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SENATE CONFIRMS NIGERIAN COMMUNICATION COMMISSION BOARD, NIPSS DIRECTOR GENERAL

SENATE CONFIRMS NIGERIAN COMMUNICATION COMMISSION BOARD, NIPSS DIRECTOR GENERAL
Communication is central in all human endeavour and the role of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) in the Setting Communication Standards and its Overall Management in the country cannot be underestimated in ensuring Nigeria’s economic development vis-a-vis Communication. To actualize this noble feat, the Senate on Thursday, July 18, 2019 screened and confirmed four Members of the Board of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) for efficiency.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari forwarded to the Senate the Nominations of Engr. Uba A.S. Maska – Executive Commissioner (North-West) for Reappointment, Aliyu Sa’idu Abubakar – Non-Executive Commissioner (North-East), Fresh Appointment, Prof. Millionaire Abowei – Non-Executive Commissioner (South-South), Fresh Appointment and Abdulazeez Mohammed Salman – Non-Executive Commissioner (North Central), Fresh Appointment.

Their Nomination was in accordance with Section 8(1) of the Nigerian Communication Commission Act, 2003. Accordingly, the Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole where the Nominees were screened and thereafter confirmed for appointment into the various positions.
Similarly, the Red Chamber has screened and confirmed the Nomination of Prof. Habu S. Galadima for appointment as the Director General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Plateau State.
The Chamber on receipt of the Report of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Screening of Presidential Nominees led by Sen. Teslim K. Folarin (Oyo Central) resolved into the Committee of the Whole where the Nominee was screened and subsequently confirmed via voice vote.

Nevertheless, the Senate has also considered and passed three Motions during plenary session which include:
1) Devastating Storm in Obosi, Nkpor and Oraukwu Communities in Anambra State, sponsored by Sen. Uche Lilian Ekwunife (Anambra Central) and 26 others.
The Red Chamber noted with concern, the devastating storm that took place during the weekend at Obosi, Nkpor and Oraukwu Communities in Idemili North of Anambra State which destroyed a lot of homes and rendered the residents of the area homeless. The Motion scaled through with two resolutions below:

i) Request the Ecological Fund Office to immediately visit the affected areas, provide remedy and advance solutions to the disaster. ii) Direct the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials and all other support as may be necessary to mitigate the damages suffered by these communities.
2) Urgent need to ascertain the status of Nigerian Extended Continental Shelf Project, sponsored by Sen. George Thomson Sekibo (Rivers East) and 32 others.
According to Sen. Sekibo, the Senate noted that on 7th May, 2009, Nigeria made a formal submission to the United Nations’ Commission on the Limits of Continental Shelf (CLCS) stating its intention for an extension of her Continental Shelf beyond 200 Nautical Miles from the Baselines from which the Breadth of the Territorial Sea is measured. The Motion sailed through with four prayers below:

i) Commend the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari for setting up the high power Committee with the mandate to coordinate the activities of the extended Continental Shelf.
ii) Urge the President not to relent in his efforts to fully support the project to its conclusion by defraying the financial commitment to the Nigerian office (the United Nations Residents’ Team) set up for the project at the United Nations and the foreign consultants to enable them concentrate efforts to obtain a positive recommendation from the United Nations body (The UN Commission on the Limit of Continental Shelf).
iii) Invite the United Nations Resident Team and the Nigeria Boundary Commission to brief the Senate in four weeks on the status of Nigeria’s claim of her Extended Continental Shelf.
iv) Direct the Committees on State and Local Government and Marine Transport which functions include Marine Resources Development, Inland Water Ways and International Marine Agreements when constituted, to diligently follow up activities of the Nigerian Extended Continental Shelf Project and regularly brief the Senate.
3) The dire state of Humanitarian Crisis in Nigeria especially in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) States, sponsored by Sen Ali Ndume (Borno South).

The Senate commended the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in confronting the menace of Boko Haram and ISWA in the North-East, Farmer/Herders clashes in the North-Central, Banditry and Kidnapping in the North-West. The Chamber is worried that the recent escalated attacks in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States by Boko Haram and ISWA have forced 134, 000 people to flee their homes. The Motion was passed nine resolutions among which were:
i) Urge the Federal Government in addition to fighting the security threats in affected States, pay attention to the Humanitarian Crisis caused by the Boko Haram and ISWA, Farmers/Herders clashes and Banditry activities.
ii) Urge the Federal Ministry of Finance to release all monies due to the North-East Development Commission, National Emergence Management Agency and the National Refugees Commission to enable them address the Humanitarian Crisis.
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