SENATE
The Upper Chamber of the National Assembly of Nigeria on Monday said it dropped one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominees for non-executive commissionership in the Nigerian Communications Commission, Chief Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla, after clearing him due to a misrepresentation of facts at his screening.
The Senate in a statement by its Chairman on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, said the nominee ” was never confirmed or voted for since no decision of the Senate is said to be approved if not adopted during the consideration of the Votes and Proceedings of the Senate at the next legislative day.
The Senate also wishes to note that the business of the Senate can only be binding when the votes and proceedings have been adopted and approved without any objection.
The implication of the directive by the Senate President to the Secretariat is that Senator Garbai’s observation or correction was correct and therefore the votes and proceedings should be amended to reflect the true situation.
On that fateful day, “November 22, 2016, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Baba Kaka Garbai, objected to the alleged confirmation of the nominee, saying, , “My name is Senator Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai representing Borno Central Senatorial District. Mr, President, what is actually reported in the votes and proceedings is not a true reflection of what transpired on Thursday with regards to the confirmation of one of the commissioners under NCC, Chief Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla. The decision then was a resounding Nay. So, because of that, it was a mistake. ”
Responding to the observation made by Senator Garbai, the Senate President said, “secretariat take note.”
The Senate was responding to reports that it dropped Buhari’s nominee after clearing him. In the statement, it added: “On that fateful day, “November 22, 2016, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Baba Kaka Garbai, objected to the alleged confirmation of the nominee, saying, , “My name is Senator Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai representing Borno Central Senatorial District.
Mr, President, what is actually reported in the votes and proceedings is not a true reflection of what transpired on Thursday with regards to the confirmation of one of the commissioners under NCC, Chief Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla. The decision then was a resounding Nay. So, because of that, it was a mistake.
Responding to the observation made by Senator Garbai, the Senate President said, “secretariat take note”.
The Senate hereby calls on those who are peddling these half truths to avail themselves of the proceedings of the Senate on the above stated dates to confirm if the nominee was rightly cleared by the Senate or not.”
