After an 83-day delay, the Edo State House of Assembly has confirmed Hon. Chris Ewere Okaeben as a commissioner.
Okaeben was initially nominated by Governor Monday Okpebholo alongside six other commissioner-designates and forwarded to the House for screening and confirmation.
While six of the nominees were screened and approved on September 30, Okaeben’s confirmation was put on hold following an alleged petition against him before the Department of State Services.
At the time, Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, explained that the Assembly would proceed with Okaeben’s confirmation once he had been cleared by the DSS.
Subsequently, on December 23, Governor Okpebholo formally requested the Assembly to conclude Okaeben’s screening process.
The request was conveyed in a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, and addressed to the Speaker.
Acting on the governor’s request, lawmakers resumed the screening exercise and confirmed Okaeben as the 27th commissioner in the state.
It was also recalled that Okaeben was among 14 members-elect of the Edo State House of Assembly who were not inaugurated by the immediate past governor, Godwin Obaseki, on July 17, 2019.
