) By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Nigerian Senate has appointed chairmen and deputy chairmen of standing committees to oversight the regional development commissions.

This appointment is coming on the heels of the assent of President Bola Tinubu to bills that are establishing some regional development commissions in the country,

In announcing the appointments, the Senate President, Sen. Godswill Obot Akpabio listed the names as follows:

1. Sen. Babangida Hussaini and Muntari Dandutse as Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Senate committee on North West Development Commission;

2. Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu and Senator Kenneth Eze are the Chairman and Deputy Chairman respectively for the Senate committee on
South East Development Commission;

3. Sen. Titus Zam Tartenger and Sen. Isa Jibrin are the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Committee on North Central Development Commission;

Also, the Senate reshuffled the leadership of some standing committees.

With that reshuffling, Sen. Abdul Ningi has moved from Population to head the Senate committee on FERMA.

Also, Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan was moved from the committee on local content to Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisation where she will be the chairman.

Sen. Garba Maidoki was appointed as Chairman Senate Committee on Sports development, while Senator Joel Thomas becomes the new Chairman Senate committee on Local Content.

Also, Senator Victor Umeh, moved from the Senate committee on Diaspora, will now be the Chairman Senate committee on National Population and NIMC.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Ex- Communication Minister Adebayo Shittu has decried the high poverty rate in the country, saying many Nigerians have become beggars.

Shittu, while appearing on an AIT programme, Focus Nigeria, cited examples of how Nigeria’s economic condition has turned citizens into beggars.

The ex-minister, who lives in Ibadan, said a Nigerian called him from Bauchi to beg for N1,000 to feed, adding that another woman called him 30 times to beg for N3,000.

He said, “Yesterday, before I left Ibadan, somebody phoned me from Bauchi and begged me for N1,000.

He said he had not eaten for two days. Again, about a week ago, somebody also called me, a woman who wanted N3,000. At the time she wanted that morning, unbelievably, I myself didn’t have that money, and the woman called me 30 times in one day.”

He maintained that poverty had been weaponized in the country to the extent that when politicians go to the people for votes, they tend to be more interested in what the politicians can give them rather than what they are capable of doing.

Shittu said, “It’s not my business to douse the poverty of such people calling. So when you go to such people to ask for their votes or support, they don’t care what you’re capable of doing. What they are interested in is what they can get out of you today.”

However, contrary to Nigerians’ beliefs about political appointees, the ex-minister, who served under the Muhammadu Buhari administration from 2015 to 2019, said he currently doesn’t have money because he didn’t steal while in office.

Shittu said he survives on the monthly resources his 10 graduate children give him for upkeep.

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia-North) has been announced by the Senate as the Committee Chairman of South-East Development Commission (SEDC).

Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu
Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement during plenary on Tuesday 4, January, 2025. Before the new appointment, the former Abia Governor was the Senate Committee Chairman on Privatisation.

Senator Ken Eze (Ebonyi Central) was also appointed as the Vice Chairman of the committee. Akpabio further noted that other members of the committee will be announced in due course.

The Senate confirmed the board membership of the SEDC after considering the report presented by Senator Kalu.

The 18-member board is led by Dr. Emeka Wogu as Chairman, while Hon. Mark Okoye was confirmed as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.

Other confirmed members include Ugochukwu H. Agballah, Hon. Okey Ikenwa, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, Chidi Echeazu, Ifeanyi Agwu, Nasiru Usman, Hamma Adama Ali, Kumo Edward David Onoja, and Orure Kufre Inima.

Also appointed are Daniel Akwari, Chief (Mrs.) Joke Adebayo-Chukwuma, Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka (E.D. Finance), Chief Sylvester Okonkwo (E.D. Corporate Services), and Hon. Toby Okechukwu (E.D. Projects).

Others include Senator Anthony Agbo (E.D. Commercial and Industrial Development) and Dr. Clifford Ogbede (E.D. Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Rural Development).