By Ben Agande & Inalegu Shaibu
ABUJA — The Senate yesterday confirmed the nomination of Engr. Elias Mbam as the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, and 20 other members of the Commission.

This followed the adoption of the report of its Committee on National Planning, Economic Affairs and Poverty Alleviation submitted  by its chairman,  Senator Zaynab Kure.

However, the confirmation of two of the nominees, Senator Chris Adeghije and Christopher Odika representing Abia and Enugu states respectively was stood down to allow for more consultations.

Mr. Odika was not confirmed on the instance of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who told the Senate the nominee has issues to settle with legislators from Enugu, while the nomination of Senator Adeghije  was at the instance of the Senate President, Senator David Mark. He said he needed to do further legislative action on the nominee.

Mark said: “We should allow the Enugu caucus to settle their issue and report back to the House within the week. That of Abia, he is my personal friend and there is information that I want to clarify and report back to the House within the week. I have consulted with the senators from Abia State about it.”

The members of the Commission cleared by the Senate yesterday include Senator Emmanuel Essien (Akwa Ibom), Ekweogwu Osita (Anambra), Hon. Aondona Sengev (Benue), Okeagu Ogada (Ebonyi), Pius Akpabior (Edo), Popoola Afolabi (Ekiti).

Others are Perez Bussa (FCT), Saidu Mohammed (Gombe), Adamu Mohammed (Jigawa), Bulus James (Kaduna), Bala Borodo (Kano), Tukur Jikamshi (Katsina), Ignatius Amodu (Kogi), Salamotu Gobir (Kwara), Olufunmilola Otegbola (Ogun), Oladeji Ariyibi (Osun).

Also cleared yesterday were Ademola Adedeji Sina (Oyo), Yusuf Pam (Plateau), Isa Geidam (Yobe) and Muhhammed Maradun (Zamfara).

Speaking after the confirmation yesterday, the Senate President, Senator David Mark said: “I urge the Chairman and members of this Commission to take this assignment very seriously. Their assignment is very crucial to the nation. Their action is capable of enhancing the lives of many Nigerians.”

Senators applauded the committee for the thorough work it had done but expressed reservations on the ages of the members. Senator Ahmed Lawan while contributing observed that even though he is confident about the ability of the new members, however stressed that future appointments should be done to accommodate younger generations.

“We need to inject in the future new blood. Most of the people either graduated in 1972 or 1979. I believe that we will have better commission when we have younger elements and I know they may say they have experience, but today’s financial sector requires fresh brain.” He said.

Abubakar Gada (PDP Sokoto state) added that it is the politicization such appointments at state level that produce old men, all the time. He called for the review of nominee’s appointment methods “other than that, we will continue to recycle old people who will see their nomination as a source livelihood.”