ABUJA, Nigeria – Senate President Godswill Akpabio sent ripples through the corridors of power on Monday, August 7, 2023, as he revealed a comprehensive list of new committee chairmen, underscoring a potential pivot in Senate priorities and dynamics.
Following the confirmation of 45 out of the 48 ministerial nominees in a bustling plenary session, Akpabio did not waste any time in making his next big move.
The changes saw several high-profile senators being tapped for vital roles, including Ninth Senate President Ahmad Lawan who will helm the Defence Committee, and former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, now in charge of Housing.
Former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, also cut, being appointed the chairman of the Interior Committee.
“These appointments reflect our commitment to ensuring we have the best hands guiding our national conversations,” Akpabio commented after the announcement.
Other notable appointments include Sen. Godiya Akwashiki (Airforce), Buhari Abdul-Fata (Aviation), and Osita Izunaso who will oversee the Capital Market.
This isn’t the first wave of committee announcements from the Senate President. Earlier this year, Akpabio had named leaders for various other critical committees, such as Ethics and Public Petitions, headed by Okechukwu Ezea and Public Accounts under Aliu Wadada Ahmed.
The reshuffle and appointments signal Akpabio’s drive to recalibrate the Senate’s operational dynamics, possibly in response to the nation’s evolving political landscape and challenges.
Sen. Seriake Dickson, now tasked with tackling Ecology and Climate Change issues, shared his thoughts: “This is a fresh start. The challenges we face are significant, but with this new structure, I’m confident of the progress we can make.”
Whether this significant reshuffle will effectively address the many challenges ahead remains to be seen.
What is clear, however, is that under Akpabio’s leadership, the Senate is gearing up for impactful changes.
Drama in the Senate: Festus Keyamo’s Ministerial Screening Sparks Firestorm
Chaos erupted in the Nigerian Senate on Monday, August 7, 2023, during the screening of Festus Keyamo, SAN, the last nominee of President Bola Tinubu to appear before the upper chamber.
The trouble began when, following Keyamo’s presentation, Senator Darlington Nwokocha moved a motion to step down Keyamo due to his previous refusal to appear before the 9th National Assembly to answer questions regarding his activities as the then Minister of State for Labour and Employment.
This motion was seconded by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the question to the senators.
However, tensions quickly escalated as multiple senators began to speak simultaneously, causing a breakdown in decorum and order.
Senate President Akpabio exerted considerable effort to restore calm to the chamber, after which the Senate decided to suspend Keyamo’s screening and enter a closed, or Executive, session to discuss the matter further.
This incident has cast a cloud over the usually routine process of nominee screenings, and it remains to be seen what the outcome of the Executive session will be for Keyamo’s nomination.
