The Senate has confirmed the appointment of five Resident Electoral Commissioners submitted by President Bola Tinubu in March for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Senate confirmed the appointments following the presentation and review of a report submitted by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters during Wednesday’s plenary session.
While presenting the report on behalf of the committee, Senator Simon Lalong recommended that the Senate approve the nominations of five individuals as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noting that they had successfully passed the screening process.
The confirmed RECs are:
- Umar Yusuf Garba (Kano State)
- Sa’ad Umar Idris (Bauchi State)
- Chukwuemeka C. Ibeziako (Anambra State)
- Umar Mukhtar (Borno State)
- Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem (Bayelsa State)
Earlier on Monday, President Bola Tinubu had sworn in two newly appointed INEC commissioners.
In a separate development, the president also submitted a ₦1.783 trillion statutory appropriation bill for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the Senate for consideration and approval for the 2025 fiscal year.
In his letter to the upper chamber, President Tinubu urged the Senate to fast-track the bill’s consideration, emphasizing that its passage is essential for the efficient delivery of services to FCT residents.
To this end, the Senate invoked Order 78, allowing the bill to pass its second reading on the same day it was introduced.
However, this expedited approach drew criticism from Senator Abdul Ningi, an opposition lawmaker, who cited Orders 77 (3 and 4), arguing that lawmakers had not received copies of the bill ahead of the debate.
Despite the objection, the Senate proceeded with discussions on the general principles of the FCT Statutory Appropriation Bill for 2025.
Leading the debate, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele explained that the bill seeks to authorize the disbursement of ₦1.783 trillion from the FCT Administration’s Statutory Revenue Fund to cover personnel, overhead, and capital expenses from January 1 to December 31, 2025.
The budget proposes:
- ₦150.35 billion for personnel costs
- ₦343.78 billion for overhead expenses
- ₦1.29 trillion for capital projects
Bamidele emphasized that the core aim of the budget is to promote a service-driven administration focused on the completion of critical infrastructure and essential service projects in the capital.
