SENATE President Bukola Saraki,yesterday, in a move calculated to assuage the demands of the various tendencies in the Senate unveiled chairmen and deputy chairmen of the 65 standing committees.
Contrary to speculations that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would rub shoulders with the All Progressives Congress, APC, the ruling party clearly dominated headship of the committees with 41 slots or 63 per cent while the PDP got 24 chairmanship posts or 38 per cent
Compensates loyalists
While compensating his loyalists on the banner of the Like Minds, he also took care of his opponents in the Senate Unity Forum led by Senator Ahmed Lawan.
Members of the Like Minds that got chairmanship slots include former governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje (Appropriation); Dino Melaye (Federal Capital Territory); Shaaba Lafiagi (National Security and intelligence); Andy Uba (Public Accounts); Rafiu Adebayo (Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions); Isa Hamman Misau (Navy) and Ahmed Rufai Sani, (Marine Transport) among others.
And for the SUF, they were Senator Ahmed Lawan (Defence); Senator George Akume (Army); Adamu Abdullahi (Agriculture); Senator Barnabas Gemade (Housing); Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Women Affairs); Olugbenga Ashafa (Land Transport); Bayero Nafada (Inter- Parliamentary Affairs); Abu Ibrahim (Police Affairs); Kabir Marafa (National Identity and National Population); Rabiu Kwankaso (National Planning and Economic Affairs) among others.
According to the breakdown, the Pro- Ahmed Lawan group got 13 chairmanship positions.
PDP senators with juicy committees
Some PDP senators were also given what could be termed juicy committees to chair like Andy Uba (Public Accounts); Duro Samuel Faseyi (Air Force); Uche Ekwunife (Downstream); John Owan Enoh (Finance); George Sekibo (Interior); Ben Murray Bruce (Privatizations); and Olaka Johnson Nwogu (Environment) among others.
Principal officers denied chairmanship positions
Principal officers were given vice chairmanship positions like Bala Ibn Na’allah (Ethics and Privileges and Aviation); Francis Alimikhena (Housing); Godswill Akpbabio (Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters); Philip Aduda (Land Transport); and Olusola Adeyeye (Primary Health Care and Communicative Diseases).
Mark opts out
It was however gathered that immediate past Senate President, Senator David Mark was said to have opted out of serving as chairman of any standing committee.
Uzodinma, Nnaji, Boroffice retain positions
Senators Hope Uzodinma, Gilbert Nnaji and Robert Ajayi Boroffice retained the chairmanship positions of Aviation, Communications and Science and Technology, respectively, which they occupied during the 7th Senate.
However, Senators Emmanuel Paulker, James Manager, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Bukar Abba Ibrahim and Kabiru Gaya among others did not retain their positions.
While Paulker moved to the Committee on Establishment; Manager moved to Power; Gaya now heads Works and Abaribe now chairs Committee on Information and National Orientation.
North-Central gets lion’s share
With the breakdown, the North Central zone, where Senate President Saraki hails from the highest number of the positions. It got 12 committees and with Senate President Saraki as Chairman, Committee on Selection, the zone has 13. It is followed by the North-East, which has 11 chairmen; North-West, 11; South-West, 11; South-East, 10; and South-South, 10.
CCT: Saraki’s trial forces adjournment till next Tuesday
Meanwhile, the Senate will not sit today as it has adjourned plenary till next Tuesday.
It was gathered that the adjournment became imperative because of Senate President Saraki’s appearance at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT with the Senators expected to accompany him to face the case of alleged false declaration of assets as raised against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB.
Immediate past Chairman of Ad-hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye explained that the adjournment would give members of four Committees that have been saddled with responsibilities enough time to do their work and present their reports to the Senate, next week.
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