The Senate, on Thursday, confirmed a former federal lawmaker from Osun State, Hon. Ayo Hulayat Omidiran, as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), along with 37 others as commissioners representing the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Mohammed Musa remains as Secretary of the FCC. The commissioners whose appointments were confirmed by the Senate include Peter Ogbonna Eze (Enugu State), AbdulWasiu Kayode Bawala (Lagos), Obinna Oriaku (Abia), Lawal Ya’u Roni (Jigawa), Abubakar Atiku Bunu (Kebbi), Eludayo Eluyemi (Osun), Bema Olvadi Madayi (Adamawa), Dora Ebong (Akwa-Ibom), Nnoli Nkechi Gloria (Anambra), and Babangida Adamu Gwana (Bauchi State).
Others include Sir Tonye Okio (Bayelsa), Aligba Eugene Tarkende (Benue), Engr. Modu Mustapha (Borno), Dr. Stella Odey Ekpo (Cross River), Ederin Lovette Idisi (Delta), Barrister Nwokpor Vincent Nduka (Ebonyi), Hon. Victor Sabor Edoror (Edo), Hon. Sola Fokanle (Ekiti), Ibrahim Baba Mairiga (Gombe), Hon. Jerry Alagbaoso (Imo), Ruth Jumai Ango (Kaduna), Muhammad Awwal Nayya (Kano), Hon. Anas Isah (Katsina), and Bello Idris Eneye (Kogi).
The rest are Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi (Kwara), Alhaji Isah Jibrin (Niger), Comrade Ajimuda Bola (Ondo), Prince Ayodeji Aleshinloye (Oyo), Hon. Pam Bolman (Plateau), Aaron Chukwuemeka (Rivers), Alhaji Aminu Tambar (Sokoto), Bobboi Bala Kaigama (Taraba), Hon. Jibir Maigari (Yobe), Sani Garba (Zamfara), and Solomon Ayuba Dagami representing the FCT.
The confirmation followed the adoption of the screening report presented by Senator Allwell Heacho Onyesoh, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, during plenary.
He said all nominees had appeared before the committee on November 13, submitting Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) clearances, police reports, Department of State Service (DSS) vetting documents, and their curriculum vitae, and had undergone thorough screening without any criminal petitions recorded against them.
The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, moved the motion for the Senate to dissolve into the Committee of the Whole for the chamber to consider the nominees. The motion was supported by the Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Olalere Oyewumi, who said:
“I rise to support their nomination. From their résumé, they have held different positions both locally and internationally, and I hereby thank Mr. President for finding them worthy of nomination.”
In his remarks after the unanimous confirmation, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, charged the newly confirmed appointees to approach their duties with patriotism and a clear commitment to national development. He said:
“Go and serve in the interest of the nation. I congratulate all the nominees and wish them a successful tenure.”