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The House of Representatives has successfully passed a bill during its second reading that requires the President and Governors to specify portfolios when nominating ministers and commissioners for legislative screening.

Titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999,” the legislation aims to amend the Nigerian Constitution to ensure that nominees are presented with defined roles before being reviewed by the legislature.

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Spearheaded by Rep. Dibiagwu Okechukwu, who represents the Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta/Oru West Federal Constituency, the bill seeks to enhance transparency and governance preparedness.

In a plenary session in Abuja, Okechukwu noted that since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, both the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly have held the responsibility to screen and confirm executive nominees.

He pointed out a critical gap in the current process: nominees are frequently submitted without the portfolios they are expected to fill, a practice he labeled “outdated” and harmful to effective governance.

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Okechukwu asserted that providing portfolios at the outset would facilitate a more comprehensive review process, allowing legislators to better evaluate the qualifications of each nominee for their specific roles.

“This would not only allow for a more scrutinized vetting process but also boost public confidence in the appointments,” he stated.

Key Proposed Amendments

Section 147(7):
The bill mandates that nominations for ministerial positions by the President must include specific portfolios. The amended text states:

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“Any nomination of a person or persons to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall be accompanied by the proposed portfolio(s) to be occupied by such nominated person(s).”

Section 192(6):
Similarly, for state commissioner appointments, a corresponding requirement will be enforced. The proposed amendment reads:
“Any nomination of a person or persons to the Office of Commissioner of the Government of a State shall be accompanied by proposed portfolio(s) to be occupied by such nominated person(s).”

The use of “shall” in these amendments emphasizes the necessity of including portfolios with nominations, ensuring it becomes a standard requirement for both federal and state executive appointments.

Okechukwu highlighted that this amendment would enhance legislative engagement, enabling members to ensure that nominees are well-suited for the demands of their respective portfolios.

By mandating this requirement, the bill aims to modernize the nomination process, align it with best practices, and contribute to a more effective and transparent government at both federal and state levels.

The bill will now move on to further legislative processes for potential enactment.

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The Rivers State Government has refuted claims circulating on social media that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has ordered the shutdown of oil operations in the state.

A viral post alleged that Governor Fubara issued a directive to close the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and other oil companies in Rivers State following a recent court ruling.

The post claimed, “Breaking News: Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara Shuts Down NNPC and All Oil Companies in Rivers State, Declares No Allocation for Rivers State, No Oil for Nigeria.”

The post further asserted, “In a bold move, Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara has ordered the shutdown of NNPC and all oil companies operating in Rivers State, declaring that without federal allocation for Rivers State, there will be no oil for Nigeria. Within minutes of the shutdown, Nigeria dropped in the global oil production ranking from 4th to 24th. Governor Fubara has openly challenged Minister Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu to take action against this stance and see Nigeria boil.”

The backdrop to these claims involves a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja, which restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria from disbursing financial allocations to the Rivers State government.

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Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued this verdict on Wednesday, determining that funds from the federation account should not be released to the state until a lawful appropriation act is passed by a validly constituted House of Assembly.

The Rivers State government has appealed this judgment, expressing confidence that the Appeal Court will overturn the decision.

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In response to the viral claims, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, issued a statement on Thursday, characterizing the report as false and a product of propaganda.

He emphasized that Fubara is dedicated to the rule of law and does not resort to unconventional methods to address governance issues.

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The statement reads, “The attention of Rivers State Government has been drawn to a spurious news item circulating on social media on ‘Gov. Siminalayi Fubara shutting down NNPCL and all oil companies in Rivers State.’ The report was not only false but concocted propaganda from the imagination of the author and enemies of the State. The story was also circulated by an inconsequential and unverified medium.”

Johnson concluded, “Governor Siminalayi Fubara is committed to the rule of law and does not rely on unconventional and crude approaches to respond to matters of governance. We, therefore, enjoin Rivers people and well-meaning Nigerians to discountenance the spurious and fake report as Governor Fubara at no time contemplated and/or directed such needless order of shutting down the economy for any reason.”

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Former senator Ishaku Abbo, who represented Adamawa North Senatorial District, has claimed that Nigerian democracy cannot thrive unless the judiciary is reformed to deliver true justice rather than injustice.

Abbo made these remarks during a recent interaction with journalists in Yola.

Abbo, who was ousted this year by the Appeal Court after initially winning a tribunal decision to return to the Senate for a second term, expressed deep concern over alleged corruption within the judiciary.

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He stated that the issue of vote-buying is more prevalent in the courts than in actual practice.

“My mandate was kidnapped in the courtroom by some judiciary bandits sitting on the throne of judgment,” he asserted. He emphasized the gravity of judicial appointments, saying, “Judgment is from God, so if you are appointed as a judge, it means you are representing God on earth. So, if you collect money to deliver injustice, you will answer before your creator on the last day.”

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Abbo further alleged, “A top judicial officer came to my hotel room in Abuja with his wife demanding money on behalf of the judges handling my case. I have the camera records. I want to talk to his people in Taraba State to caution him so that his career may not be terminated prematurely because of bribe money.”

The former senator criticized the political leadership in the north, stating that it has deteriorated due to the selfish interests of some leaders in the region.

He remarked, “You cannot blame president Bola Tinubu, because the majority of the northern leaders went to him and bargained for their personal gains and not on behalf of the north, so they have already harvested what belongs to the entire north.”

Regarding his political ambitions, Abbo revealed that he is considering a run for governor in the 2027 elections and is currently consulting with stakeholders.

He noted that he will soon make a public declaration about his intentions once his consultations are complete.

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However, he did not specify whether he would run under the banner of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), expressing dissatisfaction with the support he received during his judicial challenges.

“Like what former president Obasanjo said, I just dey watch if the crisis in APC Adamawa State is genuinely resolved. If yes, good and fine. If not, then the party is gone in Adamawa State,” he concluded.