Toba Owojaiye reporting
In a recent development, Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, unveiled the new chairmen for several standing committees within the Senate. This announcement was made following the confirmation of 45 out of the 48 ministerial nominees during the days’ plenary session.
Among the distinguished senators chosen to head these committees are Ahmad Lawan, President of the Ninth Senate, who will lead the Defence committee; Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto State, appointed as the chairman of the Housing committee; and Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State, designated to lead the Interior committee.
Additionally, other senators taking up committee chairmanships include Godiya Akwashiki (Airforce), Buhari Abdul-Fata (Aviation), Osita Izunaso (Capital Market), Cyril Fasuyi (Establishment), Seriake Dickson (Ecology/Climate Change), Jide Ipisagba (Petroleum Downstream), Aliyu Wadada (Public Account), Shehu Kaka (Special Duties), Patrick Ndubueze (Works), Solomon Adeola (Appropriations), Musa Sani (Finance), and Abiru Tokunbo (Banking).
The list of newly appointed committee chairmen continues with Isa Jubril (Customs), Elisha Abbo (Culture and Tourism), Victor Umeh (Diaspora), Lawal Usman (Education), Akintunde Yunus (Environment), Ibrahim Bomai (FCT), Sani Abubakar (Foreign Affairs), Banigo Harry (Health), Abubakar Yari (Water Resources), Enyinaya Abaribe (Power), and Aliyu Wamakko (Local and Foreign Debts).
Noteworthy mentions further encompass Adamu Aliero (Land transport), Daniel Olugbenga (Navy), Barinada Mpigi (Niger Delta), Mohammed Monguno (Judiciary), Yemi Adaramodu (Youths and Sports), Ireti Kingigbe (Women Affairs), Orji Kalu (Privatization), Mustapha Sabiu (Agriculture), Aliyu Bilbis (Communications), and Asuquo Ekpenyong (NDDC).
These appointments follow a prior announcement by the Senate President, which introduced the initial list of committee chairmen and their deputies.
The roster is as follows:
• Rules and Business — Titus Zam (chairman), Opeyemi Bamidele (deputy)
• Senate Services — Sunday Karimi (chairman), Williams Eteng Jonah (deputy)
• Ethics and Public Petitions — Okechukwu Ezea (chairman), Khalid Ibrahim Mustapha (deputy)
• Public Accounts — Aliu Wadada Ahmed (chairman), Onyeka Peter (deputy)
• National Security and Intelligence — Shehu Buba Umar (chairman), Asuquo Ekpenyong (deputy)
• Legislative Compliance — Garba Musa Maidoki (chairman), Ede Dafinone (deputy)
• Media — Adeyemi Adaramodu (chairman), Salisu Shuaibu Afolabi (deputy)
• Appropriations — Olamilekan Adeola (chairman), Ali Ndume (deputy).