Senate steps down Omoregie’s nomination, confirms Ngbea as FCSC commissioner

The senate on Wednesday considered the report of the committee on establishment and public service matters on the confirmation of nominees for appointment as commissioners of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).

Cyril Fasuyi, chairman of the senate committee on establishment and public services, presented the report during the plenary.

The nominees are Idahagbon Omoregie, representing Edo, Ekiti and Ondo states, and Ngbea Gabriel, representing Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states.

Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, raised objections to the nomination of Omoregie.

“I have drawn the attention of the chairman of this committee to the fact that the first name on that list representing Edo, Ondo and Ekiti is from Edo state,” Oshiomhole said.

“I had the privilege and honour of nominating him five years ago. But, with his conduct as a federal commissioner when it comes to recruitment and promotion, a lot of issues of corruption and other malpractices were raised.

“And I draw the chairman’s attention to this. I plead with the senate that the nomination of Idahagbon Omoregie be deferred because we have proposed a replacement which will come from the same senatorial zone, so there is no question of upsetting any balance.”

Sani Musa, senator representing Niger east, said any nominee sent for screening without the support of his senator should be stepped down.

“I will propose that this should be stepped down for further legislation,” Musa said.

Adamu Aliero, senator representing Kebbi central, supported the idea of stepping down the nominee.

“The parliamentary practice, particularly in this chamber, is that if there is any nomination from the office of the president coming here, if two senators are opposed to that nomination, that nomination stands withdrawn,” Aliero said.

“I will therefore suggest that since Senator Adams Oshiomhole comes from the same senatorial district with the nominee, and since the nominee is representing not only Edo state but also a group of three other states, and he is the one that comes from his own senatorial district, and he raised very weighty allegations, I am of the opinion that we should step down the confirmation for further consultations.”

Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, who presided over the plenary, agreed with the position and urged the chamber not to over flog the matter.

“Let’s not over flog the matter. We are not saying it is over, but we should explore and move further and see how the matter could be resolved,” Barau said.

Barau put the matter to a voice vote, and the ‘ayes’ had it.

The senate consequently stepped down the nomination of Omoregie.

However, Ngbea Gabriel was confirmed after a voice vote, following approval by the committee of the whole.