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The Rivers State House of Assembly has commenced an investigation into funds allocated to the PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, with the Vice Chancellor of the institution, the Ministry of Education and other relevant parties invited to appear before an Adhoc Committee conducting the inquiry.
The development followed the presentation of a preliminary report by the House Adhoc Committee on the investigation of scholarship funds to PAMO University at the Assembly’s 44th Legislative Sitting on Monday, September 14, 2026.
Presenting the report, Chairman of the Committee, Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol, said invitation letters had been sent to the Vice Chancellor of the university, the Ministry of Education and other necessary parties.
Maol said the committee had taken the required steps in accordance with Sections 128 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, and other relevant laws.
He said the committee was awaiting the appearance of those invited to enable it to proceed with the investigation.
Reacting to the preliminary report, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, directed the committee to handle the assignment diligently and ensure that all parties were given fair hearing.
Amaewhule stressed that the Assembly had constitutional powers to summon individuals and require them to produce documents and other evidence necessary for its investigation.
He said the exercise must be conducted in the interest of the people of Rivers State.
The investigation followed the Assembly’s earlier decision to remove ₦6 billion proposed as a scholarship grant to PAMO University of Medical Sciences from the 2026 Appropriation Law.
The House had acted on the recommendation of its Appropriation Committee before subsequently setting up the Adhoc Committee to investigate the scholarship programme from the inception of the university.
The committee is expected to establish the total amount disbursed to the institution and determine how the funds were utilised in relation to their stated purposes.
The Assembly also considered a separate report by its Committee on Public Petitions concerning a petition seeking the repeal of the Rivers State Sports Institute Law and the enactment of legislation to re-establish the Government Sea School, Isaka.
Following consideration of the report and the consensus reached among stakeholders, the House resolved to initiate a bill for the re-establishment of the Government Sea School, Isaka.
The proposed legislation is expected to update the institution’s operational mandate to reflect contemporary maritime standards and the emerging demands of the blue economy.
The resolution is part of efforts by the Assembly to reposition the institution for modern maritime education and skills development in line with the economic potential of Rivers State’s waterways and coastal communities.
