Senate (Hallowed) Chamber
Lawmakers in the Senate disagreed on Thursday over the confirmation of members of the Governing Board for the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).
This occurred after Senate President Bukola Saraki read a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari at the plenary in which he sought legislative approval for the appointments of the candidates.
In the letter, President Buhari indicated that the six geopolitical zones of the country were represented in the board.
But the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, raised a constitutional point of order as he objected to the chairmanship of the board.
He cited nepotism and drew the attention of the Senate to previous appointments of the President where the leadership comprised of one section of the country, saying such is contrary to the Federal Character.
The Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, however, called on the lawmakers to see the larger picture where the six geopolitical zones were represented.
This sparked some dissenting reactions from some members, but calm was eventually restored when the Senate President ruled against further debate on the matter.
Senator Saraki consequently referred the matter to the Committee on Federal Character to guide the Senate appropriately on how to address the issue.
The committee was directed to report back to the House on Tuesday next week.
Soon after the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki read a letter from President Buhari on the appointment of former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Tunde Lemo as Chairman, Board of Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, the Managing director and six others as members, the deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu raised a point of order.Senator Ekwerenadu who referred the Senate to section 14(3) of 1999 Constitution, picked holes in the appointments of chairmen of boards without recourse to federal character principle, with a particular zone of the country which us South east being neglected and marginalised.
According to Senator Ekweremadu, the action of President Buhari was totally unacceptable to him because the leadership of these agencies were coming from a particular part of the country.
Ekweremadu who noted that he was not against anyone, but against the non adherence to federal character principle in line with the constitution and for national unity.
At this point, Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan in his intervention said that whenever the government sends a list containing the list of appointments, the government does its work very well.
It was at this point that the hallowed chamber became very rowdy as there were reactions, shouts from the Senators.
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki tried to bring down the tension and the rowdy nature, describing the issue as speculations.
Saraki then gave Senator Tijani Kaura, APC, Zamfara led Committee on Federal Character time to investigate the issues raised by the deputy Senate President and report back at plenary next week Tuesday, adding that the probe would ascertain if there were such cases or not.
Another round of uproar erupted when the Senate leader, Ahmad Lawan read executive communication for the screening of the Chairman and Commissioners of the Federal Civil Service Commission with Dr. Bello Tukur Ingawa from Katsina as Chairman.
Senator Chukwuka Utazi, PDP, Enugu North came under Order 15 still on the same subject matter saying that the screening should be kept in ambience until the Senate Committee on Federal character comes up with its report.
Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, PDP, Abia North corroborated Senator Utazi, calling for putting on hold the of screening and confirmation.
Senator Obinna Ogba, PDP, Ebonyi also came up with a similar position.
While he was talking, there were shouts from his colleagues and this prompted Ogba to shout back that they were not the ones presiding, but the Senate President.
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