Ibas Inaugurates RSIEC, Rivers Civil Service Commission

 Rivers State Administrator, Retd. Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas inaugurated the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and the Rivers Civil Service Commission on July 14, 2025, at the Government House in Port Harcourt. 

The ceremony, attended by stakeholders, marks a step toward stabilizing governance following political tensions since the 2023 elections. RSIEC, led by Chairman Justice Adolphus Enebeli, will oversee local government polls scheduled for September 2025, while the Civil Service Commission, headed by Dr. Joy Eke, aims to streamline 15,000 public sector jobs.

Ibas praised the move as a boost to democracy and efficiency, though opposition figures question Ibas’s legitimacy, citing a court challenge to the committee’s formation. The commissions’ budgets, set at ₦2 billion combined, face scrutiny amid Rivers’ $1.5 billion debt, with critics arguing funds should prioritize infrastructure. 

Security was tight, with police deployed, reflecting past electoral violence. The inaugurations signal a push for administrative reform, though their success hinges on resolving legal disputes.