Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has dismissed all commissioners and public office holders in his administration, with immediate effect. The decision was announced in a statement issued Wednesday evening in Port Harcourt by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, and comes in the wake of a recent Supreme Court judgment.
During a valedictory session held at the Government House in Port Harcourt to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, Governor Fubara expressed gratitude to the outgoing cabinet members for their service and contributions to the state’s development over the past two years.
The statement noted that the governor used the opportunity to reflect on the importance of Nigeria’s independence and urged citizens to work collectively with the President to build a peaceful, secure, and prosperous nation. It further confirmed that all commissioners and other affected public officers have been officially relieved of their duties.
Governor Fubara reaffirmed his commitment to governing the state with “renewed vigour” and extended appreciation to the people of Rivers for their continued support, while also wishing Nigerians a happy Independence celebration.
This latest development follows a period of political uncertainty in the state. During the emergency rule imposed by President Bola Tinubu, former military administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) had suspended all officials appointed by Fubara, including commissioners, special advisers, and board members.
Since Ibas’s departure on September 18, the status of Fubara’s appointees had remained unclear. The Rivers State House of Assembly, in its first sitting after the end of emergency rule, called on the governor to present a new list of commissioner-nominees and the 2025 budget for legislative approval.
