Senate Confirms Tinubu’s 34 Appointments

Mark Okoye was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the SEDC, while Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji was confirmed for the same role at the NWDC.

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The confirmations followed the submission of a report by the Senate’s Ad-Hoc Committee on Regional Development Commissions, headed by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia-North).

The report affirmed that the nominees had proven their qualifications and readiness to lead the respective commissions during the screening process.

A brief dispute arose when some senators sought to invoke Order 1(b) to delay the confirmation for further consultations.

However, the motion was rejected, and the Senate moved forward, voting to dissolve into the Committee of the Whole to review the report, ultimately approving all nominees.

The NWDC board consists of 14 members, including Alhaji Lawal Samai’la Abdullahi as Chairman and Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. Other confirmed members are Dr. Yahaya Umar Namahe, Hon. Aminu Suleiman, Ja’afar Abubakar Sadeeq, Yahaya Aminu Abdullahi, Hon. Engr Muhammad Ali Wudil, Shamsu Sule, Nasidi Ali, Chukwu Chijtoke, Ahmed Mohammed, Engr. Ahmed Rufai Timasantyu, Macdonalds Michael Uyi, and Hon. Babatunde Dada.

For the SEDC, the 18-member board will be led by Dr. Emeka Nworgu as Chairman, with Mark Okoye as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. Other confirmed members include Barr. Ugochukwu Agballah, Okey Izenwa, Hyacinth Ikpor, Chidi Echeazu, Ifeanyi Agwu, Nasiru Usman, Hamma Adama, Ali Kumo, Edward Onoja, Kufre Inima, Daniel Akwari, Joke Adebayo-Chukwuma, Stanley Ohajuruka (Executive Director, Finance), Sylvester Okonkwo (Executive Director, Corporate Services), Toby Okechukwu (Executive Director, Projects), Anthony Agbo (Executive Director, Commercial and Industrial Development), and Dr. Clifford Ogbede (Executive Director, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Rural Development).

The confirmation followed a revised list of nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu four weeks ago.

The nominees underwent a thorough screening process by the Senate’s ad-hoc Committee.