The Senate, on Thursday, confirmed the appointment of a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche, as chairman of the governing board of the newly created South-South Development Commission.
Usoro Offiong Akpabio was confirmed as the Managing Director of the Commission, alongside 13 other board members and five executive directors.
Confirmed board members include Larry Odey (Cross River), Charles Zuofa (Bayelsa), Dr. Nkereuwem Ebong (Akwa Ibom), Chika Chinedu (Rivers), Femi Oise (Edo) and Dr. Charles Sylvester Enukhowhate (Delta).
Others are Tabitha Iliya Sallah (North-East), Yusuf Rasaq Amao (North-Central), Joseph Mmamal (South-East) and Bukonola Braimoh (South-West).
The Senate also cleared the following individuals for the position of executive directors: Marcus Nie Eji – Projects (Rivers); Aganaba Preye Steven – Social and Human Capital Development (Bayelsa); Dr. Timi Alari Ayibatonye – Corporate Services (Delta); Joseph Ugheoke – Commercial and Environmental Development (Edo); and Sony Abang – Finance (Cross River).
However, a nominee who was to represent the Northwest on the board, Tijani Kaura, was dropped for failure to appear before the screening committee or submit the documents requested.
The screening committee, however said it would still screen Kaura if he eventually turns up soon enough.
President Bola Tinubu had, in May, submitted the list of nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
The request was read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary and promptly referred to the ad hoc committee on South-South Development Commission with a directive to report back within one week.
The SSDC is expected to spearhead developmental initiatives in the South-South region, addressing longstanding infrastructural and socio-economic challenges across oil-producing states and their host communities.
Nominees for the governing boards of the Southwest and North Central developments were also confirmed by the Senate.
