It was a stormy session at the senate on Thursday over the executive communication on the appointment of Commissioners for the Federal Civil Service Commission, as the lawmakers argued that the nomination was lopsided.
Lawmakers who were already charged following ill-feelings that President Muhammadu Buhari had in various appointments of boards of government ministries and parastatals favoured his kinsmen from the North angrily said, they would not allow the development any further. .
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu through a point of order raised concern of biases in Federal Road Management Agency (FERMA). The order was adopted and referred to the Senate Committee on Federal Character for investigation.
Meanwhile, lawmakers could not take it when the list of nomination of the Federal Civil Service Commission was read by the Senate leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan as they insisted that it must be stepped down till the outcome of investigation by the Committee on Federal Character Commission.
“That the Senate do consider the request of Mr. President on the confirmation of the nomination of the following persons for appointment as Chairman and Commissioners for the Federal Civil Service Commission in accordance with the provisions of Section 154(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigerian, 1999 as amended”, Lawan submitted.
Irked by the development, Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP) Enugu North Senatorial district through order 15 of Senate rules insisted that the list should be stepped down pending report from the Committee on Federal Character Committee.
Supporting Utazi’s submission, Senator Obinna Ogba representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial district stressed that Ebonyi State was denied in the list, saying that the Senate should reject the nomination.
The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki in an atmosphere of rancor pleaded that the list should be referred to the relevant Committee for screening pending the previous report for want of time.
“Distinguished Colleagues, we are still saying the same thing. Let’s refer the list to the committee for screening because we will soon go on holiday.”
The nomination was finally adopted for screening.
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