By Mercy Gadia Adi
The Senate has commenced the screening process for 17 nominees appointed by President Bola Tinubu to oversee the affairs of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Rivers State Civil Service Commission, and Rivers State Local Government Service Commission.
The nominees have officially declared their assets before the Code of Conduct Bureau, as required by the Constitution.
According to the Leader of the Senate and chairman of the Senate ad hoc committee overseeing the activities of the Rivers Sole Administrator, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the nominees have also received security clearance from the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Police. Bamidele disclosed this during the screening exercise at the National Assembly Complex which is a critical step in the confirmation process.
Read Also: Senate Marks Midterm, Prioritises Electoral Reforms Ahead of 2027
The nominees were presented before the Senate committee by the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Basheer Lado, who divided them into three categories.
The five nominees for the Rivers State Civil Service Commission include Dr. Barikor Baribuma (Chairman), Lot Egopija, Ms. Maeve Ere-Bestman, Mrs. Joy Obiaju, and Mrs. Charity Lloyd Harry. The Rivers State Electoral Commission has seven nominees, including Dr. Michael Ekpai Odey (Chairman), while the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission also has seven nominees, including Israel N. Amadi (Chairman).
Bamidele reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to upholding democratic processes in the oil-rich state, saying, “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.” He added that none of the nominees had any issue with security clearance, which is a critical aspect of the confirmation process.
The Senate committee will deliberate on the nominees’ qualifications and suitability for the positions. Once the screening exercise is completed, the committee will make recommendations to the Senate leadership for confirmation or otherwise. Bamidele disclosed that the committee did not receive any petition against any of the nominees, which suggests that they have a clean slate.
The screening exercise is a crucial step in ensuring that the nominees are fit for the positions they have been appointed to. The Senate’s commitment to transparency and accountability in governance is evident in its rigorous screening process. The nominees for the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board are expected to face screening on Wednesday at the Senate.