On Thursday, the Bayelsa State House of Assembly screened and confirmed 13 out of 14 commissioner nominees presented by Governor Douye Diri.
Last week, Governor Diri submitted the names of 14 individuals for consideration, including three former assembly members and eight who had served in his previous cabinet, to the state assembly.
Among those confirmed were returning commissioners Moses Teibowei (Work and Infrastructure), Biriyai Dambo (Attorney General and Justice), Maxwell Ebibai (Finance), Dr. Emelah Gentle (Education), Brodrick Preye (Special Duty East), and Dr. Ebieri Jones (Mineral Resources).
Daniel Igali, the outgoing Commissioner for Youth and Sports and also a nominee, was absent from the proceedings. Mrs. Koku Ebiuwou Obiyai, a former assembly member, was granted permission to bow and exit without further questioning.
The list of confirmed nominees also included George Flint, Komuko Akari Kharin, Perepuighe Biewari, Peter Afagha, Mrs. Elizabeth Bidei, and Michael Magbisa, a former council chairman.
The commissioner nominees list elicited some form of uproar across the state, as most of the returnee nominees were perceived as people who performed below expectations.
Governor Diri dissolved his cabinet a week after his inauguration on February 14.
The Speaker presided over the screening, which took place at the State House of Assembly complex, Yenagoa, the state capital.