President Bola Tinubu has swore in Dr Nnanna Uzor Kalu as the commissioner representing the South East geopolitical zone on the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), ending months of delay in completing the board’s composition.
The ceremony, which took place yesterday at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, came just before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meeting.
Kalu’s appointment had been confirmed by the Senate after a petition that initially stalled his nomination was dismissed.
The Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, chaired by Senator Cyril Fasuyi, presented the report recommending Kalu’s confirmation following the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions’ finding that there were no grounds to disqualify him.
President Tinubu had earlier, in May, administered oaths of office to Saviour Enyiekere as NASC Chairman and other commissioners representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Kalu’s swearing-in now gives the South-East zone representation on the commission, pending since the board was reconstituted.
The FEC meeting also observed a minute of silence in honour of Caleb Olubolade, a former minister of special duties, minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory, and minister of police affairs under former President Goodluck Jonathan, who died after collapsing while playing lawn tennis.
Emanso Umobong Okop, Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who represented SGF George Akume at the meeting, announced Olubolade’s death to the council.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, head of service of the federation, Didi Walson-Jack, chief of staff to the president, Femi Gbajabiamila, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and several ministers were among those present at the FEC session.
Kalu’s swearing in not only completes the NASC board but also restores full regional representation, a development many stakeholders say will strengthen the commission’s oversight of the National Assembly bureaucracy.
