Government House, Port Harcourt

Last updated

Government House
Alternative names Brick House
Governor's House
General information
Type Official residence
Location Old GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Country Nigeria
Coordinates 4°46′36″N7°0′59″E / 4.77667°N 7.01639°E / 4.77667; 7.01639 Coordinates: 4°46′36″N7°0′59″E / 4.77667°N 7.01639°E / 4.77667; 7.01639
Current tenants Governor of Rivers State
Owner Government of Rivers State

The Government House, also known as Brick House or Governor's House, [1] is located at Old GRA, Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nigeria. It is the official residence of the Rivers State chief executive, the head of government, and the home to the governors of Rivers State and their families. It serves as the venue for the Governor's official business, as well as the many high-level government conferences, receptions, and functions hosted by the occupant.

The Old Government Reserved Area is a neighborhood of the city of Port Harcourt, Rivers State in Nigeria. It was primarily inhabited by European settlers during colonial times and was then referred to as the European quarters.

Rivers State State in South South, Nigeria

Rivers State, also known simply as Rivers, is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. According to census data released in 2006, the state has a population of 5,198,716, making it the sixth-most populous state in the country. Its capital and largest city, Port Harcourt, is economically significant as the centre of Nigeria's oil industry. Rivers State is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo, Abia and Anambra States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State, and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta states. It is home to many indigenous ethnic groups: Ogoni, Abua, Ekpeye, Ikwerre, Ibani, Opobo, Eleme, Okrika, and Kalabari, Etche, Ogba, Engenni, Egbema, Obolo and others. The people from Rivers State are known as "Riverians".

Official residence residence at which a nations head of state, head of government, governor or other senior figure officially resides

An official residence is the residence at which a nation's head of state, head of government, governor, religious leader, leaders of international organizations, or other senior figure officially resides. It may or may not be the same location where the individual conducts work-related functions or lives.

Other events that take place at the Government House, include meetings such as that of the Executive Council, [2] and the swearing-in of new cabinet members. [3] [4]

The Executive Council, also known as the Governor's Cabinet is the highest administrative decision-making authority in Rivers State. It is part of the executive branch which is the most influential branch of the state government. It comprises the Governor, Deputy Governor, Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, Commissioners and Special Advisers. All of its members excluding the Deputy Governor are appointed by the Governor of Rivers State and confirmed by the House of the Assembly of the state.

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Government of Rivers State

The Government of Rivers State consists of elected representatives and appointed officials responsible for the government of Rivers State, Nigeria. Rivers State has a population of about 5 million people, and is one of the 36 states that make up the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The state government is composed of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, whose powers are vested by the Constitution in the House of Assembly, the Governor and the High Court. The judiciary operates independently of the executive and the legislature. At the local level, elected officials are in charge of local government areas.

The Governor of Rivers State is the chief executive of the Rivers State government and is one of the governors of the thirty-six states of Nigeria. The governor is supported by the Deputy Governor, both popularly elected for a term of four years. The governor, as head of the executive branch, has the power to appoint commissioners responsible for each of the state's ministries, the heads of parastatals, judicial officers and the state-owned bodies with specific regulatory or administrative duties. He or she cannot be a member of the state House of Assembly.

Ipalibo Gogo Banigo is a Nigerian medical doctor, politician and the first female Deputy Governor of Rivers State. A member of the People's Democratic Party, she has held various important offices at the Rivers State Ministry of Health. During her service, she assumed the positions of Director of Public Health Services, Acting Commissioner, Director-General and Permanent Secretary. She achieved prominence first in 1995, as Secretary to the Government of Rivers State before serving as Head of Service of the state. In December 2014, Ezenwo Wike selected her as his running mate in the 2015 election. She was elected Deputy Governor and assumed office on 29 May 2015.

The Rivers State Ministry of Finance is a government ministry of Rivers State, Nigeria that is charged with the responsibility of handling matters related to the finance administration of the state. The ministry's main goal is implementing government financial policies to ensure maximum productivity and positive impact on the lives of the citizens. Incumbent commissioner of the ministry is Dr. Fred Kpakol appointed in June 2015.

The Deputy Governor of Rivers State is the second highest-ranking official in the executive branch of Rivers State, after the Governor. The Constitution of 1999 requires that the gubernatorial nominee of a party select his or her deputy governor running mate after the primary. The Deputy Governor's duties include assisting the Governor and replacing him or her in the case of death, resignation, removal, impeachment, absence or incapacity due to illness.

The Chief of Staff (COS) is an appointed executive branch official in the Government of Rivers State responsible for coordinating the operations of the Governor's office as well as assisting the Chief Executive in the management of affairs of the government. The Chief of Staff oversees members of the Executive Council and serves as the Governor's liaison with the state executive branch.

