Buhari seeks confirmation of NDDC board, others

The Senate on Tuesday received a request from President Muhammadu Buhari for the confirmation of 16 nominees for appointment into the Niger Delta Development Commission Board.

Also received from the President Buhari for confirmation were appointments of President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, the Chief Judge of Federal High Court and three state commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The president’s requests were contained in four separate letters read by Senate President Ahmad Lawan, on the floor of the upper chamber at the resumption of plenary yesterday.

Buhari said the letter for the confirmation of the board the NDDC), to be chaired by Dr

Pius Odubu, was in accordance with the provision of section 2(2) (a) of the Commission’s (Establishment) Act, 2000.

The letter for the approval of the appointment of the President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip, was pursuant to section 254b(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He also said the request for the confirmation of appointment of Justice J.T Tsoho as Chief Judge of the Federal High Court was pursuant to section 250(1) of the 1999 constitution (as amended), while that of the three Electoral Commissioners was in accordance with paragraph 14(3) of part 1 of the third schedule to the same constitution.

The three INEC electoral commissioners are Umar Mukhtar Gajiram, Dr Aalibo Sinikiem Johson and Raheem Muideen Olalekan from Borno, Bayelsa and Osun States respectively.