As Senate confirms Tarfa Chairman, other board members
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA—PROCESSES for the proper take off of the North East Development Commission, NEDC, yesterday entered its final stage as the Senate, confirmed former Military governor of old Oyo State, Major General Paul Tarfa, retd as the Chairman of the board.
Also yesterday, the Senate confirmed the appointment of the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, CEO, three Executive Directors, and Six representatives of the six geo- political zones of the country.
The NEDC bill was passed by the Senate in 2016 and assented to in October 2017 by President Muhamadu Buhari, aimed at rebuilding the North East region that has been ravaged by insurgency.
It will be recalled that President Buhari had on the 16th of January sent the names of the board members for approval.
The Commission which is situated in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, has Major General Paul Tarfa, retd as Chairman, Mohammed Goni Alkali as MD/CEO, Musa Umar Yashi, Executive Director, Humanitarian Affairs and Muhammed Jawa as Executive Director, Admin and Finance.Others are Omar Maiwada Mohammed, Executive Director, Operation; David Sabo Kente representing North East; Asmau Mai- Eka Muhammed, North West; Hon. Benjamin Tilley Adanyi, North Central; Hon. Olawale Oshun, South West;Dr. Theodore E.O Ekechi, South East and Mr. Obasuke McDonald, South South.
The appointments were confirmed by the Senate yesterday following the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, presented by its chairman, Senator Abdul Aziz Nyako, ADC, Adamawa Central.
Immediately after the presentation of the report, Senator Binta Garba, APC, Adamawa North who queried the nomination of Alkali because he hails from Borno state and the commission is domiciled in the same state.
She said: “The commission is domiciled in Borno state and the CEO is also from Borno state. Is it in consonance with the ideal of the commission within and outside Nigeria. For example, the President of the United Nations is not from America. We need to get some clarifications. Late Wakili asked that the bill be in Bauchi state, but he was shut down.”