NASS Commission shakes up standing committees, unveils new panel heads

From Fred Itua, Abuja

The National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) has reconstituted its Standing Committees, with several commissioners taking on new leadership roles across the Commission’s various panels.

The Executive Chairman of the Commission, Saviour Enyiekere, announced the changes during the Commission’s 32nd meeting, held this week. He said the outgoing committees had been allowed to remain in place until that date to enable them conclude pending assignments before handover.

Enyiekere explained that the reconstitution was carried out in line with Section 7 of the Commission’s Standing Orders. He called for unity and cooperation among committee members and management to help the Commission achieve its mandate.

Under the new arrangement, the Finance and General Purpose Committee remains chaired by the Executive Chairman himself, with all Commissioners serving as members and the Secretary to the Commission, Lucky Ikharo, retained as Secretary.

The Administration and Employee Relations Committee will now be chaired by the Commissioner for North East, Lawan Maina Mahmud, with former Clerk of the House of Representatives, Patrick Giwa, as his deputy. The Commissioner for North East, Aminu Ibrahim Malle, takes over the Committee on Procurement and General Services, with Festus Ifesinachi Odii, Commissioner for South East, serving as his deputy.

Giwa, who represents South South, was named Chairman of the Establishment, Records and Training Committee, with Nnanna Uzor Kalu, Commissioner for South East, as his deputy. Kalu, in turn, becomes Chairman of the Committee on Zonal Offices and Legislative Aides, with Hanmation Mark Tersoo, Commissioner for North Central, as deputy.

Odii was also named Chairman of the Planning, Research and Library Services Committee, with Afeez Ipesa Balogun, Commissioner for South West, as deputy.

Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, Commissioner for North West, now heads the Committee on Promotion and Discipline, with Mary Ekpenyong, Commissioner for South South, as his deputy.

Ipesa Balogun retained his chairmanship of the Committee on Public Affairs, with Hunkuyi now serving as vice chairman. Tersoo was named Chairman of the Appeals and Legal Services Committee, with Mahmud as his deputy.

Salihu Umar Agboola Balogun, Commissioner for North Central, takes charge of the Committee on Information and Communication Technology, with Yusuf A. Yusuf, Commissioner for North West, as vice chairman. Yusuf was also named Head of the Internal Audit Committee, with Balogun serving as vice chairman on that panel. Ekpenyong was named Chairman of the Tenders Board, with Malle as her deputy.

The Commission said all committees were constituted with representation from across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

According to the Commission, the changes take immediate effect.
The announcement was made in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, E. N. Anyigor, on behalf of the Executive Chairman.

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