By The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), has reconstituted the Civil Service Commission and the Local Government Service Commission, despite an ongoing legal challenge.
In a statement issued Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Ibiba Worika, named Dr. Livinus Bariki as the Civil Service Commission Chairman and Mr. Isreal Amadi as the Local Government Service Commission Chairman. The appointments took effect from April 7, 2025.
This follows Ibas’ suspension of political appointments made by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, affecting several state boards and agencies.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court order issued by Justice Adamu Tukaki Muhammed had restrained Ibas from appointing administrators for the 23 local government areas. Despite this, Ibas went ahead with the appointments.
A rights group, the Plex Centre for Civic Education Initiative, had challenged the move, filing a suit (No FHC/PH/CS/46/2025) on March 28, 2025, seeking to block the appointments. The court has set April 14, 2025, for a hearing.
