Senate panel suspends screening of PENCOM nominee for holding dual positions

The senate committee on establishment and public service has suspended the screening and reappointment of Charles Emukowhate as commissioner for finance at the National Pension Commission (PENCOM).

The decision, taken on Thursday, followed petitions alleging dual appointments and failure to render financial accounts.

A petition was sent to the committee, accusing Emukowhate of simultaneously serving as a board member of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) while holding office at PENCOM — a breach of public service regulations.

In May, Emukowhate was nominated by President Bola Tinubu as a board member of the SSDC.

In June, the senate confirmed the appointment of Emukowhate and others as members of the SSDC’s governing board.

Cyril Fasuyi, chairman of the committee and senator representing Ekiti north, described the allegations as “serious and weighty”, saying the committee could not proceed with the screening until the issues were fully investigated.

“These are serious and weighty issues. The committee cannot proceed with Mr Emukowhate’s reappointment until these allegations are fully investigated,” Fasuyi said.

He added that the committee also received reports indicating that PENCOM had failed to submit audited financial statements for the past four years.

“The commission has not rendered any financial account for four years. This raises deep concerns about transparency and financial stewardship,” he said.

Following deliberations, the committee resolved to step down Emukowhate’s screening indefinitely pending a full investigation into the allegations of misconduct and financial negligence.

Other nominees, including Opeyemi Agbaje, PENCOM’s board chairman-designate, were, however, cleared after meeting all ethical and statutory requirements.

Fasuyi commended the cleared nominees for their competence and integrity, adding that the senate remained committed to sanitising the pension sector and restoring public trust in the management of retirees’ funds.

“The senate will not overlook any breach of law or ethical standard. We owe it to Nigerians to protect the integrity of public institutions and ensure that those entrusted with pension funds are beyond reproach,” he added.