By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Dr Zainab Marwa as the North-East representative on the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and commenced the confirmation process for former Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Lamido Yuguda Abubakar, as Chairman of the Board of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
The upper chamber also directed its Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions to screen Yuguda and submit its report within two weeks.
Marwa’s confirmation followed the adoption of the Senate Committee on NDDC’s report after she was screened and found qualified for the appointment.
Presenting the report, the committee’s Vice Chairman, Patrick Ndubueze, who stood in for the chairman, Asuquo Ekpeyong, urged the Senate to approve the nomination in line with the provisions of the NDDC Establishment Act.
The recommendation was subsequently adopted by voice vote, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio presiding.
President Bola Tinubu had transmitted Marwa’s nomination to the Senate in May to replace former North-East representative, Abdulrazak Namdas, who resigned from the board on March 30, 2026, to pursue his governorship ambition in Adamawa State.
According to the President, the appointment was necessary to ensure that the North-East continued to have representation on the commission’s board and to guarantee the uninterrupted operations of the intervention agency.
The Senate also received another communication from Tinubu requesting the confirmation of Yuguda as Chairman of the Board of AMCON.
The President said the nomination was made in accordance with the relevant provisions of the AMCON (Amendment) Act following the exit of the immediate past chairman of the corporation’s board.
Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite consideration of the request.
After the letter was read at plenary by Akpabio, the Senate referred the nomination to the Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions for legislative scrutiny.
The committee is expected to screen the nominee and submit its report within two weeks for consideration and possible confirmation by the Senate.
The latest actions by the Senate are part of ongoing efforts by the Executive and legislative branches to fill strategic vacancies in key federal institutions and strengthen leadership at critical government agencies.
