ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – Eyebrows were raised on Wednesday, as the Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, overlooked his immediate predecessor, Senator David Mark, in the 65 committees he constituted minutes before the end of plenary session.
As Saraki heads to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) tomorrow, the Senate has adjourned plenary session till next Tuesday.
Sundiata Post reports that 41 of the committees are headed by the senators of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while the remaining 24 are headed by the senators of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The distribution of the committees gave more juicy committees to the Like Minds Senators (LMS), who supported Saraki in his quest to become the Senate President.
According to the distribution of the committees, the North-Central got the highest allocation of 12 committees, followed by the trio of the North-East, North-West and South-West with 11 allocations each, while the duo of South-East and South-South got 10 allocations each.
A distribution of the committees, under the special committees, revealed that Senator Babajide Omoworare (APC) is the Chairman of the Rules & Business Committee, Senator Ibrahim Gobir (APC) is the Chairman of Services Committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP) is the Chairman of the Ethics & Privileges Committee, Senator Andy Uba (PDP) is the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and Senator Shaaba Lafiagi (APC) is the Chairman of the National Security & Intelligence Committee.
Under the standing committees, Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC) is heading the Agriculture Committee; Air Force Committee is headed by Senator Duro Samuel Faseyi (PDP); Army is headed by Senator George Akume (APC); Anti-corruption & Financial Crimes is headed by Senator Godfrey Chukwuta Utazi (PDP); Appropriation is headed by Senator Danjuma Goje (APC); Aviation is headed by Senator Hope Uzodima (PDP); Banking, Insurance & other Institutions is headed by Senator Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim (APC); Capital Market is chaired by Senator Isiaka Adeleke (APC); Communication is chaired by Senator Gilbert Nnaji (APC); Cooperation & Integration in Africa & NEPAD is chaired by Senator Abubakar Sani Danladi (APC), Culture and Tourism is chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide (PDP); Customs, Excise & Tariff is chaired by Senator Adamu Aliero (APC); Defence is chaired by Senator Ahmad Lawan (APC), Diaspora & Civil Societies is chaired by Senator Rose Oko (PDP) and Drugs & Narcotics is chaired by Senator Joshua Lidani (PDP).
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Others are: Downstream Petroleum headed by Senator Uche Ekwenife (PDP); Ecology & Climate Change led by Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim (APC); Education led by Senator Aliyu Wamako (APC); Employment, Labour & Productivity led by Senator Suleiman Nazif (APC); Environment led by Senator Okala Johnson Nwogu (PDP); Establishment & Public Service led by Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP); Federal Capital Territory led by Senator Dino Melaye (APC); Federal Character & Inter-Government Affairs led by Senator Salihu Hussain Egye (APC); Finance led by Senator John Owan Enoh (PDP) and Foreign Affairs headed by Munsurat Sunmonu (APC).
Gas is led by Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (PDP); Health is led by Senator Lanre Tejousho (APC); Housing is headed by Senator Barnabas Gemade (APC); I.C.T. & Cybercrime is chaired by Senator Buhari Abdulfatai (APC); INEC is led by Senator Abubakar Kyari (APC); Information & National Orientation led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP); Interior led by Senator George Sekibo (PDP); Inter-Parliamentary Affairs is chaired by Senator Bayero Usman Nafada (APC); Industry is led by Senator Sam Egwu (PDP) and Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters is headed by Senator David Umaru (APC).
Land Transport is led by Senator Olugbenga Ashafa (APC); Local & Foreign Debts headed by Senator Shehu Sani (APC); Mariine Transport led by Senator Ahmed Rufai Sani (APC); Media & Public Affairs led by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC), Public Procurement headed by Senator Abdulsalami Ohiare (APC); National Identity & National Population headed by Senator Marafa Kabir (APC); National Planning & Economic Affairs led by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (APC); Navy led by Senator Isa Hamma Misau (APC); Niger Delta chaired by Senator Peter Nwaboshi (PDP) and Police Affairs chaired by Senator Abu Ibrahim (APC).
Senator James Manager (PDP) heads Power, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP) leads Primary Health Care & Communicable Diseases, Senator Ben Murray Bruce (PDP) Privatisation, Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice (APC) leads Science & Technology, Senator Joshua Dariye (PDP) chairs Solid Minerals, Senator Murtala Nyako (APC) chairs Special Duties, Senator Obinna Joseph Ogba (PDP) leads Sports, Senator Abdullahi Gumel (APC) chairs States & Local Government, Senator Binta Masi Garba (APC) leads Tertiary Institutions & TETFUND, Senator Fatimat Olufunke Raji Rasaki (PDP) heads Trade & Investment, Senator Donald Omotayo Alaosaodura (APC) heads Upstream Petroleum, Senator Mohammed Ubali Shittu (APC) leads Water Resources, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC) leads Women Affairs, Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC) chairs Works and Senator Ali Wakili (APC) chairs Poverty Alleviation & Social Welfare.
Addressing the National Assembly correspondents, outgoing interim spokesman of the Senate, Senator Dino Melaye, explained that the adjournment was to allow four ad hoc committees to complete their works for submission next week.
Saraki is billed to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to face charges for alleged falsification of assets declaration.