The Senate on Wednesday said it was standing by its decision not to confirm any nominee from President Muhammadu Buhari until issues relating to confirmation of candidates are resolved.
The decision was sequel to a point of order raised by Senator Mao Ohabunwa on the non-confirmation of some board members of the Niger Delta Development Commission by the Senate.
Ohabunwa in his point of order complained that two or three states are represented on the board of the NDDC, pleading with the Senate leadership to allow the committee to screen nominees of the NDDC board.
According to him, two or three states are not represented on the board and therefore the Senate should allow the committee to do its job.
He said: “This morning, you have read the budget of NDDC and if you look at the act that established NDDC, the composition of the commission is made up in accordance to the act.
“Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers States.
“Three persons to represent non-oil mineral producing states provided that such membership shall be drawn from the same geopolitical zone, which are not represented in the commission.
“One representative of the oil producing companies in the Niger Delta nominated by the oil producing companies.
“One person to represent the Ministry of Finance, one person to represent the Ministry of Environment, Managing Director of the commission and two Executive Directors.
“Mr. President, that is the composition of the NDDC board.
“As I speak today, two or three states are not represented on this board and this board has been inaugurated and has been functioning.
“Mr. President, I agree that on this floor we resolved to suspend screening, but this one was already long before that even though there was a replacement and the screening was on before we took that decision.
“Mr. President, I am bringing this before you to look at this and allow the committee to complete screening so that these two or three states are not left unattended to.
“Things are moving on.
“The commission is working.
“That is why I have come to you this morning to take away NNDC from that resolution.”
The Senate had in July 2017 resolved to suspend all issues relating to confirmation of nominees from the executive until issues relating to confirmation of candidates are resolved.
The senators were particularly unhappy at the continuous retention of Ibrahim Magu in office as the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission despite his rejection by the Senate.
Responding to the point order, the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, said the Senate secretariat should look into the record to know whether the issue was on ground before the resolution was passed.
According to Saraki: “On the issue you raised, we will tell the secretariat to look at whether it had started when the resolution was passed.
“If it has started before the resolution was passed, we will look at it.
“I am happy that you made reference to the fact that we all here at the Senate passed a resolution on this matter.
“The issue you just raised, we will look at it to see if the exercise itself started before the resolution.
“I know this resolution we took it in march.
“I could remember: end of march last year.
“So secretariat should check the records.
“If it had started before, we will look into it, but if it started after, unless that resolution is rescinded, we are all bound by that resolution.”
Confirmation of close to 50 nominees of President Buhari is pending.
Confirmation of nominees for the Deputy Governor and four members of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Pension Commission, Code of Conduct Bureau, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, National Lottery Regulatory Commission and Federal Roads Maintenance Agency among others are pending.
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