RVHA Screens Three Commissioner-Nominees

The Rivers State House of Assembly, last Friday, screened and confirmed three nominees as commissioners-designate and members of the State Executive Council.
Those screened and confirmed are Hon Isaac Kamalu, Prof Zacheaus Adangor and Dr George Kelly.
This is sequel to a letter from the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, requesting the Assembly to screen and confirm the nominees.
During the screening at the floor of the House, Kamalu, who was the immediate past commissioner for Finance and a former lawmaker in the Sixth Assembly, was asked to take a bow and leave the hallowed chambers.
However, the other two nominees, Adango and Kelly, through a motion by lawmaker representing ONELGA 1 State Constituency, Hon Nathaniel Owaji, and seconded by the House Leader, Hon Martin Amaewhule, were also asked to take a bow based on the fact that they have thoroughly distinguished themselves in the service of the state.
During the debate, Uwaji, had maintained that Governor Nyesom Wike, did a good job with the quality of individuals he sent to the House for screening and confirmation into the State Executive Council.
He expressed confidence that following his interactions with the nominees during the screening, there was no doubt about the capacity of the nominees to deliver on their mandates, if given the opportunity to serve as commissioners in the State Executive Council.
According to the lawmakers, their nomination shows they had performed spectacularly well, and do not need screening.
The lawmakers added that the nominees had showed their professionalism and expertise on both issues of the disputed oil wellssettled recently by the Supreme Court and the Nabo Graham-Douglas Law School, which construction was still ongoing.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, at the end of the screening exercise, divided the house for a vote, which was overwhelmingly in favour of their confirmation.
Hon Isaac Kamalu and Dr.George Kelly were aspirants in the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship primaries, and they came out as the first and second runner-up, respectively.
Kamalu was the immediate past commissioner for finance and was also overseeing the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
In 2015, Wike also appointed him the commissioner for budget and economic planning.
He served in that position till the end of the tenure in 2019.

By: Ike Wigodo