BY OZOEMENA OSINACHI
The Senate on Tuesday, confirmed all nominees of president Bola Tinubu for the Governing Boards of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) and North West Development Commission (NWDC)
Also the nominees have been reminded of the enormous task ahead of them as they assume office as the first executive board of the newly created regional development commissions
Their confirmatio was sequel to the consideration and adoption of the report of the ad-hoc committee on regional development commissions, chaired by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North), after the screening exercise on each of the nominees.
The committee expressed its satisfaction with the nominees, stressing that they had during the screening proved their capacities to manage the affairs of the respective development commissions.
However a mild drama ensued during the screening exercises, as some legislators made a move to invoke Order (1b) to step down the confirmation for further consultations.
The move was, however, unsuccessful as the Senate voted to dissolve into the Committee of the Whole to consider the report in the course of which all the nominees of both commissions were approved.
The Senate confirmed 14 nominees for the North West Development Commission and 18 for the South East Development Commission.
While Lawal Samai’la Abdullahi was confirmed as Chairman of the North West Commission, Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji was confirmed as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Others are, Yahaya Umar Namahe, Aminu Suleiman, Ja’afar Abubakar Sadeeq, Yahaya Aminu Abdullahi, Muhammad Ali Wudil, Shamsu Sule, Nasidi Ali, Chukwu Chijioke, Ahmed Mohammed, Ahmed Rufai Timasantyu, Macdonalds Michael Uyi and Babatunde Dada.
Emeka Wogu and Mark Okoye were confirmed as the Chairman and Managing Director of the South East Commission.
Other nominees confirmed for the commission were Ugochukwu Agballah, Okey kzenwa, Hyacinth Ikpor, Chidi Echeazu, Ifeanyi Agwu, Nasiru Usman, Hamma Adama, Ali Kumo, Edward David Onoja, Orure Kufre Inima, Daniel Akwari, Joke Adebayo-Chukwuma, Stanley Ohajuruka, Sylvester Okonkwo, Toby Okechukwu, Anthony Agbo and Clifford Ogbede.
It would be recalled that four weeks ago, President Bola Tinubu submitted a revised list of nominees for the Governing Boards of the Regional Development Commissions to the Senate for confirmation.
Consequently, Senate President Godswill Akpabio who presided over the plenary referred the nominees to undergo grilling by an Ad-Hoc Committee it created chaired by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu APC, Abia-North.
During the screening members of the committee sternly warned the nominees for the Governing Boards not to fail Nigerians, adding that they would be closely monitored by the Senate which would not hesitate to expedite their sack if found wanting in unethical acts.
Speaking at the confirmation, Senator Kalu re-emphasised the importance of accountability and transparency in the governance of the development commissions.
The nominees were all confirmed by voice votes from the senators shortly after adopting the report of Kalu’s committee.