The Senate yesterday confirmed the appointment of former Senate President Ken Nnamani and Aminu Diko as the Chairman and Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.
Although the nominees received a smooth confirmation, some of the senators insisted that the Senate should ensure that future nominations complied with the federal character principle.
Senate Leader Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba said it was important for the Senate to ensure that the federal character principle was adhered to.
He decried a situation where indigenes of Akwa Ibom State are allegedly neglected in appointments in favour of other people from the Southsouth geo-political zone.
Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom North East) noted that Edo State always had the lion’s share of appointments meant for the Southsouth geo-political zone.
The lawmaker said the trend should be checked to ensure equity and balance in appointments in line with the federal character principle.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) said the Senate should ensure that appointments were not concentrated in one state to the detriment of others.
Senate President David Mark hailed the Ayogu Eze-led Works Committee for introducing an innovation in the screening of nominees.
He said lack of infrastructure is worrisome and urged Nnamani and his team to take their functions seriously in the interest of the country.
Mark also said the issue of zonal representation raised by the senators would be addressed in compliance with the federal character principle.
Besides Nnamani and Diko, other members of the commission are Mrs. Comfort Saro Wiwa (Rivers State) (Southsouth), Janet Fabisola Adeyemi (Ondo State) (Southwest), Mrs. Yabawa Wabi (Borno State)(Northeast), Musa Elayo (Nasarawa State) (Northcentral) and A.U. Kanu (Abia State)(Southeast).
Source: TheNation