(FRSC) Corps Marshal, Chief Osita Chidoka appointed Minister in cabinet

Nigeria- President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday forwarded to the Senate the name of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Corps Marshal, Chief Osita Chidoka, for confirmation as minister. He also nominated Dr. Suleiman Abubakar, a lecturer at the University of Abuja, to represent Kwara in the cabinet.

Chidoka, from Anambra State, will replace former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, who was dropped from the cabinet following criticisms over the procurement of two BMW bulletproof cars, valued at N255 million for her use, by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). On his part, Abubakar will fill the slot of Kwara State, which became vacant following the removal of former Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

The nomination of Chidoka, whose second tenure as head of Nigeria’s road safety agency ends in June 2015, brings to an end controversy over who will represent Anambra State in the cabinet. Stakeholders from the state have been at loggerheads following the report that the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was being touted to replace Oduah.

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state had kicked against the recommendation of Obi by the leadership of the party in the state. The nomination of the Corps Marshall and Abubakar was contained in a letter Jonathan wrote to the Senate, which was read at plenary by Senate President David Mark.

Similarly, Jonathan forwarded for confirmation, the name of the acting Director-General, National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, as the substantive head of the agency.

The president also forwarded the name of Mr Ebenezer Fobi for appointment as a commissioner representing the South- South in PENCOM. The Pension Reform Act provides that the commission shall comprise a part-time chairman, a director- general, four commissioners and seven part time members.

The Act also provides that the appointment of the chairman, the director- general and other members of the commission, other ex-officio members, shall be made by the president subject to confirmation by the Senate. Jonathan said the request was in line with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2004, following the expiration of the term of the acting director- general and the commissioner representing South-South.

“In line with the provisions of Pension Reform Act 2004, I present the nomination of Mrs Chinelo Anoha-Amazu and Mr Ebenezer Fobi as a Director-General and Commissioner respectively in the National Pension Commission for the kind consideration and confirmation by the distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “It is my hope that the request would receive the usual expeditious consideration and confirmation of the distinguished senators,” Jonathan said