By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, yesterday said the Red Chamber will today screen former Chairman of the Board of Citi Bank Nigeria, Dr Olayemi Cardoso, for the position of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
A statement by his Media Office further explained that the Senate will also screen four nominees for the positions of CBN deputy governors, who will join forces with Cardoso to steer affairs of the apex bank in the next five years.
He said the Senate will screen all the nominees following its resumption from its annual recess.
Part of the statement read, “The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will resume plenary on Tuesday, September 26. We will consider the screening of Cardoso at the Committee of the whole.
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“Cardoso will be screened alongside four deputy governors namely Mrs Emem Usoro, Mr Sani Dattijo, Mr Philip Ikeazor, and Dr Bala Bello.
“Besides, the Senate has scheduled to screen the ministerial nominees- Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim and Mr Ayodele Olawande, respectively designated as Minister of Youth and Minister of State for Youth on October 3.”
On September 15, President Tinubu approved the nomination of Cardoso to serve as the new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He also approved the nomination of four deputy governors for a term of five years each at the first instance, pending their confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Senate upon resumption today (Tuesday) would start its legislative assignment by attending to pending communication from President Bola Tinubu requesting the screening and confirmation of some political appointees nominated when the lawmakers were on their annual vacation.
It is also expected that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, would constitute the remaining standing committees in the red chamber.
ThisNigeria findings revealed President Tinubu is expected to have sent official communications to the Red Chamber, requesting among others, the screening and confirmation of all appointments made by him which require legislative approval while the senators were on recess.
Tinubu had also appointed Zacch Adedeji as Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service for a term of four years in the first instance in an acting capacity for 90 days before his subsequent confirmation as the substantive Executive Chairman.
Cardoso takes over from Mr Godwin Emefiele, who has been on suspension as CBN Governor since June 9, 2023,
The appointment of Cardoso also coincided with those of four new deputy governors for the CBN, for a term of five years at the first instance, pending their confirmation by the Senate.
Also, the Senate on resumption is expected to screen for confirmation, Chairman, directors, and members of the reconstituted Niger Delta Development Commission.
They are Mr Chiedu Ebie, Chairman, (Delta State); Dr Samuel Ogbuku– Managing Director/CEO (Bayelsa); Mr Boma Iyaye– Executive Director, Finance and Admin, (Rivers); Mr Victor Antai, Executive Director, Projects (Akwa-Ibom) and Ifedayo Abegunde, Executive Director, Corporate Services (Ondo).
Others are, Senator Dimaro Denyanbofa– State Representative (Bayelsa); Mr Abasi Ndikan Nkono, State Representative (Akwa Ibom); Monday Igbuya, State Representative (Delta); Chief Tony Okocha, State Representative (Rivers); Patrick Aisowieren, State Representative (Edo); and Mr Kyrian Uchegbu, State Representative (Imo).
The rest are Patrick Aisowieren, State Representative (Edo); Mr Kyrian Uchegbu, State Representative (Imo); Otito Atikase, State Representative (Ondo); Chief Dimgba Eruba, State Representative (Abia); Orok Duke, State Representative (Cross River); Nick Wende– Zonal Representative, (North-Central); Namdas Abdulrazak, Zonal Representative, (North-East); and Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir, Zonal Representative (North-West).
*2024 budget preparation
Another major legislative assignment waiting for the federal lawmakers is the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) which is the template upon which the 2024 budget would be predicated.
It is expected that the presiding officers of the federal parliament would meet the official communication to that effect from the President on their tables on resumption.
The Fiscal Responsibility Act gave the President an August deadline to prepare and present the MTEF/FSP to federal lawmakers.
The consideration and approval of the MTEF-FSP will be followed with the scrutiny of the 2024 Appropriation Bill which is expected to be presented to the National Assembly very soon.
In continuation of the 10th National Assembly tradition of the January to December budget cycle, the Senate would expect the various heads of the federal ministries, departments, and agencies to give account of their budget performances before the Senate standing committees.
The various committees are also expected to submit bills on how to raise additional revenues for the country which is currently grappling with financial challenges due to economic sabotage and policy mismanagement by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
However, the way the Akpabio leadership handles the growing animosity between his and the Senator Abdul-Aziz Yari-led camp in the upper legislative chamber would determine the speed with which it would actualise its various assignment before the Christmas and New Year Break in December.
The Yari’s loyalists in the Senate through the Chairman Senate Committee on Culture and Creative Economy, Senator Elisha Abbo, had penultimate week accused Akpabio of patronising members in the Senate with juicy committees while those who voted against him during the Senate Presidency election got “Grade C” panels.
Unfolding the agenda of his committee, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, said the Senate President had directed all the standing panels to embark on aggressive oversight activities to block revenue leakages and increase the resources accruable to the country.
Specifically, Musa said the Senate, especially his panel, would focus on the informal sector which constitutes about 80 per cent of the Nigerian Economy.
Musa, who is representing the Niger-East Senatorial District, said his committee will carry out necessary legislative actions to empower the informal sector with a spotlight on mining.
He said, “The informal sector, particularly the mining industry, is a hidden gem in our revenue potential. This was corroborated by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD) that the solid minerals can generate about $3bn annually.
“We will dedicate our efforts to understanding and nurturing this sector with appropriate legislation with emphasis on formalising artisanal and medium-scale mining activities. This strategic move will bring economic benefits while promoting safer and more responsible practices.”
