Don’t Resume Before Confirmation, Senate Warns PenCom, CBB, ICPC Nominees
The Senate has advised the nominees into the headship of three Federal Government institutions whose names were recently announced not to resume work until their nominations are confirmed in accordance with the provision of the constitution and the establishment laws of the affected institutions.
The nominees affected by the Senate directive are Alhaji Ali Usman who has been nominated to become the Director General of the Pension Commission (PenCom), Dr. Mohammed Isah nominated as chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CBB) and Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, the chairman nominee of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
The stance of the Senate is a counter-move to the directive by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo asking the nominees to assume duty in acting capacity pending their confirmation by the National Assembly chamber.
The presidential directive was contained in a statement issued by Permanent Secretary and Director Press Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Bolaji Adebiyi, on Friday in Abuja.
Osinbajo, in the statement, had directed the newly appointed heads of the National Pension Commission (NPC), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to assume duty. The statement said the appointees were directed to assume duties in acting capacities pending their confirmation by the Senate
However, the Senate yesterday issued the warning in a statement by its spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.
“The leadership of the Senate has been inundated by enquiries from individuals from across the country who want to know whether the statement from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to the effect that the nominees into the headship of PenCom, Code of Conduct Bureau and ICPC should resume work immediately pending their confirmation by the Senate was as a result of an understanding between the executive and the legislature.
“We will like to advise the Acting President who was quoted to have given the directive for the resumption of the nominees that the directive was illegal and not right. The Senate will not support any action that is not in line with the law,”
“We advise the nominees to hold on until they are cleared by the Senate as required by the law before resuming in their respective offices. We do not want anything that will cause any problem between the executive and the legislature”, Abdullahi stated.
According to a Premium Times online publication, it is not clear if the Senate will consider clearing the nominees as it had earlier vowed not to clear such nominees presented by the Executive until the controversy over Ibrahim Magu as head of anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is resolved.
The lawmakers want Mr. Magu removed, having refused to confirm his appointment twice, but the presidency insists he would continue in office, the report noted.
In his statement, Adebiyi said the directive for them to assume duties was to ensure that there was no vacuum in certain important federal institutions.
The appointees, according to Premium Times online, are as follows: National Pension Commission, Ali Ahmed – acting Chairman, Funso Doherty – acting Director-General, Manasseh Denga – acting Executive Commissioner.
Others are: Abubakar Magawata – acting Executive Commissioner, Ben Oviosun - acting Executive Commissioner, Nyerere Anyim – acting Executive Commissioner
At the Code of Conduct Bureau the nominees include Muhamma Isah as acting Chairman, Murtala Kankia – acting Member, and Emmanuel Attah – acting Member.