to the Senate plenary for confirmation or otherwise.
The screening for nominees of the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board is slated for Wednesday.
