The Bayelsa State House of Assembly on Tuesday screened and cleared 24 commissioner-nominees sent to the lawmakers by Governor Douye Diri.
Diri had sent the list to the lawmakers last Thursday after six months of his swearing-in on February 14, 2020.
Fears that the screening might be put on hold came on Monday following the nullification of the state’s governorship election held in November 2019 over exclusion of the ANDP in that election.
But Governor Diri bolstered the courage of the lawmakers by asking them not to suspend the screening in spite of the tribunal ruling that ordered a fresh governorship poll.
Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly Abraham Ngobere had earlier announced that the Assembly received a letter from Diri requesting it to screen 24 commissioner-nominees.
On Tuesday, commissioner-nominees presented themselves for the screening, but the Assembly gave priority to all former lawmakers nominated for screening by asking them to “take a bow and go.”
Other nominees were subsequently screened one after the other, in the hallowed chamber of the Assembly.
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During the exercise, which lasted about four hours, all the nominees were asked various questions concerning their professional competences, experiences, and capacities to serve the state.
The screened nominees are: Dr Promise Ekio, Chief David Alagoa, Miss Preye Brodrick, Mr Esau Andrew, Dr Ibiere Jones, Chief Thompson Amule, Miss Grace Ekiotene, Mr Stanley Braboke, Moses Teibowei and Mr Iselema Gbaranbiri.
Others are, Mr Dambo Birigha (SAN), Dr Iti Orugbani, Mr Otokito Federal, Miss Faith Opuene, Mr Obosi Churson, Mr Seikumo Ekisah Engr. Akpoebidei Alamieyesigha, Mr Rex George, Mr Ebitein Tonyon, Dr Igwele Newton, and Mr. Ayebaina Duba.
In his remarks, Ngobere said that the purpose of the screening was to legitimise the commissioner-nominees’ appointments as enshrined in the constitution.
He urged them to use their good offices and their relationship with the Governor for the betterment of the state and in their various ministries.
The Speaker called on the nominees to strengthen the existing relationship between the executive and the legislative arms of government if eventually confirmed.
Ngobere, who expressed the resolve of the lawmakers to cooperate with the executive, said they would continue to put in place the necessary framework to engender good governance.
