Senators ‘quarrel’ as Saraki moves to probe Buhari’s appointments

The Senate was on Thursday thrown into a rowdy session as it’s President, Bukola Saraki directed its Committee on Federal Character to investigate President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments.

The pronouncement threw up shouts of ‘yes’ and ‘no’, which held up plenary for about 30 minutes, before Saraki restored order.

Trouble started when the Senate President, read a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari seeking the lawmakers’ confirmation for appointments into the board of the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency.
Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, kicked off the protests when he raised a point of order.

According to him, the president’s nominations and previous appointments of heads of Federal Government departments, agencies and parastatals, did not comply with the federal character principle.

He noted that the recent appointments made by Buhari and for which he had sought legislative approval showed that the nominees were from particular parts of the country.

The Majority Leader, Ahmad Lawan, however opposes his argument, by offering, that the appointments were balanced ‎”if you look at the larger picture.”

Read also: Out-of-favour Daura plots return to Aso Villa

Saraki In his submission, stated that the Senate would not act on sentiments and opinion, and thereafter directed the Committee on Federal Character to investigate Buhari’s appointments and present a report to the chamber by Tuesday.

The chamber, however, became noisy as the lawmakers shouted ‘yes’ and ‘no.’

Three other lawmakers from the South-East also raised points of order to ask the chamber to suspend further consideration and screening of nominees pending the presentation and adoption of the report by the Committee on Federal Character.

They were senators Chukwuka Utazi, Mao Ohuabunwa and Obinna Ogba‎.

Saraki, however, insisted that only the report by the committee would determine if the protesters were right or wrong, and if the Senate would continue to act on Buhari’s requests for confirmation of appointments.

Buhari In his letter to the Senate, appointed a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr. Tunde Lemo, as Chairman of FERMA.

He also appointed a new managing director and six members of the board of FERMA.

Meanwhile, President Buhari also requested the Senate to confirm nomination of Dr. Bello Ingawa from Katsina as Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission.

Buhari also listed the names of 12 nominees for appointment as commissioners.

They are Moses Ngbale, Adamawa; Waziri Ngurno, Borno; Bello Mahmoud – Jigawa; Ahmed Sarna, Kebbi; Iyabode Odulate-Yusuf, Ogun; Shehu Danyaya, Niger; Fatai Adebayo, Oyo; Ejoh Chukwuemeka, Anambra; Joe Poroma, Rivers; Ibrahim Mohammed, Kaduna; Aminu Sheidu, Kogi; Simon Etim, Akwa Ibom.

This also raised protests from some lawmakers who alleged that the president’s nomination was lopsided.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now