SAN FRANCISCO, July 10, (THEWILL) – President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday nominated Mr. Osita Chidoka, the head of the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC), as Minister.
Chidoka will represent Anambra State in the federal cabinet if confirmed by the Senate.
In a letter to Senate President David Mark, which was read at today’s plenary, Jonathan also nominated Dr. Suleiman Olanrewaju Abubakar, a university teacher, as Minister.
Abubakar, who teaches at the University of Abuja, will represent Kwara State if confirmed.
In a separate letter, the President also asked the Senate to approve Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amaju, as the substantive Director-General of the Nigerian Pension Commission.
President Jonathan also asked the Senate to approve Mr. Ebenezer Foby as a Federal Commissioner of the Commission representing South-South.
The ministerial nominees are to fill the slots of their states in the Federal Cabinet.
The nomination of Chidoka has put to rest speculations that the former governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi may be nominated for a ministerial position.
Corps Marshal Chidoka is expected to occupy the slot for the state, which has remained vacant since the exit of the former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, while Dr. Abubakar from Kwara state may likely be assigned the portfolio of National Planning after confirmation by the Senate. The Ministry of Sports, which the former Minister from the State, Malam Bolaji Abdulahi occupied before his removal in March this year, already has a substantive Minister.
THEWILL gathered that the Kwara nominee emerged through a consensus arrangement between members of the PDP in Kwara. It was earlier speculated that Senator Gbemisola Saraki may fill the position.
Screening and confirmation of the two new ministerial nominees may be done on Wednesday next week before the senate embark on its annual long recess next week Thursday July 17.
The Pension Reform Act, which President Jonathan signed in into law two weeks ago that effectively scrapped the provision of 20 years of experience as a prerequisite to becoming a Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) paved the way for the acting PenCom DG, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu to be appointed in substantive capacity. She has been acting DG since December 2012.
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