Breaking with tradition, Akpabio announced that Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola would chair the Appropriations Committee, while Senator Ahmed Wadada is to chair the Public Accounts Committee.
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday announced the composition of eight Senate Standing committees.
The Senate President also read a letter from President Bola Tinubu seeking the confirmation of the recently appointed service chiefs.
Akpabio himself is the Chairman of the Senate Selection Committee which has his Deputy, Barau Jibrin, and Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, as members.
Other members of the Senate Selection Committee include Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) lawmaker representing Kano Central, Rufai Hanga.
Some of the standing committees announced by Akpabio include Appropriations, Public Accounts, Ethics, and Public Petitions and Establishment.
Akpabio revealed that Senator Solomon Adeola would chair the Appropriations Committee, while Senator Ahmed Wadada is to chair the Public Accounts Committee.
Senator representing Benue North West, Titus Zam was announced as Chairman Committee on Rules and Business while Senator Bamidele will serve as Deputy.
The duo of Senators Sunday Steve Karimi and William Jonah were announced as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Committee on Senate Service.
It would appear that the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost out in the composition of the Standing Committees.
By practice, the Committee on Public Accounts of both chambers is always conceded to leading opposition parties.
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Unlike in the ninth Senate where Matthew Urgohide (PDP Edo South) was Chairman Senate Committee on PAC, Akpabio announced Social Democratic Party Senator Aliyu Wadada, representing Nasarawa West as Chairman Senate Committee on Public Accounts.
The opposition parties also lost out in the Senate Committee on Appropriation as Senator Akpabio announced two lawmakers on the platform of the ruling party – Senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola and Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume as Chairman and Deputy of the Committee.
In the ninth Senate led by Ahmad Lawan, incumbent Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and Stella Oduah, PDP Senator who represented Anambra North, were Chairman and Vice- Chairman.
Incidentally, both Senators Olamilekan and Ndume are Director General and Chairman Media and Accounts committee of the Stability Group that campaigned for the Akpabio-Barau ticket.
Below is the full list of the Senate Committees and chairmen announced by Akpabio.
Appropriation Committee
Chairman – Senator Solomon Adeola
Vice Chairman – Senator Ali Ndume
Committee on Media and Public Affairs
Chairman – Senator Adaramodu Adeyemi Raphael
Vice Chairman – Senator Salisu Shuaibu Afolabi
Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions
Chairman – Senator Okechukwu Ezea
Vice Chairman – Senator Khalid Mustapha
Committee in Public Accounts
Chairman – Senator Aliyu Ahmed Wadada
Vice Chairman – Senator Onyeka Peter Nwebonyi
Committee on National Security and Intelligence
Chairman – Senator Shehu Umar
Vice Chairman – Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong
Committee on Legislative Compliance
Chairman – Senator Garba Musa Maidoki
Vice Chairman – Senator Ede Dafinone
Committee on Rules and Business
Chairman – Senator Titus Zam
Vice Chairman – Senator Opeyemi Bamidele
Committee on Senate Services
Chairman – Senator Sunday Karimi
Vice Chairman – Senator Williams Jonah
On the request by Tinubu to confirm the newly appointed service chiefs, Akpabio said they would be screened by the entire Senate in the Senate chamber on a yet-to-be-announced date.
Last week, the President similarly asked the House of Representatives to confirm the newly appointed service chiefs.
Speaker Abass Tajudeen read the President’s letter at plenary on Thursday.
On June 19, Tinubu replaced all the service chiefs with immediate effect.
The ousted security chiefs included retired Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (National Security Adviser), Lucky Irabor (Chief of Defence Staff), Faruk Yahaya (Chief of Army Staff), Awwal Gambo (Chief of Naval Staff), and Isiaka Amao (Chief of Air Staff).
The new appointees include Nuhu Ribadu (National Security Adviser), Maj. Gen. Christopher Musa (Chief of Defence Staff), Maj. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla (Chief of Naval Staff), and AVM Hassan Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff).
The new office holders have since resumed in acting capacity awaiting confirmation by the National Assembly.