Senate confirms Shaaka Chira as Auditor-General, seven nominees as Resident Electoral Commissioners

The Senate has confirmed the appointments of seven new Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) and the Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr. Shaakaa Chira nominated by President Bola Tinubu.

The appointments were confirmed on Wednesday at plenary session.

The Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, moved the motion for the confirmation of the seven RECs after the screening at about 12:30pm.

He said the confirmation of the nominees was in accordance with the Provisions of Sections 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

During the screening and confirmation of Chira, he expressed worry over lack of funding for the office which has made it challenging to ensure transparency and accountability.

He disclosed that the office was only been allocated N62 million in the last budget which had hindered the performance of some basic tasks.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for increased funding for the Auditor-General’s office to enable it carry out its functions of ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of public funds and fighting corruption.

Those confirmed are Mr. Etekamba Umoren (Akwa-Ibom State), Mr. Isah Ehimeakne (Edo State), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola (Ekiti state),Mr. Abubakar Ahmed Mai‘aii (Gombe State).

Others include Mr shehu Wahab , (Kwara State) Mr. Aminu Kasimi Idris (Nasarawa State), and Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq (Niger state).