Senate confirms Dahir-Umar as PENCOM DG

The Senate, on Tuesday, confirmed the nomination of Mrs Aisha Dahir-Umar as Director General (DG) of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM).

Other nominees confirmed are Dr Oyindasola Oluremi Oni (North Central) chairman; Clement Oyedele Akintola (South West) commissioner; Ayim C. Nyerere (South East), commissioner and Charles Efe Sylvester Emukowhale (South South) commissioner.

The Red Chamber, however, stepped down the confirmation of Hannatu Musa (North West), commissioner, for failing to submit her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.

Their confirmation followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano Central).

The committee said the nominees possessed the requisite qualifications for the PENCOM job and therefore recommended their confirmation.

However, before the nominees were confirmed, the Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe again protested against the confirmation of Dahir-Umar and urged the Red Chamber to revisit the controversy surrounding her nomination.

Umar, from the North-east, has been serving as DG of the agency in acting capacity.

Abaribe, who represents Abia South, had earlier said Dahir-Umar’s nomination to replace the former Director-General of PenCom, Mrs Chinelo Anohu-Amazu from Southeast was in breach of the Act establishing PENCOM.

Last week, the senator also petitioned the screening panel, asking it to stop action that could lead to the clearance of Dahir-Umar as DG of the agency.

He said the president has the right to appoint whomever he wills to occupy positions but such appointment should be done within the law.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said the section of the PENCOM Act cited by Abaribe did not apply to the current nominees.