Despite Abaribes objection Senate confirms 37 nominees of Federal Character Commission

…As Buhari seeks confirmation of REC, replaces dead nominee on FCC

Despite the observation of the senate leader on the composition of the leadership of the Federal Character commission yesterday the Senate went ahead to confirm the appointment of 37 nominees forwarded to the upper chamber by President Muhammadu Buhari for confirmation.

The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( PDP Abia South), had kicked against the emerging scenario whereby Nigerians from the same part of the country would be appointed to occupy the Chairmanship and Secretaryship positions of the commission.

Abaribe who made the observation before confirmation of appointments of the nominees said the two principal positions in the commission have always been occupied on the basis of North and South .

According to him, over the years , while competent Nigerians from the North have been appointed as Chairman of the Commission , Secretary to the Commission has always been from the south in line with section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“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 nomination of Dr Muheeba Dankaka from Kwara State as the new chairman , violated the age long principle.

” The Senate needs to look into this in the spirit of the principles of federal character itself ” , he said .

But by way of intervention, the Deputy President of the Senate , Ovie Omo-Agege, said the submission of Abaribe is targetted at the powers of President Buhari on nomination and appointment of competent Nigerians into public office.

He added that though the issue of balancing raised by Abaribe as regards the two principalship positions of the commission is germane but perceived anomalies would be corrected in months to come .

“President Buhari is aware of the need to balance the positions and will do that when the tenure of the incumbent secretary expires in February next year .

” Mr President , this issue has been in the public domain since the nominees were sent here for confirmation and since there is window of redressing perceived anomaly in few months time , I will urge us to please forge ahead with the confirmation “, he said .

Consequently the President of the Senate , Ahmad Lawan concurred to the submission by presenting names of the nominees for confirmation which were done through voice votes.

According to him, in the recent history of the appointment in to the commission had always been for the chairman to come from

The nominees were confirmed after the upper chamber considered the report of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs.

The nominees whose appointments were confirmed are: Dr. Muheeba (Farida) Dankaka, Chairman (kwara); Hon. Henry Ogbulogo (Abia); Dr. Salihu Bello (Adamawa); Obonganwan Dorah Daniel Ebong (Akwa Ibom); Rev. Ibeabuchi Uche (Anambra); Mohammad Tijjani (Bauchi); Tonye G. Okio Member (Bayelsa); Mr. Silas Mfa Macikpah (Benue); Abba Ali Monguno Member (Borno); Mr. Nsor Atamgba (Cross River); Hon. Moses Anaughe (Delta); Chief George Afamefuna Ossi (Ebonyi); Imuetinyan Festus Member (Edo); Barr. Sesan Fatoba (Ekiti); and Mrs. Ginika Florence Tor (Enugu).

Others are: Hamza Mohammed (Gombe); Dr. Diogu Uche (Imo); Lawan Ya’u Roni (Jigawa); Hadiza Usman Muazu (Kaduna); Muhammad Awwal Na’iya (Kano); Hon. Lawai Garba (Katsina); Abubakar Atiku Bunu (Kebbi); Pharm. Idris Eneye Bello (Kano); Abdul Wasiu Kayode Bawa-Allah (Lagos); Barr Alakayi Toro Mamman (Nassarawa); Maj.Gen. Suleiman Barau Said.(Rtd) (Niger); Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade (Osun); Chief Olufemi Lawrence Omosanya (Ondo); Adeoye Abdulrazak Olalekan (Osun); Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela (Oyo); Mr. Stephen A. Jings (Plateau); Wokocha Augustine (Rivers); Abdullahi Aminu Tafida (Sokoto); Alhaji Armaya’u Dauda Abubakar (Taraba); Hon. Jibril Maigari (Yobe); Hon. Sani Garba (Zamfara); and Sen. Adamu Mohammed Sidi-Ali (FCT).

In a related development, the Senate on Tuesday also confirmed the appointments of Dr. Frederick Ekwem, Commissioner, (Imo and Abia); and Dr. Jonah Madugu, Commissioner (Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau).

The confirmation of both appointments was sequel to the consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service.

Meanwhile, the Senate has received a formal request from President Muhammadu Buhari to replace one of the members on the Federal Character Commission.

The letter dated May 29, 2020, was read by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on the floor during plenary on Tuesday.

The letter reads: “In compliance with the provision of Section 154(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I have the pleasure to present for confirmation by the Senate, Mr. James Jiya Kolo as a Member representing Kwara State in the Federal Character Commission replacing the nominee earlier submitted for the state, Mr. Daniel James Kolo who died on 19th May, 2020.”

In another letter received by the Upper Chamber, President Muhammadu Buhari requested the confirmation of Tella Adeniran Rahmon as Resident Electoral Commissioner from Osun State in the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the President, the request seeking Rahmon’s confirmation was pursuant to Paragraph 14(3) of Part One of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).