The Rivers State Government has pushed back against a directive from the state House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, which ordered Governor Siminalayi Fubara to dismiss all serving commissioners within 48 hours and submit a new list of nominees for approval.
In response, the government dismissed the directive as unconstitutional and lacking legal backing.
Commissioner for Environment, Sydney Tambari, criticized the lawmakers for exceeding their authority, arguing that all current commissioners had already been properly screened and confirmed under the leadership of former Speaker Edison Ehie.
“I underwent screening by Edison Ehie, who was lawfully recognized as Speaker by the court. Before that, these legislators had defected from the PDP and moved elsewhere,” Tambari stated.
He further explained that following Ehie’s resignation, his successor, Victor Oko-Jumbo, continued the confirmation process for commissioners and political appointees.
Tambari emphasized that Governor Fubara was under no obligation to present a fresh list of nominees, asserting that all appointments were legally valid.
“The governor will not submit any new nominees to this Assembly. Their call for the removal of commissioners is irrelevant because all appointments followed due process,” he insisted.
He also dismissed claims that a Supreme Court ruling required the removal of commissioners, clarifying that the verdict solely addressed the 2025 budget presentation and had no connection to the executive council’s composition.
“The Supreme Court ruling focused on the budget, not on dismissing commissioners. The governor has full discretion over budget presentation, and this issue has already been settled,” Tambari concluded.