Ex- leader, Ndume, chairs INEC panel, Abe heads FERMA

From Fred Itua, Abuja

More than two weeks after the Senate caucus of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) i removed Ali Ndume as leader, Senate President, Bukola Saraki named him as new chairman of the committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The announcement was made at about 2.55pm, few minutes after lawmakers concluded Day Three of the debate on the N7.29 trillion 2017 budget.

Saraki, who presided at plenary, made the announcement.

There was also a minor reshuffling, while new Senators who were recently sworn-in, clinched committee chairmanship positions.

Senator Magnus Abe from Rivers State, who recently won a keenly-contested rerun election, was named to head a new Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

In the Seventh Senate, Abe chaired the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream).

Another Rivers Senator, George Sekibo, was named chairman of the committee on Interior.

The committee has been without a head since the exit of its former chairman, Olaka Nwogu, also from Rivers State.

In the Seventh Sernate, Sekibo headed the Defence and Army Committee.

Senator Atai Idoko, another returning members, who was sworn-in towards the end of 2016 and represents Kogi East senatorial district, will head another new committee, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Senator Abubakar Kyari, who hitherto, chaired the Committee on INEC, was named by Saraki to head  the Defence committee.

Senate Leader, Ahmad  Ibrahim Lawan, until his appointment, headed the Defence committee.

The last reshuffle of committee leadership in the Senate was in October, 2016.

Last year, Senator Oluremi Tinubu was made substantive chairman of the Committee on Environment.

Ranking Senator, Kabir Marafa, was also appointed chairman of the Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) last October

With the announcement of new committee heads, the total number of committee chairmen in the Senate now stands at 68, from an earlier 66.

shake up/sd

Shake up in Senate

*Saraki names Ndume INEC committee chair, Abe heads FERMA

From FRED ITUA, Abuja

More than two weeks after he was sacked by Senators elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as Leader of the Senate, Ali Ndume, was on Thursday, named as the new chairman of the Senate committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The announcement was made at about 2.55pm, few minutes after lawmakers concluded their Day Three debate on the 2017 budget. President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki who presided during the day’s legislative business, made the announcement.

There was also a minor reshuffling, while new Senators who were recently sworn-in, clinched committee chairmanship positions.

Senator Magnus Abe from Rivers State, who recently won a keenly-contested rerun election, was named to head a new Senate Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

Another Rivers State Senator, George Sekibo was named as chairman of the Senate committee on Interior. The committee has been without a head since the exit of its former chairman, Senator Olaka Nwogu, also from Rivers State.

Senator Atai Idoko who was sworn-in towards the end of 2016 and represents Kogi East in the Senate, was named to head a new committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Senator Abubakar Kyari, who hitherto, chaired the Senate committee on INEC, was named by Saraki to head  Defence committee. Leader of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, until his appointment, headed the Defence committee.

The last reshuffle of committee headships in the Senate was in October, 2016. Senator Oluremi Tinubu was then named Senate committee chairman on Environment.

Controversial Senator, Kabir Marafa, was also named in last October Senate committee chairman on Petroleum (Downstream).

With the announcement of new committee heads, the total number of committee chairmen now stands at 68, from its earlier 66.

Ends…