The Senate Thursday confirmed the nomination of Dr Kingsley Obiorah as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
This is just as the upper legislative chamber also approved an 18-man board for the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) while a new Senator took his oath of office.
Senate’s confirmation of Obiorah was sequel to the adoption of the report of the Senate committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions read at plenary by its Chairman, Senator Uba Sani, which recommended the confirmation of the nominee.
The Senate thereafter dissolved into the committee of the whole to consider the report and eventually confirmed Obiorah as CBN deputy governor.
President Buhari, had in a letter dated January 16, 2020 addressed to Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, and read at plenary on January 28, requested the confirmation of Obiora as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank,
The President in the two-paragraph letter stated inter alia: “In accordance with the provisions of Section 8(1)(2) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) (Establishment) Act 2007, I have the pleasure to present Dr. Kingsley Isitua Obiora for confirmation as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
Obiorah upon invitation appeared on Wednesday before the Senate committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions which after screening consider him fit for appointment as CBN Deputy Governor and so recommended him to the Senate for confirmation.
It also confirmed the appointment of Sikiru Hassan as Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Seventeen other nominees for the board of the commission were also confirmed by the upper chamber following the consideration of the report of the Senate committee on Foreign Affairs headed by Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa that recommended the nominees for confirmation.
The confirmed board nominees include Abdullahi Magaji Hardawa from Bauchi state as Executive Commissioner – Operation, Inspection and Licensing; Nura Hassan Yakasai from Kano State as Executive Commissioner – Policy, Personnel Management and Finance and Sheikh Momoh Suleman Imonikhe from Edo State as Executive Commissioner – Planning , Research, Statistics, Information and Library .
Other nominees to serve as part time members are Mrs Halimat Jibril from Niger state, Abba Jatto from Borno state, Garba Umar from Sokoto state and Ibrahim Ogbonnia Amah from Ebonyi state .
Others include Sadiq Musa from Delta State, Mrs Akintunde Basirat Olayinka from Ogun state, Shehu Dogo as representative of Ministry of Aviation and Nura Abba Rimi as representative of Ministry of Foreign Affairs .
Others are Rabi Bello Isa as representative of Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning; Zainab Sherrif as representative of Ministry of Health; Aminu Bako Yarima as representative of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS); Dr Bala Muhammad (Jama’atul Nasir Islam; Yusuf Nwoha (NSCIA) and Ibrahim Ishaq Nuhu as representative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
President Buhari had in a letter to the Senate President on November 28, 2019 forwarded Hassan’s name as well as that of the other board members to the Senate for confirmation.
The President in the letter entitled, “Appointment of Chairman and members of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON)”, anchored the appointments on section 3(2) of the Commission’s establishment Act 2006.
