Buhari seeks Senate’s confirmation of FIRS, AMCON, NCC bosses

seeks $200m loan for Lagos

The controversy over President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of heads of some Federal Government parastatals was Tuesday laid to rest, as the President sought the approval of the Senate for their confirmation.

Prior to the announcement, William Babatunde Fowler, executive chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); Umaru Danbatta, executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Ahmed Kuru, managing director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), have been working in acting capacity.

But in separate letters addressed to the Senate president, Bukola Saraki and read on the floor of the House, Buhari urged the Senate to treat the requests in expeditious manner.

The President also sought the confirmation of Kola Ayeye, Eberechukwu Uneze and Aminu Ismail as executive directors of AMCON, respectively.

In a chat with newsmen, Senate spokesperson, Dino Melaye, said he expected Saraki to refer the screening of the nominees to the appropriate committee at Wednesday’s plenary.

The President also sought the approval of the Senate for a Development Policy Operation loan of $200 million to Lagos State from the World Bank.

According to the President, the World Bank approved $600 million loan to the Lagos State government, to be implemented in three tranches of $200 million per annum.

He also stated that the first and second tranches were approved by the National Assembly in the 2010-2012 and 2012-2014 Federal Government Borrowing Plan, respectively.

“It is instructive to note that key programme objectives of the DPO are already beginning to show in terms of increased inflows of private investment to the state, increased private sector employment opportunities and increased internally generated revenues,” the letter read in part.