From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has announced the appointment of chairmen to head the various regional development commissions recently approved by President Bola Tinubu.
This is just as he announced a shakeup in the chairmanship of some standing committees.
Akpabio made the announcement when the Senate resumed plenary after its extended Christmas and New Year break, yesterday. The Senate had extended its break to accommodate more Ministries, Departments and Agencies’ 2024 budget performance and 2025 budget defence sessions before its relevant committees.
Making the announcement, Akpabio said Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has been appointed as pioneer chairman of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Committee with Kenneth Eze as deputy chairman.
Similarly, Titus Zam and Isa Jibrin were named chairman and deputy of the North Central Development Commission Committee while Babangida Hussaini was appointed chairman of the North West Development Commission and Muntari Dandutse as deputy.
In the reshuffling of committees, Abdul Ningi was moved from the Population Committee to chair the Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA). Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, formerly chair of the Local Content Committee, now heads the Diaspora and Non-governmental Organisations Committee.
Other changes include the appointment of Garba Maidoki as chairman of the Sports Development Committee, Joel Thomas replaced Akpoti-Uduagjan as chairman of the Local Content Committee and Victor Umeh as chairman of the National Population and Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Committee.
Senate, thereafter, adjourned plenary to today after paying tribute and observing a minute silence in honour of Adewumi Onanuga, deputy chief whip of the House of Representatives, who died on January 15.