Fresh reports have revealed that ahead of the upcoming 2023 general elections, the Nigerian Senate has finally made the confirmation pf the nominations for up to 19 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Nigerian Senate had also confirmed on Wednesday that the nomination of Muhammad Sabo Lamido as Executive Commissioner, Finance and Accounts for the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NUPRA) would be taking effect immediately.
Read Also: Costs Of Governance: Senate To Scrap Over 400 MDAs In 2023
The confirmations had also been made sequel to the consideration which had been made of the reports of its Committees on Electoral Matters, and that of Upstream Petroleum Sector respectively.
The Resident Electoral Commissioners confirmed also include: Ibrahim Abdullahi(from Adamawa); Obo Effanga (Cross River); Umar Ibrahim(Taraba); Agboke Olaleke(Ogun); Samuel Egwu (Kogi); Onyeka Ugochi(Imo); Muhammed Bashir(Sokoto); Ayobami Salami (Oyo); Zango Abdu (Katsina), Queen Elizabeth Agwu (Ebonyi) and Agunndu Tersoo (from Benue).
Others are: Yomere Oritsemlebi, Delta; Yahaya Ibrahim Makarfi, Kaduna; Nura Ali, Kano; Agu Uchenna, Enugu; Ahmed Yushau Garki, FCT; Hudu Yunusa, Bauci; Uzochukwu Chijioke, Anambra and Mohammad Nura from Yobe.
Presenting his report, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Kabiru Gaya said, “to determine their suitability for the positions which they were nominated, nominees were asked questions that bothered mostly on partisanship, membership of political parties, and how they hoped to improve the electoral process if and when their nominations for appointments are confirmed”.
The nominees, Gaya said, assured the committee of their non-partisanship, non-membership of any political party, and promised to discharge their responsibilities diligently according to the laid down laws.
In another related development, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance has revealed that no fewer than 400 out of 541 Federal Government’s Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are set to be scrapped from 2023 as recommended by Stephen Orosanye-led Presidential Committee on agencies’ rationalisation.
Olamilekan, who made this revelation on the second day of the ongoing interface between the committee and heads of MDAs on revenue drive for the implementation of the proposed ₦19.76trillion 2023 budget, pointed out that the Orosanye panel recommended had the retention of only 106 of the MDAs.
According to him, revenue generation was the most critical factor being considered by the Federal Government before retaining 106 MDAs or scrapping 400.