By Sunny Anderson Osiebe...
The
attention of the Senate has been drawn to media reports with the above
headline to the effect that the Senate has dropped a nominee of Mr.
President, Mr.
Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla, as a non-executive commissioner on the
Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) after
he was purportedly cleared by the Senate.
For
the avoidance of doubt, the nomination of Mr. Obla was never confirmed
or voted for since no decision of the Senate is said to be approved if
not
adopted during the consideration of the Votes and Proceedings of the
Senate at the next legislative day.
The
Senate also wishes to note that the business of the Senate can only be
binding when the votes and proceedings have been adopted and approved
without
any objection.
The
implication of the directive by the Senate President to the Secretariat
is that Senator Garbai's observation or correction was correct and
therefore
the votes and proceedings should be amended to reflect the true
situation.
On
that fateful day, "November 22, 2016, the Chairman, Senate Committee on
Rules and Business, Senator Baba Kaka Garbai, objected to the alleged
confirmation
of the nominee, saying, , "My name is Senator Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai
representing Borno Central Senatorial District. Mr, President, what is
actually reported in the votes and proceedings is not a true reflection
of what transpired on Thursday with regards
to the confirmation of one of the commissioners under NCC, Chief Okoi
Ofem Obono-Obla. The decision then was a resounding Nay. So, because of
that, it was a mistake. "
Responding to the observation made by Senator Garbai, the Senate President said, "secretariat take note".
The
Senate hereby calls on those who are peddling these half truths to
avail themselves of the proceedings of the Senate on the above stated
dates to
confirm if the nominee was rightly cleared by the Senate or not.
Signed
Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi
Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs
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