By peter uzoma
Except Governor Rochas Okorocha intervenes, some commissioner nominees, and other categories of appointees whose names were sent to the House of Assembly for consideration and confirmation may be unsuccessful in becoming Members of the state executive council.
Trumpeta exclusively learnt that the expected intervention of the Governor who had special interest in the commissioners’ nominees may torpedoe the discovery made by the committees armed with screening of the appointees who discovered several certificate related scandals on the part of some nominees.
At the close of screening last Thursday and Friday, the House committee who undertook the exercise, it was gathered, discovered that some of the nominees do not possess some basic academic requirements needed for holding an elevated office such as commissioner incharge of a ministry. Apart from failing to show their First School Leaving Certificates, FSLC, that is basic for qualification, others were unable to produce original certificates of their academic qualifications they claimed in their resume submitted to the Imo State House of Assembly.
The lawmakers in the course of verifying these credentials noticed that some of the certificates were suspicious and not true certified copies expected for such exercise presentation.
A nominee from Owerri zone and another from Okigwe were worst culprits as they never included their FSLC to the Members for screening. Few nominees from Orlu zone also experienced challenges from the screening committee when they failed to provide necessary academic qualifications and credentials to support their claims. A particular nominee from Orlu zone dazed the lawmakers when nothing was presented as academic qualification to merit a commissionership position.
The revelations alarmed Members of the Imo State House of Assembly who it was further learnt got across to the Governor for notifications. However, the Government House authorities were said to have requested the Members to “allow” all the nominees and other appointees get express clearance and approval since they are wanted by the Governor.
According to top Assembly sources, the lawmakers became helpless when Government House expressed unshakable interest on all the nominees forwarded to the Assembly for clearance.
There are strong indications that private discussions among the parties involved would lead to amicable resolution as the Members are expected to be confirmed today when the State Assembly resumes plenary.