The Politics of Rivers State function within the framework of a presidential republic, with the Governor of Rivers State as both head of state and head of government. Rivers State is known for a politically engaged citizenry. The official seat of government is in Port Harcourt. Under the Constitution, Executive power is vested in the Governor and he or she exercises them directly. This does not change the fact that such authority may also be exercised through the Deputy Governor or Commissioners. Legislative power is vested in a 32-member unicameral House of Assembly. Judicial power is exercised solely by the judiciary of Rivers State.

Daisy Wotube Okocha served as the 7th Chief Judge of Rivers State, in charge of the state's High Court of Justice, and Judicial Service Commission. She was appointed to the office by Governor Ezenwo Wike on 4 January 2016, and held it until her retirement on 15 January 2016. She had also served as Chief Judge in an acting capacity before attaining the substantive appointment.

Kenneth Bie Kobani is a Nigerian politician of the People's Democratic Party. He is a former Rivers State Commissioner of Finance, and was previously a Commissioner of Commerce and Industry. He served as a minister in the Cabinet of President Jonathan, serving as Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment. He is currently the Secretary to the State Government in Rivers State, a position to which he was appointed in June 2015.

Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma was a Nigerian politician and lawyer from Rivers State, a long-term member People's Democratic Party. He was the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in the state. Between 2000 and 2002 Aguma worked as Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch, and also chaired the Bar from 2006 to 2008. On 10 July 2015, the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee conferred the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on him alongside 20 others, to be sworn in on 21 September 2015.

Emmanuel Ihuoma Okah, commonly known as Emma Okah, is a lawyer and politician in Rivers State. A member of the People's Democratic Party, he served as Chief Press Secretary under Governor Odili, and was also Commissioner of Information under Omehia's government. He has chaired the Media and Publicity Committee of the Rivers State People's Democratic Party Campaign Organisation. After the PDP took over, Governor Ezenwo Wike appointed him to his cabinet. He was confirmed by the House on 5 June 2015 was sworn-in as Housing Commissioner on 12 June 2015.

Fred Barivure Kpakol is an accountant and politician, who is the current Rivers State Finance Commissioner. He is a native of B-Dere in Gokana. He studied accounting and finance at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology and graduated with a B.Sc. in Accounting and Finance. He went further to do his masters in Banking and Finance at Federal University of Technology Owerri and he later had his Ph.D. degree in Banking and Finance from Rivers State University of Science and Technology in 2013. Kpakol is affiliated with the People's Democratic Party and has served as Chairman of Gokana local government area. He is also a former Secretary of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria Rivers State Branch.

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Tonye Briggs-Oniyide is the current Rivers State Commissioner of Culture and Tourism. She was appointed in 2015 by Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, replacing Nnabuihe Imegwu.

Bathuel Harrison Iheanyichukwu is a civil engineer and architect, who serves as the current Rivers State Commissioner of Works. He was appointed to this position by Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, confirmed by the Rivers State House of Assembly and sworn in on 9 May 2016. He replaces Kelvin Wachukwu, who was suspended indefinitely on 1 April 2016.

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The Inauguration of Ezenwo Nyesom Wike as the 6th Governor of Rivers State took place on Friday, 29 May 2015 at the Liberation Stadium in Elekahia, Port Harcourt. The ceremony marked the beginning of the first four-year term of Ezenwo Nyesom Wike as Governor and Ipalibo Banigo as Deputy Governor.

The Office Of The Governor is the official office of the Governor of Rivers State headquartered at Government House in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. It includes personnel whose duties are mainly involved with supporting or advising the Governor and is an important executive body in the Government of Rivers State.

References

  1. ↑ Esinulo, Kanayo (29 May 2014). "Who occupies Brick House, Port Harcourt in 2015?". The Sun. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  2. ↑ Akasike, Chukwudi (25 March 2015). "Amaechi's deputy absent at Rivers exco meeting". The Punch. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015. Mr. Tele Ikuru, was conspicuously absent at Wednesday’s State Executive Council meeting held at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
  3. ↑ "Treat every Rivers indigene, resident equally — Wike charges new comm's, SSG". Global Patriot. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015. Barrister Wike gave the charge on Friday shortly after swearing-in the Secretary to the State Government, four Commissioners, Chief of Staff and Special Adviser on Media and publicity in Government House Port Harcourt.
  4. ↑ Wigodo, Ike (12 June 2015). "Wike Swears-In SSG, Four Commissioners, Others, Today". The Tide. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
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