Senate Maintains Embargo On Buhari Appointees

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki

The Senate has maintained hat it has not lifted the embargo on the confirmation of appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The assertion was made by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Saraki had read a letter from the President seeking the Senate’s approval for the 2017 budget estimates of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, representing Imo North Senatorial District, , hence, raised a point of order to remind fellow senators that three states had no representation on the board of the NDDC, which he blamed on the suspension of confirmation of nominees.

Ohuabunwa noted that the NDDC Act vividly stipulated the composition of the board to comprise representatives from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers states, with three persons to represent non-oil producing states provided that such membership was elected from the same geo-political zone which are not represented in the commission.

He said other members included one representative of the oil-producing firms 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, the Managing Director of the commission and two executive directors.

Ohuabunwa said, “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.”

In response, the Senate President  said the NDDC board appointments could only be confirmed if the screening process began before the resolution by the Senate.