A nominee due for confirmation by President Muhammadu Buhari into the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), dazed the Senate Committee on Communications after advocating for the scrapping of the upper chamber.








The nominee, Alhaji Aliyu Saidu Abubakar who is to represent the North East Zone representation on the board, gave his piece of mind on Senate before the committee during his screening.


The nominee had before now been advocating the scrapping of the Senate, a reason the the Senator Gilbert Nnaji led Committee confronted him with several photographs of him variously leading organized protests against the senate particularly at the gate of the national assembly.


However, the unrepentant Abubakar maintained that he meant what he advocated and has even now remained convinced that senate was an avenue for wastage of scarce economic resources of the country.


According to him, “the cost of running the senate was high and therefore should be scrapped”.


He took on the Senators on the basis of huge transport allowances they often receive, while they still crave for purchase of officials vehicles, a situation he described as a clear economic loss.


The nominee, however ran into stormy waters with the Senators who faulted his nomination on the basis of alleged irregularities in his personal profile.


Curiously as revealed by the committee, aside birth certificate, there were only copies of court affidavit and police extract dated the same day, strangely after he had been nominated, claiming loss of his credentials.


Interestingly also, his highest academic qualification was a one-year “Diploma in Computer” from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi of-which the attached statement of result was dated 23rd September 2016, still after he had been nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari.


 When requested to throw more light on why he chose to present documents that were prepared shortly after his nomination and also why he believed that he was qualified to function as a National Commissioner in such a critical agency as NCC given the rigours, challenges and required expertise for efficiency of the commission, he told the committee that he “did not bother to go for the credentials” because according to him he “only went to school merely for knowledge having been self-employed prior to the nomination”.


However the chairman-designate for the board, Senator Bisi Durojaiye had in an emotion-laden voice expressed deep concern over the present public perception of the senate.


He added that as former senator who also headed the committee on communications he was committed and passionate for a very strong senate that would be growing in leaps and bound.


Referring to the seemed face-off between the executive and legislature he noted that he was disturbed by the way events turned after their tenure at the Red Chamber.


His words, “please permit me to convey a message from the oldest living former senator Chief Reuben Farosanti who just clocked 91. Although I have presented it to the senate president, Senator Farosanti had requested for a closed-door session between the current senate and the old generation to discuss.


Considering the heat from the other side this has become imperative….”


In his opening remarks, the chairman, Senator Gilbert Nnaji, urged the nominees to seek to add value to the regulatory agency and ensure that Nigerian masses truly got the greatest benefits of their appointments if scaled through.

bonechamberlain:
These are the kind of people buhari wants in every sector, hard core extremist and semi illiterates, no wonder we are in deep problem in this country.

The man just spoke the mind of his master buhari, left for buhari the Senate should be scrapped, then judiciary, then opposition.

Dictatorial mindset.

muykem:
He also speak my mind. We don't need senate, house of rep is enough.

bonechamberlain:
These are the kind of people buhari wants in every sector, hard core extremist and semi illiterates, no wonder we are in deep problem in this country.

The man just spoke the mind of his master buhari, left for buhari the Senate should be scrapped, then judiciary, then opposition.

Dictatorial mindset.