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SENATE CONFIRMS INEC RESIDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER, DIRECTOR GENERAL, ICRC

SENATE CONFIRMS INEC RESIDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER, DIRECTOR GENERAL, ICRC

Working assiduously to ensure a free, fair and credible elections comes 2019 and also accord the National Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) the much needed support, the Senate on Thursday, January, 17, 2019 considered, approved and confirmed the nomination of Elder Monday Udo Tom as Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Electoral Umpire.
The confirmation of the nominee followed the presentation of the Report of the Senate Committee on INEC led by Sen. Suleiman Nazif (Bauchi North) before the Senate for consideration. The Chamber resolved into the Committee of the Whole where it approved the recommendations of the Committee. Thereafter, the nominee was ultimately confirmed. 
Similarly, the Red Chamber has equally considered, approved and confirmed the nomination of Engr. Chidi Kennedy Izuwah for appointment as Director General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC). The Report of his screening exercise was presented for consideration by the Senate Committee on Works led by Sen. Kabiru Gaya (Kano South).
Meanwhile, the Senate has recommitted two legislation back to the Conference Committee for further legislative action. It would be recalled that President, Muhammadu Buhari withheld assent to these Bills below, pursuant to Section 58(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
1) The National Transport Commission (NTC) Bill, 2019.
2) The Institute of Chartered Biochemists and Molecular Biologists of Nigeria Bill, 2019.
Accordingly, the Senate referred back the Bills to the respective Conference Committees that worked on them earlier to look into Mr. President’s observations and report back to the Chamber.
Also, President Muhammadu Buhari has declined Presidential assent to three legislation passed by the National Assembly. The President informed the Senate of his decision via an Executive Communication which was read on the floor of the Chamber by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session. The Bills include:
1) Polytechnics Amendment Bill, 2019.
2) Maritime Security, Coordination, and Operations Amendment Bill, 2019.
3) Railway Commission Amendment Bill, 2019.
President Buhari declined assent to the Bills due to observed shortcomings and perceived violation of the 1999 Constitution which some aspects of the Bills did according to the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Nevertheless, the Chamber deliberated upon and passed a Motion titled the “The Demise of Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari”, sponsored by Sen. Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba (Sokoto South) and 108 others.
The Senate noted with deep grief the death of Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari on Friday, December 28th, 2018 at the National Hospital, Abuja after a brief illness. He was the first Executive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria following his election to the office in 1979. Late Shagari was born on 25th February, 1925 in Shagari town in the present Sokoto State. The Motion scaled through with three resolutions below:
i) Observe a minute silence in his honour.
ii) Send a  delegation of the Senate to condole with the family of the deceased as well as the people and government of Sokoto State.
iii) Urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to immortalize Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari by naming a National Monument after him.

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