The Rivers State House of Assembly, yesterday, rejected four commissioner-nominees forwarded by Governor Siminalayi Fubara after subjecting them to legislative screening.

The nominees, Prof. Datonye Alasia, Mrs Charity Deemua, Otonye T. K. D. Amachree, and Tamuno Williams, were not confirmed by the lawmakers.

During the exercise, members of the Assembly grilled the nominees on issues bordering on their academic qualifications, work experience, tax payment compliance, and petitions reportedly filed against some of them, among other matters.

Lawmakers rejected four of the nominees, citing concerns over their performance during the screening exercise and issues surrounding their credentials.

However, the House approved five other nominees from the list submitted by the governor. Those confirmed were Mr Tonye Bellgam, Dr Peter Nwagor, Prof. Temple Nwofor, Mr Lekue Kenneth, and Sir Amairigha Edward Hart.

According to a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Wachukwu, the screening followed a letter earlier read on the floor of the House by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, conveying the request of the governor for the screening and confirmation of the nominees.

The request was made pursuant to Section 192 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which empowers state governors to appoint commissioners subject to confirmation by the state House of Assembly.

Speaking during the sitting, Amaewhule explained that the essence of the legislative scrutiny was to ensure that only competent individuals are appointed to help drive governance in the state.

According to him, the screening process is intended to ensure that the state gets the best hands to assist the government in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.