Fresh crisis appears to be brewing in Rivers State as the House of Assembly has expressed concern over the continued delay by Governor Siminalayi Fubara in submitting a list of commissioner nominees for screening.
The lawmakers raised the concern during Friday’s plenary.
Trumpet recalls that during the House’s first sitting following the suspension of the emergency rule in September 2025, the Assembly urged the governor to forward a list of commissioner nominees to ensure effective governance in the state.
Since then, Fubara has dismissed all commissioners appointed during the height of the political crisis, noting that they were not screened by the constitutionally recognized Assembly as declared by the Supreme Court ruling.
However, he retained commissioners who were duly screened and approved before the crisis, and reassigned some of them to other ministries.
At present, the state is operating without a substantial number of commissioners, with permanent secretaries overseeing key ministries.
Several critical ministries, including Education and Communication, currently have no appointed commissioners.
The governor has yet to give any reason for the delay.
Possible Crisis Looming:
The House of Assembly has adjourned plenary to Monday, January 26, 2026.
This development suggests that Governor Siminalayi Fubara may be unable to present the 2026 budget in December as expected.
In the past week, signs have emerged that the so-called peace deal between the Governor and the Assembly members may be cracking.
The Speaker had publicly criticized the deplorable state of public primary and secondary schools in Rivers State.
Amaewhule accused the governor of neglecting the education sector, stating that the State Executive Council had done nothing about the matter, even after the House previously raised concerns.
He described the situation as “a sad commentary,” adding that “something has to be done to our schools, for our schools, for the children and for the future of this state”.
The Speaker further noted that many public schools lack teachers and accused the governor of abandoning the 10,000-job employment process initiated under the Nyesom Wike administration.
He said: “When it is time for protest, funds will come for people to go and protest. But when it is time to employ teachers and make teachers to be in the class rooms, there will be no.
“We commit continue to keep quiet. We cannot continue to fold our hands while our children continue to suffer while teachers continue to cry.”
He added: “How will anybody believe that in year 2025, in a statement like Rivers State, one teacher will be teacher two class rooms under one roof.”
According to him, the House “will not allow this indolence to continue”.
Further Allegations:
Amaewhule also alleged that the former Sole Administrator of the state, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, left over N600 billion in the coffers of the Rivers State Government.
He questioned why Fubara had not used such funds to address the deteriorating state of public schools.
Fubara’s Response:
Responding to concerns over the state of schools and the stalled employment process, Fubara said employment would be based on the actual needs of the state and not on political considerations.
Speaking on Monday during a meeting with the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, the governor stated that the public school system was already in a poor state before he assumed office.
He assured that the 2026 budget would prioritize issues within the education sector.
Fubara explained that he would have done more but was hindered by the political crisis.
The governor on Tuesday, also approved the formal employment of 1,000 teachers who completed the recruitment process in 2023 but were never issued appointment letters.
But Fubara did not address the issue of funds left in the state’s coffers by Ibas.
