The Senate has confirmed the appointment of the chairman and members of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) following the consideration of a report by its committee on Establishment and Public Service.
The report, presented by the committee chairman, Senator Oluwole Fasuyi Cyril (APC, Ekiti North), on Wednesday in Abuja, recommended nominees from each of the six geo-political zones after a thorough screening process.
Confirmed as chairman of the NASC is Dr Saviour Enyiekere (South-South). The following nominees were confirmed as members of the commission: 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), Hon. Taiwo Olukemi Oluga (South-West), Hon. Afeez Ipesa-Balogun (South-West), Festus Ifesinachi Odii (South-East), Patrick A. Giwa (South-South), Mrs Mary Ekpeyong (South-South).
The second nominee from the South-East, Dr Nnanna Uzor Kalu, stepped down following a petition by the former occupant from Imo State, who claimed that his tenure had not yet lapsed.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed the Senate Committee on Public Petitions to urgently review the petition and report back to the Senate to complete the list of South-East nominees.
Akpabio also clarified that the chairman of the NASC is not considered a zonal representative. “The appointment of the chairman is at the discretion of the leadership of the National Assembly. It does not matter where the chairman comes from; he does not represent any particular zone,” he said.
He further noted that Mrs Mary Ekpeyong and Mr Patrick A. Giwa are confirmed members representing the South-South zone. Dr Enyiekere, though from the South-South, serves as chairman without representing the region.
Akpabio congratulated the confirmed nominees and urged them to contribute to strengthening democracy.
“We wish you success as you work towards building a National Assembly that serves all Nigerians and helps advance democracy in the country,” he said.
