The 17 individuals nominated by President Bola Tinubu to serve on three statutory commissions in Rivers State have completed their asset declarations and received security clearance ahead of confirmation by the Senate.

The nominees are expected to assume roles in the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Civil Service Commission, and Local Government Service Commission. Their asset declarations were submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau following security screening conducted by the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force.

Senate Leader and Chair of the Ad-hoc Committee on Emergency Rule in Rivers State, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed the updates during a screening session at the National Assembly on Tuesday.

The committee is responsible for oversight of the state under the ongoing emergency administration led by Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd).

Bamidele told members of the committee that none of the nominees had any issues flagged during the screening process and that the constitutionally required asset declaration had been fulfilled.

He also noted that no petitions had been received against any of the nominees. According to him, the committee would compile its findings and submit recommendations to the full Senate for confirmation.

“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,” Bamidele said.

“And none of them had had any issue with security clearance, which is germane to what we are doing here. We will just be speaking to your CV because I will have no issues with security clearance.”

The nominees presented include Dr. Barikor Livinus Baribuma, appointed as Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, alongside Ambassador Lot Peter Egopija, Ms. Maeve Ere-Bestman, Mrs. Joy Obiaju, and Mrs. Charity Lloyd Harry as members.

For the Independent Electoral Commission, the nominees are Dr. Michael Ekpai Odey (Chairman), with Mr. Lezaasi Lenee Torbira, Prof. Arthur Nwafor, Prof. Godfrey Mbudiogha, Prof. Joyce Akaniwor, Dr. Olive Bruce, and Prof. Chidi Halliday named as members.

The Local Government Service Commission nominees include 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 Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado, presented the nominees and grouped them according to their assigned commissions.

Screening of nominees for the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board is scheduled to follow on Wednesday.