The Rivers State House of Assembly has rejected four of nine commissioner nominees submitted by the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, following a tense screening session that exposed inconsistencies in tax records, petitions, and basic knowledge gaps.
Lawmakers on Monday confirmed five candidates for appointment to the state executive council after a screening process that lasted more than two hours.
Presiding over plenary, the speaker, Martin Amaewhule, said the four rejected nominees failed to convince the assembly that they were prepared for public office.
“Distinguished colleagues, we have nine nominees forwarded to this assembly by the governor. At the end of the screening exercise, the house has confirmed five of them,” Amaewhule said.
“And four of them, the house has chosen to take a deep breath, given their poor performance and controversies surrounding their documents.
“They have not been able to show this august assembly that they are prepared to serve Rivers state or that they are able.”
Amaewhule added that the legislature would formally communicate its decision to the governor and ask him to proceed with swearing in the successful nominees.
Those cleared by lawmakers were Tonye Belgam, Prof. Temple Nwafor, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Lekue Kenneth, and Amarigha Edward-Hart.
The nominees rejected by the house were Prof. Datonye Alasia, Tamuno Williams, Otonye Amachree, and Charity Deemua.
Tax questions and petitions
The screening session grew tense as lawmakers pressed some nominees over discrepancies in their records.
During questioning, Deemua faced scrutiny over her tax clearance certificate after lawmakers noted that it showed no tax payments since 2018.
Responding to questions from Burabari Loolo, she said she had not held formal employment during that period.
“As I said before, I’m a politician. We don’t have an office. I don’t have work. Mr Speaker, I think tax is generated from your income,” she said.
Amaewhule pressed further, questioning whether politicians were exempt from taxation and whether she had earned any income since 2018.
“You’re under oath; you’ve not had any income from 2018 to 2026. That is what you’re telling Rivers people?” he asked.
Deemua later acknowledged she had served briefly as a caretaker committee member in a local government in 2025 and as a commissioner in the assembly’s service commission. When asked whether she received a salary in those roles, she replied that she had been paid but described the payment as “not an income.”
The speaker rebuked the explanation, telling her she was misleading the assembly before the nominee eventually apologised.
The knowledge test faltered
Another nominee, Tamuno Williams, struggled when asked by the house leader, Major Jack, to recite the second stanza of Nigeria’s national anthem. He was only able to recite the first stanza.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the House Committee on Information, Complaints, and Petitions, Dr Enemi George, told lawmakers that more than 10 petitions had been submitted against Amachree, including one received electronically during the screening.
Amaewhule said the legislature had a duty to scrutinise nominees thoroughly.
“You were elected to do this job. It is our duty to get the best for Rivers people,” he told lawmakers.
Resolution sent to governor
In a statement issued after plenary by the speaker’s media aide, Martin Wachukwu, the assembly confirmed the outcome of the screening conducted during its 63rd legislative sitting.
The statement said the nominees were evaluated on academic qualifications, work history, tax compliance and petitions submitted against them.
The house said it had acted under section 192 of the 1999 constitution, which requires legislative confirmation of commissioners appointed by a state governor.
Lawmakers directed the clerk to transmit the resolution confirming the five nominees to Fubara.
Plenary was adjourned until 17 March.
