The Senate yesterday warned nominees for the headship of three federal government agencies whose names were recently announced by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo ,against resuming work until their nominations are confirmed in accordance with the provision of the constitution and the establishment laws of the affected institutions.
The Red Chamber sounded the warning, following a directive issued by Osinbajo via the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on Friday that the three newly appointed heads of the agencies should resume, while they await their confirmation by the Senate.
The nominees are Alhaji Ali, Director General of the Pension Commission (PenCom); Dr. Mohammed Isah, chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CBB) and Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, yesterday, the Senate said, “The leadership of the Senate has been inundated by enquiries from individuals from across the country who want to know whether the statement from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to the effect that the nominees into the headship of PenCom, Code of Conduct Bureau and ICPC should resume work immediately pending their confirmation by the Senate was as a result of an understanding between the executive and the legislature.
“We will like to advise the Acting President who was quoted to have given the directive for the resumption of the nominees that the directive was illegal and not right. The Senate will not support any action that is not in line with the law.
“We advise the nominees to hold on until they are cleared by the Senate as required by the law before resuming in their respective offices. We do not want anything that will cause any problem between the executive and the legislature”, Abdullahi added.
LEADERSHIP.