By Ignatius Okorocha
Senate on Tuesday confirmed President Muhammadu buhari’s nominations for appointments as Chairman, Director-General and Commissioners of National Pension Commission(PenCom).
The confirmation was sequel to the presentation and consideration of the report of Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters at the Committee of the Whole.
The report was presented by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Mpigi Barinada (PDP Rivers).
Presenting the report, Barinaga said the committee screened and found the nominees worthy of the appointments.
He,however, said the committee recommended that the nominee from Katsina should be stood down because she was yet to present her National Youth Service Corps certificate (N. Y.S.C) to the committee.
Recall that Sen.Enyinnaya Abaribe, (PDP Abia South) had raised objection to the nomination Aisha Dahir-Umar, as Director-General before the confirmation of the nominees before the screening of the nominees.
He noted that the nominee for the position of Director- General of PenCom should have been picked from the South -East region, following the non completion of the tenure of the former director-general who was from the region.
But in sharp disagreement with Abaribe’s opinion,Senators from North East like Ali Ndume(APC Boronu)and Aishatu Dahiru (APC Adamawa), however. argued that it was within the prerogative of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to appoint people in to positions based on existing laws.
Following an affirmative voice vote, Senate confirmed the following PenCom nominees :
Dr. Oyindasola Olureme Oni, Chairman (Kwara, North-Central), Aisha Dahir-Umar,Director-General (Adamawa, North- East) ,Clement Oyedele Akintola as Commissioner (Ondo South -West), Ayim C. Nyerere,Commissioner (Abia, South -East) and Charles Efe Sylvester Emukowhate as Commissioner (Delta South-South).
The nomination of Hanna Musa Musawa, nominee from Katsina (North -West)was stood down by the Senate until she presents her N. Y. S.C certificate.
Senate also confirmed President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominations for appointments as Non -Career Ambassadors.
The confirmation followed the presentation of a report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and consideration of same at the Senate Committee of the Whole.
The report was presented by the committee’s Chairman Sen.Bulkachuwa Muhammad (APC Bauchi North).
The two ambassadorial nominees confirmed are Amb.Muhammad Haruna Manta(Niger) and Yusuf Yunusa(Yobe).
Senate also at plenary considered for first reading five bills.
The bills are :
National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Establishment Bill, 2020 sponsored by Sen. Abdullahi Yayaya Abubakar (APC Kebbi- North ),Information Sector Private Employment Agencies Regulation Bill, 2020 by Sen. Musa Mohammed (APC Niger -East).
Others are, Historical Sites Preservation and Protection Bill, 2020 by Sen. Stella Oduah ( PDP Anambra North ) and Institute of Charted Power Engineers of Nigeria Establishment Bill, 2020 by Sen.Suswam Gabriel (PDP Benue North-East).
