Senators frown as president’s appointees resume without confirmation

Appointees of President Muhammadu Buhari for the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) have assumed duties without confirmation by the Senate, senators told Daily Trust yesterday.

The Senators said Lanre Gbajabiamila who had issues with the Senate when he resumed in May, this year as head of NLRC has again resumed contrary to the act establishing the commission.

“Section 8(1) of the Nigerian Lottery Regulatory Commission Act says the President shall appoint the Director-General subject to the confirmation of the Senate,” senators said the assumption of office by Gbajabiamila was unconstitutional.

“You will recall that when the issue was raised last time, he stopped parading himself as DG but he has again resumed. This is unconstitutional,” he said.

Another senator who also pleaded anonymity said Gbajabiamila has assumed duty through the ‘backdoor’.

“He has assumed duty as acting DG of the commission which is against the law that established the commission. When there is a vacuum, it is expected that the most senior director takes over. I wonder why an outsider will be appointed as acting DG,” the senator said.

They also said the assumption of office by the Managing Director/CEO of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Nurudeen Abdurahaman Rafindadi was illegal.

Rafindadi, according to a statement by FERMA’s Head of communication, Maryam M. Sanusi, has since assumed duty.

“He has violated the law by resuming because the law that established FERMA subjected the appointment to Senate confirmation. We are yet to receive any communication regarding his confirmation from the President,” a senator said.

Our correspondent reports that the Senate in August through a statement by its Spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi warned appointees of the president not to resume without Senate confirmation.