Senate Confirms Okoye, Ma’aji, 30 Others For SEDC, NWDC Boards

The Senate, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has confirmed all nominees for the Governing Boards of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) and North West Development Commission (NWDC).
Mark Okoye and Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji were confirmed on Tuesday as the SEDC and NWDC’s managing directors and chief executive officers, respectively.

The confirmation followed the submission of a screening report by the Senate’s Ad-Hoc Committee on Regional Development Commissions, chaired by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia-North).

According to Kalu, the nominees demonstrated their capabilities during the screening process to manage the affairs of the commissions effectively.

A minor disagreement briefly disrupted proceedings when some senators attempted to invoke Order (1b) to delay the confirmation for further consultations. However, the motion was unsuccessful, and the Senate voted to dissolve into the committee of the Whole to consider and approve the report.

Confirmed Nominees NWDC: Chairman: Alhaji Lawal Samai’la Abdullahi, managing director/CEO: Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji

Other Members: Dr Yahaya Umar Namahe, Hon. Aminu Suleiman, Ja’afar Abubakar Sadeeq, Yahaya Aminu Abdullahi, Hon. Engr. Muhammad Ali Wudil, Shamsu Sule, Nasidi Ali, Chukwu Chijtoke, Ahmed Mohammed, Engr. Ahmed Rufai Timasantyu, Macdonalds Michael Uyi, and Hon. Babatunde Dada.

SEDC: Chairman: Dr Emeka Nworgu, managing director/CEO: Hon. Mark Okoye Other members: Barr. Ugochukwu H. Agballah, Hon. Okey Izenwa, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, Chidi Echeazu, Barr. Ifeanyi Agwu (Ph.D.), Nasiru Usman, Hamma Adama Ali Kumo, Edward David Onoja, Orure Kufre Inima, Daniel Akwari, Chief (Mrs.) Joke Adebayo-Chukwuma, Rt. Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka (E.D. Finance), Chief Sylvester Okonkwo (E.D. Corporate Services), Hon. Toby Okechukwu (E.D. Projects), Sen. Anthony Agbo (E.D. Commercial and Industrial Development), and Dr. Clifford Ogbede (E.D. Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Rural Development).

President Bola Tinubu had submitted a revised list of nominees for the boards of the regional commissions to the Senate for confirmation four weeks ago.

The nominees underwent screening by the Ad-Hoc Committee chaired by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, where they were warned about the importance of transparency and accountability in their roles.

During the screening, Kalu emphasised that the Senate would closely monitor the commissions’ activities and would not hesitate to act if any nominee engages in unethical practices.

Following the adoption of the committee’s report, the Senate confirmed the nominees via voice votes after Senate President Akpabio put the motion to question.

The confirmation marks a critical step towards operationalising the two regional commissions, which are aimed at fostering development in their respective regions.