Some Senators have rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of Aisha Umar as Director-General of the National Pension Commission.
While Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, read out Buhari’s letter to the red chamber, requesting Umar’s confirmation, vocal protests were made against her nomination.
Others nominated were, Oyindasola Oni as Chairman of the agency; Nominated Commissioners were, Hannatu Musa (North West); Clement Oyedele (South West); Ayim C. Nyerere (South South).
Voicing his disgruntlement, Senate Minority Leader, Eyinnaya Abaribe, said Umar’s nomination was in violation of the PENCOM Act as she was not from the South East.
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He said that former DG, Mrs Chinelo Anohu-Amazu who is from the South East, had to be replaced by someone from the same geopolitical zone.
Section 20(1) and section 21(1) and (2) of the National Pension Commission Act 2014, states, “in the event of a vacancy, the President shall appoint a replacement from the geopolitical zone of the immediate past member that vacated office to complete the remaining tenure.”
Abaribe said, “I recall that the tenure of the incumbent was truncated therefore the new letter from the president that has now moved the Chairman of the Commission to another zone may not be correct.
“it is against the law setting up the National Pension Commission and the Federal Character Commission.
“Before you (Lawan) send it to the appropriate committee tomorrow, (Wednesday), I wish to draw the attention of the committee to it. ”
The Senate President rejected Abaribe’s point of order and observation.
He said, “That is for me to interpret because I interpret the laws here. If there is any petition to that effect it should be sent to the committee.”