The Senate has confirmed 37 out of the 38 nominees forwarded to it by President Muhammadu Buhari as Chairman and members of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).
This was because the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South), kicked against the emerging nominees from the same part of the country occupying the Chairmanship and Secretaryship positions of the commission.
Abaribe who made the observation before confirmation of appointments of the nominees said that the two principal positions in the commission have always been occupied on the basis of North and South
According to Abaribe, over the years, while competent Nigerians from the North have been appointed as the Commission Chairman, Secretary to the Commission has always been from the south in line with section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“The Appointment of Mohammed Bello Tukur from Taraba State in 2017 as Secretary of the Commission by President Muhamnadu Buhari , gave the impression that a new Chairman would be from the South but the nomination of Dr Muheeba Dankaka from Kwara State as the new chairman , violated the age long principle.
“The Senate needs therefore to look into this in the spirit of the principles of federal character itself”, he said.
In his intervention, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, said the submission of Abaribe was targetted at the powers of President Buhari on the nomination and appointment of competent Nigerians into public office.
He added that though the issue of balancing raised by Abaribe regarding the two principal positions of the commission is germane but the perceived anomalies would be corrected in months to come.
Omo-Agege said “President Buhari is aware of the need to balance the positions and will do that when the tenure of the incumbent secretary expires next February.
He then called for confirmation. .
Consequently the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan agree with Omo-Agege’s submission by presenting names of the nominees for confirmation through voice votes.
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Aside the Chairman, other nominees confirmed include Henry Ogbulogo, Abia; Salihu Bello, Adamawa; Obonganwan Dborah Daniel Ebony, Akwa-Ibom; Ibeabuchi Uche, Anambra; Mohammed Tijjani, Bauchi; Tonye Okio, Bayelsa; Silas Mfa Macikpah, Benue; Abba Ali Monguno, Borno; Nsor Atamgba, Cross River; and Alims Agoda.
Others are: Tobias Chukuemeka, Ebonyi; Imuetinyan Festus, Edo; Sesan Fatoba; Ginika Florence Tor, Enugu; Hamza Mohammed, Gombe; Diogu Uche, Imo; Lawan Ya’u Roni, Jigawa; Hadiza Usman Muazu, Kaduna; Mohammed Awwal Na’iya, Kano; Lawal Garba, Katsina; Abubakar Atiku Bunu, Kebbi; Idris Eneye Bello, Kogi; Are Miftah Bolaji, Lagos; Nasir Isa Kwarra, Nasarawa; and Suleiman Barau, Niger.
Also confirmed are Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade, Ogun; Olufemi Omosanya, Ondo; Adeoye Abdularazaq Olalekan, Osun; Adeniyi Olowofela, Oyo; Stephen Jings, Plateau; Wokocha Augustine, Rivers; Abdullahi Taminu Tafida, Sokoto; Alhaji Armaya’u Dauda Abubakar, Taraba; Jibril Maigari, Yobe; Sani Garba, Zamfara; and Adamu Mohammed Sidi-Ali and Federal Capital Territory.
Meanwhile, President Buhari has named James Giya Kolo from Kwara State as fresh nominee into the commission.
He replaces the earlier nominated Late Daniel James Kolo who passed on before the senate screening.
Letter to that effect from the President, was read in plenary by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.
Editor: Tunde Orebiyi.
