Several civil society and youth groups have called on Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly to urgently complete the reconstitution of the State Executive Council, warning that the continued operation of government with only five commissioners is hampering effective governance despite the resolution of the state’s political crisis.
Although the political standoff in Rivers State has officially ended following a reconciliation between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, the state government is yet to fully restore its executive structure.
Currently, Governor Fubara is running the administration with only five commissioners who were screened and confirmed by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly on March 9, 2026.
The governor had initially forwarded nine commissioner nominees to the Assembly after dissolving his cabinet on February 12, 2026, in line with the terms of the political reconciliation. However, only five nominees were approved, while four—including a professor and a lawyer—were rejected over allegations of poor performance and petitions against one of the nominees.
The approved commissioners have since been assigned portfolios, but several critical ministries, including Health, Justice, Environment, Works, Sports, and Information and Communications, remain without substantive political heads.
As a result, permanent secretaries, some serving in acting capacities, are overseeing the affected ministries, despite the recent inauguration of 13 new permanent secretaries by the governor.
The development has also left the Rivers State Government without an official spokesperson and an Attorney-General nearly five months after the dissolution of the previous cabinet.
The situation has generated fresh concerns, particularly following the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly on July 10, as stakeholders question who will effectively defend and implement the budget across the affected ministries.
Reacting to the development, the South-South Youths Initiative (SSYI) said the return of political peace would remain meaningless without a fully functional government.
In a statement, the group’s National President, Saviour Imeabe, said governance could not effectively continue with only five commissioners supervising ministries, departments and agencies across the state’s 23 local government areas.
He described a full cabinet as essential for accountability, policy implementation, sectoral oversight and efficient delivery of government programmes.
Imeabe urged the Rivers State House of Assembly to immediately screen and confirm commissioner nominees submitted by the governor, warning that delays in the confirmation process undermine both public confidence and investor trust.
He also called on Governor Fubara to sustain inclusive governance by ensuring that critical ministries receive the political leadership required to drive development.
Similarly, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Rivers State Branch, expressed concern over the prolonged delay in constituting a full executive council.
The organisation’s spokesman, Emmanuel Obe, noted that while the earlier political crisis may have justified the delay, that excuse no longer holds following the reconciliation between the executive and legislative arms of government.
According to him, the absence of substantive commissioners in key ministries raises serious concerns about policy coordination, service delivery and accountability, especially during the ongoing budget process where commissioners are traditionally expected to defend their ministries’ budget proposals before lawmakers.
The CLO therefore urged Governor Fubara to immediately forward fresh nominees to the Assembly for screening and confirmation in the interest of effective governance.
Also weighing in, the Rivers Peace Initiative welcomed the improved relationship between the executive and legislature but stressed that reconciliation should translate into tangible governance outcomes.
The group’s convener, Obinna Ebogidi, said strategic ministries such as Information, Youth Development and Sports should not remain without commissioners indefinitely.
He called on the governor to nominate qualified candidates while urging the Assembly to carry out its constitutional responsibility promptly and fairly.
According to the group, the true success of the peace process would be measured not by political declarations but by the restoration of a fully functional government capable of delivering meaningful development and democratic dividends to the people of Rivers State.