From Fred Itua, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari writtent to the Senate, to confirm Muhammed Isa and nine others, as chairman and members of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
In a letter read in the chamber, by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, yesterday, Buhari pleaded with the lawmakers to expedite action on the confirmation of the nominees.
Buhari in the letter read by Saraki noted: “In compliance with section 541 of the 1999 constitution as amended and in pursuant to sections 1(2) and 1(3) of the code of conduct bureau act LFN 2004, I write to request for the confirmation of the following nominees for appointment as chairman and members of the bureau.
“The curriculum vitae of the nominees are attached herewith. It is my hope that this Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will in their usual expeditious manner consider and confirm the nominees. Please accept Mr. Senate President, my assurances of my highest consideration.”
Isa, who is expected to head the Bureau, hails from Jigawa, North West. Others are Murtala Kankia – member, Katsina, North West; Emmanuel Attah – member, Cross River, South South; Danjuma Sado, member, Edo, South South; Obolo Opanachi, member, Kogi, North Central; and Ken Madaki Alkali, member Nasarawa, North Central.
Others are S.F. Ogundare, member, Oyo, South West; Ganiyu Hamzat, member, Ogun, South West; Sahad Abubakar, member, Gombe North East; and Vincent Nwanne, member, Ebonyi, South East.
Meanwhile, senators have continued with the debate on the general principles of the 2018 budget.
Lawmakers have dismissed the new budget and described it as unimplementable. They said the budget is unrealistic and that implementing it will be impossible.
They specifically frowned at the exchange rate, the oil benchmark and intervention programmes in the budget, which lawmakers said are seldom funded by the Federal Government. Lawmakers are expected to conclude the debate today, after which it will be referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
The budget has already passed second reading.
Lawmakers are yet to pass the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), despite the clear constitutional requirement that it must be passed before the budget is presented.