The Senate has commenced the screening of 17 nominees sent by President Bola Tinubu to head key commissions in Rivers State, following confirmation that all appointees had fulfilled constitutional requirements for asset declaration and passed security checks by the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Police.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who chairs the ad hoc committee conducting the screening, disclosed this during the committee’s session on Tuesday June 17th. He explained that the nominees underwent full security vetting and no objections or petitions were received against any of them. According to him, these clearances were necessary before the Senate could proceed with its assessment.
Bamidele emphasized that each nominee had also declared their assets before the Code of Conduct Bureau, a mandatory constitutional step. The nominees were presented by the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Basheer Lado, and were divided into three categories—those for the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, the Civil Service Commission, and the Local Government Service Commission.
While the identities of all 17 nominees were confirmed during the session, Bamidele stated that the screening process would be based on evaluating the qualifications and CVs of the candidates since there were no outstanding legal or ethical impediments. He also announced that the Senate would review the screening committee’s recommendations and take final confirmation decisions during plenary.
The screening of additional nominees for the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board is scheduled for Wednesday. Bamidele reiterated the Senate’s commitment to upholding democratic processes in Rivers State and ensuring that all nominations comply with due process and the rule of law.
Conflicting figures released by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele have cast doubt on the legislative performance of Nigeria’s 10th Senate, raising concerns about transparency and record-keeping in the National Assembly.
At a joint session marking Democracy Day 2025, Akpabio claimed that 96 out of 844 bills were passed in two years. However, in a detailed statement days later, Bamidele said the Senate passed 108 out of 983 bills between June 2023 and June 2025. The discrepancy in numbers has stirred confusion and prompted scrutiny of the Senate’s internal coordination.
Bamidele further broke down the legislative output, noting 477 bills introduced in 2023/2024 and 506 in 2024/2025, with a significant increase in passed bills—25 in the first year and 83 in the second. He also highlighted key laws such as the Student Loan Act, Tax Reform Bills, and National Minimum Wage Amendment, while assuring Nigerians of upcoming efforts on electoral and judicial reforms.
The lack of consistent data from both top officials, despite their legal backgrounds, has raised eyebrows and reinforced longstanding concerns about the Senate’s commitment to clarity, accuracy, and accountability in reporting its work.
