The Senate President, GodsWill Akpabio, on Monday, unveiled the 74 Standing Committees of the 10th Senate.
Of the 74 Standing Committees, senators on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress were named chairmen of 48.
The major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, got 18 chairmanship slots, while four slots ended in the hands of members of the Labour Party.
The Social Democratic Party got two chairmanship slots; the All Progressive Grand Alliance got one, while the Young People’s Party, also got one.
However, the New Nigeria Peoples Party got none.
Reacting to the spread of the chairmanship slots, Senator Siyako Anthony ( PDP Gombe South), said the list was being analysed by PDP senators.
Siyako, who got the Vice Chairmanship position of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGO, said it was too early to comment on whether the committees’ composition was lopsided.
He said, “I don’t want to see the composition of the committees from the perspective of political parties since Senate is one but the composition is still being analysed. Let’s see when the water settles.”
Another lawmaker who didn’t want to be mentioned also corroborated his colleague stating that they were still observing the situation.
It could be recalled that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had late Monday night, announced the composition and leaderships of Standing Committees of the Senate, to carry out its oversight functions.
The long-awaited announcement of the committees came shortly after completing all the business of the day in the longest session ever by the Senate following the confirmation of the appointment of 45 out of 48 ministerial nominees forwarded to it by President Bola Tinubu.
Immediate-past Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, is to chair Defence Committee; former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Tambuwal is to lead the Housing Committee, and former governor of Edo State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole will chair the Interior Committee.
Others include Senator Godiya Akwashiki (Airforce); Senator Fatai Buhari (Aviation); Senator Osita Izunaso (Capital Market); Senator Cyril Fasuyi (Establishment); Senator Seriake Dickson (Ecology/Climate Change); Senator Jide Ipinsagba (Petroleum Downstream); Senator Aliyu Wadada (Public Accounts); Shehu Kaka (Special Duties); Senator Patrick Ndubueze (Works); Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan (Appropriations); Senator Sani Musa (Finance), and Senator Tokunbo Abiru (Banking).
Also, to chair Senate Standing Committees are Senator Adamu Aliero (Land Transport); Senator Gbenga Daniel (Navy); Senator Barinada Mpigi (Niger Delta); Senator Mohammed Monguno (Judiciary); Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Youths and Sports); Senator Ireti Kingigbe (Women Affairs); Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Privatization); Senator Mustapha Sabiu (Agriculture); Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis (Communications); Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (NDDC); Senator Usaini Babangida (FERMA); Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua (Army); Senator Ya’u Sahabi (Cooperation & Integration/NEPAD); Senator Shuaibu Salisu (ICT/Cyber Crimes), and Ssnator Sharafadeen Ali (INEC).
While Senator Isa Jubril will chair Customs Committee; Senator Elisha Abbo (Culture and Tourism); Senator Victor Umeh (Diaspora & NGOs); Senator Lawal Usman (Education); Senator Yunus Akintunde (Environment); Senator Ibrahim Bomai (FCT); Senator Sani Abubakar (Foreign Affairs); Senator Harry Banigo (Health); Senator Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari (Water Resources); Senator Enyinaya Abaribe (Power), and Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Local and Foreign Debts).
