The Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has screened and confirmed Lawrence Oko-Jaja as Chairman of the Board of the Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement.
Also screened and confirmed were Dr. Ernest Ibekwe Ekwe, Dr. Mina Ogbanga, Iseleye Amachree, Adokiye Oyagiri, Gift Alex-Hart, Mrs Grace Osaronu, and Selinah Amonieah, who will serve as board members.
Their confirmation took place during plenary at the Hallowed Chamber of the State House of Assembly in the Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.
The eight nominees had appeared for screening before the lawmakers shortly after the reading of a letter sent by the governor to Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo, requesting the House to determine their suitability for appointment as members of the Board of the state’s BPP.
The letter read: “Request for screening and confirmation of the members of the Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement: Pursuant to the provisions of Section 1, Sub-Section 4 of the Rivers State Public Procurement Law No. 4 of 2008, it is my pleasure to forward the under-listed nominees to the Rivers State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation as members of the Board of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement.”
During the screening, the nominees answered questions on how they would apply their wealth of experience to advance the state. Oko-Jaja assured that, if confirmed, the board under their leadership would ensure value for money in goods and services contracted by the state government.
In his remarks, the Speaker advised the nominees to remember their trust and loyalty to the state government, should they be confirmed, to seamlessly integrate best practices with quality performance while enforcing probity and accountability in all procurements handled by the Bureau.
Shortly after the nominees were led out of the Assembly’s floor by Sergeant-at-Arms David Wariboko, the lawmakers confirmed the nominees by voice vote as suitable for their appointments.
With the confirmation, the Speaker directed the assembly clerk to convey the House’s resolution to the governor for possible swearing-in.
The House then adjourned the sitting to Wednesday, September 4, 2024.
Punch
