Senate Suspends Nomination of Nnanna Uzor Kalu as Member NASS Commission, Approves12 Others

The Senate has stepped down the appointment of Dr. Nnanna Uzor Kalu as a member of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC).

The suspension of the nomination of Dr. Uzor Kalu follows the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service as read by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Oluwole Fasuyi Cyril.

While presenting the Committee report, the chairman recommended the total step down of the two nominees from the Southeast due to a petition written against their nomination.

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However, the Deputy Chief Whip of the, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi protested the recommendation insisting that there was no petition against the nominees. Senator Nwebonyi said,

“As a principal officer from the Southeast, to the best of my knowledge there is no petition against the nominees, so I Urge the Committee Chairman to withdraw the recommendation and approve all the nominees.

However, Senator Osita Izunaso (APC, Imo)  in his contribution noted that there was indeed a petition that was laid before the Senate in Tuesday March 18, which the President of the Senate referred to the Senate Committee of Public Petitions, Ethics and Privileges with a mandate to report back to the Senate within one week.

Earlier in his contribution, Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa) urged the Senate to step down the confirmation of the entire nominees pending the resolution of all issues at stake. The former Bayelsa Governor noted that no indigene of Bayelsa State has ever been a member of the NASC, he urged the Senate to intervene to accommodate an indigene of Bayelsa State.

After the debates, the President of the Senate noted that the petition against the Southeast nominees does not affect the nominee from Ebonyi State, Mr. Festus Ifesinachi Odii, the Ebonyi nominee was subsequently confirmed.

Those confirmed are, Dr. Saviour Enyiekere (Chairman), Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi (North West), Hon. Yusuf A. Yusuf (North West), Aminu Ibrahim Malle (North East), Alhaji Lawan Maina Mahmud (North East), Mark Hanmation Terso (North Central), Salihu Umar Agboola Balogun (North Central), and Hon. Taiwo Olukemi Oluga (Southwest).

Others include, Hon Afeez Ipesa Balogun (Southwest), Festus Ifesinachi Odii (Southeast), Patrick A. Giwa (South South) and Mrs. Mary Ekpeyong (South South).